New York Target Haul- items under $5

Happy Friday everyone!

I hope everyone has been having a great week! This week I am visiting my family in New York and I am so excited to be here! The past two days I have spent with my family have been full of laughs and fun and it's exactly what I needed.

So Today I decided to go for a walk through my old neighborhood and visit the Target since it's so close to my parent's house and the one in Fayetteville is a little bit far. And boy am I glad I did!

. If you saw my last shopping haul you'll know that I didn't find much on my last trip to Target but this time although I did not find any shopkins blind boxes, I found some super cute things in the Dollar section as well as a ton of items on clearance throughout the store! So let's dive right in and check out these awesome items!

So every time I go to Target I hit up their dollar section it's honestly been my favorite part of Target since my first year of college. Today was no different I found tons of cute stationery in the dollar section

Check out these super cute mini binder dividers! I actually just made some DIY dividers because I couldn't find any cute ones (Look out for a post on that soon, it's currently in the works.) But these are perfect I love all of the different designs and patterns. [$3]

 Check out all of this super cute stamps These were also in the dollar section  I just had to buy these stamps it has all of the things I love  A cat mermaid, a cute little pineapple, and a tiny little avocado and all for [$1]  Plus I found the matching Ink pad in these beautiful neon colors for [$1]

I also Found these stamps that looked a little bit more like I'm at least trying to be an adult and figured the would not only look pretty would really come in handy for my journal and planner. These were [$3] 

I had to dig through a few things but I was able to find some sticky notes and page flags and they are absolutely gorgeous and I loved all of the different designs they had to offer and but I decided to grab these two because the colors matched the stationery I bought the last time I was at Target.There are 80-page flags and 100 sticky notes and they only cost [$1/each] with designs this cute and prices this cheap they practically put themselves in my cart.

The last thing I picked up in the dollar section was this stationery set that came with a binder divider, page flags, sticky notes & stickers  I fell in love with this set I love all of the stickers and I absolutely adore the page flags with the eyes on them I think they're super cute! This whole set only cost [$3]!

After I left the dollar section I decided to browse around the store and see what things I could find on clearance and there was honestly a few things I would have bought if fitting it all in my suitcase and duffle bag was not something I had to worry about. But I ended up in this huge clearance section full of goodies so I got to digging to see what I could find.

I was able to grab Yet another mini binder It's a little dinged up but nothing a few stickers and maybe some paint couldn't fix and for the price, it couldn't be beaten! I nabbed this binder for [$1.18] can you believe it I was so happy LOL!

I also dug out these simple but lovely binder dividers to use In the 1 inch binder I got from Target the last time they were only [$0.88/per pack of 5 ] I had to grab two packs because I never find pretty dividers that cheap and who knows when I'll need some.

And the Last things I picked up on my Target trip where these cute pink and white binder clips with motivational quotes on the front the pack cost [$1.78] along with these super cute magnetic bookmarks with the cutest sayings on them for [$1.48] 

But the Item that stole the show this Trip are these SUPER CUTE PAPER CLIPS!



Can you tell what they're shaped like? That's right little sloths! I thought they were so cute I just had to have them! They come in four different colors and there are 30 paper clips of each color. the whole pack cost me [$2.00].

I am absolutely in love with all of the things I found in Target and cannot wait to get them back on home to my desk!

Total this trip at Target I spent [$20] Which I feel pretty good about!

The City Inside of the Girl

So If You've been reading my blog for a while you know that I am proud New Yorker.

If you want to know more about my life in New York be sure to check out this post HERE

The city that truly never sleeps, I miss it so much but I don't want to move back just yet. However, I always love to visit not just the city I love but all of the people I love as well. 

So why the random post about New York? 

 Well because I am visiting home this week and I am so excited because I get to see my family but I am also really glad to spend some time in the city. I have a lot of things planned in the upcoming months and a lot of goals I want to achieve this year in general so I probably won't be able to go back home until some time in the summer. 

I arrived this morning and I am so happy to be back and visiting. 

I plan to visit a few of my favorite places while I'm here, I won't be here very long but I intend to make the most of the time I have by spending as much time with my family as possible as well as have some much needed me time. 

So make sure you check in this week to see all the things I'll be up to in New York this week 

Happy Saturday!

Hello everyone!

I was scared I wasn't going to get to post again this week because Ren ate my charger! I guess that would be the blogger equivalent of the dog ate my homework LOL. but seriously this little cutie is getting the rest of her teeth in and has been chewing her way through almost everything including my charger leaving me with 29%

But I ordered a new charger and thanks to Amazon's 2-day shipping I am fully charged and back in action! And thanks to BarkBox Ren has a whole new set of toys to add to her collection and they should keep her busy and away from my things!

So I'll back to my regular blogging schedule which I just established will be Monday Wednesday & Friday So be sure to stay tuned this week because I promise I have a lot in store for this coming week so I hope you're as excited as I am!

Note: Just because that is when I will be regularly posting on the above listed days doesn't mean I may not add an additional post here and there :)!

