May 24, 2012 

A NECESSARY EVIL: Resume Writing Tips

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On the list of Life’s Necessary Evils, resume-writing has to be in the top 10. Resume-writing may not be your favourite thing in the world to do, but you’ll be hard-pressed to get through life without doing so.

Any time I’m revamping my resume, I always make sure to check up on what the latest sexy resume standards are. Here’s the checklist I go through before I cross my fingers, say a wish, and send off that job application:

Objective Statements:

I used to include an objective statement at the top of each and every resume I wrote. However, in talking to some HR connects, I’ve learned that they often skip right over the objective, UNLESS you don’t have a cover letter. What I do now is skip the objective and put my goals in my cover letter. It helps me save space and get right to the nitty-gritty on my resume.

The Importance of Key Words:

Take a look at the job posting. Now take a look at your resume. Are you mirroring the key words from the posting? Look not only at the Qualifications or Required Skills section, but also at the Roles & Responsibilities section. It’s great to ensure you have “Exceptional communication skills” listed if they require someone with exceptional communication skills, but show them that you’ll be able to do what the job requires. If one of the responsibilities is to “facilitate group workshops” or “manage corporate budgets”, try to find ways to include key words (“facilitate”, “workshops”, “manage”, “budgets”) when describing the duties you’ve held in previous positions. Not only will it hopefully show a recruiter that you’re a good fit, but when submitting your resume to an electronic database that scans for key words, yours will come up on top.

There’s No One Size Fits All:

Don’t fall into the lazy trap of having one generic resume that you shoot out to every job application. Take the time to review the posting and your resume, and see what specific skills/experience relate best to the job you’re applying for. While you never want to lie on a resume, you can definitely emphasize areas of your job history that will show you to be the best candidate for the job. Focus on the areas that best reflect what the job posting is looking for, and put the effort into creating a personalized resume for each application. Trust me – the difference between a standard resume and a specialized one is very clear to a hiring manager.

Spelling and Grammar and Professionalism, Oh My:

SPELLCHECK. Then go through and read your resume out loud. Then check again. The good ol’ spellcheck wizard doesn’t catch everything, and doesn’t realize that you meant “for” but mistakenly typed “or”. Don’t rely solely on spellcheck to catch your errors. If your current or previous company’s name is an acronym, always initially refer to it by its full name before reverting to the acronym. Not everyone knows what company JPC is, so explain it first before using the shortform. Check your email address: is it sexytrini1980@hotmail.com? If so, don’t put that one on your resume. It costs nothing to create a new email address with some variation of your name to use for professional matters.

In doing some research for this post, I came across an awesome site that totally flips the resume game. Vizualize.me is a platform that enables users to create free online resumes that are eye candy to the visual person. Instead of the usual written resume, a Vizualize.me resume showcases your employment history, education, skills, and as an infographic presentation versus a black ink-on white paper document. If you have a LinkedIn profile, your Vizualize.me creation is just a click away, as the program will automatically draw your LinkedIn details into an infographic.

Ashton Kutcher's Vizualize.me infographic (click to enlarge)

What do I think of Vizualize.me? First off, it’s GREAT for creatives who are seeking jobs in artistic or less traditional areas. However, I think a little creativity is good for everyone! Vizualize.me is still in beta phase, and there are a number of improvements that can be made, but I think the creators are on to something. In my next job hunt, I likely will still submit a traditional resume, but will consider including the link to my Visualize.me infographic for the recruiter to peruse at his or her leisure. Setting yourself apart from the rest is the name of the game, and Vizualize.me does just that! Kudos to Eugene Woo and the team, who I’m proud to say are Torontonians!

What resume tips and tricks do you have that have worked for you? If you’re in HR or a hiring manager, let us know what some key do’s and don’ts are! Would you use Vizualize.me? 

 

 

May 23, 2012 

31 DAY RESET: Time Audits & Redesigning Your Day

Are you still keeping up with the 31 Days To Reset Your Life Challenge? I won’t lie – in the last week or so, I fell off. Hard. Between my birthday, the surgery, family being in town, and work – I found myself promising to catch up on exercises, but then not making the time to do so. I’m happy to report that as of today, I’m all caught up! Only a few more days to go, so hopefully you’re on track or getting there if you’re taking part as well.

Two recent exercises proved to be very telling for me. Day 13 was “Do A Time Audit”, and Day 14 was “Redesign Your Day”.

