What Maya Angelou Taught Me

Maya Angelou, a phenomenal woman, passed on this week.  Reading all the beautiful posts and quotes on Instagram had me all in my feelings this week.  This amazing women lived like twenty different lives.  Maya Angelou was a poet, civil rights activist, dancer, film producer, television producer, playwright, film director, author, actress, professor and who knows what other things she did.  She is a perfect example of the American Dream!  If you fall down, you can get back up, and start over.  

Welcome to Spring #AladdinParty

Regardless of the weather, Spring is here!  Before you know it, it will be summer, than back to school.  Work and events can get in the way of connecting with friends.  I was happy to take the time out to host a Welcome to spring party with a few of my girlfriends featuring the new Aladdin Mason collection.  

10 Gifts for Your Bestie Under $50

I'm not quite in the Christmas spirit yet.  I should be in the spirit after I try to do all my shopping this weekend.  Today I am sharing some great gift ideas you can buy for your bestie, sister or me : ).

Naomi Cross Album Release

Sunday evening I was excited to support one of my girlfriends, Naomi Cross for her first album release event!  Her contemporary gospel album, Unfailing Love is now available!!!  I am so proud of her.  Her powerful sultry voice and creative lyrics brings the messages to life! 

Naomi Cross and I

Girls Night Out with Curvie Birdie

Monday was my niece Tish aka Curvie Birdie Birthday!  Since we had Tuesday off we headed out Sunday evening to celebrate!

Here is the Birthday Girl!  Isn't she GORGE!  She also started a blog called Curvie Birdie, sharing style tips and fabulous finds for Curvie women!  Please head over and check it out and follow!

Here I am... Looking tired!  I am wearing a thrifted silk bow blouse, $2! With a Kardashian Kollection faux fur vest from Sears with Lauren Conrad corduroy skinny jeans from Kohls. Bag is by Deux Lux.

Are you still celebrating the Holidays? Or are you over it?

Shecky's Girls Night Out

Monday Night I attended the Shecky's Girls Night Out in Atlanta.  This was my third year attending.  Girls Night Out is just a time to get with your girlfriends and head to the fabulous Biltmore for drinks and shopping!

I am wearing no name top from a store called Know Style, it was $25.  Boots are old from Bebe.  Jewelry is from Pretty Girl Glam.

Cute T-shirt!  Sorry Mister, I didn't buy it.

I love the Jaguar Luxury cosmetics booth!  Like being at a candy store!

Check out the lashes I got!  Fierce!  I may rock them to the premier!

This dude got his makeup done at the Maybeline booth.  #interesting.

Check me out in this vintage rabbit jacket! 

Beautiful handmade jewelry from Reflections African Jewelry

Love these bangles!

Tish, Eboni of Fashionista Next Door and I

Have you been to a Shecky's Girls Night Out?  There are still dates left for this year. 

*I was NOT compensated in anyway for this post, just sharing : )

Mama's Night Out!

I know, it seems like I am some kind of party girl!  I'm really not back in the day.  But one of my BFF's celebrated her birthday on Saturday so we left the Misters' at home!

We Partied like Rock Stars at Lucky Lounge in Atlanta.

Here is the GORGE birthday girl!

Tae and I

My girl Kelly and Tahnee the Birthday girl.  I have been friends with Kelly since 7th grade and Tahnee since Sophomore year in H.S.  I am blessed to have such good friends for a long time.

Here is the group at dinner.

Here I am with my $8 dress!  I got it at Ross!  The back was really cute, sorry I have no pics.  I rocked my Feather Pretty Girl Glam earrings again.  Love them!!!

Fly shoes were in the Building on Saturday night!!!

Here are my shoes!  Cute huh?  Got them from my shoe guy for $25!!! 

Here are the Birthday Girls shoes, Betsy Johnson!  Her Hubby got them for her! 

My shoes and my freind Erica BCBG shoes!

Below are some more fly shoes!

Needless to say we had a good time!  Beyonce showed up (aka Peyton's Mom : )  The Birthday Girl said this was one of her best Birthdays ever!  

