take a pause and listen.

I could smell it coming then I felt the huge raindrops fall on my head.
Me and my brother ran in the house still barefoot, feet dirty from running through the garden picking tomatoes and stomping on bugs. (I kept telling my brother to stop trying to stomp on bees and put on some shoes, that's probably why he's so flat-footed now lol.)
My granny hugged us and told us to sit down and be quiet as usual when it began to storm. I could still smell the stench of outside on us.
I wasn't afraid of the lightning and thunder. It was actually comforting. We took a pause from a day's worth of playing and exploring and listened to Granny and Chief tell stories until the storm passed. Things were so simple back then.

let the music take control.

Music is healing for the soul. I just love listening to live acoustic music and being able to connect with the artist. I've seen so many great shows lately and I have to share these artists with you. Enjoy before they hit mainstream. Real music still exists. :)

Daley


Emily King


James Vincent McMorrow


Johnnyswim



making space.

"When you let go of negative energy you're making space in your life that can be filled by something beautiful and positive."

I've learned there is a difference between healing and just "getting over" something or someone. The time of the healing process is relative to each person, but it takes some time. Some people just rush the healing process to get over the hurt, when in reality they haven't even fully acknowledged the pain yet themselves.  I was cheated on once and I didn't want to believe it. I quickly "forgave" him to move on. No consequences, just let it go thinking it was just a mistake and we could move on from it.  He was once a source of great energy in my life that I didn't want to let go, and moving on from that betrayal was very difficult. I tried to ignore the issue and downplay the situation in an attempt to easily move on and act unaffected. After the multiple break ups I finally came to the realization that letting go instead of trying to work things out together was the best move. Maybe the timing wasn't right, and maybe it will never be right because he just isn't right for me. It was time to make space for something better.

jungle gyms.

Half of my friends are getting married and having babies while the other half is working days and nights devoting themselves to their careers for a promotion, and I'm in the middle thinking about where to go on my next vacation.

I was catching up with a few friends over the weekend, and most of them were shocked that my career isn't my main focus. Well technically I don't have a career. I have a job. Maybe if I was doing something I loved I would be more focused; however, I do have my own career goals and I don't think I have to climb a specific path to accomplish those goals.

"I think of my career as a jungle gym, not a ladder: jumping from rung to rung, side to side, up and down, learning new things, pursuing new experiences, and focusing as much on the journey as the destination." - Sheryl Sandberg, Lean In.

I'm still figuring out what's next, and for now I am enjoying my journey and praying God leads me to my next opportunity.

I do think about other things like getting married and having a family. Is this the next step after planting myself successfully in my career or before? It doesn't help much when my elders keep asking me when I'm getting married. Of course it would be nice to fall in love again, and I get moments when I think "Aww look at the baby I want to hold it!" Not have a baby, just hold it. LOL I'm definitely not in a rush. I'd like to think that when I do start a family, I'll be able to successfully balance my marriage, family, and career. There seems to be a received idea that women can or should only focus on one at a time, but I want to be devoted to all three. I'll be Super Mom and the Queen Bee.



run wild.

"Anyway, I was just on my way home and - hey, I have a question for you. Why wasn't it me? Seriously, I really need to hear you say it. Come on, be a friend." - Carrie
"I don't know. It just got so hard, and she's..." - Big
"Yeah. Your girl is lovely, Hubbell." - Carrie
"I don't get it." - Big
"And you never did." - Carrie


"Then I had a thought, maybe I didn't break Big. Maybe the problem was he couldn't break me. Maybe some women aren't meant to be tamed. Maybe they need to run free until they find someone just as wild to run with." - Carrie


Treat yourself.

If you don't take care of yourself, who will? I have been working hard and I decided to treat myself to something nice. I have loved handbags since I could carry one. I used to call my purse "my pocka." So I decided to invest in a nice handbag. As much as I love handbags, this is actually my first designer handbag purchase. It is pricey for what I would normally spend, but it is an investment item. I wasn't a fan of the Michael Kors bags with the MK logo plastered all over it. I prefer carrying simple, structured bags. I also don't like carrying around the same bag that everyone else has, but I simply fell in LOVE with this fuchsia bag. I have to have at least one bag in my favorite color, right? I normally always buy black but I decided to be daring this time. Isn't she lovely?


Michael Kors Selma Satchel




The Hunger for Love

"The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread." - Mother Teresa

I've never really enjoyed Valentine's Day romanticly because I'm usually single or in a shitty situation. It's not something I'm bitter about, but what girl doesn't love receiving gifts? We don't need a reason. We just love the romanticism of it all no matter how commercial it may be. We hunger for true love. We love the tingly feelings it gives us inside. However, each year, no matter if I'm with someone or not, I know that I'm still loved. I don't need to be in a romantic relationship to validate love. I love myself and most importantly God loves me. I also have the love of friends and family who will love me no matter what mistakes I make. Love can be expressed in so many ways, so I try not to focus only on romance. "It's all about falling in love with yourself and sharing that love with someone who appreciates you, rather than looking for love to compensate a self-love deficit," says Eartha Kitt. I have devoted myself to loving others and helping my community, and I hope that I will create something along the way that gives my life purpose.




i don't care.

I don't care about your favorite color.
I'm more concerned about our next trip to Paris so that I can expand my palate for French cuisine beyond Croque Monsieur.
I want to drive to the end of Route 1 just to dip my feet into the ocean.
I long for sand in which to curl my toes.
I don't care about good morning texts.
I rather wake up next to you and watch the sunrise.