IT'S JUST ALL WRONG PEOPLE

(DEEP SIGH)

Ok, so after I spent $212 at my favorite little boutique in Lancaster AND came home and threw together the shirt above with some dark jeans, a cute wide brown belt AND (are you ready for this?) some PINK and BROWN tall boots.... (*THUD*) Oh yeah, and I rounded out the look with some pink earrings.

After I put out the fire on me...(because you know I was hot!) I realized that I should really work at some fashion magazine or somewhere my style can be fully appreciated. Luckily, I work in entertainment which gives me a little bit of free license to work out my inner fashion maven. I would never say I am a full diva. I know some ladies who know how to shop and how to dress and quite honestly,my style game is no where near some of the OD's (Original Divas).

I realize that one of the reasons that my style game has matured is because it is the only place I can be creative. My job doesn't allow me the ability to fully access my creative self, but in the morning I can decide color, fit, style and matching shoe, which gives me enough satisfaction to last through the day.

But I am slowly realizing that this is not going to be enough to last my entire career.

Hey, doesn't INSTYLE need lawyers????

JUST FINE!

I can't wait to get Mary's new album. I love the first song that was released. My history with Mary (because don't we all have a history with Mary), is that I seem to stumble upon her at different points in my life. Each time, I am going through (or about to go through) some relationship drama, she drops an album and I use it as my therapy. The lyrics and melodies speak directly to my situation and I literally don't listen to anything else for weeks upon weeks.

So imagine my delight when I realized she was going to drop an album entitled "Growing Pains."

That is so where I am in my life. I had a rough year, but I am here and everything is really "Just Fine." I am healthy, I am joyful and I like who I am and furthermore, who I am about to become. No, not everything is perfect, but as with anything in life, when you make it through a storm, you are bigger, better and stronger than you were before and that is a celebration in itself.

So I am here singing...my life, my life's just fine...fine..fine..!

LOVE...ACTUALLY

In 2008, I am taking. love. on.

Let me explain.

Last January, we stopped talking. She and I had a falling out. We had been tussling with each other for years and she clearly was kickin' my ample behind. I was drained. Tired of fighting with her. Tired of feeling less and less lov-ed every day. So I ended it. Gave her the deuces and never looked back.

Oh, I was cool at first, but she tried to fool me. Tried to make me believe that I just needed a break or maybe just a change of scenery and I would be fine. So I considered briefly talking to her again, but I quickly came to realize that it really wasn't time.

So we really and truly stopped seeing each other. We haven't talked for months. I filled my time with neat little projects like triathalons and traveling. I was miserable sometimes. I will admit, I missed love. But all I had to do was close my eyes and I was right back where we left off. Angered words. Bitterness. I couldn't even entertain thoughts of her.

As we move into the beginning of a new year, love is back at my door, begging for attention, begging to be better understood. Love wants to come back. She needs to come back...heck, I will even admit, I need to believe in her again.

But how. How do we start anew? How do I embrace her without fear of losing myself?

These are the questions I have for her. In 2008, I am inviting love over...just to talk. I have resolved to finally listen to what she has to say. I have pledged to myself to learn as much about her as I can, so that when I am ready, I could, maybe, possibly... invite love back into my life.

I want to enjoy her in all of her fullness. Wrap myself up in her without reservation or hesitation. Most of all, I want her to love me back in her gentle and loving way.

This all seems very promising.

THIRTY-ONE in TWO THOUSAND EIGHT

In March, I will be thirty-one (31)!

I just turned 30..in Las Vegas, in a rather special celebration of having friends and family surrounding me and lifting me up (and taking me out). It was a memorable experience and I will never forget it.

Let's recap 2007:

January 17th: Break up with boyfriend of nearly three years.

March: Fabulous celebration with friends and family...in Vegas. Sign up to do first triathlon.

April: Start dating good friend of 8 years. Throw party with bc girls.

May: Stop dating good friend of 8 years. Quite painful to break up with two men in 6 months.

June, July, August: A Blur...training for the triathalon, mild depression... low points of the year.

Septemember: Complete my first triathalon! Dad comes into town to cheer me on! Hooray!

October: CCWC conference w/ANTM: Life changing! Things are looking up!

November: Grateful, blessed. Mom comes into town to hang out! Hooray for moms!

December: It is the end of the year, as with every year, I have come full circle. I am happy, healthy and open to all the best that is yet to come in 2008.

But...I am going to be thirty-one! It seems like just yesterday I was 29.


all I can say is...


BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:)

MY HAIR

I love it.
It is me.
It looks like this except much shorter and sticking straight up and out as opposed to hanging down.

And that is cool with me.

After I wash and twist out, I am golden.

What I would love to happen is for a man to step to me with the line...

"My sista, you wear a beautiful crown..."

I would hesitate for a minute, not quite getting it.

Then I would smile and say "Thank you, I know."