2013 it's been real!

2013 quick recap: cutting off my hair, inauguration (2 terms!!), taking a pic with Gabby Douglas, Houston, Dallas, funerals (i.e. heartbreak), new favorite songs, reminiscing over high school track (i think i still got it), Nationals game, soul sessions: the vinyl edition, Lauriol Plaza swirls & mojitos, Opera in the outfield, work trips to NY and Ohio, Fort Lauderdale, Capital Jazz fest, Tamia at Howard Theatre, celebration of 60 years of marriage, Living Social cooking class, weekends at the pool, wine festivals, brunch in the city, eastern market, Cocktails with Claire event, hookah, record player and vinyl, blogging, London, Paris, Emeli Sande at meyerhoff, #photosess, tourist in the city, Beyonce surprise album (lol), holidays, family!

The final day of 2013 has finally arrived. Not to say it like I was ready for it. But I am ready for it. It's nothing like a new year to get excited about the newness that's in store for you. New places to visit, new people to meet, new goals, new dreams, a new beginning. In 2013, I was obsessed with DIY (made my DIY Christmas idea happen!), photography, beauty and fashion related - dark vampy lipsticks and midi dresses and skirts.

But before I hit the new year, I want to reflect on the old to help enter into the new feeling extremely blessed to make it to 2014.

2013 began with a fresh new haircut. On January 1, I chopped all of my hair off. Throughout my life I had shoulder length and longer hair, so chopping it all off was a huge deal for me, but I was oh so ready. Like really ready. That was the only way I got through it. It did help that in 2012 I cut it shorter and shorter so when January 1 rolled around I was able to let it all go. I didn't feel like a weight had lifted or whatever other emotions women get then they cut off all of their hair, I was just excited. I did what I wanted to do, and I was ready.

Later on in the month I travelled to Houston and Dallas to visit family and the day before I was heading by home, my grandfather passed. Literally hours before I set out to visit him in Galveston. He died in his home and lived a long life. I know he's watching over my family, and I pray his spirit helps us get through our issues so we can become a stronger, close-knit unit. After the memorial I was able to hang with all my family. We sang, dance, ate well and had an amazing time together. One of the highlights of the year. A bittersweet moment.

Unfortunately only a few weeks later, one of my closest friends passed. I still remember the call from my friend, and her voice on the other end of the line like it was yesterday. We all endure personal demons, and sometimes they take us to a point of no return. As often as we can, a group of us get together and celebrate his life, remember his most enduring moments, and reminisce on his "pleasant" nicknames for us (Lol..insider). His funeral was the hardest moment of 2013. I pray that he is at peace, and is looking down on those who he loved and loved him with a smile and those deep dimples.

Life then went on as usual for the next few months, I got restless and travelled to Fort Lauderdale for some quick, much needed R&R.

In the meantime in between time, I always knew I wanted to travel to Europe, soon and very soon. So what better way than to ring in 30. I booked my ticket and started planning my solo travel to London and Paris. This was indeed my best moment of 2013.

Thanksgiving and Christmas was celebrated and enjoyed with family. Even helped surprise my family with a wine and painting night.

In 2013 I continued to find myself. Sounds cliché'ish, but nothing better than truly knowing who you are. It's a constant search of finding my happy but I'm on the right path of how I want to live my life, and the type of people I want in it - friendship and relationship wise.

This year had its highs and lows, as next year will have as well. It's inevitable. But I'm determined to have more highs than lows, if I have any control over it. In March, I'm going to Hawaii and I've already begun thinking of destinations for my 31st birthday in September (Greece, Barcelona, Cabo, T&C…). Somewhere in the mix, I plan to sprinkle in a few "smaller" trips. Let's see where the wind blows!

Welcome 2014!!!

Just go!!

I love to read articles, quotes, books, newspaper clippings, etc about traveling and advice and ‎encouragement towards travelling. I especially love when the author is a black woman. Just from a ‎relatable standpoint. I try to encourage or better yet lead by example those around me that ‎travelling can change your outlook on life. I strive to be a traveller and not just a tourist. ‎

You want to explore the world but unsure how. Just do it. Easy right. Book a ticket and just go. All it ‎takes is that first time, and I promise you will be hooked. Take a trip (or 3 a year). Plan for it, ‎financially and schedule wise, but just do it.‎

There's nothing like a new year to give yourself new goals - short-term or long term, new inspirations, ‎new visions to help contribute to a new you.‎

Being my own Warrior

One of my favorite things about this blog is being able to "relive" certain moments and thoughts of my own. Using my own inner thoughts to pull out inspiration for myself. I can dig it. I can go in and reread a post, a gentle reminder to pull it together, remind myself of what is important, and take it from there.

