#ReadingChallange: The Shack

#ReadingChallenge

If this is your first time tuning in to my #ReadingChallenge, here's the skinny: For 2013 one of my personal challenges is to read one book a month. This has in turn become a blog challenge where I review each book I read and where necessary get some influences from each book.

I waited for months for 'The Shack' by WM Paul Young to get around my family before I could get the chance to read it.

I'll admit that I wanted to read it more so I could get into the excitement and to be able to actively join in on the conversations...I guess you could consider my reading it as somewhat 'peer pressure.'

Honestly, the first chapter or so was a bore to read. I think I may have expected the excitement of it all to start from page one; or at least that there would have been some captivating storyline. Young explained that the book was written based on conversations with the main character of the book - Mackenzie Phillips - who is said to have had the experience with the shack in question.


My first puzzled look came after the big tragedy (I won't go into much detail since you may actually want some kind of surprise should you decide to read it). Some of the events surrounding it seemed too 'coincidental' to be true, and while anything could have happened and all that jazz, it was [for lack of a better term] 'too perfect a tragedy.'

As I continued going through the book there were ups and downs. At times Young was amazingly descriptive and I almost felt that I was there; then at another point it was almost as though he was lost in thought and rambled for a few paragraphs.

I've read other Christian books in the past, and while they may not have been solely focused on the bible, there was mention or reference to it at least once. Bearing in mind that The Shack is of a Christian context, I know I was expecting the pop up of a bible verse or two....if not literally, then at least in a strong figurative sense that was simply enough for even a new believer to grasp.


My #ReadingChallenge rating for The Shack:

In a nutshell....the author's conversations with Phillips must have been pretty boring conversation at times. Maybe I expected too much from the text, but I was honestly a bit disappointed with the storyline. On the other hand, it does have strong and moving spiritual aspects, but I'm still a bit puzzled that it had nothing specifically tied back to the bible. I hoped for an awesome eye-opener, but got an ok read instead.


If you give this book a read, comment on this post and let me know what you think of it!

#ReadingChallenge: Untold Story

#ReadingChallenge

If this is your first time tuning in to my #ReadingChallenge, here's the skinny: For 2013 one of my personal challenges is to read one book a month. This has in turn become a blog challenge where I review each book I read and where necessary get some influences from each book.

Princess Diana could easily be called the world's sweetheart, and though she died when I was really young, when I saw Untold Story by Monica Ali I couldn't resist picking it up.

The book is a bit controversial I'm sure because it's written from the angle that Princess Diana's fatal accident was staged and that it was her way of getting out of the monarchy to enjoy life otherwise. One could easily wonder 'what would Princess Diana be like if she were still alive' and the book somewhat gives you the chance to go down that line of thinking.

I'll admit that Ali gives the story a bit of a twist by making some changes to facts (probably for legal reasons), but then giving somewhat of an inside peek into the life of Diana that only those close to her would have known (using some factual information of course). She writes from the view of different characters and sometimes things got confusing because the different characters would sometimes give the results of an issue long before explaining the problem....of even addressing it. 

Though I was intrigued to keep reading, the language used at times made it a bit of a challenge to follow. With the Princess being British there was mention of colloquial British terms that folks of the western world may not easily pick up on.

My #ReadingChallenge rating for Untold Story:

I really did want a bit more from the book than I got. It was a good story with some twists and mystery included, and although the last few chapters had me a bit shocked, I was hoping for something more 'unexpected' to happen. It was a good bit of creative writing though, and Ali did a fair job of making it feel realistic.

If you give this book a read, comment on this post and let me know what you think of it!

5 things I think you MUST teach kids

It's Child Month in Jamaica and a lot of attention is being given to child related and even some parenting related issues. Children getting attention is surely not a bad thing, especially since many children in Jamaica face neglect and miss out on all the love they deserve.

I'll add too how glad I am to see that there is some attention being given to reminding parents of their responsibilities as parents; especially since children are often called 'sponges' (figuratively of course) based on the fact that they absorb information like a sponge absorbs water.

There are many behaviours that kids 'suck up' from their environments and when these behaviours are negative or blatantly anti-social, I often have no qualms about blaming the parents who seem to have their kids living a 'free-for-all' life, and not teaching them what I believe are important that should be taught and embraced from an early age.

Since I have no kids now some parents may read this and say that I can say whatever I want because I don't understand, there are five things I believe every child MUST be taught/understand early, so as to ensure that the positive behaviours continue with them throughout their lives.

Here's my take (feel free to agree or disagree): 

1. Money management: 
From early ages, children should have an understanding and appreciation for saving and spending money. Nobody is expecting a child to fill a piggy bank in a week! But at least get them into the habit of putting even a few cents into a saving tin when they get money. It would also be a good idea to never tell them 'I don't have the money right now' but then you go buying some random thing for yourself....that would definitely send the wrong message.

2. Gender equality: 
Yes, I went there. I'm honestly over this talk about 'boy and girl colours' and 'boy and girl tasks'.....and I'm surely not about nasty kids who don't clean up after themselves. So instead of making a girl do this and a boy do that, how about having all your kids doing every task. Regardless of gender all children (by the time they are 17) should be able to cook and clean for themselves....regardless of gender! It's not about child labour, but instead it's about giving them manageable takes for their age. If not, how will they survive when they go off to college or leave the house (because they will leave...unless you had plans to baby someone until you die).

3. Punishment: 
Each child is different and that's how punishment should be....unless you have somewhat of a Brady Bunch, in which a situation of group punishment is probably your best option lol. Seriously though, kids need to understand from an early age that every action causes a reaction and that they are expected to be more responsible for their actions as they get older. Of course for any system of punishment to be balanced, the parents and caregivers must work together, and they must also ensure that children are praised when praise is due.

4. Giving back and civic pride: 
Charity and civic pride should be a part of any home. With charity, nobody expects that you will give up your all and everything but at least ensure that some aspect of social responsibility With civic pride, there are just some things that your child should know about the country they live in and where they were born. Not to mention the fact that both giving back and civic pride can teach respect for self, for the environment and for their country. 

5. Skills, talents and an education:
In my family, parents do their best to ensure that their children get an education while also honing individual talents and skills. Holistic development is obviously the best choice for all children and by mixing their natural talents with the opportunities for a good education the child gets the chance to be the best they possibly can be. This mix gives the child the chance to learn how to balance their live...which is something that will do wonders for them as they get older!


