peace of life

Links of the day

2010-11-02T20:10:00.004-04:00

Look at this super cute jumping bean. via theSmithian.

Hope your day is going beautiful!

Strong wedding photograph

Advice to the newly natural.

Thinking of decor ideas

The cutest Paper flowers how-to

Love.

My Review of Personalized Spa Toiletry Bags

2009-10-20T19:47:00.001-04:00

Originally submitted at Beaucoup

Planning a spa day with your bridesmaids? Forget the mud bath. With these colorful personalized spa cosmetics bag favors, you and your maids will feel like taking a refreshing dip in rainbow sherbet! These cheerful bags are a must-have for the modern girls bridal shower or bachelorette party and ...

Love this!!!

By Monday Bride from Falls Church, VA on 10/20/2009

Pros: Practical, Selection of Colors, Classic, Personalized, Unique, Well Made, Affordable

Best Uses: Sentimental Keepsake, Wedding Party Gifts, Theme Weddings

Describe Yourself: Bride

I gave these bags as gifts to my MOH and bridesmaids and they loved them!!...The ribbons serve no purpose other than being ultra cute but I really liked that I could coorinate our 3 wedding colors with these spa bags. It's so cute and the perfect size.

(legalese)

I am 27weeks and 6days...

2009-10-05T18:58:00.016-04:00

Iron bed frame from Ikea.

Crib and changing table from Baby's R US.

Today I had my glucose screening test where I was given only a orange drink that taste like Gatorade after fasting for 12hours and had to wait another hour to have my draw blood. The doctor said everything looks good! Weight gain on tract (2lbs a week), blood pressure good and my tummy measurement right on tract. Baby is head down with arms and legs facing the left. I was thinking the baby was head up all this time so all this kicking was really head butting... And something when I lay on my left side and night I get the funniest tickles; maybe that's the baby's tiny punches...lol.

This weekend was so exciting we purchased a crib, changing table and bed for big sis. We were at work assembling furniture and decorating the entire weekend. So happy that their room is coming together. Unpacking was put on hold just temporary; I'm so ready throw everything away and start new.

Back tracking to what y'all miss during our wedding planning, here's a link to our engagement slide show. I get so touched everytime I see it.

I just got news that Leo's lil cousin baby boy was born pre-term today. The mom was due late January so that made her about 22-24 weeks. I'm so afraid for them a baby born so early will have many health issues. My prays go out to Jamal Jr. and to his parents. Lord I call on you in their time of need.

I confess...

2009-09-28T23:12:00.005-04:00

I love this shared nursery space idea from HGTV.com

It's been 5months since my last entry and so much has happened. During the last 3months of our wedding planning we discovered we were expecting! Five months in short: pregnancy, wedding, Cancun, and moving. So bear with me dear bloggies pictures and updates soon to come...

Bridesmaids gift idea!!

2009-04-15T16:42:00.003-04:00

www.givereal.com

Share real experiences with your Maids and get them a drink on you. Most of my gift shopping is done but I love this idea of gifting a tab at and a bar or restaurant!! You can also give virgin drinks too!!

we booked our honeymoon!!!

2009-04-07T00:24:00.003-04:00

We still have one major wedding expense but just felt that with all the sweat, pain and tears. The honeymoon directly after the wedding is a most. We are staying at the exceptional The Royal resort in Cancun Mexico....yaaaaaaa!

Hopefully...

2009-04-02T21:00:00.006-04:00

Retro photo of my love and I

We have been in search of a new photographer...When we first got engaged that was the first vendor we decided on. We choose Bella pictures because we thought It was the safest and most reliable photography company. How Bella works: You meet with a your assigned Photography consultant for the first meeting, they give you the impression that all their photographers are top quality and trained in wedding photography, and they have many available products such as wedding albums for easy purchase. Just $50 buck reserves your date! Well its 10months later and 3months on Sunday away from our day. We finally get a photographer that they choose based off of how well you described your style to your photography consultant and we were not happy. Blogging this process now, makes me feel like how did we see this as a good fit for us? After we saw our first choice we panicked and went into search mode. My wedding coordinator says the most people don't find there until 2months before their wedding but we really wanted this out of the way!!! So here we are searching for a new photographer that better fits our style. And I am excited to say that we may have a winner!!!

