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I was born March of 77 to a strong single parent, Lavonia Johnson. During my early years my mom worked full time while attending cosmetology school. She then opened a beauty parlor, Lavonia’s Unlimited Styles and remained working full time as a dietician at a private daycare in order to provide for us. My mom was my hero, my best friend, my beginning and my end. All my life it was just the two of us. I was well cared for and nurtured. I felt safe and secure. And as I grew into the woman I am today you could see how my mom’s blueprint played a major role in the shaping of my life.

June 2009, I lost my job, and July 2009, just two days after my mother’s 62nd birthday, she suddenly passed away. And I was there from the beginning to the end. As I saw her soul leave her body all I could sing is “What A Mighty GOD We Serve, What A Mighty GOD We Serve!” My world crumbled, the color of my shell became gray but it could not completely disappear for I, and I alone, had to provide for and take care of my 4 year old daughter Danielle (Danie). She too was there and witnessed the beginning of her grandmother’s transition to be with the Lord. I had no idea how to explain to Danie that even though grandma and I left to go to the hospital together, grandma would never return.

I recalled the day I just laid there wrapped in my sorrow, and Danie kept tapping me. She put her round face right in front of mine--for those who don’t know my daughter, she is an advanced 4 year old and her personality had already developed, her spirit was one that had been reborn; nonetheless, she is definitely my offspring, a mini me! Watch out world--she said “Mom? MOM! GET UP! I’m hungry and you know grandma is not coming back! It is just you and me, so you have to fix me something to eat!” From that day forward I have been striving to keep myself together for her, and in the end what’s best for her is best for me.

I still have not fully grieved for my mother, but I rejoice in her memories. I cry when reminiscing about the past, and I laugh when I think of all the funny moments. I still remember the words she said to me the day I came home from losing my job. She looked at me with a very humble face, and although she felt sorry for me there was nothing she could do. She said, “You will be okay, everything will be alright.” Prior to my mother’s passing she kept speaking of wanting to go and visit her mom, my grandmother. She said that when she got there, we were going have a big party and there would be lots of people. Every week she would ask “We are still going right?” She would then remind me we were going the end of July or the beginning of August and I said “Yes mom, I know,” as she had told me a hundred times already! I had a service for my mother the end of July in NYC and she was buried in GA the beginning of August. Funny how she arrived where she so longed to be just when she wanted to.

I looked at my life and I was just disgusted with how I had fallen off track. I have my Associates Degree, and I had started working on my Bachelors and stopped right at the finish line. I needed 39 credits. 2003 was the last time I was in school. I realized that I had started something that I had not finished, and that was not me. I was also instilling in my daughter that education is important but I felt like a hypocrite. School was the one thing I valued growing up and the one thing I failed to finish. When I arrived back home after the funeral I began to take the necessary steps to enroll again not realizing six years had passed. If it is the last thing I do, I will finish! As I write, I am in school and after this semester I will have nine more credits to go yaaaaaaaay!

I was raised as an only child; my mother would always tell me “GOD bless the child that has their own.” She left me and I felt alone, as if I had no one and nowhere to turn. The one thing that was constant in my life was that I loved myself and that I knew for sure. There was once a time when I loved someone more than I loved myself and I went through what I considered being some serious transitions in life. I found myself dealing with situations I was not accustomed to nor did I want to become accustomed to. It was not until I was about to deliver what was my only true surprise in life that the love for my unborn was greater than the love I had developed for myself. I knew something had to change. In all my times of desperation, despair and confusion all I had was me. I was the keeper of my destiny. I, with the power of GOD, had the ability to change what I did not like or the direction I was headed.

As a child I remember playing in the tub and creating what I called bubble world. I was always, and still am very imaginative and creative. I love to take baths. There was something about the warmth of the water that soothed me. It was the only time I had peace within my mind. The time I use to shower or bathe is the time I would use to not only clean my skin but to pamper myself. It is my time. And even if it is only a quick ten minutes it is all mine and I do not have to care or focus on anyone else but me!

January 2010, I started Me Myself & I. I began distributing luxury beauty products, hoping that the joy, relief, the time for reflection, the time to remember to love yourself and put yourself first would be able to help others as it has helped me. Me Myself & I envisions a world with people who value self-love and appreciation; and who are committed to providing themselves with the necessary care to be true to these values. We are dedicated to providing a wide array of luxury beauty products that will allow you to heal and rejuvenate the mind, body and soul.

Visit www.memeandmoreme. Treat you! Love yourself! Remember, “If you don’t, then who will?” Me Myself & I Luxury Beauty Products are designed just for you!