Currently

I've always loved these little posts about what is currently going on in life, so it's time I filled one out of my own!

Currently, I am:

Reading 

Admittedly it's an audiobook, but I'm "reading" a book called The Couple Next Door. It's about a couple whose baby gets kidnapped while they are at a dinner party at their neighbor's house. So far, I'm loving it!

Listening to 

I've been loving Erykah Badu's album But You Caint Use My Phone, as well as Kendrick Lamar's Damn

Watching

Queen of the South. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this show. My friend Genesis got me started watching this since she loved La Reina del Sur and figured, "why not watch the English version?" We literally just started watching this show together last Saturday night, finished 3 episodes together and homegirl was through episode 9 by Sunday night. Needless to say, I've got to catch up to her. 

Thinking about

My new job! I had to wait to say anything, but I got a new job as a mother/baby nurse! I'll still be working within the same healthcare company, but at a new location and with day shift hours! 

Wearing

Black soft shorts and white t-shirt from Target. Very basic. Very easy. 

 

Texting

My best friend Gabbi. We don't text everyday, but we do send each other random snaps/tweets/messages. While we may live in different states and have very busy lives, it never takes much to make me feel like we're in the same room talking and laughing like back in high school.

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Date Night

Admittedly, I love going on dates.

I love being wined and dined. I love dressing up since I wear scrubs 98.3% of the week.
However, I don't go out with just anyone. Unlike some women, I do actually have to like the guy.

Sometimes though, going out on a lot of dates with said guy can get to be expensive, so to break up the spending, I'm usually game for going on a variety of types of date whether it's cheap/free or a $200 date.

Here are some prefect date ideas despite your budget:

Free

Watching planes - heck, I've done this alone and loved it

Going for a walk

Hiking at a local trail/mountain

A day at the pool

Star gazing - maybe you'll even catch a meteor shower!

Read and hammock together

Drive around new subdivisions and look at houses

Feed the ducks

Game night (maybe include some friends in this one)

Low Cost

Ice cream

Cook each other your favorite meal - you gon' get this mac and cheese, string beans and fried chicken ;)

Picnic at the park - Publix subs and some water/lemonade

Home movie night - complete with Dollar Store popcorn and candy

Plant flowers - nothing makes me smile quite like fresh flowers

Medium Cost

Visit the museum - visit on a discounted day for a lower cost!

Go to a water park

Water rafting

Kayaking

Creating your own food tour - 1 app, 1 entree and 1 dessert from different restaurants

Go to a sports game - they usually have cheap tickets if you don't mind sitting up high!

High Cost

I'm pretty sure you all know what an expensive date entails. 

Ruth's Chris? A weekend getaway? Caviar, champagne and the works? Skydiving? Shopping spree? 

If you dream of it, then that's your expensive date :)

Cheers to great dates full of fun, laughter, and getting to know one each other!

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MIA

Where have you been?

You should start blogging again?

Where's the update?

All things I've heard over the last few months while I hiatus-ed from this little part of the world. Admittedly, I miss this place but I miss something else even more. 

I miss my parents. 

(however that's not why I took a break... we'll get to that)

My parents moved overseas around the time I last pressed "publish," and while I didn't really expect to be too much affected by it, I was. My parents are my rock and my mom is my best friend, so for them to leave and go on this new adventure - I was a bit of an emotional mess. Instead of dealing with my emotions head on from the jump, I brushed it under the rug. Instead I dove into my job and turned to friends/relationships to occupy my mind and time.

Don't get me wrong, I am beyond excited for my parents. This childless adventure is well-deserved, well-earned and well overdue. My parents are amazing and they have spent the greater portion of their lives making sure that my siblings and I were raised in a stable and loving household, received great educations, and developed into morally sound human beings. Even though my father got to travel as part of his career, my mother has always dreamed of traveling more, so now that they are in a position to do so without kids, they honestly and truly deserve to go see the world.  

Let's be clear about something though - 

My hiatus isn't because I missed my parents.

My hiatus was because I felt like nothing I had to say was important. Nothing was happening in my life worth talking about - I went to work, I slept and I occasionally hung out with my friends. I entered into a relationship that, in hindsight, was detrimental to my mental and emotional health, but I didn't want to talk about that either. In addition, I had about a two month span of my patients dying and my apartment was falling apart - doors getting stuck, termite swarm in the bedroom window, leaking kitchen sink for two weeks. On the positive side, I had friends having babies, getting engaged and/or married. I had friends earning promotions and degrees. All things I thought were wonderful and definitely blog-worthy, but not on my blog because it wasn't about me or even my business to talk about. 

