Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!! I finally did a post on the new years day! Lol. I can't believe its 2012 already. 2011 has been an interesting year and I am glad I made it through! Thankful for the closed chapters, leaps of faith, lessons learned. They all gave me strength and directed me in the place I needed to be. Not to toot my horn, but I'm always so surprised by my progress every year. I'm like wow I'm really becoming a great woman. Lol. Even though I'm still flawed, I can't help but celebrate where I've come from and where I am now. I am so hyped about 2012. The first time in a while I have been so excited for the new year and new beginnings. So happy new year to you readers and wish nothing but great things for you this year!

♥ A.Erika ♥

pace yourself, ash.

You know when you were a kid and you got all giddy when you’re mom or dad was about to give you something you REALLY wanted? My mom said I used to do this little dance and I actually still do a form of that dance to this day. Lol. Well I get that same giddy feeling when I find opportunities that I can use to prove my skill and abilities especially for my career. I just wanna e-mail all these opportunities and say I can do it! I can do it! Then I find myself overwhelmed with everything because I decided to be superwoman and take on too many tasks. So that’s going to be one of the things I focus on next year is pacing myself. Because I was limited in the activities I wanted to participate due to unemployment, now I want to do everything because I have money of the better resources. But I don’t want to stretch myself too thin, trying to do everything at once.  I am forcing myself to be patient, finish my commitments and do them to the best of my ability. THEN take on another responsibility. Learning to build my empire slowly but surely.

I hope you all had a great Christmas. The fam and I surely did and we have leftovers for dayssss!!!

♥ A.Erika ♥

um hi.

oh hello there! its only been 4 months since my last post. I took another sabbatical from the blog, not intentional though. It's harder for me to post since my laptop's screen has decided it's not gonna work. Despite technical difficulties, trust, I have been a busy girl. I am now working full-time at big computer hardware distributor. :D When I got that offer call, I was screaming internally because I was working temporarily at a private school. All those internships, pro-bono opportunities, etc have paid off and now I am a working woman!

I've decided to volunteer with the teen ministry at church, finishing up my shadowing process. As soon as I started my shadowing process, I got a call for a women's mentoring program I signed up for earlier this year. I was so elated because mentoring has helped shape who I am today. So our first planning meeting is this Saturday and I am ready to start working. I met with RPI Alumni in October and signed up to be a meeting coordinator for next year. I have photoshoot set up for later this month with my friend and I am hoping to meet with my image consultant so I can be fly for the shoot. And that is just small look into what I have been doing in these last 4 months.

In the midst of all that, I have been thinking about the future of my blog. 2 entries ago, I talked about changes and the changes I intended to make are completely different of the changes I am currently working on. When I started this blog two years ago [geez i cant believe its been 2 years], the intent was for it to be a one stop shop. Meaning I would post personal experiences along with sharing information [like pop culture, design, etc] I thought would be interesting to my readers. As my blog has developed, it became more of my online journal. So in a way, i'm sharing information, but its more personal, penning the highs and lows of my life. Although I love this blog, I contemplated eliminating it because I thought it was TOO personal. But I gave it further thought and decided if I can't share my personal stories and be transparent, then I shouldnt blog. So with that said, this blog is here to stay. But I still want to develop my brand so I have decided to create another blog that focuses more on my career as graphic designer and social media enthusiast. The launch date for that blog is TBD. But I am excited to "birth" another blog. I have all kinds of posts ready to go.

I have been doing much reflecting and assessing these last couple weeks in preparation for my vision board. I feel I'm moving in the right direction. So more updates in the next couple weeks. I have some goodies to share. :)

♥ A.Erika ♥

summer sabatical.

hello lovelies!

friendship.
my quiet storm and mouth-almighy

after a summer filled with toddlers and thinking, I'm back.

this summer I decided to nanny two 3-year-old girls. I was slightly nervous about it because I didn't suffer hell in undergrad for 4 years to become a nanny and this was not helping my career any. but I wasn't gonna pass up easy money. For two months, my girls and I went to the park, went to the aquarium, went to the petting zoo, got ice cream, went to storytime, did arts and crafts, talked about big girl school, AND took naps. [for all my tweeps, I hope my #nannydiaries captured the essence of summer as a nanny.] I realized children are not in my immediate future and riding with car seat is guy repellent. blessing and curse. Lol.

the family at mama lindo's celebration

I also used this summer to learn more about me. I was selfish this summer and I have never felt better. I was able to do some deep thinking about my career, friends, family, etc. Evaluate friendships even eliminate some. I got to meet new people and exchanged dreams/ideas with them, in turn they provided encouragement.  I reconnected to family I haven't seen in years. Partied with my parents until 6a in NYC. I was able re-develop my love of reading. Even able to meet one of my favorite writers and I'm now on HP book 4. I was able to explore my city and I'm proud to say I can navigate downtown Atlanta like a pro. Lol. I even gained a couple pounds by eating to my heart's delight. I shopped and got some "big girl clothes". I planned one of the best bday parties my mom has ever had. I got my belly button re-pierced and I'm going to see 1/3 of my rap trinity tomorrow. I'm going to a wine tasting next week and the week after, I'm meeting with some alumni. After all that, the thing I'm most proud about for summer 2011 is my relationship with God. If anything I could be selfish with is my relationship with Him. Understanding my significance and knowing who I am in Christ fuels my actions and keeps me inspired.