I wish I was here today...

2009-02-26T20:58:00.002-05:00

Fellow blogger the hotness ask where would I rather be today...I rather be here, at the one up the the street from my apartment.

Enjoying the free wi-fi... Lost in my designs and music working at my leisure and my own pace eating a apple pastry. No deadlines and a boss over my shoulder *sighing*.

I'm shoe obsessing...

2009-02-26T19:06:00.004-05:00

Shoes.com

Along with my shoe obsession for the perfect pair I'm obsessing over my daughter to be shoes. With the rapid growth of her feet I have to buy closer to our wedding day. Hope these butterfly jewel ones are still available when I purchase??!!! LooooVE...

Here are more adorable shoes! What's your favorite?

Jcrew.com

Shoes.com

Shoes.com

My search is over

2009-02-20T12:43:00.004-05:00

My Maid of honor look

My Bridesmaids look

I was have many problems finding the perfect brides maid dress. Well I did have one that I loved but could not find the dresses to match the one. It was a grueling process because I was shopping solely online for the best deals. The issue was was dress were going fast and it was hard to get all the girls sizes and see if the color would match the original dress from Jcrew. It was just to difficult with the distance of some of my maids and dresses disappearing the next day to get a uniform look. So finally I grab my 2 sister in laws to be/bridesmaids and we went to Jcrew and found the one! Its the very look and style I was going for and it looked so good on both of their shapes plus plenty dresses were in stock. So all we have left are their shoes and accessories.

New wedding invites designs by me!

2009-02-10T19:37:00.004-05:00

My inspiration:

My design:

Wedding check list:

2009-02-10T00:40:00.006-05:00

With least than 5months away we have...

Venue

Photographer

Planner

Guest list

Invite choice

Dress and shoes

Head piece

MOH dresses and Bridesmaids dress

Most of save the dates are out

Things to do...

Choose and sign caterer contract - We had one chosen months ago but because of lack of contact we may be looking else where.

Get officiant

Music- Ceremony, reception, and CD favor

Decide on cake flavors and look

Purchase another flower girl dress

Leo's Men tux

Ushers and Hostesses looks

Bridal registry

Finishing our invites

My hair - I have no idea...lol

Bridal party gifts - etsy.com!

Leo's passport

Honeymoon

My stress list...

Can't get in contact with MOH #1 for dress measurements.

My lil sis chooses at the last minute to tell me she's pregnant The perfect dress may not fit her at the time of the wedding luckily its a baby doll style giving room in the tummy and hip area.

Not having a caterer yet.

Wedding planning ask me to call her on Sunday night so we could cover much ground I haven't had a call back yet, well it's only been a day but the clock is ticking.

Music searching is so hard!

Money

Stress relief list...

Leo's embrace and listening ear!

Tara bride-to-be listen ear!

Finding a love for designing wedding invites and having 3 including my own invites to working on. Focusing the stress on simply elegant designs are so fulfilling!

Facebook...lol...keeping up with old friend and it's many distractions

Long bubble baths

W2 has arrive...lol

long over due...

2009-02-09T21:23:00.010-05:00

(above) My love, Father of the year and our joy!

I called him. Him who? You say...My biological father who. I was talking to little sis to catch her up on wedding duties since she's one of my bridesmaids. She'll be wearing this number. She gave me the news that she pregnant and got a little nervous cause I really wanted her in my wedding. We share the same dad but grow up not know each other as well as I would have liked. Coming up I was always hurt that our dad was more in her life than mines. Years past and I finally worked up the nerve to tell her how I felt about things and it brought us closer. Since then my sis's mom past and she was very special to me as well, she was like a second mother to me. But I knew from then on she was going need me in her life more than ever. Although I grow closer to my sis I was feeling more hurt and resentment from my dad's abandonment. Hearing that they talk on regular made me feel forgotten.
With the wedding getting closer I was more and more needing to know what was going through his head. So I final called him this Sunday during the grammy's and we talked for about an hour. It felt good to have questions answered that I didn't think I would get answered. So we only can talke it step by step from here but its a start. I just hope we can continue from this point with a relationship and not go 13 years without talking again.

i have a new bff

2009-01-23T03:03:00.006-05:00

Six months away until our big day and I decided to hire a planner. When we started our planning process I thought we could save money if I did all the planning. I realized I needed a planner when someone would ask me how the planning was coming and felt like tearing up. As soon as I called the planner I felt a big, big, big relief!

