#LoveYourSelfie ….

Once you get past the fact that the title of my post is a hashtag, I encourage you to keep reading. 

Today’s post is inspired by the TODAY Show’s #loveyourselfie campaign. I had a few extra minutes on the couch this morning and caught a few segments of the show. What struck me most was that the women were asked how do images of celebrities make you feel. So often we look at these celebs and want their bodies or their hair. I’m guilty of it too. Newsflash, they were given theirs and you were given yours. Celebrate it just like they do! Strive for greatness, but don’t allow someone else to make you feel inferior. Ever. 

The TODAY Show concept is to explore your body image observations. My concept is to celebrate and accept yourself. In the 45 minutes I spent getting dressed, I stressed (and obsessed) over my hair, makeup, 7 year old shirt, car needing a paint job and dead flowers in the yard. Yep, these were my concerns. After watching this segment, I went back to the mirror and smiled at the lack of makeup I needed, the creativity I had with my hair, the fact that I can still wear a shirt from 7 years ago and let the dead flowers signify a change in season!  

Related to this blog, part of the excuse I post so rarely is that I fear noone thinks it’s interesting. To that I say … who cares! 

Love your self! Don’t be apologetic! You were magnificently created this way! 

When the going gets tough…

The Quarles absolutely get going!

I’m not sure whether I forgot about the blog or mentally blocked it out due to the lack of things to report. Either way, I’m making a vow to update at least once per month. It is written!

2012 = roller coaster.

The first half of the year was marked with plain ol good living and job changes.

The 2nd half was marked with what felt like never-ending chaos and job changes. On a highly positive note, many of our family and friends were blessed with jobs, engagements, and babies. Blessings, blessings, blessings!! We ended 2012 healthy and happy and the same goes for our nearest and dearest, so pardon my lack of detail, but that’s really all that matters and it’s time to move forward!

2013 has many exciting things on the horizon. “Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” ~Oprah

In the spirit of the New Year, this wouldn’t be a New Year post without a few resolutions. So here we go:

My goals are to do what I need to do to get where I want to go. Plain and simple I’ve had a long running list of things I’d like to achieve, yet I sit back and do a whole lot of wanting and no working. Vince plans to be more aggressive, active, and channel his energy to be more of a go-getter.

On tap for the year:

1. corrective shoulder surgery (major boooooooo)
2. DiscoveringHair launch (FINALLY)
3. lots of weddings (hooray)
4. new job opportunities
5. and……GRADUATION
6. TBD (I’ll leave this one open in case life brings us any surprises)

While I have your attention, as much as I’m excited about what 2013 has in store for us, I’m very excited about the opportunities for friends and family. Please check out the shameless plug section below:

• DiscoveringHair.com – I’m sure you’re familiar with this one, but please subscribe to receive email updates!
• EatMoreFood.net – my bud Shannon Bullock’s blog dedicated to helping you make healthy food decisions that could change your life. She has started a great series on soup (Becoming Souperwoman). Be sure to check it out!
• Lissa Smith Photos – my fantasical friend.  An aspiring photographer in Fuquay Varina, NC, learning & loving the art of photography. The great thing about Lissa is that she’s not just snapping photos. She truly cares about her clients and goes the extra mile to capture your moments!
• Counseling – by the one and only Miss Maya Mitchell! Outside of the regular day-to-day tasks her job requires, Maya puts forth the extra effort to serve the community and host seminars to serve those with counseling needs.
• Kasual Katering – a catering company owned by my brother and sister-in-law. They love to serve and enjoy catering to others, so why not make it a business? This has been a lifelong passion for them and this year it came to fruition! If you know someone in the Wilmington area in need of catering services, please give them a holler and definitely Like them on Facebook. Latrice’s wings are the sole reason I need a gym membership!
• Agatha Brown – my mommy dearest! Also pursuing her lifelong passion to make reading fun and give kids a head start on reading. She now has 6 children’s books under her belt and is working on a sinful adult novel!
• Isabel Vernard – fun and feminine fashions straight to you from my friend Tracie! She has a passion for fashion and outside of the items available on her site, she’s available for custom designs.
• Rapper Big Pooh – Vincent’s brother from another mother who is continuing his music career and now working with a sports blog ranting about sports. After hearing him and Vince argue about sports for years, it’s good to see him turning that passion into something fruitful.
• The Returned – Jason Mott, a hometown friend, now working on publishing a book and getting a series on ABC with Mr. Brad Pitt himself!! Here’s an article and his Twitter
• Simply Charessa – my pal Charessa is a certified Event producer and Skilled Social Worker with experience in nonprofit and fundraising and social and corporate event management. A mover and a shaker and she simply does everything!!
• ABC – I’m gonna hold this spot for your blog! 🙂
• Prodigal Son Foundation – Vincent’s frat, Leroy. A nonprofit committed to strengthening communities and developing productive leaders for the future by empowering, educating and engaging students and families. Leroy has a passion like I’ve never seen for bettering his community and our youth.
• NPDSmiles – my beautiful line sister Brandi. Providing the highest quality of dental care to the pediatric population of Concord, Charlotte, Davidson, Kannapolis and all surrounding communities. Brandi truly loves what she does and she LOVES giving the kiddies beautiful smiles.
• Alvin Hall Photography – my giggling buddy Hilary’s hubby-to-be. Alvin puts the FUN in photography. Veen has an eye and edge that I haven’t seen in awhile and he’s very fun to shoot with! If I ever get the pounds off…that trash the dress session is GOING DOWN! Altanta, give this guy a call. Trust me.

