Category: Personal

10 Years of Blogging and Still Figuring Things Out

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I never been one for dates, other than birthdays. This is part of the reason why I’m so attached to both my Google calendar and pocket planner to keep everything together. Not that I would be completely lost without them, just that it does help. Knowing this, you might think that I had forgotten that this blog turned 10 years old back in January, and yet that is simply not the case.  I simply didn’t get to mark the occasion due to becoming  a recluse as I deal with (f)unemployement.  It is also why I did my best to not acknowledge my milestone birthday this year, and believe me, I had plans.

Ten years in and I’m still waiting on that influencer money. (I’m kidding, of course.)

Anyway, now nine months into the year,  I wish I could say that things have improved, though sadly it has yet to. This is all far from what I had planned last year when I decided to make the biggest taboo move and quit a job without a back up. You’re probably reading this and saying, “In this economy?!” Yea, I know. And it’s the second time I’ve done it, which is funny because the last time five years ago I said it would be the first and last time. My best friend, an HR specialist and consultant, has told me on more than one occasion that this happens when you leave a toxic job; oftentimes you end up at another one, which can be worse than the one you left…if you’re not careful. Make of that what you will.

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2024 – A Delightful Disaster

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If I had to surmise this year in a movie quote, it would have to be the fun one from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: “You’re going to suffer, but you’re going to be happy about it.”

For one I started the year in hopes of no longer working in a toxic environment. What I didn’t really account for was that I would be taking steps to do so without having something lined up…for the second time in my career.  Thankfully this time I was much more prepared than I was 5 years ago, emotionally, mentally and most importantly, financially.

As someone who grew up working class, I’ve worked hard to get myself and my immediate family out of poverty. This included taking jobs that overworked and underpaid me, where I was afraid to speak up due to fear of being let go,  as well as having to work more than one at any given time. Even as I got to a full- time position that paid more than my own mother has ever been paid annually, I’ve still had to take on additional part-time and freelance jobs to not only make ends meet, but to ensure that there would be ample funds available to for any unforeseen circumstances than may arise. I set my sights on an ambitious financial goal that honestly made me blind to the accomplishments that already surrounded me.

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My Panamá Travel Diary: Where to Stay, What to See and What to Eat

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At the start of this year I set my sights on getting one thing done – planning a visit to the homeland of my parents, Panamá. Having lost three aunts in the last two years my mother and I were determined to plan this vacation around surprising the family in time for my grandmother’s birthday.

This trip was 17 years in the making. That’s right, my grandmother and I haven’t been in the same room together since I was a teenager about to graduate from high school. This is the kind of thing that happens when you’re low-income/working class and the average round trip ticket is about $1,200 EACH no matter the time of year; it’s all family-emergency-travel only and vacations are non-existent. It took a lot of budgeting, research and secret-keeping, but we managed to make this dream a reality last month.

This trip was all about family so the majority of my plotted itinerary leaned heavily on family activities and the like, hence the reason I also don’t have a vacation outfit roundup,  yet I wanted to share a few highlights of the trip with you as it was so fun and I spent a great deal planning it all.  So consider this a simple small guide you can bookmark for your own future adventure to Panamá.

Disclaimer: While links are included, no part of this post is sponsored. 

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Halloweentown 2022

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Happy 13th day of Halloween!

The minute we finally made it to the best month on the calendar that is October, I made up my mind that this would be the year that I finally head up the Hudson River for some spook season fun. I did some research and came up with a pretty ambitious itinerary for a day spent in Sleepy Hollow, NY with my friends; though only one was able to make it in the end.

Still it was a day well spent that even left my friend, and trusty photographer, Diana wanting a bit more. We can’t report that we even caught a glimpse of the Horseman but at least we got to see the replica of the bridge during our walk through the historic cemetery.

Get you friends that supports your unique blend of quirky, spookiness.

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When in Doubt, Wear Black

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In the last two weeks I had the pleasure of getting to reconnect with two best friends after spending so much time apart and with limited communication due to our crazy schedules. One week apart and in two different cities, I had the best time catching up with them, reminiscing over past adventures and of course, making new memories.

Yet even still, both of them at one point asked me the exact same question that caught me off-guard and left me nervously chuckling as I changed the subject :

“Are you still blogging?”

You need only scroll down a bit to see that the last post I wrote and shared here was back in April.  Truth is at the time I was knee-deep in work for multiple projects and only just getting my footing at my new full-time role that I had started barely 3-weeks before I wrote that post on sustainability and plus size fashion.

I told myself that once those projects were done and I felt better situated in my new role, I would get back to work on my stuff, however, once that time came (which was in early June) I found myself uninspired to doing much of anything.  I was burnt out.
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