30 day blog challenge - day 28

Happy Sunday!

Today I'm so happy for daylight savings, I really needed that 'extra' hour of sleep.

 

 

WOW! Day 28 of Katie's 30 day challenge, it seems like it just started.

 

Day 28: Something That Stresses You Out

 

It seems right now my life is filled with stresses. I'm really having one of those 'when it rains, it pours' moments right now.

 

My biggest stress right now is my car. Last Thursday when I was leaving work, my car didn't start. Well he tried different things, and it's turning out to be the engine... I need a new one. I have to make a decision, either getting a new one or try to have the old one replaced (this is going to be a lot of money) or sucking it up and getting a new car (I only have 6 more payments on this one, so the thought of another couple of years of payments also stresses me out).

 

Because I have no car, I've been having to get up at 4 every morning to catch a bus downtown, and taking a train towards the suburbs to meet a co-worker that gives me a ride the rest of the way. And since it's now taking me FOREVER to get home, I don't get to spend any time with Booges during the week. The thought of missing the bus, train, and not being able to spend time with my baby stresses me out.

 

When I look around my house and see all that needs to be done to child proof it before Booges starts crawling stresses me out... he's going to be crawling sooner then I think, and there aren't enough hours in a day to get everything done.

 

The Man being stressed about his classes at school, in turn stresses me out.

 

On a lighter note... the crack in my fingernail way below the skin REALLY hurts and is causing stress

 

With all of these stresses and more that are not mentioned, I try to stay positive and stay focused. I know that everything happens for a reason and things will turn out the way they are supposed to be.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by...

 

Peace and Love

XOXO,

Renae

 

 

30 day blog challenge - day 22-27 (catch up)

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend... it's beautiful here in Chicago.

I know that Katie's blog challenge was to blog everyday for 30 days... however life got the best of me this past week... so I'm playing catch up today.

Day 22-Favorite city

My heart will always belong to Denver... it's were I grew up and where my family lives... it's beautiful!

But I don't miss the blizzards... we would get 3 feet or more of snow in one night.

However, living in Chicago is amazing. I just love it,  the history and culture. There is always something to do.

Day 23-Favorite vacation

Well I don't really get to go on vacations right now... I didn't when I was younger, and I really can't count going to visit family a 'vacation'. So the last 'real' vacation I went on was about 2 years ago. I spent my birthday in Virginia, on the beach, with a close friend. Now... I was no where warm enough to be in the water, but I was happy that it was freezing cold. It was so fun to find seashells and watch the birds run from the waves. We were really the only ones on the beach... I love the beach!

the waves would come in and cover our feet with sand...

Day 24-Something you've learned

I have learned so much in my years... I know it's cliche, but I do learn something new every day, so much that this list could go on and on... So, here are a few things that I have learned in the past year.

`There is nothing like being a mother
`I really can function on 3 (or less) hours of sleep a night
`Cream in coffee isn't a necessity, it's a treat
`The phrase "you're turning into your mother" isn't a bad thing
`It's ok if the dishes don't get washed before bed (they aren't going anywhere)
`It's not always possible to 'sleep with the baby sleeps'
`Treating yourself to a manicure and pedicure is sometimes a must
`Happy moms do make happy families (something my mom always said, and I really never understood until now)


Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs

I love music... all types of music... and I don't have an actual iPod, but do have a  let's see what 10 songs come up...

~ Sugarland~ Stuck Like Glue

~ John Legend~ Everybody Knows

~ Estelle (with Kayne West)~ American Boy

~ Lauryn Hill~ Everything Is Everything

~ M.I.A~ Paper Planes

~ Nelly Furtado~ I'm Like A Bird

~ Bobby McFerrin~ Don't Worry, Be Happy

~ Alicia Keys (with Jay Z) Empire State Of Mind

~ Deana Carter~ Strawberry Wine

~ Usher (with Lil Jon and Ludacris) Yeah

Day 26-Picture of your family

I come from a HUGE family and have so many pictures of them... here are just a few

My Brother and Dad

My Mom

My Grandparents

My Stepmom, Sister, and Grandma (Memaw)

My Grandparents with their Granddaughters

My little cousin Jasmine (and her super excited smile)

The Man and Booges (still in the belly)

Booges

Day 27-Pets

I always had pets growing up. I don't have any now... one day we'll get Booges a dog... one day!! Here are pictures of my pets I've had in my adult life...

Hannah (aka Pretty Girl Hannah Banana)

Abby (aka Crabby Abby)

Eisha (aka Miss Thing)

Thank you for stopping by...

Peace and Love

XOXO,

Renae

How fun it is to play tag... I'VE BEEN TAGGED

Happy Wednesday!!

The lovely Chicago Cuisine Critique tagged me in a fun food question and answer blog!

Thank YOU for 'tagging' me!!

1. What is your favorite dessert?

Did some one say dessert??? I love dessert. To be honest, I am known to order something deliciously sweet before ordering dinner. However a absolute  must have would be a family favorite and tradition dessert... Chocolate Delight

It's amazing the things you can do with chocolate pudding, whip cream, cream cheese, powder sugar, walnuts, and a simple crust.

2. Did you ever try to cook something and fail miserably?

YES... and every time I try it... I fail miserably... Fried Chicken.

