Plan-less...for NYE

New Year's Eve is tomorrow and I have absolutely no plans! 

Originally, I was supposed to babysit for a friend who has a babysitting agency, but I got a text and follow up e-mail today saying the parents cancelled. 

I need Kristy to give me a great idea for some plans for NYE!!! Please and thanks, ma'am!!

I was kind of reluctant about agreeing to babysit on such a festive holiday, but my options before agreeing were: go to church or stay in and watch the ball drop on t.v. I used to go to church every year since like 1998, so that wouldn't have been a weak choice, except I'm in another city right now and am not sure which church I should go to.  Thus the plans for just staying home and watching the ball drop came into play.  My friend Portia got word that I didn't really have plans for NYE, so she hit me up and asked me if I would babysit. That's how I got there....

After getting the word this morning that the parents cancelled, I have been contemplating what to do now. I really don't feel like going out to a party, but I don't necessarily want to stay home by myself.  My sister and her husband are going to a hotel party and staying overnight. Cost for tickets were too rich for my blood and I'm sure they don't want me tagging along in their room after the clock strikes midnight. 

Yeah....I just can't be that girl!

I've got a little over 24 hours to decide, but I have a really strong feeling that I'll be at home (with Blanche, my dog) cuddle up on the couch....ringing in 2014. I guess I need to just be ok with that. I suppose I could make it fun....hell I'm going to have to make it fun!!

I'll keep you guys posted on how it goes. In the mean time, anyone have any suggestions on what I can do in the DMV area??

2013 is almost over!

This year has really flown by! I can't believe the year will be coming to a close in a little over 2 weeks! So much has gone on this year, so much growth, and so many blessings. I'm excited to see what's in store for me in 2014!! Don't worry, this is not one of those "new year, new me" posts that many people enjoy ranting about when a new year is coming. This is just a simple reflective post to acknowledge that another year is coming and I have some great expectations for the new year!

I will say I'm super excited about 2014, but I'm also very, very nervous about some of my plans for the new year. I'm trying to remain calm, and seriously rely on God to direct and order my steps, but the human in me certainly gets a little overwhelmed at times. Of course the biggest struggle is understanding what's in God's will and following that instead of choosing my own path and trying to make that work.  However, change is good and it's also a great way to exercise your faith because the unknown can be very frightening. 

I've already chosen at least one news years resolution which I think I can keep up for the year which is: under any circumstance, I will not complain. I have realized over the past couple of years just how blessed I am and how much God has done for me and complaining is such an insult to those blessings. I am reminded of this just about every day.  Complaining doesn't change the circumstance and it usually really does take a wear and tear on your own spirit. With that being said, I'm going to remember to count my blessings and pray about things more that concern me instead of verbally complaining. 

This is the last week of work until the wonderful 2 week Christmas vacay begins!! I'm really looking forward to having the time off to spend with family and friends!  My girl frans back home and I are having a little cocktail Christmas party next week that I'm really looking forward to! I'm hoping we'll be able to do this every year and start some traditions. 

So what are your plans for the holidays? Are you looking forward to the new year? If so, what kind of things are you looking forward to?

It's been a long time!

Hello everyone!!! It's been such a long time since my last post! I've had some pretty blog worthy things going on, I just haven't taken the time to sit down and blog about it. Today is a "snow" day so I'm off from work so I figured it'd be a perfect opportunity to catch up with you guys!

First things first, since the last time I blogged I have become a mom!!!! Not a mom to a human, but to a new doggie!!! I was never really a "dog person", but I had to stop by the local SPCA to drop off a donation back in November and I spotted this amazing dog that I just had to take home with me! I decided to name her Blanche! Some people love the name and some are like "why did you pick that name!?" Well I've always thought the name Blanche was rather cool, but I wouldn't name a child that, so a dog was the next best thing. Besides, Blanche means "white" in French, and well....she's a white dog so PERFECT!!! It's so fitting of her personality! She's like a little old lady!! Her middle name is Beatrice which means "bringer of joy" and both of my grandmother's were named Beatrice (maternal grandma's middle name, paternal grandma's first name).  So there you have it for the name!

