Crafting My Dreams

Who is SHE??

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 15:25:00 +0000

Well hello hello hellooo! I know it's been a while, a very LONG while, but I'm back babes! I've started a new life, I've overcome several obstacles, and I'm looking forward to a brighter future! There's quite a bit to catch up...so without further ado, ALLOW ME TO RE-INTRODUCE MYSELF!
At almost 28 (only three more months!), I have learned so much about this life I've been chosen to live. The major factor contributing to the changes in my life is none other than my precious baby girl, Jocelyn Marie.

This beautiful little munchkin has given me every reason I ever needed to kick my life into high gear and MAKE THINGS HAPPEN! I have enjoyed spending every day with my little Minnie and watching her learn and grow. Now, I'm wearily counting down the days until her first birthday in just a couple of weeks. I must say, time goes by faster than I could have ever imagined it would; but I'm excited to see where this journey as mother and daughter takes us.
Along with learning to be the world's greatest mom, I've also been enjoying (and sometimes dreading) the college life. I'm still working on my Associate's degree and I'm looking forward to graduation in May 2017! As a treat to myself, I'll be going to New York City and I honestly CAN NOT WAIT! {If you have any tips on where I should go or what I should see, leave a comment below!}
Lastly, I must say I have been ultimately blessed in my journey since the last time I posted here. Although I'm not living in Orlando currently {but I'll be back!}, I am so grateful for the protection God has provided while on this crazy rollercoaster ride. Life is a curious thing...one day you think you're going to move to your dream city and let go of a relationship you've held on to long past its prime. The next day, you find out you're going to be a mom and you're engaged. And then, just to keep things interesting, everything changes. Everything you knew about your life is false and your plans have been taken away from you. To be real, depression hit me hard during those times. I wasn't sure if I would ever make it through the drama and deceit I had to deal with. I considered giving my daughter up for adoption to spare her the pain I was being forced to endure. Yet, I never gave in. I never quit fighting, I never quit praying. And now, God has provided me with the tools and resources I need in order to not only move past my PAST, but to create a better future than I could have ever imagined. It is so satisfying to say that I'm not the person I used to be...all thanks to God's GRACE.

Anyway....I'm hoping to use this blog to create a happy space for me. Mom life, work life, college life, church life...all of that takes a toll and although I find satisfaction in those areas of my life, I don't feel pure happiness in them. So, this blog is not only going to be my escape and vent through which I express my life, but also my little place of peace where I can be myself - and ENJOY IT.
I hope you will join me on this ride and witness the miracles that happen in my life, the joys and triumphs and the craftiness that happens along the way! Thank you for reading and welcome back!

Real Talk Tuesdays #3

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Tuesday my friends! Only 3 DAYS left until Friday! Until then, let's talk...

It's time to talk about SLACKING. That's right...that awful word NO ONE likes to hear. It's associated with laziness, procrastination, and lack of ambition. Everyone prefers to believe they are a hard worker who does their very best every single day...however, most of us are complete SLACKERS. This includes me..which brings me to my next point.

I have been M.I.A. for about a month, which is totally unacceptable. Code word: SLACKER. I've left my blog and YOU, my loyal readers, out to dry with no entertainment, information, or just plain chatter to pass the time. This is my official apology...although I must say, it may possibly happen again.

I have a TERRIBLE habit of walking away and leaving behind something I've been working on. I'm honestly trying my best to get better at this, but the increase in distractions has left me without any motivation to continue where I left off. However, I'm turning over a new leaf this week. I'm not only getting blog posts finished {ahead of time} but I'm also working on the motivation I need to get back into the gym. It's a work in progress people...pray for me. ;-)

How do you stay motivated to complete your tasks and projects? Are you a slacker like I am?

Share your secrets, fears, wishes, or anything else that you just feel like you need to say!

{If you'd like to link up to this post, use the photo above and leave a comment below so I can check it out!}

Monday Miscellany #3

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 15:08:00 +0000

Welcome to Monday my friends! Are you making it through your Monday blues so far? {fingers crossed} Although I can't cure your Mondays, I do come today with a post to distract you from those AWFUL Monday blues!

This week, it's all about the PSC: Plus-Size Community! I'm always about supporting my big girls and so today's items are specifically for plus-size women. However, ANYONE can check it out and maybe learn a thing or two! With that being said, here is number three of the Monday Miscellany: a quick collection of things from my world that will help to distract you from yours! Ready? Here we go!

