My Birthday Campaign

So last entry, I mentioned a campaign I was working on and finally I can share more details. I almost didn't do it. I almost let fear cripple me from doing one of my favorite passion projects to date. I present: 25toAutism!

I turn 25 this year and I wanted to do something special so I decided to donate my birthday to raising awareness about Autism. This project aligns with my philanthropic socialite dreams. My goal is $2500! So if 100 people donate $25, I will reach my goal. So I need 99 more donors since I was the first $25 donation. You don't have to donate $25 though. No donation is too small!  So help me spread the word and if you feel inclined, make a donation! The campaign starts TODAY!

For more campaign information, http://bit.ly/25toAutismTools!
To make a donation, http://bit.ly/25toAutism!

♥ A.Erika ♥   

paces in maturation.

I had a convo with my big sis on Sunday and she said something that I've been thinking about since then:

 Everybody matures at a different pace and I've learned to be okay with that.

 I had an ah-ha moment later. I was thinking about this campaign I'm working on (more details later) and as an extension of those thoughts, I thought about my friends and how great they are. (and how my prayers have been answered.) Each one has their struggles yet that doesn't make them any less friend worthy than the other. It just means that their journey is different from mine or my other friends. And as they are struggling, I have to continue to support and be patient with them as God and they were (and still are) patient with me. Cuz the Lord knows how stubborn I can be. Lol. A true friend is there in the valleys with you and then celebrating with you on the mountaintop. So thanks big sis (I know you are reading this. LOL.) and I really appreciated our impromptu convo on Sunday! :)

♥ A.Erika ♥  

My struggle with [professional] titles

Last week I was called Social Media Queen. I cringed. I cringed everytime somebody calls me guru, maven, etc. All those words scream mastery of some sort. And I am not a master. Not yet. Not sure I ever will be because it's ever changing. But it bothers me that people refer to me as that. Because I don't see it. I see myself trying to catch up on learning the [arts] culture, stay current with trends and such, and forsee the future with new changes. It's a difficult task. I'm currently struggling. Sometimes I feel myself sinking. Like the world is speeding past me and I'm standing still because I'm in awe of its pace.

I don't like unearned titles. Unearned titles gets people in trouble. When you start to think TOO highly of yourself, you begin to become untouchable, unrelatable, unbalanced. That false sense of security comes crashing down because you begin to think you cannot be replaced. And at THAT moment when you feel unreplacable (yep I made that word up), is the time you get replaced. I don't consider myself a maven, guru, know-it-all because there is still so much for me to learn. Hell I'm only 24! However, I'm learning to accept the respect people have for me because I'm knowledgeable in a subject that are not THAT familiar with. I saw this quote on Twitter and wished I could have faved it so many times, "The hardest lesson we have to learn is believing in ourselves as much as others do." True story.

♥ A.Erika ♥  

NYC Trip Recap: The weekend of getting chosed

Last weekend I decided to take a trip. A trip to NY to see my friends as well as celebrate my booskie's chapter anniversary. The plan to bring everything all together was seamless, so smooth that it was meant to be. Instead writing my paragraphs I decided to hit the highlights of my weekend in outline form. Quicker to read anyways. LOL!
The weekend consisted of: 

• Screaming and hugging my BFF, after not seeing her for 3 years and leaving my suitcase in the middle of LaGuardia traffic. But my BFF grabbed my luggage after our greeting.
• Roadtripping to my campus with my sister, Booskie, best friend. Perfect blend.
• Greeted from the bros who I hadn't seen in a LONG time.
• Officially declaring the weekend, the weekend of getting chosed. Official songs were Pour It Up and Started From the Bottom.  See tweet below.
  
  
• Breakfast with my shooting star and child (STARR Weekend baby).
• Listening to the accomplished bros on the panel share their professional experiences and of course I live tweeted the event. GREAT advice!
• Purchasing some cool stuff RPI para for my desk at work.
• Getting ready with my girls (and Booskie) and looking glam. Then walking into the event, feeling and looking amazing.
• Being announced as a judge (for the Ms. Black and Gold pageant) and escorted by my Booskie to the judges table.
• Learning about the black history at RPI and how those paved the way so I can that I could become an alumna of RPI.
• Speaking with a faculty member about the future of minority life at RPI and discussing my interest in helping.
• Hearing our RPI president speak, first black president of the institution and very noteworthy. She spoke about her dedication to the students and that her thoughts are always with the students of the minority community. One thing that resonated with me is one thing she regrets is not spending more time with students especially the minority students. It was awesome to hear her say that.
• Turning up with my besties and sis! Introducing my sis to her phirstpham. Enjoying good company. Going to bed at 5a, just short of sunrise.
• Zooming down the freeway to make my flight in the NIC of time. 

The hardest thing was saying goodbye to all my friends. Going our separate ways. Not knowing when we'll all be together in one place again. Sucks but I'll have to say it was the BEST $270 I've spent to make [more] memories that will last a lifetime. Spending time with my loved ones is so important to me and I'll have to say I'm SO glad I made the sacrifice to go. Learning to live with no regrets.

              
♥ A.Erika ♥  

inauguration and ladies lunch.

Currently: Laying in the bed SICK, trying to get better because I can't afford to be sick. So hence forth, I should use my time wisely and blog, RIGHT?! I really have a problem with staying still. I should be sleeping or resting but I did that for 5 hours already today and in my mind, that's enough. Probably not though. This year I promise to rest more. It's one of my goals for my vision board, which is still incomplete. Don't judge me though.

