This video has so much to say and be mindful of as we are living in uncertain times, a weak government, and we must learn to open our minds so that we can survive these next few years.  

https://www.facebook.com/viralthread/videos/640743796098307/

Happy Friday to all!  Today’s highlight is on Diaper cakes.  I made my first diaper cake with my friend Leila at work for our co-worker.  We were thinking of a gift to give her, when we started looking up ideas and fell upon the idea of the diaper cake.  It looked complicated, but we set about making it and we accomplished. 

The thing about diaper cakes is that they are a unique gift to give to someone.  Not only are you giving someone, a present that they will definitely use and appreciate, it is also a gift that can serve as a décor for the baby shower.  You can even give it as a gift for a 1st Birthday Party.  What parent wouldn't love to get diapers.  

The most special thing about it is that you can make it, it comes from the heart, and it will be unique for that recipient.  I’ve made quite a few since 2008, for my family and friends and even for baby showers to serve as not just a gift, but as a shower centerpiece.  It's interesting when some people ask me if it's a real cake.  I guess then you know, you have accomplished your goal and that's how beautiful they are.  You can even add more gifts to the inside, like putting wipes and even onesies in the center of the cake, like filling.  There are many ways to make one.  Here is a website to give you inspiration and ideas on how to make one.  

​This is a great DIY project to take on.  I like to design mine without folding each diaper with elastic.  I also like to get creative and make motorcycles or car designs out of the diaper cakes.  Unfortunately, I can't find my pictures of those cakes that I have made.  Below are some diaper cakes I’ve done throughout the years.  Have a great weekend everyone.

Replica Creations in the making…Back at UMass Amherst, I not only got the opportunity to get an education and a degree, but I gained a wealth of knowledge about my culture, myself, and a group of incredible friends and memories.  One of those friends was and is Suely Neves.  We were alike, but yet different in many ways, thus balancing each other out when we worked on many events and projects for CVSA.  We had ideas and dreams for days, thus driving us to create Replica Creations once we left UMass Amherst.  

That drive lead us to Portugal in June of 2005 to watch Quatro Plus and many other great Cape Verdean artists perform, and eventually solidifying and giving us that extra gas to bring Quatro Plus to the United States for the first time in July of 2005.  Up until the last minute, we had some obstacles in our way, that would have discouraged many others, but being uplifted and encouraged by a group of 5 guys that were like brothers to us.  Ultimately delivering a sold out show on the waters of the Atlantic and inspiring a group of youth to create a dance group called Replica Plus.
  
We continued with that success to once again bring Quatro Plus in November of 2005 to perform for a memorable CVSA Cape Verdean Night at UMass Amherst.  This all lead to us working with D. Lopes, Assasino, Denis Graca, Johnny Ramos, and Djey, and leading us to managing Novu Reino.  For us, the ideas were endless, but of course life happens leading us to different paths.  Even though, we have been taken down a different path far from those days, we never know when that path may or will lead us into venturing out and putting our Replica shoes back on.

My Throwback Music for this week on the You Tube Channel is dedicated to Quatro Plus.
My five new songs are
Danca Ma Mi - featuring Timmy
Kazanga
Ritmo D'Amor
Si Bu Kre Part 2 off the Mobass Album
Sexy Lady - featuring Ali Angel
and I changed the Si Bu Kre to include the Intro

So it's Wednesday and it's organizing day.  Even though that's everyday, for me, lol.  I'm working with some great people on some organization projects and I will highlight those projects in the next coming weeks.  I found a great website yesterday, that I would like to share.  It's A Bowl Full of Lemons.  I'm still exploring the website, but it has good information on getting organized and they have an interesting challenge going on for the new few months.  They are in their third week of the Home Organizing Challenge.  This week the concentration is on the Dining Room.

I've decided to join the challenge, even though some parts of my house are organized.  As I shared before, I started really looking in depth into how things were organized and structured in my house about four years ago, so that it would make my life easier in the domestic area, and it sure has.

