So Thankful................

Hey Blogland !

Hope you had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving with your family and friends.  We traveled to visit my side of the family for our annual gathering.  It was good to see and spend time with family but it was also a very challenging week. We (me, my husband, my sister and brother-in-love) are dealing with managing my parents health issues and having to make lots of  major decisions regarding their care. It was quite and emotion filled holiday.

We kept up the tradition of our annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. It was quite chilly & I am quite out of shape, but I still pushed it out  & trudged my way through ! LOL

Here are some pics from that morning .....

Love these little ones !

Me & my nieces

My beautiful sister & her girls !

My handsome nephew

The First Family - we call them Barack & Michelle, LOL !

My love carrying the chairs for he & my Mama !

My husband had foot surgery 2 weeks before Thanksgiving so I am doing all of the driving for about 8 weeks. We have very different driving styles, so this is a challenge for the BOTH of us, LOL !  He came out  to cheer us on with my mom who is making huge strides in her stroke recovery. She did not want to miss watching her grandkids run this race, so we made it happen.

So happy my Mama made it out

The youngest two in the whole crew ran the fastest. Gabbie who is 6 ran the 1 Mile Fun Run with ease & KJ who will be 8 in a few days, smoked us ALL in the 5K ! LOL

The Champs !

This was hands down one of the worst 5K's I have EVER run.  I am ridiculously out of shape, I probably went to the track a total of 5 times in the last few months to get ready for this race, but as I have previously blogged about, I have been dealing with a lot of issues causing me stress & regretably have not used exercise to help me manage it as I should have. My nieces & nephews would not let me sit this one out & I did not want to break tradition, so I pushed it out on HEART & my body paid me back for the next 5 days or so LMAO !

Thankful to cross the finish line ! 

We had our dinner, everything was great.  I made a Caramel Cake, that really came out good. I found a solid recipe on Pinterest that used a Bundt Cake Pan & it was very good. I did not overdo it on the leftovers that day, as my memory of that horrible race earlier in the day was fresh on my mind. LOL

The kids provided some after dinner entertainment, performing a little Skit/Play that they put together that day. Let me tell you we have some animated, entertaining kids in our family ! When they know they will have a captive audience, they are bound and determined to provide some entertainment.

It would take me forever to explain........LOL

Alexandra giving Savannah some last minute direction. LOL

It is hilarious to watch these kids interact with each other, see how their personalities and the family dynamics play out. I can't wait to see their growth and development in the future.  We are blessed with some very bright, talented and confident children in our family & I pray for their continued blessings.

I am so THANKFUL for family, health, provision, friends, and His continued blessings over my life DESPITE some of the recent challenges.


I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday


How was your holiday ?

Do you have any special holiday traditions ?

Did you make anything special



Beautifully Complex

Where in the World.....................

.....is Beautifully Complex  ?????

Wow. It has been 5 whole months since I touched my little blog here !   I don't even know if any of my fellow bloggers and lurkers are still reading, but I need to update this thing for my own sake.

 ****This will be a LONG POST  because I need to fill in the blanks, LOL ******

I miss blogging, I really do,  but it seems I just don't have the time any more with so many things on my plate.   Time has truly been marching on & full of life's challenges.  Can you believe it has almost been a whole year since I got married ? Our 1st wedding anniversary is just 2 weeks from today ! It has been wonderful to have a life partner because it has been a very challenging first year for us both. Let me catch you up on what my husband and I have been dealing with and going through, the GOOD, the BAD & the UGLY,  in no particular order:

UGLY

Back in April, my mother had another stroke and was hospitalized for several weeks. This has been so challenging for us all especially her,  as she is dealing with alot of emotions, fear, uncertainty & just the challenges of declining health. She is still currently undergoing physical therapy & cannot drive so my Aunt has to take her everywhere, to the doctor, to her therapy appointments, shopping, etc. She has improved quite a bit and I count myself blessed that she has improved so much in this short time frame.

