Mirror Mirror On The Wall

Day 9 of Blogtember is simply a self portrait.

I chose this pic because its usually how I wear my hair and this was a time last year when I was pretty happy. 

This is me a couple of months ago, looking happy but more than likely feeling sad. Today I read a devotional about about seasons and how God has bigger and better plans for you. Instead of being sad and thinking if all the things/people I had to let go I should be a bit more thankful, joyful, and welcome all of the new opportunities ahead of me.

#Hashtag

Day 8 of Blogtember is to describe ways that blogging or social media has changed you.

I've been blogging for quite some time now and it started out as an outlet for me. I was new to the area, didn't know anyone, and was homesick. After reading several blogs, I thought starting a blog would be great for, and it was. In regard to starting a YouTube channel, the feelings were about the same with a few minor differences. I didn't know of anyone to do my hair and couldn't actually maintain it myself. But with the help of YouTube I was able to figure a couple of things out and also help people along the way.

Blogging and social media changed me because I was able to find my way, navigate through a new city, and meet new friends and network. I LOVE, LOVE writing and hope that I'll be able to expand my platform into something greater one day!!!

Girls Just Want To Have Fund$

Day 7 of Blogtember is to share links of your favorite places to shop.

This might be my FAV post of Blogtember since all I'm doing now days is window shopping and there are sooo many things I want. I can't really categorize my style, I really dress how I feel. Most of the times I dress pretty trendy (one of my besties jokingly call me Trendy Mindy) but there are definitely times when I prep it up, rock it out, or be on my urban hippie ish. A few of my FAV stores are

Forever21
Urbanog
Chicwish
American Eagle
LuLus
Franchesca's
Urban Outfitters
Salvation Army
J. Crew
Charlotte Russe
Kate Spade
Michael Kors
Hot Topic

Honestly, I shop everywhere, I don't discriminate, I see something cute and I get it when I can. I just rounded up just a few things that I'm feeling right now, trust and believe, there's more. That bag is calling my name...I need it, I want it... Gotta Have It will post when I get it!!!

Forever 21 dress
forever21.com

Gap tall jeans
gap.com

Buckle strap ankle boots
urbanog.com

Pointy toe high heel pumps
nastygal.com

Kate Spade zipper pouch
katespade.com

Kate Spade zip around continental wallet
katespade.com

J Crew necklace
jcrew.com

Michael Kors collar necklace
neimanmarcus.com

Charlotte Russe rhinestone bow stud earrings
charlotterusse.com

Rvca hat
lulus.com

Life, I Wonder...

Day 6 of Blogtember is to post a distinct moment when your life took a turn.

My life took a turn in 2005 when my grandfather got sick. It was like everything was good, and then it was not-so-good, and then it was bad. I've probably stated on this blog numerous times how much my grandparents on my mothers side mean to me. They were practically like my parents and I was their youngest child. I remember hearing that a friend of mine grandfather had recently passed and at that exact moment a feeling came over me like what are you going to do when your grandfather pass. I fought hard to push that out of my mind although I knew that it was going to happen and happen fairly soon. I remember visiting him in the hospital with my cousins and grandma; we were sitting on his bed watching TV and laughing and joking. The next thing I know the doctors came in and made us leave; although my granddad was having a good time he was also having a light heart attack. A couple weeks later my grandfather died at home. It was one of the worse moments in my life. The guy who made me feel like a daddy's girl, the one who engraved in my head over and over about not dating a sorry ni**a, the one who picked me up from high school, the first man that I loved was gone. It was a very tough pill to swallow, I was going to be graduating from college in a few months as well as my younger cousins graduating from high school, and he'd promised us all he'd make it to the graduation. There were sooo many events that was going to take place that year that we needed him to be there for, but I guess God needed him more.

For me, the time afterwards was a downhill spiral. I almost didn't graduate because I completely messed up the calculations on my senior project. I turned down a job (that was offered to me before graduation) because I didn't want to leave the state and be away from my family. When I say that I was depressed, it was a total understatement. My ex (high school musical) came and stayed with me at my apartment for a week just to make sure that I was OK. But after he left, I knew I wasn't OK; I was just alone with my thoughts.

If that weren't enough, 6 months later my great-grandmother died. And 5 months after that my mom was killed in a car accident. Typing this now all seems surreal, like did all of that really happen to me? It did, within 11 months my life totally changed and sooo did I. I went through every emotion associated with death. I felt like someone just took pieces of me away from me. I wasn't the same Kristin anymore, I was hard, numb, and angry. Everything happened sooo quickly and nothing was ever the same again. I often wonder where I would be and who I would be had none of those things taken place. At the age of 31 I long for a mother/daughter friendship that I'll never have outside of the dreams where my mom comes to visit.

The thing that I'm learning about life is that it keeps going, and while you're here you just have to be able to keep up with the turns...

Personality Is Key...

Day 5 of Blogtember challenge: Take a short personality test and respond to your results.

I almost didn't do today's challenge after seeing all of the questions. Questions like that bore me to death. I absolute hate take those types of personality test when applying for jobs, I mean totally hate it. However, I was pleased with the results I was given (it was spot on) and I know that I answered honestly.

