Making Waves

I’m a huge fan of supporting local businesses and delicious coffee, which led to a visit to 17 Hands Coffee. It’s a cute and cozy spot and has some of the best coffee, pastries, and customer service I’ve experienced in the city. Their display of scones, cakes, and quiches are mouth-watering, and their overall coffee shop aesthetic is pleasing to the eyes. If you’re in the Hampton Roads area and looking for a great place to grab a cup of coffee or a quick bite to eat, head into 17 Hands Coffee and enjoy!

I could feel his disappointment through the phone when I told him the truth.   “I don’t date guys with kids.”     I’d been talking to a guy who had a daughter, and I wanted to be honest and upfront with him since he expressed interest in me. As I got to know him, I knew he wasn’t someone seeking a casual relationship. He wanted a wife, more kids, and a family. And while there’s nothing wrong with wanting those things, I knew I didn’t want them with him. I also didn’t want to string him along or hold him up from a woman better suited for him, and while I tried to be honest, open, and go with the flow, I couldn’t. I knew I’d be unhappy because he wasn’t what I wanted, waited for, prayed for, or envisioned for myself. Not only was I disinterested, but I also knew that deep down, I didn’t want a blended family. I never have. So eventually, we stopped talking altogether and parted ways.    I don’t have kids and I’m not sure if I will, but one thing I’ve always known is that if I did marry,

Before recently switching back to virtual learning (due to the rise in coronavirus cases in the area), one of the things I used to do before stepping foot into my classroom was pray. I’m still able to pray, work, and teach from home, all of which are blessings I do not take for granted, but as I move through my prayer list, I make sure I don’t forget to pray for all the educators, parents, and of course, students in the world. Especially for all the girls.     Growing up, I was fortunate to have many female mentors and role models in my life who I could look up to, who often spoke life into me. I also saw examples of what I didn’t want to become too. However, the lives and words from the women who inspired me and gave me the confidence and courage I needed changed my life. Particularly during times when my self-esteem wasn’t the best. I was called  smart, pretty, creative, gifted , and more ,  and   I studied and modeled the adults I was around, stayed out of trouble, and benefited fro

I believe every woman should feel good about herself, especially when it comes to her physical appearance.     And what better way to do so than treating the amazing body you’ve got to some sexy lingerie? And guess what? You can do just that by checking out Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty line. When I learned about the line, I had to know what all the buzz was about. I’ve been a longtime fan of Rihanna’s work and have always admired her boldness and risk-taking when it comes to her personal style, but when I had the chance to check out her Savage X Fenty fashion shows on Amazon Prime? I was hooked. Before one of the shows started, Rihanna said, “Every woman deserves to feel sexy.” And I couldn’t agree more.    While some women absolutely love their bodies, I know shopping for lingerie can be uncomfortable, and maybe an area of struggle and shame for others who may not feel good about themselves. Sadly, many women struggle with how they feel about their bodies due to body shaming, physical and

Last year I had a dream that myself and some former colleagues I worked closely with were going to get let go from our jobs. That dream, along with other signs and warnings of things to come, prompted me to pray and start strategizing about how to move forward. Before accepting a new teaching position (a little over a month ago) and before and during the pandemic, I was already looking for a new job. One of my biggest goals for 2020 was to land a new career opportunity before the year was out – and I did it. If I hadn’t transitioned into a new role by the middle of December, I planned to resign from where I was and to keep looking until I landed something better.   I told very few people about the dream I had or about what I was planning to do. The only people who knew I was serious about making some changes were my parents and a small number of close and trusted confidants. When I was updating my résumé, completing applications, and going on Zoom interviews, I kept quiet. Once I was o

I love this time of year. Although the current pandemic, tense political climate (shout out to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on their win), and sometimes horrifying state of this world have been disheartening at times, I can’t help but appreciate the crisp fall air, coffee dates, cozying up with a good book next to a warm fire pit, the upcoming holidays, and my mom’s home cooking. I’m also excited about some recent changes that have taken place in my life, as well as some exciting news I’ve recently received – some of which I hope to share in future posts soon 😊. All of these things bring me joy. But one thing I enjoy the most is having the opportunity to give. Giving has been an influential action and priority that my parents raised and inspired me to practice in my own life. And after seeing them both model the way, learning the impact and importance of giving has changed my life in some positive and powerful ways too. It’s truly a blessing having the opportunity to be a giver.   I kn