An Unexpected Holiday Cheer

I know...it's been 5 months. But I didn't feel that it would be right to count down to 2014 without reaching out to y'all to let you know that I am alive and wish you holiday cheer. How did you spend your holiday this year? Hopefully you were lucky to be surrounded by the things that matter the most during this time of the year-- family, friends, laughter, love, and my main man, JC.

Long story short, my family and I planned to spend Christmas in the Congo, DRC this year, per my sweet grandma's request. Although my family, friends, colleagues, and students were probably annoyed by how often I mentioned my trip, I don't think I need to can apologize because there is no better feeling than knowing that you are going back home to a continent that you left over 20 years ago. Additionally, it was an added bonus that I tricked someone at CVS to let me smile in my passport picture because it accurately displays my joy of being Congolese-American.

However, my family and I, sadly, had to postpone our trip at the last minute due to visa issues. (Insert brief moment of stress and disappointment). For a quick second I thought that I'd have to spend my first Christmas alone because flights were outrageous. A flight to Omaha should never be in the same price range as one to Europe! Homaha, je t'aime (I love you) but you are no Paris, France. Does anyone else remember the good ol' days when you could get a last minute RT ticket from Southwest for less than $100? I started to accept my unfortunate circumstances but thankfully the universe was on my side and hooked me up with a reduced flight that seemed to good to be true...

...which it kind of was because Delta delayed my flights  for over 24 hours due to maintenance issues 

But I have to count my blessings because I made it back Homaha and to my pleasant surprise, a piece of the Congo was waiting for me!

My sisters and me with our cousins from the Congo that we've never met in person. Just missing my wise, older brother

In the end, everything happens for a reason because I had a wonderful Christmas and am enjoying my extended trip/vaca back home.

My beautiful sister K and me

I pledge to make more time to blog and keep up with y'all in 2014 because I've genuinely missed you the past few months. 2013, you have been a great and growing year. You've allowed me to become financially savvy, improve my health, broaden my potential, prioritize my relationships, and grow in faith.  But most importantly, you've kindly reminded me who I am and what this blog is all about--A Work in Progress. 

Therefore, my resolutions for 2014 are a continuation of this New Year, New Natu

"Cheers to a new year and another chance to get it right," Oprah.

Happy YOU year, y'all. Let's raise a glass to 2014 being your best year yet. Get yours!

Checking in

I can't believe that we are half way through the year although it feels like it was just yesterday that some of you may have set New Year resolutions in January. How's your progress going? Cheers to the ones that are headed on a great path(s) to self improvement. And for the rest of you who had to review your list to see what you initially wanted to accomplish in 2013, you are in luck because you have 6 more months to live the best life possible.

Regardless of your status, below are a few words that I hope will inspire you:

All images courtesy of Pinterest

Keep me posted on your status!

Too Busy Living

Goodness. How is it possible that it's already July 5 and my last post was on June 3?

I'm not going to waste your time and apologize for being MIA from the virtual world because I've appreciated living in the present these past few days months.

What can I say...I guess that I've been too busy living my life to write about my life.

Despite traveling in and out of Midway airport for weddings and putting in extra hours at work, I've been able to enjoy summer in Chicago. I'm soaking up patio hangs, grilling out with my roomies, the beach, neighborhood festivals, the energy behind the Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup, my Thursday night dodgeball league, Dabble classes (highly encourage), outdoor concerts, book club, dinner club, etc. However, one summer activity that's especially exciting to me is my participation in the Chicago Women's half and 5k.

Staying true to my new year goal to improve my health

I've caught the running bug and am ready to commit to a further distance. Anyone in for the Chicago marathon in 2014 or 2015? Please let me know if you've heard of or plan to participate in any fun races before then. I swear I should send this picture to my junior high gym coach because he'd be proud to see that I've come a long way from the good ol' days of complaining about running the timed mile.

Y'all know that I have so much love for my new home in Chicago, however, I've taken a vaca from the big city to return to my first love... Homaha, Nebraska for an extended 4th of July weekend and to go to a high school friend's wedding.  It's been absolutely wonderful catching up with my family and friends, relaxing, enjoying good summer reads by the pool and lake, and soaking up the sun on a boat.

Please share your thoughts on the controversial book, Lean In, by Sheryl Sandberg.

I get so much joy from sitting on my parents' porch!

A perfect 4th is not complete without a boat ride.

I know this is so cliché, but I'm truly having the time of my life (yeah, I said it)! Now it's your time to update me on your life and let me know how your summer is going.

On the go

"Traveling is the only thing you buy that makes you richer," Anonymous.
(Proud to share that I took this picture).  

