My favorite time of year

Well it's fall and we are entering the holiday season. For me that begins with Halloween. This year I was the Grim Reaper, I was the Reaper about 4 years ago but I couldn't decide what I wanted to be so I figured the reaper would be easy. I was invited to so many Halloween parties this year but decided to only attend one of them since I didn't want to wear face make-up for too long. I went to a party that one of Monica's friends gave, Monica was the OctoMom or as I referred to her Octo-MON. Her costume was awesome. The pic of the two of us at the party is below.






The kids and I carved pumpkins and Loren didn't try to bounce the pumpkins this year so the carving was a success as well.


















I had a party on Halloween night for the kids. It was a success!!! Everyone had fun. It was wierd because this was the first Halloween without Jasmyne. She enjoyed her first Halloween at college and experienced a true Bourbon Street Halloween. Madison experienced her first Halloween and I think she was really excited. This was the largest group of people she'd been around since she came home from the hospital. She got to meet her little "big" cousin Brandy for the first time as well. Pics of the kids are below.
























Now we are heading toward Thanksgiving and I can't wait to get to New Orleans to see the fam. Then we're headed on to Christmas and that'll wrap up the year. 2009 went by in a flash and I'm already looking forward to 2010.

The DIET

The diet starts today. I have got to lose weight and it's starting now. Not tomorrow, not on Monday but right now. I have been watching all my close get tighter and tighter. I used to say smaller and smaller but the only thing that's getting smaller is the amount of room in my pants. I am going on a major lifestyle change as of this moment.

What prompted this? Well, I was out of breath just mopping my floor. What is going on? I remember the day when I could run a mile? Today, I don't even want to look a mile down the road. I have got to do something. No more sodas either, only water.

Time for bed, I've had a rough day. I saw a man hit by a big rig today and the aftermath wasn't pretty.

9-11 and what I'm grateful for

It's 8 years to the day of the horrifying attacks that changed our world forever. This September 11th I am grateful for so much and thought it fitting to write about that today as I reflect on the events that make this day historic. I am greatful that I have the support of friends and family who are there whenever I need them. I am grateful that my niece who was born under 2 pounds in July is fairing well today and breathing on her own and will be home in a few weeks.

I am still grateful for the men and women of the armed services who are fighting on the front lines against terrorism so that we may continue to savor the fruits of freedom we sometimes take for granted. The freedoms that include us being able to speak freely on matters whether or not we agree with them. The freedom to not only challenge but question authority (although that doesn't include disrespecting the President during a speech to Congress...shame on you Joe Wilson). I am grateful that America and the world have not forgotten the horrible events of September 11, 2001 and that we still recognize the need to stop the evil that threaten these freedoms we hold dear.

I know I joke around about being grateful for purses, money, shoes and all sorts of material things on this September 11, 2009 (and everyday) more than anything...I am most grateful to be alive.

Madison is here!!

Well she’s here…..my newest little princess Madison Allyse Corbin made her debut at 3:47pm on Wednesday, July 1, 2009. She was born 2 months early but from a spiritual standpoint I guess she came right on time. The doctors tried to regulate Deanna’s blood pressure but nothing seemed to work, they ended up having to do a C-section and Maddy is now here. My precious niece weighed in at a mere 1lb 10 oz and is 12.5 inches long. She’s got a big heart and a fighting spirit and according to the nurses in the NICU her mother's feisty temperament. I can’t wait for her to come home and spoil her to death.

Michael took pictures of her immediately; he’s pretty excited to be a dad. She’s in the NICU at Long Beach memorial and we can’t go see her for a while but Michael and Deanna are going to take pictures of her each day and I’ll try to update my blog regularly to keep people informed

Deanna has not been able to see her yet even though the NICU is only yards away from her room. Mother and daughter are so close but yet so far from one another. Deanna’s blood pressure is still pretty high and the doctors took her off her Magnesium today and hopefully her pressure will be down tomorrow so she can go meet the person that occupied her womb for these many months.

I don’t think I’ve ever cried as much as I have in the last few days. I was so worried about Maddy and Deanna. I’ve been in constant prayer for my sister and niece and I know that they will both be fine. My thoughts went back to last year when my friend Jacki’s grandson Nevan was born. He was a preemie too and under a pound but he’s doing fine. We refer to Nevan as our miracle baby around Belkin and I kept Deanna updated with his progress and she often asked about him.

