The Time is Near and I want to simply say THANK YOU!!!

December 12, 2013 is quickly approaching and I must say that I have been waiting a long time for this day to arrive. as I am typing I am already overwhelmed with emotion so I know tears will flow as I am writing this. On the 12th of December I will be graduating from the Art Institute of Charlotte with my Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Marketing & Management!

 

I want to share my testimony because I feel a lot of people have been here and succeeded and others have failed but sharing this will hopefully shed light on anyone who needs that inspiration. As a wide eyes 18yr old I went off to college with the fairy tale of one day becoming a doctor, lawyer, or Indian chief.  Not to say those are not attainable careers but they are the traditional careers that everyone automatically thinks of. Ok,ok maybe not the Indian chief but you get my point. I so wanted to do things the "Traditional Way" and that way of thinking only led me to years of confusion, frustration and wasted time. I fought with myself on what I wanted to do with my life which caused me to jump back and forth between degrees which was getting me absolutely no where. I was letting the ideals of others trap me in my own personal jail with no way of becoming free. Not until I woke up and decided that Courtney had to live for Courtney!

 

At the age of 25 I decided that I was going to take the plunge and go to school for what I was passionate about. That one decision has completely changed my entire life. It was a huge sacrifice and I can tell you that blood sweat and tears have been a constant thru my journey. I had many mixed emotions during my personal walk...was I good enough, do I have what it takes, can I survive and finish the course, will I be able to get a job? Yes, I am woman enough to admit that I have insecurities that I battle with and it doesn't mean that I am not confident it means that I AM HUMAN! Shit I have reservations about myself just like the next person! Coming into a creative field where everyone is driven off of creativity, innovation and individuality is not necessarily the easiest career to cope with. I am getting better at it more and more each day and realizing and accepting that you can only be the best version of you. That is all that is required or expected!

 

With the constant presentations, projects, work load I have made it to the finish line. I have to first thank my God for making the beautiful, talented, creative, loving, sincere woman I have become, and for designing such a beautiful destiny and purpose for my life. I could not be happier for what he has done and what he is going to do! I would like to thank my best friend Connie who has been there for the entire emotional rollercoaster I call my life. Thru the ups and downs, bitching and moaning, excitement and tears she has always been my rock and has always been there to encourage me to go just a little bit further. To the most brave, courageous, loving, kind mother any kid could ask for, you have truly been heaven sent. Not only did I get all of my creativity and innovation from you I also got your endless support, your approval, your ability to let me know that I was always good enough and the fact that you have been and will forever be my best friend that I can share my most vulnerable moments with. You are my #1 fan and God blessed me beyond measure by making you my mother...Thanks mama.

 

The tears are flowing I'm an emotional wreck these days but it has been one of those journeys that you have to express to the ones that took it with you that you couldn't have done it without them.

 

To my Hunni....where do I start.(tears flowing uncontrollably) MAN I just thank you for loving me unconditionally thru all the bullshit. You have been so gentle and kind loving and supporting me no matter how small the problem or how big the dilemma. You have shown me what true love is and you have loved me selflessly even when I could only love myself. You have sacrificed and waited patiently and I will always love you for that. To my love, Thanks! 

 

To my Reebs...my shrimp dumpling you have been there with me thru think and thin, from watching the chaps to helping with projects, to being one of the main people to believe in me when I didn't believe in myself. As family you already had a special place in my heart but during this journey you won an even larger part of my heart that can never be filled by anyone but you. We have had so many great times together and you are the only one I can be my goofy self with. You are my shrimp dumpling, you are my ride or die! Reebs....we ride together, we die together...Bad Boys For Life!!!

 

To all my other friends and family you are all very much appreciated and you all helped in your very own way and I will always be grateful for your continued support!!!

 

My journey hasn't been easy but it has definitely been worth it. My trials have made me the woman that I am and I will always look back at these moments proudly because I was able to get out of my own way!

 

Lord I Thank You!!!



My Summer Bucket list!

Hello beautiful People,

I am finally on break from school for three weeks, yes I know three weeks is not long enough for a summer vacation. I was talking to my best friend and she told me that she had made a small bucket list and was completing it each week. I thought it was an awesome idea and I have decided to do a summer series of my bucket list. Below are the things that I want to accomplish during the summer check it out below:

 

 

This list is a few of the thing I want to accomplish during the summer. I will be in school over the summer so I had to make realistic goals that I would be able to accomplish while pretty much having limited leisure time. I am super excited and I can't wait to get started. I will be sharing each experience with you guys. I wanted to do this because it is something about achieving goals that is so liberating.

