Black is Back!!

When I got married...fifteen years ago, my wedding colors were black, ivory and red. My dress and my dad's tux were ivory and my bouquet was two dozen long stem red roses wrapped with red ribbon. My husband wore a black tux with a red tie and cummerbund. My bridesmaids wore black suits with ivory collars. The groomsmen wore black tuxes with black ties and cummerbunds. Well...I suppose I was a black girl way back then!!

My first wedding cost about $3,000. The budget for my next wedding is going to be $2,000 or less. Now that I have found and embraced my inner Marquita...I am convinced that I can throw a LAVISH event on a pocket lint budget.

When we renew our vows, I want to do it like a REAL black girl!! I want to make EVERY black girl in the world proud!! I think that the actual ceremony will be VERY small...limited to close friends and family and of course all of you will be invited. So the invitations will be to the LAVISH reception that I am planning. Here are a few invites that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE:

Picture 1.

Picture 2.

Picture 3.

Picture 4.

Which one do you like them most??? Let me know. Leave a comment and tell me which number you like and the invite that gets the most votes is the one that I will re-create and post pictures of.

Here are a few ideas for the reception:

I LOVE them ALL!!! This could be the tackiest reception in the world. Actually, there are elements of each that I like and given the right amount of time...I could easily incorporate them into a FANTASTIC table and atmosphere. I must admit that flower arranging is my kryptonite...It kills me every time. Soooooo....I expect a great part of my budget will go to The Pained Daisy. I am sure that she can hook a sistah up!!

Did I mention to y'all that I can make and decorate cakes?? Stay tuned for my next post where I show you pictures of the cakes that I like and the STUNNING outfit that I plan to wear...

Don't forget to shoot me a comment and tell me which invitation that you like the most so that I can create it...The one with the most votes wins. You have from today until Tuesday, 4/14 to vote.

~Quita

Confessions of a BLACK girl...

I guess you can say that I have been in denial for MANY, MANY, MANY years...but today I have decided to come out of the closet and confess...I am a BLACK girl. Many of you have known me for years and are probably asking yourself..."Is she CRAZY...how could she be just now finding out that she is a 'black girl?'" Well, my friends, denial is a POWERFUL thing!!

Well I guess, I have probably always known it but was afraid to admit it. It is sometimes difficult to embrace your inner "blackness." I have been fighting it for almost 40 years. I have been told by many that "the truth shall set you free." Well I want to be free and to share my "blackness" with everyone.

I have no idea why I have always thought that being a "black" girl is bad...but I have. As I approach 40, I have decided to put aside my childish ways and embrace my life as it is...to embrace my inner "blackness." With age comes wisdom...

So here it is...The Confession of a BLACK Girl...

I would like to thank all of you who have supported me over the years, those of you who have known me forever and those of you whom I encounter from day to day. It is my hope and prayer that your feelings for me will not change when I open up and share one of my deepest and darkest secret...(quick prayer: Dear Lord You have created me in all of Your splendid grace and glory. I have made many friends over the years and You have blessed me with a wonderful supportive family and husband. Please Lord let them not think less of me as I open up and confess one of my deepest darkest secret. Lord please allow them to continue to accept me as I am...~amen)

OK...here it goes...My favorite color is...uhmm...well...BLACK!! Whew...it feels good to have said it...It seems like my oldest daughter, Nicole ,is ALWAYS asking me my favorite color and each time she asks, I tell her a different color. Well today I would like to go on record before God and the world and announce that "I AM A BLACK GIRL!" Black is my FAVORITE color. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the color BLACK.

I guess, since most of my wardrobe consists of black, I should not be surprised by my fascination with this color. But, I must admit, I find it difficult to tell people that it is my favorite color. I think what draws me to it the most is that it can be whatever you want it to be! It can be formal:

It can be Girly:

It can be Casual:

It can be Serene:


It can be Mod:

It can be Minimal:

In short...Black is BEAUTIFUL and it can be whatever you want it to be. So next time you are looking for just the right color to complete a room or an outfit...Try something Black. You too might be "BLACK" at heart. Don't wait 39 years to discover this beautiful color like I did...Embrace your inner blackness TODAY...So...the next time that you are out and about and you see something "black" and beautiful...send me a pic. I would love to share it with my readers.

~Marquita