Making Waves

It’s been one hell of a year.   I don’t think anything could have fully prepared any of us for the new normal we’d have to adjust to as the pandemic inevitably changed our lives. This was also the year I turned 30, and while I’m not exactly sure when 30 became the go-to age where a lot of people  think  you’re supposed to have it all and have everything figured out – I’ve got a confession: I don’t have everything figured out. Which is why I find it odd whenever some of my friends, family members, and people who don’t know me well refer to me as a put-together person who has things figured out. I do have a very blessed and full life that I appreciate, but honestly, I’m still figuring things out as I go.    In different ways, I believe all of us are.   If you’re approaching 30 soon or are already there, please try not to freak out if things haven’t come together as you’ve hoped. Five years ago, I had a quarter-life crisis moment a few days after my 25 th ...

Around this time last year, I had the chance to check out Ballet Virginia’s   The Nutcracker . And I loved everything about it. Seeing a ballet was something I hadn’t done since I was a teenager, so having the opportunity to go again was awesome. The music, dancing, costumes, and performances were brilliant. Plus, I got to have a nice dinner, get fancy, wear a beautiful gown and cool jewelry, and I was able to see everything in person vs. being unable to do so now because of the pandemic. This year I found out the ballet will be streamed virtually, which is still nice too. Once things ease up in the world, I hope I’m able to see another show in person. But in the meantime, a virtual performance will do just fine. Safety first, right? I hope you’re keeping safe, making your weekends as rich as you can, and enjoying this season.  

I love having brunch. And it’s always nice when I can visit a place that does it right and manages to exceed my expectations, which is exactly what happened when I dined at The Rustic Spoon. The location, atmosphere, food, and incredible customer service made the experience worth it, and I can’t wait to go back again. Upon my arrival, I was greeted with smiling faces and immediately felt the warm welcome and genuine vibes from the hosts and workers. I really liked the setup, and I felt as if I was visiting a neighbor’s home with all the eye-catching interior and décor. And the food? Awesome. I started with the Lillie Mae’s Knuckle Print Biscuits (which I practically devoured once they arrived at my table), and I also ordered the Dark Chocolate Waffle with a side of home fries. Everything was delicious, even the freshly brewed coffee. If you’re in the Hampton Roads area and looking for a great place to grab brunch, head into The Rustic Spoon and enjoy!

I love chic clothing, especially when I’m able to find great items for great prices.   And that’s exactly what I found when I used  Rent the Runway  for the first time a year ago. I needed a few dresses for some events and photoshoots I had coming up and wanted to wear some items that were cute, fashionable, and wouldn’t break the bank. Turns out, Rent the Runway is a great service to utilize, as they specialize in providing designer clothing you can rent and then return after wearing. How cool is that? Not only have I been able to save money, closet space, and time by using this service, but I’ve felt and looked amazing in the dresses I’ve rented and would recommend this service to anyone seeking something incredible to wear to different events they have coming up. If you’re looking for something cool to wear and not sure where to start, visit Rent the Runway and enjoy!  Also, you can see a few of the dresses I rented below. The white dress is an Early Light Mini Dr...

I never imagined that the Black Lives Matter movement would have the impact it’s had this year. I’ve always known how important the movement was, but after the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd? Even more people got woke. And fast. Many different races stood up this year. There were riots and protests and demands for justice, and the overwhelming amounts of love and support were inspiring and revolutionary. This past summer, different people and communities were coming together and were a united front. Sadly, at the same time, there were others who remained silent as others spoke and stood up.   And that was disappointing.   It was especially upsetting and painful seeing nasty, insensitive, and hurtful comments on the internet and in the press from different people who felt as if the emotions and responses stemming from communities all over the world were unwarranted and not okay. Seeing different people who have kids of their own be so dismissive is so...

This past weekend when I was decluttering some items I no longer needed, I came across a basket of some of my old electronics -- one of which happened to be an old iPhone I had. I turned it on to see what was on it and to my surprise, I found an old note I’d written that contained prayer requests. Some of the requests were mine, and a few others were from different people I’d been lifting up. It was cool and refreshing to come across the note, especially with the year 2020 has been. At the beginning of the pandemic, I had a tough time. I was coping with tremendous amounts of stress, anxiety, doubt, depression, isolation, and restlessness. There were also a handful of times when I got so angry and disappointed with God that I got rid of different prayer request lists I had on my phone and some that I’d written out in my notebooks. When I was feeling my lowest, I didn’t see the point in praying anymore if things weren’t going to change. Eventually, some things changed, some didn’t, and s...