I'm feeling this...

2008-12-18T19:22:00.005-05:00

My toffee nut knows how much I love new underground artist and turned me on to Ayo! You have to check her album out:

Wedding update...

2008-12-10T19:46:00.008-05:00

left to right: my mom, step dad , me (center), my Toffee Nut, Mom in-law-2-be

It's been awhile I know but it so hard to find the time to blog...

Wedding planning was at a little stand still because with the economic deficit we felt doing a elegant Vegas or Mexican wedding would work better with our wallets. The only stumbling block with this type of wedding was my important family member not being about to make it because of traveling cost or just don't want to fly. Weddings like this are easier when your from a small sized family. One of the reasons I love him so much is because he's close with his family and I always want to be apart of a big family. I know everyone says "it's your wedding, you do what you want" but I feel like, I'm not just marry Toffee Nut I'm marrying my Toffee Nut's family and "yes" I know it's impossible to invite every cousin, second cousin and friend of a friend. I still think certain family have to be there such as Grandma in-law-2-be, whom told us to just go down to the JOP(justice of Peace),will not get on a plane. I just can't have a wedding without her there. She help raise my Toffee Nut into the man he is today.

So the verdict is:
We are sticking to the original plan and having it locally. To cut cost we may have to look for a cheaper caterer although I love the one we already picked. We haven't signed the contracted for them yet so we are square there.

“Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall”

2008-11-25T23:00:00.003-05:00

Check out the launch of my design blog!

“Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall”
Originally uploaded by Dreamzzzz....

this made me crack up!!

2008-11-25T19:41:00.002-05:00

i remember goldie being the same way before hubby-2-be resticted her from the bed. She still hasn't forgave me....

ooo this looks simple

2008-11-24T20:41:00.002-05:00

CLICK ON BOUQUET FOR STEP-BY-STEP VIDEO

I know if i want to take this on with all my other pending DIY projects, but they make this look sooo easy and fun!

What DIY projects are you doing for your wedding?

Flying Away

2008-11-18T22:51:00.001-05:00

Flying Away
Originally uploaded by Captured Soul Photography

Tattoo ideas for my 30th!

10 days away...

2008-11-18T21:47:00.005-05:00

After pulling myself away from my addict of reading design, fashion, and wedding blogs I'm finally writing my thoughts. It was time I need to wrote my daily ramblings. Well the big 30 is coming on the 30th of this month and I'm more than elated to celebrate in VEGAS BABY. The character are my mom, step dad, love of my life, and yours truly! We will be staying at South Point Hotel 5miles off the of strip I digging the size of room interior decor rated #7 on trip advisor although most reviews had pros and cons which makes me a lil nervous. But it's VEGAS so we gonna have great time just cause. Now each year I do something different with my appearance or just experience something new. Last years b-day my boo and I drove to Fort Lauderdale for a 3 day cruise to Nassau, Bahamas and I started my loc journey which are now 80% locked presently. The year before was a new restaurant and shopped till I dropped at the outlets I was lil depressed that year. Although I have already been to Vegas I have never traveled with my family and this so new to me...only thing missing is I really wanted my mom-law-2be to come but she can't make it cause of her new job but we still trying to talk her into coming.

I need a new appearance change too maybe a new tat or a simple hair color change or both. I really want more visible tats it just picking a feminine spot. Speaking of spots we found the coolest sports bar just around the corner with music I can rise my shoulders, sway, whine, booty shake, and salsa too. A perfect eclectic, grown and sexy mix! plus its free and to food is all of that...lol

Sad Face

2008-11-10T22:52:00.001-05:00

Sad Face
Originally uploaded by Chrstopher

I figured out how many great bloggers I'm following find great photos and fit in time to credit and link to flickr galleries!!! It was one click and know I'm feel like a more confident blogger. This sad face photo was my first flickr blog post but I didn't give credit and I want to give credit where credit is due.

pretty!