Monday Miscellany: Plus-Size Edition

1. Plus-Size Halloween Couture?? I think YESSS! Check out the Hips and Curves 2014 Halloween Lookbook. They combine sexy plus-size lingerie with accessories to create couture Halloween costume ideas. Some of the costume ideas are traditional (nurse, sailor, Alice in Wonderland) but most of them are fresh and a little exotic! I'm totally inspired by the ringmaster and the mermaid costumes! Have you started thinking about your Halloween costume yet?

2. Looking for a little body positivity booster? Take a look at these 16 photos of women showing off their EVERY asset by photographer Liora K. Determined to show women that their bodies are BEAUTIFUL and are the sum of all parts, instead of the singular pieces of our bodies we tend to focus on, Liora created an photo shoot of 96 women proudly displaying every stretch mark, scar, and dimple. I don't know about you, but it definitely makes me think about how beautiful my body is and how PROUD OF IT I should be! Check out the photos and leave a comment here telling me what you think! Would you pose for a body positivity campaign such as Liora K.'s? {CAUTION: Photos contain nudity.}

3. Are your fabulous plus-size clothes and accessories starting to bore you? Have some clothes that don't fit anymore but are still in great shape? Want to buy, sell or trade while meeting other plus-size ladies in your community? Join the group Fattoo and Fattoo Accessora on Facebook! There's even a group for the ladies are on the smaller plus range called For FATS Sake...plus a few other specialty groups in this same family! Under the description of the group is a whole list of them...so join in today!

4. Need to get out of town and PARTY with some FABULOUS BBW & BHM lovers? Join us at Mardi Gras 2015 in New Orleans! Although it's too late to join the bash events at our hotel, we'll mostly be out in the streets for the Mardi Gras parades, so it would be a great way to meet some of the PSC members. So, grab a friend (preferably a BBW/BHM lover), book a hotel room, and come party with us! I'd love to see you there! {Dates: February 14-18, 2015}

5. I saved the BEST for last: Team THIK! Thik is a FANTASTIC group of people who gathered together to host parties for the plus-size community and give those who don't feel comfortable out in the usual club crowds a spot to retreat to and be themselves. However, they do SO MUCH MORE! THIK is all about "Teaching and Helping In Kindness/Knowledge" by participating in community volunteering, spreading body positivity no matter WHAT SIZE one may be, and all around creating friendships and bringing together the PSC. I couldn't be happier to be a part of such a wonderful group of people, they have honestly created something so inspiring inside of me that every day with them has become a gift. If you would like to join our group, please visit the THIK Facebook page. Our admins would be GLAD to have you, just tell them LyssaB* sent you! Also, check our next events for THIK:Orlando and THIK:South. Hope to see you there!

Enjoy my friends...and keep hope alive that Friday will be here soon!

Real Talk Tuesdays #2

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 12:19:00 +0000

Welcome to Tuesday my friends! Only 3 DAYS left until Friday! Until then, let's talk...

Sometimes, we just need to vent. We need a person to just sit there and LISTEN to whatever we have to get off our minds. So, I've created "Real Talk Tuesdays" specifically for that purpose. Feel free to say anything here, either via the comments or by linking up to it on your own blog! This is a NO JUDGING ZONE.

Today, I'd like to talk about my pet peeves. [insert eye roll here] Yeah, I know...those of you who know me are thinking, "Which ones? It's a long list." Bear with me...because there's one in particular I'd like to speak about today. {Don't worry...for those of you who are curious about the REST of the list of pet peeves, I'm sure there will be posts or comments about them in the future! lol}
One of my BIGGEST pet peeves...annoyances...things that rub me the wrong way: RUDENESS.
There are a few simple things people should learn when they are growing up, especially once they're adults. The most important in MY OPINION is common courtesy. They should REALLY start calling this UNcommon courtesy, because it DEFINITELY isn't common these days!
Here's a little hint people: Think of how you would want someone to treat you or act around YOU, then DO IT for them! It doesn't take much to be a nice person...or at least a DECENT one. A little bit of nicety in this world would go a veryyyy long way. All you have to do is TRY! {P.S. Did you know yesterday was National Compliment Day? What's the best way to compliment someone? Show them COMMON courtesy and be POLITE!}
Get A Clue: *Is someone sneezing? Say "bless you"...or something to that effect. *Is someone coughing? Offer them water if you can. *Does someone have their arms full but you don't? Help them...or at least offer to hold the door. *Is someone trying to get to something up higher than they can reach? If you're taller, get it for them. *Does someone have a small child or is an elderly person or handicapped? Allow them to go first, have the first of something, or whatever the case may be...just do something nice!
It really isn't hard people. Let's just try to be a little nicer to those around us and the world can maybe begin to be human again.
What have you done so far this week or just TODAY to compliment someone? Share your secrets, fears, wishes, or anything else that you just feel like you need to say! {If you'd like to link up to this post, use the photo above and leave a comment below so I can check it out!}

Monday Miscellany #2

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 02:32:00 +0000

Here is number two of the Monday Miscellany: a quick collection of things from my world that will help to distract you from yours! Ready? Here we go!