It was in that time that the undertone of sadness began creeping its way into everything I wrote, so all the saved drafts got deleted because I didn't want to talk about death and dying, my parents, my apartment or relationship woes. I didn't want a pity party. I didn't want to come off "weak" or "unhappy" when in reality, that was how I felt - unhappy, sad and alone. 

So even though I'm not in the greatest mindset/job/apartment of my life, even though I still have things I'm dealing with (as we all are), and even though I still miss my parents everyday, I miss this blog. 

I miss you guys. I miss being creative. 

I miss having an outlet. 

If no one reads my blog anymore, it's okay. I'm not writing this solely for you. 

I'm writing this because this blog is my therapy - it makes me smile, it takes me happy

and I miss it.

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Life Lessons

A few years back I interviewed my dad for a class I was taking at the time. My dad is always giving me little words of encouragement and offering up gems of wisdom, so I figured I would share it with y'all. It's short and to the point, but maybe it's something one of you needs to see today.

Q: What would you consider your biggest life lesson?

D: I'd say don't focus on getting to a destination or point in your life - whether it's getting married or having a particular job or getting a degree and getting out of college. Life, as cliche as it sounds, really is a journey and not a destination. You should really just enjoy every day and make the most of every single day, because when you get to those destinations, they often aren't as exciting as you thought they'd be and they won't make you as happy as you think they will.

Q: How do you stay positive when things don't go your way?

D: You know... I just don't get too down when things are going bad and I don't get too happy when things are good. How could you appreciate the sunshine if it never rained? I try to remember not to give up or get depressed when things get hard because it will pass.

Q: How do you feel about getting older/aging?

D: I feel that [aging] is part of the process. People complain, but quite frankly, it beats the alternative! You either get older or you die. Getting older is all about life experiences. Sure the physical part isn't great - not being as agile, sharp, whatever - but having those new memories to talk about is always wonderful!

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Vegas

Earlier this week I mentioned that I went to Vegas for the first time ever back in April. The girls and I stayed at The Mirage and had a blast. We took so many pictures, met some amazing people and created so many memories. While I wish I could give you more details, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. 

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Changes in the Air

symbol for change

After a 3 month hiatus, I've come to miss this little home of mine. 

I miss writing.

I miss designing.

I miss telling stories.

Most of all, I miss you all.

I miss the interactions I shared with my readers and with the bloggers whose sites I read.

I've had several friends ask when I would post again, and I never even knew they kept up with my life this way. So with that being said, I'm going to try and get back into this little world of mine. 

Be patient with me. 

I may not be cranking out the number of posts that I used to, but I will try to post more than once every 6 months ;) 

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Post-Tonsillectomy: A Year Later

It's actually been a little over a year since I got my tonsils and adenoids out, but that's not the point. The point is that I have had strep throat a total of ZERO times in the last year and that is something to celebrate.

Every year before this past one, I have gotten strep throat at least 3 times a year and a sore throat every few weeks. But since my surgery? Man oh man. 

It's honestly so amazing how a simple procedure can cause (here's the honesty) so much immediate pain, but be tremendously beneficial in the long run. I knew not getting my tonsils out was not an option - especially since I work in the hospital - so for what I consider a "necessary procedure," I would definitely do it again. 

Maybe not in a heart beat, but y'all...

I feel so, so much better.

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Happy New Year!

I cannot believe it is already 2016.

I swear this past year has flown by, but I am so thankful for all that I have learned in 2015.

In 2015, I learned -

There are bad people in this world

and there are still racists in this world,

But there are also beautiful, sweet souls out there as well.

I am stronger than I ever knew,

and ever imagined.

I have lost some friendships

but I have made some new truly amazing friends

and I have strengthened some of the friendships that I've had.

I have learned that my plan is not THE plan

and I've had to remind myself of this daily

but God knows what He is doing and He is doing some great work in me. 

In 2016, I intend to - 

Love myself more

Listen to God ALL of the time

Become healthier

Save more money for my future

Find something - anything - that truly makes me happy no matter what

Remind myself that my story is a book that has been written and pulled off of His shelf

What have you learned from 2015? Any resolutions for the new year?

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Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

from my family to yours.