2008-11-10T22:03:00.002-05:00

Originally uploaded by i.anton

i love this pretty flower detail makes me smile :)

i'm so selfish

2008-11-09T14:32:00.003-05:00

i wish you wasn't mad with me i honestly didn't know you were running late. i always feel like we are on time an addition half hour. i have a very bad sense of time the only reason I'm on time for work which is a daily struggle is because i tell myself i have to be at work one hour before my actual time and I'm half hour late everyday from my fake time. so when we have to leave earlier i still manage to leave out at my fake time which manage to get me at work 5-15 mins late...if that make any sense. but i realize i need to change for you and for me. making you late i realize i am being very selfish and in considerate of your time and i know it can be stressful to be late especially for a new job.

off weekend

2008-11-01T15:08:00.009-04:00

Lately I have been feeling like my life is out of order like I don't have control of things that I should have control over. Every time I look up its a new month and the bill need to be paid, or the house is clean one minute then the next minute its a disaster! I sit things aside for later review and can't find it. I have moh who is missing in action no calls no emails nothing. I just not my usual cheery self like and I don't like it but not much has progress with the wedding planning nor my daily life. A day at the mall while sipping on Starbuck skinny vanilla sugar-free latte use to be my quick fix but spending money is starting to depress me. On top of everything one of our hermit crabs died this morning from my neglet!

update: a call from this guy and finding this movie on tvone made me smile!

I'm a righty...

2008-10-19T21:25:00.003-04:00

...but I changed to a left brainer when the arrows popped up in the end of the video. Kool!

Digging this!

2008-10-19T18:04:00.004-04:00

I stubble onto this new site with amazing jewelry and accessories with unique and sassy style, right up my aisle!

wedding planning brief break...

2008-10-02T21:59:00.002-04:00

With all the hoopla of wedding planning I have to take a brief break....awwwwwww...I kno! Well it's TT's 4th year on this earth anniversary and I have to plan something special for her day. I'm thinking a ice cream theme party since she loves ice cream so much!!

Activities:

Make your own ice cream

with toppings spread

(cones, bananas, gummies, nuts, sprinkles -jimmy's for you fellow philadelphians, cookies, and whipped cream)

making paper ice cream

-construction paper

-scissors

-glue

-glitter

bake cupcakes

and kids games ice cream related

photos to follow

Wedding shopping cart

2008-09-29T22:17:00.015-04:00

So many purchases I want to buy for the wedding but I have to wait until pay day until then I making my list and ...checking if i really need it or could this be diy project? hmmm...?

My centerpieces are driving me crazy I'm am pleas with the striking color contrast but is it enough?
I have thinking I want to added lighting for an intimate effect but candles are not allowed at our venue. So I thought the submerge lights my be that finishing touch i was looking for.

Wedding shopping list item(s):

1 teal and 1 white submersible lights (just for trail now, later I will purchase more if I like), more blue decorative felt , ring bearer pillow, jumping broom, cake cutter and knife set, sample flowers from the wholesaler I will be picking, pearls for my mockup table decor, Paper for practice invitation, garter, and sexy lingerie.

Wedding hair I'm feeling...

2008-09-24T21:17:00.002-04:00

I'm loving the endless possiblites for locked hair thanks to the hair gallery of essence.com!

Ok, I have alot of

2008-09-23T20:57:00.005-04:00

but not for long! Today I join the gym at my job and there are endless things to do to keep you active so my bum will look even better in these cute panties by etsy seller dear diary.

Having a blah monday...

2008-09-23T01:58:00.002-04:00

...this made me laugh so I will share it with you.

graphic design inspiraton: clean simplicity

2008-09-17T21:28:00.005-04:00

graphic-exchange.com
artist: Jacob Wildschiødtz NR2154

I found this site from the ladies for me, for you blog

etsy craving...

2008-09-17T19:53:00.005-04:00

this bohemian style vintage piece by esty's seller strim is right up my aisle...it has it all it plus ties in my wedding colors to a T.

and loving these too...

my new esty buy

2008-09-16T21:44:00.003-04:00

from seller eaker house

Second buy bridal necklace buy but this is the one!