So there goes that...my top 5 things I believe each child must learn/understand. There are many other things I believe that kids need to get into their brains from early....but that's another post.

Come to think of it, I think I have a few more posts about 21stCenturyKids up my sleeve!

#ReadingChallenge: The Power of Giving

#ReadingChallenge

If this is your first time tuning in to my #ReadingChallenge, here's the skinny: For 2013 one of my personal challenges is to read one book a month. This has in turn become a blog challenge where I review each book I read and where necessary get some influences from each book.

Adding a bit of non-fiction to my list, I read 'The Power of Giving' by Azim Jamal and Harvey McKinnon. It was so good!

Some may say my opinion is biased because I already have an appreciation for philanthropy and it's benefits to the society at large....and that is one of the reasons I think it's a really good book. (duh)

Honestly though, there's also the fact that based on how the book is written, persons who wouldn't normally care much for giving back, are given simple and practical ways that you can give back to those in need without putting yourself in a challenging position.

The book is focused on 'how giving back enriches us all' and is broken down into chapters that look at the 5 W's (who, what, where, when and why) of  giving back at home, at work and in the wider community. It even adds some insight to corporate giving and includes an idea of how you can assess need, select a project/group to assist, then pool your funds/friends/resources to get the job done.

It's not a huge book either, so whether you're reading for personal or for work related reasons, the book is a great eye-opener and shouldn't be too hard on you since it has engaging content.

My #ReadingChallenge rating for The Power of Giving:

My unbiased opinion is that it really is a good book, and it's 100% worth the read whether you give back often or rarely. The language and tone are so easygoing and the book may really just give you the reminder that if you have the ability to give to someone else you should make it your moral responsibility.

If you give this book a read, comment on this post and let me know what you think of it!

here's to turning 23

 
In a matter of days I'll be turning 23.

That's a mere two years away from being a quarter of a century....which could or could not be a bad thing. I'll say it's definitely not a bad thing, because each birthday is a celebration of life....and that's something that's taken from many each day.

After a particular conversation with my Grandma about celebrating another birthday and being grateful for the lessons learnt; I actually started looking back at the year's I've had, and thinking about what I've learnt. Here's more or less what I realised:

1. Money isn't the root of all evil....greed is!

2. In this the 21st century, it's better for you to know a little about 100 things than everything about one thing. This doesn't mean you need to be a 'jack of all trades' it really just means you need to open your mind to appreciating other things that may not be your norm.

3. The siblings you thought were the most annoying folks when you were a child, they will never not be annoying....but you'll appreciate them for their every ounce of annoyance as you get older.

4. Being your own 'biggest fan' is very important because not one soul will appreciate your accomplishments, goals, and dreams more than you....fortunately the real people in your life will support you anyway.

5. Many people will be 'there for you' until they really have to be there for you. Know who to trust and who you can really depend on.

6. No matter how much you 'break the mold' and counter a stereotype, there's going to be those one or two folks who believe so strongly in that stereotype that you don't phase them....don't let them bring you down, just prove them wrong.

7. Good relationships are 60% give and 40% get. That's where both persons are giving 60% and expecting only 40% in return (if you did the math then you get that it means both partners are benefiting)....if it's otherwise, just forget it.

8. There's nothing wrong with being a little bit selfish....if you overextend yourself for everyone else, then you wont have much use to yourself cause you'll be all burnt out.

9. The arts will by far be the best means of expression...there's a dance, song, piece of art or piece of writing that will perfectly describe how you feel all the time.

10. School does not teach you everything you need to know....and it's quite likely that it never will. Some things you will just have to learn yourself.

11. Do what you love...because having a career you love (with decent pay) is much more fulfilling than having a job you hate (but it pays your bills)....unless you can get the best of both worlds...and in that case: carry on!

12. Yes companies expect you to have experience, and yes you need a job to gain experience...but there's a way around that...it's called volunteering....you know that thing people seem to not be too interested in these days.

13. For many, charity isn't sexy (thanks to the bar set by most ad campaigns and music videos)....at least not unless there's a bikini or seductive voice involved....and that would kinda just be weird.

14. More often than not, there is someone out there who is less fortunate than you are. It doesn't mean you need to try and swap lives with them, but at least lend a helping hand.

15. Self assessment is necessary. Every couple months or once a year look at where you are in life and where you want to go, as well as the decisions you've made and the result of those decisions. It should help to give you a little direction and help you somewhat track your accomplishments.

16. Laughing is really the best medicine for every situation. Whether you're laughing at yourself, your friends, random folks or whatever...just don't be mean....that ain't cute.

17. Misery LOVES company...but don't try to make other persons miserable because you're feeling crappy. It's also a good idea to avoid the company of miserable people. Try to help them feel better, and if it doesn't work then move away until the person actually wants/needs you.

18. TEDtalks are the perfect source of motivation! There are hundreds of talks about so many different things across the globe. When you have no motivation to do work...spend it wisely watching some TEDtalks.

19. Take risks and grab opportunities as they come...even if they all don't pay. Who knows which opportunities will get you to exactly where you want to be. Just be sure to check it all out before you dive head first.

20. Social media is one of the greatest 21st century 'inventions' ever....but if not used correctly and in somewhat of moderation, this collection of tools can waste all your 'dream chasing' time and possibly get you into serious issues...just remember that your virtual impressions are lasting.

21. Believe in someone/something greater than yourself. My beliefs are based on Christianity, but in respecting and appreciating other views, I'm not gonna say you MUST choose to believe in God....but I will say, sort out your spirituality! 

22. Someone out there will love you, and someone out there will hate you (these folks may be different from the ones who stereotype you). Never allow the persons who hate you to determine how you live your life and whether or not you achieve your goals.

23. Stop trying to make lemonade when life gives you lemons! You're way too unique for that...make something unexpected instead.

GetOrganised: organising your bedroom

GetOrganised

For March 2013, each Sunday I'll be helping you to GetOrganised. I'll share tips and tricks aimed at making organisation work for you...noting of course how you could possibly tweek everything to suit your needs.

This post is the last of the official GetOrganised series and for this post I hope to leave you with some simple practical ways to organise things around your room.We'll look at giving clothing, shoes, accessories, linens and your beauty products a more organised place to call home.

1. Making sense of your loads of clothes
We all have clothing in our closets and drawers that we haven't worn in ages and probably will never wear again. Not to mention the stuff that we have never worn but 'will soon wear' (yea right); or the things you find and say 'OMG I didn't even remember I had this.'