The Lindos at the Inauguration 2013.

Anyways, last week around this time, I was sitting in Longhorn's Steakhouse in Laurel, MD, eating dinner and watching the Ravens BEAT up on the Patriots to make it to the SuperBowl, while in full anticipation of the next day: President Obama's 2nd inauguration. While my family went in 2009, I was glad to join my family and other Obama supporters for this momentous occasion. I really cannot explain the experience being there on the National Mall amongst thousands of hopeful and excited people. People from all walks of life. Black, white, asian, indian. Handicapped. International residents. All there to celebrate. It was just....AMAZING! I am so glad that I got to see with my own 2 eyes, Uncle Barry and Uncle Joe taking their oaths. Auntie Shelly slaying with her outfit and laid hair. My cuzzo, Malia and Sasha, killin it in their poppin pea coats. It was a sight to see and proud to say I witnessed it in my lifetime.


Yesterday, I hosted a lunch. At my parent's house. For some of my closest friends in Atlanta. And it was a success, better than I could have ever anticipated! At first I was nervous because I have done anything like this before. Inviting my friends to meet my family. I am SO protective over my family and don't allow just anybody to come to my house because I feel like I am exposing my family. But everybody was just comfortable. Started off with being a ladies lunch but Papa Lindo decided to crash like the White House dinner crashers. Lol. Jamaican food, MANY laughs, family, friends, and CamiCakes is the BEST way to sum up the afternoon and it was a LOVELY combination! I want to make it quarterly event. Hopefully I can have my NY and DC besties come down for one! That would be AWESOME!

♥ A.Erika ♥  

2013: Year of Focus

Happy 2013! As always my new year's post is always delayed. I took the pics above on New Year's Day while watching the Rose Bowl Parade (My new year's day ritual) with all intention of posting later that day. Ehh not so much. Only 16 days into 2013 and my life has been hectic/busy/full/eventful. I still have not done my vision board for this year. I just feel burned out which is odd because you are supposed to feel refreshed for the new year. And to be honest, I just did not feel motivated enough to get my goals on paper for this year. And I thought I was the only one until I read a recent post from one of my new favorite blogs. But everyday, I am feeling renewed and by the end of the month, I will finish listing my goals for this year and do my vision board. I'll even share it.

Every number has a symbolic meaning. The number 13 means chaos and confusion, which I am definitely feeling already. Ironically enough, my pastor declared, FOCUS, as our theme for this year.  Perfect theme. Not allowing ourselves to be distracted by the things that keep you from the goals. Or not allowing ourselves to be distracted by the things that are not priorities. I already had to turn down some great opportunities because I had to set my priorities. And I feel good about my decision. So I encourage you all to decide what's important and FOCUS in the midst because the distractions are coming so be ready! I hope great things for my readers this year!

♥ A.Erika ♥  

Lessons Learned from 2012 [Part II]

Heyyyy! I hope your Christmas and rest of the holiday has been a blast for ya! I'm back for Part II of my Lessons Learned series. If you missed part I, you can read it here. Let's get into it...

• Life is TOO short - I am thankful to make it this far, knowing that some people didn't. From musicians to classmates to wee little first graders, their presence will definitely be missed and their memories will last for a lifetime. I found myself questioning God like why those babies or this person? But then I realized that they have served their purpose on Earth. Also, to use their lives as inspiration to get my life together. I know I take things for granted but I'm learning to prioritize what's important to me. Saying 'I Love You', having ladies night with my friends, spending an entire day with my little brother, Sunday movie trips with the family, reconnecting to old friends and distant family. When it's all said and done, you cant take those material stuff with you. Spend LESS time with 'things' and MORE time with loved ones.
• Receive Love - Sometimes I feel that we block good things that come to us because we do not consider ourselves worthy. I realized if you do not create a space to receive something, it's VERY difficult to receive it, if you do at all. This year I learned to receive my little brother's love. He's very expressive and that came across as overwhelming to me. But that was an internal issue I had to deal with. Who doesnt want to feel genuine care and affection from their siblings? I had to check myself and learn to embrace it because everyone is not as fortunate to have a close and endearing relationship with their siblings.
• Work on Self - Ms. Houston (RIP) said it best, that the greatest love of all is love yourself. With loving yourself, you identify things that hinder you from being your best self. For example, I had to learn to forgive people who hurt me. I've heard forgiveness is for YOU not for the person that wronged you. That is oh so true. Forgiveness is a process but each day I'm trying to forgive. And it's liberating to be completely free from someone who wronged you. One of the best feelings in the world. Additionally, as I'm working on myself, I learned to change my mentality. Have a more positive and encouraging outlook on life. It's amazing when you start to thinking more positively about life, your actions will reflect that. Let this quote marinate: “Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
• Give - The more you give, the more you receive. Whether it be time, money, love, ideas, etc. Picture this: If your hands are full with something, it's difficult to receive anything. It also feels good to give. 

These are my biggest lessons for 2012! What a year it's been! Like always, I am forever grateful for the lessons learned, experiences made, and the unexpected changes that shaped my life. As I am setting my goals for 2013, I have great expectations for this new year. Many things I have planned and can't wait to share. Be safe to all that's going out for NYE. Catch y'all in the new year! Much love!

♥ A.Erika ♥