TGIF! Confessional and Letters

Linking up with A Blonde Ambition for confessions and Adventures of Newlyweds for letters today!

I confess that though I just got a manicure a few days ago, I couldn't resist a color change. Thank you Target and Essie for bringing Mod Squad into my life.

I confess I created a Real Estate board on Pinterest.

Still got the moving bug and I don't think it's going anywhere. 

Good news is, Will has signed on to get the house "market ready" by the end of summer. Can't wait!

I confess that I dreamed we got engaged, and I hated the ring. I feel like such a B. 

I know this will never happen because A) Will has great taste and B) we already looked so he knows what I want. I am not one of those girlfriends obsessed with getting engaged, so not sure what brought on this dream. 

Maybe a sign it's coming ?! ;)

I confess I haven't worked out since LAST SUMMER and it shows. Up 2 pants sizes. Bleh. 

I enjoy running in the warmer months but I just haven't found the motivation. Hopefully it comes sooner rather than later.

Dear Trendy Top people, Seriously? You could just buy a cami. Or clothes that fit. It is amazing what they're selling on infomercials these days. Dear Holly and Sadie, I love you pups more than life but you are driving me CRAY. Momma is not ready for playing in fetch at 8am. Try to keep your composure till around 10 from now on. Dear Neighbors, Stop calling the police on us. It is not illegal for a dog to bark occasionally in the middle of the afternoon. You are wasting valuable police time. I think we all know Cincinnati has bigger problems. They rarely bark, so deal with it. Dear Mother Nature, Please give us good weather next week. Everything I want to do with my sisters is outdoors. If you fail me, I will be forced to come up with an entirely new plan. Dear Boyfriend, Thank you for being you. Always silly and light hearted, even when I tell you to be serious. You've been working so hard at work and grad school, I can't wait to spend the weekend with you!

Happy Friday :)

On a Lighter Note

Perfect day at the park with my girls :)

Annoyed

I started my post today as "It's Ok" Thursdays.

To give me a chance to think about all of the things I want to cut myself a break for, be happy for, or vent about.

I was going to post about trivial things, but quite frankly, I'm too pissed off to post that.

In the middle of writing, I hopped over to Yahoo.com. On the main page is a story about a fight that took place during a High School Women's Soccer match.

I proceeded to read the comments, and was disgusted (unfortunately, I was not surprised) at the blatant hate, rage and disrespect toward the girl involved.

Was she wrong? Absolutely. I think she should be punished. That is not in question.

Does that make it right, under any circumstance, to stereotype, blame and degrade any group of people based on one person's actions?

NO.

I am the LAST person to ever comment on race, unless it's within my own family or close circle of friends.

I come from a bi-racial family and have friends from all backgrounds. We live our lives in many of the same ways without persecution or repression. That is something I am thankful for and normally something I take pride in. For myself, and for our country.

Until I am minding my business, reading a news story, and take a look at the comments.

Simply DISGUSTING.

I am not concerned about how many followers I have, but this is one occasion here I wish thousands of people would read my blog.

All of the hate and rage directed toward my race. ANY race, religion, lifestyle. The stereotypmg and generalizations, baffles me.

Even though I come from a highly educated family.

Even though my maternal grandmother, who was white, immigrated here from Germany as an adult to begin a life with my grandfather, a soldier, who was black.

Even though my paternal grandfather overcame the segregated society that was America generations ago, to earn not only a Bachelor's, but a Master's degree, when many high schools were still segregated.

Even though my Dad attended one of the most prestigious universities in the country.

Even though my Mom is a Center Manager for one of the largest and most thriving banking systems in the country.

Even though I supported myself through college, have achieved many of my goals, and simply want to live my life as a productive member of society.

Despite all of that.

To some people, no matter what I do, I will always be a black girl with anger problems.

I hope i can look black on this blog in 10 or 20 years (if I've managed to avoid prison, the welfare system, and my own short comings that long) and notice a radical change in the progression of the United States of America.

This goes for ALL races. I read so many news stories about the "issues" with Whites or Blacks or Asians or Hispanics. Here's a news story for you. We're all here. No one is going anywhere. Let's just make it work, OK?

How can I confidently birth a child and subject them to this bull shit? How can I raise a bi-racial child in one of the most notoriously racially charged cities in the US, knowing the people making these comments could be our neighbors?

Please take time out to share this post, the news story's comments, talk with a friend, or at least think to yourself about what YOU can do to be more accepting to the people around you. Even if they are the same color.

THE STORY

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I can't believe it's Wednesday already. 

This week is FLYING by, and I'm not complaining.

Time for What I'm Loving Wednesday with This Kind of Love

As usual, I have plenty of things to love about this last week in March.

(also can't believe it's the last week in March!! Dear 2012, SLOW DOWN)

First up, I'm loving mornings.

Ok this is the opposite of where I live. 

Rather than birds and misty roads, I've got traffic noises and annoying neighbors.

BUT, that describes how I feel.

The best thing about my new job is NOT having to get up and out of the house by 8:30am.

