Ride or Die!

Dear Blog...

I ran into some old friends today - not old in age but old as in steady, long term, continuous, ride or die, thick or thin, up or down, for better or worse kind of friends.  The kind whenever our paths cross, our hearts shiver with excitement and flood with memories.  Today our kindred spirits rose in agreement as we conversed, jumping in before the other could finish, trying to catch up on all our new developments in that very moment between the Keurig coffee maker demonstrations and the housewares (by the way, that chai latte really gave me life!)  Shame on our husbands and boo's whenever they happen to be with us - it must be torture for them to have to wait on us - uhm, oh well - they may never understand the power of the girl bond.  I bet they be thinking, oh damn - not again. Lol.

left to right:  Me & sisters Sherry & Judy - Forever Friends!
 

On a rather serious note though, I was going through a very rough patch with my husband's sudden onset of pancreatitis in 2006 when Sherry called to let me know their mom, Ms. Julia was in the hospital.  I planned to visit her but before I could, my husband's condition worsened and I couldn't bear to leave his side.  At that time, Sherry called to tell me their mom passed and gave me the date of the funeral.  I felt really bad and expressed my condolences with all intentions of attending the funeral. As the day approached, however, my husband took another turn for the worse, slipped into a coma and was rushed to ICU where he later died before my eyes. I thought my world had ended!  Although I was in a state of shock, detachment and incoherency, I will never forget the support I received and felt from this family at my husband's funeral and at the burial.  They didn't hold it against me that I wasn't able to attend their mom's service but they were compassionate and understanding, sympathetic and sincere.  As fate would have it, their mom and my late husband are now resting just a few feet apart.

 

So, what I'm saying is like our situation, you don't know when life will serve you a platter that will turn your world upside down and you need your ride or die around.

 

It's those situational moments that differentiate the casual friends from the ride or die.

Whatever the case may be, cherish them because real friendships are priceless assets that appreciate with the test of time...Sherry and Judy are just two of mine. 

 

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Thanks for the company.

 

 

TGBTG        

 

It's Time to Move!

Dear Blog,

Moving day is here and it comes with a heightened sense of anticipation or perhaps a crippling sense of anxiety, second-guessing and discombobulating thoughts-thoughts that we've wrestled with way too long.  We admit, our current situation is no longer serving us - we're cramped, the environment is no longer conducive for growth, what started out as a high equity situation has now depreciated. What used to have curb-appeal is now an eyesore, what used to breathe life into us has now sucked us dry!  The passion we once had has now dwindled to a mere force of action--we are going through the motions without purpose or passion, just choo-chooing along, perpetrating and emulating.

No, this is not a physical move, it's much more - it's your life honey and your message to the world!  So why then is making a decision about your life, your spirituality, your career, your relationship, your family, your church, your children, your parents, your livelihood so complicated!  I'll tell you why -  because we fear the unknown and we fear the judgment of others.  Bump them!  Do you boo!  Make that change!  I can't tell you what that is for you but I will tell you this - change is inevitable and if you don't make it on your own, change has a way of creeping up on us by force and God knows that is one of the most excruciating, uncomfortable and agonizing places to find yourself in.  Once you come out of it, you're so beat up and stripped that all you want to do is breathe - and nothing more.

One thing I know for sure about my life is that "it didn't go as planned" and today I have no regrets because my situation has flipped - my loss has turned out to be my gain for I gained new life but it wasn't without struggle.  I have a greater and deeper appreciation for those things that others take for granted; I have a new love and a new lease; a new passion and new adventures, I'm reading and writing and blogging and loving and living and it feels so damn good!  So go ahead take that step - start packing, de-cluttering, renovating, redecorating, downsizing, upsizing and doing the work.  Tell your past, "I no longer live there" and move on -  a new neighborhood awaits you!

 

Today's blog was inspired by You

 

Thanks for the company!

TGBTG



Vision Board Video Updates

Hello Everyone, thanks for checking back in.  My planning team came together to make our Vision Boards prior to our scheduled Vision Board Party, here are some pictures and clips:

 Vision Board Project Introduction 

Clorissa's nicely done video wouldn't upload so here's a pic
 

The Dining Room became our Workstation

 

  Terri's Vision Board Presentation

Thanks for the company.  Don't forget to "like" this post on fb, leave your comments and visit my blog often at www.projectsbylolo.blogspot.com 

"Where there is no vision..."