My biological father had a very serious auto accident just 2 months before our wedding. He was in a T-bone collision with an 18 wheeler & had to be cut out of the vehicle & life flighted to a trauma center. He was in ICU for over 2 weeks. He is currently still in physical therapy & has shown consistent improvement. He recently had to have another operation on his knee that went well but is still healing.  I know that I have not gone into many of the details about my relationship with him on this blog, but in the last year or so, we have been working on rebuilding our relationship & he and his wife were preparing to attend our wedding in New Orleans. He survived the accident through God's grace, but was extremely disappointed to not be able to be at my wedding & honestly, I was too.

In June, my husband's step-father had to be hospitalized for kidney failure and was in ICU for several days. He gave us quite a scare. He too, survived by the grace of God,  but is currently on daily kidney dialysis. He has a machine at home that he must use every single night overnight while he is sleeping. He is doing much much better & we saw him in August when we went to a wedding in Charleston & he looked good.

Back in July my step-father was gathering up the garbage on the side of my parents house & fell breaking 2 vertebrae in his neck. The situation was complicated by the fact that my mother did not find him until he had been down for almost an hour. It was terrifying & emotional for her to find him that way after not knowing where he was for an hour. My dad already had other health problems and serious mobility issues due to his knees, which is how he fell  & of course my mother is recuperating from her stroke & her mobility has been affected also.  He was in ICU for several days, surgery was attempted but was unsuccessful so he is currently wearing a Halo on his neck/head & will be in it for up to 8 months. He is currently in a rehabilitation hospital undergoing daily therapy. Needless to say,  this is added stress on my Mom.

My mother lost her closest female cousin 2 weeks ago.  They grew up like sisters.  This death hit my mother very hard. She lived in Chicago, so I had to fly ahead of my mother & Aunt to assist with getting them in and around a major city. It was complicated by the fact that they shut down O'Hare & Midway Airports due to some idiot who set some fires at the air traffic control center last weekend resulting in over 2000 cancelled flights including ours !  It was a nightmare. My sister came to the rescue, driving my family a ridiculous number of hours to Chicago at the last minute, while I was stranded in Atlanta at the Airport all day. I finally was able to fly into South Bend, Indiana & drive in to Chicago. We made the funeral services by nothing short of a miracle. It was a challenging, emotion filled weekend, but  we got to see family we haven't seen in years & my nieces & nephew got to visit Chicago for the first time. It was a crazy 4 days !

All of these situations are complicated because I live 8 hours away from my family & my husband lives 16 hours away from his. It so difficult to not be able to have access to your family when trouble comes your way.

BAD 

I started my new gig in March. I have a longer daily commute (to Sugarland,TX) and my gas and tolls have increased, but the peace of mind I gained from having a new super cool boss who is housed in another city & having a manageable work load has been immeasurable. However, as the saying goes "nothing too bad or too good lasts for too long"  right ? Well,  my company has been undergoing some nationwide changes over the last few years and  I have been effected yet AGAIN. In short,  just 6 months after getting my new job, I along with everyone else in our department had to post & compete for our current positions. We have yet to find out whether we get to keep our jobs or not. There is a possibility that my husband & I  may have to leave Houston if I don't get the job I put in for. We are supposed to find out in the 4th quarter which  just started a few days ago, so say a prayer for us.  HIS will be done. I don't know what to pray for any more !


Needless to say, I have been comforting myself and self-medicating with ridiculous amounts of good food,  untold amounts of alcohol, and hours upon hours of laying up with my new husband & hardly any exercise (other than what newly married folks do, LOL ) The end result...... ALL of the weight I lost for our wedding last year has been gained back and then some !!! It is shameful what my stress alleviating behavior has done to my waistline.  Now I am stressed because I can't fit any of my clothes.  I have promised myself that after we get back from our Anniversary trip to New Orleans in 2 weeks, I am going HAM on this weight gain so I can feel better by the first of 2015. Please say another prayer for me because I am feeling disgusted right now.

Now lets wrap this blog up this on a positive note........

GOOD

It has not been all bad this year. There have been many blessings to appreciate. My husband finished his Master's Degree this past Spring and got certified to teach, which has been a dream of his for quite awhile. He got a job teaching 8th Grade Social Studies & History. He has a heart for children and is such a  History Buff this is the perfect fit for him.  I am so proud to see how he has challenged himself to follow a dream. His first year has been a bit overwhelming, but he is happy, which makes me happy too.