 I just can't get it right, it's not my favorite so it doesn't bother me any, however when you live with a Man that loves it... it makes things very interesting. But really, how does someone who likes to cook fail at 'An American Favorite'?

4. What is your favorite food?

Oh... hands down... PASTA!

There are so many fun shapes, and so many different sauces.

My favorite is angle hair pasta with a light sauce and veggies. YUM!

Plus is the perfect match to a nice glass of wine.

5. What is your least favorite food?
Anything boxed or over processed... really adding water to 'flakes' doesn't make a meal.

6. Do you have any seasonal meals you like?
Yes... summer (and warmer months) it would be salads of all types

Winter (and cooler months) chili and soups of all types

7. What is your comfort food?
Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

8. Chocolate: Milk, Dark, or White? 
I have become a little obsessed with dark chocolate with sea salt.. and I want to try this one

Trader Joe's also has these little dark chocolate wedges that come in little tin that I also love

Now... it's your turn!! I'm tagging these 3 lovelies to join the fun...

http://getcraftin.blogspot.com/

http://lifeofascott.blogspot.com/

http://thoughtsfrompoekitten.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by...

Peace and Love

XOXO,

Renae

Life

Hello there...

I promise to catch up on all my post (hopefully) tomorrow. Things have been very hectic... I'm still dealing with my car, and to be honest, it really has me stressed out.

On a lighter note... I did celebrate my 29th birthday yesterday. The weather here in Chicago was beautiful.
It was a normal Monday at work... then came home and hung out with Booges and The Man (until I actually cried myself to sleep). I hope by this weekend my spirits with be higher and I'll feel like celebrating the last year of my 20's.

Thanks for stopping by...

Peace and Love
XOXO,
Renae

30 day blog challenge - day 21

Day 21: A picture of myself

In the spirit of Halloween... I decided to share a (past) Halloween picture of myself

and here are few more from varies stages of my life...

30 day blog challenge - day 20

Day 20: Nicknames

 

My name is Renae, but I am also know as many other things. Here is a list of my many nicknames...

 

My mom calls me Pumpkin or Ray

My siblings call me either Sister or Sissy

My dad calls me Baby girl or Renette (my middle name is Annette)

My family (on my dads side) calls me Strawberry

My cousins daughter (my God daughter) calls me Fairy (as in Fairy Godmother)

My friend Satwian calls me ReRe

I also get Nae Nae, or Nae from a lot of people

The Man calls me Care Bear or Babe

and one day Booges will call me Mama

 

 

 

Thank you for stopping by...

 

Peace and Love

XOXO,

Renae

 

 

 

 

 

30 day blog challenge - day 18 and 19

Hello everyone... TGIF!! WOW, what a stressful day I had yesterday!! When I walked out of work I decided to go to Hobby Lobby with my friend Tiffaney (which is always fun). She drove, and when to brought me back to my car, I got in it and went to start it... and.... it didn't start! This was at 7:00pm and after trying to jump start it myself (which didn't work) I called my road side assistance to come out. The lady I talked to on the phone said she was going to send out a tow truck, but put a note in and said that I just may need a jump (I told her that I had did that and it didn't work, so why she was going to have it done again, I will never know). Well after waiting for about 1 1/2 hours someone finally came... and guess what?? He didn't come in a tow truck. He was told that I just needed a jump. OK, I understand that sometimes messages get mixed up. He tried to jump it and of course it didn't work. He then told me that his company didn't have tow trucks (so why does your truck say 'Aaron's auto and towing?). I had to call road side again and let them know what happened. They put in another work order for me called another company to come out, which took 2 hours this time (for those of you that aren't doing the math, it was about 10:30pm). After he got the car hooked up Tiffaney had to leave (Oh... I'm so grateful for her and glad she was there). And to be honest the thought of ridding in a tow truck with someone I didn't know was a little creepy (you know, that whole stranger danger concept). Well I got home around 12:15am... what a long day!! Now, I'm being told that my engine may have seized (so, maybe this is my fault, my check engine light came on about a week ago and I really didn't do anything... I was planning on taking it in sometime next week. Really there just aren't enough hours in a day to get everything done).

With all of that, I missed day 18 of Katie's 30 day blog challenge, so I'm combining 18 and 19 now....

Day 18: Something You Regret

I don't really have any regrets in life... I try to learn from the decisions I have made and find something positive out of everything. It's a bit cheesy, I know... but it true.

Growing up my mom taught us that we had choice in everything, and always gave us the opportunity to make choices. She would say to choose wisely because we would have to live with it and it would follow us in life. She would also say to own your decisions and always be happy with them and learn from them... and no matter what she would always be there (and she had kept up her end of the deal... so I'll keep up mine).

I have no regrets... just life lessons.

With that being said, the fact that my car isn't working (probably could have been prevented), I do regret not getting it looked at when the check engine light came on.

Day 19: Something You Miss

 

There are so many things I miss... but right now, what I miss the most is my family, friends and life in Denver.

I miss this scene...

How beautiful, the skyline with the Rocky Mountains in the background. The park this picture was taken in is right across the street from the apartment that I lived it. I would go to the roof and sip my coffee and enjoy sunsets

I hope day I'll be able to convince The Man to move.

I would love to raise Booges in the same city I grew up in, around tons of family.

Thank you for stopping by...

Peace and Love

XOXO,

Renae