4.29.2013

Monday's Musings: Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice

This weekend was a pretty relaxing one - thank goodness. 
And although we had to go several places this weekend, I was happy that it was one where it was sunny and perfect weather. 

Can I just first start with the cutest pic I've ever seen on my Instagram timeline. 
She is so cute she doesn't even seem real - and that cup is as big as she is. 




Saturday Mornings while Amos gets his hair cut at the Barber Shop, I get my nails done next door. It helps us both get a little pamper moment because we get a little moment of pamper me fun. 
This week I went with this bright shade of purple. 
I was so caught up talking with my friend who happened to be there that I forgot to capture the name of this color and even the brand. OOPS

But I am LOVE, LOVE, Loving this bright color


Later that afternoon we ventured out to Leesburg, Virginia to Dry Mill Winery because my husband plays in this band with an Indie Artist, Kenny Kohlhass and he was the the afternoon's entertainment. 

People were enjoying tastings and bottles of wine with cheese and meats while the kids enjoyed cookies, brownies and soccer. It was definitely a family affair. 




And my little God daughter, Kobie turned 2. 
Never seen a happier girl to get a car?!
I am sure she is more excited that its a Minnie Mouse one - she LOVES herself some Minnie Mouse. 


And although my allergies were getting the best of me - didn't stop me from doing something with this hair and putting on make up with a smile. 
Any other day I'd be in pig tail plaits and moisturizer.
Sunday is my one day or so that I get to dress up a tad. 


Hope you had a wonderful weekend. 










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4.26.2013

Welcome Friday

 
Well Hello There -
I feel like since I am helping to celebrate Nicole Pharr's Blogiversary, I have gained a bunch of new people that have never been here before - so I would like to introduce myself and welcome all the new readers. So please, don't be a stranger and say hey from time to time.
 
What do I Blog about here?
Simply put - My Life.
I don't have a particular subject or niche, I write it about it all.. after all this is my life, therefore my blog. There could be so many things that happen from day to day or week to week over here.
 
See over there under my picture - it kind of gives you the run down on just SOME of the things that I am into and may write about. For a little bit more information about me, click the ABOUT tab (and all the other tabs for that matter)
 
Just some quick fun facts!
I am a Baltimore Ravens fan!
I am a die-hard fan and not a bandwagon fan because they won the Super Bowl last year. I am a Baltimore girl although I am now residing in the DC Metro area (The DMV as we call it - DC, MD and VA) and I have been a fan since the Cleveland Browns came to Baltimore and were named The Ravens.
 
 
But don't get it twisted - I am not a sore loser or an aggressive fan. I am just a lover of Football and that's my team.
 
I talk about this guy here a lot - his name is Amos. Don't worry he doesn't bite - unless...
well... that's not for here but he is my husband. We are still newlyweds in my book. Been married now 2 years and about 9 months. We are building our lives together creating our own rules as we go along. 

 
I am a Freelance Make Up Artist and I love what I do - I truly love to paint faces and try new products. When I get the chance, I share tips and a few looks on this here Blog:
One thing I am trying to work on is how to capture on camera a false lash tutorial. Usually I take all my pics but it helps to put your lashes on with both hands ...
 
I have a part-time pet named Arista. We call her part-time because she is my sisters Dog who lives in NYC but from time to time she may spend time with my parents in Texas and she lived with my husband and I here for about 18 months.
 
And yes she has her own IG page thanks to my sister.

 
Well, click through the Archives or popular posts-- put your feet up and relax a while.
 
Thanks for stopping by.
I hope you enjoyed yourselves - refreshments are in the back.


 
 





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4.25.2013

Giveaway

{via}

Today is Nicole's very first...
 BLOGIVERSARY, [blog-uh-vur-suh-ree]you know, the yearly anniversary of her blog!!!

So enough with the lessons, let's celebrate! I've teamed up with her and the fabulous ladies below to giveaway $250 cash via Paypal!


Be sure to read the Official Giveaway Rules.
Note: This giveaway is open internationally.  You must have a Paypal account to enter.
Now get to it and stop by to wish Nicole a Happy Blogiversary!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway








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4.22.2013

Monday Movement

This weekend was a weekend for family and luncheons. 
My mom is a member of The Links, Inc. 
Every year in Baltimore they have a luncheon that supports several scholarship efforts for high school and college students. 
My mother couldn't come but she made sure that her whole family would be there to represent. 
Myself and Amos, My cousin Qiana (pictured below) and her husband, My Cousin Blair (also pictured below) and my Uncle Carl and his fiance as well as two of my good friends all came to support my mom's luncheon. 

Although we are really close, we don't get the chance to see each other often so it was so good to get to see my family. The last time I was able to see Q was at her wedding that I wrote about here. 
By the way, the newlyweds are going to Brazil in two weeks -- I can't wait to see pictures from her trip. 

