The Honeybee's Lifestyle

Tag: Memphis

  • A Day Of Sisterhood

    Hello Honeybees,

    On Friday January 15th, 2016 I had the privilege of celebrating the 108th Founders’ day of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.  I use the word privilege because it is indeed a privilege to be a member of the FIRST black Greek letter sorority.  The day I became a member of AKA will always be one of the best days of my life.

    Legacy

    2016 was one of the best founders day ever for me.

    I started the celebration by wearing pink and green and pearls all week.  On Friday a coworker asked how much pink & green did I own?  It was so funny because I’m sure that the question has been asked of every AKA at some point.  My response was…when you see pink & green that you like & it works for you…..you buy it because you will always need it.

    On Friday I shared afternoon tea at the historic Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis with a diverse group of sorority sisters (Sorors).  There were “seasoned” Sorors, Sorors celebrating their first founders day, Sorors that were new to Memphis, Sorors that were returning to Memphis. Sorors that were initiated   undergrad and Soros that were initiated in grad. Some of us were renewing friendships and some of us were meeting for the first time.  The beauty of it all was we each got to share WHY we became Alpha Kappa Alpha women.  The sharing brought tears and laughter.

    Pinky Peabody

    For some it started in elementary school with a teacher, for some it was their mothers legacy, others is was just a deep, deep feeling in their heart.  The one theme that was true for everyone was SISTERHOOD. You could feel the strength of our bond in the room. I will never forget that feeling.

    Friday night I attended a Mix & Mingle.  A room full of beautiful women enjoying our great sisterhood.

    IMG_1932 IMG_1943

    Sororities are not for everyone and everyone should not be in a sorority. I compare sororities to families. No family is perfect.  Not all family members are perfect. Think about your last family reunion.  There are family members that you don’t get along with BUT if someone attacks your family you put all that aside and fight together. As a family!!!

    That’s how I feel about my sorority sisters…… We help each other for we know there’s no other like our sisterhood.  As an only child I must say that having over 280,000 sisters is pretty awesome.

    Belinda Bee pic

    Are you in a Sorority?  If so let me know which one.

    Beewisdom-  “From the outside looking in, you can never understand it.  From the inside looking out you can never explain it.” ~ Unknown

  • My YEAR of YES

    Hello Honeybees,

    If you haven’t picked up a copy of Shonda Rhimes latest book…. Year of Yes, How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person….. then what are you waiting for? 

    Year of Yes book cover

    We always hear people say that we should learn how to say NO and that NO is a complete sentence.  So I was VERY curious as to why Shonda would start saying YES.  Doesn’t that mean that I would be adding even more to my already full plate?

    What I learned during the reading of Year of Yes is that I too need to start saying YES!!

    I’m not going to give away all of the book but I will share why after reading Year of Yes, I have declared 2016 as MY YEAR OF YES!!! 

    Shonda is saying YES to things that don’t come easy, things that move her out of her comfort zone.  At first I was like what the heck does THE SHONDA RHIMES have to be scared of? What could possibly be out of her comfort zone? I mean really she created Olivia Pope….whatever it is just handle it!  Guess what ?? THE SHONDA RHIMES is human like the rest of us. She is a mother, sister, daughter and friend,  she works full time, and truly has the same everyday obstacles like the rest of us.  As a matter of fact   she & I share some of the exact same fears. 
    Description of Year of Yes

    I am what you call and introverted extrovert.  I love the concept of being around people & going places but the actual practicing of it can be a bit overwhelming.  So this year I am going to say YES to going places AND I will actually show up and be present in the moment.  I’m going to go to the Bass Pro Shop on the mighty Mississippi and ride the elevator to the top.  I might even go out on the observation deck.  I am saying YES to difficult situations and conversations.

    This year I’m going to say Thank You when someone pays me a compliment and leave it at that. No more downplaying my accomplishments. I’m going to embrace my Badassery.

    Saying YES to things that scare you takes courage…. As Shonda says: “I can experience life or I can give up on it”.

    So if you see me strike the Wonder Woman pose in 2016 just know that I am saying YES to ME!!

    Wonder Woman

    Belinda Bee pic

    What will you say YES to?

     

    Beewisdom- You must do the things you think you cannot do. Eleanor Roosevelt

  • Love Is A House

    Hello Honeybees,

    My aunt came to Memphis for a visit.  I usually get to see her about once or twice a year.  She and her family are my only relatives still living in the Windy City.  My mom and I moved to Memphis from Chicago when I was 10 years old.  My dad passed at the early age of 32 and my mom thought moving to Memphis would give us a fresh start. 

    Now for the record I never wanted to move to Memphis.  I had a life in Chicago (all 10 years of it)

    This is the house on the South Side of Chicago where my foundation began

    Normal House

    In this house I learned the meaning of love and family.  I watched my parents as they showed me what a good marriage looks like… how a man treats a wife and how a wife respects her husband.

    In this house I developed my love for sports, especially Steeler football…thanks dad!

    In this house I learned to ride a bike and jump double-dutch

    Home Saying

    In this house I had awesome birthday parties.

    In this house I had the best Christmas’ ever.

    To me this house represents some of the BEST memories of my life.

    To me this house represents LOVE

    I have been back to Chicago once since moving to Memphis.  That’s something that has to change and soon.

    But I don’t want to go in the winter…yeah I still remember that hawk. Brrrr!!!!

    I want to go back now as an adult to shop and definitely eat.  I didn’t know it then but I was cultivating my love for food.

    ChicagoSkyline1

    Growing up my cousins and I would spend some part of every summer in Memphis with our grandmother.  I liked Memphis. It was a great place to visit but to move…..Nope, Nada, No way!  But what choice did I have? Unlike today’s children, I didn’t have a vote. 

    As a mother I am glad that we made the move to Memphis. Honestly I would rather raise my boys in Memphis than in Chicago.

    I hope to one day take my boys to Chicago so that they can see where it all began.  They never got the chance to meet my parents but I share with them the good times that I had in this house. This is where love started for me.

    I pray that I am creating those same kind of memories for them in our HOME.

    Belinda Bee pic

    What was your favorite place to live growing up?

    Beewisdom- It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home – Unknown