In August we travelled to Charleston for my husband's cousin's wedding. It was the first wedding we attended as a married couple and such a great time. I got my seafood fix for sure.  That same weekend, we became God Parent's to two beautiful children of my husband's  closest cousin who lives in  NYC. We had a beautiful ceremony in the church that my husband was baptised in as a child on Edisto Island, SC.  We are already planning our trip to visit NYC for sometime next summer.

We are blessed with many good friends, a strong support network here in Houston & we have still been able to take the time to celebrate & enjoy the good life that we do have despite life's challenges. We hosted a " Spring Fling" Happy Hour, we had our "Annual Crawfish Boil" (my hubby & I won the dance contest !). We  got together with friends for my Birthday, I hosted a "Sunday Brunch" for some girlfriends Birthdays and in August  we had a " Downtown Bar Crawl" with some good friends.

Here are some pics from the last few months........

SPRING FLING ON THE PATIO

My girls rocking those Spring Colors ! 

Good Friends ! 

My ride or die partner ! 

ANNUAL CRAWFISH BOIL 

Me & my Bestie 

Killin' those Crawfish 

We won the dance contest ! LOL

BIRTHDAY HAPPY HOUR

Beautiful Birthday Venue ! 

Beautiful Friends 

Best Friends ! 

Lovely Ladies helping me celebrate my Birthday !

SUNDAY BRUNCH WITH THE LADIES


Sunday Brunch Hats !

My Girls ! 

Birthday Brunch Honorees ! 

DOWN TOWN BAR CRAWL 

VACATION ON EDISTO ISLAND, SC

Edisto Beach 

Beautiful Canopy of Trees ! 

Beach at Botany Bay -untouched 

WEDDING IN CHARLESTON

My Mother-in-Love & her twin, my husband !

My niece & nephew 

My husband is the baby whisperer ! LOL

Our Beautiful cousin the Bride ! 

Welp, that about catches you up on the life I have been living for the last several months.

What is going on with you ?   Do I still have any readers/lurkers here, don't be shy ?

Thoughts ? Questions ? Comments ?


Beautifully Complex 

Day 16 Body Image

Your opinion about your body and how comfortable you are with it. 


Aaah Body image. Like they say over on FB.....its complicated. Currently I am about 30 pounds past fine & about 50 pounds past stopping trains ! LOL. We won't discuss specifics here, but I am pretty tall, 5 '10" and subsequently, I can carry weight. Especially in my thighs and my rear end. I want to lose some, but my actions as of late, don't support it. Like many others, I am an emotional eater. I had big plans to get on board after the first of the year but alas my mom getting sick, put me in a slight funk that led me to find comfort in food. For the last year I have also been trying to manage the uncertainty regarding my job situation which should be settled soon (hopefully). I simply have not been managing my stress the best way. That being said, there are no excuses here, just the facts. I should be doing things differently. I could definitely do better and I am not at my best because I am not putting in the effort through proper diet and exercise. It's no secret. There is not a magic pill. I am a former runner, so I truly know what it takes to lose and maintain my weight. I simply have not been doing it. Therefore complaining is a mute point.  I am obviously not that uncomfortable with it or I would do something different right ? RIGHT. Well the truth is I am not content at this weight. It definitely affects me. My love has also added some lbs. since we have been together & this may be a good thing, because we both want to get some weight off prior to the wedding. Having an accountability partner will help. We both definitely want to look our best for the wedding and in the pictures that last forever LOL.  I would not describe myself as comfortable with my body simply because I think of  losing weight often. But I will admit that I have let other things take priority over me taking care of myself and I should not do that. In the long run for health reasons, it won't be pretty. My last physical which was just a few months ago was great. I am the picture of health. My doctor told me that all my numbers were fine. Good health is a blessing, but it can be taken from you if you don't treasure your body. I really do need to start acting like I know that.

Here are some pics from back when my opinion about by body was through the roof ! LOL

Those were the days ! 

Getting ready for the Essence Festival.

When I was running like a beast - 13.1 miles later

Just completed a Half Marathon about an hour before this picture was taken.
















                                                                                                                           

One of my favorite pictures of myself, I was so happy!

