Some type of way....

Wasn't it just March? April is here with a vengeance, and surprisingly as I type this from the airport a cold front is rolling in..... Like, coats in April, in south Texas. Almost unheard of. I'm heading to Denver, where it's apparently still snowy, for work this week. I'll be back Friday, which also happens to be Good Friday, as in the Friday before Easter. 

Seriously, why is time moving so fast?

My March was so whirlwind and full of activity that I'm almost let down by how my April has been going. I've been super stressed out lately. Adjusting to a new position with so much more responsibility and bureaucracy has been taking it's toll on me. But I'm sure that God prepared me with the tools I need to be successful. I just need to focus on using them....

I was out and about all weekend. My friends and I have been so busy lately that we decided to set up monthly friend dates to meet up and catch up on life. This past Friday was a dinner date at UP restaurant. This was my first time going, and I was definitely impressed by the ambiance. The food was just ok, but the company and laughs were priceless! 

My friend wanted us all to dress in white, but I've been so exhausted and stressed after work that I didn't have time to go shopping so I kind of broke the rules. Whoops. She survived minus my fashion faux pas. 

Since we were all worn out from the work week, we headed home after dinner and I was sound asleep before 11. 

I woke up early Saturday to run errands before I had to pick up another friend from the airport. Once I scooped her up, we made a detour at Barnes & Noble and I took her to one of my favorite spots in the city for dinner and drinks. 

I definitely am thankful for our one on one time. She gave me some good advice and a ton of confidence boosters in regards to the situation I've been dealing with, with my guy friend. Ugh. It could all be so simple, but you rather make it hard. Had to slip that Lauryn Hill lyric in there, because it expresses exactly how I'm feeling about that topic. But I digress. 

After I dropped her off I was out for the count. 

I could barely drag myself out of bed Sunday morning. I just was not feeling it. Luckily one of the homies suggested we go eat to get out of the house. 

A Belgian waffle and a carafe of mimosas later, I was feeling alive again. 

I did a lot of indulging this weekend. But I guess I deserved it in light of how I've been feeling lately. 

After brunch, I hung out with my guy friend and then met up with my new co-workers later that night for a getting to know you dinner at our GM's house. His house and kids and dogs are gorgeous. I had a good time hanging with them, but I did feel some type of way as everyone shared their marriage stories and talked about their kids. Of course I was the only single person there. I had to ignore the loneliness and just focus on having a good time. I understand that I have to be patient and all that jazz but it's still hard sometimes wondering why things aren't the way you thought they would be. I enjoy my friends, family and freedom, but I still feel unfulfilled without that one missing piece of the equation. But again, I shall digress. 

I stayed up late last night packing, and now I'm excitedly waiting my flight...which has now been delayed due to this crazy Houston weather. I've never been to Denver so I hope I packed accordingly. I'm nervous and anxious for my first trip to our client's head quarters for training.

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale, and breathe....

So.

A friend of mine forwarded me an article saying that selfies were linked to psychological disorders... I just enjoyed seeing all the different ways I wore my hair this past week. But I guess that means I'm crazy. Ah well. Moving along.....

It's April. Spring is in full bloom, which is evidenced by all the pollen in the air & the bags under my eyes. I'm not a fan of allergy season. And Spring means sneezes, Zyrtec and tons of glasses/not contacts moments.  

Work. It has been interesting. The Lord apparently has a lesson that I still need to learn. 

But I digress. 

After a whirlwind March, I haven't really felt like getting out too much. I spent this past weekend very low key. Brunch and drinks with a friend, followed by a lot of pajama time. 

Speaking of pajamas. My April will be dedicated to rest. Aside from a work trip next week to Denver, I would prefer to hibernate until Fall. 

It is definitely time to refuel....

A Taste of Spring....

The weather this weekend was perfection! It finally felt like Spring for a chance, and I was able to get out and enjoy it for a bit this weekend before I came home to rest & prepare for the upcoming work week.

I survived my first week at my new office, and met up with a friend for happy hour Friday.... Hmm, let's just say I under-estimated the strength of the margaritas at Cyclone Anaya's. You really do only need one. But I digress.... And plead the fifth....

Seasons

Life is about perpetual change. We learn, we evolve, we grow older... We face hardships, we experience happiness, we make mistakes. There are very few things in life that actually stay the same. Sometimes we enter periods of our lives where it feels like things will never be different from the way they are now. We see the situation we are in, but we fail to look beyond them.

For me, it was as if I had convinced myself that good things only happen to other people. I would see the celebrations, the promotions, the new additions and I would ask myself when would it be my turn? After posing that question so many times without seeing results, I lost hope that I was one of the chosen ones. I told myself that it would never be my turn.

Sometimes you genuinely have to detach yourself, from yourself.... Your thoughts, your so-called expectations and ideals of how things are supposed to be can sometimes be your own worse enemy. I had so many plans of what should be vs. what should really be at the moment. I craved change, but fought against it for so long. I stayed in situations longer than I should have. I talked myself out of opportunities. I avoided conflict, played it safe. I did all of these things just to preserve something that I was afraid to let go of. I stopped looking because I was just so sure that there was nothing, or nobody else out there for me.

My biggest mistake was failing to realize the only constant in my life, the Lord. All of those situations, all of those seasons, all of those changes...He has been there all along. I don't know how I ignored all those currants of life. All of those ups, downs, and periods of stillness that have written the story of who I am today. I've had extremely difficult times, and pure blissful ones as well. But through them all, God has been there to steer me in the right direction even when I have made the wrong decisions. Even when I didn't see a way out, he placed me in the right places at the right times. Although I don't have all the things I've convinced myself that I need at this moment...His track record has proven that they will all come in due time.

