September 2014 Photo Diary

So in an effort to get caught up on le blog, I decided to do monthly photo diaries for September through December! I don't have much to share for September. I guess I didn't whip out my camera much? Not sure what happened there. Anyway, here is what I have to share: 

My mom and cousin/aunt/God Mother came to visit! 

Quick side note: My family on my mom's side is a bit odd. My grandmother, my mom's mother, passed when my mom was just a teenager. My mom's older sister raised my mom and young sister through their teen years, so my aunt is really like a grandma to me, and her daughters are like my mom's sisters which means they are more like my aunts. I have also deemed my cousin/aunt Kena my God Mother. I've been her baby since the day I was born. Meet Kena!! You will likely see her on the blog again. 

Mommy and me!

With Kena!

Whenever my mom and Kena visit it is almost a guarantee we are going to make a stop by the Goodwill. It is basically a tradition now! On this particular visit, I tried on my FIRST wedding dress! Yes, I tried on a wedding dress at the Goodwill. Judge me if you want! The dress was beautiful, brand new, and only $100.00. It just wasn't the one though so I left it in the store. 

The beginning of a hair situation.

The first picture is my natural hair straightened, which I had straightened at a Dominican salon. Long story short here...if you have thin, fine natural hair do NOT go to a Dominican salon. Everything is not for everybody. The next picture is a snapshot of me with the sew in from hell! I will talk more about it in an upcoming post! Smh. Bad, bad hair decisions. 

The Mr's new whip.

Big R got a new car!! So happy for him. Funny thing is I drive it more than he does, because "his music isn't right," i.e. he needs to get Bluetooth set up in his car so he can listen to Spotify. I'm not a music person like that, so I don't really get it but to each their own.

Until Next Time, 

<3 Keia

Just So You Know...

I've been away from blogging so long I don't even know what to write about anymore. I originally started blogging as a place to document this little life of mine. So, I want to get back to that, and I hope you readers don't mind! I've thought about going back and doing posts that captures the highlights over the months I've been away. I may get to that and I may not. My life has changed in so many ways! So much to share! The end goal here is to BLOG!

I hope this is a true hello, and I'm BACK!

Until next time, 

<3 Keia

Currently...

Heyyyyy friends! Long time, no see! I'm not even going to waste your time by going in to a long, drawn out story about where I've been the past two months. Ain't nobody got time for that! Is that still cool to say?!  I am alive and well! I thought I would come back and share what's going on with me currently. I have seen this cool blog post idea around the blogosphere, so I thought I would share too!

+ Crafting: Well I have a quite a few crafting projects that I want to work on...BUT I'm one of those people who find things I want to craft, especially using things I find on my thrifting trips, and then they just find a home in a closest FOREVER! Must do better...

+ Cooking: To be quite honest, I'm still patting myself on the back for the Thanksgiving meal my honey and I prepared! We decided to stay home this year because for one, we didn't get Little R until 6:00 pm, and we were going to be in Virginia with my family the following Saturday for my cousin's 40th birthday party. Long story short, Big R smoked two whole chickens and a turkey and I cooked all the sides (mac and cheese, candied yams, Big R's mom's dressing recipe, greens, corn, and mashed potatoes) All of it was bangin'! Since then we've ate out a few days. (So bad!) I'm happy to get back in the kitchen this week and take control of what I'm putting in my mouth!

+ Drinking: Mostly water! I haven't been drinking coffee as much lately (gasp! I know) -- more on that later!

+ Reading: I started reading the Fault in our Stars weeks ago. Great book, I just have to force myself to separate from my phone and laptop and actually read more!

+ Wanting: To marry Big R already! -- more on that later!

+ Playing: Nothing - I don't really play any games. Never really been my thing. 

+ Wishing: My dad was here to see me get married and the birth of his first grandchild (my niecy pooh will be born late December/early January) 

+ Enjoying: Writing this blog post! Gosh I've missed blogging sooooo much!

+ Waiting: Christmas! I just love the Christmas holiday. It's the one holiday that gives you such a warm and fuzzy feeling year after year

+ Liking: Seeing all the Christmas decorations in our neighborhood. I like to have my decorations up by December 1st, well that didn't happen. So hopefully I will have it up by the end of this week!

+ Wondering: What I will get Big R for Christmas. 

+ Loving: Weekends with Big and Little

+ Needing: A new hair style. Early September I had to get several inches of my hair chopped off, and I'm still not used to it yet!

+ Smelling: Glade Vanilla Frost Plugin

+ Wearing: t-shirt and shorts. I don't wear pajama sets. Do you?

+ Watching: Just finished watching Sunday's episodes of Real Housewives of Atlanta and Kourtney and Khloe Take the Hamptons

+ Listening to: Big R's phone conversation with an old coach/friend

+ Obsessing over:  The changes occurring in my life over the next year!

