2015: 365 of 365

2015 Review

For me 2015 started off rocky and at the end it was a little tricky. Overall however, 2015 has been a pretty good year. I can honestly say that it has taught me many lessons that I plan to carry into 2016. 2015 has been a great foundation year for me as far as growth is concerned. I really believe it has been a time of preparation. I believe that in 2015 I began a journey of growth and self understanding. I do know that my journey is not over and I am even more excited to see what 2016 has in store.

Here is a short list of the few major accomplishments of 2015:

I graduated college.

I got a boyfriend.

I created this blog.

I made a move to Shreveport and got my own apartment.

I went to my first NFL game.

I don't partake in the "New Year, New Me" or the "New Year's Resolution". I do however believe in simply creating goals for yourself. Yes, people there is a difference.In 2015, I created and posted my 101 in 1001 which was pretty much taken from my bucket list  Alongside that, I have other short term and long term goals scratched on sheets of paper waiting to be organized and rewritten. In 2015, I created a list of things I wanted/needed to accomplish and I succeeded. In 2016, I plan to do the exact same thing (which I will probably post). I have also came up with other ways to remember and hopefully reflect back on 2016.

All in all I am praying for a great year. I am praying that my life continues to receive blessings and that I am prepared for the changes that God is going to place in my life. I do understand that certain habits, people, desires, wants, etc will get lost in this time of growth. I am okay with that.

2016 is about significantly growing into my success.

I'll just leave this right here...... 

 Happy New Year...

7 Lessons to Learn While Being Single

Not really, but I loved this image.

 

These days nobody seems to want to want to be single. I can honestly say that before I met JB I was actually happy being single. I used that time to reflect, mingle, have fun, and prepare myself as best as I could.

I just don't get why most people despise being single. Don't get me wrong, I do get in some instances you do want that male companion. You want a significant other to share your happy moments, lean on their shoulder in sad times, and someone to just show you love.

However, there are so many perks to being single that in my opinion, it can definitely outweigh the bad. Being single is nothing but a lesson. Being single teaches you more about yourself than a relationship will....well at least on a different level.

1. The most important lesson when single is to learn or remember to love yourself. It sounds like such an easy concept; however, it is something that many people don't do. Some think that loving someone else will make them love themselves, or having someone love them makes up for the lack of personal love. It doesn't! Nobody can love you more than you love yourself. I know it feels good to be loved, but a void will always be present when you don't love yourself. And if that is the case.... then you are in trouble. I mean how can you honestly love someone, and not have the strength to love yourself first.

2. Let go of the past. It is easy to regret what did happen or "what if" what didn't happen. Unfortunately, it is over. Let go and leave it in the past. You come up with these scenarios thinking "if only". But let's be frank we can "if only" all day long, it's not happening. The moment is over. You reliving the past is not helping you to be happy in the place you are in life. The best thing to do is learn from the situations of the past and move on. Think of all the new opportunities you will soon face. Now prepare yourself for that.

3. Let the list go. I'm guilty of the list as well. When I was younger I had a list with the qualities of the guy I wanted. It didn't cross my mind that I would ever have to do without some of these qualities. Now that I am much older and more mature, I know that that is the farthest thing from the truth. Don't get me wrong, have standards. But a lot of your list you need to let go of. Remember, you  may not meet every quality a guy has on his list either. I mean do you even meet the things on your list.

4. Learn to be happy. There are plenty of people in a relationship and are unhappy. Relationships don't guarantee happiness.

5.Work on your life. You want a man who can bring plenty to the table, but what are you bringing? Don't sit at a table in which you have nothing to offer. Work on yourself and your wants, dreams, desires. You both should be so individually determined that you inspire each other.

6  Single = Mingle. You won't find a guy you want or any guy for that matter by being cooped up in the house. Grab your friends, raid your closet/go shopping, get pretty, go out and mingle. Will you meet Mr. Right the first night? Uhhh prolly not. But don't get discouraged. The first few guys may not do anything for you or they can make great friends. Beware of where you go to mingle. This could determine the kind of guy you will attract. You don't want to find just any guy, so remember to keep your standards.

7. You won't be single forever. Yes, I know you have been single for 3 years and it feels like 30. I know you are thinking that you will forever be single, but you won't. It is only a temporary situation giving you plenty of time to figure yourself out. Make the time you are single worth it.


Being single is a great experience. Everyone should take their single status and make the best of it. Being single is the time that we can learn the most about ourselves. It is the time that we can do things that we have always wanted to do. We can accomplish many goals and prepare ourselves for that relationship that we have always dreamed of. Relationships are not an easy task. The great ones  require a lot of time and work.   Remember you are not the only single person in the world. There are plenty of others like you. It's okay.