Monday Miscellany

1. Je'Taime Paris! - Bastille Day, France's Independence Day, was first celebrated on July 14, 1790 to commemorate the Storming of Bastille & the unity of the French nation. {Paris is number 2 on my list of favorite cities, so of course I had to mention it!}

2. Be NAKED! - Today is National Naked Day!! Read Cosmo's list of reasons why you should DEFINITELY celebrate this odd little holiday. {Besides the fact that this blistering heat makes it impossible to be comfy in ANY type of clothing..}

3. Surf's UP! - Do you surf? Well I double-dog DARE YOU to try one of these 11 Unusual Surf Spots! Which one would you be willing to try? I'm loving #2!

4. Sun + Summer = SHADES! - I'm sure we all have at least 10 pairs of shades (because that number is totally normal, right?) to go with every outfit, but mostly to protect our peeps from the blaring sun. I don't know about you, but I ALWAYS try to find the coolest/cutest/most unique shades to rock! If you think YOURS are cool though, you should take a look at The Cut's 50 Most Iconic Sunglasses.
Do you own any of these? I'd love to see them!
{Share a photo on Twitter/Instagram and tag me
@ebaity07 with the hashtag #iconicshades.}

5. Summer by Calvin Harris - I LOVE Calvin Harris & this song is DEFINITELY my summer jam! Not simply because of its title, but also because of the thumping electronic beat & Calvin's deep, laid-back vocals that make me think of a sunset beach party. Listen to this song & I guarantee you'll forget all about those Monday blues!!

Enjoy my friends...and keep hope alive that Friday will be here soon!

Real Talk Tuesdays

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 15:47:00 +0000

Welcome to Tuesday my friends! Only 3 DAYS left until Friday! Until then, let's talk...
Sometimes, we just need to vent. We need a person to just sit there and LISTEN to whatever we have to get off our minds. So, I've created "Real Talk Tuesdays" specifically for that purpose. Feel free to say anything here, either via the comments or by linking up to it on your own blog! This is a NO JUDGING ZONE.

As for me, I would like to share something I've had on my mind lately: I'm AFRAID to be on my own once my apartment is ready. {Phew...glad to finally get that out in the open..}
Don't get me wrong, I'm quite excited to be in my own place and have my own rules to follow. But a little something inside of me is still nervous about being solo dolo in my place.
A lot of "what ifs" have been popping up as the time gets closer.
*What if I hate being alone all the time? *What if no one wants to come over and visit me? *What if I'm not able to get my decor finished? AND THE BIGGEST ONE.... *What if I mess up my budgeting or something happens and I can't afford to live by myself anymore?
I know all of these questions are just the pessimistic little part of my brain that sometimes likes to rear its ugly little head. Yet I can't help to shake the feeling that things will end up going terribly wrong and I'll once again look like a failure. I know my fears are what keep me from going into a surreal fairytale of what my life should be like, but that doesn't make them any less scary. I'm hoping to overcome these fears by doing the only thing I can do: LIVE. Going day by day and experiencing whatever comes along is the only way to deal. So that's what I plan to do...and whatever happens, happens. :)
How about you? Do you have any fears you would like to get out in the open? Share your secrets, fears, wishes, or anything else that you just feel like you need to say! {If you'd like to link up to this post, use the photo above and leave a comment below so I can check it out!}

Monday Miscellany

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 20:01:00 +0000

Welcome to Monday my friends! Are you making it through your Monday blues so far? {fingers crossed} Although I can't cure your Mondays, I do come today with a post to distract you from those AWFUL Monday blues!
Today starts the first post of the Monday Miscellany: a quick collection of things from my world that will help to distract you from yours! Ready? Here we go!

