“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
MLK Day 2017
Happy Thanksgiving!
3 Reasons This Election Matters – Monday Musing
Hello pretties,
So today’s post is a tad bit different for robincharmagne, but this election is so important that I wanted to share with you my lovely readers why you MUST vote in this election. Don’t worry, this will not be a dissertation because for me there are 3 good reasons to vote!
3 Reasons
Local elections
Of course the big vote is for the President, but local elections impact our everyday life. For example, in my county we are electing a new Sheriff. As a citizen, that job is crucial to our community and I want to have a say in who is protecting our county and their views on community policing.
The Supreme Court
Yep, see there is a good chance the next the President will nominate 3 to 4 Supreme Court Justices. Why is this important? Supreme Court decisions affect our daily life – voter ID laws, gun control, a woman’s right to choose, immigration, etc.! If any of these things matter to you, then you better vote for the Presidential candidate that most closely shares your views.
YOU
It is a right, an honor, and a privilege and let’s just be real women and minorities had to fight and die, yes die for this right! So no excuses!
I voted early and there was excitement at the polls, everyone was ready to do their civic duty. I do not care if you vote for HIM or HER. Just vote!
So just for fun, what are you wearing to the poll? Happy voting!
Linking with these lovely bloggers.
Travel Insurance – Let’s Go
Image: personal – Hotel Del Coronado, Coronado, CA
Hello pretties,
Travel is still on the agenda. I know you are thinking it is September 1 and summer is coming to an end and thus your travel adventures. Fear not, there are lots of places to see even as the weather changes and as the holiday season approaches. However, before you start packing, let’s talk travel insurance…
5 Reasons You Need Travel Insurance
1. Once you spend the bucks and the time to get that coveted passport, you guard it with your life. But what happens if your wallet and passport are stolen while you are snapping pictures at Stonehenge.
2. The Farmer’s Almanac said the weather was going to be great, but Hurricane So and So did not get the memo and you have to evacuate that lovely resort.
3. You told your cousin you did not want to rent that cute convertible to travel the curvy roads on the Amalfi Coast. But, Noooo and bam, you hit a guardrail.
4. Trying new foods is always fun when traveling but your stomach is doing somersaults and the room is spinning, you need to visit “el hospital”.
5. Mama said that cheap flight was too good to be true. She was right – Fly Cheaper Airlines is now bankrupt.
Image – personal – Coronado, CA
Yes there are many more scenarios where travel insurance will save your rumpus, but I especially recommend it for any international travel. The prices and coverage varies depending upon the carrier. The cheapest might not provide the level of coverage you need. Conversely, do not overbuy either! Make sure you read the fine print.
Do you consider travel insurance when vacay planning and have you purchased it? Happy Travels!
Linking with these lovely bloggers.
5 Things To Know About Losing A Loved One
Hello pretties,
Oh my, it has been soooo long since I posted. I am so happy to be back with you my lovely readers and friends, missed ya’ lots. Life has been quite challenging with the passing of my Sister and the recent passing of my Dad. A loved one’s passing is a sad time, but a very busy time for you and your family as you plan for their homecoming. This isn’t a sad post, but I wanted to share some observations to help. As my Daddy always said, “You can’t stay here!” so all of us will go through this process and maybe someone will find these tidbits helpful.
On Losing A Loved One
1. Have a conversation with parents, siblings, aunts, etc. about final plans. Yes I know, don’t nobody want to talk about that stuff. But, believe me, it takes a load off of you and your family to know someone’s last wishes. For years, my sister and I wanted pink caskets, that’s just real talk. I felt good knowing we could honor her wishes. Have the talk and right it down – including wills and services.
2. People will offer all kinds of help, accept it!! One of my friends offered to cut my grass. I was raised to be a strong, independent woman, but when things like this happen, you need help and people want to help. Most women take care of everybody else, take the superwoman cape off and let folk take care of you. Made all the difference for me.
3. It is expensive – limos, dove releases, urns, flowers, programs, that stuff adds up. But don’t get stressed about these details. Remember tip #1? Well it helps with this tip because you would have had the conversation about the service, memorial or whatever your loved one wanted. Sticker shock averted.
4. Not everyone will be kind. This was a shocker for me. My phone was blowing up and many days I did not answer it. Most everyone understood and did not take it personally. They just kept calling and texting. I had one person to respond negatively, I addressed it and moved on. No time for other people’s stuff. Appreciate the folks that understand grief. They will keep calling and texting until you are ready!
5. There are no rules to grieving. Some days, you might cry all day. Some days you might go on as if things haven’t changed. Do YOU! Do not let anybody tell you how to grieve. For me, prayer and meditation have made the pain of loss easier to bear.
We are missing my Dad something awful. He was such a cool dude, for real. 100% straight shooter with a love of politics, history, music (#1 Ray Charles Fan), NASCAR, drag racing and most of all, The Corvette, America’s sport car. We will keep his memory in our hearts.
See, told you it would not be a sad post! Thank you so much for your condolences, very much appreciated. This is all part of the Cycle of Life that we all share.
I am back to a regular schedule of posting at least 3 times a week of fashion, home decor, travel and all kinds of stuff in between! And the 4th blogaversary for robincharmagne is right around the corner, look for some fun stuff.
Have a fab week pretties!
Linking with these lovely bloggers.
Truth And Love – Remembering Nickey
Hello pretties,
Truth and Love is on my mind today. I have missed you, my lovely friends and I am glad to be back. Life hit me and my family with a sledge hammer. Last year I posted about my sister Nickey’s cancer and sadly, she transitioned from this life. Today I want to tell you my little sister.
