2013 in review

It was a very good year. But, certainly one that brought so, so many changes. Let's see, so many things happened
I finalized my divorce at long last (it was a good thing)
I completed my graduate degree
I purchased a new home (solo, you go girl) for me and the kids
Moved to a new town and awesome neighborhood
Sent my first born off to college
Obtained my pediatric certification
Got an awesome new job

For 2014 I will be working on learning a new job, spending as much time as possible with my family, doing some diy on the house, crafting, traveling and saving for the future. Here's to a great 2014, I can't wait to meet you.

Priorities

Lately, my main priority has been to find a new job, post graduate school. I'm happy to say that I will be starting a new position the first of the year. I'm excited and nervous. I've been a bed side nurse for so long. I KNOW how to take care of a patient. My new position will be challenging to say the least.  I'll be a novice for the first time in a long time. But, it's going to provide me growth I wouldn't have any other way. It's going to fulfill professional goals that I've long held. But most importantly, I'll be able to care for my family financially.  There's been many sacrifices, but now I can look towards the future.
I look forward to the future. 2014 is looking bright. Hopefully, I'll balance learning new things with fun projects. I look forward to sewing, knitting and home improvement. I've gotten some new tools that I want to break in. Ahhh...good things to come.

On Courage

Sometimes you encounter certain people, however briefly so that you can learn something that you need to learn. I recently encountered a man who reminded me that you're only inhibited by your own fears. That failure is ok.That if something doesn't work out, you just try again. We were talking about home improvement at the time, but I realized that it was actually relevant to everything in life. Sometimes you just have to go for it, even if you might fail. You have to be willing to take risk. I knew that, but maybe I had forgotten. I can be fearless in some ways, but sometimes my practicalness inhibits me. But, now I'm reminded to have courage. Courage to accept how things are. Courage to wait for what is to come. Courage to change. Courage to embrace the unknown, uncertainties of life. Have Courage.

Home tours and a space for myself.

I'm fascinated. I can't get enough of Apartment Therapy, Houzz and shelter blogs. I confess, I'm drawn to the ones that feature homes under 2000 sq. ft that don't look like they're waiting to be photographed for a spread into House Beautiful...you know what I'm talking about. The ones that look like real people actually live there.
Looking at all those tours have motivated me to document my own humble home improvement journey. When I say the budget is tight, I'm talking the kind of tightness that squeaks. I don't want to comprise though, so I'll go slow, look for bargains and buy what I love. This is my forever home so there's no deadline.
I haven't had a ton of time to work on my own home lately (I mean between working fulltime and being a single mom), other than getting mostly unpacked and repainting the living room. Today I'm starting on the master bedroom. I'm repainting the dark blue green walls to BM Gray Cashmere. It's a subtle sophisticated blue green gray color. I'd love to pull up the carpet as well to reveal the hardwoods, but that's not in the budget at the moment. I'll keep my eyes out for a great rug. I also have some dark chocolate curtains for $3.59 and some bamboo shades I got for $4 at the thrift store. All the furniture came from the thrift store. All the pieces are structurally sound, but have seen better days and need to be refinished. All in good time though.

Moving in day

Yesterday was a really big day in the life of a mother...and of course the child. I drove my eldest to college. It seems like only yesterday I was looking into the face of a newborn and now I'm looking up at young adult. I'm extremely proud of him and excited for him as well. Good luck baby boy...you're on your way!

So, why blog?

