Blond hair don't care!

Today I highlighted my hair the blondest it's been since I was a kid! Long hair don't care! Blond hair don't care! :)

It's time for a new year folks. 2013!  Time to wipe the slate clean and start anew.

This month I have been reflecting, a lot.  I've realized that any negativity you speak reflects back directly in your life. I've definitely felt that lately, or more so noticed how much negativity and gossip I speak! I can't do it anymore. I do not want to be surrounded or associated with any drama, negativity or gossip, regarding friends OR family.   It's just too damaging to the soul.

2013 is a new year and I feel it will be a great one!  New hair. New job. New outlook on life. And hopefully even more amazing chapters and milestones.

SMILE. It's contagious. :)

Backpacking??

So, for a while now I've been thinking about backpacking through Europe. The future at my job started to feel uncertain, so I was strategizing "Plan B" as if I could predict the future. I told myself, "If I get laid off I'm going to take a month and travel Europe!"  Well, what do you know... My "Plan B" may soon become my Plan A!

Now I'm starting to think if I'm really cut out for backpacking. I mean, can I bring a pair of high heels?! What about my flat iron!? I don't want to be in tennis shoes and have my hair in a pony tail 24/7. I mean I can, but I would like to be cuter if possible. Am I losing the point here?? Haha.

I've already mapped out a few of the top Hostels in Europe. Now I need to search the best travel options, whether it be train, bus or plane. Then I need to hit up REI to see about this backpack. Maybe they'll be room for my flat iron and a pair of heels. ;)

BORA BORA!!

Bora Bora is such a majestic place!  When you google Bora Bora and see the pictures you may think "yeah right those are photo shopped."  NOPE.  It is just as, if not more beautiful than the pictures!  The most beautiful water I have ever seen, maybe the most beautiful in the world!!!

Check out my BORA BORA tab for pictures and details of my trip!! 

New Chapter

Wow. Getting laid off while you are on vacation in Bora Bora is like getting fired on your day off! What a bitch!

Oh well. I truly believe things happen for a reason. Good thing I have a Tahitian tan and a severance package. I won't be frowning for a while. ;)

Drizzy!

It's not often that I can relate, or enjoy so many versus a particular rapper says, or raps.  But Drake, he's a different story.  I've thought about starting a tab with my favorite rap lyrics, and that still might happen.....  But until then here's some of my favorite Drake verses, and some he must have plucked from my head....  :)  Which are which??

What are your favorite Drake lyrics?  :)



- You got that shit that somebody will look for but wont find

- Always gone but never hard to find

- Every time you see me I look like I hit the lotto, TWICE

- Jealousy is just love at hate at the same time

- Looking for the right way to do the wrong things

- Drake just stands for Do Right And Kill Everything

- I'm just feeling sorry for whoever got to sweep her up

- Life ain't a rehearsal, the camera's always rolling

- My team good we don't really need a mascot

- Cant see em cuz the money in the way

- Kush rolled glass full I prefer the better things

- You getting ready so I know we're gonna be here a while
in the bathroom, flat irons and nail files
spending hours in salons on your hair style
or in the mall steady racking up the air miles
hit the gym - step on the scale - stare at the number
you say you droppin 10lbs preparing for summer
and you don't do it for the men, men never notice
you just do it for your self, you the fuckin coldest
intelligent too, oooh you're my sweetheart
Ive always liked my women book and street smart
long as they gotta a little class like half days,
and the confidence to look over my past ways

-  You never see it coming you just get to see it go

- Lately I've been drinking like there's a message in a bottle

- The bandwagon is full but you can try to run behind it

- I better find your lovin, I better find your heart

- I live for the nights that I cant remember, with the people that I wont forget

- You can tell by looking in my eyes right now, that nothing really comes as a surprise right now, cuz we just having the times of our lives right now

- You lose some and win some.  As long as the outcome is income

- Don't I got the shit got the world want to hear again?  Don't Michael Jordan still got his hoop earring in?

- Bitches smiling at ya, must be happy hour

- Back in the days, Acura days

- Its like 06' in your backyard, I'm in love with Jade...  And I'm still in love because when its that real is when it doesn't fade

Thanksgiving 2012!!

If for some terrible reason I was ever asked for my "last meal" it would ultimately be what is served at Thanksgiving.  Chicken (or turkey), green beans, mashed potatoes, mac n cheese, etc.  The list goes on and on!   I would possibly need two plates to cover everything I wanted.  :)

Besides being a complete fat ass and celebrating the amount of food you can eat, Thanksgiving is also the time to be truly thankful and grateful, and celebrate your friends and family.  I can honestly say I am truly blessed.  I'm extremely thankful for my family and friends, and elastic pants. 

I had the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving at a new location this year, the NC Mountains.  Hello Grandfather Mountain!   

The weather was amazing this year.  It was in the low 60's!

A Thanksgiving blog post would not be correct without pictures of food!!  This was not even the full spread!!

Taking pictures of an awesome plate of food is pretty standard amongst my friends.  :)

I didn't leave the house from Wednesday to Saturday.  We watched a few movies:  Limitless, The Magic of Belle Isle, GREY, Finding Forrester, Haywire, and Act of Valor.  I love catching up on movies!  Especially with a nice view...

 I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving!  I definitely did. 

The Best Relationship Advice, for a Single Person!

I've been single and dating for about a year now, and this is the best summarized dating advice I've heard in a long time! 