I prayed for an opportunity to come up. I prayed for increase. I prayed for something to catapult me into the right direction. I'd given up, and convinced myself that it would never happen. Time passed. I stopped looking. I settled back into my normal routine, and when I least expected it things just fell into place. As the seasons change, so does life into a new direction of this journey I've been placed upon.

Not only does tomorrow bring about Spring, it also brings about a first day in a new position for me. A new set of challenges, a different skill set to be utilized...a change. Seasons change, but one thing that remains the same is His love for us... Staying faithful, prayerful & full of belief that He will make a way, will in turn make a way. It more than likely won't be on our timeline...and we will more than likely have our faith tested to the point of no return, but it's always that moment where things shift in the right direction and life makes that next rotation.

There is a testimony in every situation, whether it was the wait to find a new job or having to face an unexpected failure...that moment of restlessness when you didn't know if you would make it at all. All of those moments are meant for some reason, some purpose. It may take us forever to realize how all these events worked together to set us up in the perfect position but it's my prayer that in the end it will all make sense.

I'm looking forward to this new season. Even if I have to remind myself a million times when I get into my mood of wanting everything RIGHT NOW (husband, house, dog) I cannot forget about that one constant throughout all the seasons... Somethings are just worth waiting for, even if you have to wait longer than anticipated for the season to change.

Cheers to the Weekend.....

Two of my girlfriends from undergrad celebrated their birthdays this weekend, which meant non-stop action resulting in my being in bed well before nightfall yesterday.... Good times.

It all started Friday with shots & and a Louisiana mix by the DJ. The perfect recipe for a wonderful night out. It was definitely an adventure. Anytime you're left with only very few pictures you can actually share with the world, you know fun was had by all.

Saturday was made for recovery. I pretty much was immobile the entire day, and got myself together in time for a birthday dinner that night at Rouxpour. The food was delicious & we stayed there chatting it up until it was closing time at the restaurant.

Funny how I've known all these ladies for over 10 years..... We all stayed in the same dorm in undergrad (I stayed in two different dorms while I was there) & were members of the Honor's College at Southern. Back then I never would have imagined us all as real grown ups, but here we are all living it up and being successful ladies!

On Sunday morning, we all met up again for brunch at Royal Oak. It was super laid back and the perfect way to end the weekend....

I enjoyed all the QT with my girls, and I'm glad they both enjoyed their special days collectively. A cold front came, so it's not really feeling like Spring yet...but it will be here in just a few days. I'm looking forward to warmer weather & and I am praying that the Lord continues to bless us all in this new season. Changes are coming, and I welcome them with open arms :)

lately...

My friend introduced me to a new life mantra... "I am confident & capable." I've been repeating this whenever I feel any slivers of doubt creeping into my mind. My March is already a whirlwind, and it's only 9 days in... So many things on the horizon, and I am so grateful to the Lord for blessing me beyond my wildest of dreams. These last couple of weeks I have been praying for a lot of different things, and trying to remain steadfast with my faith... I'm trying to stay centered and remind myself that no matter what, the Lord will always make a way for us.

Moving along....

Instead of it actually feeling like the month of March in Texas, it's been cold. This is so unlike Texas & I really can't remember it ever being so cold for this long. In true Houston form, we had one day of temperatures in the upper 80's and by the next morning I was back in my coat. But at least I got to feel Spring-like for one day before I was back in layers...

We celebrated Mardi Gras by hitting up Pappadeaux for swamp things (a drink similar to a hurricane) and got commemorative glasses... It definitely wasn't New Orleans, but at least it felt like we were there, lol...

I went to the Rockets vs Miami Heat game on Fat Tuesday! It was a great game, even though we only stayed in our actual seats for not even 15 mins... Long story, but definitely fun-tastic! And we won! We made some new friends at the game who insisted on keeping our glasses full, so we were on another level by the time we left. We made a pit-stop for food & ended up on a short adventure before I finally headed home for the night... P.S. It was freezing by the time Tuesday rolled around, so I finally got to wear my fur.. My friend said she felt like she was going to the game with one of the cast members from Basketball Wives. At least I was warm....

I got bored with wearing my hair straight, so I've been using foam rollers to switch things up a bit...I may actually try a twist-out or other non-heat hair style once the temperatures rise up a bit. Natural hair is so diverse, but I digress...

My friend and I went to the rodeo this past Friday, for Black Heritage Night & a performance by Usher. The rodeo is a major event in Houston, and I definitely wanted to make sure he experienced it since he is new to the city. I enjoyed watching him stare in disbelief at all the people walking around in full rodeo gear...head to toe boots, cowboys & the whole nine yards. We take the rodeo serious down here! I didn't take too many pictures because my iPhone is in serious need of retirement, and the battery keeps draining anytime I try to take photos, or text...or pretty much do anything with my phone... *insert side eye

I did manage to take this selfie of myself in my new glasses which I love! I told myself that I would smile more.... I guess that goes with the whole "confident" aspect of the mantra...

Anyway, I dedicated the month of March to progress & strengthening faith. So far, so good. I'm already over Daylight Savings Time, but I do plan to spend the remainder of my Sunday being productive & prepping for the rest of the work week.... Two of my girlfriends are celebrating their birthdays this upcoming weekend, so I will need all the rest & calm I can get this week before then.... I'm just hoping it warms up.