I've thought about it a lot. The blogging thing is so pervasive...and I'm more of a go my own way gal. I have another blog that I kept up regularly for a couple year. Then life happened. It has a way of rearing its head and demanding your time and energy. Anyway, slowly I went from blogging very regularly, to not blogging much at all.
Now that so much stuff is behind me, I feel like I'm ready to dive into it again...but jeez, it so crowded out there. Is there a place for me? A working mom, a single mom, without much time to diy regularly or to take dazzling staged photos of the step by step of a project. It's catch as catch can. But I think I have something to say, a unique perspective. I work, I'm single, I'm a woman of color. I diy...I want a beautiful and comfortable home just like anyone else and I don't have a ton of money to make it happen. So...I scour the internet, and flip through magazine. I try. Sometime it's a fail...like when I thought I could substitute sultan lade slats for the slats that didn't come with the vintage bunk bed set I purchased for O & M. Why I didn't measure before hand I'll never know...that $40 down the tubes (the 5 hour drive back to IKEA doesn't make it worth the effort to return them).  However, the trip to Home Depot (should I mention it's only 5 mins from my house) to have diy plywood bunkie boards cut paid off in spades. Live and learn I always say.
My style is a whole lot of vintage, thrift store, well loved pieces and altogether modern eclectic. I love dark wood and simple lines. I resist the urge to repaint pieces. Something about the warmth of wood makes my heart happy.
So, I'm here. I'm committed to blogging, at least the present. Let's see how it goes.

Big Changes or the truth about location, location, location

A big plunge for me. A couple months ago I bought a new home for me and the kids. It was excitng, scary, liberating and exhilarating all in one. I can't even tell you how much I love this place. When "they" say how important location is, they really mean it. I've moved to the absolutely best neighborhood, EVER. I could have gotten a bigger house somewhere else, but then it would not have been THE HOUSE. This was the one that when I took the kids to see it, everyone loved it. Sure there was some sadness and nerves about moving, but this is was the place we could actually see our futures in. So after some brief negotiating, an inspection and a few weeks of anxiety waiting for everything to be finalized, we moved into to the house I expect to send my kids off to college from. It's not a huge place...in fact by some standards it's quite small. But, haven't you heard small is the new black. The space is so well configured. I feel like this is my forever home. When I drive through the neighborhood my heart just sings. I love being in an established neighborhood within walking distance to parks and funky little shops and eateries. I could go on and on...but I wont, lol.

Check it out...doesn't it look inviting? I'm still sprucing, tweaking and settling in. That's how it is when you've got a fulltime job. You do things in fits and starts. But, it'll get there. I've already been able to host family comfortably which is something I had a hard time doing in our old home. It feels good. Sharing your home.

Oh, that's E. preparing to show me how he can hit a homerun

The end of matriculation

Today I will officially have completed my graduate degree. I cannot believe I made it. It's been a hard journey, but I survived and I'm incredibly proud of myself and thankful for the support I got along the way. I hope the future brings me new opportunities. I know that it changed me and had enhanced my life as well. And that brings me to my bucket list. For the last 2 years I've put so many things on the back burner, but now I think I have time to really explore some new adventures.
There's a ton of changes coming soon (I'll get into those more later), but let's just say I'm excited and looking forward to the future.
Now that I have more time, I'm ready to take on some new projects on the home front. I've been scouring tons of shelter blogs getting awesome ideas, can't wait to try some out. I also have some crafting in my future as well, I have a couple quilts to finish and my little sister is having a baby so I have somethings I want to work on for her as well.
Anyway, one adventure is ending and another is just around the corner!

Hysterical

I have to share a dirty little secret. I adore Korean Soap Operas. Actually I love all soap operas. Korean soap operas are extremely addictive, but certainly have a predictable formula to them. Essentially they are all Cinderella love triangles. Cinderella, because it's almost always a poor girl/rich guy and usually two guys are vying for the girl. The girl is usually spunky and not considered beautiful or a real catch, but always has a heart of gold. Oh, and at some point she get's a makeover and everyone ends up realizing she's super special. But, I found this vid on you tube (my new obsession for a fast laugh) by StillnotDavid that really explains how Korean Dramas explain the meaning of life. I don't know how to post the vid, so I just linked you to it above. Be sure to check it out. It's freaking hysterical.

First planned project of the new year

Knitting is still hot, just check out the amazing site Ravelry if you don't believe me. Cowls are the new black. Super cool and chic. For my 2013 crafting kickoff, I thought I'd whip (haha) something just for moi. I plan to make the Honey Cowl and keeping with my ongoing commitment to be frugal in my crafting, I'm going to find some yarn from my stash that will work. I'm sure I have something. I'm thinking something in green, wouldn't that be fun and unexpected?