Dr. Q Sounds Good To Me........

So my title pretty much says it all - I got into the Juvenile Justice Doctoral Program *screams* !!!

I got the call last Friday and have been on cloud 9 ever since *huge smiles*  I have to take some pre-requisite courses since I didn't have a Statistics course in my Master's program but nonetheless I am so thankful to start this next chapter.

Below is my update to goals for the year!

So on with the updates.........

1. Daniel Fast  - Completed 01/2013

2. "The Purpose Driven Life" - Still needing to get caught up!

3. Date Night / Girls Night Out Monthly - Poetry Night (Jan.) Superbowl Party (Feb.) House Party (tonight :-) Night Out with co-worker (March) Fish Fry (April) Alumni Happy Hour & Scholarship Picnic (May) 

4. Dating with no attachments - I haven't had a date this year yet.......and I'm absolutely fine with that......for right now.  This changes so I need to find balance and really be ok with it.

5. Abstinence - Going on two months.......one day at a time......

6. PhD Program - Accepted 04/26/13

7. 52 Week Money  Challenge - I am catching up this month!
8. NO Chemicals or Heat on hair for at least the next 6 months - Weave is out!  I cut it short by a month to allow my hair to breath before summer.
9. I will commit to Yoga daily - Hit and miss some days but for the most past have been getting in weekly
10. Cancun or Miami in June (Girlfriends Bday) - Trip paid for!!!  Cancun here I come!!
11. Myrtle Beach in August (First Family Reunion) - Not happening :-(
12. California in December! - Still in the making......

13. Church Participation (Choir, Youth, etc.) - Need to do better!

14. CASA Appointment - Completed Feb. 11th, 2013!!

15. Obtain a Passport - Accomplished! Mar. 9th, 2013
16. No Overdraft fee's for the year - Bombed - Rough first couple months.....but hopefully no more starting with March.

17. More toning with weights - Been on it - twice a day some days!!

18. Six Flags Fiesta Texas / Daughter's bday - Decided to not do.  Started Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and just decided to put that money towards all bills being caught up.  She's getting her hair done instead :-)
19. Mosaic Women's Course - I did decide to let this go for now. I may revisit later in the year.

20. Monthly FunDay with kids - Dave & Buster's tonight!

21. Take more baths than showers - Doing much better......
22. Blog about every single one of these items - Can't believed I missed the entire month of March but will do better.....

23. Delta Sigma Theta Centennial Celebration - Not happening

24. Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace - Completed 04/2013

 

Super excited about all the changes!!!  No new love interest......but just enjoying my time and life!  I'm loving my hair, will try to create separate blog for that journey.  June will make one year since I've had a perm and just loving the freedom!! 

 

~Peace & Blessings~

Blooming......

Goodness.......did not realize I hadn't written or did an update since February! 
That only means that I've been LIVING!  *huge smiles*

I have a new plant, actually two new plants as of today :-) 

So on with the updates.........

1. Daniel Fast  - Completed 01/2013

2. "The Purpose Driven Life" - Still needing to get caught up!

3. Date Night / Girls Night Out Monthly - Poetry Night (Jan.) Superbowl Party (Feb.) House Party (tonight :-) Night Out with co-worker (March)

4. Dating with no attachments - I haven't had a date this year yet.......and I'm absolutely fine with that......for right now.  This changes so I need to find balance and really be ok with it.

5. Abstinence - Didn't do well with Lent......and was actually doing good until night out :-/  Back to one day at a time......

6. PhD Program - Took the GRE AND turned in application for Juvenile Justice.  I'm also looking to apply to the Higher Ed. program as well.  Now the wait...... :-)

7. 52 Week Money  Challenge - I am catching up this month!
8. NO Chemicals or Heat on hair for at least the next 6 months - Braids are out!  Now have weave in place for protective styling until end of May
9. I will commit to Yoga daily - Hit and miss some days but for the most past have been getting in weekly
10. Cancun or Miami in June (Girlfriends Bday) - First & second payment made for Cancun!!  Also, was worried about the flight purchase but a friend has got me a Buddy Pass :-)  So far all is still a go!
11. Myrtle Beach in August (First Family Reunion) - Still not many responses from family so this may be a no go :-(
12. California in December! - Still in the making......

13. Church Participation (Choir, Youth, etc.) - Need to do better!

14. CASA Appointment - Completed Feb. 11th, 2013!!

15. Obtain a Passport - Accomplished! Mar. 9th, 2013
16. No Overdraft fee's for the year - Bombed - Rough first couple months.....but hopefully no more starting with March.

