Excursion De La Maison: Kitchen & Bathroom

Ok Everybody, the moment, I have been waiting for, ever since I started this blog... I think I'm starting to get emotional. [tissue please!] Here are some photographs of my first 2 bedroom apartment, located in the heart of the ghetto...Holla!



THE KITCHEN: The Place I don't cook in.
Theme: Kitchen for the Musical Soul.
Colors: Badge, Brown, and Black... with accents of natural colors.

I am going to learn how to cook now! Look how cool it is to be in there. About to buy some cook books and do it big. I have been watching a few shows on 30 minute cooking. If anyone has any recipes, please, post them in the comment section. Then I can let you know how It turns out. Remember that this entire house was a wreck, and had to be repainted and refloored... Shout out to Mom Mom, my grandmother, we did that floor in three days!

In the middle of the floor is my "super kitchen island." I made it using two Ikea Kitchen carts, then bolted them together. I originally was going to put a kitchen table in there, but I don't eat in the kitchen because there is no TV there, so I went with just something I can prepare food on. I am going to decorate it with black decor, much like the bowl and vase shown, both from Ikea. The barstools are from Walmart and quite comfortable. Interesting how people did a lot of socializing in the kitchen during the House Warming party.

All my appliances are going to be black [microwave, toaster, George Foremen grill, etc.]. I'm going to add some exposed black shelves to the walls, hang up pots and pans, make it easy to grab and keep it artistic. The main attraction of the kitchen will be Black and White images of all my favorite musical artist.

TLC, Brandy, Kanye West, Black Eyed Peas, Mary J. Blige, Trey Songz, Destiny's Child, 112, Bjork, B2K, Lauryn Hill, Toni Braxton, Keyshia Cole, Tweet, Michael Jackson, Usher, [give or take a few].

Then I'll put like a stereo somewhere, so I can dance while I cook. I have a picture of Left Eye that Larry D. Lyons gave me for Christmas a few years back on my fridge now. The stove will be up and running soon (might get a new one). I can't wait!




THE BATHROOM: Oh, to be Naked in Nature.
Theme: The Rainforest.
Colors: Baby Blue, Brown, Green and Badge.

The Bathroom was actually the first room to be finished in the house. I wanted to paint half the walls and ceiling baby blue to give that sky look. Then use brown and green to give it that nature feel. The shower curtain, not shown are bamboo sticks, and the painting is of a waterfall in the forest.



I added plants and rocks to accent the nature feel, especially by the toilet. Everytime I use it, I always think "Pee in the Bush, Pee in the Bush". LOL. I'm going to add a few more paintings on the wall and maybe add some type of vines around the shower to give it a more nature feel. Or maybe coming down the pole on the side of the wall, hmmmm.

I remember when I was re-doing the tiles on the floor, my grandmother keep farting up a storm! Seriously, everytime I put down a tile, she farted. "I can't help it!" she says. Stop eating those Beans MOM MOM! We had fun though. Originally she put up some curtains with some baby fish on them... They was so cute, but they didn't work at all! I love her, but they had to go. They are now green. Overall, I love my bathroom, its very peaceful, just how I wanted it.

[coming soon photos of my office, dining area,

and the house warming party]

PHOENIX RISING HOUSEWARMING!

[can't beleive it's almost here.]

T H E 2 3 R D P S A L M

CLICK ABOVE FOR THE EXPERIENCE

1. Many versions of the Bible translate "I shall not want" as "there is nothing I need" or "I lack nothing," which some readers feel is unrealistic. What are your feelings about this verse? Does it comfort you?

2. When have you turned to this psalm--during times of grief, relationship trouble, or financial distress? Why?

3. What places, people, or situations are "green pastures" or "restful waters" to you? When do you feel God's presence most?

4. We know many people who have struggled through "dark valleys"--times of severe grief. What have you learned from these people about God's nature?

5. In the Hebrew Bible and in Christian rites, anointing with oil is associated with receiving God's spirit. How do you understand the idea of being anointed?

6. The Hebrew word often translated "follow" is actually closer in meaning to the word "pursue": "Goodness and kindness will pursue me." Why would God pursue us? Do you feel this happening in your life?

7. Do you see "dwelling in the house of the Lord" as a heavenly or an earthly state?

My Answers are inside the Comments section,

You can answer one or all the questions if you like!

[beliefnet.com]

Take Me Away

Take Me Away
by ShawnQt

Take me away,
To laying in bed by moonlight,
And sensual kisses that last all night.
To falling in your arms,
And feeling no harm.

Would you take me away?

From nightmares to dreams,
To emotions that bend reality.
Where one kiss is all I need to breathe,
And exhaling you is a high that never wants to leave.

Could you take me away?

With your smile that ignites hope,
With your eyes that explores my soul,
With your lips, it just tells me things,
With your tug-a-rope, I hold on to your string.

As you take me away…

This is you and me, who would have thought.
If this feeling is wrong, let me be caught.
In you, I would hold you so tight,
Until God made it for us to be right.

Take me away.

And let me feel wanted by you,
As if I am the only one standing in the room.
Appreciate me, like I would appreciate you,
And I would stay…

So that you can Take Me Away.

[you feeling the poem, huh?]

I was watching the Noah's Arc repeat this weekend, and like the romantic I am, I fell in love with the scene of Wade getting Noah's recently sold car back, filled with flowers & lights. To say I love you for the first time, while flowers fall from the sky, I don't know about you, but I was feeling it HARD! I miss being romantized by a prince charming.

I felt it strong once, when my "then" boyfriend had moved to Chicago for a summer program. We was only together for 3 months, and I was really sad to see him go, and to not see him for 2 months was hard. The relationship was still new, and I just wanted to be with him. So one night, I was on the phone with him, and he was telling me how much he loved me, and I told him how much I missed him, and he told me to look out towards the moon...