"Being single is the time to prepare you for love."

Initial Review:Queen Plus Hair Products Co., Ltd- Brazilian Virgin Hair

So this post was technically suppose to be up not only a few days ago but also in video form. Being that this is a hair review I felt it would be better as a video. However, videos are not my strong suit at this point and will definitely take a little bit longer to learn to do.So the best I could do was these few pictures and a written description on my thoughts of this hair.

I ordered hair for my graduation which was on Friday (the 18th). I was ordering the hair pretty late in the game so I really needed something that was going to be here in a short amount of time as well as some quality hair. I didn't have 400 that I was comfortable spending on hair. (Yea I know I know you get what you pay for.) I have seen reviews and heard of a few people who have ordered hair from Aliexpress. I have seen some good and some bad. I knew coming in it could be a hit and miss ordeal.

I literally searched and searched. I decided that I wanted straight hair instead of my original thought which was body wave. I knew that I wanted a closure this time. I decided to go with a three part closure to give me a little variety. Looking for vendors who gave me a three part closure as well as straight hair helped me in narrowing down my choices, but I still had many choices.

Now, I'm very nervous about this three part closure because the few times in the past that I have had a sew-in, I had my hair out in the front and had a nice size bang. I like to have something to cover part of my forehead.


My choice:

Vendor: Queen Plus Hair Products Co., Ltd.
Title: Brazilian Virgin Hair with Closure 4 Bundles with Closure 7A Unprocessed Human Hair Weave Brazilian Straight Hair with Closure
Seller: Mary Su

- The first thing that got me with this hair company was that they offered a three part closure and they had a 10 day delivery guarantee. I ordered my hair on November 30 and I received it via FedEx on Friday December 4. Great timing..

Let's talk about the hair itself..

The hair is soft and I have ran my fingers through it and have yet to pull out any strands. The hair does have a smell but it isn't an "Oh my God this is unbearable" kinda smell. A quick was would definitely fix the problem. My first reaction to the closure was that it was short. The hair combined showed that it would give a full head.

So far I have no complaints with this hair.

Crest 3D White Strips 1 Hour Express

This post is to do a review on the Crest 3D White Strips 1 Hour Express:

 

In the past my go to white strips were the Crest White Strip Classic. I would use them one or twice a year depending on how I felt my teeth were looking. I could always see results.
 I started using the Crest White Strips when I got my braces removed back in 2011. I just wanted something to spruce up my teeth since I had been brace face for so long.

It has been a little minute since I have used white Strips. I was in Wal Mart when I saw the Crest 3D White Strips 1 Hour Express. With my graduation coming up, I felt my teeth could use a little umph when I'm walking across that stage.

These are the individual strips. Each pack contains a top and a bottom.

The strips are simply to use. The strips are not to be placed on freshly brushed teeth. Beware that for some they feel a little pain when using this product. I'm really hoping this product gives my teeth a little more life. Not that my teeth are just dull and yellow... Here is a pic of me, while my teeth. No filter added.



 Hopefully I see some results and I am able to come back with a good report.

12 Dates of Christmas

So I intended to type and publish this post last night, however, I was feeling really sick so I ate and went to bed. Today is December 12 and it make a few months that JB and I have been dating. Exciting right!!

Any who, a while back I decided that we would do something for our first Christmas as a couple. We were both in the Christmas spirit (our Christmas tree was put up a little bit before Thanksgiving).

I came up with the idea to do 12 Dates of Christmas. This is no way shape form or fashion my idea. This will technically be our first Christmas together and I think it is safe to say that we are both really excited. I typed him up a pretty little letter and attached to the letter were 13 dates. Today didn't really count but it did since it marked us making a few months as boyfriend and girlfriend.
In my opinion, the 12 Dates of Christmas makes Christmas more about giving gifts. We all know how stressful giving gifts to your love ones can be. It's not a competition, but no one wants to give the other a gift that they will not love. So we think extra hard and spend those extra bucks just to make sure it is the best. 12 Dates of Christmas is about love, laughter, fun, cuddling, and just enjoying each others company.

With my graduation coming up and all the preparations I have to do and his work schedule can change at any moment, our 12 Dates are a little out of wack. Buttttt the point and the meaning is still there. SOOO down below is the list that I came up with. I told him he could remove, flip, add, etc. to the list, but he pretty much left the list as it was. This list is as follows:

December 2015:

12- Let's go eat together to celebrate 5 months

13- Cracker Barrel and football

14- Let's bake holiday cookies and each write a letter of Thanks to wrap up and put under the tree.

