Hello people! I know you've probably noticed my absence from the blog world. This is all due to situations beyond my control. I am currently sitting in the casino lobby of a hotel in Vegas like a homeless person.
To give you a quick run down of what I've been up to, last week was a bit hectic due to the four-day work week. Then I went off to Vegas for the weekend, then I got stuck in Vegas thanks to hurricane Sandy, then I am still stuck in Vegas. Now praying I make it home tomorrow safely. Even though things are not all rosey at home due to flooding and power outage since yesterday, that's where I'll rather be with my husband than stuck in vegas all alone.
I was so frustrated and perplexed when I found out I won't make it home on Sunday. After a wonderful weekend with friends what am I to do all by myself for the next couple of days. On Monday I was still in the same mood, but today I thought why not enjoy it while it last, at least I'm one day closer to finally going home. So today, I enjoyed a free dinner, went to Bellagio to enjoy the fountain show, which was great. I easily spent an hour there without even realizing it. So now, I'm just waiting to get on the shuttle to the airport and get on my very early flight back home tomorrow. My prayer is that it doesn't get canceled again.
So I'll probably be missing on here much longer as there's no power at home and I've got tons of work to catch up on. Yap, even though work was closed, it wasn't really closed for me. All my meetings still held as planned and the emails keeps pouring in. So the rest of the week and next week is going to be fun not to say otherwise.
Hope everyone in the path of the storm is safe. I'm definitely thankful the damage to our place didn't go beyond power outage. I know there are families that lost loved ones and people that lost their houses but my hubby is safe, I am safe and we still have a roof over our head so, I'm thankful.
I'll try to be back to my regular posts as soon as I can.
Till then, stay safe and blessed. And keep the people of New Jersey, New York and surrounding areas affected by the "perfect storm" in your prayers.
Double Grey on Blue
Happy Monday lovelies!
Hope you had a great weekend and your week is off to a great start.
Not sure if you've noticed my love for peplum but my closet is definitely feeling the peplum love. It's a style that I think is very versatile and flattering on any body type. I love this particular piece because of the sleeve length, thickness, color and waist gathers. All these makes it perfect for fall weather.
Tomorrow is another day, make it a great one!
Top: Asos, Pant: Zara, Bag: Limited, Shoes: VS, Necklace: Limited
The Act of Friendship
When I say FRIENDS, I mean the ones that have always been there for me. The ones I call to share good news or otherwise with. The ones that we actually make an effort to stay connected and to see each other. Even if we don't talk almost everyday, I know I can pick up the phone one day and we'll pick up right where we left off. This doesn't mean I don't care about the other friends I have in my life.
I had the opportunity to see one of my dearest friends and it was great. While I enjoyed the trip so much as well as spending time and reconnecting with my friend, I think the trip gave rise to some feelings I've been nursing and trying to bury. I like to think I'm tough and I can handle anything, but it's the simple things like this that makes me all emotional and gooey inside. I miss my friends, I've always missed them and will always do, but the trip made it real for me. I've handled it like a grown up and not whine about it, but the fact always remains, I miss you girls, I really do. You know who you are. I miss finishing a conversation with see you tomorrow. I miss girls night. I miss shopping together. I miss our hearts to hearts and girl talk and all the crazy fun things we do together. But I know you're all a phone call or plane ride away.
I had the opportunity to see one of my dearest friends and it was great. While I enjoyed the trip so much as well as spending time and reconnecting with my friend, I think the trip gave rise to some feelings I've been nursing and trying to bury. I like to think I'm tough and I can handle anything, but it's the simple things like this that makes me all emotional and gooey inside. I miss my friends, I've always missed them and will always do, but the trip made it real for me. I've handled it like a grown up and not whine about it, but the fact always remains, I miss you girls, I really do. You know who you are. I miss finishing a conversation with see you tomorrow. I miss girls night. I miss shopping together. I miss our hearts to hearts and girl talk and all the crazy fun things we do together. But I know you're all a phone call or plane ride away.
I like change, but any change that involves new places I'm usually not a big fan of. I've always been that way since I was a kid. I won't say I'm terrible at making friends but I'm not the best either. Add the fact that I'm very picky (for all the right reasons) with whom I choose to be friends with makes it even harder. That been said it's no surprise I'm yet to have a close tie with someone here, someone I can call friend.
While my hubby is my best friend, I enjoy spending time with
him and I can bare my heart to him, there are just somethings or ways
that a girlfriend completes you. At the end of the day I
can survive without girlfriends but the fact is that I need them. “Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no
survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to
survival.- C.S Lewis. I need
them because they are my support group outside my family, having
them there and knowing they will always be there gives me a sense of security. I don't like to force friendship, I like it to happen
naturally, as is the case with every single one of my friends because
at the end of the day I cherish everyone I call friend.
