My, How Time Flies When You're NOT having Fun!: Where Have I Been?

My last post here was Jan. 23, 2018. Seems like it was only yesterday that I finally got my technical difficulties under control when things went haywire in my life offline. I DID manage to post TWO Valentine's Day Lookbooks on my YouTube channel, but right after that things took an exhaustive turn, which - for now - seems to have settled down.

First, I had an issue with a car I had for less than 2 years. I LOVED my car, but there was a recall situation which resulted in me trading it in for a new one. Giving up the car was hard. It had taken me nearly two years to find it in the color I fell in love with. Sadly, I can’t share a picture of my beautiful baby because I also had phone issues, which ultimately resulted in a factory reset BEFORE I could back up anything. I lost photos, videos and all sorts of valuable info, but I digress. For safety reasons and to avoid potential headaches down the line that could cost me a fortune in repairs, I decided it wasn’t worth the trouble to keep the car.

Now, most people would be ecstatic to get a new car, but I wasn’t fond of the style of the newer model. It took some time to get used to and just as I was getting used to the change - somewhat bonding with my new baby - some idiot rear-ended me on the drive home from a Disney vacation. I was driving with my niece, her kids and my other nephew in the car. We were just starting the 4 hour drive home, trunk full of suitcases, when BAM! out of nowhere. At first, we were all in disbelief that we’d even been in an accident. Who gets hit by the car stopped behind you at a red light? I do. He was clearly in a hurry and I hadn’t accelerated fast enough when the light turned green. Just shy of our 60-day anniversary together, I had to put the car in the shop. Repairs took TWO WEEKS!

After tons of stress dealing with insurance companies and rental cars, PTSD (it was my first accident) and simultaneously grappling with stress at work with Board changes that would ultimately affect the way my place of employment would operate, I had TWO deaths in my family…on the same night (separately). Practically 48 hours after the day after I picked up my car from the dealer, relieved and ready to put the ordeal behind me and get on with things, I woke up to the worst news.

My big brother had a massive heartache and died on a dance floor at an event with his wife. the night before. He was happy, dancing and full of life one minute and then he collapsed. He was only 54 years-old and, besides his wife, I was his closest “known” next-of-kin. Without getting into a whole family history, both of our parents have passed on and I was one of a few people his wife had already met from the family. As a result, she and I had the task of getting the funeral arrangements together. Anyone who has ever had to bury someone knows the process in itself is stressful along with the shock and grief you’re dealing with. My family somehow found the stregnth to attend back-to-back funerals during a one-week time span.

Today, nearly a month afterwards, I finally feel like things are calming down offline, enough for me to begin revisiting my online life. There’s so many things I had planned which had to be put aside. All my “Spring” ideas will now have to be altered for “Summer”. An entire season has passed and it’s about to be JUNE…the halfway mark towards the end of the year. Time has truly flown, but in my case, it had nothing to do with anything fun.

I have a long Memorial Day holiday weekend ahead of me, starting with today. And I’ve spent the majority of this Friday getting myself updated on all the “fun” things I love and planned to discuss on the blog; things I’ve been unable to indulge in or focus on for the past several months. Feels good to be back! The ideas are flowing again. I worked out this week and already feel amazing! Time to get back into the zone and the lifestyle that brings me JOY! Wish me luck. The struggle has been REAL!