We definitely didn't plan to be in the same color but it was funny that we showed up in purple and red alike anyways. 

Here's my handsome cousin Blair. 
He lives in NYC close to my sister with his wife and children and is thinking about moving back to my area, so I am happy about that. He is definitely more like a big brother than my older cousin. 


So we left that luncheon in Baltimore and immediately drove towards to D.C. to attend yet another luncheon. We literally went from eating to eating just to show our support. 

I am sure Amos would hate this picture but I love it - candid and random and he looks so cute dressed in his suit and sweater for this semi-formal affair. Mind you that dress code was followed very loosely. Unfortunately I kid you not - I saw a person there with a Nautica t-shirt and Adidas jogging pants.


This weekend was filled not only with family but with Church and other gatherings. 
This weekend was my church's 13th Year Anniversary. 
Our Youth were so excited that they did a Flash Mob in the middle of Pastor's announcements and did the New Harlem Shake with their mascot and all. 

I only wish that I had a video to show you guys but I was laughing so hard that I couldn't get my phone out in time to tape it. 
It was too funny and my Pastor had no idea what was going on. 

But it wouldn't be a weekend in the DMV if crabs weren't involved. 
This particular weekend, I decided to add Louisiana Crawfish to the mix. 
Boy was it GOOD!





And in other news: 

This week is National Infertility Awareness Week


  • Infertility is the inability to conceive within one year of unprotected sex during childbearing years and six months if you are 35 years or older. 
  • Infertility affects 7.3 million people in the United States, which breaks down to 1 in 8 couples.

That means more than likely one of your married couple friends, or friends who are trying to conceive are unable to do so without the help of fertility treatment. (and may not know it). 



If you don't already know, I was diagnosed with unexplained infertility in April of 2012. Unexplained infertility means that despite several tests, dye shoved through my uterus and fallopian tubes, my husband taking tests that proved that there was nothing wrong with him, my doctor stamped my chart as "unexplained" - he can't figure out why at this point we are not able to conceive. Its something that we have not been able to do in 2 1/2 years.

I had no idea that I would have a hard time conceiving children until we tried to conceive children.
Then as I started talking to my friends, found out that they too hard trouble conceiving children. 
It was not as easy as we had been told all our lives. You know those constant threats of "it just takes one time!" did not prove to be true at all. I kid you not, MOST of my friends are having hard time conceiving due to common issues with women like : Endometriosis, Fibroids (in African American women), irregular cycles and God knows what the effects of the hormones in non-organic foods and other contributing factors. And quite honestly, some men are just shooting blanks and don't know it.

  • A couple ages 29-33 with normal reproductive systems only have a 20%-25% chance of conceiving each month. 
  • After 6 months, only 60% of couples would have conceived, the other 40% would be considered infertile if they have not conceived within another 6 months following depending on age.
  • 85% to 90% of infertility cases are treated with drug therapy and surgical procedures. Less than 3% need more advanced surgical procedures like IVF. 
Fertility treatments are not always covered by insurance companies and can cost at minimum $1000 to $10,000-$20,000 depending on how much monitoring and subsequent medications are also not covered. So drug therapy is a considerable investment and neither is guaranteed to actually work.
And only Fifteen states have passed laws requiring that insurance policies cover some level of infertility treatment: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and West Virginia.

One of my favorite bloggers on the subject, Keiko Zoll who blogs at The Infertility Voice, created this video that kind of explains the whole emotional aspect and impact that it can have on a family when you realize in your twenties that this may be your fate for life.



Also know, Infertility can just be a temporary diagnosis. After for struggling for several years with infertility, Keiko Zoll and her husband are actually expecting their first child due this summer. She is blogging about that experience here.

It depends on the circumstances that surround why you are not pregnant: timing, other diagnosis that affects infertility, etc. 
The cure is pregnancy at times and often times people are diagnosed with secondary infertility, which is not being able to conceive easily after you have already had a child. 

Just wanted to make sure that people are more aware of where we really are a nation with infertility. If more insurance companies would cover it, it would definitely cut back on a lot financial restraints and concerns of a family who just wants to expand or start a family. 
To be in situations where you have to chose between a fertility treatment and major bills because they can cost as much as a mortgage is wrong when it effects 1 in 8 couples in our country. 

My prayer has ALWAYS been, when I realized that infertility had affected our house as well, was that God would give me the strength to kick unexplained infertility's butt! I'll never give up because I believe all things happen in his timing. So whether it be with treatments or natural, unexplained infertility will not be our status for life: I have faith. 


Share your personal experiences this week or maybe of someone you know - 
know that you are not alone 
and Join the Movement!







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4.19.2013

I'm too upset

 
 
It is so hard to write my weekend wrap up post because there is so much going in the world and in my life that I can't even believe it.
 
