You Look So Young For Your Age: Random Musings About Age, Life, and Kris Kross

I don’t talk about my age much. It’s not because I’m ashamed, but more so because the “oh wow, I didn’t think you were that old” statement makes me forever regard people differently. I know it’s supposed to be a compliment, especially since the next immediate sentence is the much younger age they think I am. But still, it’s really a back-handed kind of compliment. I don’t fit into the box that most people think of for themselves or even others when it comes to age.

Cupcakes, Condoms, and Red Pumps

I love red pumps. There's something about them that just catches your attention.

But this is not about fashion.

Today I rocked my red pumps (ok, I really wore red flats most of the day because all my red pumps are open-toe and it's not quite warm enough for that)in honor National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, which is today.

Love Online?

I just signed up for an online dating site, and I have absolutely no enthusiasm about it. None.

Now is the Time to Thrive (or Change Will Come, But Only If You Let It)

Happy New Year! I know it is 3 weeks into the new year, but better late than never.

I have to say that so far 2013 has been pretty good. Today, President Obama was sworn in again for his second term, and I was out in the crowd watching on a megatron, with hundreds of thousands of people watching. It is crazy to think that it was only four years ago that I was doing the same thing, in Arctic temperatures.  I remember in 2009 thinking that maybe I would stick around and stay living in the DMV (after all I originally came here after living in New York for five years, thinking this would be a pit-stop before I moved to Atlanta).  But here I am five plus years later. In 2009 the idea of the first Black president  and all the “Yes We Can” and promise of change had me thinking about all the possibilities that could come. I figured that Washington would be an interesting place to be and, good or bad, I cannot say that I have been wrong. But here it is, January 2013, and that feeling of possibility, that tangible feeling of change is in the air again.

Giving Thanks

Sometimes amidst craziness and the rush of this thing called life, we can forget to stop and smell the roses. Thankfully national holidays, like Thanksgiving, and time off in general, can give some of us the opportunity to pause and reflect. The ride this year has taught me a couple of things, but one that stands out, particularly today, is that of appreciating everything, even the small things. I have so many things to be thankful for, and I could be here all day if I started trying to list them. But because I'm inspired by one of my favorite bloggers, I'm going to try and list 25 at least.

Procrastination Blues

I haven't written in weeks...actually, I should say that I haven't posted in weeks because I have been writing. At the moment I shouldn't even be on here. I should be writing  and working on my dissertation. Instead, I find myself getting caught up in the distraction monster known as the Internet.
I'm looking at hair recipes and styles, even though my hair is in braids and won't be free to try any of them for another month and a half. I'm reading blogs I follow, looking up new ones, all while I catch up on Grey's Anatomy and Scandal.

Basically, I'm procrastinating.

Weight Loss Tips From an Average Girl (That Hates Calorie Counting)

I woke up yesterday and decided to weigh myself for the first time in awhile. In general I tend to avoid the scale and prefer to use how I look in the mirror naked and the way my clothes fit to be my real test of progress on this on-going journey. At any rate, I was pleasantly surprised to find that without a specific plan or trick, I've actually lost a little over 15 pounds from the last time that I weighed myself. So to say the least, I'm a little geeked. I'm also more motivated to press on to my real goal, and as a result feel like I can share some things I've learned along the way. I wouldn't call this a guide, because everything I've done has been inspired by running blogs, the oh-so extensive blackgirlsguidetoweightloss, and articles from all around the web. But because I'm far from an expert, and my discipline can be way lower than a lot of the people that write these in many ways, I feel like I can share a couple of things.