1. You Can’t Date Potential: Sometimes girls have a habit of trying to predict the future and imagine what a guy might be like if he was just a little different or better or more self-aware. But you can’t date a future maybe-person. You have to date the one that’s in front of you, and you’re either okay with that person or you’re not.

2. People Can Change — But Only If They Want To: You can’t force someone else to change. You can’t will them into changing. The power to make progress or different in ones life is only truly effective if it comes from within. Which doesn’t mean that you or I won’t waste our time wondering why they couldn’t be different — because God knows I’ve done that.

3. Relationships Are 99 Percent Timing: Are you in the right place? Are they in the right place? If not, even if every single other thing about somebody is wonderful and amazing, it’s not going to work out. Both people have to be ready for a relationship or else it’s not going to happen. Which is why, again, you shouldn’t necessarily take rejection personally. This isn’t about you — it’s about a zillion factors that are completely and totally out of your control.

4. Determine If You’re Hurt Or Your Ego Is: Some dude (or lady) broke up with you. It sucks and feels like crap. You’re upset. Or are you? Figure out if you’re really upset, or if your ego is simply butthurt that you’ve been rejected. Once you can understand and separate your ego from yourself, you’ll have a much easier time getting over the actual sadness you feel about a break up.

5. It Won’t Always Feel Like This: It won’t always be good. But it also won’t always be bad. Another way of saying this is something a dear friend once told me: The biggest mistake you can make is thinking that the impermanent is permanent. This goes double when it comes to feeling shitty about a breakup. You’re going to feel different than you do six days from now, six weeks from now, and certainly six months from now. Take solace in the fact that change is constant and all-consuming, and the future contains a powerful uncertainty that’s determined in large part by how you allow yourself to accept it.

This is from one of my favorite websites, The Frisky. 
http://www.thefrisky.com/2012-11-20/5-more-pieces-of-relationship-advice-id-give-you-if-we-were-friends/

Quick trip to NY!

You know, I do love my job. Getting to travel for work is pretty awesome. Business travel is not always luxurious, but it does have its perks. ;)

This is only my 3rd time to New York. My first time was when I was 16. I remember my cousin and I walked around Times Square and got to be a screaming fan on MTV's Total Request Live! Ha. My next trip was just a few months ago actually. Another quick trip like this one. Fly up the evening before for meetings the next day. I didn't have a blog back then however. :)

This trip is especially interesting because hurricane Sandy was a few weeks ago. Some of Manhattan is still without power! I checked into the hotel (which had just opened a couple days prior) and asked the concierge where I should go for an amazing dinner. His options were limited because he didn't want me walking down any streets that were still dark and without power from the storm! I ended up at this pretty amazing Italian restaurant, Inatteso, where I'm sure my arteries will forever hold a piece of their amazing lasagna.  It was SO delicious! 

I had interesting conversation with a local resident. He told me how he had to evacuate with his two week old daughter before the storm! He said it was the best decision he made though. Otherwise he would have been trapped on his floor for days, without power or heat, until the water finally subsided! Crazy!

A quick evening stroll to walk off the lasagna.  :)  That's the new World Trade Center Tower. 

Finally it's morning and I have an hour to kill before I head into the office.  :)  I was only a few blocks from the World Trade Center site.  I had to go see it!  You can see the new Tower is almost complete!

HUGE car size generators were still supporting the city weeks after the storm.  In lower Manhattan they were on almost every block.

At last, the World Trade Center site!!!  How beautiful!!!



Unfortunately it didn't open for 20 more minutes, so I could not wait that long to see the memorial.  I did have a special moment there though, right where I took this picture. 

Now it's time to work and head into the office!  Until next time!  :)

Need Travel Ideas?

Check out this cool article on CNN.com!  "49 Journey's You'll Never Forget!"

http://travel.cnn.com/49-incredible-journeys-671366?hpt=tr_c2

Fall 2012

This is the first year in a very long time where Fall has been so prominent for me. The past few years Fall seems to have been non existent. Either going from extremely hot summers to mild winters, or hot summers to really cold winters.

The past month Fall has been amazing. Today I just had to take pictures of some beautiful foliage. :)

Dreaming of Europe..

Normally when I vacation I yearn for palm trees and turquoise water.  But being that I've seen a lot of that lately I've been desiring a taste for European architecture and history.  I am secretly planning a 2 week backpacking trip in Europe that I hope to do in the first half of 2013.  I wish a friend could join me, but I would bet I will be at this alone. 

I found this interesting article on CNN today.  It lists 13 of Europe's secret hidden hot spots.  I cannot wait to plan to visit the most interesting, usual and unusual places in Europe!  Stay tuned and I'll keep you posted on my travels!!  :)

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/29/travel/european-hot-spots/index.html?hpt=tr_bn4

New Nephew!!

On 10-15-12 my first nephew came into the world!  As the oldest child it was a little hard to come to grips with my younger brother having a baby before me!!  BUT, I get the best of both worlds. I get to have a baby in my life, and I also get to give him back!  :) All in all it's great practice for when my time comes...  :)


Five days old...

Almost 3 weeks old!!

i-TrAvEL update!

Check out my Thailand and Ireland trip details in my i-TrAvEL tab!!! :)

Wine Tasting!!!

This past Saturday was the "2nd Annual Wine Hop!" This was my 1st time, but it was awesome! 2 chartered buses, 80+ people, drinking all day on an awesome fall day = PRICELESS!! :)

This was the wine maker at the 1st spot

Me and Jazzy Jeff

Me and PDiddy!!! 

:)

Been dabating about a blog for years.  But life is too short not to share my awesome view....  :)