{Whats the 4-1-1-Week Ending 1/10/14}

Source: Patty Jackson

Saturday Night Live is adding not one, not two, but three black women. After being criticized heavily for the lack of African American actresses in the show, SNL hired Actress/Comedienne Sasheer Zamata. Zamata comes from a improvisational theatre background and has videos on youtube. She'll make her SNL debut when Rapper Drake hosts and is musical guest for the January 18th show. During those auditions that connected Zamata to the NBC late night sketch comedy show, two new SNL writers were also discovered. Despite the fact they were auditioning for the on screen slot, Comediennes LaKendra Tookes and Leslie Jones were hired for the writing team and they start January 13th.

Our prayers and get well wishes go out to Broadway Star Valisia LeKae. The 34-year old entertainer had to take a leave of absence from Motown: The Musical as she battles ovarian cancer. LeKae played Diana Ross in the show. I had a chance to meet the talented actress when I saw the musical, and she was absolutely wonderful. LeKae was amazing in her role, and I hope she will be able to return to performing. Let’s keep her in prayer

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Comedian Jimmy Fallon takes over The Tonight Show on February 17th from Jay Leno. No word on what Leno will do now since he is leaving the show with high ratings.......again. Will he land at another network?

Ebony magazine is celebrating Black Love with their February issue. Three different covers highlight David & Tamela Mann, Carmelo Anthony & LaLa Vazquez and Nick Cannon & Mariah Carey. Other couples featured inside include Steve & Marjorie Harvey.

Zoe Saldana is coming to NBC in a remake of the classic thriller Rosemary's Baby. She'll take the role of Rosemary originally played by Mia Farrow back in 1968. Saldana is also co-executive producing the four hour mini-series.

Spike Lee may doing a sequel to his 1998 film He Got Game. The original, produced and directed by Lee, starred Denzel Washington, Rosario Dawson, Lonette McKee and NBA Star Ray Allen, and took a hard look at the college basketball system.

Singer Maxwell is planning a Valentine's surprise for his fans. Sources say he may be releasing a new album around that time.

Scandal fans get ready as new episodes start up February 27th on ABC.

Tyler Perry has moved up the release date of his new movie Single Moms' Club. The new date is Friday, March 14th. In the movie, he and Nia Long play love interests.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WQNOvfixtpo

Gabrielle Union's new BET drama, Being Mary Jane, kicked off to high ratings with 5 million viewers strong. The show airs on Tuesday at 10pm. Union has been in the headlines for her show and her recent engagement to basketball's Dwyane Wade. She and Wade got engaged over the holidays, but then greeted the new year with news that he had a baby with another woman during their brief time apart. Sources say there wasn’t a “break,” and that Wade just cheated on Gabby. But, she will never leave him because she got her ring, and she wants to be with a baller. Not all women stay. When Producer Jermaine Dupri was dating Janet Jackson, he took a “break” and got a stripper pregnant. Janet was out, and she rebounded with her now husband Billionaire Businessman Wissam Al Mana. Meanwhile, Dwyane Wade's new babymomma is no stranger to celebrity. Aja Metoyer already has two children by Damon Wayans, Jr. Jr. says he hope his daughters don’t get hurt in all this mess. Metoyer gave birth to a baby boy by Wade in November. Sources say she and Wade have been close for years. As for Gabby, she is grinning and bearing it while preparing her wedding to Wade and enjoying the success of her BET show Being Mary Jane. In other Gabby news, is she planning a baby of her own with Wade? Hmmmmmmmmmmm!

Soap Opera Vet Victoria Rowell (“Drucilla” from The Young & The Restless) is divorcing her husband. Rowell and Collage Artist Radcliffe Bailey had been married for the last four year. They had no children together, and there was no prenup.

Our condolences go out to Rapper Flavor Flav. He lost his mother Anna Drayton on New Year's Eve. Also condolences to Director Spike Lee who lost his brother Christopher Lee over the holidays.

Queen Latifah talk show, which airs locally at 3pm on CBS3, has been renewed for a second season.

The 56th Annual Grammy Awards are happening Sunday, January 26th on CBS. LL Cool J returns as host, and the night will include a tribute to The Beatles. Other highlights include performances by Alicia Keys, John Legend, Robin Thicke, Chicago, Stevie Wonder and Nile Rodgers & Daft Punk.

Now that he has served his jail time for tax evasion, Actor Wesley Snipes is set to return to the big screen with Sylvester Stallone in the Expendables III later this year.

Congrats to Rapper/Actress Eve! She got engaged over the holidays to British Designer Maximillion Cooper. They two have been dating for two years.

Check out these movies available now on DVD and Blu-Ray: Lee Daniels' The Butler, starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey,  Ryan Coogler's Fruitvale Station starring Michael B. Jordan and 20 Feet From Stardom featuring famed lead and background singers Lisa Fischer and Darlene Love.

The Gabby Douglas Story is coming to the Lifetime network on Saturday, February 1st. Imani Hakim (Everybody Hates Chris) will play the Olympic darling, and Regina King and S. Epatha Merkerson will also star.

Look for the return of Mo'Nique this year. The Oscar winner has been quiet since her late night talk show ended on BET. Mo'Nique will be hosting the reunion show for the popular VH1 reality show Love & Hip Hop. The comedienne is also producing with a movie with her husband, Sidney Hicks, about homosexuality in the church. Isaiah Washington will star along with Mo'Nique.

