Blessed – Page 4

FRIEND ON WHEELS

We have a new friend in our house and we are very proud and excited. While my new friend may be replacing a friend that in the past went many places by my side, it was time for a new friend. A new friend to explore the many more places my honey and I have to come in the future and for now on our daily ride! Don’t you all worry, I am not talking behind my old friends back.. she is very well aware of what’s going on and our reasoning! haha. Well my friends, this new friend I speak of is my new car! My new lovely car, which I am very proud of purchasing for myself. With the help of my dad and boyfriend for some guidance and of course the stylish opinion of momma dukes, the car was bought and is sitting right outside my door now. I am truly so excited and feel so wonderfully blessed that I am able to purchase this car for myself, something I wouldn’t have been able to do a year ago.

It was definitely time for a new ride y’all. My old little BLEU (my old Chevy cobalt’s name) was wearing down and the more time I spent driving it, the less safe I felt each time. BLEU was bought used and in a fairly good condition, but after 6 years of driving around, BLEU was definitely getting tired and wearing out quite fast. So with a little push from my momma and honey, car shopping began and saturday night I was driving home in my new 2015 optima. If you know me, you would know that my very first car was not a new car and for that matter it wasn’t supposed to even be a running car. That was until my dad fixed the engine. Back then I was just happy I had a license and a running car that took me from point A to point B. After driving that for a little during high school, my parents graciously gave me a Volkswagen Buggy for graduation and it was cute and great! Almost too great, since Volkswagen parts are fairly expensive when they need some fixing and when your warranty expires. So I opted out of the buggy and traded it in for BLEU. She was used and she ran and a lot less inexpensive to maintain. So I stuck with her and settled and she was good to me for some years. That was till about 2 years ago, when she started getting tired and worn out. After being stranded here and there and needing some road side assistance lol it was time. Time for a change and a well deserved new toy! And like I said before, if you truly know me, you also know that I am pretty simple and not into fancy fancy!

So on this search, I wanted something reliable, good on gas, good-looking, heck of a warranty and with a realistic payment at the end of the month that would allow me to eat daily! lol So long behold, Pearl (My new Optima 2015) came into my life to join X and I on our every day adventures! I truly couldn’t have done it with out the help and guidance from the oh so wise one’s in our family (Our dads.) THANK YOU! I haven’t been this excited to make such a big girl car payment ever. I am proud that the hard work pays off and that I will be safe while driving now! I am truly blessed. Life is good and God is even greater! A special thanks to everyone who helped along the way and the support!

THANK YOU BLEU FOR THE YEARS..<3

NOW MEET MY NEW FRIEND ON WHEELS… PEARL. :0)

LETS MAKE IT A SAFE, GOOD, LONG LASTING FRIENDSHIP PEARL. Cheers ❤

HALF WAY TO 50

Half way to fifty.. That’s what’s coming up right around the corner my fellow friends! I haven’t blogged in a bit, but looking through the calendar and it quickly reminded me that in just about 2 months, I will be turning 25. HALF way to 50! It’s crazy to think that this number is so significant, it will probably be an unforgettable birthday just like many other’s have been but in another sort of way. My first thought of this was just a “quick thought.” The kind that we all have once we realize something is coming up. The kind that you know you have to acknowledge what you quickly remembered, yet that quick thought will fade away just as quick and we will be on to the next thought in a second. This was the case at first, until it really hit me.. that getting to 25 IS in deed half way to 50! But hey.. no other way to embrace the fact that I am blessed and I will soon hit the big 25 and I will be 25 years YOUNG. 24 was a great year and one to remember, as always it consisted of some bad and a lot of good! So for now, it is time to enjoy these last two months at 24 and get ready for the big twenty-five. I am so incredibly privileged and have such a blessed life, even when I seem to think things are going downhill. But I truly have wonderful people around me that whether it’s by actions or words, remind me the many other reasons I have to smile. I have learned a lot at 24, and God has truly guided me throughout the years. I am humbled at the thought of it really.. So.. Dear 25, I will see you in August with arms and heart wide open. I am ready for you and all that you will have to offer, because I know that it will be truly great! Till August. Meanwhile, those old photographs came out and so did the memories. Here’s a couple of my favorites of me at a younger age. enjoy! How did You all feel when you realized the big 25 was coming up? When that day comes, I will make sure to share my feelings of that day with you all.

Let the CountDown Begin! T-minus 67 days! ❤

FEELING THANKFUL..