The Time Audit required me to look at my day in hourly segments, and report what I do with my time on an average day. I chose a regular work day, so my audit looked like this:

Yes, I hit snooze (I didn’t specify how many times though :S). Yes, I find myself rushing in the morning to get myself ready and out the door. Yes, I find my mind wanders very often during the day (hence the ‘daydream break’) – I think it’s important to give your mind a break from tedious, repetitive, or difficult tasks, but sometimes I find my mind wandering when I haven’t allowed it to. I do a lot of stuff while sitting on the couch in front of the TV – eat, blog, etc. I go to bed late on a frequent basis. Little did I know it, but in reviewing my time audit, I had already started redesigning my day.

The ‘Redesign Your Day’ exercise was easy and difficult at the same time. I knew what changes I needed to make, but were they practical? Could I actually do it? When I looked at my time audit and thought about how I usually spent my days, I came up with the ideal list of how I would redesign them:

  • wake up earlier, in order to have a good breakfast and not be rushed before work
  • check and clear personal emails first thing in the morning, and don’t check again until lunch time
  • go back to utilizing the Pomodoro technique during the work day to stay focused while allowing myself mental breaks
  • eat dinner at the dinner table, not in front of the TV
  • stop trying to work in front of the TV – take the laptop to another room
  • make time to meditate/pray before bed, and go to bed by 11pm
  • don’t procrastinate!

I find that I work hard, but I can work smarter than I am now. If I work smarter, I’ll be more efficient and have more time for myself. More time for myself means I’ll be able to get to bed at a decent time, and will be able to wake up without difficulty. I’ll need the extra time to focus on my ongoing projects, and my plans to get back into working out regularly. Creating new habits takes time, but I see the positive results that will come out of these changes, so I’m motivated! Let me get back to being smart and efficient :)

Are you still in the Challenge? How are you doing so far? Whether you’re partaking or not, have you ever done a Time Audit of your day? Try it out – the results may surprise you! Is there anything you could do to redesign your day to make it better for you?

May 21, 2012 

ARTSY FARTSY: Marley Documentary at Bloor Cinema

How was everyone’s weekend? I most definitely enjoyed the holiday weekend, and hope you all enjoyed yours too, long or otherwise! One of the highlights of my weekend? Sunday night, when a couple of girlfriends and I hit up the screening of Marley, the documentary on Bob Marley’s life, directed by Kevin MacDonald.

Marley’s official release date was April 20th, but it didn’t arrive in Canada until this month – first for the Hot Docs Documentary Festival, and then in regular release at Bloor Cinema at Bloor and Bathurst. Because I missed the Hot Docs screening, I made sure, come hell or high water, I was seeing this film this weekend. Ideally, I would have loved to be back in Jamaica, watching the film in Emancipation Park like my blogging homegirl Irie Diva did. However, a beautiful Toronto night with my homies wasn’t so bad either! The ladies and I trekked down to Bloor Cinema, got our tickets and popcorn, and got ready for the show.

I’ve written before about how much I love Bob Marley, his music, and his impact on the world. I thought I knew pretty much everything there was to know about Bob, but this documentary opened my eyes to so much more. I won’t rehash the entire film, but wanted to share a few key moments that struck me:

The rejection from his father’s family: Bob’s father was an Englishman named Norval Marley, who left Bob and his mother shortly after Bob was born. The Marley’s remained a powerful, business-minded family in Jamaica. A story was shared about how Bob once went to his paternal uncle to ask for money to buy a car, which would help him distribute his records. He was harshly turned away and rejected by the family, and never received any kind of support or recognition from them. Bob’s song “Cornerstone” was inspired by this incident (lyrics: the stone that the builder refused will always be the head cornerstone…). Norval had other children and families aside from Bob and his mother Cedella, and Bob’s half-sister was interviewed for the documentary. When that song was played for her, and the significance explained, you could see the shared hurt in her eyes. She was also rejected by the Marleys, and made a comment about how Bob was never good enough for the Marley family, but now he was THE Marley, and the world cared not for the ones who rejected him in the past.

Bob’s role as a father: Bob had 11 children in total from 7 different relationships. History repeating itself, perhaps? Ziggy Marley (one of the executive producers of the film) and his sister Cedella spoke of the relationship they had with their father, which seemed strained yet loving at the same time. A lot of what they talked about reminded me of my own relationship with my dad, which brought tears to my eyes. I could especially relate to Cedella, who was obviously hurt – but the love she held for her father couldn’t be denied. I could relate to being the child of a man who perhaps didn’t know how to be a father, or who only knew how to be loving as he was loved. I don’t know…but it hit me.