If you want to just make sense of what you have....
In your closet, use hanger dividers (you can buy them or check out this video to see how you can make them yourself) and pretty much just put your clothing into categories: dresses, shirts, skirts, pants, party, seasonal, etc.
For your drawers, simply place different articles of clothing into a different drawer; that way all your tops for example are together and a bit easier to find. If by chance one particular item of clothing cannot fit into one drawer, it may be a sign that maybe it's time to get rid of some stuff....or you need to fold them better.

If you need to figure out what's worth keeping and what needs to go.... 
In your closet, turn all the hangers in one direction and push everything as close to the left side of the closet as possible. Use a  hanger divider or something similar to mark where it ends. Everytime you wear something and it's ready to be hung back up, put it to the right side of the closet. At the end of a set period of time (maybe a month or four months, depending on how you wear your clothing); whatever is still on the left side is what you need to go through to donate, trade or dump.

For your drawers it's a bit trickier...I suggest you go through them one drawer at a time. Divide the contents of each drawer into four piles: 'must keeps', 'possibly keep', 'seasonal', and 'ready to go.' Whatever you are 100% ready to let go of should be placed in a bag and donated, traded or dumped ASAP; while seasonal garments should have one drawer to themself if possible (it helps to eliminate the confusion). Must keeps should have a draw for themself and the 'possibly keep' items should be put in a drawer together. When something from the 'possibly keep' drawer is worn, re-assess whether the item is to be kept or gotten rid of.



2. Keeping shoes together
With two feet, it would be nice to always be able to find both feet of shoes. The problem is that sometimes we take shoes off and knock them to one spot, then somehow one shoe in the pair goes missing....and when you need to wear them (and have no time to search) is when you're tearing the place apart to find it.

Besides maybe just knocking off your shoes into your closet (or where ever your shoes are kept) there are a few other things you can try.

Shoe boxes
Storing your shoes in boxes can help keep suede  and white clean, patent leather scuff-free and pairs together. Boxes also make it lots easier to organise and pile your shoes neatly to one side. This of course though is annoying if you have lots of shoes, because then you may spend way too long trying to find a particular box with a particular a pair...then of course you're going to have to put them all back into the boxes. If you're up for it though, you could label the boxes or get clear ones, then pile them in an order that best suits you.

Shoe racks
This is similar to how shoe stores and 'super-star closets' present shoes. It does make shoes easily visible and quicker to grab, but this may present a problem with regards to keeping shoes clean. There's also the fact that depending on how many pairs of shoes you have, you may need a whole lot of space to lay your shoes out.



3. Storing linens
So you want to change your sheets. You've found the fitted piece but somehow the cover sheet and pillow cases are nowhere to be found....how annoying!

Sheets....
I've tried many ways to keep my linens together and for sheets, the simplest and easiest way to keep linens in order is to use one of the pillow cases to store the other pieces in the set. Fold the fitted and cover sheets as well as the other pillow cases/covers in the set, and place them into the other pillow case.

Towels...
With towel sets, you can either use a bulldog clip to keep the pieces together, or fold/roll the smaller pieces (rag and face towel) into the bath towel.

This way whether it's for the bathroom or bedroom, the sets are already together and easier to find, plus this could even help save space in your linen closet.



4. Give your accessories a home
Belts, bags and jewellery can't enhance an outfit if they are nowhere to be found. How you store then of course will depend on how many of the items you own. Let's say you own a few belts, a couple bags, and almost a store full of jewellery...storage solutions do exist.

Bags...
Depending on how many you own, your bags could probably fit into a draw or two. Otherwise, a coat hanger with multiple hooks is probably the best solution for you. Once you put it somewhere that's easy to reach, you'll be able to easily toss your bags on it without much stress.

Belts... 
Belts can be rolled and piled into the drawer if you have that kind of space available. If not, a coat hanger or belt hanger is another easy option that can make belts accessible. Unfortunately, if you have a lot, the belts can get a bit knotted in the hangers and make it frustrating to get one without taking a number of other belts off. A DIY option is to get magnetic strips and hang the belts by their buckle....of course this would need a pretty strong magnet and the space on a wall or door to place the strip.

Jewellery...
O the joy of having many options to accessorize your every outfit. Of course it's annoying though when your chains are tangled or when matching earrings cannot be found. The solution is a jewellery box of course! But you're grown and the average one cannot be home to your mountain of accessories....so you get a tool box.

Oh yes, a tool box with compartments and all the trimmings is the perfect way to store your accessories.  Besides keeping everything in one place, the box keeps it sheltered from dust and water, a variety of sizes make it easy to find the size you need, and you can place it under lock and key (away from those lovely siblings who borrow as they please). In addition to the toolbox for main storage, consider too getting some ziplock sandwich bags to keep delicate pieces and special sets individually wrapped. This makes them 100% easier to find when you don't have much time to get all dolled up. Also an option is getting a smaller toolbox that you can use for travel. Find one that can lay flat in your suitcase and will be able to hold the specially selected pieces you'll need.



5. Hair and skin products
Lotions, fragrances, deodorant, moisturizers...the works. There's just so much on your vanity and it could almost look like a skin product showroom. Besides the fact that there are so many things in one place, truth is...you use all of them (and if you don't use all of them then a cleanup needs to happen asap).

Containers that are basket woven or made of plastic are simple ways to keep the beauty products in one place. You can choose to get one big container, or use a number of small containers placing the products based on how/where/when they are used.

Another solution would be to get them off the vanity completely whether you'll have a standing caddy, or opt for a shelving unit. This will work if you have the space for it...and possibly the handy skills to get it done. It may definitely be the better solution for you though if you have a lot of supplies to keep in storage.



Let's hope things start shaping up now as you slowly introduce the new methods into your routine. This may be the last of the series, but no worries, there'll be other posts as time passes and I find other ways to help you GetOrganised.

the ad that's just too cute

I'm a strange television watcher....mostly because I can get more into the advertisements than the shows themselves.

A supermarket visit in my world, reminds me of the different ads I've seen for different products. And truth be told, my purchase decisions are sometimes actually influenced by the ads for a brand or product....yes yes, I'm one of those people.

The Allstate Mayhem ads, Target's holiday ads and some Superbowl ads and GEICO ads are my usual faves.

When I saw this GEICO ad with the Pillsbury Dough Boy...I giggled like an idiot for a good couple minutes....which was something I needed after a long week.

Check it out!