+ Shopping for: "Santa" shopping for Little R, Christmas gifts for Big R, gifts for my niecy pooh!

+ Learning: More about the MBA program I will be starting in January 

+ Wasting time on: Youtube videos, blog reading, and trash tv

+ Working on: Growing with my company

+ Looking forward to: My birthday (12/21), Christmas, and then skip right on to SUMMER! : ) 

Until Next Time, 

<3 Keia

Update

Heyyyy lovely people! Oh, how I've missed my blog! The past couple of weeks have been a little bit on the hectic side for me. I don't know if I have mentioned it here on the blog before, but I'm from a small, country town. My mom always has old school, country sayings that she has shared with me since I was a small child. With everything that has been going on lately, in the back of my mind I know she would say "Every day won't be a cloudy day." That couldn't be more true. On those difficult days, when you are dealing with difficult situations, always remember that not every day will be a bad one.

I thought I would just drop in and share some photos I've snapped over the past couple of weeks!

I miss this little guy. A LOT!

I was involved in a car accident last weekend...on my way to visit my bestie.  Ruined my trip. I spent the last week working with the other lady's insurance (she ran a red light so the accident wasn't my fault at all) and it still hasn't been resolved. At the end of the day though, I'm not hurt and my car can and will be fixed!

I've been spending my days working,  sipping on coffee in my Asian-inspired mug, and missing my honey in the evenings. I love football season, but selfishly I miss him when he's working. I picked up the cute 'Notes' notebook from one of the Target dollar bins. I can't wait to write my daily to-do list for work in it this upcoming week!

I also wanted to discuss the future direction of my little ol' blog with you all briefly. You may have noticed I had a few blog series going on: Monday Mani, My Style Thursday, and The Friday Five. Well, I'm going to take a different approach and see how it goes! I will still pop in with mani posts and style posts here and there, just not on a strict schedule. My goal is to post more frequently, and I also want to start blogging about more lifestyle related topics. So, I just wanted to give those who are interested a heads up! 

Lastly, I just want to say THANK YOU to you all! Thanks for reading, thanks for commenting, thanks for stopping by my small space of the blogosphere! I appreciate it!

Until Next Time, 

<3 Keia 

4th of July Recap 2014 - Detroit, Michigan

As I've mentioned in a few of my latest posts, my little family and I spend the 4th of July holiday in Detroit, Michigan. Big R was born and raised in the city of Detroit, and every summer we look forward to our annual trip back to spend some time with his family. This post is going to be very picture heavy! I hope you're ready!

Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014| First Day in the D'!

Little R getting loved on by his grandma.

Thursday, July 3rd, 2014| A night of baseball!! 

Thursday night we headed out for some Detroit Tigers baseball. Comerica Park is absolutely beautiful! We had a great time at the game! I thought it was so cool that the Detroit Lions Ford Field is directly beside Comerica Park!

Friday, July 4th, 2014| Fourth of July Picnic

It has become tradition over the past couple of years for Big R to smoke ribs and chicken with his stepdad on the 4th. His stepdad actually taught Big R how to smoke meat on the grill about 3 years ago I think, so I think it's so cute that they do it together now! While they barbecued, I kicked back with Big R's mom and aunt, and Little R climbed a tree, threw a frisbee around and such with his cousin. After all the meat was cooked up we headed to another one of Big R's aunt's house for a family cookout/picnic. A fun time full of great food, drinks, laughter, kids playing and lighting fireworks!

Big R with his Auntie and cousins.

My soon to be sister in law, Big R's mom, and Big R's little cousin photobombing us in the back! LoL.

Saturday, July 5th, 2014| Rest Day and Night on the Town

Saturday during the day I was wore out. We all slept in, and Big R ended up taking Little R and one of his cousin's to an indoor water park...I had to sit that trip out. Later that night though, Big R and I did get out for a little while. We made our way to downtown Detroit and did some late night sight-seeing. Then we made our way over to the Motor City casino for a little bit. Big R even tried his luck at a couple hands at the Black Jack table...he won some money and then lost it all. #fail! It was fun though. LoL. 

Sunday, July 6th, 2014| Relaxing Time with Family

Sunday was really chill. We relaxed for most of the day. Big R went out for a while to catch up with one of his old little league football coaches. He was so excited to reconnect with his old coach. LoL. He loves football and the relationships he has built as a result of it! Anyway, we snapped a couple of pictures together before we headed out for dinner. We ended the night out hanging with Big R's older brother and sister in law. 

Monday, July 7th, 2014|  Back Home to NC

Monday morning we hit the road to head back home to NC, equipped with our third Tim Horton's Caramel Latte Supreme of the week. Y'all know I had to have my coffee! : )

And that's it!! I'm still trying to get back in the swing of things at home. I'm so happy it is the weekend! I'm getting in some much needed rest! 