Bob’s cancer treatment: Bob’s exposure to cancer started with a toe injury, which revealed melanoma. Through a combination of Bob’s own resistance at some of the proposed treatment methods, and a complete lack of attention by the people around him, Bob’s cancer ravaged his body and took him away too soon. I was shocked when Chris Blackwell, president of Island Records, said that he “forgot” about Bob’s melanoma diagnosis. I guess when one of the biggest acts in the world is making money for you, you don’t remember these pesky little details…but anyways. I knew this segment was going to be hard for me, what with my cousin’s passing and my own dalliance with the big C word lately. I can never imagine being in the position to hear “I’m sorry – there’s nothing more we can do for you.” Bob sought treatment from a holistic doctor in Germany after being told Western medicine could do nothing. When the documentary covered the story of how he was again told, “there’s nothing more”, my spirit was crushed. I was reliving my cousin’s battle. I was reigniting my own fear of death. I won’t even lie – tears are welling up now as I write this, so let’s move on…

His passion: I’ve never seen anyone so passionate about what they do. Bob was driven with his music and the dreams he had for it. You could see how the music took over his whole body when he was on stage. I was almost jealous at his ability to just let go and be fully immersed in his gift. Sure, there was a business behind it that he was always aware of and handled in his own way – but that passion for spreading his musical message and helping the world was overwhelming to me. The way he gave of himself was amazing – and the way he was so entrenched in his music was astounding. There was a story shared of how, at Zimbabwe’s independence concert, people locked out ended up storming the gates and rushing in to the park. Tear gas was sprayed and everyone ran for cover, including most of the musicians. However, video footage shows Bob still singing, dancing, hopping around on stage, completely unaware and unaffected by the tear gas. He was there for the people, and he was not leaving. When everyone returned to stage, Bob laughed and said “Now I know who the real revolutionaries are.”

Bunny Wailer: I had to mention him in here – I adore the way he speaks! If you ever wanted to learn about the evolution of reggae music, you have to hear Bunny tell it in this film.

Revolutionary - most definitely a fitting description for Bob Marley. This documentary was the definitive piece on his life, and I can’t wait to share it with my children and their children so they can have a true understanding of this man, flaws and all.

Did you see Marley? If you’re in Toronto, it’s playing at Bloor Cinema until May 31st. It’s also available on iTunes, so get in where you fit in! 

May 18, 2012 

STRAIGHT MOVES: Maintaining Flat-Ironed Hair With Minimal Heat

I remember the first time I had my hair flat-ironed after going natural. I was AMAZED! First of all, the process was nowhere as difficult and time-consuming as I thought it would be. Second of all, my hair looked incredible. Compared to when I used to relax it, this hair had so much more body and life to it! The first thing out of my mouth was, “If I knew my hair could look this good, straight or curly, I would have never relaxed it!” However, maintaining healthy flat-ironed hair still requires work, which I’ve learned over the years.

HomieLoverFriend and I gettin' our dance on in December 2008

I have to admit something. Though I’m pretty handy and self-sufficient when it comes to my hair, I haven’t ever washed, blow dried, and flat-ironed my hair on my own since going natural. The main reason is because I don’t have the best flat-iron or blow drier, which I hope to rectify soon. I do have a good enough iron for touch ups, but I’m happy to say I haven’t picked it up once in the week since I flat-ironed my hair! This is a feat for me, because I used to be borderline-obsessive about my flat-iron touch ups. When I started teetering on the brink of heat damage from using the iron almost every other day, I knew I’d have to find a new way to maintain my flat-ironed locks until wash day.

During my most recent flat-iron rendezvous. P.S. - Don't mess with Sunset rum from St. Vincent...

My maintenance routine is pretty damn simple, and requires 4 tools: my trusty satin scarf, Denman brush, duckbill clips, and coconut oil.

When I was relaxed, I used to just sleep on my hair any ole kinda way and get up early to make it look decent in the morning. That was the same vibe I had when I went natural and started flat-ironing. Now, I see that maintenance, especially during sleepytime, takes so much work out of the morning routine! Wrapping my hair is a must, even though it took me a while to get the hang of it. I use my Denman to brush my hair in a circular clockwise motion, and use 3-4 duckbill clips to pin my hair down at various sections. My wrap never looks perfect, but once I get my hair laid, I’m good to go. I tie it down snugly (not tightly – I hate that line across the forehead in the morning), and hit the sheets!

TOLD you my wraps aren't pretty! When I saw how bad this one looked, I asked the Mister to wait for me to re-wrap so he could take another shot. He said no.

In the morning, I remove the scarf and clips, and use the Denman to brush down my hair. I smooth my hair with a small amount of coconut oil (which adds shine and fights frizz), and I’m on my way! No extra heat required!

