Better with time...

When I was younger, I heard grown folks say that they weren't getting older, they were getting better. And it wasn't just Furious Styles in Boyz in the Hood neither! Older people in my life used that phrase all the time. I never really knew what they meant until now. 

When I was a teenager, I thought that time would NEVER move. It took what seemed like an eternity to get from 9th to 12th grade! Not literally folks. Actually, it only took the normal four years, but I wanted to be grown so bad that I could taste it!

1995 Snow Daze Dance. I thought I was killin it in this dress! 

1996 in my high-school halls with the jailhouse pose 

Once I turned 18, I moved out. At the time, getting "old" (in my eyes old was 30) seemed light years away. 

Me with my best friend at our high-school graduation

In my 20's I didn't really think much about my age. I just cruised along. Hanging out with friends, raising my children, being a young wife, etc. Nothing could touch me! 

Then there was 30. The big 3-0 hit me kind of hard. I wasn't prepared! Where had the time gone?! I mean shoot, I still felt 20 something!

My 'Golden Birthday'. See what I did there? #solidgold

Time passed. I got older. My children got older. Life started moving a hell of a lot faster then it did before. All of a sudden, I look up, and I'm on the later side of 30, damn near pushing 40!! I decided to start taking better care of myself. To focus more on me. To look in the mirror and be proud of the woman who stared back at me. Thus began my weight loss/health journey. With diabetes, cancer & high-blood pressure running in my family I couldn't afford to ignore my weight anymore.

I knew that I wanted to lose some weight, but I never really saw myself as THAT overweight. Below is the first 'before/during' picture where I took a good look and realized that I didn't know where my weight had taken me. Well, I knew, but I didn't. I knew because as you can tell in the picture on the right, I tried to use that poor little clutch as a shield for my tummy. Sad, but true. I say that I didn't know because I actually thought it worked! lol! When I look at these pics, I see a different me from my hair, down to my knees :)

This 'before/during' pic was from a week or two ago. I posted it on Instagram as motivation for me to get to the gym. I was having a hard day, and I needed to let myself know that I don't plan on going back to the old me.

 This pic is from Dec, Jan & Feb. It was my goal dress. I went into Target, saw this dress for super cheap. I tried it on, and it was pretty tight around the mid section. Being that it was a medium, I gave myself until March to fit comfortably into the dress. I DID IT by February! YAY ME!!

I said all of that to say this. I'm not done. Not even close. Being active, and consistently making small changes to live a healthier life is ongoing for me. I slip. Hell, I fall! But I will never stop. And in the process I'm beginning to realize that, like fine wine, I'm getting better with time.

Do you feel like you become a better you as time passes? What are some of the things that keep you motivated to do better?

Until next time...

This was Friday of last week :)

Sweater - Old Navy

Scarf - H&M

Jeans - Old Navy

Boots - Target

TAG!! I'm it!!

I was tagged by the lovely Shariece over at Beauty or Swaag. Since I've started opening up more and more about myself here, I thought... why not?! Enjoy!


The Rules:

1. Post these rules.
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog and tell them that you've tagged them.
6. No stuff in the tagging section about 'you are tagged if you are reading this' You have to tag 11 peeps.


11 random things about me


1. I graduated high school in 1997. Go Teddies!!
2. I'm quite the procrastinator
3. I can't stand chitterlings
4. I became a mom at the tender age of 19.
5. I still want to go to college (for what, I don't know)
6. I wanted to be a pediatrician when I was little
7. I'm 5'3"
8. I love to dance. Ask my friends... I don't care if I'm the only one on the dance floor! =D
9. I can't stand cleaning. Ugh! I need a maid.
10. I hate doing laundry, even more than cleaning. Ha!
11. But, I love a clean house and clean clothes. 

My Q & A...

1. If you had to choose a world without fashion or a world without music, which would you choose ?  

I would choose the world without fashion. Music gives life. It brings people together in ways that one could only imagine. It heals. It brings happiness and so many other emotions.

2. Have you accomplished any of your life goals? 

To be honest, I never really had any concrete goals. Before having children, I was kind of just floating about in this world. My goal now is to raise two wonderful, happy, productive children. Working on this one every day.

3. What's the meaning of LOVE to you?

Love is kind. It's patience. It's caring. It's honest. Love is when you want everything for someone, and will sacrifice a little piece of you to give it to them.

4. If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? 

Jamaica. It's cold here y'all! 

5. Who's the biggest inspiration in your life right now?

My children. They inspire me to do everything.

6. What's your favorite thing about blogging? 

The outlet that it provides. The support that it lends. The people that I have "met".

7. What's your favorite thing out of anything you own? 

It's the ring that my great-grandmother "gave" me. I say "gave", because she told me it was mine, but that I couldn't wear it because she didn't want me to go to school with jewelry on. I was around 11 years old, and I put it on anyway. What happened you ask?? It got stuck on my finger and wouldn't come off!! Yea. I got in trouble for that one. LOL! When I met my hubby, he cut the ring off of my finger. But that ring is my piece of her. I love it with all of my heart.

8. Do you believe in fate?

I sure do. I believe that everything is in place to happen in my life. I'm just living it out.

9. What's your favorite song? 

Overjoyed, by Stevie Wonder

10. Jeans or dresses ? 

Jeans. Even though it's hard to find a pair that fits great, but once you do, it feels so good.

11. What's your favorite food? 

I don't have a favorite food. I do like lots of it though. LOL!

You're next!!  

1. Where did you grow up?

2. Have you ever travelled outside of the country?

3. What is style to you?

4. How has your style changed over the past few years?

5. What is your greatest accomplishment?

6. What/who makes you smile?

7. Do you have a piece of clothing that you refuse to give up or throw away?

8. Who is your greatest influence?

9. What size shoe do you wear?

10. Who's the most famous person you've ever met?

11. What's your favorite meal to prepare?

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