So I am going to sit down for a while, I am pooped from all parties.  I do feel Girls Nights are important.  How often do you get out for girls night?

Mama's Girls Night Out!

Saturday Night it went DOWN!  First let me start off by saying, I had the honor of hanging out with this Chanel cross body bag!  It's not mine but my BF Kia's : (.  I was just happy to be in her presence, the bag that is!

We were going to the R Kelly concert!  I am from Chicago and R and I go way back : ) Get your mind out the gutter, not that way back but with music.  I have been a big fan for years! 

We started off by checking into the Hyatt downtown Atlanta near the arena.

So we got ready.

Here is my beautiful friend Kia with her beautiful bag outside the hotel.

I didn't end up wearing a button down, but this crop Tee from Nordstoms.  I am sporting my Marc by Marc Jacobs cross body bag.  Perfect for a concert! 

Kia shoes were HOT!  She said she got them at Bakers???  Never would have thunk it!  Bakers shoes and a Chanel bag!  Love it! 

I ended up with a more laid back look then I planned with the Tee but my fit was based around the shoes!
 

You have to see these in person.  SICK!  They are so futuristic! They are Jeffrey Campbell's Kelsey.

Yeah, got them from my "Shoe Guy".  But these were not cheap like my usual ones and they keep selling out every where.

We headed to Thrive to get dinner before the show.

Now this is where things get crazy!  For starters we had tickets for the 1st row on the side, Perfect!  We sit down and Keisha Cole performs.  Cool.  Then this guy looking all concert official comes up and gives us VIP bands...  Really, umm ok.  He tells us to head to the front ....on the floor.

We get to the front of the stage but we have to stand up... ok, that's cool b/c once R Kelly hits the stage I will not be sitting anyway.  Plus we still have our good seats if I wanted to go back. 

So he comes out and since we are dead in the front of the stage he was singing to us and grabbing our hands all night!  Kia even got his towel!  LOL, came in handy cuz someone spilled a drink on her leg and shoe.  She used that to wipe it up... LOL!  The Chanel didn't get harmed!

Then it gets even crazier! So after R Kelly shuts it down for 2hrs! Yes, my feet still hurt! The guy that gave us the VIP bands comes over to us and some other young Ladies and said he (R) wants yall on STAGE!!!

WTH! I am a WIFE, MOTHER and in my thirties.... What do I look like going on stage?  See below...

Yeah, I took a picture while on stage of the 20,000 plus crowd!   Lucky for me the song was "Step in the Name of Love"  So I didn't have to drop it like its HOT! 

My other BFF Tahnee was in the luxury suite with her Husband and saw all this go down.  She is one of R Kelly's biggest fans... she was not happy she wasn't with us. I told her to kick her husband to the curb!

The rest the night got a bit blurry... we ate again, I fell, I kept wanting to go home to see Peyton...  I am still recovering!

Guess what!  I am going to be doing this or something like it all over again this weekend.  I am heading out of town for a girls weekend!  1st time away from Peyton : ( . Not sure how I am going to make it!  I think I am getting too old for this.  One night, 3 days to recover!  Wish me luck!

That's What Friends are For and Date Night!

Didn't I tell you I have fabulous friends?  Look at some of the stuff my BF gave Peyton!  Several beautiful dresses that her two year old can not wear!

Most still had tags on them!  She also gave us a ton of other items including jeans and summer dresses!  Thanks T!

Mister and I had a date night last Saturday to the Hawks game.

We were chilin in the Georgia Lottery VIP suite!  Now if we could just win!

I rocked these nails to the game.  Fun huh!

How often do you get out with your man for a Date Night?

That's What Friends are For!

I have been blessed to have great friends!  They have been there for me through thick and thin and highs and lows!  Best of all, even though we do not live in the same city... they call me when they find a fabulous deal on shoes!

My BFF from Looms Lids & Layers sent me these...

I may not be able to wear them now that spring is coming but they will be on deck for the fall!

Endless is still selling them for $129!

These I can rock now!  All three pair were $95!  The reg price of each one is $100 or more.

I love you Dr. Rhonda!