Of course, with straightened hair, moisture isn’t an ally. If I get a bit frizzy from a steamy post-shower bathroom or when it’s very humid out, I apply some coconut oil, wrap my hair, tie it down, and that usually remedies the situation right away. It’s a similar process if I put my hair up one day, and want to get rid of those annoying hair elastic waves when I wear it down. In rare circumstances I do have to bring out the good ole flat-iron, but I do what I can to avoid any extra usage.

The message of the day? Wrapping your hair is the way, the truth, and the light if you want to maintain healthy and happy flat-ironed hair!

Are you a natural-haired chica who flat-irons your hair? Do you find yourself reaching for the iron often for touch-ups, or you manage with another technique? What’s the best flat-iron and blow dryer out now? A sista needs some new tools!

May 16, 2012 

TAKING A LEEP: With Cervical Cancer, Early Detection Can Save Your Life

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I made a comment earlier on Twitter about how this little blog has opened my mind to so many possibilities that I never would have considered before. The main catalyst for my openness? The fact that now, I’m able to write about things that a year ago, I may not have shared with anyone. Today’s post will be one of those things. Get comfy and read on!

As I mentioned before on the blog, I recently had surgery to remove a pre-cancerous lesion from my cervix. I’ve been struggling with how to write this post – one edit was like a novel, and another was like a cold, impersonal WebMD article. I almost scrapped the whole piece until I read that Yvette Wilson, the actress who played Andell in Moesha and The Parkers, is currently suffering from aggressive cervical cancer and kidney failure. My goal is to share my experience with the hopes that at least one person out there will be educated, will embrace the importance of prevention/early detection of disease, and/or will realize they’re not the only one out there dealing with this. So…how did this all start for me?

Recently, HomieLoverFriend and I decided we were ready to jump into parenthood. Annual checkups were done, the fertility/conception conversation was had with the doctor, and we were on our way. About a month after my annual GP/GYN visit, I got a call from my doctor that my Pap test (which checks for changes in the cells of the cervix) had come back with abnormal results. Before I had a chance to let that sink in, I was told that another procedure had already been scheduled to confirm the abnormality. My tentative diagnosis was HGSIL – high-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesion, and the procedure I was set to have was called a colposcopy.

Cervical Health Lesson: Thanks to my frantic Google search after I received my paperwork, I learned that cervical cell abnormality is also known as cervical dysplasia. Cervical dysplasia is not a one-size-fits all condition – there are varying levels of cell abnormality. Atypical squamous cells show some change in cell structure, and is the most common abnormal finding in Pap tests. Low-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesions show change in the size and shape of cells, and is considered a mild abnormality. High-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesions show more evident change in the size and shape of cells, and is considered a severe abnormality. You can read more here. HGSILs look extremely different from normal cells, and are listed as pre-cancerous, or carcinoma in situ. Needless to say, I clicked on that red X after seeing one too many cancer references. I did go back to Google the colposcopy procedure, but I’ll tell you about it from my perspective.

A couple weeks after I got the news, I was headed to a downtown Toronto hospital for my colposcopy. Overall, a colposcopy is very similar to your average Pap test. However, the doctor uses a microscope and an acetic acid solution in the cervix (which turns the lesion white) for clear identification. My doctor had his microscope connected to a flat screen TV, so aside from the initial shock of seeing my lady parts in high-definition, it was cool to watch the entire procedure. I thought the lesion would be an actual raised area, but it was just an area of abnormal cells surrounding the cervix. The doctor decided to take 3 biopsies from the affected area, and let me just say, that was the strangest feeling I’ve had in a long time. No real way to explain it, but the pain was sharp, though it didn’t last longer than a few seconds. Within the span of 15 minutes, I was done. The doc used a solution to help stop the bleeding and sent me on my way with a diaper-sized hospital pad for the spotting that would follow after the procedure.

“Spotting” actually became full-on bleeding that lasted for nearly a week. Being anemic as well, this wasn’t a fun time. About a week after that, I followed up with my doc. He confirmed the HGSIL diagnosis, and expressed his concern at how quickly I had gone from Normal Pap Lady to HGSIL Sufferer. He explained that certain types of HPV (human papillomavirus) can cause cervical cancer, so he suggested I also get the Gardasil vaccine for further cervical health. HPV has been all over the media lately – this virus affects up to 75% of all sexually active Canadians, but is usually cleared up by healthy immune systems. So what would the next step for me be? A procedure called a LEEP, which would remove the pre-cancerous lesion.