Since this week is the Dining Room that is being tackled for the Home Organization Challenge, and last week was the Kitchen and Pantry, I'll share what I have done.  When I look at organizing and cleaning, I've been looking at it as Simplify, Organize, and Beautify.  Simplifying to me is decluttering and getting rid of things that are not needed. Organizing is giving everything a home and making sure where things are stored make sense for the home and will make my life easier in terms of cleaning up.  Beautifying is making the area, whatever it is, look neat and pretty.  Now the dining room has a glass table that is very pretty, modern, and looked great, but having to clean the glass constantly because of fingerprint marks, was just too much.  

So I decided to cover it with tablecloth.  Now you say, that would take away from the look of it all, and yes it does, but then that's when I decided that I was going to set up the table.  So every month, I design a tablescape depending on the season, holiday, or month.  Now my table looks pretty and at the same time, it serves as storage for my tableware.  I like for things to serve more than one purpose.

So, enjoy the rest of your day, as I continue to tackle these projects.  If you are willing, join me and others on the challenge.    

I hope everyone had a great weekend.  It's Tuesday and the weather isn't all that great, but despite the dreary weather we need to push on and make it through another day so we can accomplish whatever it is we need to accomplish.  We all have dreams and aspirations in life.  I've had many dreams.  When I was about 12 or 13, one of my dreams was to become an artist for Disney.  I love Disney movies and I found it amazing how they could turn a drawing into animated classics.  That dream, is harder to come by these days, but I have seen that desire for the arts come into play in other aspects of my life.  I may not be at Disney, but I have found other outlets to let that creativity shine, like in the projects I have done for events.  

There are many things I'm working on for the coming year.  I realize that not every day is going to be a smooth day, such as yesterday, I didn't do a posting, but I didn't let that bother me.  I told myself I have other days and many weeks.  The main point is to realize that you are allowed those down days, but you should just remind yourself of the long term goals and keep on pushing, don't stop.  There will be obstacles, big and small.  It's overcoming them that is the challenge, but as long as you keep on pushing, you can achieve anything.  

You will have a few naysayers behind you, but that is also fine.  Just have a few of your cheerleaders beside you also.  The ones that are trying to drag you down, remember they are below you for a reason.  You have already risen.  Your cheerleaders will be the ones to cheer you on and keep giving you that motivation to keep on playing.  It's all about perspective.  It's OK to make mistakes.  How else will you learn and how else will you know that you are at least trying to accomplish your goals and dreams.  Do your best to keep it positive.  "The one who falls and gets up, is so much stronger, than the who never fell."  

Click on the picture below and it will direct you to an article about the guide.  It may just put a lot of things into perspective and hopefully bring your dreams to life.  Have an enjoyable day.  

It's Friday and time to unwind and relax.  Fridays is all about events and this week I'll be highlighting my cousin, Solange Antunes-Alves from Zathi Events and Design.  She has done many events from weddings, baby showers, birthdays, and office parties.  She has been doing this for many years and has a strong passion for what she does.  I feel her inspiration and driving force comes from her mother who planned many memorable birthday parties for her and her siblings.  She has a talent for baking and has made many birthday cakes and treats throughout the years.  

She will work with your ideas and budget to give you a memorable event. She will add that extra pizzazz and glitz to your event.  Two weekends ago, she gave me the opportunity to make a chalkboard birthday sign for a Shimmer and Shine 1st Birthday Party.  The following pictures are from the birthday party she did.  The pictures speak for themselves.  You can see the small details from the gems on the gold chargers to the lighting that adhere to the genie and Arabian theme.     

If you would like to get in touch with her you can reach her at [email protected].  Reach out to her and she will work with you to give you an unforgettable and magical event.

You will get to see more of her work throughout the year.  Have an a great weekend everyone.      

There are a lot of songs in this world and then there are classics.  Some songs are so memorable because they can figuratively transport you back in time.  These are my five new songs for this week.  Enjoy as the list grows.  

LaTour - Fabienne
Cabo X - Nha Girl
Rui Last One - Sem Nha Mota
Mobass - Perdao
Camilo Domingos - Nada Ver