She's a white Boxer mix. I'm not sure what she's mixed with, but I've heard pit bull or bull dog from several people. It doesn't really matter, she's the best dog ever!!! Having her has completely changed my life which is completely what pets do! I never knew that I could care for a pet as much as I care for her. 

I'm thankful that I found her, she's truly a blessing!

In other news, I'm ashamed to say that I have found myself slacking off on taking care of myself in the sense of working out. Since having Blanche on board, I haven't been going to the gym as much as I used to. My diet has also fallen off the wayside (sad to admit, but it's true).  The most consistent exercise I have gotten in the past month has been the 20 minute walks in the morning and afternoons that I take Blanche on.  I suppose that's better than nothing at all, but with the poor diet and lack of getting my heart rate up on a regular basis, I forsee weight gain continuing to pile on. Ain't nobody got time for FAT so I really need to get myself together and make some changes!!  Diet is truly the most important thing so I really need to get on it with cleaning that up.

On to the next topic! The holidays are coming up and I'm so not ready!!! I have only did a little bit of shopping for my goddaughter, but other than that, I got nothing. I know it's time to buckle down and at least get some stuff online because Christmas is in 2 weeks!!! EEEKKKKK!!!!! One of the biggest problems is not knowing what to get my friends/family! I need some ideas, but I want to do thoughtful gifts that are unique. Might not have time for that this year though. Either way, I better hurry!!!

Everyone have a great day and if you're experiencing the Winter Wonderland that was forecasted to hit VA, be safe out there!! 

Scandal

This weekend while visiting one of my sorority sisters, I had the opportunity to get hooked on one of the best shows on television....(yes, I'm like 3 seasons late...so!)....SCANDAL!!!

I'm sure you're wondering why the heck have I not been on this kick before this weekend!? Well in my defense, it comes on at a time when I'm usually in bed (10pm) and I'm not a huge tv watcher. I'm usually coming home from work, hitting the gym, then trying to relax a little before heading to bed no later than 9:30 on most nights. I value getting a full night's rest and not being tired and groggy in the morning. 

Either way, I started watching this over the weekend and I am HOOKED!!! When I got back home today, I got a Netflix account and am currently catching up on all the shows so that I can be all caught up in at least another week. I'm on Season 2, epi 4 right now. 

The show is so addicting and awesomely written!!! Right now, my favorite character is duh...Olivia Pope! Mainly for the fact that she handles business, has an awesome sense of fashion, and she's a woman in charge! Her presence is impeccable and Kerry Washington is truly doing her thang in this role!!

My second fav is Harrison!! Mainly because he's so handsome and those suspenders that he wears on every episode are sexy as hell!!! He's also basically just eye candy, but I do like his role on the show as well!

I can't wait to get all caught up! I think I'll watch another episode or two tonight, then try to get a few more in tomorrow! 

Welcome to November....slooooooowing down

September and October has been two months of me being constantly on the go and my social calendar bumping and booming with all kinds of great things to get into.  Now I've finally made it to November where it all slows down....and I'm 100% perfectly fine with that!!!

I have been gone every single weekend in the month of October.  For the past 3 weeks, I've been in the DC/Maryland/Northern Virginia area.  I am literally all traveled out right about now! This weekend, I went up for the final time (for a while) to visit my sister for her birthday.  I didn't get back until this morning and went straight to work! I'm grade A...exhausted!! 

For the month of November, I have plans for two weekends, and the other two weekends, I have literally scheduled a staycation....at my own home....with absolutely no plans!!! And I'm super looking forward to it!!! If I had my own, selfish way, I would make this entire month a scheduled "no plans for the weekend" ordeal.  This weekend coming up is my first weekend in months that I haven't had any plans at all! I'm sooooo looking forward to waking up in my own bed on a Saturday morning when my body feels like getting up and not when someone else is waking me up! I haven't slept-in in forever! 