LEEP stands for loop electrosurgical excision procedure, which uses a low-voltage electric current to sear off the affected area. The LEEP is preferred because it only requires local anesthesia, is a precise and quick procedure, and does not damage the removed tissue, which allows it to be sent for further testing. Last week on my birthday, I found myself back in the hospital and in that oh-so-stylish hospital gown. Once the anesthesia was administered, I was feeling warm, fuzzy, and in a calm albeit high-as-a-kite state. I heard the doc say he was looking for the lesion, then heard the whirring of the electrical wire. What seemed like 5 minutes later (but was really about 20), I asked the doc if he found it, to which he replied, “Found it? I’m almost done!” The area was cauterized and another special solution was applied to help stop the bleeding. Once I gathered myself, I was on my way – with another diaper-thick pad in my possession.

Going Forward: Once the anesthesia wore off a couple of hours later, I started to feel some serious cramping. Cramps and bleeding are common aftereffects of the LEEP, and I enjoyed all of that plus increased fatigue. I’m on a no sex-no tampon-no heavy lifting-no exercising diet for the next 3 weeks until I follow up with my doctor again. Can you tell how excited I am about that? In all reality, it’s a small price to pay in exchange for a healthy cervix.

The moral of the story? As I said at the beginning of this post, early detection, if not full-out prevention, is your friend. Had I skipped this year’s physical and decided to put it off until next year, things may not have been so simple. Having worked in global healthcare, I know all too well the disparities between various countries and access to quality care. However, being your own health advocate is worth more than gold. Keep up with regular appointments, and never shy away from the professionals if you think something is wrong. It just literally might save your life.

Whew! That was a doozy. If you made it this far, I thank you! Have you been through something similar? Do you have any questions about the LEEP procedure or any other cervical health issues? I’m not a doctor, but could give you my perspective and/or point you in the direction of some good information! Let me know!

May 11, 2012 

BEE-DAY #29: Why This Year Is Like No Other

At 6:05pm on May 10th, I officially turned 29. It’s my Bee-Day, and I have to be honest – this was the most emotional one in a long time.

I’m not the type to shy away from my birthday. I love new beginnings. I love the possibilities that each new year brings. I love parties. I love gifts. I love birthday attention. It seems almost every awkward icebreaker I’ve participated in at networking events asks “What’s your favourite holiday?” As self-centred as it may seem, “May 10th” is always my answer. Lol. What can I say? I LOVE my birthday!

So, what makes this birthday such a standout in my mind?

Well, it’s the last year in a decade, and I’ll be saying goodbye to my twenties soon. Farewell to drunken nights, summer flings, reckless shopping, and livin’ la vida YOLO – hello to home ownership, sensible vehicle choices, and slowed metabolism. Or something like that. 29 is a great age to look back at the journey thus far, and get ready for the next part of the ride. My 9th and 19th years were amazing, so I’m predicting more of the same with 29.

As much as I love the “me me me!” attention I acquire on my birthday, I know I’m not the only person born on May 10th. Two very important people in my life, my cousins Marc and Michael, were also born on the same day, same year, and I can’t think of better people to share my special day with. I’ve talked about my cousins before, especially Michael and the impact he left on me when he passed away in November. Today is the first birthday without him, so the bittersweet taste of the day has been lingering in my heart and mind since I started my annual Bee-Day countdown. Every time I excitedly referenced my upcoming birthday in conversation, I’d feel a pang of sadness – a reminder that he wouldn’t be here for birthday texts, cake, and jokes about me being their honourary triplet sister. In texts back and forth with Marc today, he reminded me that Mike was still here with us today – and he’s so right. So, happy birthday, Mike! 

On Twitter and Facebook, I’ve been alluding to the fact that I would be ringing in Bee-Day #29 in a way that I never have before. What I meant by that requires a separate post of its own (which is coming!), but I’ll share a bit with you now. Bright and early on my birthday morning, I opened a few gifts (hello NARS blush! hello silver bracelet!), then headed downtown to a local hospital and had surgery. Not the usual birthday celebration, huh? I’ve referenced my cancer scare before, but that wasn’t the end of the story. I was diagnosed with a pre-cancerous cervical lesion last month, and as my doctor wanted to expedite my treatment, surgery was scheduled right away – with the lucky date landing on my birthday. People asked me why I wouldn’t just speak up and ask the doctor to change the date. The thought crossed my mind, but I kept the scheduled day for two reasons. One being that as soon as I know something is wrong, and as soon as there is a plan in place to take care of it, I don’t like to delay. Especially anything related to cancer. Secondly, I’m a strangely symbolic person – so having this procedure done on my birthday even further strengthens the meme of ‘new beginnings’. I still have some treatment to go through, but after this surgery, I’m even more motivated to live a healthier life. This diagnosis (which came almost a year to the day from Michael’s leukemia diagnosis) has changed my mentality indefinitely. What a way to bring in 29!