15- Day to relax

16- Christmas movies and dinner

17- Basketball tournament in support of your sister

18- Celebrating Drecia's GRADuation

19- Christmas lights in Natchitoches

20- Church then lunch then Painting with a Twist

21- Find a meal on Pinterest and cook it

22- Netflix Christmas movies

23-Sleep over and build gingerbread houses

24- Christmas Eve- Christmas Breakfast; My family's Christmas Eve tradition

25- Christmas Day-Christmas Breakfast, Christmas Rounds

Uhhhh... This is not exactly 12 . Lol but you get the gist. I'm just excited to get to have a little Holiday fun. If you have done 12 Dates of Christmas please share your holiday fun with me. If not, think about it, there is still time.

St. Louis Rams Game

So if you are new to the blog...  HELLO!!!

Last recently posted my 101 in 1001 and I am happy to say that I marked off a goal on my list. On Friday I posted in my Friday Favorites that JB and I were heading to St. Louis.

 

 

 

Our hotel gave us a great view of The St. Louis Arch also known as The Gateway Arch. This is a 630- foot tall Arch. According to the website, this is the tallest man-made monument in the United States. Unfortunately we did not get a chance to take the journey to the top of this monument but maybe next time. It was just nice to fall asleep and wake up with this right outside my window.

 

The picture may not do the pizza much justify sorry.

 When we came to St. Louis back in October JB bragged about the Imo's Pizza. When we arrived on Friday night I was starving. Lucky for me with a touch of a button on the hotel phone I was able to get Imo's delivered. It was pretty good... or I was really starving.

 

We went to St. Louis to attend an NFL game (checks off lists). His favorite team is the St. Louis Rams. I was just glad to go to an NFL game. We went to the game, ate, and I talked smack. He was a tad bit frustrated they were losing.

Below is the video of kick off.

 

 

As you  can tel I was really excited to attend my first NFL game. It was even better because it was JB's first time as well. So we got to experience that together. I got many compliments on my Rams sweater that I ordered from NFL.com.



Friday Favorites

So last Friday I wasn't able to post my Friday Favorites because I was busy taking my graduation photos... When I got back home I went straight to sleep. Now that my photos are done I finally picked a few options to be used for my graduation invitations. I actually love my pictures and will be printing them all out and creating a mini album. Two of the pictures I created a canvas on easycanvasprints.com. They have sales almost everyday and you can purchase a nice size canvas at a low price.

with that being said.... I really want to be selfish and make my whole Friday Favorites my graduation pictures but I shouldn't be that selfish.. (in other words I can periodically post them on my IG).

So here is this week's Friday Favorites.....

1. n the spirit of graduation. I saw this snippet of a video where Michelle Obama speaking a little bit of truth. Check it out...



2.  Sooo here is one picture of me showing my school spirit... Go Tigers!!

3. I love watching proposals on YouTube. I  love how creative the guys are when proposing to their loves. Here is a cute one from this week.

 

4. Sooo this weekend I was in New Orleans for The Bayou Classic. I had a great time. I ate great food, watched the Tigers bring home victory.

The G-Men celebrating after their victory.

Can't go to New Orleans without going to Café de Monde and ordering
the beignets. Yumm

5.

This photo is courtesy of Google. JB and I are currently in St. Louis. We came to attend the Rams game on Sunday. Of course a little bit of Christmas and personal shopping will be done. Hopefully I can capture a few good pictures.

101 in 1001

Courtesy of Google

Mackenzie’s blog was one of the first blogs I “lurked” came across when I first started looking at blogs. As I viewed her blog I saw her 101 in 1001 days. Loved it!  As I’ve stated before I am a huge fan of list. Being the list lover that I am, I thought why not take my bucket list and create a 101 in 1001. I started writing my list a while back and just never finished it. I initially wasn’t going to post my list, but then isn’t that what blogging is for. I graduate December 18^th and I think this is another great way to remind myself of the goals (and wants) I have set for myself. Now some of the things on my list may be really simple while some are pretty big for me. I would love to accomplish everything on my list; however, if I don’t it’s not the end of the world. Besides there is always round 2.