As I looked at the moon, and looked down, and there he was in the back of my house parking lot, on top of the car, waving to me on his cellphone! "What are you doing here!", I replied. I ran downstairs, out the door, and ran straight to his arms, kissing him all over. I was so happy to see him. It is a beautiful moment, I will always treasure.

Only wish that, one day, it will happen again. Anyone else have any romance stories?

[thanks L]

Black Eyed Peas Recruit New Member

They've transcended their vigilant hip-hop roots and have become a global phenomenon, the likes of which the music world has rarely seen. Ever-curious and ever-confident, that group is The Black Eyed Peas, and after energizing crowds 'round the globe with the monster-stomp of Elephunk, it's time for the quartet, William, Fergie, apl.de.ap and Taboo to get down to business, Monkey Business, that is.

Now the group is adding one more monkey to the bunch, with new member, Shawn-Q. "We saw something extra, fresh & funky about Shawn-Q, we had no choice but to let him be down with us," says Will-i-am. Shawn-Q, 25, was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, and a professional Artist and Designer when he first met Fergie. "He was working on decorating my house in LA, and he was so funny and interesting, we just clicked," says the also newly now turned veteran member.

"I had a 9 to 5 and everything, but I love to dance and I always wanted to perform," says Shawn-Q during an interview, "...so Ferg let me perform for the fellas, and I just killed it, you know, do what I do. So I flew out to one of there concerts, and I was so nervous, because it was going to be the first time the fans would see me. The played 'Let's get it started' and I kicked a verse real quick, and everyone loved it. It just felt good to be on stage with a group of people that have the same passion as me,"says Shawn-Q.

The group will go on tour with there new member this Fall.

[hey, I can dream, can't I?]

Trippin'

I just want to thank everyone for their comments on my last post. I got a lot of feedback. After I wrote the post, I was thinking about why I wanted to drink and smoke in the first place. I feel that there is a part of my personality that I want to RELEASE. I used to be really shy when I was younger, picked on, teased for wearing glasses & being short. It affected me a lot and I held back a lot of who I am. It took years to gain my confidence back. Now I know who I am, and I'm not my past, and I can't let what other people thoughts about me confine me to holding back who I am. So I wanted some kind of outside source to let go of my inhibitions, and felt that maybe a drink or smoking weed might let that go...

I'm not going to do neither. At least not now.

I came to a realization this weekend. As I was cleaning up the house. My grandmother came down and was asking me if my mother and stepfather was coming to finish up the floor in the living room. My mom said my stepfather wasn't home from work yet, so I had to wait. Then my grandmother said that one day this week, he came to the house when I was at work and asked her to let him in so he can work on the floor. Yet, she seen come in and out, without any work getting done.

Why would my grandmother let him in the house?!!!!!!

Just in case you guys didn't know, my stepfather has stolen things from me in the past. From money in my sock drawer, to money in my bank account. This has been going on for 2 years now. I would get my money back, but he would continue doing it. I have never had any family problems until my mother married this man. It is one of the reasons why I am living alone now. Yet, this day, my playstation is gone. Again! Why is this happening to! I call my mother and tell her. The things he is stealing from me can be replaced, my mother's thoughts are on her irreplaceable marriage. Why would this man do this? She finally told me that...

He's on drugs

I'm pissed and upset all at once, because I don't know what to do. My mother wants to work this out with him, so I'm reframing from calling the police. She doesn't want me to tell my grandmother, so I'm pissed because I can't do anything... but I love my mother. So right now, I'm letting it go until its resolved. BUT I'M GETTING MY SHIT BACK!

You know what pisses me off more? That he reminds me of my birth father . My father and mother where high school sweethearts, and were planning on getting married. He was in the army and stationed in North Carolina. He was suppose to come home and see my mother on Thanksgiving. She was pregnant with me at the time. He wasn't able to make it, and said he would be there to see her on Christmas. So he came on that Christmas day, and my mother was so excited.

That excitement was crushed when my father said that he couldn't marry her. Why? Because he was already married. Yes, that Thanksgiving he married another woman. Another woman who was having his baby. I am only a few months older then my half sister.

He had another child, and there marriage ended due to his drug addiction. When he was living in New Jersey, he never was in my life. He had another child 3 years ago, and the mother and him are not able to take care of the baby because of there drug addictions. My aunt, who can't have kids, has now adopted him as her son.

Now, my mother and my family is going through this bullshit. Why is this happening to us? Why is this happening to me?

[...sigh]

HOW HIGH?

~~~AM I TOO MUCH OF A GOOD BOY?

Some of the most interesting experiences one can have as an Adult is to indulge in a few habits that are so bad, yet feel so good. At 21, smoking and drinking is at your fingertips, and most people have indulged in this adult freedom before they even turn 21. So why is it, at 25, I have still have...

NEVER HAD A DRINK.

&

NEVER SMOKED.

Shocked? I know. Hell, I haven't even had intercourse until 2 years ago. So why can't I just go ahead and take a few "social drinks", or "feel a little nice" once in awhile? Sure I can't sit up here and list all the health reasons, but one drink, or one pull won't hurt, and if anything I should try it once right?

I CAN'T DO IT, LOL!

At times I feel I want to, and it never has anything to do with "peer pressure". I want to know what it's like to be tipsy or feel a lil high, everyone talks about how good it feels. Plus it seems like everyone has a better time when there is alcohol in there system at a party. And what be so damn funny when people be smoking? I don't know MAN! I feel like I want to loosen up, and its not like I'm very shy when I go out, but I would love to know how it feels to lose all my inhibitions, at least once... but I'm kinda proud to be a good boy...

BUT SOMETIMES I WANT TO BE SO BAD!

[what do you guys think?]