So, what’s next? Here I am, standing at the doorway of my 29th year, about to step over the threshold and into a new, exciting, and positive journey. 28 wasn’t the greatest – though the highlight was my wedding and all the good things that brought, overall last year was stressful and sad. I’m hoping 29 rectifies that – wait. I know 29 is not only going to rectify that, but it’s going to bring awesome and amazing things! All gold and sparkly and happy everything this year!

Are you a birthday fiend like me? What has been your favourite birthday thus far? 

If you’re in Toronto, don’t forget to hit up Dazzling Lounge tonight for Fashionably Late’s Timeline party! I’ll still be shakin’ a leg, but I might have to leave the table dancing to next year…I’ve been taking doctor’s orders to rest up, but best believe I’m not gonna miss my Bee-Day celebrations!  Come on out to watch me do the best subdued two-step you’ve ever seen!

 

May 7, 2012 

RESET: Identifying Personal Values & Creating Your Mission Statement

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Today is May 7th, which marks almost a quarter of the way through the month, and almost a quarter of the way through the 31 Day Reset Challenge! After a busy Friday and Saturday, I had to play catch-up with my last few assignments, but I’m back on track! So far, the exercises have been extremely insightful, and have really made me look at things and think about things differently.

The past few assignments have centred around personal values – the things in life that are important to us, and the things that we hold dear. The first step on Day 4 was to identify the things in life that we value – a few of mine were “optimal health and wellness”, “traveling”, “financial success & security”, and “inspiring and empowering others”. From the list of approximately 20 that I wrote down, the next step was to then create my Reset 10 list – selecting the top 10 values.

On Day 5, we took it a step further. First, I had to review my Reset 10 and rate myself on a scale from 1-10 on how well I was embracing or living up to that value. “Maintaining a happy marriage” rated a 9, “optimal health and wellness” rated a 4, and “owning a beautiful home” rated 1 (hey, we all gotta start somewhere!). It was at this point that I took an honest look at what was important to me, and just how well I was or wasn’t doing at upholding that importance. It’s quite easy to write a list of all the things we value in life, but it’s much more difficult to hold that list up to real life and see how it compares. Not rating myself highly on owning a home wasn’t a terrible thing, seeing as how I’m just starting out on the path to home ownership. However, other items that weren’t rated so highly gave me the sads, and further reminded me that I was WELL overdue for a change.

Part 2 of Day 5 focused on values in action – for each value, we had to identify 3 things we would do to be actively engaged within them. For “optimal health and wellness” I wrote workout regularly, eat well, and de-stress. For “do fulfilling work” I wrote work somewhere that fits my values, build more as an entrepreneur, and find ways to help others. My sads started to fade away at this point – putting my values into action gave me a bit of a game plan on what to do in order to live up to my values. Items that were rated 1′s or 2′s weren’t dead ends – it was just a starting point, and there was literally nowhere to go but up!

I patiently awaited my Day 6 email this morning, and wondered what we were going to do next with our values. I got my answer when the email arrived – the next task was to create a personal mission statement. A great definition of personal mission statement was provided by the personal development site Dumb Little Man:

Your personal mission statement should be a concise representation of what’s most important to you, what you desire to focus on, what you want to achieve, and, ultimately, who you want to become. In its purest form, it’s an approach to your life, one that allows you to identify a focus of energy, creativity, and vision in living a life in support of your inner-most beliefs and values. Also remember that your mission will change over time as you and your life change.

From there, I took my various values and drew up what I consider to be my personal mission statement:

My mission in life is to live the dream. In all areas, I plan to make my aspirations a reality, and live the type of life that I have always imagined. Above all, I value wellness, happiness, love, fulfillment, and success. I honour optimal holistic health & wellness in mind, body, and soul. I honour my marriage by maintaining open communication, honesty, support, laughter, love, and fun with my husband. I honour my family and friendships by maintaining closeness and always being there for each other. I honour the impact I will leave on the world by doing work that fulfills me, that inspires and empowers, and that allows me to use my skills and experiences to help others. I embrace my entrepreneurial spirit and my artistic spirit, and will create my own success. I embrace financial success & stability, traveling, and having the perfect home to return to after a long day. Positivity, prayer, faith, and breaking the rules when necessary – all of these things will help me to live the dream.

Yes, it’s a mouthful, and no, I don’t plan on memorizing it any time soon – but I could see how reading this first thing in the morning may help me to get the day started off right! After creating my personal mission statement, I’m more motivated than ever. Time to live up to my values!