I was thinking about Nevan as Maddy lay in the NICU with her masks on her eyes and tubes running here and there. I sent Jacki an email telling her what was going on and asked her to pray for Maddy and Deanna and this is the response she sent me. She went through so much when Nevan was born and I knew she’d understand what we were going through. This was her response:

From: JK

To: Me

Sent: Thu, Jul 2, 2009 9:51 am

Subject: RE: From Danibelle
Awww….little peanut! How early was Madison?

Not only was Nevan early, but Ashley was a preemie as well. While it is a very difficult time for your sister, know that preemies are little fighters and I truly think God gives us these little angels to remind us that he has a plan for all of us. Even though it may seem hopeless, tell your sister to never give up hope. I believe that is what helped Nevan….our absolute belief that he would be fine, and he is.

Thanks for sharing Madison with me….she will definitely be in my thoughts and prayers. Please also continue to keep me posted on her progress!

Love you and miss you :(
jk
Maddy is doing well and your prayers are truly appreciated. She will be home in no time and her cousins can't wait to meet her. Dezon and Loren have already claimed her as their baby. P.S. I'm already planning her 1st birthday party!!

Here are a few pics of Maddy courtesy of her Daddy.

Waiting for Madison

Sitting here in the Labor and delivery waiting room at Long Beach Memorial Hospital.....waiting. My sister Deanna whose baby is due September 30th is having some complications. They may have to induce labor today if her blood pressure doesn't go down. We are at the hospital praying and thinking positive thoughts.

Madison Allyse Corbin may be here sooner than we thought. She has been giving her mother to be the blues for the last few weeks. My sister was taken off work about three weeks ago. She's been resting and hanging out with me while she's been off. We've been shopping and going to lunch and just enjoying each other's company. She is going to be admitted to the hospital, hopefully her blood pressure goes down so Maddy can have more womb time so her lungs can develop a little more. We can't wait to meet her but she needs to stay just a few more weeks.

Deanna seems to be in good spirits but I know my sister. I've known her my entire life-better than I know anyone-and I know she's worried. She's worried about her babies health. She told me that her major concern was about the baby being mentally and physically healthy. The Dr's assured her that mentally the baby is fine. It's the lungs they're worried about. I am worried about my sister and my niece. Deanna shared with me a few weeks ago that she was worried when our friend Robin passed away, she prayed that nothing would happen to her or Maddy. I am praying that Maddy can wait and that Deanna's blood pressure goes down and that mother and daughter are both healthy and happy.

So here I am......praying, hoping, trying not to cry and......waiting.

Michael Jackson, 1958-2009

This will be very short as I am in a terrible emotional state.

Today is June 25, 2009; a date I will never forget. I will always remember what I was doing and where I was. I was in my kitchen making a red velvet cake and the television was on in my den to CNN, my sister yelled to me from the den that Michael Jackson was rushed to the hospital and possibly dead. I lost my breath. I reached for the counter top to steady myself because I got lightheaded. How could this be possible? The iconic Michael Jackson dead?! NEVER! My first concert was a Jackson's concert at Dodger stadium when I was in elementary school. It’s a day I’ll never forget and today is a day I’ll never forget. There are events that happen in your life and you’ll always remember where you were and what you were doing when you look back on them..the passing of Michael Jackson is one of those events. My heart is aching.

I remember trying to moonwalk for the first time, I remember wanting to wear one glove to school and I remember thinking curls were cool because Michael Jackson had one :)

Michael Jackson was a misunderstood and often troubled soul who was taken advantage of by people he trusted. His name was drug through the mud but us, his real fans never wavered, always stood by his side. We love you Michael.

His music is the soundtrack for my life, I probably knew ABC before I knew my ABC's. I have partied to Michael Jackson's music for years. To hear of his passing was terrible. Just last week I told my sister that if Michael Jackson ever died I didn't know what I would do. And today, I don't know what I'll do. He is an icon, an innovator and now he is an eternal legend.

Michael we love you, we'll miss you. Your music will be in our heart and on our lips forever!

-Arrivederci

The week from Heaven and Hell!

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH, sometimes I just have to scream!!!!