At my best friends Birthday Party.
















How comfortable are you with your body ?  Anything you want to change ? Why ?


Thoughts ? Comments ? Questions ?

Beautifully Complex 

Sun Shining..Rain Comes..Clouds Clear..Sun Returns

It's been a minute since I have been here and I have had my hands full dealing with LIFE.  Not that it's anything that many others aren't also dealing with.   As they say, "there is nothing new under the sun". Sometimes though, when things happen, you just have to be still and listen. That's what I have been doing while I was away.  My company dropped the bomb a couple of weeks ago. They have their "corporate speak" and are calling this a "Migration" but we all know that it means downsize/layoff/reorganization since so many people aren't mobile to the city they are migrating us to for various reasons. I am truly not interested in relocating there either, as I have gotten settled into Houston, really like the city, and have managed to finally find love here. There is a good chance I will not have to move, due to the specific nature of what I do, but there is no guarantee as ALL departments are being looked at & possibly redesigned. If push comes to shove, I may have to go for a short time, but it will be with an exit strategy for sure to get to a city I really want to be in.

Honestly, I haven't been nearly as upset as the majority of my co-workers & I think that's because I already had my life turned upside down just a few years back & although it took me quite some time to recover, transition and land on my feet, I gained some perspective I never would have had without those life changing situations. If you are a new reader/lurker, it is pretty much summarized in a nutshell here.  Even still, that does not make me immune to the feelings of my peers. People are having a HARD time with this. There have been many tears (openly), depression has set in and morale is horrible. The energy is just bringing me down, even though I feel confident that it will be okay. I really dread going into the office on the rare occasions that I have to, because it can be so draining. On my own, I am cool, but seeing others so hurt is hard.  Barrista posted something on her blog today, which summed up the way I feel, but having her say it, made me feel all the more better:

This will be my 3rd time going through a layoff (2 mergers and a downsizing) and all have taken me to bigger and better things. I also know that every single thing works out in the end the way it’s supposed to and there’s nothing to be gained in stressing something you can’t change. Aight? 

I can be honest an express that one of the things that I have been contemplating is how this situation  may impact my relationship with Mr. Mixologist. This is still somewhat new.  Oh,  he has definitely gone out of his way to really assure me of his commitment to this relationship and has been very supportive, encouraging and open to the whole situation, which has been a great feeling.  Honestly, I was enjoying the ride we have been on, coasting along at our own leisurely pace and this situation has just added unwanted pressure ( in my mind). I mean, I just want this relationship to evolve organically into what it is supposed to be.  I have prayed about it and am doing my best not to over think it, and just know that it is going to be what it is going to be. Trust God and let it go.

In the midst of all of this work stuff, on the family side of things,  my mom has been recently expressing some  worry about my Dad's health, specifically she is having serious concerns that he is having problems remembering things, repeating himself in short time spans, and she is alarmed........ no, correct that, she is scared that this could be really something serious, and one of the most unsettling feelings is hearing the fear in your parent's voice.  I feel so helpless being so far away.  Me & Mr. Mixologist traveled to where my parents live a couple of weeks ago for my Aunt's 60th Birthday Party. I don't know if it's the power of suggestion or what , but my Dad does seem a little different to me. Just a bit more fragile than the last time I saw him & just not himself at all times. He has a doctor's appointment scheduled for this week and I just hope we can get to the bottom of it.

I had a Manager at work that used to say, "Nothing too good, or too bad, lasts for too long".  One of my most  favorite Pastor's used to say, " Either you are going through a storm, coming out of a storm or heading towards a storm. "  An that just about summarizes life to me. None of us know what crosses we will have to bear in this life or for how long. There is no magical place that you get to, where everything is fine and it seems that if you ever get close to that point, you worry when it will end. I don't say any of this to sound negative & I really  hope that it doesn't come across that way, I am just reflecting on things and trying to position myself to respond positively to each situation as it comes. I know that everything is going to work out for my good.   That is why I always try to stand in the sun when it's shining on me because I know the clouds will come, but the truth is, they too always part, and the sun comes right back out again !

