Foto Friday: I Love My Life

This moment brought together some of my greatest loves: New York. Alicia Keys. Jay Z. all into one!

When Alicia Keys brought Jay Z out as a surprise guest do Empire State of Mind, I was probably on one of the highest highs of my life. As I said in my post about the concert: "I’m not one to scream like a crazed fan, but a scream somehow escaped my body, and I immediately broke out in a sweat. The energy was crazy as we all sang the ode to our city." Even though I kind of suspected it, the element of surprise magnified a great moment into an unforgettable one.

I'm a Black Girl and I ROCK!

I am so full of inspiration from the BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Awards show that I truly believe in this moment that "I am a Black girl and I ROCK!"

This is the perfect time to share this interview I had the opportunity to do with Red Rover Style.

Gotta keep on rockin'!

My "Diary"

Please allow me this moment to share these candid thoughts:

Anyone who knows me personally knows how much I LOVE Alicia Keys. Those of you who have gotten to know me over the past few months through my blog may have gathered this as well. So imagine my surprise and extreme excitement when I found out about the Head Blogger position at her new site IAAS.com (I am a Superwoman). Knowing me so well, a few friends of mine told me about the position, knowing that not only this is the ideal position for me, but also that I am the Superwoman for the job!

Ever since the release of Superwoman, I've embraced my inner superwoman. I even had a friend of a friend draw this for me. I call her Miss Journey (my alter ego). That song has helped me get through some difficult moments: I used to listen to it on the way to my old job when I really did not want to go, but after listening to it on repeat all the way to work I'd walk in strapped with my S on my chest and get the job done! This song also inspired the last issue of What Women Everywhere Want newsletter and encouraged me through the transition to Her Journey. Keeping that song on repeat helped me through writer's block, discouragement, fear and uncertainty that tried to be obstacles along the way, and two years later that is still one of the first songs I go to when I need a boost.

Since submitting my application I have been so anxious, thinking about all the other women who may have applied. I've gone from excitement to fear to anxiety to the point when I sometimes have to distract myself from getting overwhelmed with emotion. My fears subsided yesterday when I had a revelation during church. While the guest preacher delivered a message about prayer, she mentioned something about allowing God to use you. When praying it is not about asking God for what you want, but asking Him to use you for His purpose. Even though I have been aware of this in some way before, the revelation hit me as if it were brand new. Applying it to this situation, it is not just about praying to get this position, it is about me opening up my heart to be used for a purpose greater than even I can imagine, and I honestly do believe that having this position is on my path to fulfilling my purpose. I also thought of one my favorite scriptures which refers to God as "He who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or even think" (Ephesians 3:20). Part of my anxiety is because I cannot imagine how this journey will unfold, but with a restored and strengthened faith I am comforted and even more excited to know that this can unfold in a way that I can't even imagine.

I believe that my work up until now will speak for itself so there is no need to stress over shoulda woulda coulda. I also believe in the quote that says that "success comes when opportunity meets preparation" (Author Unknown). So in my new enlightened state of mind, I've decided to occupy my time by further equipping myself with what I will need to best serve in this position, not only to the company but also to each and every woman that will be touched by this new movement.

Lastly, I believe in positive energy...So I'm sending it out there into the universe...pick me! I am the Superwoman for the job!

Gotta Love NY: Alicia Keys Concert

Now there are only a few things that I will go absolutely gaga over. Alicia Keys is on that very short list…and tonight, I went absolutely gaga.

After paying an inflated price for a ticket and a few hours standing in the cold, I do have to say that it was sooo worth it. In honor of Worlds AIDS Day, Alicia Keys had a concert at the Nokia Theater right in the middle of Times Square. Not even knowing exactly where the entrance was, I saw a line and just got on it. Imagine a random line of people forming right in the middle of Times Square. (It’s actually not as random as one might think.) Thankfully, my punctuality and patience paid off with a spot right by the stage.

A. Keys certainly gave us a show. She did some old, some new; some of our favorites that we fall in love with every time: “Fallin’” and “You Don’t Know My Name” NEVER get old. Of course, she did the ones that get the crowd going: “No One” and “Superwoman,” which has been a HUGE inspiration to me, when I was unmotivated to go to work (back at my other job), whenever I had writer’s block, or just whenever I need a boost in spirits. And the grand finale…it should be no surprise that she did “Empire State of Mind” at a NY performance. However, for her to bring Jay Z on stage was one of those things that was certainly hoped for but not fully believed until he actually came out on stage. Right before starting her other version of “Empire State of Mind” A. Keys kept saying “Are yall ready?” “Does this feel like the perfect time to you?”So we knew something was coming, and of course we all guessed it, but when she switched over to the original version of “Empire State of Mind” and Jay Z swaggered his way onto the stage, the crowd LOST it. I’m not one to scream like a crazed fan, but a scream somehow escaped my body, and I immediately broke out in a sweat. The energy was crazy as we all sang the ode to our city.

A show like that definitely gives you a burst of inspiration and leaves you on a high.

And THAT is why I LOVE New York!

Here are a few pics from when I saw her last week at The Today Show (an early morning adventure):

When I couldn't get a clear shot, I improvised.

It's only right that I leave you with this: