Lets Get This Over With And Start Anew

The new year is two days away, for me 2011 is about several things...

One its about getting a better grip on my finances (paying off these student loans cuz me and Sallie aren't friends! and saving) and still living and enjoying life to the fullest. Its also about working on doing some of the things on my bucket list. Doing things I've never done before but have wanted to.

My mind set this year was " I don't give a F**K, I'mma do me and whatever I want" which I think stemmed from grieving and all that... (that mind set changed about half way through the year btw). However, my mind set this coming year is "I'm just gonna do me and broaden myself as a person, focusing on my goals", part of it sounds like the beginning of this years mind set but its different. This coming year I'm gonna just live my life and do me, you can come with me on my journey through 2011 or not. I'm not going to let others and their lack of enthusiasm ( I've learned that altho I love each and every one of my friends, we are different so there are some that appreciate and more accepting of my excitement and ideas better than others... they give the responses you are looking for and get caught up in the excitement and wanna do it as well), interest, bout- it -bout-it-ness or them backing out, stop me from doing the things I want to do.

In most cases I won't have to do or go anywhere solo usually if you make your desires known there is someone that will always want to join you. And I'm not saying I'm not going to accommodate people and their schedules, I will. But I've gotten to the point if I have no one to come with me and its something I really wanna do...I'm gonna do it. Yea, its nice to have someone there but if it means I have to go places and do things alone... so be it, I'm ok with it. Why should I let my life and its experience pass my by cuz "they didn't want to do it" or " I didn't have anyone to go with"?

I also wanna work on advancing my education. I should have been working on this... but I'm slacking with my life. I clearly take these long educational breaks..........., I think its time to get focused again.

And last but not least... *singing: I'm a hustler baby, I just want you to know!* I need a hustle! Can a girl find a way to make some extra pennies?!

Anyway 2010 its been real...but... Lesssssgo 2011!

Live. Laugh. Smile. Enjoy.

Christmas is to me...

I heart Christmas! Its one if my favorite times of year. The decorations, the Christmas tree, shopping for gifts, the general merry spirit. For some reason I wasn't in the mood to put up the Christmas tree this year *shrugs*, regardless tho it was a good one. In our household we open gifts Christmas eve... so shortly before sunset we gathered to open gifts. I really like the gifts I bought for my family and I think they did too! (I know Christmas is about giving but we gonna have to work on the gifts my brothers give cuz.....#icant. But hey... its the thought that counts :)

My sis cook enchiladas (our newest thing), the bestie came over, we went to a some Christmas program at church (which we missed! rolling up at places late or when its over has to stop) and then came back to the house and chilled with the fam. I must say I got some of the best jokes off my life hanging with those people I call siblings, down right HILARIOUS! yall... well some of yall have no clue lol. Our interaction at times will give you LIFE!

All the christmas gifts! All the ones I bought are in

the back with name tags and bows

A. excited about his gift

excited much?!

D. gotta stay fresh

A picture book I made my mom from pictures of the family

me and A.

what are the odds my sis and I bought each other the same watch... just different

colors evidently pretty high... hers is silver and mine is gold

well thats it...till next christmas!

Live. Laugh. Smile. Enjoy

Dance Like No One Is Watching

Thursday I didn't have to work so I (and my sis) decided to go down to DC to see the bestie since I haven't seen that dude in a minute. Anyway we went to Macaroni Grill.... which TRIED MY PATIENCE and every adult fiber in my body!!! and then somehow we found our way to Borders Book Store.

As we were sitting there one thing lead to another and me and my sis started dancing in Borders (Not shown in the video is where a man looked around the corner and caught us dancing lol.)

Dancing randomly in some random store is a little outta character for me... but I really had fun that night. Sometimes you just gotta be spontaneous and dance like no one is watching [even if there is]!!

Live. Laugh. Smile Enjoy

Slowly but surely... knocking it out

Last night I was randomly checking out the status if one of my loans (the one I'm on a mission to halfway payoff by next year) making sure my payment had been applied and what not. And I noticed something last year this time I owned: $12,846.80 and currently I own $10,718.22.