Between being bothered by some crazy person on Facebook who wants to impersonate my mother... to waking up and listening to the play by play of this Manhunt for the Boston Bombers and all the drama that it entails: the fear for the residents of Watertown and just being thankful that the people I knew that were in Boston are not at this time, to today being so gray and gloomy as well as the day where my coworker who passed away last week's funeral being today... its just a lot.
 
Add to that some traumatic news I received on my way to work involving my Best Friend.
Its so deep that I couldn't even type the story right now without crying or being upset.
So I literally have to just calm down and remember all things work together for the good of them who truly love the Lord.
 
I had to pray for peace and peace of mind today.
God knows I would've loved to take matters into my own hands but luckily he'll be the judge and jury on this one.
 
I will say I am thankful that my best friend is alive and ok.
 
Dear God, let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.
 
... the only Friday letter I have for today.
 
Hope you have a better weekend.
 
 





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4.18.2013

Baby Johnson is HERE!


Remember our good friends from the Baby Shower?

Well... she was 8 months pregnant and had Baby Kayden yesterday!
I guess all that walking we did around that mall that day helped him come right on out. 
Baby and Mommy are healthy and doing well. 
They will be home tomorrow. 

YAY!







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4.15.2013

Babies & Sisters & New Looks, Oh My!

Did you notice the new look?
I am just trying to clean up the look a little bit on the blog. 
So it may change from time to time - let me know what you think?


This weekend we went to a co-ed Baby Shower for our good friends, The Johnsons that are expecting a Baby Boy next month. It was so good to be able to catch up with our friends in the Baltimore Area because it had been so long - well really since The Super Bowl. 

The men were the least bit interested in the Baby Shower games but kept each other occupied by running their mouth about music and God knows what. 


While the wives and one fiance racked up on all the prizes for winning the games. 


We had so much fun that we didn't want the day to end so we just concocted a plan to convince the husbands to take us to the mall so we can walk around. 
Now grant it - 5 married couples don't typically do this and we definitely looked like a bunch of tourists in our own city but it was the only place to walk around and catch up and laugh some more... 

That is until we got tired of walking around the huge mall. 

We decided to park it in Anthropologie and made it just like our very own living room. 
They were even serving snacks by the dressing room : strawberry water, popcorn and brownie bites.




Later on that night, I went out to dinner with my Line Sisters so we could celebrate our anniversary.

We went to this restaurant in Downtown Baltimore called Roy's that serves Hawaiian Fusion. 


It was my first time there but I can honestly say it wasn't too bad. 
It has servings the size of tapas but after all the food at the Baby Shower, it was just what I needed. 


I slept like a baby on the way home - luckily Amos has been quite amazing lately and decided to be my chauffeur that night. He decided he didn't want to stick with the girls, so he went around the corner to eat at Brio. 

Sunday was College Sunday at my church. It was a time where were to represent our University and/or Sorority. Of course, since its my DELTAversary weekend, I had to represent the Sorority at church. 


We had so much fun with the young people - 
and of course we have to train up our church babies early. 


I even got to do one of my little sisters at church's make up for the day. 
She is one of the leaders of the Young Adult ministry. Love her!


My weekend ended in relaxation in bed and some Chinese Food along with some Ratchet TV: anybody else see that foolishness of an episode of Married to Medicine?

Had to rest up before Workout Monday and more yard work.
Did you know that trying to get your grass to grow is not an easy process?!

Oh and of course the Cardinals are back - so I HAD to find a solution to prevent them for constantly flying into our window.

Hope you are having a wonderful day!








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4.12.2013

Life is Filled with Swift Transitions

ballons
 
Today, Thank God it's Friday.
Be thankful that you are here to see this Friday.
 
I got to work and found out that two coworkers did not make it to see this Friday. One of my coworkers actually passed away in the building last night a meeting while presenting information on how we partner with the community. He had a heart attack.
He passed away doing what he loved to do.
He wouldn't retire last year like he was supposed to and was waiting until this December to do so.
 
So Today, Thank God it's Friday.
There will come a time where you won't see one.
 
 
Dear Hubby, I love you more then you know. Here's to the best days being ahead of us and not behind us. God continues to open doors for your music to be heard across the nations. He continues to open doors for our family. I celebrate with you on your success. As well as thanks for being the driving force behind us getting more healthy. You have helped me cure my caffeine fix needs with these green smoothies and healthier eating.
 
Dear Mom and Dad, Can't wait to see you soon. Although soon for us is always weeks away. Get some rest while you can.
 
Dear Sister, OMG you and these animated GIFs have me dying laughing. There's one for every occasion apparently.
 
Dear Brother, I owe you a trip to an Orioles game. Let's do that.
 
Dear Readers, Do something that makes you happy today. Don't put off anything that will make you smile.
 
 






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