17. More toning with weights - Just getting over the Flu and hoping to get back on it this week. 
18. Six Flags Fiesta Texas / Daughter's bday - Decided to not do.  Started Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and just decided to put that money towards all bills being caught up.  She's getting her hair done instead :-)
19. Mosaic Women's Course - I did decide to let this go for now. I may revisit later in the year.

20. Monthly FunDay with kids - Missed Jan. but tomorrow taking them to the Jam Session for All Star!! - So they didn't want to attend All Star with me - Darius's life has become consumed with skateboarding and Allana just didn't want to go :-(  Will think of some other fun things......

21. Take more baths than showers - Need to do better........

22. Blog about every single one of these items - Can't believed I missed the entire month of March but will do better.....

23. Delta Sigma Theta Centennial Celebration - Not happening

Some things I am adding is 24. Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University - I had been wanting to complete this class for a while now and happy to report that tomorrow night is my last class!  Nine weeks of budgeting and different ways of becoming ruler over my finances :-)

This past month has had some ups and downs as usual.  But, I am happy that I'm still moving forward.  In watching an episode of Oprah's Life Class, Iyanla talked about guilt and how it does nothing but consume us.  I felt very guilty allowing 'him' into my space again.....but Iyanla stated that instead of being overcome by the guilt. it's ok to feel convicted, realize what was done wrong, and then continue moving forward.  I felt like that guilt took over and then I ultimately ended up sick last week.  I'm feeling much better, still stuffy and congested, but just taking one day at a time with moving forward.    ~Peace & Blessings~    

Happy New Year!!!

My oh my what a year and what a break!  Love working in Higher Ed *giggles*

Let's see where shall I start......have my song, "Tis' So Sweet", my scripture Matthew 26:41, and even a motto I would like to remember throughout the year (thanks to Tyrese), "Expect what you accept from people".  This past year was crazy!  Ups and downs, excitements and tears but I am truly grateful and thankful that I'm still not pushing daisy's.  I spent my break doing some much needed cleaning, physically and mentally.  Ended a relationship and hoping to build a better one with God, family and friends.  My last week of the year is always spent cleaning and developing a new list of goals I would like to accomplish sooooo today I'm gonna do something different.  Along with my list I've taken a word to focus on as well.  I mentioned the word in my last blog but the word again is Responsibility.  Responsibility for my actions and decisions, health, mental stability, etc.  Again this is MY Responsibility so will also remind myself that I can not control the actions of another, perceptions of me, or beliefs.  I'm excited about this year, as with any year, but his year marks the 10th Anniversary of my husband's passing and I'm just doing some things differently.  First on the list is a new phone number.....yep, after 10 years believe it's time.  Like my old car I believe I've been holding on to this number for longer than I should and it's time to let even the 916 go. 

Below is a list of things I would like to accomplish throughout the year.......

1. First on the list is the Daniel Fast.... My sister and her church Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church are doing this fast for the next 21 days and I would like to also join in.  Would like to cleanse my system one, and also for discipline of prayer and devotion.  My walk has dwindled with God and I would like to do better.
2. Along with the fast I'm reading "The Purpose Driven Life".  I've had this book for a couple years now and have never read past the 1st chapter.
3. I commit to at least one date night or Girls Night Out Monthly.
4. This year I will date without any attachments. Having fun for me will be to get out, enjoying meeting others, all while keeping my legs closed.
5. Celibacy Abstinence - Now I'm not even gonna lie, I've never made it past 4 months *hangs head* but I do know that I NEVER want to experience the hurt that I have this past year or so.......therefor the next man that gets a whiff of what's between my legs will be worth it, appreciate it, and take care of it.  I can't say how long.....would like until marriage or even a year, but will start with 6 months and see how that goes.
6. Begin PhD Program, or at least the Research pre-requisite class.
7. Save $500 monthly 52 Week Money  Challenge - With all my bills caught up this could be possible so will attempt to begin after tax time.
8. NO Chemicals or Heat on hair for at least the next 6 months.  I will start blogging about my hair journey shortly.  I wanted to create a new blog but we'll see......
9. I will commit to Yoga daily
10. Cancun or Miami in June (Girlfriends Bday)
11. Myrtle Beach in August (First Family Reunion)
12. California in December! (Haven't spent a Holiday with my parents in 9 years, not happening in 2013).
13. Church Participation (Choir, Youth, etc.)
14. CASA Appointment - I've been volunteering with a Juvenile Court here locally and would like to become a Certified Court Appointed Special Advocate for youth.
15. Obtain a Passport - For the above mentioned #10
16. No Overdraft fee's for the year.......
17. I would like to workout more with weights as to tone my body
18. Six Flags Fiesta Texas for my daughters bday
19. Complete a Mosaic Women's Course at our church....this may clash with CASA but only for a couple of weeks.
20. Have a least one fun day with my children Monthly.
21. Take more baths than showers....
22. Blog about every single one of these items (hopefully attaching some pics here and there).....helping me to Blog more :-)
23. Delta Sigma Theta Centennial Celebration

