Wellness: Breast Cancer Awareness

Butterflies, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and if you haven’t already, CHECK YOURSELF!! Like with most illnesses, the earlier you discover and treat it the better your chances are of survival. I have a strong family history of early age breast cancer and because of that I’ve been getting annual mammograms since I turned 30. Here are a few things I’ve learned from getting my annual Well Woman Exams: 

Mom Life: Back To School 2021

Butterflies Mommies, I have a serious question…do you look forward to back to school time or do you dread it? For the first five years or so it was exciting (it’s cute seeing little humans excited about going to school) but now that my kid is older I don’t really look forward to it; either way, we have to do what we have to do right? Anyway, I wanted to share a few useful resources to help with getting your kiddos back in school mode:

Fashion Trends: Brands That Are Supporting the Fight Against Breast Cancer

It’s breast cancer awareness month so if you love fashion and supporting a great cause, check out some of my favorite fashion retailers below who are making donations to different Breast Cancer organizations with your help:

Juneteenth 2020

How do you celebrate your freedom? It legitimately surprises me how many people weren’t educated about Juneteenth growing up, I mean how could they not know? Juneteenth or Freedom Day was/is a critical part of American history and honestly 1865 wasn’t that long ago. I remember learning about it in elementary but I guess it depends on where you grew up or the school you attended. 

Wellness: Support the Fight Against Breast Cancer by Observing These Awareness Days

Butterflies, there are several ways to show your support for the fight against breast cancer; donating money, donating time, purchasing Breast Cancer Awareness products, or just taking a moment to observe a Breast Cancer Awareness dedicated day. Below are a few days dedicated to Cancer Awareness:

Support Your HBCU Through The Home Depot Retool Program

This is a sponsored post.

Hey Butterflies. I have an opportunity to do good to share with you. The Home Depot is on a mission to improve Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through their Home Depot Retool Program and your votes will help them select this year’s grant recipient. I attended Texas Southern University here in Houston, Texas which is a HBCU so I know which school I’m voting for, which school are you voting for? Help improve your HBCU by voting now for your school to win up to $50k in campus improvement grants from The Home Depot’s “Home Depot Retool Program”! If you don’t have a HBCU that you rep that’s ok, you can still vote. If you’re not an alumni of a HBCU or don’t already have a HBCU that you support feel free to vote for your local HBCU or mine, Texas Southern University. Please visit http://bit.ly/RetoolVote to cast your vote, voting ends April 15th.

Visiting Texas: The 2017 TXU Energy BakerRipley Turkey Trot

Hey Butterflies! Houston's annual Turkey Trot is in a few weeks and you can get $5 off registration by using code 17BUTTERFLY when you sign up for the race. The TXU Energy BakerRipley Turkey Trot benefits BakerRipley, a community development organization that has served this region for 110 years. BakerRipley connects families and individuals to opportunities, so they can achieve the life they’ve imagined. If you're in town and will be free the morning of Thursday November 23rd (Thanksgivings Day), check it out!

Visiting Texas: Houston Restaurant Weeks- Sunday Brunch at Backstreet Cafe

Happy Sunday Butterflies! Besides staying in and taking it easy, brunching is one of my favorite things to do on a Sunday morning/afternoon and since this year's Houston Restaurant Weeks was extended to the end of September due to Hurricane Harvey and I enjoyed my HRW meal so much the last time I decided to make a reservation for Brunch at Backstreet Cafe. Backstreet has been on my list of Houston restaurants to try for some time and since they are a participating Restaurant in Houston Restaurant Weeks and donating a portion of their profits from drinks to hurricane relief efforts I thought now would be a great time to give them a try. Houston Restaurant Weeks celebrates food and charitable giving annually from August 1st through September 1st;  portion of the proceeds from each meal ordered will benefit the Houston Food Bank.