I count on the Sun to come back out, each and every day. I go to sleep each night and never worry that it's not coming up tomorrow. I don't even give it a second thought. It never crosses my mind, what if the sun doesn't come up tomorrow ? I lay down with the full confidence that He will make the sun rise tomorrow. I don't know how he does and couldn't begin to figure that out for myself, but I trust that it will be.  Just as it is with the smaller things in this life. I will put my faith in Him and stand on his word.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen".    Hebrews 11:1 


How do you handle life's challenges ?   Is religious faith part of your life ?

Thoughts ?    Questions ?    Comments ?

Beautifully Complex 

Just Me..........Randomly

I cannot believe it is almost mid-March. I am really worn out from the weekend ! I have been trying to gear up for Spring Break. My nieces and nephew will be here next week & I have to get ready & get this house ready. In between trying to make sure everything at work is in order, for me to vacation in peace and the cleaning & shopping, etc. around here, I am already worn out & those kids aren't even here yet ! LOL I can forget about getting any rest next week.

I have been using my treadmill a lot more lately, and have been feeling much better and more energized because of it. My lower back is feeling better, as well as my knee that was bothering me so I don't have any more excuses. All of the weight loss going on in Blogland is a good thing, it has been very motivating. With Springtime approaching, I don't want to regret not doing anything about these love handles from lazying around all winter with my beau. LOL.

My Aunt is having some serious health challenges and it makes me hurt. It is hard to see how it affects her, my cousins and especially my Mom and my other Aunt. It is also a reminder of how much we can't control in our lives but at the same time it makes me reflect on how much power we DO have in certain areas and that I should always continue to try to work to improve the areas that I can change.

I have a close friend, whose ex-husband probably has an undiagnosed mental problem. That along with him being a substance abuser (cocaine & alcohol) makes dealing with the situation (they have 2 young children) very challenging. He sends her some very scary & cryptic text messages. It really makes me uneasy. I pray for their protection constantly.

I always take the little ones to this place to paint ceramics they can take home to commemorate their trip. I try to mix it up and keep their trip's fresh & exciting with new activites. This year I wanted to take them to a pottery place, so they could make their own, but you have to be at least 8 yrs old, so that means some of the little ones won't be able to participate so I am looking for something else crafty/creative for them all to do. If you know of anything in Houston, please send any ideas my way. I may just go to Hobby Lobby and Michael's to see if I can be inspired.

Me and Mr. Mixologist went to see The Adjustment Bureau this past weekend. I really enjoyed it. It was more love story, morality play, than espionage and thriller. I must say, Matt Damon is still such a hottie. I thought there was a lot of chemistry between him and the female lead. It really did make me think about fate and free will. For example, you get held up at a drive through, frustrated by a delay only to drive up on a serious accident minutes later in which you very well could have been involved in, if you had not been delayed. As I have gotten older, I have learned to just take unexpected delays as a blessing that I can't see.

I did not have one. drop. of. alcohol this past weekend. I know that sounds bad, as in, am I an alcoholic or something ? LOL But honestly, I can't think of the last weekend when I did not have some wine at a minimum. I have a serious desire to drink in social situations and at home, especially on weekends. I decided to try to cut back because of the calories. They really add up. This coming weekend, we will be road tripping to pick up the little ones and the following weekend  after a very sober Spring Break, I will be doing the same thing, taking them back, so I think I will probably shoot for 30 days with no alcohol to see if that helps me drop some pounds.


Today, what is randomly you ?

Thoughts ? Comments ? Questions ?

Beautifully Complex 

Thankful: Day 2 - The Blessing of Good Health

Last week at work, we had a retirement ceremony for one of the Managers. The thing is, she is only 48 years old. She is taking a medical retirement due to the fact that she has been battling Ovarian Cancer off and on for the last 4 years. She had the chemo, went in to remission, her hair grew back, she came back to work for quite awhile.... and then it came back with a vengeance.  Normally these retirement parties have a different tone, because even  though the person is in their 60's they are usually in good health and have lots of plans for retirement, it seems exciting. This retirement was so different and it really shook me. I guess because she is so young, maybe because she is a woman, or maybe just because she is such a beautiful person that I hate to see going through this battle.