*phew* If I forgot anyone, leave me a comment. Either I’m not aware of you don’t brag on yourself enough 😉

Best wishes to all and here’s to a great year!

Father’s Day, Memorial Day, Sunday?

I typed this post pre Father’s Day and never published, but tonight…I feel compelled.

They married somewhere around 1972  ish

They had my brother in ’76, spoiled him rotten (still do) and settled into married life.

Somewhere 5 years down the road, a mistake happened name Eva Danielle Brown (they have no issues telling me how much of a mistake I was )

From what I was told, this dude was insanely overjoyed about my birth and from what I can remember, he adored me – his “tookie bug” (don’t ask me what animal this is), and from what I know, I was the definition of daddy’s girl. My dad wasn’t perfect, but he was perfect for me (insert R&B lyric here). He’s the reason I savor late night snacks, the reason I always drive far above the speed limit, the reason I love music and dance the night away, the reason I think Ginger Ale and Salt N Vinegar chips can cure all illnesses, the reason I keep a bottle of A1 Steak sauce at all times, the reason I live, love, laugh and the reason I know that you should live each day to the fullest.

One of his coined phrases was “give me my flowers today, ain’t nobody fooling with you tomorrow”. I didn’t feel like I gave him him flowers on Father’s Day; thus the reason for this post. Happy Father’s Day Groovy!

***small sidebars

*1 – I now have this awesome cat to call my Father-In-Law. Happy Father’s Day Papa Q!!!!

I could have been graced with an absentee Father-in-Law, but no….I got one that loves, values, and fully supports me.

*2 – This pic was taken the Memorial Day before my dad passed away

Two long years prior to Vince proposing (or probably even thinking about proposing), my dad asked him, “ya’ll gone get married” and Vince said yes. My dad replied in some modified version of ” hey man, marriage is tough. but you’re a good man. she’s a good girl. You treat her right. Ya’ll make it work.” That was the last conversation they had, but I knew with certainty that my dad approved and pretty much left me a blueprint of himself!

**3  – He left me these two goobers to keep me company

*4 – He’s ALWAYS with me

Happy Heavenly Father’s Day Dad!!

13 Things You Should Do To Live Life Without Regrets

Courtesy of the purpose fairy & one of my great twitter followers!

Posting snippets and my favorite takeaways, but you can read the rest here

1. GET YOUR LIFE ON PURPOSE: Stop chasing the wrong things and get your life in order, get your life on purpose.
2. STOP WASTING TIME: You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.
3. STOP PLAYING THE VICTIM CARD: Know that the more time you spend complaining the more time it will take you to find a solution and get out of the mud.
4. TAKE ADVANTAGE – EACH DAY OFFERS A NEW BEGINNING: Don’t let a bad day make you feel like you had a bad life.
5. STOP MAKING EXCUSES: There are so many people out there who managed to go past their disabilities and inspire lives
6. STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS: No matter what you do, no matter who you are and where you are, always remember that you have your own unique path to walk on
7. STOP SABOTAGING YOURSELF: We say we want something and the moment we feel it’s coming our way because we get scared, we start sabotaging ourselves
8. STOP THE WHAT IF: you will never know until you try but chances are that nothing terrifying will happen to you and if you ask me, there is nothing more terrifying than wasting your life, there is nothing more frightening that getting to the end of your life and realize that you wasted your life, the only life that was offered to you.
9. STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE:  Don’t be afraid to try new things, don’t be afraid to make mistakes and what’s most important, don’t be afraid to learn from these mistakes.
10. DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS: Nobody was born having the answer to everything.
11. EMPLOY YOUR TIME IN IMPROVING YOURSELF BY OTHER MEN’S WRITINGS: With the Internet and the many resources we have at hand nowadays is quite easy to learn everything we want to learn and even more.
12. FIND A MENTOR: Find somebody who will help you become the person you aspire to be whether this person is alive or not, whether it’s somebody you know personally or not as this would have a huge impact in your life and your journey.
13. DON”T GIVE UP ON YOURSELF: Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A quick pic and a really cool idea I wanted to share with my favs!

