Thursday, March 31, 2011

YUMMY Mexican Sushi!

Norma & Tai





Norma, Tai & Marissa

Day at Nikki Beach

Tai & Norma spent the day at Nikki Beach in PV!!!



We LOVE Puerto Vallarta!

Tai & her mom Norma


Colorful Adventures!



Quote of the Day

"Today is a good day -- the sky is dropping down Angels from Heaven..."


- Waiter in Mexican Restaurant in Vallarta Marina

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Din Din







Norma Arrives!

Tai's mom, Norma, arrived from Virginia for two weeks of relaxing and fun!

Toe Fetish?

Marissa's POV...


Tai's POV

Monday, March 28, 2011

Pretty Pretty...


Around town...

Tai Excited!!!

March Madness in Mexico too!!!

We've Arrived!

Only a two hour flight from LA to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico...Shangri La is a needed paradise!




Song of the Day: Mexico!

Mexico -- sing it James Taylor!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWU-SXcLPXI

Oh Mexico!

Marissa was so excited as we went through security at LAX and Courtney Cox and her darling daughter Cocoa were right next to us...and she just happened to be on the cover of the new Harper's Bazaar Marissa had just purchased. Marissa quickly called her mom to tell her Monica was right next to her. She couldn't fathom her mom not immediately knowing who Monica was...(from Friends -- duh!)

Duh!

So seriously, as Tai packed for her Mexican vacation on Sunday night with her friend Matt (having just arrived from Chicago) keeping her company and he exclaimed; "You mean you have a bag just for your bikinis?"

Then her other friend Ricky teased her with; "You have a different bikini for every day."

Duh!!! 14 Days...15 Bikinis! MUCH too short of a Bikini Vacation!



Sunday, March 27, 2011

Song of the Day - Under Pressure

Marissa's Song of the Day -- Queen & David Bowie: Under Pressure

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gpn8MANhdLU

Another Sunday Fun Day in Malibu...

Malibu Sunday Fun Day for Tai, Marissa, Jess & Saadiq!



Saturday, March 26, 2011

Sweet Card...Great Thoughts...

A sweet card from Tai's sister Bambi...

Friday, March 25, 2011

Tai Honored for Women's History Month!

William Taylor, Assemblyman Mike Davis, Tai Collins, Special Fleming, Robyn Taylor, Lelar Marshall







Since I was a child I have always loved and been intrigued by “Angels” – so how appropriate that I would end up living and pursuing my dreams here in the “City of Angels” – and that my calling would be caring for the little angels of here.

I am incredibly grateful to be honored alongside these other remarkable women – but my best reward comes from the relationships I have with the children in this community – relationships that will forever be a part of me –

My gift comes every week when I arrive at Tom Bradley Elementary School, or MLK Park,  or 92nd Street Elementary or to the police station to work with kids – and I’m greeted with amazing love and hugs and kids faces lighting up calling out – “Miss Tai!”

We plant seeds, and we never know how they will grow. When I began this foundation, I never dreamed how it would blossom.

After almost 20 years serving in this city, I am on my second generation of children and many of the youth I now work with are the children of my first kids.

It is the children and their parent who will always hold a special place in my heart – who I have lifelong relationships with. They have enriched my life and simply made my life better…

When parents like Lora, who is here tonight, say to me referring to her daughter Lelar  – “your girl is growing up.” Or Robin and William Taylor’s parents say to me --  “my kids are your kids.” Or when Special says to me, “you’re like my family.”
That is my greatest reward. To the parents I say, Thank You for sharing your children with me! I am honored to consider them mine too!

I am thankful to my partner in A Chance for Children Greg Bonann, and for all the amazing partners and volunteers who help me make what I do possible… like Desiree Manuel… and Kim Matthews for providing transportation to so many events… they all help make what I do possible. From Marissa to Raul to the LAPD – I offer a huge thank you.

Greg and I have always had a saying – that children go where there is fun but they stay where there is love.  I love the children I serve – my hope and belief is that they know that.

I’d like to end with a quote from Mother Teresa. She said; “The miracle is not that we do the work, but that we are happy to do it.”

I could not be any happier serving the precious, priceless, amazing children of Los Angeles.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Even Rainy Sundays...

..are right for Bikini Baking in Malibu!


Sunday, March 6, 2011

ACFC Goes to El Cholo

Tai and Marissa took children from A Chance for Children's after school program at Tom Bradley Elementary school to El Cholo as guests of the owner Ron Salisbury and his son Brendon. The kids got a tour and history lesson of the family restaurant that opened in the 1920's. They got to go in the kitchen and help with making tortillas and learned how to make guacamole - which most of the kids had never eaten. We ended with a feast that left us all happy and very full! Thank you Ron & El Cholo for a wonderful afternoon!