Spring Is In the AIR !

Good afternoon everyone! It's officially Spring! And it looks like Mother Nature is giving us a nice little taste of what's to come in these spring months. Here in Fayetteville, we had a bit of rain late last night into early this morning but now the sun is shining the birds are chirping and it definitely feels like Spring is in the air. 

So I decided to go out and embrace the nice weather by going out and picking up somewhat?

Shopkins! 

That's right everyone your girl is officially addicted to shopkins! How can you not be they're so adorable! 

So I decided to check out what Toys "R" Us had since my beloved childhood store will be closing its doors for good soon I went for Shopkins and for nostalgia. 

Everyone must have beat me to it because there weren't that many left, but I was able to grab two of World Collection Shopkin Blind Bags and Shopkins! So Let me introduce you to the new additions to my collection! 

So The first Blind Bag seems to be from the Asia Collection and we've got 

All the way from China! 

Danica Dress! Isn't she super cute! I love her big eyes and her purple dress! She's also A rare Shopkin! AWESOME 

Then we've got Yoko Kimono She's also super cute! She looks like genuine Kimono And I think she'll love hanging out with Danica Dress! 

Then From the Europe Collection, we've got 

Poppa Pretzel and Bridget Bagdot who is also a rare Shopkin! But how cute is Poppa Pretzel with his cute little hat! 

And From The Americas, We've got 

 

Katy Kicks and Spike The Cactus These two are definitely the favorites I love the cute little wings on Katy and How cute is Spike in his cute little pink pot that match his little pink flowers and how cute is his face!


 These Guys can't wait to join my other shopkins looks like I'm going to need a display case after all!

NewAddiction ?

So you guys may not know this but I am quite the sticker collector. I have tons of stickers that I have ordered online and just picked up in various stores but and every time I buy a set of stickers I stick one onto my laptop.

But other than that I don't collect much until now!

The other day while browsing through Walmart I decided to pick up something out of the easter section they have at Walmart right now and I have been addicted ever since.

What is my new addiction you ask?

SHOPKINS! 

I know I am a little bit late to the hype of shopkins but I have never really given them the time of day because they are so small but when I opened my surprise package a few days ago I fell in love! 

 

And when they look this cute how can you not fall in love with them. 

Shopkins are down my alley: cute, pastel, and tiny. plus they gave me a pink slice of cake on my first try uh yes!

So far I just have these two but I definitely intend to buy two more of the little easter eggs they have at Walmart tomorrow before I go into work so I will post my new buddies Either Sunday Or Monday! 

 

Let's Talk Serious:Bruno Mars

Hey Everyone so Last night I thought about how much fun we have on the blog but I don't feel I would be doing my part as a content provider if I didn't talk about things that are a bit serious as well. I was on facebook  when I came across this article discussing Bruno Mars and how he is a cultural appropriator and

So today marks the day, I will be putting some more important and discussion-worthy topics on the blog as well.

Now as an African American Woman and one with great pride at that, I take black culture extremely seriously and I know that cultural appropriation is a huge problem in my community.

Now let's talk about  the definition cultural appropriation

The act of taking or using things from a culture that is not your own, especially without showing that you understand or respect this culture:

Now let's get back to Bruno Mars, I personally am I pretty big fan of his music. I love how he brings the old school sounds of my childhood to the 2000's. I have never heard a song of his that didn't move my body or my soul and I think that's a pretty good thing.

Do I personally think Bruno Mars is a cultural appropriator? 

In all honesty, no, Mars is constantly thanking the greatest African Amerian artists in history including Baby Face, Teddy Riley, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for being his inspiration. I feel that this is something that people do not understand when it comes to appropriation. Someone is inspired by a culture and appreciating it's music is not the same as seeing someones cultural and claiming it as your own. Bruno Mars is not saying Motown jazz and R&B are his cultures, he's saying this is the music I grew up on and this is what I want to create for my fans.

The more we accuse people who love our culture of stealing it the less interested they will become. We do not want our culture to be alien or taboo to others we just want it to be you know .. ours.

And I personally feel like as long as he is acknowledging the fact that African Americans are a source of inspiration for his music he is not stealing anything and portraying it as his own.
Do I feel that the fact that Bruno Mars is racially ambiguous plays a factor in his success? Maybe but I also think it has to with the feel-good, can do attitude his music presents making his music itself racially ambiguous allowing it to reach all different types of races and ethnicities

This is just my opinion, tell me what you guys think below in the comments?

Staionery Shopping Haul

So As I've told you guys before I LOVE SHOPPING!

Even if it's just picking up a few things here and there I am a sucker for little desk knick-knacks and cute decor for my little office space in my room or for any part of the house honestly. But when it comes to my desk  I am a total fanatic. I love Pastel Colors so I'm working with Pastel Pink blue, and purple on my desk so whenever I see something in those colors I have to nab it!

So today I wanted to show you guys some of the cute little stationery and desk accessories I bought this week for under $5

$5 or Less Shopping Haul! 