GetOrganised: there's an app for that

GetOrganised

For March 2013, each Sunday I'll be helping you to GetOrganised. I'll share tips and tricks aimed at making organisation work for you...noting of course how you could possibly tweek everything to suit your needs.

So this is the fourth post in the GetOrganised series so far, and this post is specially put together for the tech fans. I've been giving different organisation tips without really putting technology in the mix, but since this is the 21st century and there's an app for everything let's consider some of the apps, websites, desktop programs and so on that can help GetOrganised.

Last year when I was hunting for some new apps to try, I came upon this site (dailytekk.com) that had an article about 100 tools, websites and apps that can help make organisation easier. I will admit that I kinda went to a sort of heaven with all the options and possibilities...and I went through every single one (obviously I had nothing else planned for that night).

I tried to select the program that I thought suited me best....and Wunderlist kinda won my heart. I even blogged about it! Since then, the Wunderlist team has done a major upgrade and premiered Wunderlist2 which has some great new features and really helps keep me in check.

If you're not quite sure what to look for here's the top three features that I look out for:

1. must be multi-platform:
This is super important if you have devices on different operating systems. Try finding a program that works with Android, Windows, Mac and everything else!

2. must be able to sync on various devices:
Your laptop, tablet and phone should be showing you the same thing regardless of which device was used when any changes were made!

3. must be user friendly: 
This tool is supposed to make your life easier...not more complex. If you need a full day of training to use the program then it may really not be the best thing for you....imagine how long it will take for you to figure things out if something goes wrong?

Of course it's been a year so some of the things listed on that page have more than likely been updated and are now a bit different. Besides Wunderlist, another option I tried was remember the milk, and although that one never stuck with me, it's loved by many of my friends.

There's also the option of using the calendar app on your laptop/tablet/phone. Not to mention the fact that every device has an app store these days, I'm sure you'll be able to find an app that is perfect for you.

Now with ideas to make life easy, plus app options to get organised on every device you own....I hope things get a bit less stressing for you. 

happy birthday PrincessParis!

DISCLAIMER: It you aren't an animal lover...more specifically a dog lover then you will probably not even be able to almost understand this post.

Today (Saturday March 23rd) my Shih Tzu-Poodle 'Paris' is a year old (in human years)! Last year my boyfriend got her for me as a birthday gift and trust me...she is officially the best gift I've ever gotten!

 

I'll admit that she has gotten me to the point of frustration with the barking that I just cannot understand, but I love and treat her like a child...my own child.

I've had some amazing times with my Princess Paris, and to be honest, I've noticed that my dog has more personality than quite a few people I've met.

She came as a chocolate brown palm-sized 5lbs puppy....then after a few months and a few hair cuts she lost her full choco coat and is now an almost golden blonde (with hints of choco brown on her ears and tail)...oh and she's surely gained some weight....enough for the vet to tell me she may have thunder thighs! lol


On a serious note though, after a year with Princess Paris (everyone knows her by that name). I can 100% understand why therapists will suggest giving children a pet. Besides teaching responsibility, I've developed a greater respect for animals and how much care and love they need.

As a child I had pets, and I did appreciate them, but now that I'm older and really understand more about animal cruelty....I do believe there is a special place in hell for people who harm animals!

And for those who think having a pet is expensive....I don't agree....her expenses are a mere fraction of what I spend to survive in a month! Monthly I spend about $20 US for food; then every three months I spend $10 US on toys and treats, $10 US on vet costs, and $25 US to get her groomed (in between these grooming sessions I bathe and comb her at home). Besides these expenses I probably had a $100 US initial cost to get her a kennel, pillow, bowls, collars and leashes and all that. (the kennel was the biggest expense, but it's an iron kennel that can be taken apart for easy travelling.)

She may not be a pricey lil one, but she does need love...and while my schedule is hectic, there's oodles of love for her to get...from me, my parents and my lil sis!

Looking forward to more years with my superstar pooch!

#ReadingChallenge: Sundays at Tiffany's

#ReadingChallenge

If this is your first time tuning in to my #ReadingChallenge, here's the skinny: For 2013 one of my personal challenges is to read one book a month. This has in turn become a blog challenge where I review each book I read and where necessary get some influences from each book.

Next on my list I checked out Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson. Yes...yes I know I'm late...but at least I read it.

Now this was definitely one of those cute love stories...but with a twist...a slightly creepy twist. Let me break it down (at least for those who didn't read the book), eight-year-old girl has a 30-year-old imaginary friend. Years later when eight-year-old girl is a fab young woman, somehow imaginary friend becomes real...and is still 30-years-old.

Then....they fall in love..............

Say what now...I'll admit I read the book thinking 'this is different.' But after finishing that last sentence and thinking back on the story (mostly for the sake of this review) it hit me that this is a bit...well it's a bit creepy...in a pedobear kinda way.

I'll be honest, it was an easy read and the storyline was interesting but it was kinda predictable (besides the creepy aspect of it). I will 100% admit that I probably kept reading because it was such an easy read.

On another note, I did expect more from the novel...more of what I'm not sure...but more of something. It's probably because persons make James Patterson sound like the god of novels. Yes the chapters were short and succinct, but the speaker changed from the girl to the guy quite often....sometimes causing me to wonder who's view I'm getting when I kinda lose track of where I was reading.

I wonder too if I'm on the fence about the book because of the fact that there are a few questions I have after reading it...questions that could have easily been answered in text, but were ignored. Maybe I'm just reading too deep into the book.

My #ReadingChallenge rating for Sundays at Tiffany's:

 

Overall it was a good book, the language, tone and setting of the novel really fit the characters and their story. I was a bit disappointed that it got more and more predictable as you got to the end of the novel...and I'll admit that I'm not sure whether it was given the 'New York Time Bestseller' title because of the author's reputation, or the book itself.

If you give this book a read, comment on this post and let me know what you think of it!

GetOrganised: sorting out routine tasks

GetOrganised

For March 2013, each Sunday I'll be helping you to GetOrganised. I'll share tips and tricks aimed at making organisation work for you...noting of course how you could possibly tweek everything to suit your needs.

We know what needs to be organised, and even know how to make sense of a to do list. But what about those routine tasks that need to get done daily, weekly or monthly?

Routine tasks can be simple tasks like checking email or more time consuming ones like putting together a budget or report. If not properly organised these tasks can take a few minutes, or a few days. Then because these are routine tasks, pushing them back can cause a very much unwanted pile up of things to do.

....yea....you've probably just thought about the 100+ unread emails...if you're anything like my boyfriend you probably have about 200+...and never really plan to read them.

