Faith, Hope, and Love

I already entered this week with a lot of anxiety, and having all sorts of sentimental nostalgic feelings because this week was my last official week in Houston. While I know I'll return to visit family and friends, I don't know if I'll be returning beyond a short-term stay ever again. So of course, I was (am) a bit of an emotional mess. But... everything seemed to conspire against me, and so far every day this week has held some disaster that has made making this transition just a *little* bit harder... Oh, and it didn't help that it rained pretty much THE. WHOLE. WEEK. #overit MONDAY:   I had my final doctor's appointment before my insurance expires (hello, unemployed life). I have been going to the same eye doctor for the last three years... didn't love her, but our school switched insurance groups a while back and the one I loved was no longer covered. But anyway... I show up to discover, once again, I'm no longer covered because we had had ano...

I have lived in a lot places in my life. And in my seven years in Houston, I have moved my stuff about five or six times... and now I'm doing all over again. This move is definitely the hardest. For one, I have no clue where I'll be moving to next. Everything is in storage for at least the next four months, and unlike the last two times I put stuff in storage, there is literally no plan of when or where it will all go. Secondly, this was by far my favorite place to live ever. And I realized I didn't take enough pictures, or invite enough people over. And... I'm scared that I'll never be able to create such a cozy and happy home again. When I moved in, my landlord made me a special key when I moved in because when we talked about the place I told him I loved to travel and that I taught World Cultures. It was the sweetest, and he and his wife have been awesome landlords these past few years. A friend helped me mount the top bookshelf (which I'm ...

My last post was a bit all over the place. So let's start this new year right. Will I be blogging more? I can't say for sure. I know it's not like I have this amazing group of followers who are relying on me. I started this blog for myself as a way to commit to writing on a regular basis and sort of working out big changes in my life. I had just lost my job and felt lost as a person. Over the years, the blog has evolved, but one thing has been consistent: I tend to mostly write about things as they are changing for me. The job, the living arrangement, the hair... So what's changed since the last time I blogged in 2013? I have moved once again. It seems I can't stay in one place for more than a year. In my life, I have moved a total of 18 times (no including the back and forth each summer of college). I have lived in two different countries and four different U.S. states. I'm kind of at a point where I really want to stay in one place and call it home...

I still have weeks before I get the keys and can move into my new place... but that doesn't mean I can't dream of all the things I'll do to it once I get there! Headboard is Big Project #1 . But another thing I'll definitely need to work on is the bathroom. Cause, it's tiny . Yup... that's it. Super narrow and not a lot of space for anything besides what's already in there. There is a small linen closet (which you can't see), and there is a little bit of storage space under the sink, but that's more or less it. So, I'll need to utilize the wall space as much as possible. Solution #1: Creative and Space-Saving Storage I have tons of little buckets already, and tend to buy more from the $1 aisle at Target all the time (they are just too cute to resist!). And since there really is no counter space in the bathroom and the vanity/medicine cabinet isn't really usable, I thought this was a fun and cute solution. That fits my style, too. ...

In exactly a month, I'll be getting the keys to my new apartment. And I can't wait . It's in the Heights, which is one of my favorite neightborhoods in Houston. The houses have such old charm and I love the bright exterior colors. There are some newer builds, too, but even they have quite a level of charm. I drove some friends around the neighborhood over the weekend and we "oohed" and "ahhed" at the wrap-around porches and the stately exteriors. Example of a Heights Home My little home lacks the same level of charm on the outside, but once I saw the inside I was sold. It's hardwood floors throughout, which are old and in some parts a little uneven, but obviously in good condition. And while the bathroom is kind of tiny/narrow and there isn't a lot of cabinet space in the kitchen... it's a place I can make home . And home isn't something I've had... well, since 2006. The other day, my brother compared me to a Fulani. I...

I have never kept a budget. Appalling, I know. Numbers just stress me out. I've always liked words better. I mean, I can't even remember a 10-digit phone number . It took me years to memorize my social security number. One of my exes was always irritated that I wanted directions to include exit names and not the exit numbers (still do, by the way). And let's not even talk about sticking to the budget. I'm not very good at coloring within the lines (figuratively; I actually am slightly OCD about doing that literally). I've planned to only spend X amount of money on something and then completely go crazy once I start spending. I always find a reason to spend just a little bit more. And not necessarily on me (although, when it comes to books, it's always one me). I just see things that I think people in my life would like and make the purchase. This definitely comes back to bite me on the butt later. For the 10 months, I haven't thought much about how mu...

Dear Dallas, For the past two years, you have been home. At first, I wasn't sure if I would like you. After all, I was born and raised in Fort Worth. All my best memories revolved around that city--exploring the seminary on bikes, falling in love with education at Hubbard Heights Elementary, and even that one day my sisters, cousins and I were scared off the crackhead (or was it a pothead?) at Rosemont Middle School. And then, after returning from Nigeria, I came back to Fort Worth, becoming one of the first Scorpions at South Hills High School before migrating to Arlington to become a Bowie Volunteer. But Dallas...? You were always that far off place. The city that was part of my beloved metroplex (and which I often told people I was "from"), but that I never really felt a part of. Until these last two year... I came to you, six months out of getting my master's degree to work at the Dallas Morning News . It was a great summer, which officially kicked off my...