Sweatshirts and Pearls

It's Mother's Day weekend and I am enjoying a Flat White and a pedicure with my gal pals. We started our day with a boozy brunch which led us to Starbucks to a sweet barista who couldn't make our drinks. The latest #OPI color I wanted to try caught my eye and my friends weren't having it. According to them, its a variation of a color that I always get. If its not broken, dont fix it right?! That's how I feel, but after some swaying, I went with the color they chose, #IndiaMoodForLove. I must admit, I do really like it though.  During my drive back to NOVA that afternoon, a few things occurred to me. I love OPI polish names and I need to step out of my comfort zone. Muffaletta is a Sicilian round bread or a popular N.O. sandwich. Unbeknownst to me, #ShesABadMuffaletta is from the same OPI collection as #GotMyselfInaJambalaya I wore 3 weeks ago. #OPINewOrleans Spring Collection. In previous posts I shared my #OPIObsession,  particularly the #OPIWashingtonDC Fall coll...

I started writing this post on 23 December. I mentioned in my October 2016 post that by Winter Solstice, we would have it all figured out. Today is 8 May.  Clearly life happened and I have been out of commission in the writing department. To my regular readers, thank you for reminding me why I started this blog and why it's so important for me to continue typing out my thoughts and feelings. I tried writing several times and I just couldn't finish..Perhaps I didn't have the motivation I needed or perhaps the creative juices weren't flowing...nonetheless, here we are. I received a FB message about a month ago from a sweet young lady who told me how much she enjoyed reading my blog and how I had inspired her. Little did she know she inspired me. Mommin' ain't easy, and some days I'm just exhausted. I want to save the energy I do have for my family, which leaves little time for writing. Granted when I think about why I started the blog to begin with, I...

So much has happened since my last post. I don't know where to begin. For those of you who have been keeping up, you know there were several things on the horizon...but first baby update. Brayden is four months today. Time is moving quickly. It was this time last year that I was partying at JMU with my girls none the wiser that I had began growing a fetus. [Homecoming was this weekend and I didn't go]. As it stands, my lemonade and vodka concoction and wine that weekend did not hurt him. Praise God. He is still happy as ever, can lift his head and carry on a full blown conversation when you ask him a question. He still loves bath time (and massages with lotion afterward). He giggles when I touch his feet. He actually has a real laugh now. It's the cutest thing!!! He is constantly growing, so clothes are fitting snug. With the weather change, we are layering t-shirts over long sleeve tops. Of course there is only so much layering you can do, because one loose poop can r...

Its Fall. My brothers, my sisters, my man, and my son will wear hoodies for the brisk Autumn morning air. You and your family members will don said hoodie with a favorite football team logo on the front. Autumn. My fellow Black man is a target because he "looks like a bad guy."  He is wearing a hoodie and outsiders can't see his face. Must be hiding something. Fall. But my Black brother is not killing innocent citizens IN THEIR PLACE OF WORSHIP. And yet the person who committed such a heinous crime has his life --was escorted with a protective vest and was not demonized by the media. Autumn.  Hands up, don't shoot. "Follow [police] orders and don't do stupid shit" he said. That didn't help #TerrenceCrutcher in Tulsa. He followed the orders and did nothing "stupid." His car broke down. He was shot. Fall. Black Americans take a stand against the violence happening to our people and are told not to protest. Loud, proud, stopping traffic, and ...

Autumn, it's my favorite season. What's in this Season? Deep colors, layered fashions, amazing smells from the kitchen, and sultry scented lotions and candles. Yum!! The tree leaves change color and the mornings are a little cooler. Cool enough to enjoy a hot cup of joe on the morning drive. Not that it needs to be cold for coffee, but some people like it that way. I just like coffee everyday... please and thank you. The sun shines brighter and the afternoons are perfect for cruising. On that cruise as you drive through the secluded area, you know the place you lose cell phone signal because of all the trees, you get a chance to enjoy God's creation. The beautifully colored leaves dance around your vehicle and for a moment even if it wasn't before, you know it's now going to be a great day. It's also the time of year where leggings are deemed appropriate everyday attire paired with a large sweater, a beanie, and boots. Or skinny jeans with a Plaid button-up l...