If you’re part of the 31 Day Reset Challenge, let me know! Are you enjoying it so far? Whether you’re in the challenge or not, what do you think about creating a personal mission statement?

Don’t forget my Bee-Day celebrations going down this Friday at Fashionably Late’s Timeline party – Dazzling Lounge, 291 King Street W. is the location! The only gift I need is your presence!

May 4, 2012 

FRIDAY FUN: Fashionably Late Fridays @ Dazzling Lounge

Last summer, a few ambitious folks got together and thought, “What is the Toronto nightlife scene missing?” Events that are not full of posed-up “industry” folks, parties that aren’t geared to the “I stole my 21-year-old cousin’s ID” crowd, jams that don’t end with hotheads scrapping over perceived disrespect…kinda hard to come by in general, but seem to be few and far between in Toronto. I’ve lived here for 5 years, and some say I’ve missed the golden era of Toronto nightlife – but I have to say, the good parties I’ve been to in the city have been GOOD PARTIES. Thanks to those ambitious folks I mentioned (the good people of R Flavour, This Is Your Conscience, and Goddess Intellect), Toronto has another good party series to coincide with the return of the good weather – Fashionably Late!

Summer 2011 found me at Dazzling Lounge nearly every Friday. Dope Asian fusion cuisine, yummy drinks, good company and hype music (shout out to main DJ Kold Fusion) – I had quite the time. I ran into old friends, met new ones, danced to Poison with Robin Givens and got holla’d at by Clifton Powell (aka Pinky from the Friday movies). Let’s just say, every Friday night was an experience.

Starting tonight (yes – TONIGHT!), Fashionably Late will regain it’s position as the Friday night place to be for a cool, sexy, and fun affair. Dazzling Lounge has just revamped its patio space, so I’m excited to do some patio photo shoots with the Toronto skyline as my backdrop! The Fashionably Late team has a ton of tricks up their sleeve to add to your party experience. It’s not just about a drink and a two-step – Fashionably Late plans to fully entertain you with special nights and pre-party happy hour events.

Speaking of special nights – the 2nd Friday of each month will be the Timeline party. DJ Kold Fusion will take you on a musical journey with an old school groove, taking us from current time to the mid 80′s in hip hop, RnB, reggae, soca, house, and anything else he comes up with (people have broken heels to Nirvana thanks to DJ Kold Fusion, so wear your good shoes, ladies!). Next Friday, May 11th, will be the first Timeline jam, and it’ll also be my birthday party! I’m calling it my Bee-Day Party, and I want you (yes, YOU!) there!  My actual birthday is May 10th, but I’ll be ringing in my new year at Fashionably Late on the 11th. If you want to come sip a drink or dance on a table top with me, shoot me an email! Hit me up on Facebook! Tweet me on Twitter! You know how to reach me :) I may be doing my own little event at an upcoming Fashionably Late, so I’ll keep y’all posted on that too…

Catch up with the Fashionably Late news via their Facebook page and Twitter – come shake a leg!

May 2, 2012 

RESET: The 31 Day Reset Your Life Challenge

Photo source

For me, the month of May brings a lot of great things. Between the start of really beautiful spring/summer weather and the new year celebration that is my birthday (I’m celebrating on May 11th at Fashionably Late Fridays – be there!), I usually have a great time in May. May means new beginnings, rebirth, and rejuvenation, and I plan to go all the way this month. I feel like this birthday, this new year, is the signal of an epic year to come in the life of Bee, and I want to herald it in the right way. Lucky for me, I found out about Rosetta Thurman’s 31 Days To Reset Your Life Challenge, and signed up right away!

Rosetta Thurman is an inspiration. Blogger, web whiz, and leadership consultant – she quit her non-profit career and has built a niche for herself as a successful entrepreneur. I subscribe to her Facebook page, and when I saw her post about the kick-off of the 31 day challenge, I had to learn more.

The 31 Days To Reset Your Life Challenge is a “virtual life coaching program”, designed for:

anyone who wants to manifest a change in their life, design a more fulfilling existence, make room for new possibilities or simply gain more clarity about their path to happiness and success. This challenge will especially be of benefit to you if you’ve felt stuck or in a rut during the last year.

Manifest a change, did you say? Stuck or in a rut, did you say? As soon as I read this, I felt like Rosetta had been peeking through my window. I signed up and patiently awaited my 1st of 31 emails – each day, we will be sent emails with exercises or assignments to help us manifest that change, or to get unstuck and out of that rut.

Today’s assignment was a 3-parter. Get a notebook. Pick your motto. Choose your theme song.

My notebook? I’ve got it. Even though I use this blog as a space to write about some personal things, you best believe I have a journal! This one has been with me for at least 2 years, on and off – and it’s the best one for me to use for this challenge.