What I would like my blog to read at the end of 2013.......
2013 was the year…
I showed up as me...
I gave myself the gift of yoga several days a week.
I said “thank you” more.
I trusted the answers I heard within.
I said “no” when my gut told me to.
I created stronger boundaries.
I shared the truth more.
I spent more time breathing than reacting.
I stood tall in the beauty and the shit that is each day, that is living, and I stayed true to me.
I gave myself the gift of knowing I am enough and believing it.
I learned to enjoy me, alone.
I spent more time nurturing relationships with my family and friends than I spent online.
I continued to let go of the expectations of others.
I opened my heart to love in ways I never thought possible....

I don't necessarily find myself waiting for a new year to begin new things....for instance have cut a lot of meat out of my diet couple months ago and the last time I put a chemical in my hair was in June/July of 2012.  But, a New Year brings a different excite, clean slate, to began again.  Let go of past and leave it there, looking forward to new beginnings and events.  I plan to have more happy moments and peace this year in 2013!

~Peace & Blessings~

My Hair Twist.....

I am really loving my Two Strand Twist..... Attempted to Flat Iron my hair Sunday (in which flat iron's kept cutting off due to a shortage in cord) and my hair was so dry the entire week.  The weather changed and the two textures just weren't working.  My hair is grew a lot over the past couple months and I'm trying to keep it that way with the harsh winter hair.  The week before I had did my first twist and my hair was so soft.  For moisture to twist the hair I used a mix of leave in conditioner and different oils (Coconut, Grapeseed, Olive, Tea Tree, and Jasmine for scent). So.......I'm going back to the twist and leaving it be.  I don't think I'll do the BC (Big Chop) because I don't do well with drastic changes at all buuuuuuut I will be leaving chemicals and definitely heat alone for a while.  My goal is to make it at least until the Summer - I'm excited.....

This helped keep my ends together since my ends are still nicely trimmed from earlier this summer.

Some of my favorite oils..... I use the coconut oil religiously and can't even remember the last time I actually used lotion for my skin.  The Lavender and Jasmine were for my candles but now I put them in the tub, candles, and now add a couple drops in my leave-in solution for my hair :-)

Holistic Change.....

So I've decided to go "Natural".  My outlook on the "Natural" move though does not only apply to my hair.  I've always eaten a lot of baked foods and am very consistent with what I eat daily.  I can have the same Turkey sandwich for lunch, same Oatmeal for breakfast, same snack, etc.  But recently I've been eating more Clean foods thanks to E-meals, a program developed by Dave Ramsey (Financial Guru).  I have given up on coffee (please keep me in prayer because I am a Starbucks JUNKIE), and have been having green tea every morning and some other type before retiring to bed.  I've also been keeping my home cleaner.  Now I'm not saying I'm just dirty, clothes everywhere, toothpaste, etc.  I keep my car cleaned, bathroom, etc.  But I don't go back and dust or just give that fresh wipe down as I believe I should.  Also, I had been wearing braids for almost 3 months and finally took them down.  I had decided to try "Two Strand Twist".  My goal is to go through 2013 without any chemicals and possibly heat.......but we'll see about the later.  Anywhoo - while washing/deep conditioning my hair I begin to fold 3 loads of clothes that have been just sitting, cleaned bathroom, rearranged my sink area adding some candles, and just trying to declutter.....yea that's it - I have clutter issues smh.  I can straighten up a pile of junk and make it look really nice lol  Hey.....  But I'm trying to do better with that.  I have papers, folders, just junk that I need to toss without even looking at.  The most important paperwork I already have filed away and looking through the pile will only lead me to some crazy thought that it needs to be kept again so NOPE - TRASH.  I have a couch I've been trying to sell on Craig's List and have had no luck with that either.  It is taking up space in my dining area and I just want it out so will be calling around to see what places I can donate to that also will pick it up because my goal is to have it out before the New Year.

Dating - So how often should one talk to the person they are seeing?  I love talking on the phone but also love texting.  Are you able to go a day without talking to the one you're involved with?  Maybe I am too clingy....?  But I don't think a phone call a day is asking too much. S and I usually text back and forth during Football Sunday but yesterday he was pretty busy.  I again got upset with him the night before, jealous of him attending yet another party while I sat at home and realized that I NEED TO GET OUT MORE!

During the summer my children go to California with their family for the entire summer and this year I actually was out EVERY weekend.  Told myself that I would make a date with myself every month and failed tremendously so guess I will add that to my "Holistic Journey" as I make these changes for a better me.

~Peace & Blessings~