Public Health Messaging

Because I love messaging that causes you to think! Oh these ads are from the NY campaign on teen pregnancy! They are getting a lot of attention!

Year in Review!!! Happy New Year 2013

I do not know how to start this year in review as I have named it over the years. I actually started by first reviewing what I wrote last year.

Let’s go through the months. January – nothing according to my iphone calendar. February nothing still. In March we welcomed my niece, Megan Isabella into the world. That was a pretty big deal. April I celebrated my 36th birthday with a party at the house, which I recapped here. May – nothing to exciting.

June I stepped out on faith in God and resigned my position with the Food Bank, to focus on finding my career job in public health and to have a little R&R. I have been working since I was 16 years old and I have never had a real break. Unlike a lot of my friends who have had kids they have had at least three months off after they delivered and some of them have had it more than once since they have had multiple children. Thankfully I got to enjoy my R&R/ non -Maternity leave (what I jokingly called it) without a child, but the point is I needed a break and got a great one. July I took a family vacation on a cruise to the Bahamas. That was nice. It reminded me that once you have been to one beach you have been to them all. Hence I am not a beach vacation type of girl. Give me the rainforest in Costa Rica or an Alaskan cruise.

For part of July and August, I volunteered with my church. It held a purity camp for kids in the community. It was an amazing experience. These kids knew more about sex then what I knew when I first had sex in my mid twenties which in my opinion was still too young. I might even still be too young. LOL.

September and October started the process of really interviewing for various jobs. It brought to my attention that it takes a minute for people to hire you. I was offered a really cool job after a really great interview. When I am in a position to interview someone I would hope I will be as graceful as this person was with me. When I left the interview, I was like even if I do not get the job, it was such a great experience. I fell in love with the company right then. One person can really speak for a whole company. I get to make an amazing contribution to preventing HIV/AID everyday. I am humbled by the task and awed by what God can do if we should only ask and believe.

November and December, I found myself settling into my routine of working every day since my four month hiatus gave me the luxury of having a life of leisure. I would be remised if I did not mention my personal life. No major develops that I know of at the moment (I pray there is one on the horizon) however God sees all things as they really are so I will leave it to Him to reveal to me any life changes in 2013!!



Happy New Year!

Christmas Party 2012

Yes, I know this blog post is about 20 days after my actual party but I figure better late than never.  This year's party was not a cookie exchange but rather just a late apetizer party and I gave everyone a gift box with a mug (compliemnts of pottery barn) with their first initial on it.  We painted it using Sharpie markers.  They turned out great.  I have provided a photo gallery for your viewing pleasure.  Also I cooked chicken, a first but since I cooked turkey for Thanksgiving, chicken was pretty easy.

Thanksgiving 2012

I know this post is late but I figured since my annual holiday party is tomorrow I should probably post about Thanksgiving before I post  about my party.

I had this desire to cook a turkey this year.  I know you are thinking, why you are vegetarian. I know I  know.  Well Williams Sonoma, released this little Thanksgiving holiday cooking guide with a really cool recipe for a turkey and I thought I want to make that.  It also had a recipe for quonia that I made as well.  According to those who ate it, it was pretty good.  So I was able to make a great turkey without having ever tasted it.  Always tell people they can cook if they can read and follow directions.  It is priceless.  Here is a photo gallery of my turkey cooking experience.  Oh I did brine the turkey but I forgot to take pictures of that process and I cooked it in the slow cooker.

Sewing Adventure

Well this weekend was a friend of mine's daughter's 4th birthday.  I wanted to get her a good book.  To my disappointment I learned there were very few African American children's books.  I finally found the book 'I like Myself" by Karen Beaumont.  It is a great book.  I just wish there were more like them.  I made little bag for the book and the lose roll of quarters I added to make it seem like she had lots of money ( a roll of quarters equals $10).  She loved it. Which was great.  The bag is below.  It has some minor little mistakes.  Overall I think it is pretty good considering I did it without a pattern and it's lined.

Weekend at Callaway Gardens

I spent the weekend at Callaway Gardens for their annual hot air balloon show! It was a nice end of summer getaway. Here are a few pictures!

Patches

I took a picture of Patches this week to cheer up a friend and I realized I really liked it so I thought I would share it here!

Table for two/ wordless Friday lunch

View on morning run in Palm Springs