Since tomorrow is election day, I have the day off so I plan to lounge around, catch up on Scandal, go vote, and hit the gym. I do need to go grocery shopping and do some cooking so I'll also add that to the plans, but as you can see, this schedule for tomorrow is very minimal compared to what I've been up to lately!

I'm not complaining about my social calendar at all....I just really do appreciate alone time from time to time and welcome it! Even if it means I have to schedule it to ensure it'll happen! 

Black Girls Rock!

On October 26th, one of my wildest dreams came true! I attended the taping of Black Girls Rock in Newark, NJ!!! In November of 2010, I watched this phenomenal awards show that showcases and highlights black women/girls who are doing amazing things in their community and in the lives of others.  It's a star studded event, yet it doesn't just highlight women/girls who have celebrity status. It's celebrates and portrays a positive image of the black girl and it's an incredible movement! 

When I first saw the show for the first time on BET, I was memorized!!! I was completely supportive of the moment and what it stood for and I also badly wanted to one day, attend the taping of the awards show. 

Since that day, I have thought and searched, and Google'd, and wrecked my brain trying to figure out how I could get tickets to this event. Then one day, I decided I would e-mail Black Girls Rock and inquire about it. Low and behold, a month later, I got a response and it was an invitation to attend the taping!!!! 

I COULD NOT BELIEVE THIS WAS HAPPENING!!! 

I mean, somebody pinch me....this is happening!!! Ok so fast forward, I open the e-mail and I'm directed to a page where I can purchase tickets. The ticket prices range from $50-$500 with all proceeds going towards the BGR community programs. And another piece of all of this was, I didn't get this e-mail until 2 weeks before the date of the taping. Luckily, I didn't have plans for the last weekend of October, so I was available to make a spontaneous decision to go! #score

Being there to watch the taping of the show was nothing short of amazing! One of my favorite actresses, Tracee Ellis Ross was a host (ahhhhhhhhhhhh I love her) which totally made being there even more amazing!!! And just being surrounded by so much positivity and awesomeness was what made actually going an experience in my life that will go down in the books!  I'm so thankful and blessed to have had this opportunity!!! 

Special shout out and huge thank you to my Bih for coming through with those tickets!!!!

Here are a few pics from the evening.  I wasn't able to take many because we were actually strictly forbidden to take any pictures while the show was going on. I snuck a few though, but I did uphold the promise to not post them until after the show had aired on television so I wouldn't be a spoiler!!

One of the biggest highlights of the night was when the cast from Girlfriends came out!!! I looooove that show!! 

Patti LaBelle performing!! 

A few flicks of me and Bih before the show! 

Vacation....please!

My first post in a long time and the post is about needing a vacation! HA! Well I've been away for a while because I've been super slammed busy at work and have been dog tired lately! I also haven't really had too many blog worthy things happening, thus, I figured I'd spare you all from reading some random post.

Today, I decided it was time for a vacation.  Now let me clarify. I am constantly on the go especially on the weekends. I rarely spend a weekend at home which is why I really feel like it's time for a true vacation to one of my favorite locations....the beach....out of the country.

I try to get out of the country once every year, but this year, that hasn't happened. I don't see that happening at all this year either. With only 2 1/2 months left to go in 2013 (geez this year flew by), I have some trips planned, but none out of the country.

What I'd really love to do more than anything is to take a trip somewhere A-L-O-N-E!!! The only problem is that when you go somewhere alone, it's more expensive and I, Frugal Frannie would rather stretch my buck as far as it can go and traveling alone can definitely be super expensive. I feel like going on vacation alone is a must that I would like to do in my lifetime!


One day I will make this happen, it's truly on my bucket list!

Travel for 2014 is looking up already and I'm really excited about a few things that I have planned! One being a trip to Guatemala for 2 weeks for a Spanish Immersion program! That will happen at the end of June, 2014!! I haven't started paying on this trip yet, but it's offered through the county that I work for so I'm pretty excited about all of it!

Ok...I'm done ranting on and probably sound real random...I'm sleepy...still at work....and just dreaming out loud on my blog!

I'll catch up with you guys later! ;)