IT'S OFFICIALLY 2010!

Hello World!! (I'm back)

HAPPY NEW YEARS!! IT'S OFFICIALLY 2010!
(FEELING BLESSED AND THANKFUL TO SEE ANOTHER YEAR)


I'm excited about this new year! New Year! New Start!

First I want to summarize all of the Kwanzaa Principles

The Kwanzaa Principles are good to recognize and demonstrate all through the year

The foundation of Kwanzaa are the Seven Principles, or Nguzo Saba. When Dr. Karenga created the celebration of Kwanzaa he wanted to reflect the best qualities and characteristics of the "first fruit" or harvest festivals that were celebrated throughout Africa. It was these qualities that established the Nguzo Saba, or Seven Principles of Kwanzaa. (Nguzo Saba is Kiswahili for Seven Principles).


The Seven Principles (Nguzo Saba) of Kwanzaa are:

Umoja (Unity)
Kujichagulia (Self-determination)
Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
Nia (Purpose)
Kuumba (Creativity)
Imani (Faith)


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UMOJA
Umoja (ooh-MOE-jah) means Unity, and it is the principle for the first day
of Kwanzaa. Our families and communities need unity in order for them to be
productive and to survive. On this day, we pledge to strive for -- and to maintain
-- unity in the family, in the community, in the nation that we have helped to build,
and with our PEOPLE.

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KUJICHAGULIA
Kujichagulia (koo-gee-cha-goo-LEE-ah) means self-determination
and is the second day of Kwanzaa. On this day, we pledge to define
ourselves, to NAME ourselves, to create for ourselves, and to speak for ourselves,
instead of being defined, named by, created for and spoken for by others.
On this day we design for ourselves a positive future and then vow to make that
prophecy -- that DREAM -- a self-fulfilling one.

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UJIMA
Ujima (ooh-GEE-mah) is the third day of Kwanzaa and means "collective work
and responsibility". On this day we celebrate working together in the community to
help others. For Ujima, we pledge to rebuild our communities and to help our people
solve our own problems by working together to do it.

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UJAMAA
Ujamaa (OOH-jah mah) means cooperative economics and is the fourth day
of Kwanzaa. On this day of Kwanzaa, we pledge to develop our own businesses
and to support them, to maintain shops, stores and industry that contribute to
the well-being of our community and to drive out businesses (boycott, etc.) that take
FROM our communities and give nothing back.

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NIA
Nia (NEE-ah) is the fifth day of Kwanzaa and it means "purpose". On this day,
we pledge to build and develop our communities, our schools and our families.
We also pledge to provide a strong communal foundation from which our children
can develop into strong and productive people.

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KUUMBA
Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah) is the sixth day of Kwanzaa, and it means "creativity".
On this day, we pledge several things. We pledge to do whatever
we can to make our communities and homes more beautiful
and better than we found them. We also pledge to use our creative
talents and energies to improve young minds and hearts.


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Imani
Imani (ee-MAH-nee) is the seventh and last day of Kwanzaa. Imani means faith.
On this day, the beginning of the new year we pledge to believe with all our hearts
and minds in our people, our parents, our good and dedicated teachers and leaders,
and in the greater good of the work we do with and for one another, for the community
and for the PEOPLE.

www.theholidayspot.com/kwanzaa/sevendays.htm





Like I said earlier... IT'S 2010!!

New start, new focuses, new visions and a new year!!
I'm very excited about this year. Hoping and praying for a beautiful year.

I started my year off by doing things I said I wanted and needed to do...
I'm still sticking to the Healthy Hair Challenge - drinking 64 oz. of water per day for 6 weeks. (Thanks to this beautiful site... it really inspired me to really push to drink more water - )I'm hoping to continue the water drinking for the rest of my life.

Water is soooo important and it's one of those things I need to do on a constant basis.





I read on a site that "Water consumption is the key to keeping skin supple, moist and soft. The finest approach to moisturize is definitely from the inside. Drinking ample amount of pure water can even delay your skin aging process.

More drinking water benefits regularly include the significant reduction and prevention of many common sicknesses - like back pain, headaches, ulcers, hypertension, asthma, arthritis, morning sickness, fatigue, and even hangovers.

Pure water is a natural healer. Continuous regeneration of bones, skin, nails, hair, organ lining, damaged nerves, and many other normal bodily functions are reliant on a healthy consumption of pure water."


We all need WATER - so drink to your health

www.health-plus-fitness.com/2009/04/10-great-health-benefits-of-water.html


Health this year is a big deal to me and I want to be as healthy as I can.
I need strength and health in order to accomplish goals I have set for myself.

