deerstalker

Universal Fan Con is exactly that—UNIVERSAL. It speaks to the very real and authentic human desire to be accepted, not just tolerated or seen as a token.

The post Universal Fan Con: The Rejection Of Bigotry And Celebration Of “Otherness” appeared first on TheBlackGeeks.

Michele's team confirmed the news with ESSENCE on Wednesday afternoon.

December is the time of the year when I start thinking about making resolutions for the upcoming year. I usually have a long list of things I want to change. A recent road trip down South gave me time to think. As the miles slipped by, I thought back to previous years and how I made my resolutions on Jan. 1 and by Feb. 1 I was feeling defeated because I had fallen back into my old ways.

We start the year off excited and convinced that we are going to stick to our resolutions this time, but we don’t. It’s too much all at once. During my drive it hit me. Why did I feel like I had to wait until Jan. 1 to make a change? Every day is a new day, a fresh start, an opportunity to start over. Why should I wait until the New Year and get upset when I miss my goal? Then give up completely and go back to life as it was before I made the resolution. This year I decided to do something different. Instead of resolutions, I came up with a list of things I wanted to do for this upcoming year. Things I felt were doable, things that wouldn’t make me feel like a loser. Instead of trying to add them all in during the first month of the new year I would incorporate them throughout the year. Here is my list below.

Monthly Check-ins

Instead of waiting until the month of December to reflect on your life, decide to check in at the end of each month. At that time, evaluate what went well and what didn’t. Decide what you need to do more of and what you need to stop doing. Don’t rush through this exercise. Really think about any changes you need to make.

Have a Master Plan

Decide what is important, what you want to get accomplished, how you want to feel once it is accomplished, who can help you, and what resources you need. Then work toward that plan. No longer should you just act and react. Everything you do should fit into your master plan.

Ditch Information Overload

There is a lot of information coming at you all day every day from many different sources. Social media has taken over our lives. There are webinars, podcasts, Periscopes. My inbox is full every day with someone trying to sell or teach me something. Free offers and paid offers are mines for the taking. It can become overwhelming. For 2017, make some choices. Decide which people you are going to follow. Cultivate those relationships. Only read and implement information and strategies from them. There is a lot if information out there, but it might not be right for you right now. When you are feeling overwhelmed turn off your screen. Relax, breathe, meditate, and spend time with your family and friends. Give yourself time to refresh.

Stop being an Information Collector

Are you guilty of collecting information and then not implementing? Do you have folders of notes from workshops, webinars, and trainings that you have tucked away in a drawer never to be seen again? Get rid of it if you are not going to do anything with it. Make 2017 the year of implementation.

This article was written by, The BOSS Network Influencer, Conchetta Jones.

Conchetta Jones is an author, model, speaker, and certified Overflow Coach. As founder/owner of She’s All That! Woman. A personal development and lifestyle company, she helps women to identify the obstacles in their lives that are keeping them stuck from living the life of their dreams.

Learn more about Conchetta via her website at www.satwoman.com

Follow her on Twitter @_satwoman

I have a lot of random jewelry components in my Craft Hoarder's Paradise™ (aka, my garage), so I've been dipping into that stash to create my latest wreaths. For today's wreath, I used a color palette I'm very fond of (turquoise and red) to create a small fun and funky wreath that has a bit of a folk art/Scandinavian flavor: a Red & Turquoise Valentine Heart Wreath.

Wreath a Day #5: Turquoise & Red Valentine Heart Wreath

This post contains affiliate links.

I have a lot of jewelry supplies because I love making jewelry, but the sad truth is, I don't make jewelry often enough to use up all the supplies I own. I could make a necklace every day for a year (maybe that will be next year's project?), and still not use up all the supplies I have. Does anyone else have the same craft supply hoarding problem I have?

I got these jewelry components from the Fire Mountain Gems $1 Sale (Check out my haul video here).

Supplies Needed:

• Grapevine wreath*
• Wireless chenille stem ribbon
• Red ribbon*
• Turquoise Beads
• Metal Leaf Beads
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks*

I got the wireless chenille stem ribbon at Consumer Crafts, but you can use any white or silver ribbon you have on hand for this project. In fact, you can substitute any supplies you DO have for the ones I used in this project. Just use it as a jumping off point for your own creativity!

You can get wreath forms at DollarTree.com.

Step 1: Wrap Ribbon Around the Wreath Form

Secure a piece of silver ribbon or the wireless chenille stem ribbon to the back of the wreath, and then wrap it around the wreath form. When you get all the way around the wreath, cut the ribbon and glue the end of the ribbon to the back of the wreath. (Bonus points if you manage to line the ends of the ribbon up with each other!)

Step 2: Add Beads

Next, hot glue some of the metallic leaf beads to the wreath. I arranged them in alternating color order, and placed a wire mesh heart bead at the top of the wreath.

But the wreath isn't finished... it needs something more.

Add 1" plastic turquoise-colored beads to the top of the flat leaf beads. Hot glue them in place.

Somehow the wreath isn't quite done. It needs something to pull it all together.

Step 3: Add More Ribbon

When I added this red ribbon over the top of the wreath, it really came together.

Hot glue the end of red ribbon to the back of the wreath, and then wrap it around the wreath, between the round turquoise-colored beads.

Tie a piece of ribbon or baker's twine to the top of the wreath to provide a way to hang your wreath.

The red ribbon really makes the turquoise beads pop, and the chenille ribbon and leaves make a great backdrop and add visual interest to the wreath. Finally, the valentine heart at the top gives the wreath a sweet focal point.

I hope you are having as much fun watching me bust my stash as I am having making these crazy wreaths! To follow along with my project, check out my other Wreath a Day posts.