Hiya sistahs!

I hope you had a great weekend. we had a long weekend here in Toronto and it was just beautiful.  We were invited to our friend’s cottage and this was the view.  Breathtaking.  OF COURSE they had beautiful weather UNTIL WE GOT THERE.. I was called “the black cloud” LOL.. but we had fun nonetheless

It was my BFF’s birthday this weekend and she had a splash at her home that her hubby hosted for her.  On the invitation it clearly said NO GIFTS.  She always admired my paintings and was my cheerleader for so long and she has been begging me for one for such a long time, so about two weeks ago, I started on my painting adventure.  And here it is.. raw and true friendship

I have been researching poetry for the last little while and I came across a beautiful poem by Maya Angelou which I HAD to include in the painting for her. And this was what the inscription looked like on the back

When I read this poem, I felt a bit of a sigh of relief.. I can’t explain it… It all came together.  This is what feeling 40 feels like 🙂

PHENOMENAL WOMAN by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can’t see.
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
‘Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Need I say more?

here here to all da PHENOMENAL women in my sistahood and in my life 🙂

mwah!

Em