Anywho...what's the solution? First of all you have to make note of what your routine tasks are and how frequent these tasks need to be done. This of course makes perfect sense. With that list, you can now see what tasks you definitely need to make time for on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

Because the lists will differ for each individual I can only tackle what I believe are generally routine tasks for everybody.

Emails
Depending on what your job entails and how many email addresses you have, the number of email you get daily can range from 1 to 'I give up on keeping track.' Regardless of how many emails you're getting, try to make set times for checking email (twice a day or every few hours depending on the volume of mail) and use folders to organise email that you have already looked at and only need to keep for reference reasons. All other email should be trashed as soon as it can be.
As for new email, the best way to clear up your inbox is to look at your mail in three categories (in my opinion): subscriptions, important mail and personal mail.

1. Subscriptions

Six months ago you thought signing up for mail from 'bestsiteeverblahblahblah' was the best decision. To this day you have never read an email they've sent..or what they send is of absolutely no use to you...so what's the point of having them fill your inbox? Once the subscription is not benefiting you, unsubscribe!
The rule also applies for social media networks that you're going to log into and check anyway. There's no need for you to get an email every single time someone comments on your pic, when you know you're going to be logged into Facebook and see when the notification comes up. For most sites you can adjust what you get mail for and how often you are sent mail. Consider that option if it's that important for you to get an email from social networks...otherwise...unsubscribe!

2. Important mail
Email is popularly seen as the means of communicating with co-workers, classmates, potential clients et al. So your inbox probably has loads of important mail that you've read and need to follow up on, or those you need to read and download documents from, etc, etc. It can be hard to organise mail like this depending on how many you receive on a daily basis and how quickly you can respond.
You probably also have a mobile device that you use to check your mail. And as convenient as it is, these devices can be one of the reasons that important mail gets forgotten! If you read an email and can respond without needing to do any further follow up, then send an answer ASAP! Otherwise, the easiest solution is to use the 'star' option.
After reading an email (assuming you need to follow up but are unable to respond at the time) add a star to it so you can check it again at a more convenient time when you aren't as busy (preferably at the beginning/end of the day). Try to avoid taking more than a day to answer, and when you've done your follow up, remove the star from the email.

3. Personal mail
Photos from the last family event or forwards with cute messages may give a lift to your day, but if you aren't careful you end up spending hours looking at all this and getting no work done. Unless it's related to a family emergency, leave the personal mail unread until you're on outside of work hours. After viewing them, either download what's important, put it in a folder or trash it.


Cleaning
Cleanliness is next to Godliness but depending on what needs to be cleaned, cleaning can be a few hour task or something that needs a weekend. There's no going around the fact that the average person has more to do than they have time for, and sometimes it's the routine cleaning that takes a back seat.
Of course you take the time to wash dishes and do laundry, but dusting, vacuuming, and clearing out your wardrobe does need to have every now and again. The solution is to choose one or two days per week and make them your cleaning days. On these days you can tackle one more area that needs a pick me up, that way the cleaning doesn't pile up and become overwhelming. We'll tackle the cleaning schedule a bit more in another GetOrganised post. Until then, here's a cute printable cleaning schedule from modernstylemama.com


Budgeting
Oh the distress of managing money....distressing of course if there isn't much in your life, but superbly important if you want to make sense of your spending!
No matter how much you make, tracking your monthly spending puts you in a better position to see what your spending habits are and possibly get to better spend money on things you want 'just because'.
Of course in my world the main reason behind budgeting is to save, and since I don't have one set full time job with a steady income, it's even more important for me to know how much is made monthly and how much is spend. I'll admit, I know little about accounts but I've found a way to break down my income and expenses without making me feel totally confused.
I make a list of the incomes and various expenses based on where the money comes from (whether your main job or a special project) and where the money is spent (home, bills, transportation, pets, donations, etc). Since I'm not the best at explaining accounts, here's a sample personal budget I put together. It's saved as a Microsoft Excel document that you can edit and use.


I know these are just three of many routine tasks, but I really hope that breaking down these three helps you get things more organised and helps you better organise the other ones you have.

Now you can break your list into categories and plan out how you'll get your routine tasks done.
Please let me know how the templates work out...especially the one I made for you. Next week I'll give you some great tech-solutions you can use to GetOrganised!

cut the...stress!

It's been a stressful few weeks for me but I've been pushing through.

Then I found this photo...and while I knew that stress causes some of these things, I really didn't realise how many of these negative effects I was experiencing (especially the head, skin and immune issues which together are not good).

I think maybe this is a good way to start grading my stress level; the more things I'm experiencing is the worse stressed I am....that's my theory and for now, I'm sticking to it!

Fortunately I'm working to reduce the stresses in my life by sleeping, staying organised, being thankful for what I have, and having faith that what I need will be mine in due time.

How bout you?

GetOrganised: tackling a to do list

GetOrganised

For March 2013, each Sunday I'll be helping you to GetOrganised. I'll share tips and tricks aimed at making organisation work for you...noting of course how you could possibly tweek everything to suit your needs.

After figuring out what exactly you need to organise, the next thing to do is to make sense of it all.

You have a to do list with probably 100 things and it probably seems really overwhelming....but there are five methods I've used to make sense of my to do lists while making note of the 'asap task' versus the 'soon task' and the 'eventually task.'

NB: It would be a good idea to have at least three different coloured pens for this exercise

1. Use a coloured pen/marker to note the tasks that can be done in 5 minutes or less. These quick tasks are your 'asap tasks' and would include simple things like making a phone call, checking or sending off email, or even rearranging something to make it more accessible later.

2. Use another coloured pen/marker to mark the tasks you need to finish within 7 days. These are clearly the 'soon tasks' and may be tasks like finishing a report, completing the notes for a meeting or purchasing an item. Feel free to also jot down which day of the week the task needs to be completed by. This will help you prioritise the tasks based on due date.

3. It could be assumed that the remaining tasks are 'eventually tasks.' Be sure to look at them twice to see if any of these tasks are linked to tasks in the other categories. You may notice that some of them are very much related and can either be done together, or that the start of one task will be dependent on the completion of another. Maybe you want to prepare a presentation, but that presentation will need the responses from an email and a face-to-face meeting in order to be completed. The email is your 'asap task', the meeting is your 'soon task' and then the presentation your 'eventually task'....all correlated.

