And I'm off...

to this lovely city.

to see this lovely family.

can't wait.

Day Number Seven

Here's a dress for Sunday.

What happened to Day Number Six you ask?

Well, apparently I unknowingly "forfeited" my day because I took off the brown sweater from Day Number Five. Right...

I was hot, what could I do?

Well, I guess I should also add that I substituted it for a lighter weight sweater.

It was still a nice week despite the technicalities...

A Question

Is it weird that I still eat peanuts amidst the massive recall that's happening?...
I LOVE peanuts and peanut butter and don't feel like giving them up. Are you still eating peanuts?

Day Number Five

Friday could not come soon enough!

Here is what the mister put me in this morning.

Day Number Four

All I had to do was pick out a belt!!! I tried on three and made myself late to work...

It's a sickness, I tell you. Anyway, this is a skirt that I made, so I'm glad he chose it. I don't wear it too often.

This picture pretty much sums up my day...haha (half-way out of the picture)

Honestly though it was the best one that I took as I was running out the door.

Day Number Three

And here we are. For some reason my hair looks really puffy.

But he did good - one of my uniform staples, so I was out the door in 20 minutes. (!)
I need to figure out a better way to set up the timer. I can't seem to get a photo of anything below my knees without cutting off my head.

Day Number Two

So, here's what he picked for Tuesday.

I must admit, I like the outfit. However, it's a bit "springy" for a 25 degree day, but oh well. He also tried to send me out into the elements without tights! Fortunately, after I explained to him, that he had to pick the whole "outfit" he then picked out some navy tights and suggested I wear boots.

Thanks, dear.

P.S. Excuse the photos. It's early, alright. I would be horrible on the red carpet.

Day Number One

Here is what Dereck picked for me to wear on Monday. I was going to my Internship, so jeans are acceptable...

Not bad.
Totally something I would have picked out. Somewhat surprising that he wanted to keep me so covered up...but I'm not complaining! It was so great to just get up and go.
Although I wasted about 10 minutes trying to get the camera to stay upright (on top of the papertowels) so I could take a picture of myself...

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!!

Although Dereck was sick (this weekend) he still managed to get me
just what I've always wanted-my own personal stylist!!

Every morning I wake up and lay in bed and it's the dreaded
question...what am I going to wear today?!? It usually takes me a
good 2 or 3 outfits later before I finally can get myself out the
door. So, Dereck has given me the gift of picking out my clothes
every morning for me! (I hope I still think it's a gift at the end of
the week.) If I decide not to wear one of the outfits he chooses, the
number of outfits decreases by one day. I am seriously so excited.
I'm already planning to be on time to work...or get a few extra
moments of sleep! He has good taste, but I'm most excited to see what
HE wants to see me in. Should be fun. I'm planning to take a picture
of each outfit, so I'll post one each day. It starts tomorrow...

Hope your day was filled with time with your loved ones!

Sent from my iPhone

Guess who's gonna be four eyes again?

ME! Apparently I've taken my eyesite for granted and need to learn a lesson.
Last week I went to the doctor because my eyes had been bothering me (and always red) and he told me to wear only my glasses for a whole week...
Well, I thought that was bad. When I went in for my checkup today he said it could be MONTHS before I can wear my contacts again!!!
Grrr....
However, if I look on the bright side, at least I now have an excuse to get some cute glasses...
AND I'd rather be able to see instead of being blind.

Just don't be callin' me four eyes...

WOW

Read here.

I can NOT process this information.

Word of the day: Scratchitti

While waiting for the train a few months ago, Dereck and I were just staring blankly at "the rules" posted and came across this.

If you'll look closely at the violation listed below...

It is a violation to...damage subway or bus property - that includes graffiti or scratchitti....

That is a new word to me! Has anyone else heard of it?!?

According to everything2.com the definition is:

"Scratchitti is a form of graffiti that's made by etching and carving your tag on an object instead of using tools like marker ink or spray paint. Most commonly this is seen on the glass on subway doors, bus windows and school desks. Popularity for scratchitti has risen over the past decade as more cleaning agents were developed that eased the cleanup of traditional graffiti. Scratchitti permanently damages the surface thus giving it a longer lifespan. It's much cheaper to paint over a wall with graffitti than it is to replace an entire window covered in scratchitti. "

Awesome.

Kijuana's birthday

So this is my sister. She is one amazing person. One thing that is so great about her is that people think I AM HER! Awesome. I always wished I were a twin and try to get her to dress like me, so this is definitely the closest thing to that. I think my sister is the best sister on earth. Sorry to all of you out there who don't have a sister or who don't have my sister as your sister, but she is the best. She is one of the most fun, outgoing, kindest, caring people that I've ever met. She does so much for everyone and yet still has time for her little sis. She is an amazing mother to her two little ones and has so much love to give. I am lucky to look sorta like her and even luckier that she is mine.

The day before I left to come home was Kijuana's birthday! We had the most DELICIOUS bundt cake ever! If you live in Arizona and haven't tried Nothing Bundt Cake don't do it! You'll be hooked. Wow, amazing. Who knew bundts were so light and fluffy and tasty!

Me with my buddies.

Me and Corban eating some yummy Humble Pie.


Making sure the candles were just right...
Blowing out her candles!! I love that Devon and Nate were so impressed with her!
Just enjoying yet another slice of the bundt!
Corban and Mom also enjoying the bundt!
It was so wonderful being in Arizona, but I was missing my husband by the end, I was happy to be back in New York, despite the cold here!