So This week I decided to go to some store that I hadn't been to in a while to take a look at some new things because honestly, I have been in Walmart so much lately I was growing tired of their selection. So today's finds are from TARGET, DOLLAR TREE & A.C MOORE 

First up, Target. Now it's been months since I've even set foot in Target just because it's further out than most of the other stores I go to on the regular basis and to be honest I was a little bit disappointed nothing caught in particular caught my eye and the things that did were not within my price point for the day.

However, in the dollar section, I Found a ton of cute things that I loved for $5 or less. Which actually made the trip worth it! 

These super cute binders!

The larger one was $3 and is all of the colors I am using in my office so I absolutely had to grab it! 

The smaller one was $5 it has a cloth front and back covering and I have been looking for a cute mini binder for a while and haven't been able to find one that I liked so I had to have it!

Another thing or things that caught my attention was all of these adorable little pens and pencils! 

Now I'm a little bit skeptical about buying pens from dollar sections because sometimes they can be for lack of a better word crappy. I was happily surprised by these pens not only are they super cute but they also write amazingly smooth which makes me regret not buying the whole rack (I might just go back and do that). I also love the pencils I love the colors and the designs are cute as well. 

 

Since I didn't find much at Target I was delighted when I realized there was a FREAKING DOLLAR TREE ACROSS THE STREET! So you know I had to pop in to see if there was anything worth buying and A few things. 

I recently found a new obsession with Candles and this tiny pink candle I found smells so amazing I was so glad I found it, the scent is Spring Berry and I haven't lit it yet but just by smelling it I can tell it's going to have a powerful scent.

But the prime jewels of this dollar tree trip were these gorgeous diamond pens that write super smooth, I literally picked up one in every color and I am so glad I did do you see how gorgeous they are?! 

But Other Than that I bought a bunch of stuff for the house that was needed and I am so glad I found out there is a dollar tree up there!

After I went to dollar tree I went into A.C Moore, It has been a while since I have neem up here as well and since I am a member I have like 50% off coupons just waiting to be used. ( I now have 2) 

  I originally went in here to find a new journal and some scrapbooking paper but I didn't want to buy them loose and their selection of paper was not only plain but WAY OVER my price point for the day

but I did find an awesome new journal and some pretty pink things in their dollar section including another journal, and some stickers I used to decorate them.

I  am so excited about all of my new items and cannot wait to start using them! 

Moki's Favorite Places to Shop both online & IRL!

I LOVE TO SHOP!

From a very young age, I loved to shop, my aunt Barbara (Barbosa to most of us)  would take me to the flea market once a week to check out the local deals and bring home some sweet merchandise without spending a lot of your sweet sweet money

So that's where and how I learned to bargain shop, I am always looking for not only the best deal but the best selection as well. I like to go into stores and see a lot of nice things, not just a few hidden gems here and there. 

So today I am going to share with you my Favorite places to shop as well as why they're my favorite and what kind of items you can find at each store! 

Favorite Places To Shop till I drop! 

Walmart!

 Walmart is like the holy grail of bargains. Walmart and I have a really special relationship when I first moved to Fayetteville I barely had anything I had a couple hundred bucks in my bank account and did not know much of Fayetteville and what stores were close to me, so when I found out Walmart was within walking distance I was super excited because up in NY  I was rarely ever able to get to a Walmart

Reasons I Love: I love Walmart because you can get everything you need you, your house and your fridge all in one place, Walmart is constantly bringing in new inventory and I love being able to go in there and see something new each time. 

Things I don't like: Customer Service is borderline terrible give or takes a few cashiers at my local Walmart, most people I encounter for help on the floor have no idea how to help me and I understand not knowing a certain department but at least direct me to someone who may be able to help me they're infamous for this line right here "Umm...I don't really know I just work here". What does that mean?! Thank God I know that store like the back of my hand now. 

Amazon

 Now I have to admit, I wasn't always a huge fan of Amazon. I didn't really start to love it until I started a free trial of Amazon Prime and Now I am in love. Being able to have things sent to me as quickly as 2-days free! UH YEAH SIGN ME UP! Plus if you decide you don't necessarily want/need these items in 2 days then you can pick standard shipping and get $5.99 credit for Prime Pantry!

Reasons I Love Prime Deals! Free 2-day shipping 

Things I don't like: There is not much that I don't like about Amazon, to be honest.For some items, the selection can be a little bit limited but other than that there's nothing I can think of if there is something you don't like about Amazon leave it down in the comments and if I think of anything I'll edit it here. 

  eBay!

eBay was is my first love when it comes to online shopping. Ever since middle school, I would buy things online and honestly I've never really been disappointed by them.  Their customer service impeccable so if you do have an issue with a seller or buyer you can ask them to step in and help. The reason they are third on the list is that the shipping times can sometimes be really long which for most items I don't mind like cheap phone cases or various other accessories. But for most things I don't  want to have to wait a month or two for things to get here

Reasons I Love: I love the variety and selection on eBay, you can literally find just about anything on there by the click of a search button. Great customer service, they will help you get money back for items you did not receive or broken items quickly and efficiently. 

