I KNOW...I Need to get Back to Blogging

I will be back SOON!

Life is happening!

So much to share!

Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

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A New Season...A New Look.

Hi 1000Milers, I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

I was on the Potomac with a few friends on Saturday, and it was too cold for all of that. LOL! We had plans to go see the Cherry Blossom after we got off the boat, but I deserted the group and went home instead. Too cold for me. :)

I might not have fulfilled the "Explore DC -See the Cherry Blossoms" part of my spring list this weekend, but I got a new hairstyle, and I am loving it. Straight hair is very unusual for me, but I like it and plan to do it more often, though I have no plans to abandon or permanently straighten my curls. 

What do you think of my new look?

Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

Bucket List: Visit a Spa for a Whole Day

I have a bucket list, and I'm VERY SLOWLY crossing items off of it. I truly believe I'm blessed with a beautiful life, and I want to live it to the full - living, serving, exploring, resting and rejoicing. Jesus came that "We might have life and have it abundantly," I have life in Christ, and I want to live that life to its full. I hate to get to the end of my life and realize I have lived on the sidelines all by myself doing little and next to nothing for myself or for anyone.

I believe in adventure, I believe in adrenaline and I'm a person willing to try most things at least once. My bucket list is chucked full with action-packed and adrenaline-provoking activities, but you will find a few relaxing activities on my bucket list. This past weekend, I indulged in one of those relaxing activities; I went to Spa World - a Korean spa in Virginia with three girlfriends. It was simply bliss. 

One of my girlfriends recently had a baby, and we felt a day out without the baby would be a good thing for her. Last Saturday, after she got a mani/pedi in the morning, we left her little gorgeousness with his father and headed out to Spa World. It was the most relaxing day of my year thus far. I was a bit skeptical, because just like a bath-house,you have to be naked in the wet areas (separated by gender). However, I am one for trying new things, and WHY NOT? Right? In addition, after we got there and stripped, no one seem to pay attention. After a few shocking moments, I settled into have a relaxing adventure.

The most interesting part of the entire 10 hours we spent at the spa was the body scrub. I laid on the scrub bed in my birthday suit gorgeousness, and I could feel things falling off of me as the lady scrubbed me down. I opened my eyes, and was shocked at the gunk falling around me. Ewwwww! I'm still struggling to accept the nastiness I beheld was from my skin and even after I asked a couple of people and they said yep, you were been scrubbed clean and that was all you. I'm still struggling.  EWWWWW!

My two favorite parts of the day was watching my new-mother-friend been very happy and relaxed, and talking with my girlfriends about everything under the sun. Good things are happening for my girls, and I am glad I'm able to be a part of it and be blessed by it all. I love my friends. One of my 2013 intentions is to strengthen my friendships and to be better friend. I am slowly working through some issues in my heart regarding my friendships, but overall, my intention to be a better friend will be a continuous process in my life. 

I am glad I got over my nervous excitement and chose to go to Spa World. I plan to go back with my mother and sister soon, and maybe take another girlfriend for her birthday. I'm mostly pleased that one item is hereby crossed off my bucket list. #bliss

Have you been to a Korean-styled spa; did you like the experience?

Or would you go to a Korean-styled spa?

PS: Whoever chose the the orange prison color for the Spa World scrubs was on drugs. It is so bright, it is blinding. That's the only reason I look sad. Everyone in the dry area had to wear it. Ick!

Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

RIP Chinua Achebe!

My heart sunk when I heard the news this morning. He is a genius and will be missed.

It is a consoling thing that he left a mark; he walked a good and memorable journey.

I am more inspired to re-read his books this year. He is a constant on my 2012 and 2013 Reading List. :(

Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

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Around Here Lately // Spring is Here

Today, I'm on Elembee alongside other fabulous bloggers talking about our love for DC and several must sees.  

It does not feel like it, but Spring is here. 