Reading a book called Where Did Our Love Go: Love and Relationships in the African-American Community, edited by Gil L. Robertson, has my mind moving a mile a minute. This is a book of essays from public figures, celebrities, journalists etc. who share their experiences and journeys with love and deals with the role (and/or lack thereof) marriage plays in the black community. The book is broken down into three sections: Single, Married, Divorced.

Chapter 8 - Being My Own Warrior - JaQuitta Williams

Let me tell you. A few passages hit the nail on the head. This chapter spoke volumes to me and how I've wanted (and achieved) to living my life these past few years. It's like I told her my life and she put it on paper. Always dating the same guy. Different on the outside, but the same blueprint on the inside. Having a good time, but when it came to "it", I was the only one in it for the long haul, or at least interested for the long haul. I decided to flip the switch (and my life) and just enjoy me. Doing what I want to do, when I want to do it. "And I feel because I am in this place, whatever God allows or wants to bring into my life will be clearer for me to see." OK!!!

"We all want to be coupled up, but there has to be something in you that says, 'I am okay. I am beautiful. I am strong by myself.' So when you find somebody, you shine even brighter." Do i want a relationship? Yes, but not at the expense of what I've been working towards for myself for all these years. You gotta come correct, and stay correct.

"Whatever trials happens in my life, whatever man comes or stays away, I know that God will bring people in my life or remove them because that's what God does. There will never be a person who can deliver me from what God delivered me from, and because of that I'm good. I realized that my marriage is with God. My love and all that goes with it is with God, and whomever He presents to me, to go through this life on this earth with me, is a bonus. I know that no person can ever do for me what God does for me, so why am I tripping?" #wonthedoit

a beautiful fall day

Chicago has #summertimechi but DC in the fall is quite a beauty. The clean cut grass, colorful leaves, and sunshine makes the day so pleasant. Playing tourist for the day means monuments, scenery, and selfies.

Daily Bread

Sometimes when your down and out, not feeling your best, or feeling like the world and the people in to are against you, you have to pull from your gut and remind yourself that no matter what you will be happy. You will "fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it...". Sometimes is all you have to hold onto. I am reminded. I remind myself. I have to.

Then somedays you just are.

“Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it. You must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it.” Eat Pray Love, Elisabeth Gilbert

“Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.”
― Guillaume Apollinaire

a lil' thursday inspiration

This resonated so deeply with me when I read it.  Sometimes we want so badly for things to go our way, but that's not God's plan for us.  Most times we would choose the easy way out of the situation.  But God has other plans for our life.   He wants to see a change in our heart.  He wants us to trust his word.   Do your part and God will handle the rest. 

"Sometimes God doesn't change your situation because he's trying to change your heart."  Wow.  Things like this tend to stay with me. 

Reminder:  Work on applying it to daily life.

It's up to me...

‎“I’ve learned how much power I have in designing my happiness. I am the architect of it. So I ‎work on building it. A skyscraper.” Terry McMillian‎

The best thing about this blog is the constant reminder of its theme. Happiness. And the pursuit ‎of it. How to get it and how to hold on for dear life. Life can sometimes suck that little ounce ‎of happiness you have left and leave you feeling drained and defeated. It happens to the best of ‎us. But it takes a special kind of strength to dig deep and not let unhappiness consume you. ‎Don't let defeat be what you eat, sleep, and breathe. God didn't build us to suffer, He built us to ‎succeed. Some days you wake up with the blues, headed to a job that you aren't 100% excited ‎about (not to be confused with ungratefulness), just to get up and do it all over again. The ‎excitement, the thrill can sometimes be dull or nonexistent. This blog serves as a daily reminder ‎that it is up to me to bring the light. It's up to me to design my happiness. Even if it's just ‎tinkering in the little things that bring me joy throughout the day. One day I hope we all get to a ‎place in our lives where it's not 'work' and we're doing what we love. I guess in the meantime, ‎we shall do what we have to do until we can do what we want to do.

Reminder: Work on the little things.‎