Things I don't like Long wait times for some items.

Old Time Pottery!

 Now I felt a bit conflicted about adding this one to my list because I may be a little biased being that I work there but after very much thought I knew I had no idea that this store even existed before it came here to Fayetteville but let me tell you their prices along with their plentiful inventory makes it a great place to shop even better than  Walmart honestly but Walmart outranks them for me just because of the ease of just being able to grab everything in one place. 

OTP is a must visit place for home decor and essentials! 

Reasons I Love: The prices are ridiculously cheap! [ add on my associates discount and it's even cheaper] But even without the discount you'll see they are really inexpensive for good quality products

Things I don't like: Its one of those stores where it's like if you see it and love it and you can grab it grab it because it may not be here next time and once it's gone it's gone for the most part. 

But other than that I love this store! 

Monday Munchies

Good Morning everyone,

It's a cloudy day here in Fayetteville, and honestly, the weather has been pretty cruddy these past few days, the cold weather has got me in kind of a funk so I decided what better way to treat myself than with a sweet treat! today I want to share with you one of my new favorite places here in Fayetteville!

LOL BUBBLE TEA! 

This Place is absolutely amazing I love it because it reminds me of the bubble tea spots back home in New York. This shop is super cute and way better than I expected complete with J-pop music an old school video game and Tons of board games this place screams fun. 

Hubby and I decided to take a trip up there to beat the rainy day blues and it was totally worth it! 

We tried a Japanese style egg puff for the first time and it was absolutely delicious!

We decided on the white chocolate egg puff with matcha ice cream topped with strawberries, cheesecake bites, and Nutella! absolutely delicious!

So we also decided to splurge and get some crepes and bubble tea as well and I could not believe how delicious this all was. I promise you it tastes 10x better than it looks and it looks pretty dang good! 

Just when we thought we were done for the night we just couldn't bear to leave without trying the coveted Popcorn chicken and it was absolutely worth it! The chicken was hot and fresh and tasted phenomenal! 

So if you're ever in Fayetteville and want a snack or tasty treat I highly recommend you check them out! 

International Women's Day !

Aren't you Proud to be a Woman? 

In times like these, it may be hard to be proud, The patriarchal society we live in and the chauvinistic behavior that goes with it seems to be the norm these days.But today I am here to tell you BE PROUD OF WHO YOU ARE BREASTS AND VAGINAS IN ALL! (YES GET COMFORTABLE SAY I HAVE BREASTS AND A VAGINA HEAR ME ROAR!) ok, maybe not to everyone you encounter today but to yourself in the mirror or to your fellow girlfriends sometimes you just need a little reminder! 

All of us women have to stick together and not tear each other apart we have enough trying to tear us down we don't need to be looking out for other women as well right? Now I'm not saying you have to love every woman you might but can we all just at least agree to be cordial? You may not like someone but that doesn't mean you have to tear down that person's self-esteem or hurt their feelings.

So today let's all think about the powerful women who came before us and all they had to go through to get us where we are today. Let's make them proud and show them that we as women no matter what shape, size, color, or creed will stick together and stand up for each other and not tear each other down  

Out With the Old in With the New!

Spring will be here before we know it, it's hard to believe we're already in March but here we are. I know most people don't really get excited about spring cleaning but I can't help it. I love being organized and I feel this time of the year is the best time to rid of junk and Make room for all the new things that will be coming your way! 

What does the spring season represent?

Themes of rebirth and renewal often use symbols from the spring season. Spring also refers to love, hope, youth, and growth. The seasonal symbolism for this period may also allude to religious celebrations such as Passover or Easter.

According to Pen and the Pad

I want to focus on the rebirth and renewal aspects mentioned above. 

This is the main reason I feel it is best to get started spring cleaning way before the first day of spring. We want all the junk out of the house so that when the spring season actually starts we can focus on bringing in the new things we aspire this year. I am not just talking about material things either, we also need to rid our environment of emotional junk and bad energies. 

So today I am going to share with you a few tips on how to start! 

1.  Burn Sage: This is probably the most commonly known process for removing bad energy called smudging. You can also burn cedar or mugwort you can buy smudge sticks or you can make your own simply by purchasing the dried herbs yourself. Simply light the smudge stick and blow out the fire and allow the smoke to billow from the stick. 
2. White Flowers: This method is not as common but my grandmother taught it to me a while ago and I honestly believe it works. Simply buy some white flowers I use carnations, but you can use whatever flowers you like.Simply place them in a vase and leave them in your house you could also separate the bouquet and place a few flowers in each room in groups of three or five. The flowers will shrivel up and die and that's when it's time to throw them away along with all the bad energy the absorbed This is good if you want to have a visual of the bad energy leaving your house. Do not be alarmed if the flowers die quickly the first time around, it's more than likely you have more bad energy around than you realize.
3. Essential Oils: Incorporate essential oils into your home use oil burners, add a few drops to your cleaning spray. I add some to my fabric refresher and to the water of my carpet cleaner. Or simply add a few drops to some water and boil in a pot on the stove it will make the house smell amazing. Some oils I love to use for clearing bad energy are Lavender, Clary Sage, Ylang Ylang an Patchouli. 

