Happy 2nd Blogoversary to me!

Another year has come and gone. So quickly it seems like just yesterday that I sat down to write about how proud I was to have 4,200 hits from 10 countries in my first year of blogging. 

Wel I guess patience is a virtue because I am now approaching 64,000 hits.  Holy galoshes batman. What an increase!!

So let's recap my 2011

In January I ambitiously launched my 2nd blog, devon4Africa, as a separate blog to highlight information on my Africa projects, my 1st trip to Africa and my ancestral homeland and as a forum for discussing current events from an African American perspective.

I also concentrated on preparing for a kick off party for my new project with Little Dresses for Africa. Bringing together volunteers to make the dresses.

In February - Launch of Little Dresses project and kick off party

In March we successfully wrapped the project with a cool little fashion show showcasing our CA models and 125 beautiful dresses to be sent to little girls in Africa.

In April I was invited to the special event hosted by the Crittenton Foundation in Orlando FL to celebrate single moms and girls living on the edge. I was  honored to be their surprise guest and a speaker.

Also in April I made my 2nd trip to Paris. The BF and I were delighted to share our time and our cute little French apartment with a good friend of mine wo was celebrating her birthday and her 1st trip to Paris.

As a result of my absolute LOVE of paris, in May I launched my 3rd blog "I'd Rather be in Paris". Full of tips and useful information this blog is dedicated to the creation of a workable 5 year plan that will hopefully land me in the city of lights just in time for retirement. Even if you aren't planning to move to Paris, check me out over there, I really try to post all kinds of information on Paris and the French lifestyle.

In July I was off to "my 2 reunions" (or so I thought) - One was family related and the other one was school related. I flew to Denver and had the chance to share some special hours with a couple of high school friends. Had the opportunity to visit my old neighborhood in Aurora CO and see my old high school. I also spent some time with my college roommate and my best friend from my 1st job at Mountain Bell. I had a great time reminiscing with my friends and shopping in Denver. (Unfortunately the reunion took place on the weekend and I had to be at the family reunion that same weekend.)

I then picked up my granddaughter and off we flew to Atlanta for the family reunion -- that wasn't. Yes, it was a bummer to get to Atlanta and be unable to even find the family reunion (long story but yes it did happen).  Still don’t really know what happened to them, but I have been assured that the next reunion will be in Charleston which is much closer to where much of he family resides. We'll see.

Atlanta was not a total loss by any means because I got to spend time with my good friend of 36 years! My granddaughter and I had a great time and to be honest, I had more fun than I probably would have with the relatives which were were mostly over 80 (not that being over 80 is a bad thing of course  - the fun times just move a little slower and end so much earlier)



In September I launched my 4th blog Rocn' the Long Locs - a natural hair blog with emphasis on long hair.



In September I got word that after 4 l-o-n-g months of waiting - the Little Dresses had reached their final destination in Guinea Bissau W Africa. YIPPEE!!!! I was sooo happy.

September 17th -  was the beginning of the Occupy Wall Street movement and hopefully the beginning of some pretty important changes that we desperately need to make if our country (and the planet for that matter) is to survive. 

In October several old friends who now reside out of state came to visit. I attended  the Halloween - Pagen's Ball in the Wine country. If you haven't seen our video yet. Take a look.

In October I put together a project (It Takes a Village) to help me work on a charity project in Djati - a tiny remote little village in Guinea Bissau. I enlisted the help of Hip Hop Artist, Hasan Salaam & Flow to help us raise money to get the village -  a well, a school and a medical center. We have been quite successful so fa r but we still need help. If you would like to learn more about the project please jump over to devon4Africa where you can learn all about it.

In November - we launched donation site - donation link is on the sidebar

In December - we sent the 1st monies to Djati. The school is now under construction and money was sent to begin to the making of the desks.

Sadly in December my boyfriend's mother passed away at the age of 87. Even though that may sound old to many, she was very young at heart. She was a very kind lady with a wonderful sense of humor and a loving spirit. I'll miss putting up the lights on her patio, the old nativity scene with the Christmas Town scene, the artificial tree with bulbs already attached and the fake cotton snow skirt that didn’t quite make it all the way around the tree.  I know she is smiling down on us this holiday season.     R.I.P Romona - you will be missed!

For my readers, I THANK YOU for hanging in there with me for another year and I appreciate each and every one of you who read my blog.

NEW for Next year: The launch of video blogging  (or vlogging I guess is the correct term).

Have a wonderful New Year and….

Stay tuned


I'm Just Sayin