 

Coming Up:  Nickel & Dime Designs - New Butcher Block Counter Top (as shown above) and Lanterns you can make yourself



Nickle & Dime Designs

So, if you really knew me you would know that I have several passions which you will see manifested through my blogs on Project Lolo.  My purpose is to inspire others.

 

In addition to my love for writing and blogging, one of my greatest passions is decorating.  Most of my friends and family can attest to this.  Some of my clients have been amazed at what I can do on a budget - simple things that they would probably never think of themselves.  Some of which I will share with you.

 

Stay tuned for regular blogs on decorating by combining high end furnishings with thrift, yard sale & Craigslist finds.  I tell you my Boo wouldn't be caught at a yard sale and had not used Craigslist til he met me - even then he didn't think I could find anything worthwhile but I proved him wrong - he is now a believer.  Not only that but now he shares in my passions by enthusiastically embracing my ideas like refinishing some of my nickel and dime finds (see his skills on the cabinet below - he's really good at it too):

I purchased the cabinet on the left from a lady in Churchland - it had 6 drawers and 2 cabinets on the bottom and was pretty old but in good shape.  I wanted a functional piece of furniture that I could use as a tv stand/media center.  Reg sanded it down with 100 grit sandpaper, painted it black, distressed it using 200 grit sandpaper, cleaned it with TSP and placed a coat of furniture wax on it.  He removed the two top middle cabinets & painted the insides black.  He drilled holes in the back of the 2 open shelves for the cords to the media components that are now stored inside.  Viola!  Now I have a beautifully distressed, vintage looking media cabinet that only cost me a few bucks.  #winning

Initial Sanding

Cleaning the wood with TSP before painting

Painted drawers left to dry



Distressed Edges



Enjoying my distressed/vintage media cabinet.

I hope you enjoyed my blog - thanks for the company.

Follow me at projectsbylolo.blogspot.com

Upcoming topics:  Tuscan style kitchen Island & matching bar stools - a Craigslist Find
Installing Bamboo Floors & an Acacia Wood Kitchen Bar
Vintage Window Pane Wall Hangings
Bathroom Wall of Pallets
Mounted wall lanterns


 



ViSioN BoARds

Hello my friends, I'm back and I want to talk to you about Vision Boards or Dream Boards.  Before I tell you about my personal board, I will share some info for those who may not know what a Vision Board is:

A Vision Board is a visual representation of your goals and desires.  It is usually created by cutting pictures from magazines that represent how or where you see yourself in the future.  It represents such personal goals as getting married, having children, buying a house, losing weight, getting baptized, finishing school, etc.  The pictures are then pasted onto a poster board.  This board is then displayed in a highly visible location (wall, closet door, bathroom, office) that will allow you to keep your attention focused on your dream.  By participating as a group, the Vision Board project allows you to clarify and openly verbalize your desires and intentions before others - thus giving power to your desires, putting them in the atmosphere while also engaging others to support your success.

Your personalized Vision Board then becomes "a simple and powerful visualization tool that activates the universal law of attraction to begin manifesting your dreams into reality" - and it really works!  Vision Boards are endorsed and highly recommended by the likes of Oprah, Steve Harvey, Jim Carrey and many more. 

I created a Vision "Fan" (see picture) on July 25, 2011 and I am literally amazed at the things that have manifested in my life since.  As a matter of fact, God blessed me with greater than I had even imagined and I have not been happier!  Those who really know me know that 8 years ago when I lost my husband unexpectedly then subsequently went though another traumatic experience on my job - I thought my life had ended.  Guess what my friends, it had only just begun.

Thus Project LOLO was formed as a way of involving myself in projects that would motivate me to Live On after Losing a love One - so the acronym LOLO is not just my nickname.  My desire is to inspire others - that's my passion and in the upcoming days/weeks/months you will see more blogs about my writing, decorating, vision board projects and more.

Speaking of Vision Board projects, if you're interested in participating in the Vision Board Party scheduled in early December, please contact me via fb or at projctlolo@gmail.com or one of my team members Terri Folston Hoffler or Clorissa Hollingshed via facebook.

Good bless!