Visiting Texas: 8 "Texas Strong" Tattoo Shops

Butterflies, It's been about a week since Hurricane Harvey made it's way through Texas leaving behind a path of destruction but, we all know disasters are a ugly part of life and we just have to be strong and keep living. Charlie Strong, ex-football coach for the University of Texas Longhorns was the inspiration for the "Texas Strong" slogan some years ago but today it means so much more. Texans are tough, we are fighters; "Remember the Alamo"? After Hurricane Harvey people from all over the world along with Texas natives stepped up to do their part in helping Texas recover in whatever way they could; many Texas tattoo shops all over the state are donating profits from "Texas Strong" tattoos over the next few days. If you follow me you know that I'm a fan of body art; so far I have twenty-one tattoos, I got my daith piercings a couple of years ago and my nose piercing for my thirtieth birthday so I thought this would be a great opportunity to get some new ink. Below are a few Texas tattoo shops that are offering "Texas Strong" tattoos.

Visiting Texas: Hurricane Harvey Thoughts + Ways to Help & Resources

Hey Butterflies. This past week has really tested my patience and my faith. As I prepare to start my day, I can't help but reflect on what's been happening here in Texas. Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Rockport, Texas which is about thirty minutes from Corpus Christi on Saturday August 25th leaving a huge mess across all of Southern Texas.

I've never wanted the rain to stop so bad in my entire life, it poured rain nonstop for days, causing life threatening problems for all of us. My guy was stuck at his job for five days, my sister's home was flooded and they had to be rescued, my cousin's home was flooded, and I was trapped in my neighborhood surrounded by water, unable to get to my loved ones, work or anywhere else. It's still all unreal to me, it's like something you see on the news and you feel bad for the people going thorough it but until you actually go through it or a similar situation..it's hard to truly understand.

Visiting Texas: Extended Stay America Houston - NASA - Bay

Hey Butterflies! I recently went on a summer weekend getaway with my guy and the kiddo to Galvston Island, Texas. The island is about a hour and a half away from us so we decided to get a hotel room somewhere in the area so that we could have more time on the island while visiting Schlitterbahn and avoid having to rush.

Hotels on the island are usually more expensive than those in surrounding cities; we normally stay in League City whenever we're heading to Galveston but this time we spent the night in Webster, Tx.

I saw that this location was recently renovated so I couldn't wait to see how this location compared to other Extended Stay hotels I've stayed at in the past.

Music: The Minnie Riperton Story on TvOne's Unsung

Happy Thanksgiving Butterflies! I hope you all ate plenty (but health consciously) and enjoyed time with your loved ones as did I. I made banana pudding for the first time and it was kind of meh if you know what I mean but it was still eatable. Other than make a banana pudding, my goal this year was to do no "house hopping", but that didn't happen. It seems every holiday season I'm forced to drive all over town and be social even though everyone knows that I’m introverted and I’d rather be at home. Am I the only one that feels this way? I mean don't get what I'm saying confused; I love my family, extended family, and friends dearly I'd just rather not deal with all the stress that comes along with the holidays and stay put in my palace lol but seriously.

Studio Movie Grill Launches Fight Against Hunger Campaign

  

Hey Butterflies! Studio Movie Grill is teaming up with local food banks to support the Fight Against Hunger in anticipation of the final chapter of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 and I think we should all try to be a part of this. Their goal is to give 100% of the ticket proceeds to surrounding local food banks October 19 – 22. During this time all of their movies will be $5. You can find the SMG nearest to you by going to www.studiomoviegrill.com and following the locate prompts at the bottom of the screen.

There's more....in addition, they're donating 10% of the proceeds from all Hunger Games themed digital e-Gift Cards that are purchased from October 23- November 25 at www.studiomoviegrill.com. Also 

This is a advertisement post, I maybe compensated for my time/services either monetarily or in products/goods.

Visiting Texas: Houston Restaurant Weeks Benefiting the Houston Food Bank: Del Frisco's Grille

Happy Sunday Butterflies! It's Restaurant Weeks in Houston and today I had the pleasure of dining at Del Frisco's Grille for Sunday Brunch and....it was AMAZING! A well prepared three course meal for only $25? I mean who wouldn't enjoy that?