In the last twelve months I've paid roughly 3,043.45 toward my loan.

Roughly $ 2,191.21 has gone to the principal and $852. 24 toward interest.

Yes... $3000 is a lot of money... and I still have a LONG way to pay off this loan, but I'm making progress . But my personal bright side is that I have knocked about $2,000 off my principal within the last year, which in my mind is great! I'm trying to get Sallie off my back ASAP.

2010 Was A Very Good Year

2010... The year flew by... yet I feel that I did the most, between traveling, socializing, and accomplishments. This year I have traveled to Toronto (twice), Huntsville (twice), Atlanta, Bermuda, Detroit, and New York. I REALLY wanted to fit Florida and Vegas in there... But Florida is definitely on my itinerary for next year, and Vegas... at some some point.

This year has been the first year since I was 15 or 16 and a junior in high school that me, my sis and most of The Fam have lived in a good 3 hour radius. We did a LOT this year everything from fighting the elements to get to birthday parties to sabbath dinners, picnics and BBQs to hikes and accidents to going away dinners. (Kudos to the Planning Committee!!)

With the this year I have also bought my first car (RIP Betsy...she served me well), lived my 1st (of many years) fatherless years, lived the life of a fugitive ( that was kinda fun lol), been at my job over a year. Learned more people then I think "know me and how I react to things". Gained a better grip on this thing called budgeting to help me reach my financial goals. And I've met great people and started new friendships.

I pulled a few outrageous (for me) stunts in the beginning but somewhere along the way my common sense returned and I caught myself. Hopefully making me a better person somehow. All in all my year was a success. I had some very EPIC moments and memories from this year, We are 11 Days from New Years and for some reason I'm excited about all the possibilities, experience, friendships and memories 2011 has to offer me.

Committed Apologize

Its moments like this that make you proud to be an Oakwoodite... and makes those that didn't go wish they did!

I'm not one for watching shows like the Singoff, Dancing with the Stars, American's Got Tatent... ect. I have other shows I'd rather spend my time watching. But I have been hook solely because Oakwood is in the show.

They are GOOD... they have gotten the best reaction from the judges and left them speechless each performance!



Have I mentioned that I love black men that can sing?! *sighs deeply*

Live. Love. Smile. Enjoy

Welcome to New York!!

I spent the weekend in NYC for one of my girls birthday. I'm not gonna lie there were some rough spots and tension lol. But we got over it and are still friends and still love each other at the end of the day. Over all though I had a GOOD weekend. I saw several friends and one of my accounting buddies from Oakwood (That's OU! that's for you Jered lol ), eat good, froze my butt off, didn't sleep much, danced the night away, and had some good jokes and over all just a good time. And of course it was good to see my friends again. What I learned over the weekend is this..

• Jersey is NO JOKE when it comes to tolls... I spent 40 bucks just on tolls Friday. I knew there would be tolls hence my visit to the ATM but I didn't expect that!
• I need a plan! ( I already knew that... but it was reinforced) If we deviate from the plan or it doesn't go exactly according to plan I'm ok with that. But prolonged periods of nothing, confusion and unknown tries my patience and pushes my limits.
  
• I ain't nobodies punk...but driving in New York was trying to test my gansta! Yea I had my GPS but there were still moments I had to rely on my deductive reasoning.
• Big city life is not for me... at least to live in full time.
• My friends live too far away.
• I felt like I was gonna die or get in accident a few times. (Shout out to the man that almost cause us to wrecked my car and said " what?! I was driving straight! <--- joke of the night)
• There are a few other things... but I'm gonna keep those thoughts to myself...

Friday driving around the city...

On the way to church

Me and my main chick in the back ground

Headed out Saturday evening
(looking at my pics, I realized I have no pics of me without my coat on smh. Fail.)

Anyway shout out to my friends (old and new) who made my weekend GREAT! Can't wait to see you guys again! So till next time!

Live. Love. Smile. Enjoy