Hello March

 Happy Sunday!

I hope the first few days of March Have been as good to you as they have been to me!
The weather here in Fayetteville was pretty crazy this past week, From tornado warnings to random rain showers.However, throughout all that the temperature stayed pretty warm which was awesome! And if this week's forecast is correct the weather will pretty much be the same.

Which is good because I am so ready for the warmer weather! Don't get me wrong I love the winter, as you guys know I am from New York so winter time is a special time for me. It reminds me of the all the snow, the hustle and bustle of the city filled with Christmas shoppers, The beautiful storefronts.New York in winter time is truly magic and probably the #1 reason I believe I will move back there someday.

This week has completely tired me out, from work to coming home and trying to complete as many of my spring cleaning tasks as possible. But it is all worth it, and I will definitely be catching up on some Z's on my three days off this week, a "weekend" in the middle of the week yes, please!

Make sure you stop by frequently this week I have a lot of posts to help you guys get started spring cleaning!

Last Few Days of Feburary!

Good Morning everyone!

I hope you guys paid special attention to lasts weeks post about how to have a better Monday and that you have a great day if you missed that post be sure to check it out HERE.

Today starts a new week and honestly I am ready! I am trying not to let the little things get me down and I personally feel like I have been doing a good job at it. But if I told you it was completely easy I would be lying to you.

While Today marks the beginning of the week it also reminds us that we will soon be ending February, and March will be here soon!

You guys already know how excited I am for spring and it's getting closer and closer. With this warm weather we've been experiencing here in Fayetteville, I can't help but dream of spring!


Last week I shared with you some tips on how to prepare for spring cleaning and I am trying to get a much done on my to-do list as possible.

So I figured I would share my spring cleaning to do list to help you guys get a little motivation for getting your list going

Moki's Spring Cleaning To Do list

Wash all Winter Clothes and Backed up Laundry
Create spring cleaning to do list

Donate any unwanted clothes 

Store Winter Clothes Away Neatly

Make A List of things I need to purchase for the house 

Give the Pets flea treatment

Go through Kitchen Drawers and throw out any junk

Clean The Oven

Clean Out The Fridge and Freezer 

Have Carpets Cleaned 

Have couches cleaned 

Create House Cleaning Schedule
Create Home Base at entryway

I'm still working on my list but this is the beginning I've already decluttered basically the whole house by throwing out junk and donating unwanted clothes so now its time to organize what I have left LOL. 

Personal Post

Hey, Guys Today I wanted to share with you the answer to my journal prompt today.

If you could have lunch with any celebrity who would it be? 

I thought about this for a while, And when I finally thought about it I would choose ...

Kristen Schaal

Some of you are probably a little surprised by my answer honestly I was too a little bit but then again It was obvious!

Having lunch with Kristen Schaal would literally be amazing simply because it would be like having lunch with all of my favorite characters.

I am a huge child at heart and last week I told you my favorite cartoons and Adventure Time and Bob's burgers were on that LIST and both of those shows have characters voiced by you guessed Kristen Schaal herself.

Schaal Voices Louise on Bob's Burgers and Jake's daughter Jake Jr on Adventure Time. Louise is my favorite character on Bob's burgers, so whenever I hear  Kristen Schaal's voice I instantly get excited so when I heard her voice on adventure time I was so happy and Jake Jr. is a character I love as well she is smart and sassy and even though she looks nothing like Jake she is a Jr in her personality 100% which makes her an awesome character to watch even though you don't see much of her. 

So going to Brunch with the woman behind both of these characters would honestly be amazing! I would try not to fangirl too much but I also feel like she would be super cool to have lunch with. 

Sunday Funday

Happy Sunday everyone!

Sundays are probably my most relaxed day of the week.
I love to wake up earlier on Sunday mornings grab a book and some good breakfast and just relax.
Kai usually works Sunday Mornings so I usually have the house to myself for a few hours in the morning. I love the peace and quiet so I use this time to do things I can't do when Kai is home, because I love him so much he just distracts me LOL !

A little while back we spoke about the importance of a Morning routine and how it can really help you start your day off to he right foot so be sure to check that post out HERE

I've recently had to change my Morning routine because of my work schedule because of my work schedule so I figured I would share it with you today before I started implementing it this week to help you guys get in the spirit of trying it out yourself.