Save me...

2008-09-16T20:49:00.005-04:00

I wanted to have all my save-the-dates magnets out by the 10th month away mark but its been a challenge getting the last 20 addresses out of 150. Anyway, I'm so in love with how well they turned out. The one on the left is the first draft only printer 4 before Leo(groom-to-be) reminded me that I wanted to add a bow and lipstick to Mrs.Pacman. So glad he was paying attention that wedding gibberish day because I'm all over the place with the cute wedding details.

Booty bounce outta here...

2008-09-16T01:17:00.002-04:00

In between wedding planning and blogging I work full-time late night shift only on Mondays. And thanks to my booty bounce chair dancing to Beyonce's, "Give me body" I finished transmitting finalized page in rocket speed...yaaaaaaaaaaa! Talk to y'all tomor!

blog paradise!

2008-09-15T21:22:00.000-04:00

I was blog surfing and came across afrobella's fabolous blog...which lead me to finding hair jewerly for my big day!
check these hancrafted loc nuggets by Thailas Creations

eureka moment!

2008-09-14T19:18:00.000-04:00

I have designed my wedding centerpieces but could not envision them working with a circular table "banquet style" set up. Since they are DIY the price was right; Vases from Ikea $5.99 each, decorative self-adhesive felt about $2, blue water beads $1.99 from www.flowersandsupplies.com, rocks $1 from Dollar tree, and as for the flowers I plan on using flower wholesaler "wedding in a box". Then it hit me! "Family style" long stretch rectangular table displays would best show off my creations and go along with our homely elegant wedding feel, nevermind the fact I already impulse bought 15 of these vases boxing myself in to this design.

I'm also digging the symmetry and simple decor of these examples:

this takes me back...

2008-09-14T06:48:00.000-04:00

to those old skool hip hop days. enjoy!

Wedding day hair ideas...

2008-09-11T16:30:00.000-04:00

essence.com photo

essence.com photo

Since I've started my hair journey in December '07, I expect my locked tresses to be of great lengths right in time for our big day! I'm totally feeling these styles...what's your fav?

Wedding planning update...

2008-09-10T21:22:00.000-04:00

I'm all over the place today, my thoughts are just everywhere. Wedding planning is coming along we have 10months to go but it feels like no time....

Wedding checklist:

Gown

Shoes

Jewelry - on its way!

Tux rentals

Picked my attendants - 2 MOH, 2 flower girls, 2 BM

Invitations - I have my set design (pictured above)
Venue -paid in full! yaaaaaaaaaaa!

Photographer - contract signed, and first payment made

Save the dates - sent out most, 20more to go ( Where did you put those darn things??!!)

DJ - Having found one yet

Officiant - Having found one yet

Car rental

Hair - no clue

Centerpieces - Purchased vases, feathers, and decoration stuff but I need to delegate this

Reception decor

Flowers- Pick which wholesale site I will be using

Gown alterations

Wedding night lingerie

Toning up for our big day

my first etsy!

2008-09-09T18:31:00.001-04:00

from lyceekiss
You think I would have learned my lesson after purchasing 5 pairs of shoes for my wedding before I found "the ones"...but here's my second bridal jewelry purchase but my first esty.com buy!

Speak for yourself lady...

2008-09-04T16:17:00.000-04:00

I was watching CNN commentators at the Republic convention recap Palin's statement about the "only difference between a soccer mom and pit bull is the lip stick." I don't know what I find more appalling, the commentators pretending that that was a great moment in her speech or Palin for parting her lips to even make that statement. If anything that set women back 100s of years. In my opinion, her statement was for those older run of the mill southern male Republican voters who think women are not their equal counterparts. Those who think such a way think to understand a women with power she must be a "female dog". So maybe Palin my prefer to be view as a "female dog" as oppose to simply a powerful, strong women? If I was a soccer mom I rather she speak for herself then cause I wouldn't want to be labeled and as "female dog".

online window shopping

2008-09-03T21:37:00.000-04:00

love love love! But I'm trying not buy anything unless its wedding related *sighing*

Well, I just don't what...

