Quote of the night!

Friendship: A building contract you sign

with laughter and break with tears.

I chose this quote because i describes an interesting facet of my life from this year. I have realized that some friendships, new and old, are not meant to be permanent but to simply serve their purpose. A couple of friendships, I am still on the fence about and well, I will let those ride out and see where they go...meanwhile, I have been meeting some interesting people...all are different but all are like me. I like making friends but I love those friendships that prove worthy and stand the test of time. In a moment of trial and error, one may realize that those with the dearest of titles, are the least worthy and should be the least vital.

*TOAST* to wonderful friendships, the family members we get to pick!

Home alone blabbin...

My family is in Florida for a week and with no boyfriend and a slew of friends in new relationships, I'm taking in some me time! Not a bad idea, i've been looking forward to having this kind of time to myself for awhile now. At least this way I don't have the expense of a hotel. I'm enjoying me....my space, interests, and personal "talks" with self. (NO i'm not crazy!!!!) but we all know that solitude can & will afford us the kind of clarity and peace of mind on things that other people, constant activity, and interference can't.

*Sigh* Drake's "Find Your Love" just came on...I love this song, his cd...for some reason his music reminds me of my college days, especially this song!! *smile* as I look back on memories of my journey throught that last love of mine. Everyone said there'd be a day I looked back on it and smile. I guess they were right *smile*! ANYWAYS...

This is the first time that I am the lone single chik in my circle and I wonder what that means. What is this new phase of my journey? What is God up to in me? I feel changes, maturity taking place almost daily...and maybe thats just it. Sometimes I miss the him of my most recent past, even the bad times. I miss his friendship more than any other i've said farewell to within the recent past but since that goodbye i've experienced great growth on a personal level. I'm better without my crutch (him) and I'm at a place where I can say I hope the same could be said of him.

NONETHELESS i'm still enjoying life...clubs with my girls, new restaurants every week, flirting with guys, having my pick (& most times the lack thereof) of the mens, making and enjoying $$$$$, and being me without the constant criticism of another disguised as love.

LOL!! Funny, how we always work OT to wonder whats really good with us when all the things I just named are likely precisely the reason why I am single right now. Most of my girlfriends experienced those things in college, but I didn't. I was bunned up under my boyfriend, fighting/arguing with him at a time when life was supposed to be carefree and fun!

I can dig that...I'm enjoying the hell outta it!! My college education ended a little over a year ago but we never stop learning about life. That's the beauty of this thing, this blessing!! I'm so happy and in control for the first time I own my emotions, reactions, actions, and choices. YAY me!!!

BTW, I haven't been posting often but i'm certainly making my way on the comments circuit...so I see yall, keep bloggin' so I can comment!!!

When it's over...

between you and an ex, do you mind if your ex still keep in touch with your family/friends??? Do you expect your ex to breakup with your entire personal environment (your hangouts, family, friends) when you breakup with them?? What boundaries or aspects of your life, do you mind your ex lover to not cross or show face in after your flame has died out???

My two co-workers and I often chat about specific situations in which you or someone you're close with interacts with your old flame and whether it's boundary crossing or not, and our opinions are very varied so I wanted to get my readers opinions on this....

Is it cool??? or when it's over is everything that came with you, over for them too????

Memories from a summer's past...

This past Sunday afternoon, I was driving to the movie theater in Bowie to take my sister to see Shrek (yes, I used her as a pawn)...truthfully, I couldn't wait until the movie came out to see it myself!! Anywho, so it was one of those rare occasions where I was listening to the radio instead of Monica's latest or FatBellyBella...and Plies' "Shawty" started to play on the radio. I was instantly taken back 3 years ago to a summer, that for me, was a bittersweet, vulnerable time in my young life. I was open that summer, filled with emotions, dealing with the WORST breakup...BUT experiencing one of the truest yet rare moments in time in regards to friendship.

I remembered my "friend" the one I cried, smiled, laughed, talked, partied, worked and GREW with that summer....Summer 2007! We were meant to be friends for that specific period of time. Where does Plies' song "Shawty" fit in with all this??? Well, it's long and complicated. However, hearing it on the radio the other day solidified for me that there was a point in time that our friendship was pure, we coached each other, held each other and cried together!! She's 5 years my senior and although we're not friends anymore, I look back at that time when we were friends...closer than ever and I shed a tear and can't help but to smile...

With that said I wish you (although you may never read this) ALL the best!!! I heard through the Hawk Alum grapevine that The Princess finally got her Prince, and I want to say that although no longer friends...my spirit is happy for you both. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!

Question of the day...