I feel like my life has been on the go lately. I think it's fair to say that I haven't been bored or had time to lounge between my work, social, and wedding season responsibilities. Although some may call it crazy or financially irresponsible, I'd have it no other way because I think there's so much truth in my statement above on traveling.

"Anonymous," you had it right, my friend, because  I get so much joy from traveling! In fact, I have 2 more days before I once again board Southwest Airlines and travel back to the Twin Cities to see one of my best friends get married. I swear to blog with more details once things settle down for me.

In the meantime- get up, get going, and get yours if it's even the slightest possibility in your life right now!

This may be my favorite new month

May I share with you how amazing the past 9 days have been for me through pictures...

B hooked me up with great seats to the Chicago Cubs v. Cincinnati Reds game at Wrigley Field.

Sadly, the Cubs didn't take the W but thankfully the weather was amazing and I got to spend my Sunday with some of my favs.

It's incredible how alive this city becomes once the weather is  more tolerable enjoyable. In an attempt to brighten my day and embrace spring/summer,  I decided to paint my nails coral. I'm in love with this color and have a feeling it may be hot and trendy this summer. 

My colleague Joe hooked me up with tickets to The Book of Mormon.  The acting and singing was impressive, but the overall story line definitely pushed some boundaries. I guess that's what you can expect from a production by the creators of South Park? Check out the reviews here. 

I've stayed true to my new year resolution to improve my health. However, I've recently ditched the gym and started to run outside, by the lake.  I joined the club of folks who aren't a fan of running on the treadmill because the the invigorating feeling of being one with nature is unreal.  

I finally got to eat dinner at Big Star in Wicker Park. Just an FYI, be prepared to wait a long time to be seated and make sure to bring cash. My friends and I had mix reviews about the food (I personally LOVED it) but the ambiance is definitely "a place to be seen" in the city.

It's only been 9 days and I've already decided that this may be my favorite month this year because of the amount of time I've spent outside, appreciating the city with everyone that came out of hibernation from winter.  The best part is that there is more fun on deck for me. For instance, make sure to check out my blog in a few days because I am going to Jillian Michel's tour tomorrow evening and our friends are celebrating B and SM's birthday on Saturday!

A Pinterest inspired purchase

To all of y'all who have been following my blog for a while, you know that I am pretty much obsessed with Pinterest. In fact, I often tell my close friends that I wish I could live 1/2 of the life that I pin. I'd be the world's best cook, best dressed, and most inspirational gal with a killer body. I'd have unlimited funds that would allow me to design a house that every home and garden magazine would feature on their front cover and I'd have a lot of free time to volunteer and attempt DIY projects.

Although this is clearly not my reality, lately I have been telling people that I want to take action and re-create the multiple images that I pin and like on the website. I thought I was going to start off with a new recipe but there was a slight change of plans because my friend V hooked me up with a legit coupon to Macy's this morning. It was too good to pass and I instantly asked myself, "Why not get the white Michael Kor's watch you pinned a few weeks ago!?"

Source

I am not one to spend money on myself but I couldn't get the phrase "treat yo self" out of my mind all day. (PLUS I had a coupon). I'm glad I listened to my inner voice and headed straight to the store after work. Not going to lie- pretty excited about my new Pinterest-inspired addition to my watch collection! What do y'all think of my new purchase?

Thanks, V!

P.S.- If you are totally confused about what Pinterest is (cough... Mama), feel free check our this website so you can get down with the lingo.

The power of being gentle

I swear the universe was on my side today when I encountered a friend's tweet about "A love letter for anyone who needs some calm and kindness in their life." He shared a link to Sarah Lillian O'Connell's powerful words that could not have come at a better time for me. I hope her message also resonates with you because I've discovered that too often it's easy to forget the importance of being gentle.

Be Gentle

Be gentle with yourself.

Walk with purpose and poise.

A stubbed toe can bring down the best of us.

Be kind to yourself.

Mistakes do not define us.

A typo in an email or missed appointment is not representative of our character.

Be aware of your environment.

Surround yourself with beauty.

If you can’t afford beauty, find a park, a free museum, a clear sky.

Be in touch with yourself.

Release your pain with physical acts.

Run fast or run slow, cry hard or cry loud – how else can one feel alive?

Be mindful of yourself.

Allow a screenless silence into your day.

Put away the phone, the laptop; turn off the TV, the radio.

Be present to those around you.

Loved ones reflect the best in ourselves and in the world.

Walk your dog, hug your cat; kiss your partner, your mom, your best friend.

Be gracious for what you have.

Physical objects are temporal; they cannot define you.

Don’t buy the curtains or new purse; find joy in a clean home and a favorite shirt.

Be trusting of the future.

Worry cannot create a new reality.

Put your faith in God, the universe, your family, yourself – whoever speaks to you.

Be gentle with yourself.