( I opted out of putting the times on my schedule this time due to the fact that my work schedule changes frequently so I have to be up and out of the house at different times throughout the week) 

1. First and only alarm : I have been trying to work on not hitting snooze 
2. Wake up, Drink a bottle of water and take vitamins 
3. Wash Face and Brush Teeth 
4. Breakfast smoothie
5. Meditate 
6. Sun Salutations 
7. Eat High protein breakfast or take it to go depending on time

So there's not that many changes going on with my routine but I am removing all that snoozing  you saw in the first schedule I am currently down to just two alarms and soon I'll stop hitting the snooze button completely. If you guys missed where I spoke about the dangers of hitting the snooze button be sure to check that out HERE.

So create your morning routine and try it out this week! It's sure to make your mornings a lot easier.

Our First Date

Hey Guys!
Last week I shared with you guys the story of how Me & Kai Met and It got a ton of  views
I'm glad my readers love an almost perfect love story as much as I do so get cozy and listen up because It's story time again today

Moki & Kai's first date

Now if you guys think I'm a hopeless romantic you've obviously never met my fiance Kai is the King of grand gestures. For as long as I've been with him which is basically forever he's made every holiday and special occasion truly romantic.

So I guess it's fitting that our first date took place at one of the most romantic places a first date could take place. The carnival, every year twice a year my school would host a fair they called "The bazaar" It was a small fair with a few rides that took place on the field at Our Lady of the Angelus School in Rego Park queens run by the church but we always looked forward to it especially at this age when we were old enough to go without our parents and with our boyfriends instead. 

I remember he picked me up and we went together, tons of my friends were there but to be honest, I don't remember who was there all I remember is me and him and how excited I was to go on my first date ever LOL. He was a true gentleman he paid for everything we got on all the rides even one that I had been too petrified to get on every other time I went to the fair. I remember riding the Ferris wheel last it was perfect it feels like a movie every time I think about it. 

But surprisingly the most memorable things about that night didn't really occur until the very last moments of the night. Right before we left the fair I remember him grabbing my hands and pulling me toward some game "I can't take you home until I win you a teddy bear" I don't know if he noticed me looking at all of the other girls running around with teddy bears, I didn't really care about it that much. OK yes I did so the moment he said those words he made my night I remember him playing that game where you have to shoot the water at the target to fill up a balloon he won and I got this cute little teddy white teddy bear that had green wings and a gold halo I loved that bear, and I still have him to this day. 

But the best part of this date wasn't until we started heading home, in order to get home from my school we had to cross a small bridge. I remember us being on the top part overlooking all the cars on the highway when he grabbed me and kissed me it wasn't our first kiss but it was still magical "Come on what kind of date would I be if I got you home late?" 

Those two moments sold it for me.I loved him and I couldn't help but feel he loved me too :) 

Moki's Favorite's -TV Show Edition

Thank God it's Friday!

I am so happy for the weekend, even though I'll probably end up working most for some or all of it Im super happy because today is Payday and we all know the college kid struggle LOL. So I'm not letting anything ruin my good mood.

So I know recently I have been sharing little bits and pieces of information about me so today I wanted to continue that by sharing with you my favorite TV Shows right now.

Now I am a complete child at heart so basically all I watch are cartoons and Anime with the exception of a few TV shows so today I am going to share with you my favorite cartoons at the moment

Moki's Favorite Cartoons

1. ADVENTURE TIME
   

Adventure time is my number one favorite cartoon! Those of you who seriously watch the show will understand when I say this show is so much deeper than it lets on to be.I cannot explain why I love this show so much but I have never been dissappointed watching it and I have literally seen every episode about 10 times 

2. Steven Universe

Now when I started making this list I had to struggle between whether Steven Universe or Adventure time should go first. I actually stumbled upon steven universe completely by accident but I am so glad I did. This show has made me laugh cry, curse basically feel every emotion I am capable of feeling LOL. I feel like this show is not for children because some of these episodes are way to deep but not in a vulgar way but in a shatter your heart and have you crying for a few hours kind of way. 

3. Bob's burgers

I am a huge fan of Bob's Burgers I love all of the charecters the humor is great and I literally cannot wait for the show to come back on March 11. This show always has me on the brink of tears and the kids are just priceless Louise is obviously my favorite charecter because she is an evil genius all tied up in pink bunny ears which is how I like to think of myself But on most days my confidence level is on Tina

Relationships - The story of how Kai and I met

Happy Thursday everyone!

One more day till Friday and I cannot wait!
This week has been a pretty okay one if I can say the least I am still getting the hang of my new work schedule but this week I was able to make time to do the things I wanted to do as well as the things I needed to do and that's a good week in my book.

Today I wanted to talk about something that may seem a little random but due to the fact that Valentine's Day recently passed a lot of my friends and coworkers have been asking me how I do it. How have I been able to stay happy with the same person at such a young age? As if it is rocket science and yet I really have no answer to that question. Partially because it's not something I think about often I'm too busy you know actually being in my relationship.

But What I can do is tell you about how we met, it may not be the most remarkable or romantic story you've ever heard but to me, it's the Cinderella of all fairytales lol.