Last week started on a high note and ended on an extremely low one. Well Jasmyne (aka Jazzy - my cousin who's more like my sister) graduated from high school. Family and friends gathered together on Wednesday, June 10th to celebrate. We started off with hors d'oeuvres at our house and then headed to the graduation which started at 2pm. We were worried that Stanley wasn't going to make it in time to see his only daughter walk across the stage. The reason he was late was because that crazy ass aunt of ours - Doretha - who always has to be the center of attention, said she wasn't feeling well and at the last minute called Stanley to pick her up. We were all pissed, her blatant disregard for people's time and feelings was once again center stage and as usual she didn't give a fuck. She said she took a pill that made her feel much better. BULLSHIT!! How do you go from "I need to go to the emergency room because I'm in so much pain" to "I took a pill and now I feel much better"? She wanted everyones attention to be on her but fuck her it was Jasmyne's day. So we did like we normally do and didn't acknowledge that she had even mentioned she was sick and went on about our business.

The graduation was fabulous. Jasmyne received so many honors medals that she looked like Michael Phelps with all of them around her neck. LOL. When they called her name our section of twenty something people went crazy, yelling, screaming, cheering, noise blowers went off and the family of the poor kid who was called next couldn't hear their name. By the way, we're sorry, whoever you are. After all the picture taking and crying we headed to El Torito's for her favorite meal...Mexican food. We had a wonderful time and the custom menus had her picture on them. Everything was great. I just hope I am emotionally stable enough to deal with her going to New Orleans for college in August.

Flash to Thursday....Robin (Young) Dunn, crazy Robin we've known since we were kids who happened to just have a baby the week before was on life support, there were major complications when she gave birth and things seemed to go from bad to worse for her. Everyone we knew had been praying for her and her family. My thoughts went back to a few weeks before she gave birth to her son. She came over when we had a barbecue for Jazzy and she came over, even though she was on bed rest. She said she just needed to get out of the house, she picked up to barbecue dinners and some of Decia's famous banana pudding. We sat and talked with her for a while and she was obviously ready to have that baby and she went on in the conversation to say..."I don't see June in my future". She meant she didn't think the baby would come in June but earlier, but he did come in June and my dear sweet Robin, who had so many kind words for me when my Granny passed is now in heaven with her. On Friday evening, June 12, 2009 Robin Dunn wife and new mother passed away, leaving a loving husband and newborn son, family and friends behind. We had all prayed that she would make it through but none of us know what God has in store for us. I was in the Cerritos Mall with my friend Monica when my phone rang and my sister told me the news I also had a text from Sabrina telling me she had passed. I was speechless.

Robin was one of the most loving and thoughtful people you ever met. She was so bubbly and her face always lit up a room, she could make you smile when you wanted to cry. She was a beautiful woman inside and out. I remember last September there was a brunch at our church and Robin was in charge of Women's Day activities..including the lunch. They couldn't find anyone to cook the food and Sabrina volunteered me. I was pissed off and didn't want to do it because my friends and I were supposed to leave for Palm Springs the day before the lunch and return on Sunday - the day after the lunch. Sabrina talked me into it and I rescheduled my plans for 2 reasons and 2 reasons only. 1. Sabrina asked me to do it and 2. it was for Robin that's a combination you can't say no to. My feet were aching, I was tired and instead of 3 days in Palm Springs I was only going to spend 1 but I did it anyway and Robin and I went through so much just getting the budget approved that I was ready to throw in the towel and say fuck it! She said we are going to get you the money you need for the event and that's that. It turned out wonderfully. Everyone enjoyed the food and Robin was a star for selecting such a great caterer - my fam helped too as they always do. Robin Dunn was a selfless person who put others before herself - in death as in life. Her life for her child's life, a true sacrifice. You can see how beautiful she is in this picture.









Robin you are loved and you will be missed!
















Arrivederci

Why I'm doing this

Well, a lot’s been going on in my world lately and I’ve got to get it out. I decided to call this blog the Stiletto Mafia because ever since I was a child I’ve loved high, high heeled shoes and I have an obsession with the Godfather trilogy. So, I thought Stiletto Mafia was very fitting and I knew that if an African American girl from Southern Cali was ever going to be in the mafia she would have to start her own.

So, a little bit about me…I was raised in Los Angeles and went to college on the east coast. I love to party, shop and hang out with my friends. I absolutely love photography – though I’m by no means a pro – and will not leave the house without a camera in my bag. I’ve got a huge family and tons of friends. Whose names may be changed to protect their innocence and in some cases their guilt.

This blog will be my release of frustration, the vessel that I use to share my happiness with friends and strangers alike.

Till next time.. arrivederci!