I have said many times Nickey was my real life baby doll. Me and my twin John were never mad at having a little sister. We have adored and spoiled her from day one. I want to leave you with two things about my sister Nickey:
First, Nickey was a truth teller. If y’all remember the episode of The Real Housewives Atlanta, when Sheree said, “Who gon check me boo?” Well Nickey was my checker, because she would as they say keep it 100 and she did just that. Rather than let me veer down a bad path, she would tell me my poop stinked. She called you on your stuff, never with a mean spirit or with malice, but done with so much humor. Nickey really should have been a comedian! Like my Mama, she was naturally funny and with a quick wit. I do believe she missed her calling. It is a blessing to have someone in your life who makes you a better person.
Second, Nickey touched a lot of people, she loved people. I cannot tell you how many times we would be on the phone and she would be telling me about somebody she met at Family Dollar and how she had inspired, motivated, or encouraged a random person in the span of 5 minutes in the checkout line. Nickey was afraid to show love to a total stranger. She could look beyond people’s faults and see their best parts. Non-judgemental. It is a blessing to have someone in your life who loves all of you, flaws and all.
Nickey was really a unique person with a booming personality. Like a cross between Lola Falana and Xena Warrior Princes. It seems like I just talked to her and now she is gone. I have heard people say they have a hole in their heart with the loss of a loved one. And, I don’t think I really quite got it. Like most of us, I would say my condolences, but not until now do I understand that feeling of sadness and loss. I have a hole in my heart. But, I have resolved to take my sister’s gifts of truth and love and put them in that hole to honor her memory. I will miss my baby doll. Rest in peace Nickey!
Linking with these lovely bloggers.
Little Dresses For Africa – Good Cause
Hello pretties,
Little Dresses for Africa is an organization that is near and dear to my heart. As I read the email for this project, I got all teary eyed. I knew this was a service project I would be all over. Growing up a true girly girl, my Mama loved dressing me and my sister in frilly dresses with patent leather mary janes, ruffle socks and grosgrain ribbon in our hair. Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of working along side my sorority sisters to make dresses for this worthy cause. Every little girl deserves to feel cute and special in a new dress. This project was sew easy, get it sew easy. We took a simple pillow case, cut off the top, folded down any ragged edges and then adorned with ribbon or other embellishments. Take a peek…
The finished dresses will be shipped to 31 countries in Africa. A blessing to be a blessing to these little girls. If you would like to know more, click here.
Summer Dressing
Making these dresses from all kinds of patterned pillow cases and ribbons, reminded me of easy summer dressing with a very popular trend – boho chic. Of course it is hot in Africa, but it gets pretty warm here in the South and you need easy, breezy styles to stay cool. The boho chic look is the perfect little dress for summer. I handpicked some of my faves.
I have had the pleasure of participating in many service projects as an Alpha Kappa Alpha woman, but this was by far my most favorite. I hope you will check out this organization.
Tell me about your favorite charitable organization or about volunteer work you love!
Linking with these lovely bloggers.
Image via
Saving Coins For Vacation – Let’s Go
Personal photo – Carnival Breeze- Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Hello pretties,
Saving coins for vacation is always on the agenda because you never know when a fabulous deal could pop up! So, finding this app was right on-time. Summer is just about 20 days away so you have plenty of time to save up for a summer vacay. Qapital is an app that helps you save for anything. Here is how it works…
Download the app from iTunes or Google Play
What do you want to save for?
Name the goal – plane tickets, luggage, or passport fees for example and the saving amount
How will you save? I chose the round-up method
The amount you spend is rounded up to the next $1.00
So fun to see that money adding up
In the above example, the goal is $100 for Souvenir and then you can see my actual goal, round up of a purchase and amount saved! This is a no-brainer and totally free. Just tie to your account and the app does the work. There is a built in fail-safe so you do not overdraw your account and best of all it is FDIC insured, just like with your bank. I thought the round-up method was the easiest way to save, but Qapital offers other methods as well. You can withdraw your money at any time via the app with no fees. This app just rocks and I will have a nice piece of change for summer vacation.
Would you use an app like this to save money?
Linking with these lovely bloggers.
**This post is not sponsored, I’m just psyched about this app! An update, I now have $12 saved up!
Another update: I have saved for multiple trips using this app!
Memorial Day
Brunch – The Public House
Hello pretties,
Brunch is one of my favorite outings on the weekends. It’s one of those meals that offers a wide range of choices, you can go sorta light with a breakfast or get a full belly with lunch. For brunch, I generally go for breakfast since it is still my first meal of the day. Recently I visited The Public House at Hotel Indigo, a funky boutique hotel nestled right in the middle of the burbs. The decor is modern with a hip vibe.
Greeted by these colorful pots – still loving yellow
Beautiful art installation
I need this chair – love the detail
Unique menu presentation
Coffee-Cider Bellini-Breakfast – first time having portobello mushrooms – yummy
Brunch at The Public House Brunch was so delicious and reasonably priced. The menu features Southern favorites with a modern twist. The service was also very good. A special treat was the Server’s history lesson of how the decor was inspired by Nellie Mae Rowe, a local artist who previously owned the property where the hotel is now sitting. Her artwork is featured in the hotel. I will definitely be brunching at The Public House again!
Do you eat breakfast or lunch when you brunch?
Linking with these lovely bloggers.