Start: December 2015

End: August 2018

1.       Decorate my first apartment.

2.       Go to the spa

3.       Painting with a twist at least 3 times (Jan 5, 2016 Phe bday, ) (Feb. 13, 2016 VDay) (March 19, 2016 with Jai and his cousin)

4.       Go to the gym twice a week for three months.

5.       Visit a city I’ve never been to before (Hot Springs, Arkansas bday trip)

6.       Connect with another blogger

7.       Grow my hair

8.       Try 5 new foods.

9.       Buy a random person a meal (Purchased 5 hamburgers to give to the Homeless on the strip)

10.   Attend NBA game

11.   Attend NFL game (JB and I attended the St. Louis Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals on 12.6.15)

12.   Go to a gun range

13.   Start doing yoga

14.   Learn to use Photoshop

15.   Start and complete 5 series on Netflix

16.   Correct my posture

17.   Write a letter to myself to open in 5 years.

18.   Improve TheBoujieBelle

19.    Travel to a new state

20.   Travel out of the country

21.   Go to Bora Bora

22.   Attend a comedy show ( Saw Katt Williams: Conspiracy Theory at CenturyLink Center)

23.   See a drive-in movie

24.   Create an album of my graduation photos

25.   Find a beauty/skincare routine that works for me

26.   Go to the doctor to check on my constant headaches/migraines

27.   Study for and pass my GRE test  ( took my GRE test on 12.22.2015)

28.   Graduate with my Bachelors (Graduated on 12.18.2015)

29.   Attend and graduate with my Masters ( starts May 24, 2016

30.   Own a puppy (and don’t give him away)

31.   Take a trip for my 25^th birthday

32.   Tell people about my blog (told 5 people so far)

33.   Establish a blogging schedule and stick to it

34.   Cook a dessert from scratch

35.   Go paint ball fighting

36.   Attend a concert

37.   Read 5 classics

38.   Watch 5 classic movies

39.   Go on a cruise

40.   Make 10 recipes off of Pinterest (1. Crispy Shrimp Pasta, 2. Shrimp Pasta alla Vodka, 3. Cheesy Enchilada Casserole)

41.   Read 30 new books and start back using GoodReads

42.   Create 5 How-To post

43.   Finish my vision board  (Jan. 1, 2016)

44.   Plan a picnic

45.   Learn to create and edit videos

46.   Try 5 different hairstyles (1. Bob

47.   Read for 30 minutes every night for  a month

48.   Create a Facebook page for my blog

49.   Learn how to properly work my camera

50.   Inspire someone to write their own list

51.   Volunteer somewhere

52.   Attend a wine tasting (

53.   Host a game night

54.   Create a budget and stick to it

55.   Start another savings account

56.   Read the Bible start to finish

57.   Go on a girl’s vacation

58.   Floss every day for a month

59.   Create and apply the blog design I want

60.   Get my palm read

61.   Watch the sunrise/sunset

62.   Grow my IG account

63.   Increase page views

64.   Have photos taken of me and my sister

65.   Buy a piece of furniture from a consignment shop and revamp it

66.   Move to a new city after graduate school graduation

67.   Rent cabin by the lake for a weekend

68.   Create and complete 10 Pinterest DIYs

69.   Start a favorite moments jar

70.   Organize ITunes library

71.   Purchase at least 10 items off of my Wants list (big or small)

72.   Build my credit up

73.   Be featured

74.   Attend a concert

75.   Go to a horse race

76.   Purchase personalized stationary

77.   Purchase some Nike work-out attire (3 bras and 2 pair of shorts)

78.   Update wardrobe.. (new dresses and definitely  new shoes)

79.   Join a professional organizations

80.   Attend a poetry/spoken word event

81.   Expand make-up

82.   Donate to Toys for Tots

83.   Spend a holiday in a different city/state (Dallas not included)

84.   Take a vacation with JB (JB and I went to Las Vegas with my brother and his wife in May 2016)

85.   Attend a blogging conference

86.   Save a set amount and take myself on a shopping spree

87.   Try 10 new restaurants (Warehouse, Trapps, Blind Tiger, Guy Fieri, Gilly, On The Border {FINALLY},

88.   Get my passport

89.   Visit an aquarium (Shark Reef Aquarium Mandalay Bay)

90.   Lose belly/tone  my body

91.   Attend a New Year’s Eve party

92.   Keep my apartment clean for an entire month

93.   Eat at a food truck

94.   Find my favorite perfume

95.   Journal for a month consistently

96.   Create a vanity area in my room

97.   Give my sister a bomb graduation gift May 2018

98.   Find my shade of pink lipstick

99.   Network more

100.                        Go to an amusement park

101.                        Save $10 for every goal accomplished

I plan to be consistent on keeping this list updated with my progress. Have you started a list? There is no set time to start. Any day is a good day to begin fulfilling your goals. When you do  please leave a link below so I can check it out. J