Monday Miscellany 1. Having a hard time being happy at home? Check out the post by Mary Lauren at Headed Somewhere on how to be happier in your home. She lists 10 different ways to be happier in your OWN space. Every time I feel like my place just isn't good enough or inspiring enough, I read this post to remind me how easy it is to enjoy my space.
2. Is your meal planning getting to be a huge project that you just can't bear to deal with on a Monday? Are the same old recipes starting to creep into your menus? I use the site Supercook every time I have a menu-planning brain block. It's the BEST site to find new recipes using the ingredients you already have! I have an issue buying more stuff than I can use when I'm trying a new recipe or craving something, so this is a GREAT way to use up all the extras! All you have to do is input whatever you want to use and the results automatically populate with recipes that use those ingredients.
3. Loving the music your favorite tv show plays but can't seem to find the playlist? Use TV Show Music to find exactly the songs you're looking for! They have LOTS of shows listed and they are subcategorized by seasons and episodes, so you can find that great song you just heard from that one scene. ;-)
4. Are you still sitting at your desk, staring blankly at your computer screen and wondering what to do? Browsing the internet is sometimes a daunting task when you actually NEED something to occupy your time. Thinking too hard about it will leave that little white Google box completely empty...or at least that's what happens to me sometimes. So take the time to do something a little more productive: find out who you are! My Fundamentals of Speech professor shared this site about personality tests and it has kept me from boredom MANY times! I would start with the Jung + Enneagram Personality Test!
5. Nothing beats the Monday blues like LIVE MUSIC! Put on some headphones and jam out to some awesome live music concerts using Concert Vault. Mostly all of them are older concerts, but in my opinion, an oldie is just another word for a goodie! You never know, you may discover some new music or artists!
Enjoy my friends...and keep hope alive that Friday will be here soon!

Linking To:

Free Independence Printable!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 23:23:00 +0000

Hey guys! Just a quick post today. I'm sharing a little something I made for all of my FABULOUSLY independent women out there! I received such a WONDERFUL response about my post on the Importance of Independence, I decided to create a printable for it! {Click the link to read the post.}

{Click here to download via Google Docs.}
I figured it would be a great reminder for those of us who tend to have a hard time remembering to put our independence FIRST. The BEST PART though? It's FREE! That's right...it's totally free for you to download and print out. Frame it or just put on your {real-life} inspiration boards! Enjoy ladies...and may you always be INDEPENDENT :)

Linking To:

The Importance of Independence

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 15:22:00 +0000

Lately, I've been learning the extreme importance of being an independent woman. Through all this moving and working and becoming the person I want to be (and know that I am), it has become glaringly obvious that depending on others can only last so long. Eventually, there comes a time when you must know WHO YOU ARE and WHAT YOU WANT and just let everything else fall away. I thought I would share a few key pieces of advice for other women out there who are still searching for their independence.
SIX Ways To Be The Independent Woman: 1. Know Yourself - Spend time every day (or at least every week) getting to know YOU. Take YOURSELF out on a date, spend a Saturday or Sunday roaming your city ALONE, enjoying the things YOU love to do. Delve deep into your hobbies, accomplish your goals, and work towards making YOU the best person YOU can be! 2. Work On YOUR Time - Do not allow others to tell you when and where to be. Except for work or anything mildly important, work on YOUR timeline. What time do YOU want to go to dinner or see a movie? When do YOU plan on going to the beach and how long do YOU plan to stay? It's ok to be flexible as a courtesy to others, but if it's a plan you created, then stick to it. Don't allow others to tell you how to spend YOUR TIME. 3. Drive Yourself - If you have a car of your own and the ability to drive it, DO IT. There is no other freedom such as the freedom to come and go as you please. Tired of the company you're currently keeping? Bored of the scene? LEAVE. That's the beauty of driving...you can come and go whenever you're ready. 4. DIY - Do it YOURSELF. If you're not sure how to get something done, look it up. Google it, YouTube it, ask someone who has knowledge about it...whatever it takes, DIY. If all else fails and it really isn't something you can do on your own, use your resources. Just know that people are not always dependable and sometimes you need a Plan B resource, so look up two people just to be safe! 5. Make Your Space, YOURS - Whether you have your own house/apartment or just a room in a house full of other people, make sure that the space you occupy every day is YOURS. Decorate it however you feel is best to express who you are. It's somewhere you should LOVE to be, no matter the time of day. Love having a dark room? Use dark curtains or paint the walls a dark color. Love the look of a bright, fresh color palette? Use colors that make you smile or think of a bright, sunny day! I'm painting my walls in my living room PINK...everyone thinks I'm crazy, but I don't care. It's what I want and so I shall have it! :)
6. Be True To YOU - This is the rule that encompasses all the others. Stand strong in who YOU are and know that you don't have to apologize to anyone for any reason about who you are. If you are honest with yourself and with others about who you are and what you think, there is no reason to be apologetic. Every person in this world is different and you should not conform to the person others believe you to be. Create your own rules for your belief system and follow them. As long as you know what is right, that's what matters. Don't hold back. I immediately let people know that I don't have a filter, so I'm going to be completely honest with them, simply because I don't have time to lie! They are taken aback at first, but then come to understand and appreciate my honesty. I'm not rude or tactless, but I don't hold back what I think just to make others comfortable either! I hope this helps you in becoming the person YOU want to be. What steps have you taken to become an independent woman in YOUR life? Share your story in the comments below!