4. Delegate what can be delegated and note areas where help will be needed. While all the things you need to do may not be school or work related and would be best done by you, don't feel that asking for a little help is out of the question. If a friend offers to help, confirm that they will be able to assist and complete a task within a set time frame; then note that the task has been delegated. As it relates to getting help, try finding more experienced persons to help with tasks you can't really manage alone. This may give you the chance to learn something new, and may quite likely get the task done quicker and more efficiently.

5. Make changes when necessary. The reality is that as you complete some tasks, others come up whether planned or not. Be ready to make changes to your list (or make a new list each week) as new things to do pop up and as you make progress with various tasks. Sometimes tasks that starts off as 'eventually' become 'asap' for whatever reason. So just be ready to adjust.


So yes, the 'asap tasks' and the 'soon tasks' are sometimes the ones that determine whether or not 'eventually tasks' get done at all. This of course is why it's a good idea to break the list into categories and work smarter to get things done.

Now you're probably also thinking about a location that your list can be kept while you get busy with getting things done....or make note of things to be added. I use a small notebook. It not only reminds me of the things I need to get done, but also gives me the space to jot down other things I need to add to my list for the week ahead. On a Sunday afternoon I sit and figure out the week ahead, making use of the notes I've made throughout the week and using the lists from the week before to see which tasks need to be carried over.

#ReadingChallenge: The Happiness Project

#ReadingChallenge

If this is your first time tuning in to my #ReadingChallenge, here's the skinny: For 2013 one of my personal challenges is to read one book a month. This has in turn become a blog challenge where I review each book I read and where necessary get some influences from each book.

For the month of February I checked out The Happiness Project by Grethen Rubin. Sounds like a good one right? I'll admit....the concept of the book is great! I mean who wouldn't want some help to make their life happier? The drawback though is that it's so filled with research that it somewhat detracts from the 'happiness' of it all.

The result of that drawback: I'm still not even half way through the book....and February is finito. I really don't think I chose the best time to read the book though. First of all it was the shortest month (if that makes any difference).

But, let me be fair....maybe it was my frame of mind that made it seem so hard to read. I had lots of work trying to get done and since I'm not a big reader, the research-like content and the tiny print (in the paperback copy I got) could very well be the reasons why I wasn't really excited to read about all the psychological and philosophical studies and explanations behind achieving happiness.

It then made me wonder if Rubin's definition of happiness was the same as mine. Consider that while she's married with kids and trying to balance all sorts of responsibilities within those circles; while I'm just here trying to get into grad school and figure out the next step in my life.

Just a thought really.....

My #ReadingChallenge rating for The Happiness Project (so far):

And this score is based on the fact that I'm not even done reading it yet. But I can definitely see where she's going and maybe later in the year I'll get back to it....hopefully soon.

If you give this book a read, comment on this post and let me know what you think of it!

no giving in

Having a rough week....sigh

My solution?

MUSIC

Reggae to be exact.

Here's one of my favourites from a young reggae act who's been putting in lots of work - Chronixx

Hope it gives a little motivation for a rough week.

GetOrganised: the basics

For March 2013, each Sunday I'll be helping you to GetOrganised. I'll share tips and tricks aimed at making organisation work for you...noting of course how you could possibly tweek everything to suit your needs.

The first thing about getting organised is figuring out what you need to organise. Makes sense right?

You may think everything is in chaos, but I've noticed that the best way to make sense of everything you need to get done, is to decide what you need to get done.

It can be pretty overwhelming to have lots to do and have no clue where to start...or to even remember what you need to do.

Yes, sometimes no matter how organised you think you are, when sleep hits or an emergency pops up, it can throw you off completely...but then you start over and make sense of what you need to get done.

How do you do this?

Simple! Make a note of all the things you want to organise or improve....we'll call it your spruce up list. It would be good too to put each thing into specific categories (this will make the next step much easier).

For example your 'spruce up list' may look like this:

Home - tidy closet, get rid of old clothes, sort bookshelves
Work/School - finish reports, organise notes, tidy office
Personal - hire assistant, clear up email, plan vacation, pay bills

So you've made your spruce up list. Right now, after making the list and looking back at the many things to organise you may think 'what the heck have I gotten myself into.' But trust me, this super list of many things will make sense soon....very soon.

Feel free to keep adding to this list until you're able to tackle everything one by one. Don't worry we'll be getting to that in the next GetOrganised post.

attitude of gratitude

I woke up today feeling amazingly blessed and grateful for the life I have and the people I have in it.

It's been a while since I woke up feeling so much like this, and it almost had me a bit worried....not because I'm not glad for the blessings I have, but more because of how overwhelming the feeling was. I honestly kinda feel the need to express all the love I have and hug all the people who mean a lot to me and who have supported me thus far.

I took a few minutes to consider all the challenges and setbacks I've had since January, and weigh them against the blessings and things that I'm still fortunate to have.....

Some time after delving into my thoughts, I heard about the two little girls who were burnt to death in a fire at their home in another parish. The only person rescued from the blaze was their younger brother.

Then I heard of the 15 persons in a community some miles away who lost their homes to a crazy fire.

Few hours later I got news that a member of my community was shot and killed in the early morning while on his way to a friend's house. His 8-year-old son was with him and his wife and 4-year-old son was home...assuming he would get back home safe and they would enjoy their Easter.

The killer just drove up and shot him....they took a chain...but no item of great value; and they didn't even touch his son. He called the friend he was to visit, and the friend came to rush him to the hospital. He died while there.

It really is true that some things don't really become reality until it hits home...and while I am aware of the distressing crime situation here in my island home, it really didn't sink in until it hit close to home...literally.

I worry about how his wife will adapt to this new life she is forced to have; about how those boys will feel knowing that their dad was taken for little to nothing; about how the elder of the two will cope and I worry that he will live in a sense of fear based on how senselessly his father's life was taken.

In the midst of this, I hope that they find the person who did this; faith that these little boys will grow up to be strong men fighting for what is right; I can only hope that the family will find peace in the midst of their storm and that they will feel comforted by the overflowing love that is coming from friends, family and members of the community.

 

As bad as things are, I continue to have faith in a country that I want to see change in. I have hope that corruption at all levels and many of our societal ills will be reduced or preferably eliminated.

Until then, I'll have an attitude of gratitude for the things I do have; and continue to do my part to change things however I can.

organisation ahead

Lately, more and more persons have been asking how I manage to get everything done with my many hats...my response is 'I'm organised.'

This seems to be a figment of imagination for some, but as I see more persons talk about their challenges getting everything done (and I overcome my own), I've decided to share some of my organisation tips and strategies that help keep me on track.

