The Fabulous Giver

No words from me. Just an image. Enjoy.

I came across the above image on Instagram awhile back and it challenged me to think about all of the projects/tasks that I have left unfinished (gulp). You see, I never have a shortage of ideas. I have an issue with completing them. As much as I would like to say that this is a recent phenemon driven by lots of life changes, that’s not true. When thinking about unfinished projects, I thought back a few years when I came across a notebook with business plans and book proposal ideas jotted down over the course of years.

*hangs head*

Thinking about my unfinished projects and tasks makes me incredibly uncomfortable. I mean, am I a quitter? What is really up with this? While trying to figure this out, I had to work hard not to let myself enter a downward spiral. So, I decided to just do like the words say and just finish things that I started.

A few things on my immediate list:

1. Finish my July editorial calendar and posts for this blog and Real Women Give. Remember RWG? Blast from the past… I know. Sigh.
2. Get back on track with my fitness training programs. I fell off the wagon HARD and my clothes don’t fit as well as they did two weeks ago. Besides, I have a vacation in seven weeks and a 10K in three months.
3. Finish planning a summer outreach event for the women’s ministry at my church. This task “haunts” me the most. I’m really excited about the event, but have also overwhelmed myself trying to do it alone.
4. Finally send out wedding announcements. It’s been two months since the big day and I’m procrastinating on this items. Don’t even ask me when I’ll get around to changing my name.

There are many reasons why I tend to leave projects unfinished, but the main ones are probably boredom and lack of discipline. SIGH. Typing that is hard but it is a necessary realization if I am going to correct this situation. I really want to be someone who follows through and completes every single thing that I put into the universe. Simply put… I gotta get my life right and now is the PERFECT time to do so.

Say a prayer for me, y’all.

This year, I’ve placed financial responsibility at the top of my priority list. As part of this plan, I signed up for LearnVest, a pretty cool site that helps you with everything from budgeting to investing to setting financial goals. With today being Tax Day (dun dun dunnnn), I thought that I would share tips from a LearnVest article about ways to do a little good with your tax refund.

Here are a few of the tips below:

• Donate your dime. Consider donating all or a part of your check to a charitable cause that you’re passionate about.
• Shop with a conscience. Update your wardrobe with some of my favorite social good brands like TOMS and Warby Parker.
• Take a volunteer trip. I’ve always wanted to get a little voluntourism under my belt. Maybe next year… NOLA, perhaps?

You can read the rest of the list here.

I plan to donate a few of my dollars to charity, but the majority will be going to credit cards and wedding expenses. What are your plans for your tax refund (if you’re getting one)?

On Wednesday night, I went to go see the Soweto Gospel Choir with one of my favorite gals, DeeDee (The Sassy Peach). I was first introduced to the choir a year ago and since then, I’ve been in awe of their voices, their spirits, and (of course) their awesome performances. As they weaved their way through African spirituals, Black spirituals, and contemporary songs in Symphony Hall, I just felt happy. I felt blessed to be connected to such a beautiful culture.

The performance was beautiful. Even though I didn’t know the words to 90% of the songs, it didn’t matter at all. Everyone in the hall was captivated by each note and each word. It reminded me that music is a true common denominator. It has the power to connect people from different walks of life in an authentic way. A certain commercial previously ruined Sarah McLaughlin’s “Arms of an Angel,” but the choir restored my love of this song. The video is below is them singing the song at a different performance. SO GOOD.

The Soweto Gospel Choir is an amazing group both on and off the stage. While browsing the program booklet, I learned that they launched Nkosi’s Haven Vukani, a foundation to support HIV/AIDS orphans in South Africa. As they travel the world with their performances, it is clear that they not only carry a connection to their home country, but also a responsibility to it. There were several tributes to Nelson Mandela, summed up with a touching rendition of South Africa’s national anthem.

As we ended the night clapping and singing “Amen,” it was the perfect end to a great show. I definitely filed it away in my memory bank. I wish them much success on the rest of their North American tour and hope to catch another show in the future!

This post is sponsored by Bedsider. All opinions are my own.

As a gal who supports women’s health and empowerment (um, hello, Red Pump), my eye is trained to notice interesting campaigns that aim to educate women in smart and non-judgmental ways. That’s why I have been pretty impressed with the Bedsider campaign since first reading about it in the New York Times last year.

For those of you who aren’t as familiar with the campaign, let me give you the deets: Bedsider is an online birth control support network for women 18-29 operated by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. They teamed up with BET and the Ad Council to create a campaign that uses humor and relatable situations in order to get folks talking about birth control. Did you know that seven in 10 pregnancies among unmarried women between the ages of 18-29 are described by women themselves as unplanned? Eek. That seems like a lot!

I spend a good portion of my time discussing how women can take action to avoid putting themselves at risk for HIV or other STD/STIs. I actually think some of the same advice applies to the topic of preventing unwanted pregnancies.

“Don’t be intimidated by the topic, find a knowledgeable source of information, and make an informed decision that best protects your health and goals.”

Bedsider is a great site for anyone who is looking for the actual factuals on birth control. You can get started here.

While you’re on the site, check out some of the awkwardly funny PSAs. The spot with the grandmother??? Omg. No way. I would have to stop my Granny right there.

Have you ever had any embarrassing convos about birth control? Thankfully, I haven’t but I’d love to hear about your experiences!

There are many pink products taking over the market this month, all claiming to support breast cancer in one way or the other. I am usually skeptical of many of these products, but when one makes plans to donate 100% of the proceeds? Well, let’s just say that I’m a little more receptive.

And, that is why I am not only purchasing one of these Aerie bras to support Bright Pink, but I’m also giving one away to you. Bright Pink is a Chicago-based organization that does amazing work to provide breast and ovarian cancer education and support for young women.

To enter the giveaway, all you need to do is leave a comment below answering this question:

 How will you raise awareness about breast cancer this month?

I will announce the winner next Friday, October 11th. Good luck!

No words from me. Just an image. Enjoy.

I’ve blogged about the AOL and PBS Makers series before and expressed my genuine appreciation of the videos. Last night, I was digging around in the vault looking for a little inspiration when I came across the following quote from Lady O.

I say, determine for yourself how you are going to serve. And, then lean into that. Lean into that with your whole heart – to serve something greater than yourself.

In the video, Oprah discusses how you can find your significance in the world and the paradigm shift required to make that transition happen. Key takeaway: Determine how you can be significant through service. That, ladies and gentlemen, is why Oprah is Oprah. I can relate to that quote and feel like it speaks directly to my soul!

Watch it for yourself here.

Give a little, carry a lot. Check out these bags that do a lot more than tote around your cell and your makeup. Each link will give you more details on the cause supported by each item.

1. Jana Feifer “Letters for Literacy” Tote, $49 | 2. IIIBeCa Thomas Street Tote, $198

3. FEED 2 Bag, $130 | 4. State “The Ashton” Backpack, $185

5. Angela Roi Classic Red Cross Body, $93

Hey, folks! Tickets to the Real Women Give Launch breakfast are now on sale. Whoo hoo. For the details, check out the invite below or visit the event page . To keep this event intimate and to allow for attendees to interact and learn from one another, the number of tickets is limited.

Feel free to spread the word. See you in a few weeks!

P.S. Did you miss the announcement? Find out what I’m talking about here.