The menu consisted of three options per course to choose from. I tried the Philly Cheese-Steak Egg Rolls for my starter, Red Velvet Waffles for my entree and Peanut Butter & Toffee Mousse for dessert. Sounds yummy right? Lol, It so was! Beverages are not included in the meal price so prepare to pay a little extra to try one or two of the tasty drinks at Del Frisco. I tried the Screwdriver (because it's one of my favorite drinks) and it was pretty awesome, and by "pretty awesome" I mean the alcohol to ice ratio was on point. lol

Visiting Texas: Houston Astros Star Wars Day | Sunday, September 6th

The force is arriving in Houston on September 6th as the Houston Astros take on the Minnesota Twins at 1:10 pm. Dress as your favorite character and watch as Minute Maid Park transforms into the world of Star Wars. Characters from the movie will be on hand at the game!

Fans are encourage to dress in Star Wars attire but keep in mind that any props resembling real firearms or weapons will be confiscated. Fans dressing up should also keep in mind the comfort and view of fans around them as well.

• $29 Bullpen ticket or $34 Field Box IV ticket for 9/6
• An Orbit-Wan Kenobi Bobblehead

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Stand Up To Cancer. Fans can pick up their Orbit-Wan Kenobi bobblehead with their Star Wars ticket voucher at Section 134.

All White Charity Fashion Show

Music: Mariah Carey Rocking a Sling and Supporting Hurricane Sandy Relief

Butterflies and fellow lambs, I've been a MC (Mariah Carey) fan since I could remember and this makes me like her even more. Apparently she was filming for a new video last week when she fell and injured her shoulder but a dislocated shoulder is no match for a Diva, the show must go on right? Rocking two very cute bedazzled and feathered arm slings, Mariah owned the stage at the MLB Sandy Relief Concert in New York. Check out the photos (courtesy of getty images) and video of her performance below.

 

Fashion Trends: Ford's Warriors in Pink Clothing Line

For several years the Ford Motor Company, through their Ford Warriors in Pink initiative has been showing their unrelenting support by donating over $120 Million to the breast cancer cause. Ford Warriors in Pink features items such as button down shirts, scarves and t-shirts are available for sale at FordCares.com with 100% of the net proceeds going towards one of four charities that consumers can chose from: Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation (DSLRF), The Pink Fund and the Young Survivor’s Coalition (YSC).

Beauty Trends: The Body Shop Names "Leona Lewis" New Face of Cruelty Free Makeup Line

The Body Shop has named singer Leona Lewis as their new brand spokesperson. The Limited Edition cruelty-free, vegetarian collection is set to launch on March 26. The singer and long-time vegetarian said, “I'm passionate about beauty and I'm all about animal rights. As a result, I'm really conscious of where the products that I use come from.” Also starting in May, The Body Shop customers will have the opportunity to sign a pledge in support of the non-profit organization Cruelty Free International who’s pushing for a global ban on animal testing for cosmetic purposes. I love it and can't wait to try these new products. Kudos Leona!

Check out Leona Lewis in her "Happy music video below.

Fashion Trends: Hollywood Fashion's Benefit Fashion Show | 4-1-2012 Houston,TX

 

Gail Veals & Hollywood Fashions presents: STARS IN THE SPOT LIGHT FASHION SHOW hosted by 97.9 The Box's Nnete. Preparations are underway for what will be the MOST talked about fashion show, produced by Brian Keith Productions and Thedies's Image Consulting. We are teaming up with the HOTTEST boutique owner's and designer’s to bring you the latest fashions....

Join us on the Hollywood Red Carpet on April 1, 2012 DOORS OPEN AT 7:00PM. COMPLIMENARY food, CASH bar, SWAG bags, DJ Outlaw on the 1’s and 2’s, Special guest Kenneth Terry & The New Orleans Second line Band. All while celebrating Gail Veal’s birthday and benefitting the “Share a Basket Foundation”! Purchase your tickets here: hollywoodfashions4u.eventbrite.com