Making it right

Truth moment: I haven't worked out since my blog post, Pity party for one. For those of you who hate doing quick math in your head, that's 13 days of coming up with excuses and pretending that there wouldn't be any consequences for my actions. At first it was legit. I was sick for a couple of days and it would not have benefited anyone for me to hit up the gym. But those days quickly turned into a week and I was on a one-way street to destruction.

The worst part about my lack of exercise is that I noticed a difference in all aspects of my life. During those 13 days, I felt off because I wasn't sleeping as well, food impacted me differently because I was eating out for too many meals, and I was noticing that I was unnecessarily bringing negative energy to my life. At first I thought it was because of the awful weather we've been experiencing in the Midwest but then I had my "ah ha...get real" moment yesterday morning when I was walking up the stairs at work and noticed that it took a little bit more energy out of me than it should have and my pants were feeling snug! That had nothing to do with you, Mother Nature. It was all about me and the decisions I was making; It was time for this girl to get back to the gym, especially because I signed up to run the Chicago Women's Half Marathon & 5k in June.

I'm glad that I made a you-turn from the destructive road that I was on and am now headed in the right direction. I ran a few miles last night, participated in my favorite fitness class WERQ, had dinner at home, and slept like a baby! I felt so great when I woke up this morning that I did Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred with my roommate and made myself a delicious veggie omelet for breakfast. We all have bad days that impact the decisions we make. But we have to be true to ourselves and take ownership of them. As the saying goes: life is not about making the right decision. It's about making a decision and make it right. So, this girl decided to make things right by deciding to get back on the bandwagon/my workout routine because...

Another Year Down, Another Year Blessed!

There is something about birthdays that makes you feel like you are the most loved person in the world! Thank you friends, family, and colleagues for the touching cards, amazing gifts, phone calls, text messages, social media shout outs, delicious meals, and for playing such an important role in my life. If this next year is indicative of how happy I was on April 11, I know that there are good things in store for me.

A few of my closest girlfriends got together for dinner at Girl & the Goat. Although I don't usually like tapas restaurants, Girl & the Goat may be one of my new favorite restaurants in the city! My friend S had to make reservations months in advance so make sure to plan accordingly when you check it out. (It's that good- you will thank me later!). Make sure you get the Pig Face, Scallops, and Mussels! 

Cheers to be 20 something years old! Don't we all stop counting after 21 ;)

With love, A

Pity party for one

Thank goodness for hot tea!

This morning I literally woke up on the wrong side of the bed- sore throat, no voice, bad cough, achy stomach, and an intense feeling of guilt because I knew I couldn't make it to work today. (YES, I managed to "score" an invite to a pity party for one... but, unfortunately, I really don't feel well at all!) I'll spare you and won't go into detail about how awful I feel (you're welcome) because the poem I found, below, this morning when I goggled "sick of being sick" describes my status well.

Being sick clouds my mind

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I am sick  I feel like crap  my nose is leaking  just want to nap  My sight is blurry  my throat just hurts  read medicine labels  for caution alerts  been drinking juices  and blowing my nose  my body screams aches  from head to my toes  won't go to the doctor  will just stay in bed  while gibberish poems  dance in my head  just watching TV  screening old movies  will old characters help  and simply behoove me  I'm seeking ideas  my head in a cloud  quiet shy ladies  or men who are loud  The story lines blur  as I fall fast asleep  thoughts are all jumbled  some goofy some deep  I wake up and ponder  what time is it now  juice and more vitamins  give false hope somehow  I hate being sick  my mind doesn't work  I wish I was healthy  my normal self quirk. 

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(Source)

Marching Through Life

Hello Friends,

Am I the only person who woke up today, shocked, that it's already April!?  Anyone else agree that we are quickly "marching" through life these days? Seriously, every day I gain a better understanding of the phrase, "Time flies." Perhaps I should embrace the saying YOLO (you only live once) because this lady is not getting any younger!

Speaking of, today marks the beginning of my birthday month! Yes, I am one of those over-the-top people! Before some of you judge me, hear me out for one quick second. I love birthdays because it's a great opportunity for me to reflect and it encourages me to set personal goals for the upcoming year. Don't worry my new year resolution accountability partners, my birthday goals are always part of my year- long goals. I'll follow up with my list once it's finalized.

On another note, remember how I told y'all in my blog post New Year, New Natu that I wanted to re-create my self this year? Well, I kind of did something big this past weekend to hold me accountable to my goal....

YES, the rumors are true! I got a short and sassy new look because sometimes a change will do you good! What do y'all think? Also, please keep me posted on recent changes to your life. Happy April, everyone.