My motto? This one took me a while to come up with, but I finally got it. “Step out on nothing, land on something”. I’ve been struggling a lot with maintaining faith. Glimmers of it come back here and there, but 2012 has been tough so far with keeping positive in spite of transitions or setbacks. I’m also a bit of a control freak. I started reminding myself to “step out on nothing, and land on something” when I was hesitating taking a chance, or when I was doubting myself that things would work out. I’ll admit, I’m not fully living in a space of undeniable and uncontested faith, but I’m working on it. I figured I’d use this motto to seal the practice in my mind over the next month, so we’ll see how things go…

My theme song? Chile – I had it picked out this morning before I even signed up for the Challenge (sorry, but this one has cussin’ – I like to stay authentic):

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I have a lot of theme songs – I likely would have chosen “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley because I use that song to soothe my frazzled and stressed nerves on a weekly basis. However, this Watch The Throne track motivates me to jump higher, run faster, and be better. I can’t explain it, but this song just gets me hyped and ready to take on the world. I have a lot of dreams and goals, so the “Who Gon’ Stop Me?” mentality is one I need to maintain.

My May 1st assignment is done. As you read this, I’ll likely be working on my May 2nd exercise. We’ll see how I’m doing by the end of the month! I don’t think it’s too late to join – check details here, and learn more about Rosetta at her sites Happy Black Woman and Rosetta Thurman.

Are you joining in on the Challenge? Have you ever done something like this before? If so, did you stick it out to the end, or did you fall off? I’ll be checking in with you all as the next 30 days unfold, so keep me accountable!

 

April 27, 2012 

BEE ON THE SCENE: Malton Moms Workshops & How She Hustles Brunch

As this week comes to an end, I’m reflecting on just how busy and eventful the past few weeks have been. I was honoured to attend a few awesome events, and I wanted to let you all know about them!

First up: my very first speaking engagement! A couple of weeks ago, I was happily surprised to get an email in my inbox inviting me to speak at the Malton Moms group in the Mississauga area. Malton Moms is a networking and support group for mothers in the Malton region, but in reality, they’re so much more than that. Malton Moms provides an environment for mothers to be educated, entertained, supported, and heard. For their Creative Cafe’s “Telling Your Story” edition of special meetings, I was invited to speak about how to “tell your story” with blogging.

With Crystal and Nadine from Malton Moms

For the last two Wednesdays, I spent my evenings in Mississauga with the group and talked, laughed, and learned. For the first session, I covered topics to help the ladies start and maintain their own blogs. It was easy to drive my points home by sharing my own personal experiences, and the ladies were receptive and interactive, which was awesome! For my second session, we focused on the Malton Moms blog, and I helped the group come up with a game plan for updating and revamping their site. This was especially great – the Malton Moms group is doing so many amazing things that it only makes sense for their web presence to mirror all of that awesomeness. Are you in the Malton area and looking for a group of mothers to connect with? You definitely need to get in touch with Malton Moms – check their Facebook page to stay updated! I had a great time, and was humbled and honoured to be invited to speak to their group. I was also inspired – there were a TON of sexy mommies up in there! Go ‘head, ladies!

What comes to mind when you think of spending an afternoon with 100 women you don’t know? For an introvert like me, that’s a nerve-wracking experience, but it’s one I encountered this past Sunday – and I loved it. I was lucky enough to attend the 3rd Annual How She Hustles Brunch at the Courtyard Marriot in downtown Toronto, and I had an amazing time! Hosted by Emily Mills and her team, the brunch was an opportunity to mix, mingle, and make real connections with women excelling in their main hustles and side hustles. This was different from other networking events because it was intimate enough to allow us the opportunity to chat with nearly every woman there. Everyone seemed positive, kind, and genuine in wanting to share their skills and learn about others – no pretentious posing or nonchalant business card tossing here! I was also impressed with the How She Hustles team’s usage of social media – Emily and her team used Twitter and Facebook so effectively, and created a way for women not in attendance to still feel like a part of the event. Awesome gift bags, dope giveaways, the opportunity to meet Twitter-friends in real life, and the chance to connect with other beautiful and inspiring women – this event was a major win all around! Connect with How She Hustles on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube to stay up to date with future events, because I know I’ll never miss another one!

Big thanks to the homie Ajua Dee for snapping so many great pics!

And the events don’t stop! May is my birthday month, and I have a few cool events planned to celebrate! Like the Facebook page and follow me on Twitter for more details! If you were at the Malton Moms workshops or at the How She Hustles brunch, say hello! I’d love to keep in touch!

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