Someone tweeted that they were going to write a letter to themselves on where they want to be in 2013 and seal it until New Years.
Yep. DOING IT!!!

I will be popping a bottle of bubbly – either drinking to my accomplishments or sipping away the pain. Gonna see if I can get the man to do one as well. I shall do my best to not look back at this post until next year.

Here’s my abbreviated version, the letter is probably too intimate for the blog. Sorry peeps!

• Financially
  • I won’t lie to myself and pretend to do a budget. However, I will allocate {and stick to allocating} a set amount for savings. Savings should be a do not touch area, so in addition to savings, I’m gonna keep buffer money in checking.
• Spiritually
  • In my quest towards being even more amazing, I need to have a major potty mouth reduction this year. Drink Lots, Lots, Lots less and Sunday mornings will be for church. WWJD.
• Personally
  • For a person that values family and friends so much, I need to do a better job at calling and visiting. There are lots of old folks and babies that need to feel my presence. I’m not gonna stop judging people, because judging is fun. Don’t judge me. However, I’m gonna work on being less judgmental. If you require a further explanation, let me know. 🙂
• On the Health Tip
  • By 2013, I will become an early to bed, early to riser. I’m not setting a size or weight for myself, but I want to look and feel good when I look in the mirror. Point blank.
• Corporate America
  • I take my job for granted… a major no-no. That’s gonna change. But more importantly, Discoveringhair will become my job. The faster I get my act together, the faster I can say bye bye to the boss and hello to working in pjs while watching the Kardashians!
• NC STATE
  • Finally starting my concentration classes (Entrepreneurship)- the bread and butter. The above bullet will never be complete if I do not give 200% in school. Time to set a study schedule. That desk I demanded we keep so I can study wasn’t touched once in 2011. Let’s not have a repeat year.
• Wifery
  • I think I do pretty good in this area. However, I need to loosen up a bit. I tend to nag a bit in the area of timeliness, etc, etc, etc
• Mentally
  • Gonna take this S off my chest and let the big guy upstairs do his job! This is definitely gonna be a me year. 2012 is all about SELF (it somewhat rhymes if you say it kinda hood). Additionally, by 2013, I’d like to have a more enhanced network and be more willing to step out of my comfort zone.

PHEW!! I don’t like to think of these as resolutions. More like life changes that just so happened to take place on the 1st day of the year. I did make one resolution however and it’s quite simple – GROW UP. Time to put on my big girl panties and do some grown woman things.

Insert EDQ face here

10 Principles and 1 Practice That Can Change Your Life

As we embark on the New Year, I thought I’d send out a little motivation.

I’m ready, I’m focused, and it’s happening! Thanks to you for being a sounding board and a support system.

The Change Blog posted a pretty cool article called 10 Principles and 1 Practice That Can Change Your Life.

The 10 Principles

1. I will be loving towards all whom I meet.
2. I will forgive all who attempt to harm me.
3. I become what I think; therefore, I will think only thoughts of greatness.
4. I will look for ways to strengthen those who have less than I.
5. I will always seek knowledge and truth.
6. I will always be honest.
7. I will never waste what I am given.
8. I will be grateful for all that I have.
9. I will develop a spirit of optimism.
10. I will have faith in something greater than myself.

Thus far, I’m doing pretty well, but struggle a little with #1. I’m cordial, but not always “loving.” In fact, I tend to judge. (it’s my blog, I have the right to be honest). #2 – I try really hard to give people the benefit of the doubt, but I think I’m a very-kind hearted person.  Should you find yourself hurting me, you’re not deserving to be in my life. However, I will commit to working on this. #7 is my major downfall. I’m very wasteful with time, money, and skills. Eliminating this is the purpose of this blog post. It will take some work, but it can be done.

