Category: Writing

Major Changes: Adulting

Hey guys! Long time no see. I know. It’s been 3-4 months. I moved into a new apartment!

I am accustomed to calling my new residence home. I haven’t accidentally driven to my old apartment out of habit. The natural scented air freshener lingers throughout my dining room and living room reminding me the newly renovated apartment smell has not disappeared yet. It is my space to just be.

Decorations

I’ve decorated nothing. The thought of establishing a design theme for an entire apartment induces my anxiety. I barely decorated my previous bedroom. However, I know I want a medium-sized picture centered on my bedroom wall. I want it to be a statement piece that embodies my purpose and a reminder of what I am proud of. But I don’t know what it will look like.

Adjustments

There is a newfound silence. When I lived in my previous apartment, the silence occurred when TVs were turned off and everyone was asleep.

Here, it is peaceful at times that require focus. But sometimes, it can feel lonely.

Home Improvement

I was intimidated by the hundreds of home improvements materials I walked past in Home Depot. I know nothing about home improvement tools. NOTHING.

There are four types of people. The people who use the tools to build and fix things, the people who pay them to do it, DIYers, and the people who hand snacks and beverages to the DIYers as they fix and build things. I am the latter.

Now I know a few things after five trips to Home Depot. I know what aisle to find portable alarms, the type of sandbags to use for flood prevention, to avoid sandbags with bugs inside of them and to lay plastic in my trunk before loading sandbags.

What did you learn from your first move? Any decoration suggestions?

My Goals for 2020 (So Far)

Hi everyone! First off, I commend you for posting 2-6 entries weekly while working full-time or a as a full-time student. I find your commitment and discipline quite admirable.

With 2019 coming to an end and reading some of your posts regarding 2020 goals, I started to reflect on what mine are.

Typically, I think of New Year resolutions from this viewpoint, “I have to leave this behind going into the new year.” “Get ’em now before its gone!” type of thing.

Now I have decided to approach my 2020 goals differently from a place of wisdom. I see the new year as a continuation versus a do-over.

My Goals for 2020

  1. Create and maintain 1-2 social media accounts to connect with WordPress blog community
  2. Both clearly communicate and identify my expectations and desires within my relationships
  3. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day including basic yoga poses, 30 squats, 3 rounds of knee stretches, 3 rounds of leg lifts and 2-mile runs on the treadmill
  4. Start weekly meal preparation of quinoa-based breakfasts and lunches that I enjoy and give me energy throughout the day
  5. Explore healthy, non-sugary snacks via Pinterest to replace my consumption of high fructose corn syrup-based cookies, muffins, cereals, brownies and juices
  6. Increase my credit score
  7. Move into a 1-2 bedroom apartment preferably within close distance to Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and QuikTrip and 30 minutes from Atlanta
  8. Identify additional income generating opportunities
  9. Travel to Sapelo Island

What are your goals for 2020?

Overcoming My Fear

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was listed in my YouTube feed shortly after Diahann Carroll passed. Initially, I was hesitant to watch the film. I knew it was about Maya Angelou’s childhood and took place in the 1930’s/1940’s. However, I was afraid of witnessing sexual assault and lynchings.

My first thought was, “I don’t want to watch our [Black] trauma. I don’t want to see our [Black] murders or violations.”

I knew both Jim Crow laws and the Ku Klux Klan was alive and well. I knew Black Southerners were living in constant fear. I didn’t want to go to that place mentally or emotionally. 

But I decided to watch because I could learn something. If I acknowledged the challenges the protagonist faced and kept an open mind to identify her triumphs, there was joy to be seen. As an avid reader, writer and public speaker, I wanted to learn how Marguerite found her voice. In addition, I wanted to support Angelou’s literature and legacy.

Continue reading “Overcoming My Fear”

At a Crossroads

“The heart wants what it wants.” – Selena Gomez and every American rom-com

This is such a cliche statement. Since age 13, I have heard this phrase in numerous romantic comedies. The movie’s falling action was the female protagonist on a date with a guy that meets all her checklist requirements. Tom was handsome, successful and took Kate to a 5-star restaurant that overlooked some city skyline.

As they chat over glasses of champagne, Kate realizes he’s too familiar. They relate in their professions, ambitions and financial stability. But Tom doesn’t make her laugh nor keeps her guessing.

Continue reading “At a Crossroads”

I’M BAAAAACK

Hey everyone! It’s been a long, but productive two weeks. Things are looking up regarding the job search. I am progressing through multiple interview rounds with a few local firms. I am aligning myself with the right people as I determine next steps in my career. In addition, I graduate from my real estate associate program in two weeks.

Happy November!

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Lifetime Channel

I love this time of year. The weather is cooler, time moves faster, daylight savings time ends and Lifetime airs their 30-day Christmas movie marathon much to my chagrin. If only they would run a murder movie marathon during the holidays. Murder under the Mistletoe. Killer Christmas. I Killed [her] Ass on Christmas.

Anyway…..

It’s the time of year where I stock up on Trader Joe’s pumpkin pop tarts and eat them toasted while watching How to Get Away With Murder and This Is Us. It’s the time of  year I indulge in thick ass slices of Trader Joe’s pumpkin cheesecake while watching A Raisin in the Sun, Carmen Jones and The Twilight Zone.

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Trader Joe’s

November is the time I reflect on this year, the previous year, where I am now and where I’m headed. It’s a month closer to me binge-watching numerous series guilt-free during Christmas. Most importantly, it’s T minus 55 days until my birthday!

I will be posting at least twice this coming week.

What do you do during the holidays?

Night Dreams Part 1: Double Booked

I scheduled two dates around similar times at an unfamiliar mall. I told my family and they were seemingly okay about it. My father expressed discomfort at the last minute. “This isn’t 18-year-old Briella,” I replied.

My mother offered to drive me and I agreed. Once we arrived at the mall, I met my first date in a crowded, dimly lit restaurant. He was an older African-American gentleman that looked five years older than my father. He was 6’2”, no gray hair, and no facial hair. Surprisingly enough, he didn’t have a receding hairline or a bald spot.

He wore a green striped shirt, dark jeans, and brown leather loafers. I didn’t know his name but he seemed nice. However, I was uncomfortable because I didn’t realize the age gap. I felt like I was having dinner with a sugar daddy which made me anxious. 

Continue reading “Night Dreams Part 1: Double Booked”

Let Me Reintroduce Myself

So………………I have been MIA for 18 days for a few reasons. It’s difficult to post consistently when you are trying to figure things out. I am looking for full-time employment (which has been a 6-month process) and preparing to start a real estate associate program in two weeks. In addition, I came back from Afropunk NYC a few days ago and needed to adjust to my normal schedule.

Since starting my blog in June, my sole focus has been television. After much reflection, I have decided to discuss whatever I want – film, television, and my personal life.

I am a woman of many passions. I love how TV and film mimic real-life family dynamics, exposes me to different ways of life, invites me into the story and prompts self-reflection. I also love how both storytelling forms celebrate fashion from different time periods.

I am excited to discuss different topics such as embracing change and uncertainty, the long-term commitment to creating a work-life balance, overcoming fear, navigating career transitions and the childhood memories that shape us.

Though I have written episodic recaps, I will not discuss every moment in an episode. There are numerous bloggers and vloggers that do so already. I prefer to directly link characters’ evolution and characters’ stagnation to their present storyline in current seasons.

Moving forward, I will post twice a week. My endgame is to post four times a week. I commend writers who posts daily like Tamara Tattles. My long-term goal is to build a community of transparency, creativity, and vulnerability.

So enjoy the ride!

What keeps you consistent in your writing?