I'm at the point of good riddance to Winter, BUT I'm nervous to step into allergies and DC humidity. Oh well, I can't always get my way. Regardless of the arrival of allergy season, it is still spring and a season of newness. I plan to enjoy everyday of warmer weather and flowers, and also wear floral dresses like the one I have on in the image above. Oh, spring nail colors are back in style. :)

I made a Spring To-Do List; it is an extension of my 2013 Love To-Do List*.

Explore DC * 

See the Cherry Blossoms this year and participate in the festival (I have lived in DC for 5 years, but I never took the time to see the cherries blossom) Sad, innit? One of my 2013 intentions is to get to know DC better and enjoy what it has to offer. Here I go!

Get a full weave *

I'm still struggling with this intention. I made an appointment already, but I go back and forth on if I really want to get a weave and if I can afford to at this point. It is a good protective style that keeps my hands (less MANIPULATION) off my hair for at least a month, I have been dying to get a full weave with bangs for years, and I want to get it over with before the Summer humidity comes through. So why am I hesitating? It must be because it is a huge change and endeavor for me. All the more reason to do it! 

Join a writer's club or group *

I need a community to help weave through the thoughts in my head, for support and to keep me accountable. This should be fun too.

Take a road trip to NC * (Tentative)

On my intention list is to Travel! Travel! Travel! However, I had San Diego and New Orleans(Essence Music Festival) on my list this year. The former is still doable, but I'm reconsidering the latter because of the heat. I don't do hot summers well; I was in Vegas for 4th of July a few years back, and I almost passed out (literally) even with constant water slugging. I had to call my airline to check if could get on an earlier flight out of that hell. New Orleans might be better in the Fall or Winter. There is a possible trip to North Carolina simmering, and I am jumping at the opportunity, if all goes well.

Take a class or join a league

Ideas on my mind are a writing class and/or a amateur rock climbing league.

Start volunteering *

Where? I don't know yet!

Cajole my mother to help with some alterations

I succeeded with three maxi dresses yesterday. :) There is much more STUFF where those came from, she has no idea. Lol

Watch Season one of Deception.

My sister would not shut up about it, and I decided to give it a try this Spring.

Do you have special plans for the Spring?

Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

What Keeps me up at Night, but does not Leave me Grumpy??

If I'm to give myself a grade on how well I am doing on each item on my 2013 Love -to -dos list, I'll get an A++++ in one intention: Read! Read! Read! I have been reading a lot, and it keeps me up at night. When insomnia kicks in each month, I read. I believe reactivating my library card (an intention under Read! Read! Read!) made all the difference.

However, I'm going through books faster than I can review them, and reviewing each book at this time is overwhelming. I did share a list of books I had read in January. I hope I can go back to posting full reviews of all the wonderful books I am reading.For now, I will stick to a sentence, two sentences or a paragraph. :) 

The Officer's Bride by Lara Daniels
I enjoyed reading Lara Daniels' new novella. She took readers through the day and minds of lovers, Eddy and Nafisha, as they face uncertain circumstances. Eddy is in the Nigerian Army, and he has a new and dangerous mission to assassinate the military dictator head of state. The plot is set in the nineties during the tyrannical and violent reign of Abacha. I was very satisfied with this piece of work; this is the second book I am reading written by Daniels - the first was Love in Paradise and each one met expectations. I am looking forward to reading her other books. Love at Dawn is on my 2013 Reading List. 

A Millions Miles in a Thousand Years by Don Miller
A breath of fresh air! It started out a bit weird, but I have heard a lot of good things about it. I stuck with it, and I'm super glad I did. This book is not preachy, but it made me think. It does not necessarily light a fire under my butt, but it makes me more aware of my life.  It made me yearn for an epic story in my journey of a thousand miles. It made me aware of the mini stories God is writing through me and how they each contribute to the bigger picture. It made me want to de-clutter my life to its bare essence and live that out. I will recommend this book to friends over and over again. 