Oh! If you'd like take a look at what we were up to on our trip last year check it out here!

Until Next Time, 

<3 Keia

Blessed and Thankful

Happy Tuesday, lovelies! I apologize for the lack of a Monday Mani post yesterday. To be quiet honest, I haven't felt inspired to do anything with my nails the past few days! I hope to be back on track next week, and I hope you will forgive me!

I have a question for you? Have you ever felt so blessed that you feel undeserving? 

Let's pause for the cause here...this post is by no means to brag in any way, shape, or form. My only intention is to share my feelings from MY personal perspective!!

I mean I pray everyday. I thank God for all of His blessings all the time. I listen to gospel regularly. I have a very close relationship with my GOD.  BUT I am at a place in my life where I just don't feel like I deserve the life I live. I'm healthy. I'm happy. I have a man I love. And his 6 year old son too! My immediate family members are healthy. I have a job, scratch that CAREER, that I love. (I now work from home, by the way. I may go into my new job situation in another post.) 

I.don't.know.how.I.got.here. 

Again, I want to be extremely real with y'all today. I am NOT perfect. I don't go to church even close to enough. I sin just like the next person. I cuss way more than I should. I mean I could go on...but I think you get the point. Trust me, I have my share of trials and tribulations. Every day is not all peaches and cream, and who knows what tomorrow may bring!

BUT!

I am here! In this space...this place...and I am sooooo thankful! Sooooo blessed! Lord, I thank you! 

I don't know who will even read this post...but if you are reading this...and you feel like your life is just the complete opposite of where I am today (and know that I am fully aware any or all of this could be gone tomorrow) just know...

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I KNOW that He can do for you everything He has done for me and more!!! If you would have told me this is where I would be a year ago...a month ago...I would have never, ever believed you! 

That's all I have for today. I will end this post with just a few more inspirational pieces!

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Until next time,  

<3 Keia

Week in Review| Sunday, June 1st - Saturday, June 7th, 2014

Hey friends!!! 

Before I started writing this post I went back to see when I wrote my last Week in Review, and it has been a good minute! I know I say it all the time, but life happens. It just does, you know?! And just to be real with you...some weeks just aren't as exciting as others. So don't count on these posts every week, but I will try to post as often as I can!

This past week was an interesting one to say the least! I think all weeks have highs and lows, and that was definitely true for me this week. Overall though, the week was great! I can't even begin to explain to y'all how blessed I am. I sometimes don't know what I did to deserve the life I live. I thank God for it all very often! I know none of it would be possible without HIM!  

Anyway, let's get into the happenings from this past week!

I've shared in the past that Little R spends a good amount of his time in NC with his dad and I, and the other part of the year his is in VA with his mom. This past week started summer visitation, which means that he will spend a week at a time with us, and then a week at his mom's. Since he will be with us more, you can expect to see a lot more of him here on the blog!

|Little R|

So I know I am biased, but Big R is such an AMAZING dad to Little R. They spend so much time together. From playing basketball together, learning new football drills, to spending time at the pool. They are inseparable. I love the love they have for one another. Warms my heart all the time. In the last picture, Little R was getting a lecture about something or another. I have no idea why they decided to have the conversation on the floor, but whatevs! Big R will certainly shape Little R to be a great man someday!

Little R had been dying to try a mohawk for quite a while. His dad finally gave in, and we tested out for a few weeks. Well...it just didn't work out too well for the kid, so he got a fresh cut early in the week. He looks civilized again. LoL. 

Little R and I decided to kick it out in front of our house one afternoon while we waited for his dad. Little R was too busy listening to Chris Brown on his Beats to talk to me. He didn't want to take any selfies with me either! What is that about? I don't know. Then his dad comes out the door, and tells me that he read that people who take selfies have self-confidence issues. The nerve! Men don't understand, or at least my man doesn't!

This child kicks it around our house like he is a king, or as if he pays some bills! LoL. He is getting so big! Make it STOP please! And thank you!

|Carowinds|

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We spent Saturday afternoon at Carowinds. This was Little R's first amusement park experience. He had so much fun!!! We spent the first few hours enjoying the water park. Then we grabbed a quick dinner and headed back to ride some rides. Little R got off every ride screaming, "That was AWESOME!" "That was AMAZING!" LoL. It was adorable. Big R on the other hand, had a hard time. He's not a fan of rollercoasters, but he toughed it out and rode all of them with Little R and I. We had a blast! We plan to go back later this summer!

Despite the looks on their faces, they were having a good time. Just a little impatient while waiting in line. LoL. 

And that's it! I hope to come back next week with another Week in Review! 

Until Next Time, 

<3 Keia