If youre still friends with an ex flame/boyfriend/girlfriend whatever...would you invite them to your wedding or disregard the friendship for fear that your more than steamy past would upset your fiance?

TALK TO ME BLOGGERS!!!

White Collar Adonis...Mr. Bookkeeper...

LOL @ how "Mr.Bookkeeper" would make his skin crawl!! He's actually an accountant but screw that, I like Mr. Bookkeeper better. He's coming into town tonight (From NJ). This should be interesting! It's been a year since i've seen this man, but despite our daily talks, not so bleak past, and very obvious & imposing chemistry, my nerves are a jumping and my mind is a racing....honestly, I don't even know the real purpose behind this visit. He said he was coming down and I was like "OK" I mean I don't have anything else to do. I might as well host his highness this weekend.....

Anyway his visit isn't the only thing I'm unsure of; Like why is he visiting, why do we talk so much, why is he back in my life at all (question for the past year), Do I like him, why do I keep him around and him me????????? It's weird because we don't talk about this stuff. Like the huge pink elephant in the room, the mounds of chemistry, physical attraction between us just awkwardly stands around as we clumsily prance around it with normal topics of discussion of our days, work, life.....all but dating LOL!!!! We talk about everything but THAT and that i'm not too sure of either. Why is THAT?!?!? For hours on end we quiz each other about current events, we laugh, share jokes, reminsce, and talk about everything EXCEPT our interaction with the opposite sex. That both comforts me and concerns me all while I'm still wondering what the heck is it that he wants from me!

So there goes the story of my weekend...I'll be entertaining my friend/former beau/Mr.Bookkeeper. Maybe i'll finally be able to answer some of those questions....UGH, I got **butterflies** Eeeeeeeek!!!!!!!!!!

UPDATE: So, Mr. Bookkeeper kept me company for most of the weekend. He arrived a little after 10pm Friday night and as he emerged from his car all the butterflies went away, my nerves calmed and for the duration of his stay, everything fell into place....so to speak. I didn't bother to quiz him on all the wonders of my mind like what we're doing, what's between us, etc, etc because I like what IS right now. I ended a long term situation FOR GOOD in February and well, it's cool to just have something with little expectations, labels, and the stressful works, i'm having fun....The distance actually helps with that too. The MAN I spent the weekend with has certainly and completely evolved from the not so grown man he was when I dated him his Senior year of college. I mean, was there anyway he wasn't winning me over, having me blush???? IDK what the cologne was but all my happy parts loved it, his height is sooo right for my 5ft 9" frame at 6ft 3inches....he's everything I didn't even realize I was missing the past three and half years; Tall, handsome, Assertive, and ladies I don't know about yall but I love a man that sort of IMPOSES traditional gender roles on me putting me in the place of the woman (the nurturer, the caterer) while he protects, provides and LEADS. He's intelligent (love a man that always has something to teach me), goal oriented it, his work ethic is SICK & at there seems to be no slowing him down on the corporate ladder. It was a sensual weekend....we lauged, flirted, blushed, kissed, hugged, spooned, talked, debated over sports, shopped a little together, cuddled and kissed & hugged some more. NOW, can you see why I didn't bother with the questions....it's fun, light and innocent right now and there is a nostalgia about that, that I can't shake and I don't wanna ruin it before it's time. He's my magnet and it's weird because when I talk to him there sort of feels like there was no in between, like, all of what happend in our lives in the past three and a half years we were apart didn't happen at all. I like this and the mystery of it all.....

In essence all the questions I really wanted answered WERE answered: The attraction, spark, fun, and interest all are still there and on top of it all he's a great friend!!! In the end that really is all I want....A great friend!!!

Sin City Bound!!!

EXCITED??? Pleeeeease, that is an understated description about how I feel about my trip to Las Vegas. It's definitely nothing short of a dream come true and the BEST thing is, I am making it happen for myself. NOPE! This isn't another mommy & daddy gimme, I planned and financed this trip ON MY OWN from the plane, luxury hotel, to the sexy limo that will serve as mine and the bestii's roundtrip transportation back & forth from the airport!!!! The whole ordeal has been exciting; booking the flight tix, hotel (Signature @ MGM Grand), Chippendale Show tix, shopping and discovering all that Vegas has to offer in the months before!!! I'm pumped and lmao at my parents constant questions on the details about my trip. LOL, it's my first trip, at such a long distance, without them. So far i've only had minor road trips (no more than 6hours away) with friends............I'm LOVING the life i'm LIVING because I AM LIVING the life I LOVE!!