Swinging and Running and Cycling and Eating

I was so busy while I was there, it's hard to imagine how busy my sister's life is! This is Devon taking a picture of me on our way back from the airport.

Devon and Nate - I kept them up way too late!
This kid has the cutest smile, ever! I seriously can't get enough of his grin!
He was helping to make our Sunday pie! And was so excited, that he was screaming, apparently.
One of the days, Kijuana's neighbor and friend invited Nate and I to feed the ducks while we passed the time until my mom got off work!
Yummy Saturday brunch at The Original Pancake House.
Nate practicing his running.
And some more swinging!
Devon could just swing and swing her life away! She loves the playground. What a cutie! I can hardly believe she is in Kindergarten. So crazy!

More Family Fun

My brother, mother, and my cousin Shar.

Me and Aunt Barbara

Nate, me, mom, Aunt Barbara and Uncle Warren.

I was also able to see my cousin Emily and Shar's husband Dave and her daughter Tiffany, my Aunt Karine and Uncle Gordon (who sent me home with the most delicious lemons from his tree!) I love that so many of my extended family lives there, but there is no way to see everyone. While I appreciate that I was able to go, the time always goes too fast!

Dance Part-ay

I had the opportunity to head to Arizona for a little over a week. It was so lovely to spend time with my family in the 70 degree weather! Cameron and I are the only two that don't live there now, so it was nice to be able to see as many as possible. Unfortunately I didn't get to see as many of my extended family as I had hoped, but I'll be back again, hopefully soon!

One of our favorite things to do as a family is to turn the music on and just DANCE our troubles away! For some reason, Dereck won't do this with me, so it was nice to be able to just jam with the fam.

My sister, mom, Devon and Nate breaking it down.Seriously, how good is Kijuana's robot! hahahhahah


Kijuana and I doing our old cheerleading routines from high school!


A hit from the night was, "WE ARE FAMILY"

2009 Inaguration Day

I was there! Me and (2 million others) were there for the swearing in of the 44th President of the United States of America, Mr. Barack H. Obama. And what a day it was!

It started off by waking up at 5:45am and walking down North Capitol Street until we got to the capitol. It probably only took us about 20 minutes. The best purchase of the day was some hand warmers from the street vendor. Our group consisted of me (not pictured), Kareem, Mariama, and Loide. There was all sorts of conflicting signs and people waiting in lines and not much direction for the ticket holders v. non-ticket holders, but we continued to make our way.

There was law enforcement from all over the country - on foot, in cars, on horseback. It's so cool to think that not ONE person was arrested! Even with the confusion, people were considerate and kind to one another.

Loide had mapped our route out the night before, but at one point we were blocked. You can see here that everyway we looked was filled with people.

This photo was Loide standing on a low wall, but we ended up leaving that area and making our way back through the maze and going through a different entrance. Unfortunately that wasn't our best move because we went through the security line for the parade route...so NOT where we wanted to be.

So after about 2 hours of waiting and walking and being told conflicting things, going through a security check and waiting nearly an hour to cross over Pennsylvania Avenue, we made it to our spot here. At this point we were SO cold. I really thought that I may have frostbite on my toes. I seriously weighed the options in my head...do I risk it or go back....I evidently don't think so highly of my toes, because I stayed.

Standing amongst the crowd was really great. People were friendly and chatty and it seemed that everyone had a story, a reason, a purpose for being here at this moment. (This was the view to my right)
This was our view up ahead.Here's Loide and I trying to stay warm. They replayed the concert from Sunday evening, so we had a little bit of entertainment - at least some music to dance to, to try and keep us from getting too stiffly frozen.

This is the view behind me.

Here is a video of when they announced ex-President Bush...Just a note, I personally think it was pretty offensive to boo a president and I don't even like Bush. I couldn't help but thinking - can he hear this? I couldn't allow myself to sing along outloud at the end either...


And here is a short video on when they announced Barack...Oh what a moment! It was a feeling from deep inside - a feeling of hope and happiness and the joy in people's movements and cheers.
It moved me to tears. (surprise, surprise).

During the swearing-in portion, the sun seemed to shine a little brighter, the mood turned more reflective amongst the crowd, and the patriotism in my heart was the strongest I've ever felt. It was a moment in history that I'll never forget. Walking back to Kimberly's took about 3 hours. We were trafficked all the way to 20th Street to cross back over Pennsylvania and then up. This is the view on 20th of all the people walking home. Loide and I had pledged not to eat or drink ANYTHING for fear of having to use the port-a-potty, so by this time we were starving and had started complaining, but there were two nice people in the crowd who gave each of us a granola bar! Another testimony to the mood of the day. The peace felt among the huge sea of people.

We stopped at the bank to re-charge and get warm. We got home around 5:30PM after grabbing some dinner! It was such a beautiful, exhausting day!
I really love the images found here also.
Amazing.
I can't seem to get enough of looking at pictures of this day and of our lovely first family!
I feel overwhelmed and happy and proud whenever I think of the images swirling in my head of Barack and Michelle dancing at the balls and waving in the parade and the girls giving their dad a hug or a thumbs up sign or the family standing outside the whitehouse.
I always thought this was possible in my lifetime, however, I didn't realize how good it would feel when it happened. This means so much more to me personally and to my family and also my prospective family than I could ever express. My heart is so full, it may explode!
God Bless America!