7 random facts.

hello beautiful people. i thought it would be cool to post 7 random facts about myself. never really done this before, but here goes..

Happy November!

hello all!

i am definitely still alive and doing well. hope you all can say the same :) i have missed this blog and reading everyone's posts. it's a void that needs to be filled. Being off the radar isn't a bad thing to me. i know that a lot of people share their lives through pictures and writing about it and there's nothing wrong with that, but i am one who prefers to keep my life VERY private. i don't have anything to hide, it's just who i am :) i don't mind sharing a few things here and there, just not everything. i guess that's why i find it a little difficult to be consistent here. besides, my life is fairly boring and quiet. ;) But while i was gone, i've been spending time with friends and family, working and doing the usual--just living. the most exciting thing that has happened to me lately is that i had an opportunity to run a 5k in my hometown! my good friend, madeline (the girl beside me posted in a photo above), told me about it and i immediately jumped on it! although it was painful and exhausting and i didn't finish at my ideal time, i had so much fun! never in a million years did i think i'd be running a 3.1 mile race. i was a sprinter in jr. high and that's all the running i did in my life. i find running very liberating and addictive. a lot of my friends are into it, so it helps me stay motivated. unfortunately, i haven't run in 2 weeks, BUT needless to say i am not done. i will be running another 5k in february--which gives me time to get where i want to be.

So as most of you have noticed, it's that time of year again! Although, I'm not fan of all of the hustle and bustle, I love everything else about the holiday season! fall is here and i am loving the cool weather, wearing chunky sweaters and boots. the leaves are so beautiful, it's breathtaking and i want them to stay forever. i am ready for christmas though! i want to put the tree up NOW, but my family wouldn't be too into that idea. so for right now, i have to settle for the music and the decorations at the mall and i can work with that at the moment-- thanksgiving is only less than 2 weeks away. until then, i will enjoy my pretty leaves and christmas music.

Summer Goals

Hi fellow bloggers. happy friday to you and yours :) the summer months are quickly approaching.  i am surprisingly ready for the hot weather and lots of sunshine.  this week has been very gloomy and rainy. it's been 5 days. 5 DAYS with no sun!  i am not a fan of dreary weather. although, i did see the sun peak out from under the clouds for about 2 minutes while i was at work..in doors..so it's not even worth talking about. for those who are used to it and you are able to get out of bed in the morning, you have nothing but respect from me. i am hopeful for a sunnier week! actually, to be honest, i am praying and crossing my fingers...

since summer IS coming up and all, i've decided to set some goals for myself. the ones you see below are my top 5 and realistic. i usually do not set summer goals for myself, except for maybe to survive the heat and catch up on sleep.  it seems as if those days are over. although, as long as i live in the south, i will always spend the summer months trying to survive the heat.  

recently i have realized why it is important to set goals for yourself, especially ones that are attainable.  it allows me an opportunity to work hard and challenge myself to reach a personal victory.  it is also important for me to stay motivated.  when i know that a goal is attainable, then the motivation is greater and the goal becomes a reality.  now one of these "goals" below is a MUST DO ('take the GRE!!' for instance)--considering i want to go to grad school!  so by the end of summer i think that i will have crossed all of these goals off my list.  wish me luck! :)

ps: not my photo.

Rainbow at the End of the Storm

hello beautiful people!

it's been a rough week here on my side of the world. from getting sick in the middle of the night to accidentally creating a flat tire (with the company car) and a very broken outdoor electrical outlet at work.  the odds were NOT in my favor.

last week, last Thursday to be exact, around 1 AM, i woke up from horrible stomach cramps. to make a long story short, i ended up in the ER and was discharged sometime before 6 AM. the culprit? a defective bag of spinach. of course upon my diet change and my choice of taking on healthier eating habits, there had been a recall on baby spinach. How unfortunate right?  the doctor ruled it as a virus (of course after the pregnancy test came back negative, ha!). 

i had about a 4 day stint of nausea, but i was able to get back to work and i wasn't restricted from doing any of my normal tasks there.