And in traditional Christmas fashion:

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I Moved!

That's right, I've moved - yet again haha

Logistically it just made sense to move when I did, I work near Atlanta and while I'm currently working days, I'm about to switch to nights. Traffic hasn't been too terrible with the time I had to leave in the morning, however once I switch over to nightshift, it's a whole new ballgame. Driving into/near Atlanta during evening rush hour is just laughable... it's a no-no. So in order to be settled and established when I switch over to nights, I went ahead and got my own place (cross that off the bucket list, yes!) about 15 minutes from work. 

I'm super excited about this place and cannot wait to make it more "home-y" but right now I'm in that  whole "I-spent-all-the-monies-on-this-place-and-can't-afford-to-eat-so-no-decorating" phase. 

All that to say, please, please cut me some slack when you see the pictures.

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Life Lately

So I know y'all want more than just #WordlessWednesdays from me, so I'm picking up on where I left off in this thing called blogland.

A few weeks back, I returned to my sweet college town of Athens to watch my dawgs play in the UGA vs. Louisiana-Monroe game. Unfortunately it was rain delayed twice, but we won so I can't complain all that much. UNLIKE how much I was complaining last weekend after the Alabama game. Being a dawg fan is stressful y'all.

My second momma had a surprise birthday party that I am so happy I was able to attend. I honestly have been working a ton in the past few weeks and between the commuting, the working, and the sleeping, I've had to sacrifice on a lot of extracurriculars just so I don't overdo it and get sick.

My neighbor and I have been co-parenting some stray kittens we found in his bushes so I played with  them a few days each week. It's amazing how much they've grown to like people and being held. They're such sweet babies. 

September 19th, my sister and I went down to the Atlanta Motor Speedway to run The Color Run: Night. We've decided that this is now a tradition for us because we had such a great time. 

My coworkers convinced me to go out a few times on friend dates to watch Krispy Kreme donuts be made, drink margaritas, grab dessert, hunt for apartments, ride the ferris wheel and explore Atlanta. I thank God for these sweet friends I've made - and the ones I've had that force me to come out or check up on me to make sure I'm still sane.

Lastly, I put in an application for a new apartment last Friday! Hopefully it comes through and I'll be living a bit closer to work in no time!

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Oh Toronto Pt. 2

This is long. You've been warned. 

The next day, my sister had to work so her husband and I set off to continue exploring the city. We met up with my parents at their hotel and stopped to chat for a bit before heading to the Ex. 

As soon as we walked into the Ex, sissy's hubs saw that Superdogs was performing so we raced to the show only to find that we had to wait until the next showing since this one had already started. With at least an hour and a half to kill, we wandered through the Ex looking at the "best in show" plants, the sand castle sculptors, and the mossy bears.

We made it out to the fair where I found the oh-so-delicious waffle ice-cream sandwich. 

Y'all. 

HEAVENLY.

After we walked around the fairgrounds, we went back inside to the Sherlock Holmes exhibit (I still need to find this picture...) and ran to Superdogs incredibly early to get some of the best seats in the house. After the 30 min show was over, we decided to leave and meet up with my sister for dinner. 

We caught the streetcar up Bathurst to College St. and walked down to Vivoli for dinner. We each got a different, delicious pizza and a drink and had such a good time. We then walked to the most unassuming bar ever - Black Hoof Cocktail Bar - where we continued to drink and make fools of ourselves. We finally decided to call it a night since the next day would be jammed full of errands and partying. 

We woke up Saturday knowing we had a lot of errands to run before the party, so we grabbed Tim Horton's and went grocery shopping. We bought food so we could host my parents for a late lunch and ordered food for brunch the next morning. My parents came by the house later in the day to eat and catch up with my sister since they had only gotten into town the night before and hadn't seen her yet, and they were leaving in the morning. 

We got all fancy around 5ish before taking an Uber to the party venue, where I proceeded to meet all 264894 of their closest friends (okay... maybe that is an exaggeration, but there were a good bit of people there). I spent most of the night talking to and dancing with my brother-in-law's brother and his girlfriend and their cousin, but I did manage to dance with my mom and sister before the night was over. After the party ended, my sister, her husband and I stayed a little bit afterwards to talk to the band before heading back home.

In the morning, my sister held brunch at the house and I headed out to the airport to catch my 2pm flight back to the States. 

And lucky for me, I got the row all to myself going home.

I'll be back Toronto.

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