Yoga... Oh How I've missed thee

Today I'm making my debut back to yoga.... Pray for me.

Yoga is one of those activities where you just might die before you get your groove back. Hopefully my transition back will not be too painful. My last stretch of hospital time really caused a lot of discourse in my life. Including... No yoga since March :(

Today is the day!!! To be continued.....

a few reasons why I love Yoga

I don't have to fight the awkward weight room situation.. I get all the toning I need at yoga.

Not just abs get love but the derriere. The bum loves yoga.

The list is long...

Two days off

Look at what two days off will do for you.

Tried a recipe out of my cookbook, lit a few candles.....listened to a little of those isley brothers. "Girl you're all I need.... girl u're all. i. need. "

#2daysoff

It deserves a hash tag.

Starting today.
I'm on operation...Get Right. :)  And I'm also tired of these tired brothers asking me my name and then asking me if I can cook and not being 100% confident about my response. Now... I do always say yes.... ;) Its all about potential anyway ;)

Orange Zested chicken made in my new roaster. I am so proud!

Operation get right. Starts right here!!

SONG OF THE DAY. :)

First Days of Summer :)

summer summer summertime

It's very simple. I. Love. Summer. 

I basically tried to do everything in Philly over the past 3 days. I'm beat. But I had a goooood weekend. The adrenaline of being done with intern year carried me through. 

Cheers to a good summer in Philly :) Full of life. Friendship. Good memories. Laughter. and Fun. 

Emerson at his bday party! I was channeling my inner jlo  :)

Saturday Morning farmers market. I love how I stumble upon this stuff. 

My partner in crime. 

Night Market. Philly fun.

popsicle food truck was a hit!

Friday night fun! Live music and a dj. 

#night market. This was either the wobble or the cupid. Top 3 moment of the weekend. 

no words.

That cupid! to the right to the right.. to the right to the right  to the right :)

Late night happy hour :0 

on the way to night market. It was a little far out. But the best block party i've been too. 

we had to get that company picnic started. :) 

Is it summertime yet ?!?!?

First day of summer is upon us!! Who is excited??@?@>@><@

idk... maybe me! yes.

I strategically asked for a few weekends off in July. I'm ready. Lets go. And surprisingly philly has come alive with the change of seasons. Live music, festivals, outdoor events.
I absolutely love the summertime. I'm trying to figure out where this came from. Maybe because my mom was a teacher and we had so much fun in the summer when she was off... or maybe i just like the heat and summer clothes. idk.

and guess what. Two more night shifts as an intern. Tired of being at the bottom. That ish is real old. :)

The list is long. If you are in philly.. Here are a few of the cool things coming up.

1)  NIGHT MARKET PHILLY  http://thefoodtrust.org/night-market
the last night market was bananas


2) Black Music Month is upon us! YES. Love my people :) Live local music on thursday at the pier.
http://www.delawareriverwaterfront.com/events/third-thursdays-live-and-local


3) Afro Beat Dance Party at the Kimmel Center on Friday
http://www.makemusicphilly.org/participate/attendee/

4) Apparently Jcole is coming friday too!! 1 dollar and venue not announced until the day of.


5) http://tickets.worldcafelive.com/event/280801-harvest-spoken-soul-215-open-philadelphia/

Poetry and philly vibe at its best.

6) Movies anyone?!? http://www.visitphilly.com/events/philadelphia/screenings-under-the-stars-summer-movie-series-at-penns-landing/
http://theawesomefest.com/

philly friends. lets get active ;)

hit me up.

Random stuff

At the Odunde Festival we came across the cutest booth ever. A family from here in Philadelphia has come up with a beautiful concept. Lovely gifts with brown girls on them of all shades and colors. It is so important to build the self esteems and confidence of our little girls.  Idk about you... but I remember being the only little brown girl in the class and wondering why I was different in so many ways. Take a look at this website and grab something for the little girl in your life.. or even yourself ;)

http://www.browngirlgifts.com/



Oh... and Philadelphia is definitely the city of music and concerts.  It looks like D'angelo might be coming to town :0

Look who I found on the schuykill :)

Look who I found working hard on the schuykill :) My homie and carolina alumn Emerson. He is such a good friend. Emerson is always down for the cause and more times than I can count has been around to hang out when I needed a friend.  Of course he is  always working out and on his healthy grown man grind. We decided to run the museum stairs a few times together. Gotta keep it sexy as they say :0


If you need a free summertime work out. go get your rocky on at the museum steps.  It feels good .. yeah :)

1 year and counting

Its crazy to me that I've been in Philadelphia one year. I moved to this new place on June 1st 2012.