So I know this post is long overdue, but what can I say other than, I've been busy. Our baby boy is 11 weeks and mommy is back in the office. I shuttered at the thought of returning to work sooner than 12 weeks, but it was a sacrifice I made because I knew it would be best in the long run. Brayden has adjusted to daycare, this week being his third week. His teachers adore him and he is consistently smiling, laughing and cooing during drop off and pick up (when he's not sleep.) Brian and I receive real-time updates to monitor his feedings, diaper changes, infant development, and naps. It's awesome. I am finally in the swing of things, juggling motherhood, working full-time [with a killer NOVA commute], keeping house, and maintaining a healthy relationship. I've read dozens of articles on how all dynamics shift once the baby arrives. I was determined to keep things as normal as possible and my ambition paid off. A day in the life: My day starts at 0415-0430 having just...

They say when the baby arrives, you come into their world. Even though in the literal sense, the baby is coming in to yours. POP. Your bubble just burst, BUT Life is not over for you as a new mom as many claim. Your life just got better.   "You think you know what love is, until you have a child and discover that unconditional Mother love." - Halle Berry As an ISTJ,  I still plan my life as best I can with a little one. You know the typical mom stuff, first aid kit in my purse, additional clothes for him and a dress for me in his diaper bag, extra pacifiers, and supplemental formula. However, there are things I can't plan. Such as how little he will sleep some nights or his desire to eat every hour. I can't determine how fast he will grow out of stage 1 diapers or 0-3 month clothes or how quickly he will teethe (since he's already biting the bottle nipples and drooling so much). [Side bar, they say when babies move quick they are getting out the w...

"Strong enough to bear the children and get back to business," after all it must be true since Beyonce said it. But are we? I will be the first to admit I am not....at least not yet. My son is 52 days young. I am enjoying my time with him, watching him giggle and get excited when I sing to him, and our special moments when he is nuzzled on my chest as I rock him to sleep. He enjoys hearing the ABC's [I sign the letters too] and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. We spell his name (verbally and with ASL) and encourage him to speak....As you can imagine, I am dreading the day I have to return to work. I am not ready to "get back to business" just yet. I still have bonding to do with my precious baby boy. I have been a ball of emotions the past few days and of course I shed a few tears (but you already knew that). As I mentally try to prepare myself for what is going to happen in the next couple of weeks, I can't help but be a bit anxious. I knew we would have ...

I know you've probably heard about "Post Partum Depression" aka "Baby Blues" where the mother is a hormonal mess after delivering the baby... well this post is dedicated to all of that and then some; aka post partum hues. [See what I did there?] I will break down the hues using our friend Roy G. Biv. R-is for Red. Yes. Red. You are frustrated probably because the Birth Plan you had, went out the window and or the doctor you wanted to deliver your child was not on call that day. It happens. I was red, because after 4 weeks, the scar from my unplanned c-section is not completely healed and in fact I had to go back to the doctor because the stitch knot loosened and a shallow part of the wound is open. I never thought I'd have to have a c-section but I did. My doctor was on call, but Brayden decided to stay put, so her shift was over by the time he made his debut. The doc that did deliver Brayden is pretty awesome tho, so I didn't mind. O- is for...

I woke up early on June 29th [2016], the plan was to accompany Brian to Alexandria for the day. However, as you know my plans do not happen the way I anticipate. I felt a trickle of liquid and after several trips to the bathroom, I was sure my water broke and that I did not have a 2year old accident. I didn't feel any contractions so, I figured we had some time. What's a girl to do when she's in labor and the contractions aren't heavy???! You guessed it. Put your game face on... no eyeliner though. I heard pain was going to be a beast and I'm a crier. Don't need raccoon eyes in my son's pics. I mentioned to Brian that maybe we should just go about our day and wait until the contractions got bad, but of course you can never be too sure. I didn't want to be on the side of 66East in labor. So after I finished getting ready, we headed to the hospital. I called my mom, Brian called his mom and they both made it to NOVA in record time only to be told th...