The next installment of The Fast And Furious VII is coming out in April 2015. Producers needed time to deal with the untimely death of Actor Paul Walker, who played the character “Brian O’Conner.” Walker died in a car crash on November 30th. Producers are planning to retire his character, so they'll explain his disappearance when the movie is released.

Wayne Brady will host The 2014 BET Honors. The show airs Monday February 24th on BET. Word has it he and Chilli from TLC are now dating, but her spokespeople say they're just friends. Brady, 41, is divorced with a young daughter. Chilli, 42, has a son from a previous relationship with Producer Dallas Austin, and she used to date Usher. Last year, Pebbles made claims that Chilli had an affair with her ex-husband Record Executive L.A. Reid.

The Essence Festival is happening July 3rd -5th in New Orleans, Prince, Charlie Wilson, Jill Scott, Lionel Richie, Ledisi and Mary J. Blige are all part of the lineup. Tickets are on sale now. Speaking of Mary, she and R Kelly are planning on touring together in the new year. Kelly confirmed The King & Queens Tour will include his performing new material from his latest release Black Panties.

{Sparkle-Tude of the Day: 1/9/14}

 

Each quarter, my agency conducts meetings, with attempts to keep the line of communication open with all staff, share any news that may be going on, just business in general.  Also it is a time to get together as a whole as there are a handful of offices and we do not get to see each other or touch basis, so we have these meetings.  In 2011 we had a guest speaker by the name of Sheryl Roush and she was speaking about your attitude in the work environment....and how it can be infectious in a great way or in a poison type of way. Makes sense right? Whatever attitude you give off, others can sense it or feel it and definitely can see it.

 

She was also marketing her book called "Sparkle-Tudes" which is a self help / inspiration book that has gazillions of quotes , inspirations, insights for a sparkling attitude, energy boost, gives you the ability to have a calm reflection period and makes you bring on a new perspective of things, no matter how dim or dark things may be.

 

I share these quotes with my co-workers, close friends and I would like to share with you...hope you enjoy!

 

Quote for the day:

 

When stressed or going through a difficult time, it is essential that you take the time to relax in order to replenish your mind, body, and spirit. Nurture your well-being  by creating an oasis of calm in your life.  Getting calm allows you to get a fresh perspective and helps you cope better physically and emotionally with your troubles.  Being able to control at least one aspect of your life, in this case time to yourself, helps you get a grip on the rest of it .  For success, take the “t” out of “can’t”.

-          Anonymous

Also, take this bible verse and stick it somewhere where you can read it daily:

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me."
Philipians 4:13

Apply these words today!

Enjoy!
Tricia!
XOXO

{ScrapOurStash Challenge #11 - Happy New Year!!!}

I'm baaaaaack!!! With a 2nd term of ScrapOurStash!
I apologize for not keeping my blog updated, and I am going to try harder this year to do so!

I agreed to do a 2nd term of ScrapOurStash because not only do I absolutely love the moderators, but they come up with some great challenges! And the prizes....very nice! How could you skip out on these RAKS!? The motivation is great and I hope you become a follower and become inspired! We have a great design team that will creating great stuff this term and I invite you to check out each and every one of their blogs!

We want to start off by saying Happy New Years and would like to get this party started without any further hesitation! On to the 1st Challenge of the year!

Create a layout in which you must add the following:
(5) of one item
(4) of another item
(3) of one more item
(2) of yet another item AND.....
(1) RUB ON!!!

All items used for the countdown must be PREMADE/PACKAGED scrap products. (Example: (5) Flowers, (4) Patterned Papers, (3) Wood Veneers, (2) Chipboard Pieces, (1) Rub On.
Get it!?

You are allowed to add whatever else you want to your layout as long as you meet the requirements to set forth in the countdown. In  your blog or gallery post, you must list the items you chose and how many for each item.

Most importantly, if you are unsure of the guidelines, please click HERE for the SOS Challenge Guidelines!





My take on the challenge:



We get a kick out of playing along with Elf on the Shelf. My daughters Elfs name is Miracle...and sometimes Bre enjoys Miracle and her shennnigans and at times she (Miracle) just gets a little out of hand with her pranks! Bre always is a little sad on Miracle's departure day....on departure day Bre is able to finally touch Miracle as she doesn't need much more magic since she's headed back to the North Pole!

The items I used in my countdown Stash Challenge:
(5) Wooden Veneers
(4)  Enamel Dots (green)
(3) Photo Corners
(2)  Flair Buttons
(1) Rub-On

Also to add, I am a long time member of the ScrapRoom Kit Club in which I absolutely LOVE!!! All the products I used to create my layout were from the TSR December Kit, with the exception of AC & Pebbles Alphas.

The ScrapRoom is generously offering the randomly drawn winner with a nice $20 Gift Certificate!! How can you avoid that!?
What do you have to do?? Make sure you complete a layout inspired by our January "Countdown" Challenge and link it up to ScrapOurStash blog by 1/29/14 11:59PM (PST) to be entered!

Be sure to check back daily for inspiration by our awesome design team! Happy Scrapping!!!


Thanks so much for looking and I am looking forward to seeing what you come up with!