I really like these 10 principles, because overall it simply guides you to be a good person.

Now that you have the 10 principles, here is the 1 practice you will need to act on these principles – the EASIER Method of Goal Achievement.

The EASIER Method of Goal Achievement

Once you’ve set a proper goal (and if you’d like to learn how to set a proper goal just Google “SMART goals”) all you have to do to achieve it is the following:

• Envision – spend time each and every day envisioning your life as it will look after you have achieved your goal.
• Assess – create an honest assessment of where you stand at this moment in regards to your goal.
• Strategize – create a strategy that will get you from where you are to where you want to be.
• Implement your strategy.
• Evaluate your progress (or lack thereof) regularly. Tweak your assessment and strategy as necessary.
• Report your progress to someone you love or trust.

I have included a link at the bottom for the full article, so you can read for yourself. I plan to follow the strategy of the blog and focus on one goal at a time. My first goal is accountability.

My commitment: I will spend at least 45 minutes each day – 15 minutes morning, noon, and night – envisioning how it would feel to complete my to do list each day. I start each day failing miserably and setting myself up for disappointment. For example, “i’m gonna go to bed early tonight and get up without hitting snooze.” That NEVER happens and it forces me to start my day feeling like a loser for the day and I’m forced to find  a “pick-me-up.” Doing an immediate assessment of myself… I’m wasting valuable time. It’s an endless cycle of doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result – cliche’ yet true. My strategy is plain and simple – alleviate excuses from my vocabulary. My strategy will be implemented  immediately. I’m not waiting on Monday and I’m not waiting on January 1st. My evaluation will be made through my accomplishments. Finally, they ask that you report your progress to someone you love or trust – I’m doing so through this blog.

Here’s a link to the full article from The Change Blog

Coming Soon: Holiday House Pics, DIY, and a little home improvement!

D.I.O

This weekend was as D.I.O (do-it-ourselves) kinda weekend. My wonderful sister-in-law, Angie, was here and she gets a gold star for enduring all of my Pinterest showings, impulsive trips to Jo-Ann’s, indecisiveness, and lost (then found) receipts.

More on the weekend in another post, I want to dedicate this one to our most impressive DIO – my fabric wall art.

It all started with this Pinterest vision

Then began with a trip to JoAnn’s. This ended up being way more simple than I could have ever imagined.

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The supplies included:

• a hot glue gun – $2.99
• glue sticks – $2.99
• 3 foam boards – $14.99/each
• 3 – 1.5 yards of fabric – ~8.00/yard, 4.99/yard, 2.50/yard (you don’t really need 1.5 yards of fabric, as you’ll see I was able to make two boards with 1.5 yards)
• Grand total with tax ~$75.00

As I read that total, it seems a bit high, but considering the glue gun and glue sticks are reusable, I guess it’s not so bad. A funny fabric story – I was deadset on copying the Pinterest pic, so I started describing to Angie, I need something bold in color with a big flower pattern. She goes “like this” and hands me my dream fabric!! That is the  8.00/yard fabric, which was was really 19.99. Thankfully they had an in-store coupon. Although, it was probably was way too much to spend on fabric, once Angie found it, I wasn’t leaving it in the store. *gimme gimme*

Round One – HATED IT! That blue and white fabric looked like grandma’s bed sheets! No symmetry here at all.

Round Two – We have to make this work! I was determined to have it finished that day. Eh, close, but no cigar.

Round Three – could it be?! This fabric was so nice, it deserved to be used twice!

The finished product! I couldn’t be happier (except when they are actually on the wall) !!

I plan to use “grandma’s bed sheet” and make some pillow cases out of it or maybe laundry bags.

hmmmm – I’ll check Pinterest!
It won’t be discarded, that’s for sure!

Steps:

• Buy supplies
• Cut the fabric to cover the foam boards. Be sure to leave enough to cover your edges, so you have a smooth view from all angles
• Glue that bad baby down
• VIOLA!

Yes, I’m going to leave my steps that simple, because it’s just that easy. If you’ve ever covered a book for school..this will be a cinch!

I found one seller on Etsy that sells a set of 3 for $66.00+$27.50 for shipping to the US. Am I bummed? NO! I truly cherish the labor and personalization that went into my wall art!

Crate and Barrel has one for $120 -Holy Homemaking Batman!