 

What are you guys interested in doing this summer? Have you set goals that you want to accomplish? And not just professional goals but goals that bring you joy and achievement in other ways. I am doing this because it is something that will bring me happiness and joy in my life as an individual this is in no relation to my professional goals. This list is for my personal growth and embracing things that are needed for me to grow as a human being.

 

I want to be successful in life and that equates professionally, mentally, physically and emotionally. You have to challenge all of these in order to be complete.

 

Challenge yourself to things that make you happy, set goals and complete them. You will be surprised on how renewed you feel.

 

Until next time continue living life with Passion and Purpose.

 

 

~Courtney



What would you do without your BESTFRIEND?

This post is about one of the most amazing women in my life, she is none other than my bestie Connie. She is no longer just a friend she is my family, my sister, my most trusted confidant. We have been inseparable since I met her back in 2004 during our freshman year at North Carolina Central University on the 9th floor of Eagleson Hall.

Wow it seems so long ago, I'm getting old! lol The first few times we spent together I knew this woman would be in my life forever and now May 2013 we are thick as thieves. Have we had our ups and downs...of course that is in any friendship but I can tell you that it has made us closer than ever before. Check out Thelma & Louise below:

 

Let me tell you guys the definition of a best friend or at least what my best friend is to me! My bestie Connie is my ROCK she is the only person who truly knows me inside and out. She is the first person I talk to in the morning and the last person I talk to before I go to sleep. She is the person I go to when my insecurities are disabling my potential, when my man ain't acting right, when I'm excited, happy or sad. She is my one in a lifetime true Confidant! 

 

I'm pulling a few lines from a movie or two so don't judge me it is the easiest way to show you guys the love I have for this chick. lol  I carry her in my spirit, I pray for her more than I pray for myself! She makes my life complete, she is the ying to my yang, she is the woman who will stand before myself and God when I vow to love a man for the rest of my life, she will be the godmother of my children. She will forever have a large chunk of my heart and the bond that we share can never be broken.

 

On a lighter note we do some silly things to like...add our names in our favorite songs, have the most inappropriate conversations, eat whole Crabs like two grown men, call each other on every commercial break of our favorite shows and I pick on how OCD she is.

 

The moral of this post is that my best friend is my biggest source of inspiration, bravery, courage, love, friendship, happiness and joy. She is one of my biggest cheerleaders always telling me how proud she is and supporting and helping me with any and everything I need. She tells me the truth even when I don't want to hear it or accept it and she loves and accepts me for ME! Now this is what you call a best friend.

 

 

We all want that confidant that  you  were destined by God to spend the rest of your life with. I am so blessed that God blessed me with her, he knew exactly who to send to make that part of my being complete and I am forever grateful for her.

 

My man is also  best friend but there is nothing like being able to have a conversation with a woman that knows exactly how you feel. It is one of the most liberating and refreshing feelings in the world.

 

Embrace..Love...Acknowledge your best friends they are one of life's most precious gifts! 

 

Until next time Continue to live life with passion and purpose!!!

PUT UP OR...SHUT UP!!!

Hello Beautiful People,

It has been a minute and boy have I missed talking to you guys. I have been an emotional wreck over the last few days and I probably wouldn't have been so Bitchy if I would have came here sooner. I have so many random things going on in my head right now so this post will be a rollercoaster ride but stay with me.lol

First things First!!! I will be graduating from the Art Institute of Charlotte in December 2013 and I am as happy as can be! I have waited 3 long years to walk across this stage and I am going to enjoy every  moment of it. It has been an amazing experience, I  was given the chance to live my dream and learn the knowledge that feeds the passion yearning within me. I have had this passionate love affair with fashion for years and now it is finally becoming my career reality. I have so many ideas of ways to make my mark on this earth and graduating will be the biggest milestone to making my dreams come true.

My Fashion and Lifestyle Blog All Things Fashion with CFC is growing and between working on this and school I get very little time to have a life. And let me tell you it SUCKS! I just knew that my life would look like...

Yeah I bet all of you thought your social life would look like a scene out of Sex and the City! My social life is just about non-existent. I have amazing friends and family but I have ambitions and responsibilities as well. I would love to hang out with my loves but my ambitions have taken over my life. Opportunities wait on no one and if I don't work hard to achieve my dreams they will never become my reality. I have a teacher who is somewhat a mentor and she has taught me how valuable time is and how important it is to cease the moment. I have taken that and devoted the way I spend my time and the way I think about allocating my time.