I started off with my walking group today!
The walk was great this morning although I know... I'm going to be so sore in the morning BUT I will endure. I had my water with me (smiling) and after the walk this morning I drank 64 oz in about an hour. I didn't stop there... I actually kept drinking for the remainder of my day and I feel good about it.

Physical Fitness is also important to me this year and ENDURANCE!!




Endurance - noun

1. the fact or power of enduring or bearing pain, hardships, etc.
2. the ability or strength to continue or last, esp. despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions; stamina: He has amazing physical endurance.
3. lasting quality; duration: His friendships have little endurance.

Endurance can be applied to so many areas in my life
(no need to list them all here!! LOL!! BUT you can imagine)

On the walk of life... you will sometimes see and stumble into curves, pot holes, grass valleys with lil flowers and sometimes you'll find a cactus plant here or there LOL! THATS WHERE ENDURANCE comes into play.


Raising my glass of wate to Faith,Endurance, Water & Walking for 2010!
(and of course... you know I gotta keep it SASSY)

Here are a couple of links to check out

www.womensheart.org/content/Exercise/starting_a_walking_program.asp
http://www.sexxisassylocked.blogspot.com/
http://www.naturalsunshine.ning.com/
http://www.tnochcorporation.com/
http://www.thecurvyfashionista.mariedenee.com/

Day #3 Kwanzaa Principle

Ujima (oo-GEE-mah) Collective Work and Responsibility reminds us of our obligation to the past, present and future; and that we have a role to play in the community, society, and world




We all know we play an important role!! so let's play our role right

Lead by being an example no matter where you are


Day #2 of the 64 oz. of water challenge

Today was interesting, I drank my 32 oz. this morning. I decided to eat lunch around 11:30 am. I walked to Subway in the freezing cold (I hate the cold). I ordered a Meatball Sandwich. I finally got back to my desk and as I bit into the sandwich my body literally was rejecting the meat... I couldn't believe it, every bite of meat I spit out because it did not taste right.

This is one of my favorite sandwiches BUT the taste was not agreeing with me so I took the meat off of the sandwich at just ate the veggies and bread.
I joked with my cousin Marna about this and we laughed BUT this was very strange for me.

Tonight, for dinner we had chicken rice and gravy and sweet potatoes and mixed veggies... I could barely eat the meat. I was starting to have that sick feeling I had earlier today. This made me wonder will my appetite change due to the water drinking.

I ate the veggies and sweet potatoes with no problem BUT the meat was suddenly making me feel sick.

Sometimes it's important to listen to your body and do what it says
(just make sure youre body is saying good things of course)

I can officially say since drinking water... grease... is not what my body wants and it's not what I need.

This is going to be an interesting adventure. Stay tuned for part 3 of my 6 weeks of drinking 64 oz. of water.




Until then, I'm holding up my glass and raising it high! Good Night!

BEFORE I COMPLETELY DRINK UP

Tyra Banks Following Oprah And Ending Talk Show

Tyra Banks Following Oprah And Ending Talk Show





Following Oprah Winfrey, Tyra Banks announces that they’re stepping away. No more Tyra Banks Show.

I just knew she would hang in there for a lil while longer... Hmmmm
I thought it was great when she realized her role in young womens lives and she got rid of the weave!! I was so shocked and happy!! She's a beautiful woman anyway and without the extra hair she was more beautiful.

Tyra is a busy woman always making moves. Good luck Tyra and NOW I will drink up!



Raise your glasses of water everyone,drink up and don't forget to smile when you're done


ChoQolate ChiQ signing off

Hello World

It's the last Sunday for 2009 AND it's also Day #2 for Kwanzaa!



It's Day #2 for Kwanzaa and our principal for day is...
Kujichagulia(koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-ah), Swahili for "self-determination," is the principle celebrated on the second day.
To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.

Practice Kujichagulia every day!


Make a way to do better and be better!! SELF DETERMINATION!!!


Today is my first day of drinking 64oz of water a day for 6 weeks!!
I recently joined a site called www.naturalsunshine.ning.com/
(great site) and one of the challenges is a healthy hair challenge






I will be drinking 64 oz. of water for my body for the next 6 weeks and I will see what improvements it makes to my hair, skin and whole body!





Yes 6 weeks... I'm actually excited about this because one of my goals for 2010 is to drink more water!

Water has so many bonuses to a healthy life!

Sure you say it's just water what's the big deal BUT when you are Pepsi addict like I am... It can be a huge challenge

BUT with SELF DETERMINATION on my side I know I can tackle this with no problem



Wish me luck!!

This the ChoQolate ChiQ raising my glass of water to the last Sunday of 2009! and drinking to SELF DETERMINATION

Never give up on yourself/dreams