I'm so glad to be back. I've missed it so no more neglect. I have some surprises too as indicated by the last entry but I'm ready to unveil them just yet. But anyday now...hope u all have had a GREAT summer!


♥ A.Erika ♥

changes.

"im planning something REALLY REALLY big, very IMPORTANT, and when you hear about it, you will be VERY VERY PROUD!!" *in my best gru [from despicable me] voice*

until then....

♥ A.Erika ♥

private party.

"im having a private party, learning how to love me, celebrating the woman I've become..." Private Party, India Arie.

Its been a long time coming, but this past week has been one of the best weeks I've had in a long time. Nothing really special happened, unless you count seeing my tallest friend ever in over a year, meeting a couple guys in my newly single status, partying at one of the nicest clubs in atlanta. I digress. Lol.

But apart from all that, i celebrated myself...looked introspectively and saw my progress. Getting past...the pain of a breakup...the disappointment of not getting a job after graduation...moving back in with my parents...changed friendships...etc. Not to mention, that i'm my hardest critic and sometimes i'm TOO hard on myself. Yet, last week i looked at what&who i've become, as a result. I couldnt help but be happy and have a private party like india arie. And then on sunday, pastor confirmed everything i was feeling last week with this quote: "This day could not exist without those days. You wouldn't be where you're at without what you went through."

we should all take a day to celebrate ourselves. sometimes we need to pat ourselves on the back. so as i continue to have my private parties in the future, i encourage you all to have them too. take some time to celebrate where you have come from, where you are, and where you are going.

 ♥ A.Erika ♥

guest post: almost doesnt count

my little sister is one of the best writer i know. the way she able to articulate her words on paper is quite impressive. i've always told her she should do greeting cards but she brushes me off and laughs. and now that she's older, im tryna persuade to do some freelance writing. i'm telling yall the girl has talent. anyways, born on the same day, exactly four years, we often share sentiments on school, guys, love, etc. she recently wrote this tumblr post about being heartbroken.So beautifully written in a way i could not attempt to write.  While i read it, i felt her pain. So I figured i would share. [disclaimer: its a tad bit lengthy but a good read nonetheless...]

almost doesn’t count

you ever meet someone and feel an instant connection? it’s like there’s a force literally driving you closer to them. you end up in their arms after only your first time meeting and your heart is at ease. you’re not nervous, nor afraid…everything is just familiar. it’s almost like you have known them for forever. in only a few hours of conversation you feel as if you know each other inside and out…nothing could break this bond you all have.
hours turn to days, days to weeks, weeks to months and before you know it they’re the first person that crosses your mind in the morning and the last voice you hear before you close your eyes. the sun rises on their every word and sets with every touch. you reveal secrets that have never been shared, stories that have never been told…expose pieces of your soul that have never seen the light of day. you can’t call it love because that word alone doesn’t do what you all share justice. it’s more. when they say they would never hurt you, you believe them. because you trust them, like never before.

can you pinpoint that person in your life? i can. i know him…well, i knew him. because he is no longer the same person in my eyes. peering over the edge of the cliff, i was about two steps away from falling for him. i was almost there. the trust i had in him is broken and it’s something that will never be fixed. repaired? maybe. stitched? possibly. restored? not likely. healed? never. there’s no way we can be what we once were or what we had potential to be. boxed in by a friendship that could have blossomed into something beautiful…

needless to say the connection we have could outlast infinity. what we know about each other will not vanish with one mishap and there will forever be a place for him where it matters most. the words are still ringing in my head. a request for me to stay. but in staying i would be accepting the fact that hurting me is something my heart can withstand. this is not the case. i could have taken it from anyone but him…not him. i believed in him, all the way…more than i have ever trusted in any one person. and he let me down. although unexpectedly and unintentionally…he still let it happen. he let me get hurt. one more spot that won’t come out…perfectly stained on my heart.

mhm. dat girl good. lol. if you are on tumblr, check out her stuff ----> lyricallyspeakin.tumblr.com

♥ A.Erika ♥