Waking up in Vegas

View from my hotel

Happy Sunday, dear friends. You have not heard from me in a while because I was in Paradise (according to Facebook check-in) Las Vegas, Nevada for the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) conference. Some benefits of my week-long trip included: the beautiful weather, relaxing by the pool, reuniting with amazing colleagues and friends, expanding my network, reaffirming my strong desire to go back to school, attending great sessions, and maintaining my workout regime. However, there are some things I could have gone without: the ability for individuals to smoke everywhere, my poor eating habits, the feeling of living out of a suitcase, the constant invitations to go to a club, and never mastering the ability to navigate my way through the casinos.

Despite my critique of Vegas, I am glad I was able to visit a new city because I prioritize traveling and exploring new places. I'm not sure if it's me or the fact that I was there for work but my time there was nothing close to the stereotypical Vegas experience. I did not gamble or go to any clubs and I got a full night sleep every day! Therefore, the saying "what happens to Vegas, stay is Vegas" is not true for this girl. In fact, I'd love to share some important messages I took away from attending the conference; I love that this insight is not limited to higher education faculty and staff.  Let me know if the words below inspire you. Happy reading!
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"What are you going to do to deepen your learning about your identities in the next month, six months, and year? Who are some people you can enlist to help out with this self exploration?"

"How will you model this self-work for the students and staff you work with?"

"We all need to be in charge of telling our own stories."

"How many times have we talked about our careers and not just our job?"

"Fear keeps us in the same place doing the exact same thing. You can't be a rookie all of your career and your whole life.""

"The consummate professional is always looking."

"Are you where you want to be? Do you have a vision of your new career? Do you know how to get from here to there?"

"Are your present skills and experience a good fit?"

"Establish an executive board for yourself."

"Stories can be remembered and retold, unlike data."

"We need to get better at sales. If a student comes into my office having got what he or she needs, that's good customer service."

"Portray yourself as average and that's all you'll ever be."

"Make a memorable first impression. Remember everyone has a perception of what they think of you."

"When you've worked hard and done well and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you don't slam it shut behind you. You reach back and give other folks the same chance that helped you succeed."

"Communicate your heart and soul first. Your involvement at work and your environments should be transformational."

"Is how you see yourself and how the world sees you congruent?"

"How much time do you spend reflecting on who you are? The better you know yourself and reflect, the better you can define what brand you want to share"

"Your contributions= the substance of your brand."

"You can spend all this time getting ready but not having anything to bring to the table."

"Regarding social media...you are not alone and people are watching! Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc is a newspaper, not a diary."

"The things we tell our students are not too far from where we need to be."

"Today... define who you are.
Tomorrow... share it with the world."

"Our brand is all of the physical communication and human interactions that our audience or community have with us."

"Keep in mind that it's your time to start working on you."

"Your brand is the interplay between how much you are developing an affinity for others and how others develop and affinity for you. As you go through this, develop clarity."

"Find 5 people and ask them what word they think of you."

"If you don't know where you come from, you are a lost person."

"It's important for everyone to know that we can do a lot of things together."
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P.S. Please allow me to toot my own horn for a second by sharing that attending this conference compliments my New Year, New Natu goals to broaden my potentials and prioritize my relationships. Considering that it's March, how's your progress of working towards achieving your goals going? I told you that we'd hold one another accountable so keep me posted on your status!

A good investment

Guess what I did today? Big hint:....

Source

For those of you who don't know the people above like they are your best friends, these individuals are the beloved personal trainers and host of the hit reality television show the Biggest Loser. So you may be wondering where I am going with this blog post and questioning: Did you work out? Did you catch up on this week's episode? Did you do Jillian's 30 day Shred again? Are you currently winning your work Biggest Loser competition?

Well, no, that's not the reason that I am writing. However, if you must know, I tried a new group exercise class this evening, Cardio Blast. This class description indicates that people should come prepared to sweat, breath hard, and get super fit. Although it at times felt like an hour of never ending pain, it was such a rewarding workout. Also, I am proud to report that I had another big weigh in this week- another 5 lb down. Throughout my work Biggest Loser weight-loss competition, I've started to realize that I can relate to Danni from this season of Biggest Loser most because we are the same age, she is truly focused, and has a chance to win the competition. My comparison isn't meant to toot my own horn. I just feel like both Danni and I are taking Jillian's famous quote to heart, "Unless you puke, faint, or die-- keep going." That's right J, I am taking it one day at a time!

But for real, let's get back to the point of this post. I know you aren't going to be able to guess what I did so let me just go head and tell you. My friend Sara (check out her blog) and I purchased tickets to the Jillian Michaels Maximize Your Life Tour. I don't want to share how much I spent to see her because it's borderline ridiculous but it's worth it; I know it's going to be an investment in my health future! Let me know if y'all have any questions you'd like me to ask J on your behalf.