The funny thing is that my friends and family have accepted that my ambition and drive is what makes my life so sweet. I am dedicated to making the things I love the most help me succeed. I am determined to become the woman I have always known I could be. With or without the support of others because the people who believe in me understands, respects and supports the fact that I am doing this to better myself and not to hurt or be malicious by not giving them the time they deserve. I thank you all for your support you have helped me thru some tough times and I appreciate all of my friends and family and I am always there for you...maybe not always physically but in spirit.
I go weeks and even months without talking to friends and family, we are all making a life for ourselves and that's how it gets. The everyday grind confines you but when you do get that phone call or dinner date it is just like old times picking up were we left off. Friendship is such a beautiful thing and I thank each and every one of my friends you are better than all the rest!!!

Gotta tell you guys about my man real quick!!!

Thank God for good men and lets thank him three more times for my good man.lol I know personally that God put this man on earth especially for ME! I couldn't ask for a better partner, best friend, confidant, protector, provider, lover, punching bag, MAN! He has accepted me flaws and all, he deals with my bitching and nagging and he does the simplest things to satisfy my every need. He is so thoughtful and kind and he is my number one fan. How did I get so lucky? God sent one of his toughest warriors to watch over one of his most delicate angels and I will forever be grateful for this blessing. He knows who he is ...Love ya BOO!!!

I've rambled long enough and my eyes are getting heavy. I hope you all enjoy a glimpse into a day in the life of Courtney. Until next time....Live life with Passion and Purpose!!!

~Courtney

MOTHERHOOD...AM I READY?

Sitting in the bed on this dreary Saturday afternoon catching up on a few of my favorite blogs and I came across several posts on motherhood and how being a mother is the best reward life has given.

As I sit here I begin thinking about motherhood...could I really see myself as someone's mom??? Over the years I have always made it very clear that I do not want kids but as I get older my sentiments are changing. Driving to school I may see a mother walking her daughter to school and I think how cute, I would love to experience that and then I stop and think...nah not me I don't want to be a mommy. I have been reading about how amazing and life changing becoming a mother is and my heart feels warm and I get a feeling in the pit of my stomach. I begin to realize that I DO one day want to be rewarded with a precious little angel.

(image from Google)

 

I want to do what God has made us to do...reproduce. How powerful is that gift/blessing? Being able to bring a human being in this world is one of the biggest sacrifices, responsibilities and gifts anyone could ever experience. I want to feel my seed growing inside of me, I want to experience crazy midnight cravings, getting as big as a beach whale while making my husband tell me how beautiful and sexy I am, wearing maternity clothes, being able to be fat and it's ok, crying over any ridiculous thing I encounter, my husband at my disposal, parking in the mothers expecting space, driving my mom crazy and being super bitchy. Yes I have a lot to look forward too, I can't wait!

 

 I want to experience the bond of mother and child, I want to experience the love and survival instinct you get when becoming a mother, I want to watch my child grow and experience life, I want to teach them life lessons, send them to their grandmas house, ground them, and do all the things my mom did with me. I have seen mothers speak of motherhood and they glow when describing the unconditional love and much rewarding sacrifice from becoming MOM.

 

I mean look at the angel in the picture...that look alone makes you melt and want to cuddle with her all day long.lol

 

Am I saying that I am ready to be a mother right now...HELL NO! What I am saying is that one day I will become the wife of the man of my dreams and we will create the most precious and loved human being. I will love them forever, I will love them for always! I will be the best mom with God and Prozac's help. (just kidding).  Creating an extension of me will be my biggest and most rewarding accomplishment! Loving and reproducing is what comes most natural to us and I one day will be able to hear a little voice calling me mommy and it will forever be that I will always be yours and you will always be mine!!!

 

Years from now when I'm ready to get married and start a family the question of AM I READY TO BE SOMEONE'S MOMMY will be answered!!!

 

Until then...I'm fine with the occasional babysitting.

 

 

~Courtney

DAMN UNPRETTY...

I was in the car the other day and TLC Unpretty came on. I was listening to the lyrics and I realized how important the message of this song is to the youth and a lot of grown ass women today. Check out the lyrics to the song below:

 I wish I could tie you up in my shoes
Make you feel unpretty too
I was told I was beautiful
But what does that mean to you
Look into the mirror who's inside there
The one with the long hair
Same old me again today (yeah)

My outsides look cool
My insides are blue
Every time I think I'm through
It's because of you
I've tried different ways
But it's all the same
At the end of the day
I have myself to blame
I'm just trippin'

[Chorus]
You can buy your hair if it won't grow
You can fix your nose if he says so
You can buy all the make-up that mac can make
But if you can't look inside you
Find out who am I, too
Be in a position to make me feel so damn unpretty

Find the reflection you see to be so damn unpretty

Never insecure until I met you
Now I'm in stupid
I used to be so cute to me
Just a little bit skinny
Why do I look to all these things
To keep you happy
Maybe get rid of you
And then I'll get back to me (hey)