A year later. Where am I.

Thinking back to when I made my match list. What was it all about.. It was definitely a risk. I can't say it was a deep love of philly or a warmth about penn. Definitely not. It was the idea of taking a risk.

Well the risk has been taken and the question is.. Was it worth it? Maybe it's too early to tell. And what have I learned so far...

I have definitely learned being happy is something that doesn't always just happen. Sometimes it involves conscious decisions, saying no or saying yes, sometimes it starts from the simplest place... rest.

I remember I had all of these dreams and visions for my first year in philly. I just knew I would be the black carrie bradshaw of philly. Amazing at work by day, looking for love in a fabulous outfit by the evening and in my fabulous philly apt by night. The journey has been tough but somehow my own story and episode has evolved and isn't half bad.

The story involves a lot of hard nights and days in the hospital, tough lessons about human nature and at times pessimism about the future direction of medicine, there have also been tears this year, tears from fatigue, a few bumps and bruises of dating and missteps along the way.... but somehow in the midst of the haze has appeared a stronger woman, more resilient, a little more at peace about her new surroundings, a little more fearless at work, a little wiser about dating, a lot less focused on finding love and a bunch more focused on maintaining happiness.


This past week I worked night float. Somehow this week brought all of the challenges of the year into focus. The challenge to rest, feed yourself, take care of patients, work with colleagues, study, maintain. At the end of a tough week I was able to have one of the best Sunday's I've had in a while. Saturday night I went to sleep at 6pm.. and slept until Sunday morning. I woke up refreshed. Went for a run, went to church!!, stumbled onto art in rittehnouse (the best free museum you could ask for), took a bus to west philly for a second which is oddly very quiet compared to the city.., came back in time to see tons of beautiful black people at the Odunde festival, and ended the day enjoying the cool night philly air with my roomie.


Looking forward to what the next year in philly will bring. Hoping for less bumps and bruises, more growth and adventure, more laughter shared with friends and more time spent doing things that bring me joy.

#odunde

#odunde !!! 

I loved the African Drums. I really wanted to get in there. smh. next year!! 

The girls!! 

One of the lovely pieces of art in rittenhouse

art in the park :)

sooo much for my workout... 

Happy birthday to my favorite little brother

Buckner Class of 2012

 It's funny how life happens. When I was younger I couldn't stand my little brother. He used to mess with all of my stuff, never left me alone, always got lost in walmart when I was ready to go, never let me get the front seat without a fight... and he swore he was smarter than me.

Years later... This kid is one of my closest friends. Having a sibling is truly a blessing. A gift that everyone does not get the joy to experience. It's true what they say... despise them when they are young.. adore them when they are old.

Some how the bad, throw temper tantrums in Walmart boy grew up into a sensible, mature, motivated and caring young man. Amazing how things happen. I actually get more life advice, dating advice and laughs from my brother than he does from me.

I hope he knows how much I appreciate him and thank God for him.
My family is a joy. My joy.

I love you brennen. I'm proud of you. Come back from Paris soon.

Love this song

I am really feeling this song.
I love how musiq says "I think beauty is overrated."

One day.. :) You gotta be with someone you like.

Philly is coming alive

What up folks

Philly is definitely coming alive with the warmer weather. This weekend me and my homie Janelle attempted to go to the roots picnic. Well... We almost died in the heat. To say the least. I knew it would be a struggle. I was sooooo tired. A little off the usual baseline level of tired. One act end and I was praying for someone to save me.  Two highlights of the day: the first was hearing Robert Glasper. That was some real music.. and the heat had not yet reached its peak.. Second highlight. Leaving the 95 degree weather to get a sandwich at marathon. lol. The concert was 8 hours long... I think we survived maybe 3 hours...if that.

I did see Salonge though. Her style is so effortless and great. Philly style by the way is always so entertaining. Soo hipster and urban. Everything that atl and chapel hill are not. I love it.

Here are a few pics from the weekend. And I hope these future summer shows/festivals have some later start times.... #roasting was not cute.
Starting nights for a few weeks. Catch me if you can :)