YES, I AM FEELING THANKFUL. Lately, I can’t help but to stop and think how at times the daily hustle and bustle of life leads us to be such Debby downers. How quick we are to complain about not just big things but also silly things, things with no importance, and most importantly.. things that we should be so grateful to even have or get a chance to be part of. I’m not in the clear on this one either guys..I am also quite guilty of this. I think that we are so focused on the BIG picture sometimes, that we forget to cherish and be grateful for the little things in our lives. Many days, time is of the essence. And we tend to be in such a rush to get things done, to be somewhere “now,” to hurry up and do things to just simply get them done, that we forget to slow down and remember that time is precious. I don’t mean precious, because we have more to do… But precious because in every thing you do, every place you find yourself standing, everyone you’re sharing a moment with.. is precious. Precious because time won’t give us those moments back. And no matter how good or bad the situation you are in at that time, we all have something to learn from those moments. So today, as I sat on my couch by myself at home, I had some time to reflect on life lately. I thought about the last couple of weeks and thought of all the silly things I had been complaining of. While some are legit, some have no excuses, they are simply just ~~complains.~~ So while I like to think of myself as a pretty optimistic person, the past 2 weeks of an overwhelming work schedule, I found myself complaining more than usual. So today some reflection was most definitely needed. It was time to sit back and remember how immensely blessed I am and how many things I should be thankful for in my life. Today brought some perspective back into just plain out being THANKFUL and how powerful GRACE is.. I’m overwhelmed by the thought of it and how many things we should be grateful for.

Psalms 100, I Corinthians 15:10

Here are a couple of things that I had time to reflect on today and that I am immensely thankful for..Big things and even the smallest of things.

♥BIG THINGS

WORK: Being a Nurse, is not the simplest of careers. And some days our faith, and patience is definitely tested on numerous occasions… and while I love what I do, this happens to be one that I complain of on a regular. Usually its my ethic vs the politics of it being a “business” after all. BUT despite of it all, I would choose to be a nurse again, and I am truly blessed to have a job, and to have a job in something I truly enjoy, while helping those who are open to receiving my help.

HOME: God has really blessed Xavier and I, in being able to find a place to call home.

RAINY DAYS: I complain about my hair getting wet sometimes, but today as I sat and stared out my window, I couldn’t help to think how beautiful a rainy day can be.

DAYS OFF: Time away from work, a time to recharge and enjoy in our home or with those whom we love and don’t get to see on a regular.

FAMILY: Far from perfect, but its OURS. For always being there for me. For teaching me about life through out the years. For raising me to be who I am today and for their love.

XAVIER: My Boyfriend, my best friend, the love of my life and my future. I am so thankful for him. For the patience he has for me and all that comes along with me. For his unconditional love for me. For sharing a love with each other that is one of a kind. For his goofiness, his support and his way of always reminding me to be still and that everything will be ok. Simply for loving me for me and loving me back.

♥Small things

COFFEE: This truly could be a BIG thing for me, but it’s not. It’s a small thing, that I’m oh so thankful of its power. The power to wake me up, taste good, and put a smile on my face. yum.

SMILES: From my sisters little smile to random strangers. Genuine smiles make you feel and instant warmth of welcoming and happiness. How lovely they are.

MY HANDS: These two little body parts, not only provide help for myself on a daily basis. But they help me embrace those around me, touch the face and hold the hands of those I love.

MORNINGS: For they allow our day to start for whats ahead and provide our bellies with breakfast food! yum.

HAIR CLIPS AND MY HAIR: Gosh it can be a mess, and hair clips become a gracious life saver. And my hair whom many wish they had. Hair that makes me, ME and my honey happens to love no matter how MUFASA like it can get.

EYES: Eyes that get to see the mornings, the smiles, the coffee, my hair, the rainy days, my home and work, and enjoy my days off. But most importantly those whom I love and are important to me my friends, my family, the love of my life (Xavier) and Gods wonderful creations.

What are you all thankful for? Because really, there is so much don’t you think?..