My outsides look cool
My insides are blue
Everytime I think I'm through
It's because of you
I've tried different ways
But it's all the same
At the end of the day
I have myself to blame
I can't believe I'm trippin'

[Chorus: x2]

As I reflect back on what I've used and abused
And detect that I need some clues to get through
To those that accused me of never being true
I'll lose if I play into this game and never know the rules
So how do I bring out the me nobody sees
The forest for the trees, how 'bout the woman behind the weave
The light from within this life is the only real remedy
Or find the reflection you see to be so damn unpretty

Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh (oh)
Find the reflection you see to be so damn unpretty
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh (oh)
Find the reflection you see to be so damn unpretty

 

 

This song is a perfect reflection of how men are dictating what women in society should look like. I don't want to stereotype my men so fellas if this doesn't apply to you, know not to take it personal. Anyway, men have led women to believe that you are not "bad', "dope", "fine', "beautiful", "gorgeous", if you don't possess beautiful glowing light skin, a nice rack(breasts), flat stomach, small waist, big hips and a donkey booty(thanks Phaedra)lol Men lets keep it real...you expect all of this from us but exactly what are you bringing to the table? The last time I checked none of you were Idris Elba so you have some nerve.lol

 

Back to being serious...women have accepted these ridiculous expectations from men and have accepted making drastic changed to their bodies in order to fit in with society standards. It is time to pinch yourself and wake up ladies. Like the lyrics in this song, do not lose who you are and the beauty that you hold in order to try to please a man. We must accept our beauty and take on the mindset that....I KNOW MY CREATOR DIDN'T MAKE NO MISTAKES ON ME!

 

We need to acknowledge the beauty inside, a man can use up all the beautiful "PARTS" of your exterior but having dignity, a sense of self worth and love for your self is something no one can tarnish unless you let them. We need to inform our young ladies that you set your standards never let a man set the standards for your life!

 

Set your standard for beauty and rock the hell out of it! An amazing man will acknowledge your beauty from the inside and then admire your outer beauty. Give yourself the Power, never give someone the power over you.

 

 

Food for Thought!!!

 

~Courtney

In that MOMENT...

In the heated moment of battle between two lovers are all bets off? Do the gloves come off and any harsh, foul, and unthinkable shot, fair game???

Uhhhhhh NO!!!! Well in my eyes you should never say harsh and foul things to your lover because in that one moment you are going to say something one day that your mate will NEVER forget! That harsh and unforgettable statement will crush your lovers heart and they will hold it against you for the rest of your life.
*** OK, I can hold a grudge...for a really long time.lol
I'm a hopeless romantic and when I think of love I think the opposite of Tina Turners " What's love but a second hand emotion" I think of love as our life line, loving someone is what comes most natural to us. And when it comes to falling in love with that special someone ...

My sentiments exactly!!! When arguing with your mate these emotions don't go away, or do they? When you say the most unthinkable comments to break down your mates spirit does that really equate love??? Are you really showing your love by intentionally hurting your mate?

 

My thoughts...If you "LOVE" me you would never intentionally say things that would crush my spirit, dig at my insecurities, taunt my biggest fears and question my love for you. I am aware and a victim of sometimes saying things during an argument that I later apologize for because it may have been inappropriate but I have never went for the juggler. I would never want to hurt my mate, my lover, best friend, confidant, my boo-thang. 

 

Proving that you love me is being able to be angry with me and still guard my feelings in the process. Knowing that I am vulnerable and that you would never use any of my vices against me in order to win a fight. Loving me past my error and accepting me as I am.

 

Giving up on your mate is losing consciousness and allowing yourself to demean and crush the one you love. Through adversity and tests that are presented in relationships, as a unit your responsibility is to work through the pain and accept each situation as it is. In arguments you win some and you lose some but to disrespect and give up on your mate by saying the unthinkable is unfair.

 

After an argument where your mate has spun out of control, lost consciousness and said the unthinkable what do you do?

 

In that moment you realize how fast  love can turn to hate, and if you are willing to give up or fight for what you two share.

 

One part of you wants to say fuck off, and  keep it moving with your life but that other half of your heart is saying I Love Him!!! Which side of the heart do you compromise...

 

Love is a tricky thing, at one moment they are the love of your life and they complete you, they are everything you dreamed in a man or a woman and are the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. Until that moment when love has been deceived by that very person, and your thoughts of them change forever.

 

The deciding factor is time, deciding if this is really the person you want as a mate, and will you be able to forgive that unforgivable comment...IN THAT MOMENT???

 

 

Are you able to revive a relationship after the unthinkable was said IN THAT TRAGIC MOMENT?

 

feel free to comment below:

 

Thanks for reading!!!

 

~Courtney