May 15,2009

Well in all actuality the story begins April 14, 2009, When fourteen year old me snuck out to a "Teenbash" with my friend Nia. Let the record show that I was never a party girl and to this day parties are not my scene at all but Nia talked me into it and I figure why not. See Nia and I were promoters for these "Teen bashes", we spread the word and sold the tickets and that's just about all the involvement I ever wanted but this time I decided I would tag along. Nia was always going to these parties so I figured it wouldn't hurt to check out what all the hype was all about. 

So we Arrive at this tiny little club in Astoria Queens, I remember it being a pretty gloomy day, it had rained earlier in the evening so it was kind of humid out but since the sun was setting it wasn't too bad. Nia and I got to enter the club before everyone else because we were promoters which really just meant we got to stand inside the doorway before they started letting everyone else in. 

And that's where it happened, we were standing in the doorway just talking passing the time when all of a sudden HE entered. It probably sucks that I cannot remember what he was wearing but if going off his wardrobe at the time I'm pretty sure it was something all black and some pair of Jordans. "I LIKE YOUR HOODIE" a deep voice protruded from behind me and just like that he was gone. 

"Who was he talking to?" I ask Nia she eyes me with this look that screams obviously you as she eyes my brightly colored purple and blue hoodie that zipped all the way up to the hood (remember when that was a thing?) 

Now I must warn you, the next part of the story makes me sound like a total B*tch but I was 14 and not completely comfortable with myself or guys for that matter so I apologize for my pubescent cringe-worthy behavior.

So we finally get into the club and you know how awkward teenagers are.there is that awkward few minutes where everyone just stands around because no one wants to be the first one to dance and have all eyes on them even in the dark lighting of a club. So the music picks up and people start dancing and before you know it everyone is trying to find someone to dance with. This is my number one moment of cringe.So here comes Kai walking all Rico suave like over to me and he asks"Do you want to dance?" and I told responded "um. no" That was my response UM NO! The man that I can now not live without asked me to dance and I told him no. 

But because the universe works in mysterious ways Nia ended up talking to one of his friends which got us bumping into each other again. And at that moment He shoves his Sidekick 08' into my hands with the AIM add a friend screen pulled up (Yes guys it was that long ago).Even though I told this boy no on the dance floor I still entered my AIM into his phone, To this day I cannot tell you why I guess I saw something in him from that night. 

So The night ended up with me and Nia getting in cab her dad called for us, taking it to her place and me lying in the bed her and her dad set up for me because at the time I basically lived there we spent so much time together. I laid in that bed all night signing in and out of aim just to get his attention. You guys remember the sound sidekicks would make when people signed off or on aim, it either sounded like a door opening or closing, yeah I was a little bit crazy but it worked LOL. We spoke a little bit that night and from that point on he's had my heart!

Progress

Happy Wednesday everyone, we're at the midpoint of the week already!

I can't lie to you guys recently I have been in an awesome mood and I am really happy with the progress I am making even if they are small victories! 

I have been able to cross one major task off my new year's resolution list and honestly, it feels really great!

FIND HIGHER PAYING JOB THAT I ACTUALLY LIKE (CHECK!)

I am very happy with my new job and I am ready to tackle every day because I actually enjoy going to work now. I may be tired but unfortunately, that is one of the side effects of chasing your dreams, If you want it you have to work for it which may leave you exhausted in the process. 

I am also getting way better at using my planner to plan out my week which makes it way easier for me to plan out my week and be able to see everything I have planned just by looking at it. 

I have also made some progress on my Spring cleaning prep list which was A major project in itself. We have way too many clothes in this house that either doesn't fit or we just don't wear anymore, I went through all of the clothes and donated all the unwanted clothes an washed all of the backed up laundry! 

DONATE UNWANTED CLOTHES AND WASH BACKED UP LAUNDRY (CHECK!)

It honestly feels really great to complete items on your to-do lists no matter how small the tasks are, 

every small accomplishment helps you get closer to achieving the bigger goal. 

So How's your progress going?

Are you having a difficult time completing the goals you're planning?

Try starting out with smaller goals instead of jumping in right away and remember it is ok to not jam-pack your days with stuff fill in things that are definite before the week starts and save some space to fill in as you go through the week! 

To see more tips about using your planner the best way and how having a to list really benefits check out these posts Planning it out HERE and Crossing it off  HERE

Moki's Book Of The Month FEBRUARY

The Buenos Aires Broken Hearts Club 

Hey, guys Today I wanted to share with you a book I just finished reading titled The Buenos Aires Broken Hearts Club by Jessica Morrison. I absolutely fell in love with this book after finding it in the free book bin at 2nd & Charles talk about a total score! This was a sweet relatable love story that captured my attention from the very beginning. 

After some life-altering events occur in the main character Cassie Moore's life she is crumbling. Cassie is one of those girls who has planned her whole life out perfectly and has never strayed from the plan she has made for herself. However, she did not plan for any bumps and obstacles along the way and it's been working great for her pretty smooth sailing up until now. 