CLAIM what you want for you! Refuse to settle for less!! My dreams are coming true......Living exactly the way I claimed I would even amongst my naysayers!!! My bills are PAID! I SAY what I want, Pray for what I want, Set out for it and HAVE it....LIFE is an interesting ride but we can set out to make it as enjoyable as we wish. DO YOU MY LOVELIES *Smile*

"I talk like this cause I can back it up"

I had a blast this weekend with some long time and not so long time friends. We all got together to celebrate the 25th birthday of one of my dearest friends and exCollege suitemate. I almost didn't make the festivities but i'm happy that I did! The much needed fun & girl time came at THE BEST time!! In the midst of all the partying, chit chats, and smiling for the cameras, I took a moment to step back and reflect on the friendships/relationships i've had along the years. My reflection was met with feelings of bittersweet satisfaction as I remembered "friendships" that didn't quite last, the gabillions of memories i've accumulated, and the friendships i'm able to still celebrate to this day for their endurance through the ups and downs of life & growing up.

I've had to say goodbye to some I once called friend and viewed as an extended member of my family...the older sisters I never had, older brothers i've wished for and the would be husband that ended up just another ex-boyfriend. I'm still growing up, and while I hate that some of those relationships were short lived, i'm uber proud of the crowd of well rounded, funny, caring, smart young people that I have attached the title of life long friend to. I've learned alot over the years and I've learned enough to realize that the bunch that I move with now is a a permanent bunch. So, it's with a smile that I think of all the memories we have yet to make & realize like; anniversaries, graduations, births, weddings, heartbreak, birthdays, vacations, and phone conversations just to say we're thinking about each other. I'm BLESSED to have these people and vice versa.....

Date Night.....Remixed

Valentines Day is exactly one week from today, and some of my single friends & associates are "feeling the pressure" so to speak, to have a date for that night,to fill the status quo. If that's not your situation though and you're fabulously single, with no special plans for the night, it doesn't mean your only options are sitting at home with a pint of your favorite ice cream, watching romantic comedy films....Noooooo, you're too fab, too young for that. Listening to my friends, I started thinking of fun things i'd want to do if I were single....and I came up with these ideas:

• Attend a church service with your girlfriends and a fab brunch afterwards. Have some mimosas, good food and get in some girl talk. I always find that refreshing!!


• Make reservations for you and some friends at an area restaurant or just go out on a whim and pick a restaurant without reservations. When you get there order fun girly drinks, all the appetizers that catch your eye, have dessert and then head to one of D.C's trendy boutique hotels for a sleepover. Yes, a sleepover, just like when you were 10years old. Have wine, play boardgames, make prank calls, do makeovers, talk, and if you feel like it man bash. Hotels to check out are: Hotel Helix, Hotel Palomar, Aloft....they're all modern, hip and fun. Helix is my personal fave!!


• SPEED DATING-I know plenty of guys that do not have dates for Valentines Night either. With that in mind go speed dating!!!! You can do this with girlfriends too, go to dinner and then for a round of speed dating. Who knows you may come across someone that you'd want to have drinks with after....DON'T KNOCK IT TIL YOU TRY IT!! Seeing how the movies portray speed dating you may get in a few laughs too....


• Go on a weekend girlfriends getaway. It can be local or it can be your roadtrip for next weekend since it's a long weekend. Have an impromptu weekend with your girls; spa, dining, shopping, fab hotel!!! I love road trips with my girlfriends***


• Use Valentines Day to celebrate your friendships-get small trinkets for your friends, write them a note, or card explaining how you appreciate their presence in your life,, make a collage of your pictures together. After all they probably were right there, comforting you after that last jerk broke your heart. Wear red or pink, go out and celebrate each other.

There are no written rules about Valentines Day so write your own and celebrate your femininity, friendships** It's what being a girl is all about....enjoy your day & HAPPY EARLY VALENTINES DAY!!!!!

LOST ONE**

As we progress through life, we encounter many different kinds of personalities. We befriend some of them, fall in love with some but one thing is certain not all of them will last, all aren't meant to. That is the aspect that we have trouble dealing with the most as people. We seek acceptance, companionship, affection and love so when someone we want around no longer wants us around we often find it difficult to cope with that reality. Although, life does eventually move on...and this could be true of a relationship with a family member, friend or "friend", and mate. Even "life long" friends can be people that existed only in your past, and it is perfectly fine and very normal to be sad, at first, but of more importance to understand the role he/she played in your life, acknowledge and appreciate the good you two shared and DECIDE that relationship is over and moving on is vital to YOUR development, YOUR health, and YOUR happiness. It doesn't make you a bad person, doesn't mean you never cared for them, it means you understand that your happiness is up to you and that NOTHING should negatively impact that. People often tell me I am "heartless", insensitive because I approach relationships and i'll be honest I approach most friendships with this state of mind...it's not that I am never or never was your friend, it's because I understand that there will be other relationships and that when ANY door closes it's working for the eventual good and means another is not too far from opening. Don't get me wrong there are friendships/relationships worth fighting for, worth putting work into...but some have just run their course and you'll know those when you come across them.