I'll make one post each Sunday in March (so that means five posts in total). Each week I'll focus on another method, tool, or area of your life that you can try to pull together with just a little organisation.

Now here's my disclaimer to all readers: 

Don't feel that because I've got these organisation methods and techniques going, then it means I don't have a few spells of disorganisation. I can say though that based on my own experiences and the experiences of others who have adopted these tips and tricks, things stay all organised once you maintain the structure put in place.

To be honest, over the last two months or so, I've been the least organised ever! I assume that it's because I was sick almost twice in a row during Christmas. That definitely caused some setbacks with the things I needed to get done and keeping up with everything I needed to focus on. Fortunately I'm getting back on track using the same methods that helped keep me sane over the last few years!

.......And I'm super excited to share them with you!

I'm also hoping to get some sample docs together so you download and print for yourself.

BarBQue for a cause

The Syndicate BarBQue Lyme Series kicked off this year with the first staging on January 27th.

It was great fun with a good vibe and a-mazing food! How good? Lets just say I'm not keeping up with hiphop music, I have overcrowded spaces and I'm not a fan of fish..........but.......the DJ's had me enjoying every mix, the crowd was good but not to make the venue stuffy; and the escoveitched fish was amazing!

I was also glad to be out with the Bloom family....that's never a bad thing really. =)

You can click here for more photo highlights from the January 27th staging courtesy of J-Dash Labs.

So you're probably wondering how the charity part of it works...For the 2012 event they donated a cheque to the Jamaica Association for the Deaf with proceeds from the event. Since the event is now a series, the funds donated to charity will be handed over once per year instead of after each staging. This means that the bigger each staging is, is the more help that charity can get.

With that said, I'm excited to see the menu and DJ lineup for the March 10th staging. Also excited to see even more folks coming out to enjoy a different kind of Sunday afternoon.

On a slightly different note, I want to say that I really do appreciate the Syndicate Events team who are by extension a part of the Bloom family. They have much faith in our mission and it means a lot to know that even before things were all in place, they thought it important enough for them to #GetInvolved and help make a difference for special needs students in Jamaica.

Thanks bunches!

Sooooo in a nutshell....all I'm saying is.....once your in Jamaica on Sunday March 10th, the Syndicate Events Charity BarBQue is 100% where you need to be!

#ReadingChallenge: The Weird Sisters

#ReadingChallenge

If this is your first time tuning in to my #ReadingChallenge, here's the skinny: For 2013 one of my personal challenges is to read one book a month. This has in turn become a blog challenge where I review each book I read and where necessary get some influences from each book.

My first book of the year was The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown. While the ending was a bit predictable, overall the storyline was interesting, and the 'page-turning feature' was that I had the lives of 3 characters to follow while not really knowing what they will each do next.

While I get that the story is told by the sisters themselves, I really don't know which sister it is because it's written in third person narrative. A tad bit strange...for me at least, but it was a nice change in comparison to other books I've read.

To be honest I picked up the book while in a pharmacy with my little sister. When I read the summary on the back I gave her a look-see and her first comment was "Oh 3 sisters like us! Sounds good so buy it." I'll admit I was a bit skeptical (at that time I hadn't 100% decided on my reading challenge) but decided to run with it....I was definitely not disappointed!

I see the birth order theories come out in the sisters and the dynamics of a close family and sibling relations. Also in the mix is the toss up between staying close to home and going as far away as possible. Outside of that you get even a bit of romance with each sister taking on relationships in their own very distinct way.

The first drawback I consider with the book was that some things just seemed to take forever to get explained...or got unnecessarily repeated at times. The only other challenge for me personally was the Shakespeare references. I've read 'concise Shakespeare' but never really delved into the various stories so sometimes the references left me up in the air about what the heck they meant lol. But the summary of the novel did clearly state that the father was all about his Shakespeare soooo I really kinda put myself in this position.

I can't say that the sister's represent exactly how my sisters and I are, but there are some similarities that more often than not had me laughing about it all. The plan is to have my older sister read the book next and get her to give me her thoughts on it...she's much more of a reader so I know she'll be done with it in no time. 

My #ReadingChallenge rating for The Weird Sisters:

Worth checking out, and I figure that if you're into Shakespeare it'll be a great read for you.

If you give this book a read, comment on this post and let me know what you think of it!

#ReadingChallenge: my review system

Just in case you missed the first post, my blog challenge for 2013 is to review the books I read for my #ReadingChallenge.

Since the plan is to read one book a month, that means each month I review the book I read and mention what I'll be reading next.

Before I post my review of any book I've read I want to post the rating system that I'll be working with so that we're more or less on the same page.


So first of all glittered stars are pretty...so I chose these as my visual for the rating scale.

As one would expect, 1 star would mean not so great while 5 stars would mean amazing. The ratings are based on my own opinion and though I don't take into consideration other reviews of the book, I may just mention the average rating that the book got on goodreads.com.

But I'm rating books here...and to be very honest my opinion of the book may be totally different than what someone else thinks. So in a nutshell, here's a simple rating guide!

Now let's get to rating! Here's what I thought of the books I've read. (as the year progresses and I read more, more books will be added)

The Weird Sisters (Eleanor Brown) - 4 stars

The Happiness Project (Gretchen Rubin) - 3 stars (incomplete)

Sunday's at Tiffany's (James Patterson)  <coming soon>

the weekend ahead

Those who know me would know that I'm rarely out these days. But with 2 great events happening this weekend....looks like I'll be making a move twice this weekend!


Friday
After getting through the last day of the week, Friday is for relaxing and putting the stressful week behind you. That is...unless of course you're like me and will be using Friday night to catch up on some work you need to get finished. *not much fun*

On the bright side, if i get enough stuff done on Friday night then I'll have enough time for my Saturday and Sunday shenanigans...and for some sleep!


Saturday
Is possibly another day for catching up on some work (this is what happens when you're trying to get a business off the ground....you work just about whenever work is to be done). 

The Saturday night party is Bottles & Cues at Club Overtime (NHT Building, New Kingston) . It's the first of a series which will be held on the last Saturday of every month...and my Coppershot family will be on the wheels of steel so that's definitely an insight for the great vibes you'll be getting! It's free with invite and $500 without...and ladies are free before 12. #WorthCheckingOut



Sunday 
Since Sunday is more of a relaxed day, the perfect Sunday flex for you is the Syndicate Events BBQ. This is the second in their charity BBQ series and if you recall, from the previous one (held Ash Wednesday 2012) the Syndicate Events team was able to donate J$100,000 to the Danny Williams Primary School for the Deaf to aid in the construction of a resource room. Thanks to their event sponsors they were also able to donate meat produce for the school kitchen, and 2 laptops for students.