In August, my 39 year old cousin suffered a stroke. He is a married father with a  6 yr old son and  a 3 year old daughter. He is the oldest of 3 siblings.  He has had some recent health issues, and was diagnosed with some sort of heart problem about 3-4 years ago. He had been cleared to have gallbladder surgery by his heart doctor, came through the procedure, but then developed blood clots which led to the stroke.   I remember being by his bedside, talking to him, while his face was still contorted, trying my best to hide my disbelief about what was going on. 

In September my dad had the first of two knee surgeries, had some complications, and ended up being in the hospital far beyond the 5 days he was supposed to be. It was hard to hear the fear in his voice, especially because I could not make it home to be with him. He has recovered and is home now, going to therapy and getting stronger each day. 

All of these situations have me contemplating my health, in fact, I am just feeling so thankful and grateful for the blessing of good health as I sit here today.  I try to be conscious of health and taking care of me. My eating habits are not horrible but I can always do better. I probably do drink too much wine, and dialing that back might be a challenge. I can honestly say that I don't exercise as much as I used to or even as much as I should. But I have been using my treadmill and getting ready for the Turkey Trot at the end of the month. Every year I do my best to motive my family members to participate with lukewarm results. Like a lot of families we have a host of health problems in ours, including diabetes and heart issues, etc. I know that most of these issues just stem from bad habits. I don't want to minimize the heredity factor but lifestyle makes a huge difference. I don't want to live the cliche' "If  I knew I was gonna live this long, I would have taken better care of myself" So I am gonna act like I am thankful for my good health and take better care of myself as I age.

I am conscious of my mortality now more than ever. Somebody woke up & their life changed today, they got a devastating diagnosis, were stricken with blindness,  got burned, couldn't walk anymore, a host of possibilities. But today I am thankful for the good health that I am blessed with. I am thankful for another day to live life healthy and another day to continue to try to do my part to take the best care of me that I can.

What are you thankful for ?

How is your health ?

What are you doing to take care of yourself ?

Beautifully Complex

What I Ate Today

I spent a few weeks eating really, really badly while my nieces and nephew were visiting. Between the cookies, ice cream, chips, hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza. I did not need to get on the scale to realize I had done some damage ! LOL I have finally cleaned out the pantry and the fridge and removed all of the random, leftover snacks that remained after they left. Yesterday I went to the grocery store  after doing some meal planning, so that I can get back on track this week.  So far so good.

Breakfast- I made nice a smoothie with yogurt, frozen peaches, strawberries and pineapples. It was very filling and satisfying.

Mid morning Snack-Green Apple and cheesecake flavored yogurt with graham cracker topping. This was my first time trying this flavor and it was pretty good. I love cheesecake so this was a nice substitute.

Lunch-Turkey Wrap with low fat Pepper jack cheese, mustard, spinach and tomatoes. I made this myself and it was pretty good.  Fat Free Pringles( Sour Cream and Onion flavor). These are pretty good and only 70 calories for 14 chips.  I love sour cream and onion chips and this is a pretty decent cheat for my chips fix. I try not to eat too many of these because the sodium is a bit on the high side.

Afternoon Snack- Another green apple ( I read somewhere that the green apples suppress your appetite) and a fat free jello pudding snack. The flavor was Caramel Soufle. This was really tasty, a kind of whipped cream/caramel combination.

Dinner-Mr. Mixologist was kind enough to grill some chicken wings for us to enjoy tonite. I paired it with a nice large side salad and had 1/2 cup of potatoe salad, which was primarily mustard based, so I didn't feel too guilty about that.

Evening Snack-A nice juicy peach when I first got home and prior to having dinner. Then later while we watched a movie, I had a Weight Watchers Mini Toffee Ice Cream Bar

All in all, I was pleased with how I did today. I drank plenty of water and tried to stay on schedule and eat every 2 hours so by the time I was eating my meals, I wasn't starving. I feel satisfied. I will calculate my calories, fat, carbs and protien tomorrow so that I can see what kind of modifications I may need to make.  But I feel like today was a good day.

What kinds of healthy snacks do you enjoy ?

Do you keep a food diary ?

 Do you find that it helps you with weight loss ?

Observations ? Comments ?

Beautifully Complex