REMINISCING ON SISTERLY LOVE

Meet Sofia. She is one of the loves in my life, and life without her would not be the same. She was an unexpected little human being, that I believe has only brought us joy and laughs. And most importantly, she has brought me a love that I never knew of. She is my SISTER. While we may be 18 years apart, she is my best friend. She is the light to many of our days, and I know that I not only speak for myself, but for many in our family. While at times, we still have your typical sister relationship, the kind that bothers each other and plays pranks on each other, she is my sister and she is a big joy of mine. Lately, I have been really missing her. I’ve been working so much that I haven’t been able to spend some quality time with her. I’ve found myself looking through some pictures of her on my phone and some saved videos on my laptop. She really just brings a smile to my face. Sometimes, she is your typical little 6-year-old, developing some sort of individual character with this little diva personality and frankly, sometimes I want to just tell her to PUT IT AWAY! lol. But then I think about it, and I find it so remarkably incredible that the little girl who was born 6 years ago, is now this strong, sweet, goofy, brave and straight forward little person. She is the opposite of what I was when I was her age, I was shy and not brave and definitely did not speak my mind. And now that I am 24 and the opposite of what I was when I was younger, I seem to think her and I have more in common now, even being 18 years apart. What I find most incredible, is that 18 years ago, I did not want another sibling, I thought it would be too strange to have such a young sibling and I thought it would take away time from our family. Selfish, I know. But now, 18 years later I take back all those thoughts, because, she has done the opposite. It is not strange to have such a young sibling, if anything it has taught me so much about life, to enjoy and cherish all the little moments and to see the good in the bad. And she most definitely did not take away from our family, she added a love and happiness that we all need in our lives, even when life seems to be too tough. The more I reminisce, about her and our relationship the more I cannot wait till the next time I see her. Our bond is inseparable, and a bond that I hold so dear to my heart. I wouldn’t have it any other way, even when she throws her little 6-year-old tantrums! lol. If it wasn’t for her, I would have not known what it feels like to have a sister. I only hope that I will be an example for her through out her life, a support system, a friend to laugh with and a best friend to share her heart with. I hope this for both my siblings. I know that I’m not perfect, but we also get to learn from imperfect people.. So lets hope she’ll still want me around when she’s on a date or going to prom! (wishful thinking I know lol). For now, I will sit back and share my sister and a BLESSING with you all! Meet SOFIA.

DOESNT SHE JUST BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE??

An older sister is a friend and defender — a listener, conspirator, a counsellor and a sharer of delights. And sorrows too. ~Pam Brown

LOVE YOU SOFI ❤

THE UNEXPECTED DIY

So like I had told you all before, we recently moved! Ever since my boyfriend and I moved in together into our apartment, projects seem to pop out of no where. From where are we going to put this and that.. or what should we get to put here and there!.. But no complains from this lady.. because I have loved every project we’ve done thus far. Not only have I loved doing them but I have enjoyed so much unleashing the designer within, that i had no idea was even there! hehe. HGTV has become an obsession of mine way before we moved in and now that i actually have a place to call my own, the ideas have been flying! This has also made me realize how often we change as we grow older. A couple years back most of my spending was either on myself, clothing, and for others here and there. Now that i have a place to call “home”.. Home has been on my mind a lot and I really love making OUR place a HOME for my honey and I. All the little and big investments we have been so blessed to be able to make.. with the help of others along the way, all become that much more worth it as we see it all come together.

So on that note, we made an unexpected trip to Hobby Lobby an arts and crafts store, new to us down here in South Florida. Let’s just say i was in my decor heaven! I convinced Xavier (the BF) to take a ride with me and long behold we walked out with an awesome purchase on an awesome sale! We’ve been thinking of ways to decorate our walls since they’re still pretty blank since we moved in.. and well here it is..the unexpected DIY project.. I called it DIY only because we did the thinking ourselves.. the “putting together” of several pieces we picked up, to make it into one well arranged and beautiful piece over our couch! Hope you all like it and suggestions are welcome!

This is the “how we did it” pictures, to hang the pieces up and what we used! It works for us.. =)

Materials included:

Drill
Tape
pencil
screws
nails
wall anchors
measuring tape
screw driver

We used the tape to mark the holes on the back of the pieces. We then used that same tape with the marks to tape onto the wall to have an accurate placement of where the screws and nails would go, once the measurements of where we wanted the pieces would be.

After the tape was on the wall, Xavier made used his handy drill to make the holes in the wall and place the wall anchors in place along with the screws. And TA DA! the pieces were up! Hope you guys like it!

Loved these

the pieces

Tape &Pencil

Tape to mark where the screws will go to then tape on the wall.

tape on wall to make the holes

ready

We really have been trying to incorporate some rustic pieces to tie into our modern like furniture. I feel like we started on the right path! Here is the finished ~~UNEXPECTED~~ DIY project up!