The Weekend: Thriftin'

Beau and I decided to skip the people-packed events downtown for a quiet, easy going Saturday at a thrift store in our neighboring township.

// this is really random, but I were to have a baby boy, that sailboat would have had to come home with us. Also, how cool is that butter churner??

This was my second time ever going to a thrift shop, and I have to say that I enjoyed it more this time around -- having a new home and all. We haven't begun decorating our home yet, so our place is still an open canvas. One major item that I had my eye out for is a large mirror for our living room. I spotted a beautiful, rustic one as soon as we entered the store, but there was a lady guarding it terribly once I pointed it out to beau. [enter my sad face here]

 

//devising a plan on how to possess more music, I’m sure

What also made this thrift shop trip more enjoyable was having an idea of what I was looking for clothes-wise. My closets are full of clothes, so beau would actually cosign that I don't need anymore, but I have been wanting to change up my wardrobe for a while now. I am was the kind of person to purchase something because it fit and was on sale. As I now struggle to find something to wear every time I go to get myself ready, I become absolutely annoyed with the clothes in my wardrobe-- many of which still have price tags on them. -- I will post more about my personal styling woes later. Going to the clothing section of the thrift store, I knew that I wanted simple dresses and simple skirts (My favorite things to wear). I ended up finding two dresses that I absolutely adored. That yellow dress complements my dark skin very well and with the removal of the shoulder pads, the addition of a knee length slip, maybe a little hemming and some killer heels, this dress will be my new favorite thing to wear to church once it warms up. I also picked up a basic black midi dress.

//really, really excited about these finds

Beau also found something he liked (one I was secretly hoping wouldn't make it into our house ...we all have those moments). He picked up a wooden shelf to store his tens and thousands of cassette tapes and maybe some other audio-visual things. He's a 'music-head', so he has a ton of music.  I have yet to see the potential in this thing, but he's so excited about it, and it's now sitting in our tiny closet/library (aka 3rd bedroom), so I might as well get used to it.

//just look at that face! He was so happy! Also, I’m not quite sure my neighbor was pleased about being a part of this photo

Life Lately

Married Life.

Marriage is great. Although it doesn't out-right feel like it, there is still an adjustment taking place. We are still learning each other and trying to communicate effectively. All of that may take some time, but it’s all good. I am still learning from Beau. Some of the same lessons are being thrown at me over and over again, but it’s just that we think differently. I am a worry-wart. He’s the calm one. I am almost always reminded of this. One day it will stick.

Gym.

I got a gym membership. In a way, I felt guilty for wanting it because beau has so much on his plate financially. But the home bodyweight exercises (via BodyRockTV and AmandaRussell) were not working for me anymore. I kept losing motivation -- especially when it got hard. And it was hard for me to keep up. I have been pretty diligent with the gym since the membership was confirmed. I would feel awful if I let our money go to waste, especially since we could really use every bit we have. I started doing the Run5k program -- for the umpteenth time and I've finally made it to week 2! I’m not really trying to run a real 5k, I am just trying to have a healthy heart and work towards something that I have never been able to do before. I hope I am able to stick with it. I used to fear running on the treadmill, but it’s not half bad.

Meal Plans.

I tried creating a meal plan this week, and I love it. This week we can forgo this dialogue beau and I have constantly :

Me: I don’t know what to make for dinner tomorrow. Any suggestions?

Beau: No. Whatever you make, I’m sure it will be good.

That is never the response I want, but it is always the one I get. Here’s to having none of that this week, or ever if I continue with making meal plans!

Photographs.

I have been more and more unimpressed with my photographs lately. Not that they were ever like photojournalistic quality-- or ever will be-- but they’re just so lackluster. I have a wonderful wishlist of fancy DSLRs I would like to have… one day.

Job Hunting.

Same ol’.  Same ol’. As I approach the one year mark of graduating with my Master’s degree, I have a mix of emotions concerning this whole unemployment bit I had to face. It’s bittersweet. I am currently allowing it to be sweet because I’m sure that once I begin working full-time, I will be begging for a day, or month off. I also try not to worry, because I know it will come just like it did for Syd. I too felt like all the jobs I have applied for were being karate-blocked (no, seriously-- that is the perfect description), but I have faith.

The Weekend.

We don’t have any set-in-stone plans for the weekend. There will be a street fair on Broad Street on Saturday, and it’s also the weekend for Penn Relays. Penn Relays is something I have always wanted to experience. Track & field is something Jamaicans excel at, and our people are always out at Penn Relays in good numbers, but I don’t think this will be my year to attend. We may keep it low-key this weekend and just rest.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone! 

On Faith (...and Being Fearless)

photo via

I have been a little apprehensive about sharing more about my faith on here. When I started this blog, I was trying to get to a place where I could honestly say that I had a one-on-one relationship with God. I was no where close. He was calling out for me, but I could not hear. And when it was made perfectly clear of His pursuit of me, it’s as if I turned my back on Him. Not because of unruliness, but because I was so afraid to leave the things of the world-- the parties. --the friends. But after a while, my ears stung at the sound of a curse word. The parties and nightlife bored me. The alcohol tasted bitter. And my friends from those times are no longer close by to influence my decisions. I am different now, and I can feel it. God is building me up to be who He wants me to be. To be more like Him. To be a branch on His vine (John 15:5).

I am no where near being perfect in Him. In fact, I often fear posting things like this on my blog, on twitter and other social media sites. But I am coming to learn that God is not ashamed of me -- the wretched soul that I am in both thought and deed. He loves me and claims me as His own just the same. I may lose followers. It’s okay. I only have a few, anyway. And visitors may stop reading as soon as they view my belief in my About Me section. But that’s okay too. I think it's been like that for a while now.

I have to do what’s right for me. I only have one life, and I cannot allow fear of what others think of me (a fear that I have struggled with and continue to struggle with to this day) hold me back and prevent me from entering into the kingdom of heaven. That would actually suck... a lot!

I love a light-hearted, fun post about food, fashion, and everyday life as much as the next person. I really do. And I intend to continue doing those posts. But I am currently at a time in my life, where my faith  and courage are being challenged. 

I would hate to fail.