                                                 ENFJ

Extravert(78%)  iNtuitive(50%)  Feeling(38%)  Judging(22%)

• You have strong preference of Extraversion over Introversion (78%)
• You have moderate preference of Intuition over Sensing (50%)
• You have moderate preference of Feeling over Thinking (38%)
• You have slight preference of Judging over Perceiving (22%)

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Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging
 

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ENFJs are the benevolent 'pedagogues' of humanity. They have tremendous charisma by which many are drawn into their nurturant tutelage and/or grand schemes. Many ENFJs have tremendous power to manipulate others with their phenomenal interpersonal skills and unique salesmanship. But it's usually not meant as manipulation -- ENFJs generally believe in their dreams, and see themselves as helpers and enablers, which they usually are.
ENFJs are global learners. They see the big picture. The ENFJs focus is expansive. Some can juggle an amazing number of responsibilities or projects simultaneously. Many ENFJs have tremendous entrepreneurial ability.
ENFJs are, by definition, Js, with whom we associate organization and decisiveness. But they don't resemble the SJs or even the NTJs in organization of the environment nor occasional recalcitrance. ENFJs are organized in the arena of interpersonal affairs. Their offices may or may not be cluttered, but their conclusions (reached through feelings) about people and motives are drawn much more quickly and are more resilient than those of their NFP counterparts.
ENFJs know and appreciate people. Like most NFs, (and Feelers in general), they are apt to neglect themselves and their own needs for the needs of others. They have thinner psychological boundaries than most, and are at risk for being hurt or even abused by less sensitive people. ENFJs often take on more of the burdens of others than they can bear.
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Weekends Were Made For Me...

Although I work 7 days a week, something about the weekends make me feel sooo much better. The weekends are a time when I can actually explore the city with my friends that work m-f, and kick it with any of my other friends that may come up for a visit.

This weekend started off just like any other except I was a bit stressed due to some unnecessary BS (that's another post altogether). After checking out my friends new pad, we headed out to DC for dinner and afterwards returned back to Va. for drinks. 

Friday night was kool and chill I actually made it back in pretty early. Although we didn't do much I was super tired and fell asleep without my mask. With that being said, Saturday morning was especially hard for me. I actually got out of bed at 9:18 and had to be to work at 10, luckily I was able to throw on jeans and a tee and head out.

I didn't actually know how the day/night would turn out since I'd originally planned to work an earlier shift to attend HU's game against Morehouse. Nonetheless, my friends always know about something kool that's taking place; and this time it was no different. I decided to kick it with them instead and go to a jazz festival in Silver Spring, Md.  I was kinda excited for an outdoor evening event and immediately started thinking about pieces/looks that could transition into night. Of course I walked the mall to find something but decided to just shop my own closet. At first I wasn't too gung ho about my look and felt it was a bit too matchy, but everyone knows you can't go wrong with black and white, right? Although I knew that, I also knew I needed a few colors to make it pop, so I opted for a red bandeau and a purple lippie. Take a look for yourself, you gotta love an #OOTD literally!!!

A bit self absorbed you say, lol, not really. I'm actually not photogenic and really truly like being behind the camera but when my outfit is cute all I wanna hear is click, click lol!!! If you're into twitter and Instagram then you already know one lives for a good hash tag; and if you make YouTube videos you know that hash tag is #OOTD. 

Nonetheless, the main attraction was the actual jazz festival and being able to enjoy a few of my friends. Judging from the pics you're definitely able to tell we have hair in common and not just any hair, BIG hair!!! We also recently dealt with a few of the same dating scenarios or scandals to say the least and had to discuss them.

Something about live music just sits sooo well with my spirit and this made me want a glass of wine and cuddle with my non-existent boo thang.

Aside from the jazz festival, random 'date' talk, and meeting one of our friends 'king' (you gotta love love, especially when it's real), we browsed H&M and headed out for drinks, appetizers, and desserts.

 

The late night spot in Md. was sooo much fun although I didn't see one cute guy...oh well. I hope that I'm able to experience more lounges in Md. because it definitely is a bit different from DC, a little more chill.

I actually woke up this morning feeling great. I think it was because my mom appeared in my dreams and it was just sooo realistic (she usually comes whenever I'm stressed or going through something difficult). As much as I wanted to go to church, I didn't make it, but I did watch if on my iPad. I'm almost certain that God sent the messenger and message for me. The preacher's sermon was Thank God For What Didn't Happen. The message really hit home when the preacher stated 'if people want to leave your life, hold the door open' and that 'your destiny can't be ruined by the decisions of others'. Sooo many times we try to hold on to the exact thing that God is trying to remove. I've stated several times and have seen personally that every time God removes something or takes something away from me he replaces it with something even better. And like the song says, if He did it before He'll do it again. You all just don't understand how much I needed that, like seriously!!!

As much as I wanted to go to Brunch (since I'm rarely off on Sunday) or visit a winery; instead I decided to just chill, make an omelette out of what little I had in the fridge, and catch up on old Sex In The City episodes. Those shows NEVER get old and are still relevant to dating, actually caring for someone, sex, and love.

I was super bored and could not stay in sooo I checked my mailbox, grabbed a pumpkin spice coffee, and window shopped.

I am totally obsessed with bows and the bow shoes were super cute. I was very shocked to find overalls at JC Penny. They were actually on sale and were calling my name. People sleep on JC Penny, but in actuality they have the same trends as other department stores with better prices. Look at the fox sweater I saw, I have sooo many styling options in my head (stay tuned I may just post them). The ring I'm wearing is similar to what I'd like as a wedding ring, simple and vintage (of course I don't need 4 bands on one finger). Those purple workout pants will be mine soon, I am definitely on a fitness kick right now.

All in all, another great weekend. I'm convinced that weekends are made for me!!! My Bestie will be driving up on Friday sooo I can wait to see what we get into *evil grin*. How did you spend your weekend?