LESSON: DO NOT pour in unnecessary energy or stress over situations, people, things you CANNOT and will NOT ever be able to change. Choose to be happy, smiling, at peace, secure, and sure of your surroundings and associates. Anything else WILL compromise all of that.

I can say that i've realized this as I examined the relationships & "friend"/friendships i've had but nothing or noone has kept me from being happy, living the life I want to live and pursuing the things I want to pursue...that means everything that ended and everyone that is no longer IS NOT for a reason!!!!

My Co-worker bought me this for Christmas....cute! Right?

You can call me gullible, naive, or whatever you want. I know who I am so that doesn't bother me. However, as I get older, it is getting harder and harder for me to wholeheartedly trust people OR genuinely LIKE people. I'm genuine, blunt, honest and sometimes I can get under your skin with it but YOU WILL know what I think about you, truthfully. If I don't like you I won't interact with you. Why can't everyone be like this? Why does everyone have a hidden agenda? Why is it always about what you can do for them or how they can gain something from you for relationships (whatever kind) to be of any kind of substance? How come it seems EVERYONE has multiple personalities and you never really know them....

I'm just really finding it hard to trust people nowadays...or give people the benefit of the doubt. I don't like to keep people at an arms distance or censor myself with them as a result of their underhanded ways. I just want to be me BUT that's difficult when your friends aren't your friends, the person you love doesn't love you, someone is working full time, behind your back to sabotage you....ugh!!! It's really becoming a chore to notice the good in people before, first, noticing their faults. It's really becoming hard to value "FRIENDSHIPS" because they aren't that at all.

But one thing mommy taught me is that "when someone shows you who they really are, take that for exactly what it is, who they are" I can say that has allowed me to just move on in alot of instances. It bothers some, because they can't, for the life of them understand how I seemed so unphased and really don't care about certain things. Truth is I don't. So what, a friendship dissolves, they'll be others, so what you lose a job you're still LIVING. I always think of the more important things in life. Well, the things that are important to me anyway. I'm happy, healthy, accepted and loved by my family and have TWO very loyal, genuine, loving best friends. I've been blessed with education....none of those are things that can be taken away.
Therefore, I live for those things...not people, friends, a relationship, acceptance from everyone else, those that @ the end of the day don't matter.

I had to write this blog as a way of purging so to speak because PEOPLE can drive you crazy or @ least THINK they are. If you know me and are reading this....IF YOU DON'T LIKE ME, STAY YOUR DISTANCE. I'VE NEVER BEEN ONE TO THRIVE OFF OF FRIENDSHIP & CAN GIVE A SH!T IF YOU LIKE ME!!! I've been known to trust up front, not taking it away until I have a reason to but to hell with that....

If you like my blog then feel free to comment, follow and make sure I check yours out too. If you know me or follow me on twitter then feel free to comment on there or speak when you see me. I'm a really nice person unless given a reason to showcase another attitude...BUT FOR THE SAKE OF TIME & ENERGY KEEP YOUR SH!T MOVING IF YOUR MOTIVES & THOUGHTS AREN'T POSITIVE!!!!!

40/40, Tropicana, Trump Plaza, Caesars

I am at work so beyond tired it doesn't make any sense. This weekend was loooong!!! I had fun though, it was all well deserved! To start off the Girl Gone Crazy weekend my best friend and her other bestii went to my bestii's house for Champagne, birthday cake, food, and girl talk....a pajama party between the 3 of us so to speak. Mind you, this was after work Friday night, I'm already tired*

Saturday, myself, my bff, another friend, and my bff's cousin hit up The Tender Rib (a new spot owned in Temple Hills) and got some soul food. If you're in the DC area, you must try their food. So far i've had the ribs, greens, yams, fried chicken, fried fish, BBQ Chicken, potatoe salad, and mac & cheese....NOTHING WAS LESS THAN TASTY!!!!! It's owned by a friend's family and was a real treat. After gettin' our food we drove to Atlantic City. OMG, I'm so tired @ this point but doing all the driving. I woke up once we arrived to AC though. Tropicana was poppin, but Trump Plaza was our first stop. We had a ball, taking pictures in front of Caesars, fight @ 40/40, ate @ P.F Chang, Gambled it up @ Tropicana for the rest of the night, and the Malibu & Pineapple I had kept right. I had so much necessary fun with my girls. We arrived home @ about 7:30 Sunday morning.