So one night in a drunken stupor she plans a trip to what seemed like the most amazing place at the time Buenos Aires Venezuela and sends out tons of emails to friends and family members about how she will be living in Buenos Aires for 6 months! Everything is paid for, everything is set up and paid for so she has no choice but to go and what started out as a trip to prove a point to friends and family actually becomes an amazing adventure that teaches Cassie a lot about life, love, and letting go. 

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good love story but also to anyone who loves a good story about self-empowerment and finding yourself. Morrison is a great writer as well her description of Buenos Aires and all of the characters in the story really paint an image in your head and help you see it in your mind. 

Cassie's Character is particularly my favorite I think most women will relate to her in the fact that her plan was just helping her live up to an image of what she thought a woman her age should be. But as Cassie's adventure, she goes on she comes to realize that sometimes planning everything down to the tee and not allowing wiggle room for unforeseen events can really limit you from living your fullest life. Cassie's character development throughout the book makes you realize how important it is is to follow your heart.

Go check out this book from your local library or wherever you get your books these days because in my list this is a must read! 

Who Hates Mondays ?

Today here in Fayetteville although it is indeed pretty warm but is cloudy and dreary outside because it rained earlier this morning So it's really not helping me shake off the Monday Blues. 

So those of us who watched the Groundhog Day results know that Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow predicting 6 more weeks of winter weather. But we here in Fayetteville have been experiencing some warmer weather recently and I couldn't be happier about it! Everyone who lives here in Fayetteville knows how erratic the weather can be here, one day it's sunny and 64 the next day 35 and cloudy.But, even my family back home in New York City have been saying the weather has been a bit nicer.

So maybe Punxsutawney Phil was wrong ... Let a girl dream ok, there's no harm in wishing for a little warm weather is there. 

So Today I wanted to share with you some tips to help you start your week off on a positive note  and keep it going throughout the week,

Shaking Off The Monday Blues

So Many people dread Mondays, Just waking up and having to go to work becomes the hardest thing in the world after spending two days relaxing at home with nothing important to do. But I am here to help you turn that negative attitude about Mondays into a positive one because in reality there's No better day than Monday well ok Fridays definitely surpass Mondays but Mondays are still great! 

1. Go to sleep early on Sunday: See now believe it or not this is the most important thing about having a better Monday if you wake up well rested you'll be in a less grouchy mood and actually be a little bit more motivated to start the day. So on Sunday night, try to hit the hay early enough to get that full 8 hours of rest so you can wake up well rested and happier on Monday morning. 
2. Think Positively: A lot of us fall into the Monday blues just because we have a negative view on Mondays. We all think about going back to work or school and realize that our two days of pure relaxation and fun are over and its time to get back into work mode and that makes us hate Monday. But Monday should be viewed as a new beginning last week and whatever chaos it brought with it is over and you have a new week to be productive and start fresh. Use this brand new week to be positive and productive, not to be wallowing about the weekend.
3. Meditate on Mondays: You guys know how much I love Meditation, and I feel its a great to start your week off on the right path. So when you wake up Monday morning before you start getting ready or when you have a few minutes to spare, meditate to clear your mind and have a fresh start to a new week for those of you who have never tried meditation, you can see my tips for getting started HERE. 
4.  Get that Planner it out: We spoke about how important having a weekly planner is I try to write in my work schedule and basic things I know I definitely have to do on Sunday Nights or Monday mornings depending on my work schedule. Use your Planner to write down and see all the tasks you have to and want to complete this week. 

Preparing for Spring

Happy Sunday Everyone! 

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend and is ready to start the new week! 

Can you believe we're approaching March already? It seems like just yesterday it was New Years Day!

And with March approaching I can't help but think of spring! The weather, the colors EASTER and of course spring cleaning! 

Spring cleaning is probably not most people's favorite thing about the spring but for me, it's one of the things I look forward to every year. Getting rid of old junk and organizing the house just brings a nice aura around me home. 

And this year I plan on going full-on organization mode because I have some pretty awesome things planned for the spring (Don't worry I'll fill you in as it happens) and having the house organized will make it way easier! 

I'll go into specific projects as I finish them but as of right now I am just preparing for spring cleaning, So today I wanted to share with you some tips to help you get ready as well! 

Moki's Spring Cleaning Prep List

1. Use my tips for Clearing Your environment of clutter if you missed those posts check out Part 1 and Part 2  those posts will help you tremendously when it comes to spring cleaning. 
2. Make A Spring Cleaning Checklist: As soon as I finish my checklist I will post my completed list but this will really help you plan out exactly what it is you need to do.
3. Stock up on storage supplies: Organization is a huge factor in spring cleaning so I like to start with this first by stocking up on the supplies I need to start organizing like; hangers, storage bins, Space bags etc. However, you plan on storing your bulky winter clothes it helps to get a head start and buy the things you need and don't have already. 
4. Wash Those winter clothes: There's no point in storing away dirty winter clothes, as the warmer weather approaches wash a load of winter sweaters and take winter coats to the dry cleaners.