I am totally a morning person... when the morning consists of housework or coffee or shopping or browsing the internet, at least.

I just can't seem get myself motivated to "work" at 9am, never could.

These mornings spent chatting with Will as he gets ready for work, finishing up whatever crap I didn't the night before and drinking coffee with my best friend MacBook Pro, have been some of the best I can remember.

Moving on.

I am LOVING that my super short hair cut is finally just long enough to wear curly. The way it was styled basically required I straighten out my natural curls every day and let me tell you that it has SUCKED.

Not only have I done unbelievable amounts of damage to my locks in my quest for a cute pixie-ish cut, but wasted countless hours trying to style it like my hair girl did. A goal that was never achieved.

I hate the dreaded "middle" length I am approaching right now, BUT I am pumped I can now wash my hair, put it in a clip and let the curls do their thing.

I am loving the fact that in just FOUR DAYS my sisters, Brooke and Paige, will be coming to stay with us for the week!!!

I am beyond excited.

I'm almost 24 and those not-so-little-anymore babies are 12 and 13.

It is such a special experience to have siblings basically a generation younger than you. I love them as if they are my own daughters. I changed their diapers, fed them, played with them and rocked them to sleep as infants. Being only 15 months apart, my sweet Mom had her hands full and I loved being there to help.

As they get older I am able to step more into the fun, older sister, role model shoes.

I know once they reach adulthood we will be more like friends, so I am soaking up the "cool big sister" gig as much as I can.

No idea what we will do for fun when they get here, but I will post a lot of pics.

The one thing I love most about my girls is their childlike innocence. Many girls their age are already into things I didn't even approach until well into High School, but P & B still seem so young.

They watch Disney and Nickelodeon and play with toys and like to do arts and crafts. They dress no differently than they did a few years ago and honestly I don't think they notice or care.

I am proud of my sisters and the way my Mom has raised us and I am LOVING that we are having out first sisters week together that Mom will not be present for.

Their requests for what I make for dinner?

Moon Pies.

There are a lot more things I am thankful for, but currently I am exhausted and have a lot to get done, so this will have to do.

XO

Time Travel Tuesday + Tail Wagging Tuesday

There were so many fun link ups I wanted to participate in today, but I settled for two.

Happiness Is...

and

The Magnolia Pair

First up, pics with my fur baby, Holly.

As my photos are completely disorganized, these are in no particular order.

HELP! Dad is smashing my head!

Love her :)

 Now for Time Travel Tuesday with The Magnolia Pair!

What was I doing last year at this time?

That is hilarious to even think about.

My life has varied GREATLY from year to year. The past 365 moons is no exception.

On March 27, 2012, I was probably in my apartment, unshowered, looking like a wreck, listening to Adele and binging on wine.

Glamorous. Not.

In February, I got dropped by the guy I was dating at the time. It was a blessing in disguise for a billion reasons. The most important being:

 - It opened me up to meet Will

and

- My ex was an emotionally unstable train wreck

Hind site is always 20/20.

Anyway, I was a wreck. I was sure that if I couldn't keep someone as.... simple (to put it kindly) as him, how could I get anyone better?

Classic just-got-dumped logic that seriously makes no sense.

I actually dropped classes because I couldn't get it together enough to focus on school. I would like to go back and slap 2011 Brittany in the face for that, but I suppose everything happens for a reason.

I think it was less the guy, and more that I just did not want to be single.

All I did after this breakup was work, binge drink with my co workers, then wake up in a foolish haze wondering WHY on earth I wasn't meeting anyone half way decent.

CLEARLY, I was delusional.

Last year I didn't have this blog, but I was stalking all the same people I follow now. Around this ridic chapter of my life, I discovered Megan at Mackey Madness.

If you do not read her blog, I suggest you start.

Just as I was surely about to die of self pity, I came across this post.

It was like the heavens opened.

Why didn't I have this marvelous idea?

Now, I'd asked God to bring me the right man MANY times. But never had I asked for Him to stop bringing me anyone else before he could give me that. Never had I asked to remain single until I was ready to meet my husband.

Genius.

So that is what I prayed. And that is what God gave me.

Pardon the raccoon eyes

Insert Love Story. I wish I could guarantee the same immediate results to this prayer as I received. I will take 5 months turn around time on a prayer any day of the week.

And that is sadly and happily, where I was just one year ago.

On a lighter note, some light hearted things about 2011 vs 2012

I have been introduced to a bunch of new shows. As if I needed more reasons to sit around and watch TV.

My Dad was very sick a year ago. Though his heart still is far from being 100%, 2012 has brought him much better luck in the health arena!

I had no puppies. Sad, I know.

I had yet to purchase my iPhone or MacBook. I had an average hp laptop and POS Android. Thank God I've seen the light!

Finally, I didn't have this blog.

I am having so much fun participating in link ups, actually being able to comment on posts, and meeting a new people.

Most importantly, I have started a diary of stories and pictures that I will be able to look back to next year at this time, and hopefully laugh at my old worries just as much as I am laughing at last year's today.