I got some sleep then did some light shopping with the bff and LOL and then back to the Tender Rib to pickup our Sunday dinner & wine. This has been THE PERFECT year!!!! I have to have fun havin' it up to send it off. NEW YEARS PLANS ARE DEFINITELY IN THE WORKS!!!!!

What did you all do this weekend? Any special holiday plans in the works?

Girls Just Wanna Have FUN**

I had a crazy amount of fun lastnight with my girlies. It was my bff's 22nd birthday (YaY!!) we went to The Melting Pot to celebrate. It was the perfect night to go because it was their monthly Girls Night Out night and OMG!!!! It was the best dining out experience i've had. For those that don't know, The Melting Pot is a Fondue Restaurant where fondues are made at your table and you are given "dippers" (food to dip in the fondue & eat). They had a separate Girls Night Out menu which included a four course meal. It was sooo good. The first course was a cheese fondue with assorted dippers that included apples, vegetables, bread, nacho chips. The second course was the salad. 3rd was the entree THAT YOU COOK YOURSELF!!! I'll admit I was the only one skeptical about us cooking it ourselves BUT everything is preseasoned and marinated & the server gives you instructions to guide you through the cooking.
It sounds like alot of work but it isn't...IT'S FUN!!! The food was so good, the entree was steak, chicken breast, shrimp, pasta, with vegetables. ALL OF IT IS COOKED BY YOU!!!

BUT OMG THE LAST COURSE was the BEST...the dessert comes with a chocolate fondue that you choose with an assortment of dippers: pound cake, cheesecake, strawberries, bananas, brownies, marshmellows. We chose the Flaming Turtle Chocolate Fondue that came with walnuts in regular chocolate fondue that was flambeed @ our table. It was soo good!!! I recommend this restaurant as a nice date restaurant!!!! I don't have pics for blogger but the night was amazing!!

My best friend LOVED her gifts!! I got her a Betsey Johnson bag & Cosmetic Bag, 3 Vicky Secrets Lipglosses, Vicky's perfume giftpack with all the Vicky's perfumes, two bottles of Rose` Champagne (MOET), a birthday cake and dinner was on me!!!!

While we ALL had a good time last night, let this post remind you to be selfless and try to take yourself out of the equation sometimes. You'll be surprised @ how going out of your way to make someone else happy can make you feel*** Checkout The Melting Pot too!!!!

AYE BESTII GOT A BDAY!!!

I am so happy my bestii's birthday is tomorrow, we're embracin the double deuces*** She's the first!!!!

So yea, I broke up the work day with some shopping for her gifts; Betsey Johnson and Vicky Secrets, i'm off to get the Bottle of Moet Rose' Imperial after work!!! I love my best friend, she's been a constant force of strength, love and support in my life since we were 11years old!!! I get amped when this day comes like it's my birthday!!! I CAN'T WAIT TO DO IT WAY BIG FOR MY LOVE'S 22ND BIRTHDAY!!!!!

GREAT, LOYAL, AUTHENTIC friends are like a needle in a haystack and almost impossible to come across. I was blessed to meet mine in my sixth grade reading class***

IT'S A CELEBRATION B*****$!!!!!!!!!!!!

Imprints on my heart....gotta LOVE friends!!

Life is but a series of laughs, tears, triumphs, and tests all of which mean absolutely nothing without the meaningful relationships we form in life such as FRIENDSHIP!!! Unlike family, friends are special because they, without a doubt, share, at least some, of our likes, dislikes, idiosyncrasies (?) lol and are chosen by us to take part in our experiences, ups, downs, and the like....HOWEVER like anything else we choose or do in life we are even subject to make mistakes in our choices about who are invited to enjoy our ride with us. OF COURSE at the time we don't know we're making a mistake or that our friend isn't actually who we thought they were but in any event even that "not so great" relationship/friendship just adds to our life experiences and loves while simultaneously nurturing other friendships & relationships. Much like that of a great love the characteristics of a great friend don't come a dime a dozen. With that said, I think everyone should embrace ALL their friendships/relationships especially those that prove to withstand the TESTS of time. I've been fortunate to have end up with a great roster of lovely friends!!!!I love them....

DON'T TAKE FRIENDSHIPS LIGHTLY!!!!! LOVE, LIVE & LAUGH WITH YOUR FRIENDS!!!