after a lot of prayer, a miracle and about 5 days of a very weird and empty diet i think i'm about 95% back to my normal self. i am so thankful for being able to eat normal food again. i'm also thankful for my family who stood by me the entire time. my sister had a quiz the next day and she sat with me at the hospital for about an hour. my mom is an angel. she didn't leave my side until she left for work on Friday morning. how blessed am i?

as for the incident at work, i've been getting picked on for it and i refuse to drive. i'll walk anywhere i need to go.  besides, the truck was huge and I'm used to driving tiny cars. the good news is that even though the person who runs the place found out what happened, i still have a job!

to end this awful week, i went to a friends for dinner and it was SO needed. you can't go wrong with good friends and good food, ever. there always seems to be a rainbow at the end of every "storm" and i guess you can say spending an evening with friend was my "rainbow".

how was your week? :)

weekend, why you so short?

here are a few photos from my weekend. 

 so. many. flowers.

to sum it up, i did a few house chores, tried a new recipe, some yard work/more gardening with my mom (we still have a few flowers to plant), attended Sunday service and then the plant/flower festival afterwards. fairly eventful, huh? ;) not really. hehe 

also, i know i don't have a lot of blog readers, but for those who do take time to read what i write, thank you! it means so much to me & i just wanted to say thanks :) xoxo

Happy Easter Weekend

Hello beautiful people. are you as excited about it being Easter as I am? spring might finally be here! well, maybe for some and not for others.. the weather here is slightly bipolar and it's beginning to frustrate me. I want to see pretty flowers and green grass! It's almost April and way over due. Just saying. :)

this week I have been continuously reflecting on God's love.  i honestly cannot wrap my mind around it. It amazes me and leaves me speechless and in tears.  romans 5:8 is one of my favourite passages in the Bible. (But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.)  i'm always asking Him why He is SO good to me and the answer will always be: because I love you. since He loves us so, as those who follow Christ, we should make it our business to serve Him and love others (regardless of what state they may be in) like Jesus did and still does. i know that it may be hard, most of the time and it may seem like there are people who aren't worthy of it.. kind of like..us? exactly. remember, those who are the hardest to love, need it THE MOST-- because in your horrible state as sinners who turned our backs on the one true and living God, He loved you.

this Easter will be a pretty special one for sure and i can't wait to celebrate Christ's Resurrection with the people i love.

A few things I'm thankful for.

meet my baby sister, Chicara! :)

Happy Sunday all! my blog has suffered due to the fact that i am getting into the groove of things again. i haven't woken up at 7 am in awhile and i am not a morning person.  thankfully the mornings fly by :) as for the afternoon, eh, not so much, but that's okay too. waking up early does leave me groggy in the evenings and oh so excited for bedtime! but i know my excuse is unacceptable. my goal is to blog one to two times a week. we shall see how that goes. however, i have a really good vegetarian recipe i want to post, unfortunately that will have to wait until tomorrow. :) i found it on Pinterest, of course ;), but i modified it a bit and made it my very own.  & later i will post my natural hair regimen, which i am excited about! :)

anyway, i just wanted post a couple of things i have been extremely grateful for lately. hope you all have had a wonderful weekend.



1. new beginnings.
         
          A lot of things have changed lately but for the better.  it's almost like a new beginning. starting over.    
          fresh start. redemption. whatever you want to call it.  change can be scary sometimes, but if it's for the
          better, i welcome it with arms wide open.

2. rest

          even God rested on the 7th day. that says everything.  work, work, work work without rest can be
         dangerous.  i think it's possible to lose your mind when you are always working and never taking a  
         moment for yourself. as an undergraduate, i was ALWAYS on the go.  i was busy not because i
         wanted to be, but because i had to be.  i never had a moment to reflect or to think about what was
          going on--summertime was not rest when you have the next semester hanging over your head. i
          probably  sound like i'm whining and i promise i am not.  i am thankful for the opportunity, but i am not
          thankful for all of those moments i was sleep deprived and a zombie.  one day i will benefit from it, but
          today i am reflecting, resting, enjoying my life, taking a break and loving every single second of it.