2008-09-02T15:56:00.000-04:00

...is wrong with me today??? I feel so down but I have so much to look forward to...such as the wedding, life, the meetup adventure group we joined, tt's going to school, my 30th birthday coming up, learning more, new restaurants I haven't tried out yet and much more. Maybe a list of what is bothering me in detail could help me sort through my emotional state?

Stress #1- i have been calling the photography consultant since last week with no response back and she was harassing us to sign our contract immediately which did not bother me cause i needed someone on top of things like that. But now i want to set a wheel in motion but can't check this major thing of my long list of wedding duties.

Stress free bonus- Wedding venue is paid for in full!

Stress #2 - My weight, I'm 170lbs @ 5 ft even. And even thought I look like I wear it well I don't like those numbers. I need to be 40 lbs lighter, I major to get on 10lbs but I quickly gain it back. I don't like that my body is comfortable @ 170lbs. I am very active not in a sport but i enjoy exercising and doing active activities on the weekends such as hiking, walking , laser tagging, hitting the batting cage and my wii fit. I know if i did something routine like throughout the week like was on a team i would be where i want to be. But I work such as abnormal sked and the weeks we have tt I cant workout like I would like too cause she just gets in the way. I tried working out and including her but I got kicked in the eye and that was not fun.

Stress free bonus - TT will be starting school we would be getting her every other weekend so maybe I could be on a set workout routine every week not hold back on some weeks.

Stress #3 - TT being home with her mom full time is scary. I hope she doesn't develop bad behavior habits. For daddy and I established a healthy balance in her life and im concern that we will not have as much as a influence on her with just weekend.

Stress free bonus - TT is very strong and god is on her side! No one can take away the influence of her daddy, and he is the greatest dad!

Stress #4 - #8 - The wedding coming together. Hearing ppl complain about the day and time makes feel like ppl will not show up. Should I get a wedding day -of -coordinator? Centerpieces and wedding decor...who, how and what the hell do I want to do exactly... too many choices! My two maid of honors are not as enthusiastic as I thought they would be. And my mother has just been flat out annoying...this weekend at a cookout, someone asked if she like my fiance in front of him and she commented "I tell you later" then "No, he's ok, he's fine"and although it was to be taking as a joke I didn't like it and I know it made him feel uncomfortable cause he doesn't know how she feels about him and would very much like her acceptance.

Stress free bonuses - It's too late to even think about changing our wedding date, plus it so usual that I like it more and more and It's my grandma's birthday so her memory goes on and now she will be apart of my wedding day.

God always make a way, so the wedding will come together.

I will have to delegate the centerpiece to Aunt Tammy and just trust her taste

The wedding will still be going on with or with out my maids of honor

Leo. has all my love and I really don't care what my mother thinks.

Thanks for reading. Later

blogging is my new cake

2008-08-28T21:23:00.001-04:00

The day turned out to be so unbelievably boring!!! I'm work now and have nothing to do but eat and I'm trying to break that habit which is extra hard but another intern left today so that means cake...4miles down the drain. We have my step-daughter this weekend and I'm so nervous what to expect. she's a normal hyperactive 3-year-old but I still used to life without kids. i have to admit I'm adjusting it's still fun to do things on your own time as oppose to a lil person's time. This weekend is clothes shopping for T's first school year! so that will be fun...and the block party @ my mom's. Although I'm a little annoyed with my mom it should be enjoyable.

Out for now, still feeling my way here...

Good rainy morning

2008-08-28T09:17:00.000-04:00

I wake up to the sound of the dreaded alarm whining. *argh* I hate alarms but leo needed to get up at 4a.m. for his new job but neither of us heard the alarm until 6a.m. Thank god for rainy mornings when you can sleep in. Well i was feeling very ambious then usually and decided well since its so early this is the best time for workout! We went to the trail waking distance from the complex. I've lived here for 2years and past by the trail daily. I always wanted to explore...so today will be that day. 4miles total jogging and walking our last .25mile soaked. It did feel good to get our workout out of the way now we our watching Lady in the Water from off of Cox On demade... Fear.com rocks!

First and foremost...

2008-08-26T00:24:00.000-04:00

Well I'm new to the blogger neighborhood and hope i settle in nicely and maybe even find my blogging home.