I don't have a lot of them but I sure know they are all rare and special
in their own way.
I hope someday, I can say I have a true friend here in New Jersey. I leave the door open
for new things, new friendship, new possibilities, but keep the old ones
closer. If no new one comes along, I
still have the ones I have and I'm grateful for them, even if they are all
hundreds and thousands of miles away.
With all that said, I'm super excited to be seeing three of them in a week in Vegas. Yes, Vegas! Can't wait!
If you know who your true friends are you should
say it and let them know they are appreciated and not taken for granted.
I dedicate this post to my true friends: Carole, Alice, Nanette, Dely, Kemi and Sophia. Thank you all for your friendship.
Love you all to pieces.
Happy Friday and have a great weekend everyone.
Happy Friday and have a great weekend everyone.
Thankful Thursday
This Thursday, I'm thankful for...
1. For
the grace and protection of God. Not sure if you've heard about the
failed attack on the Federal Reserve bank in NYC yesterday, if you
haven't read (here).
My husband works across from that building, so I don't even want to
imagine otherwise. Just so grateful for God's protection on my family.
3. Packet oatmeal. Yea, you read that right. For some reason I can never wake up early enough to sit and each breakfast before leaving home. So I eat breakfasts in the car if it's a bagel or toast and oatmeal if at work. I know I can always grab a packet of oatmeal and head out. No need to worry about cup, spoon or milk because all that is available at work. This thing called oatmeal is very handle that on some days it graduates from breakfast to lunch. Not because I'm not hungry or trying to be healthy (comment someone made to me while preparing it in the break room once) which wouldn't be a bad thing, but because I didn't have time to pack lunch and almost never carry cash to buy food at the cafeteria. So on those days it's my life saver. I could drive out of the office to buy food, but I'm just too lazy for that, so I settle for a packet of oatmeal.
What are you thankful for today?
Linked in @
2. I'm thankful for friends, great friends, life long
friends. I spent last weekend in Atlanta with one of my dearest,
Nanette. A year has past since we last saw each other, but it felt like
just yesterday. It was a great weekend and long over due. We spent the
weekend catching up, eating, shopping and more shopping. There's nothing
like going
shopping with your girlfriends. Honestly, I think the content of my
luggage doubled by the time I left. I'm grateful for time
spent with a great friend.
3. Packet oatmeal. Yea, you read that right. For some reason I can never wake up early enough to sit and each breakfast before leaving home. So I eat breakfasts in the car if it's a bagel or toast and oatmeal if at work. I know I can always grab a packet of oatmeal and head out. No need to worry about cup, spoon or milk because all that is available at work. This thing called oatmeal is very handle that on some days it graduates from breakfast to lunch. Not because I'm not hungry or trying to be healthy (comment someone made to me while preparing it in the break room once) which wouldn't be a bad thing, but because I didn't have time to pack lunch and almost never carry cash to buy food at the cafeteria. So on those days it's my life saver. I could drive out of the office to buy food, but I'm just too lazy for that, so I settle for a packet of oatmeal.
Linked in @
Block Color Block
Hi
lovely readers. Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I've been up and
down, nursing a fever and trying to keep up with everything. All is good
though. I spent last weekend In Atlanta with one of my dearest friend
and it was great to see her again after a year. We had a great weekend
eating, shopping-went a little shoe crazy and chatting. If
you follow me on Instagram (here) you would have seen some snapshots from my trip. Atlanta is a great place overall and would love to visit again.
Hope you week is going great so far and wish you great days ahead.
Top: H&M, Skirt: H&M, Belt: H&M, Shoes: Calvin klein, Bag: LV
Green and Stripes
Happy Wednesday! Hope your week is going great.
Oh sunny days, where art thou! I miss Summer already. These pictures were taken back when the weather was still friendly. Can't believe another winter season is almost upon us again. I don't think I'll ever get use to it. As the days of wearing skirts and dresses with bare legs are drawing close to an end, it's time to unleash the tights, panty hose and full length pants.While this season is not my favorite, I definitely love some of the trends that comes with it. So, I'm looking forward to pairing a dress with knee high boots, wearing booties (I love booties), wearing scarves, sweaters and layering.
Shirt: Limited, Sweater: Limited, Skirt: Limited, Belt: Limited, Shoes: Macy, Bag: Aldo
Potato and Fish Porridge
I love nights when I do something new for dinner and the best part is, it doesn't have to be hours of production. Quick, easy and straight to the point. I have to say potatoes are really becoming very handy. At first I thought I was going to do baked or pan fried fish with baked potatoes but as you can see I'm far from that. So, I hope you enjoy this recipe from my kitchen to yours.