I think what impresses me most about this event is that for just $1,000 you can choose from 4 different dishes to enjoy, you have a well stocked bar to buy out, good music to soak in....and it's all for a worthy cause! #WorthCheckingOut


All in all my weekend is working on personal projects and having some good fun with friends. It sounds like a done deal for me...and I'm inviting everyone to come have some fun!

OneLove: Jamaican Blogger Tag

So this is all new to me, but I got tagged in a blogger tag by fellow Jamaican blogger As Told By Nella. *yay for Jamaican bloggers*

What's a blogger tag you ask?

Pretty much, it's like a game of tag...you know that game you play as a kid?....yup!

It involves bloggers of all niches who aim to form links and possibly discover new information and new bloggers while having a little fun. It begins when one blogger chooses the topic of the tag, then gives a list of questions (or one general question that's wise enough to be broken down into list form). After the first blogger answers the question(s), he/she will "tag" other bloggers to continue the tag. 

Now for the rules:
1. Title your post "OneLove: Jamaica Blogger Tag"
2. Link back to the blogger who tagged you (you can add a basic definition of what a tag is for the benefit of your readers) 
3. Copy and paste the rules at the beginning of your tag
4. Copy and paste the questions so your readers know what's going on
5. Answer the questions
6. Tag seven other Jamaican bloggers to continue the trend.So it's pretty simple....and since most of my readers are outside of Jamaica you all probably don't mind getting to link other Jamaican blogs. =]

Based on the steps....I've already titled the post, linked to the blogger who tagged me (click here for her blog), and pasted the rules...now I post the questions and answer them! 

Lets go with them questions!  

1. Why did you give your blog its name? (If it is named directly after you, try and make your answer interesting. eg: Did you feel nervous at all about putting your name out there? Did you just lack creativity at the time?) 
2. Why did you start blogging and why do you blog now?
3. Do you think being Jamaican influences your blogging style? 
4. What do you think about the increase in bloggers in Jamaica? 
5. What is your favourite thing about being Jamaican? 
6. Ackee and saltfish or “ (mackerel) run down”? 
7. Stew peas or stew chicken? 
8. Tastee Patties, Juici Beef Patties or Mother’s? 
9. Pantucky or KFC? 
10. What do you hope to be the future of blogging in Jamaica?

The questions are all nice and easy. Here's my answers!

1. Like many other people I have about a million thoughts in a very short span of time. I've wondered if I have an attention disorder, but been told that millions of thoughts isn't a bad thing because it's a sign that the brain keeps ticking! So here on my blog, it's really a collection of some of the millions of thoughts I have..at least the ones I get the chance to fully think through and post lol...hence the ever so obvious name: "In Between A Million Thoughts" 
 
2. I started my blog as an avenue to express myself. Reading it, you'd see that there is no set theme throughout the blog, but rather a number of different things that interest me at different times. Whether it's a review, a bit of motivation, a cool idea or some kind of commentary, my blog gets some of my thoughts out to an audience of persons across the globe...oh, the reason I started is the same reason I keep blogging.
 
3. I don't know if being Jamaican  necessarily influences my blogging style, but I know that more often than not my posts are based on a Jamaican situation that I tweek to have an international flair.
 
4. I love the fact that more Jamaicans have blogs! First of all, a blog is an opportunity for persons to express their opinions and I'm 100% sure that the average Jamaican has loads of opinions! Secondly what I've noticed is that Jamaican blogs vary in content and method of delivery (whether photography, writing or videos) which is a great way for us to share our thoughts, show off our creativity and in quite a few cases share our culture with the world from a very personal standpoint.
 
5. Wow, my favourite thing about being Jamaican....that would be everything! While there are stuff I don't like about home, there's so much more stuff that I love. The food, entertainment, music, dance and overall lifestyle has such interesting variety that even other folks across the globe want to be Jamaican.  

6. I can't necessarily say I go head over heels for either one, but since I totally don't like mackerel run down....I'll have to go with Ackee and Saltfish...my only problem is when it's cooked with too much oil!  

7. Stew chicken wins hands down...with the chicken cut up of course! =] Preferably this should be served with green banana, yam and fried/boiled dumplin! (great now I'm hungry -_-)
 
8. Although patties really shouldn't be a part of my EatHealthy diet...from the list, I'm gonna go with Juici Patties. I've never really had a horrible experience with them and I strangely like that super flaky/messy crust! Overall though...a patty from the Devon House bakery is really the patty a chick needs in her life. lol
 
9. While Jamaican KFC is probably the best across the globe, I say 'Pantucky.' For those overseas who are unsure as to what this is all about...'Pantucky' is chicken prepared in a metal pan (similar to a bbq grill) with lots of seasoning (usually jerk seasoning). This is one of the things about Jamaican food that I like because 'Pantucky' isn't just chicken but also includes the option of pork, lamb and ribs. A nice option for dinner or for that post-party meal.

10. I think right now the Jamaican blogging community is making some good progress. Through the Jamaica Blog Awards there is the exposure and recognition of numerous blogs by bloggers across the island and within the diaspora. What I'd love to see though is more collaboration between the bloggers. From an entrepreneurship standpoint, I'd also like to see more bloggers being taken seriously by corporate entities and developing their craft to be used as a main means of income.   

So there we have it....another set of my millions of thoughts! Thanks a bunches As Told By Nella for tagging me in this game! I tag:

Bloom Foundation for Education - The blog for my non-profit organisation aimed at improving the life of special needs students in Jamaica.
DANCE Jamaica  - Blog by my friend Charissa that has just about all things dance related on this talented little island, specifically as it relates to dance ministry. 
Natalia Oh! - My fab fashionista and DIY Queen focusing on female fashion and easy DIY projects to enhance your wardrobe.
The Smoking Jacket - Men's styling for the fashion forward lad who really wants to make a statement when he goes anywhere.
ChiefIsWrite - A somewhat unexpected collection of poetry from a writer turned marketer.
Sour Skittles - A mix of this, that and the other from a friend who like me, blogs of her random thoughts. 
Adrian Creary - Amazing photos by an equally amazing young man!

Let's see how many new Jamaican blogs I'll find out about!