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
If Miller makes me de-clutter my life, Rubin makes me de-clutter my home, my closet, my bathroom cabinets, under my sink and everything in between. The March book for The No Commitment Blogger Book Club hosted by My Pretty Pennies is Happier at Home also written by Rubin. I had to read The Happiness Project before Happier at Home (I'm anal). It provided practical ideas in addition to a few "whatever" moments. The greatest lesson I took from the book is one of her Adulthood Commandments "Be Gretchen." For me, it is "Be AdeOla." Lately, I have had a silent intention to pay close attention to me, what is me, what I enjoy and what makes me happy. And true to Rubin, I am much happier when I am doing what I love to do, not what I want to love to do. Writing and event planning rather than planning and evaluating public health programs. Reading at home more instead of heading out more. Experiences instead of things. More relationships instead of more intellect. This is me, and I made the firm resolve to "Be AdeOla." However, I realized been me meant I am willing to try most things at least once. I hope to read Happier at Home soon. 

The Hunger Game and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (2013 Reading List)
What else is left to say? I LOVE it. I like Collin's writing style. Each book left me breathless and yearning for more. Imagination is a gift, Collins has it and uses it excellently. I had no idea what to expect with every turn of the page, but she never failed to deliver. I started Mocking Jay today, and all I can say is #bliss.

Have you read any of the books above? What do you think?

What are you currently reading?

Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

I dropped the ball & it did not land on my foot...

Have you been to an Asian-styled spa? Any tips?
My girlfriends and I are going to Spa World on Saturday. I'm not sure what to expect, but I'm nervously excited. We HAVE to be naked in the wet areas (separated by gender)...so intense. One of the item on my bucket list and my 30 before 30 list is "Visit a spa for a day," and Saturday is that day. #bliss.

Moving on to today's topic. I have a confession. 
JostWrite has been simmering on a back burner since November 2012. Running a small business is A LOT of work and pain and joy and tears. I needed a break, and getting a job gave me a reason to push writing and JostWrite to the side for a little bit. It was both an intentional and unintentional decision. Let me explain.

The last time I worked on a writing project was in January, but I stopped active work on JostWrite in November. I started my now not-so-new job and also started planning a big weekend retreat for my church last November. I knew I could not juggle all three obligations at once - I could not work, write, recruit new clients and plan this event with the level of excellent they all deserve. Wisdom called for a change, and I let it take the lead. 

I focused on work and the retreat, and took a much needed break from JostWrite ( I could not do that prior to November). However, I had writing projects I needed to complete. I was also aware that if I held off from recruiting new clients, some old clients might have projects or send me referrals.  I decided to work on pending assignments and only accept new projects as they come calling. Fortunately, I got two clients (old and new) between November and January when I completed my last writing work. 

This allowed me to throw myself wholeheartedly into my work and into planning the retreat. I also took a break from blogging in January, hence my silence. :)  I thought less about JostWrite though it was ever so often hovering at the back of my mind. The major conference I was helping to plan at work and the retreat were both the last weekend in February, and I have spent most of March thinking through JostWrite, 1000Miles and steps forward. I decided to stay at my job, because OMG, I enjoy almost everything public relations, event planning  and administration. That's why I got my Bachelor's in it, right? :)

However, I am ready to step back into writing again. I miss it. The last week in February and most of March left me hollow, and I thought about writing a lot. It got so bad, I grabbed a journal and started penning long notes. I have not journaled in years. I can feel a few changes coming on, but nothing set in stone and ground shaking, but enough to make JostWrite more enjoyable for me.

My little "recess" made me realize it is okay to let the ball drop in the way I did, and it may not be possible for a lot people, but it is okay to tune it out for an hour or two. When you are running your own thing, it is hard to be in the moment. If I did not take a break from JostWrite when I did, I would have had to figure out a way to tune it out (which I still need to do) or I would get resentful. Writing can be fun, but recruiting clients and all can be draining and a big sap to joy sometimes. 

That been said, I am glad to be back and to be in a positive frame of mind as I think about contacting old and potential clients. I'm also looking into securing more event gigs...I have some good news in the works (another topic for a different day). I feel more like myself, and job search is a lot more fun when I'm not looking primarily in the world of Public Health. #bliss

Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!