An Ordinary Day...

Wednesday, April 12th started off as an ordinary day. The alarm sounded off at 6:00 a.m. like it always did. Reggie did his work day morning ritual, showering, grooming, selecting a suit and accessorizing with the perfect accents for Read more

Why are some people mean?

Why are some people mean? I'm not talking about a little mean, but bazaar, go out of their way to be mean. Recently I've encountered a few mean people, I remind myself that these situations will make me a stronger Read more

Maldives

Our last trip of 2016 was to the Maldives. Last year was one full of excursions, We traveled to Cameroon, Paris, Bali, Hawaii, New Orleans, New York, Chicago, Lake Tahoe, Atlanta, Napa, San Francisco, Dubai, and I must say Read more

Quote

It's okay to venture out of your comfort zone... Lately I've been doing it quite often. This weekend is going to be one of renewal, my personal Super Bowl. What are your plans? I will be working today and tomorrow. Happy Read more

Do you enjoy yourself?

Both of my kids are in New York, my son is in school in the Hudson Valley and my daughter is living in Brooklyn and working. So we are officially empty nesters, and have been so for a while Read more

Jack & Jill of America

No Place Like Home…

Posted on by Gigi in My Life 4 Comments
Jack & Jill National

Jack & Jill National

Gigi at the "hat" luncheon...

Gigi at the “hat” luncheon…

I spent the past week at the Jack & Jill National Convention, which was held in Charlotte, North Carolina. Over a thousand mothers from the east to the west and everything in between were in attendance, I even met one mother from Belgium. I was spotted by Angela, a member that is a “Gigismeanderings” follower which was a treat, being a blogger you never know who you are connecting with, it was a delight to meet her.

Angela...

Angela…

The conference was intense, the days started at 7 and most evenings ended at 2. We wore our uninterrupted white, teal, purple, fuschia, black, navy, hats, t-shirts, gowns and lots of bling, of course not at the same time.

Jack & Jill convention floor

Jack & Jill convention floor

Fuschia & Teal Luncheon

Fuschia & Teal Luncheon

love this version of teal

love this version of teal

loved all the outfits...

loved all the outfits…

Charlotte was warm, inviting and full of southern charm, everyone was so nice, I didn’t even mind the humidity that swelled every strand of my hair, no one appeared to have that crazy rushed sense of urgency. The food was de-lish, grits, collard greens and other decadent southern treats, lavender martinis and lots of bite-sized sweets. I will be doing double day workouts this week! We were serenaded by KEM, Kirk Whalum, Horizon a local cover band of young teens that was phenomenal, Native American Drummers, and a jamming DJ. An insightful presentation by Marian Wright Edelman, a fashion show, and an authors pavilion.

loved the food

loved the food

Kirk Walum

Kirk Whalum

Of course I had to pick up a book, Postcards from Cookie, by Caroline Clarke , a heartfelt memoir about Caroline discovering her birthmother-Cookie Cole, the daughter of Nat King Cole. The story chronicles her journey researching her adoption and finding out her mother was one of Nat King Coles’s daughters. I love memoirs, you realize that we all have unique stories and it is those stories that have shaped who we are.

Postcards from Cookie

Postcards from Cookie

I was the official photographer for our region, recording images that I know 20 or 30 years from now we will look back on and smile. These are a few of my favorites.

Duke's Manision

Duke’s Manision

Hats...

Hats…

Wells fargo building

Wells fargo building

Fabulous Far West Region

Fabulous Far West Region

Gala

Gala

RD Kathy

RD Kathy

Provisional Group

Provisional Group

programming luncheon

programming luncheon

LB President Marie/ new National President Tammy King

LB President Marie/ new National President Tammy King

 

JILL-IN'

JILL-IN’

This year will be my last year as an active member, my son will be graduating out. As I continue on my journey discovering and searching for my purpose on the planet, Jack and Jill will always have a special place in my life, it is where I met some of my best friends. I watched children grow up, graduate, and now the wedding invites are starting to appear in my mailbox. I will laugh about the stockings, and the ladylike white pumps that are stored away until the next Jack and Jill ceremony. Some may say that 76 years later do we even need Jack and Jill, and I will answer a confident yes. Is it for everybody? No. Will your child be OK if they don’t belong to Jack and Jill? Yes, but for me it was a good fit for my family, I have almost 20 years of unforgettable memories and lifelong relationships for my years in Jack & Jill.

Far West Region

Far West Region

Gigi at Jack & Jill National 2014

Gigi at Jack & Jill National 2014

Happy Monday-

XOXO, GIGI


WEEKEND OBSERVATIONS

Posted on by Gigi in American Life, Weekend Observations 4 Comments
Jack & Jill Teens Long Beach

Jack & Jill Teens Long Beach

Phoenix Arizona record breaking temperatures ie. 118 degrees + 250 or so teens, at a regional conference for 4 days = a lot of fun & sleepless nights.

Jack and Jill 75 years

Jack and Jill 75 years

 

We attended the annual Far West Region Jack and Jill teen conference held this year at Arizona State. Reggie and I along with a few other moms from our chapter were chaperones. I have been a member of Jack & Jill, since Reggie was 2. Jack and Jill is an African-American nationwide family organization that was founded by the late Marion Stubbs Thomas in 1938. The organization was formed during the depression, an extremely segregated time in our country. The  focus was creating an environment for African-American children to stimulate social, cultural, educational and civic programs. Jack and Jill celebrated 75 years and is still going strong with 220 chapters with over 30,000 members nationwide.

Plenary Session

Plenary Session

Some may question is there still a need for Jack and Jill? Times are different now, we even have President Barack Obama! We live in a suburb, where my children were always one of a few African-American families in their school and neighborhood, I wanted them to be exposed to other children who looked like them.  I wanted my daughter to not feel like a “show N tell” exhibit every time she changed her hair from braids, to a press and curl or a natural hair style.  There are many groups like Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, National Charity League, Assistance League, etc., we participate in these organizations as well.

Reggie & Reggie

Reggie & Reggie

If I had any doubt about the validity of Jack & Jill, I can recall an incidence when my son was about 10, and I was picking him up from my neighbor/girlfriend, who is also African-American. The three of us were standing outside in broad daylight about 4 in the afternoon, when a car drove by and the occupants shouted “Niggers”, I felt so awful and helpless when I looked down at my son. Or when prom time came around and everyone was pairing up to go, and no one asked my daughter, all I had to do was pick up the phone and call one of my Jack & Jill sisters and my daughter had an escort. I have met some of my lifelong friends in Jack & Jill. We all strive to raise our children to be leaders in our society, and to make a difference in this world.

Let’s Work, Let’s Play, Let’s Live Together…

Senior Charis

Senior Charis

We are so proud of our senior Charis, btw she recently completed her Gold Award, the highest honor bestowed on a Girl Scout and has completed over 500 community service hours.

Wearing our interrupted "White"

Wearing our uninterrupted “White”

Yes some of our “rules” are 75 years old, but it is nice to see everyone dressed for a change. Matter of fact on the drive back home we could not just speed by the outlet in cabazon, so of course I was thrilled to find a pair a white Prada pumps…

Prada Pumps

Prada Pumps

Hope you had a good weekend and stayed cool.

 

Xoxo,

GIGI

 

 

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