Ingredients
7 medium potatoes
5 fish fillet
1 large red bell pepper, diced
1 small tomato, diced
2 habanero pepper
1/2 small onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp palm oil
2 knorr chicken cubes
1 tsp thyme
1 1/2 tsp curry
salt to taste (didn't use any)
Directions
1. Peel, dice in small cubes, wash and drain potatoes
2. Combine diced red pepper, onions, tomatoes and habanero pepper in blender, add just enough water to aid in blending process and blend.
3. On medium heat, heat oil in a large pot; add garlic, then potatoes, cover and let simmer, turning occasionally until potatoes are tender approx 12-15 min.
4. Add blended puree, fish, palm oil, knorr cubes, thyme and curry. Stir well.
5. Cover and let's cook on med/low heat for additional 10mins. Stir and mash about 1/4 of the pot content. Stir, serve and enjoy.
Be Anxious For Nothing
I've
heard people say they have anxiety attacks and I think to myself how's
that possible. It’s just pure emotions and you should be able to
control it, right? Well, lets just say that's why it's called an attack, your feelings
and emotions pretty much attacks you and I can say that I have
experienced this attack in a small dose. Some few days ago
I was sitting minding my own business when a thought came to
mind. I started thinking about it and I couldn’t get it out of my mind.
That lead to me thinking about things I had no business thinking about.
Oh, and they weren’t pretty thoughts. In that moment my heart began to
beat faster and my stomach started to turn. I felt like I was going to throw up, cry and stop breathing at the same time. After the little
rush or episode, whatever you want to call it passed, I took a couple of
deep breaths to calm myself down and then a passage popped into my head, it was Philippians 4:6-7 . I
went to the passage and read it to myself. After reading it a couple of
time I had it committed to memory but I found I felt much better
when I read it out loud to reassure myself. So, I went ahead and wrote the
passage on a sticky note and placed it right in front of me. I looked at
it and read it to myself every time I start getting that feeling and I felt
at peace.
What
I’m trying to get at is that God’s word works and its there to guide,
teach, protect, comfort, heal and just be everything to us. As I
reassured myself with these words over and over again, I came to the
realization that God’s words and instructions are very simple. Too
simple to the point that sometimes we overlook them or even complicate
them.
So
on this day, I did just what the word said to do. What the passage
was telling me to do to overcome that moment of panic was very simple,
pray, gives thanks and present my requests to God. At the end of the day I had
peace about the matter. Peace of mind that can only come from above
because all those negatives thoughts have actually turned into positive thoughts.
There
is a passage in the bible to get us through whatever we encounter in
life. All we have to do is read, meditate, pray, do what it say to do
and leave the rest to God. Sometimes, I feel like we read, we pray but we forget to do; to do our part. God is not going to do your
part. You begin where He stops, so you have to make a move somewhere on your part to bring the work to completion.
Are
you anxious about anything, don’t be because He said not to be anxious
for anything. Instead in that moment, let the peace of God reign and
come into you by praying, by giving thanks and be presenting your
request to God. This applies to every area of life; whatever you may be
going through, find that passage that speaks to it. Confess it, pray it,
and do your part. Do whatever it says to do or not do and leave the rest to
God. And if you have been doing it all, keep doing it. Habakkuk 2: 3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.
The word of God never fails.
Peace and Love
Strawberry Grape Chicken Salad
I love nights when I have no idea what to make for dinner and I end up
with something like this. Even better when it's all made out of
leftovers from previous meals. The only prep I had to do was washing and cutting the fruits. We had this salad for dinner on Sunday. My
fridge was full of leftovers from cooked meals and takeouts, so I
decided not to make anything from scratch. I started pulling things from
the fridge and by the time I was done I was pleased with the result.
Have you ever thought of putting fresh fruits in your salad? well, now you
don't have to think about it, you can just do it and thank me later.
Salad Ingredients
2 romaine lettuce heads; cut, washed and drained
1/2 small green cabbage; thinly sliced
2 carrots; thinly sliced
2 cups of grapes; washed
2 cups of strawberry; washed and halved
Salad Directions
In a bowl, combine romaine lettuce, cabbage, carrots, grapes and strawberries. Toss and mix.
Baked Chicken Ingredients
4 chicken breast
3/4 cup bread crumbs
2 tbsp butter, melted
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp salt
Baked Chicken Directions
1. Place chicken in a large Ziploc bag or in between two saran wrap sheet, pound with meat tenderizer till slightly thin
2. Use a brush and lightly coat the chicken with melted butter on both sides
3. In a bowl, combine bread crumbs, paprika, pepper and salt. Place chicken in the mix and dip to coat on both sides
4. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake in the oven at 450 degrees F for 20 minutes, turning half way through.
Salad Vinaigrette Ingredients
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup white vinegar
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup canola oil
Vinaigrette Directions
In a blender, combine the vinegar, sugar, mustard and salt; cover and process until blender. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Pour over salad, toss and serve.
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