Guess Who's Moving??!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 15:38:00 +0000

I am!!! That's right, ladies and gents...I got the phone call that my apartment application was APPROVED! I can move in as soon as the apartment is ready (which is by July 10th) and it's all MINE! I'm so excited, I can't wait to get moved in!

Dumbledore approves.
Thank you Headmaster :)
Photo via Google.

So, while I still have a few weeks until I get to move into my new place, I will do what I do best: PLAN EVERYTHING! I have to plan my packing, my decor, and most importantly, my HOUSEWARMING PARTY!

{Let's be honest, what would a new apartment in the big city really mean if you couldn't celebrate it with all your friends?!}

I've already decided on a theme: Sex and the City! Is that just perfect or what??

I'm planning for lots of hot pink, black & white...plus a little zebra print here and there.

It's going to fit in fabulously with my living room decor!

{Check out how I'm designing my spaces on the My Apartment Bliss page.}

My Inspiration Board
Photo from my Polyvore.

There is sooo much planning to do! More to come later, but until then, check out the My Housewarming Party board on Pinterest!

I hope YOU are having an amazing day today as well! Did you receive any FANTASTIC news? Share it in the comments below!

Fashionably Inexpensive Glasses

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 13:59:00 +0000

Never mind the fact that I look a mess in this photo...
I was on my way to the pool on my day off. Don't judge.

Hey everyone! I've been getting A LOT of questions about where I got my SUPER CUTE new glasses from, so I thought I'd share a post about it.

{If you missed my post about my glasses, you can read about it & see photos in my post "Super New."}

I don't have health insurance (I knowww...big no-no. Let's not talk about that right now..) and so I have to pay for my glasses and contacts out of my pocket. Therefore, spending a TON of money on a pair of glasses IS NOT something I want to do. Cue the awesome new eye doctor near my job....

Photo Courtesy of America's Best.

I heard about them from a friend of mine a while back, but I was finally in a place where I could make it work. So I checked out their website and found out it would only cost me $69.95 for the whole shabang! The price included TWO pairs of glasses (Is it Christmas or my birthday?? This is AWESOME!) plus the cost of the eye exam was INCLUDED! I was able to make a quick appointment, look at ALL of their glasses options online (partly because I wanted to be prepared due to my natural indecisiveness, partly because I wanted to make sure they were stylish/modern choices).

Photo Courtesy of America's Best

How is this possible, you say? Well, you get to pick out your first pair at the price of $59.95. All of the glasses have color-coded price tags, so you know you're picking up the right ones. THEN, you pick up a second pair (with the same color tag) and it's only $10, instead of an additional $59.95! As a courtesy (or whatever reason they may have, but I just think it's the nice thing to do..), they INCLUDE the eye exam for FREE!

The only drawback is that you have to get the single vision plastic lenses. If you want to add on the thinner lenses or no glare, all that stuff is extra. I didn't need to spend the extra money, so I just paid for my glasses at the $69.95 price (did I mention that it INCLUDES tax??). I had my new glasses within a week and I couldn't be happier!

America's Best has a TON of locations ALL OVER THE US! Find a location near you and make an appointment today, because a place like this CAN NOT be beat!

Have you gotten any new glasses lately? Share a photo with me!

This is NOT a sponsored post. All opinions are my ideas and America's Best did not compensate me for this advertisement.

SUPER NEW!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 22:15:00 +0000

Hi everyone! So to start off my SUPER NEW blog, I'd like to share something else that is SUPER NEW to me! Can you guess what it is from looking at the photo?? Nooo???

It's my glasses! I can FINALLY see {thank you JESUS!} and I have not one, but TWO pairs, of awesomely cute new glasses! So far, I'm LOVING them!!

{Special thanks to my granny Laura for helping me out on this one...love her!}

Anyway...if you'd like to get to know me a little better, hop on over to "The Crafter" page! :)