End Year Recap...Love

I just saw this movie on Solomon, from the Bible, and right after he’s anointed king, his older brother Adonijah (who had already assumed he would be king) flees the city and goes to grab the horns of the altar, which symbolized the presence of God. In this way, no one could kill him. Solomon comes up behind him and says,

“I will not live in fear, kill me now if that is your plan, otherwise go home and never challenge God’s will again.”

The actual verse is,

“Solomon said, “If he is a loyal subject, not a hair of his head will be harmed, but if he is found to be a traitor, he will die.” (1Kings 1:52 [NET])

The movie line just sounded so cool and it resonated with me, just in the sense that if you know you’re going to get bad news, just go ahead and get it immediately and deal with the situation rather than lie to yourself and/or others and delay the pain.




Anyways:

So, I’ve been friends with this guy I met at my internship and honestly I have no complaints, he’s a great guy and I think I’m pretty great myself, hehe, what I mean is, for once in my life, I don’t feel the pressure of having to be good enough.

Me and this guy, talked about whether we could build something out of our friendship. We went on a couple of dates, the KFC opening, plays, movies, lunches, you know the usual. As much as I enjoyed going out on dates, really for the first time, it wasn't really working. I think I'm at that place where I kinda need to focus on myself, and also, I'm not over my ex and all the baggage that relationship gave me. I'm at that place where I'm struggling to let go of him and it wouldn't be fair to put someone through me wanting to rebound.

It's trick, because obviously I want to be in love and I want to not search anymore and I want to go on dates and be treated, well, like a girlfriend and not just a friend, like holding hands and exchanging those cutesy looks and being open with someone. This was just not the right time. I'm glad though because after my break-up I honestly felt like I wouldn't ever be able to love again, but I'm glad this opened me up to the possibility of love.

I’m held by the fact that I’ve learnt a lot about myself. I started out the year thinking how I can’t ever love anyone else again, but I can, and I can do a really good job at it. Now it’s just waiting for the guy who’ll love me and who I'll love back, and who we’ll be perfect for each other.

More than that, my perspective has changed from, “God, give me a guy to love” to, “God, help me sort out me and us and my life, school, work, friends, MY life, then everything else will just fall into place.” You see that? For the first time in my life, I’m thinking about me and my happiness above an external relationship. If I don’t care about me, who will?

Anyway, so that’s what’s been going on. Pinched but grown.

xx

Raha

Out of Balance

Guys, I am exhausted! I just have been feeling so overwhelmed, like I can burst into tears at the drop of a hat. I've been really considering going back and doing therapy, like last year. It's just that I recognize where I've been and where I am now, is just headed there.

Among many other issues, there's the whole School thing. A couple of my ex-classmates graduated from their school and for me it seems so far away, and there's just so many hurdles that I'll have to go through to get there and I just don't know what to do or where to start. It's definitely my biggest stressor, and once that gets sorted I'll probably be o.k.

Another thing is just that, I wanted my life to head in a certain direction. and I felt like, you know this is it, I've made it till here and finally I can sort of enjoy just being happy and have everything be at a good place, but it's just not happening and it's sort of an uncontrollable situation. All I truly ever want is to be happy, and happiness is an elusive b***** I'm just at a loss.

Last is that I'm just tired. I wish I could have like a holiday or a trip to some relaxing place, and just be catered for and relax...unfortunately, that's not happening any time soon, so I'm just here.

The Big Bright Future

Since recently, I've been getting a little panicky about the future. Like if I'll get a good job, if I'll be rich or middle income, if I'll have this house of my dreams, if I'll have a great husband and family, if I'll be a good wife and mom, if my kids will have everything they want.

I guess it's because I have in 3 semesters I will officially be kicked out of my momma's nest and be on my own. It's like the money I make for my job will be for my survival and not for saving and shopping :-) Don't get me wrong, I still make money and I like to think I'm responsible with it, and I have a little bit of a firm grasp on reality, but it's nice to know that I have a soft place to land if things don't work out.

Source: fromupnorth.com via Cathey on Pinterest

Also, I have this desire to have not only an awesome job, but to also do something on the side that'll bring me money and that I'm totally passionate about. I don't think it's realistic to rely on being employed in the long run, a side haussle is important too.

There are honestly so many things to know and so many decisions to be made, and I want to sort everything out one at a time, because I know if IU wait till then I'll be overwhelmed. Honestly, I have no idea how people get through life without believing in God, because I cannot live with this anxiety of my life being in my hands. I could honestly go crazy.

How did you guys find the transition from being sheltered college kid to total independence?


xx
Raha

GIVEAWAY!!!!!

Have you guys heard of MyMemories? I seriously cannot get enough of this. I'm not really the artsy, creative types, but this  makes it a lot easier. I don't usually put up pics of mine on the blog, but this is seriously changing my mind, so all next week I'm going to be putting up random pics in my scrapbooks so you guys see what I'm talking about.

All I needed was 10 minutes.

1. Choose an embellishment or paper
2. You can start with a blank page, but like I said, I'm not really artsy so I went with a template
3. Add your pictures, and voila! All done.


You can see some creations here

So, two things I'm going to do thanks to the lovely people at My Memories

As a special for all of my special readers, I'm giving you a Share the Memories code that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!) All you have to do is click this link HERE or (http://www.mymemories.com/digital_scrapbooking_software)and enter the code below

STMMMS23079

What's a giveaway post, without a giveaway??? In addition to the discount you could get with the code above, I'm also giving a lucky winner a free download of  the My Memories Suite, so you could keep adding pictures to your scrap books and making new scrap books for every major and minor photo sesh you have. 

All you have to do is:

1.  Go to the My Memories site and choose their favorite digital paper pack or layout. 
2.  Leave a comment on my blog telling me which ones you like.
3.  For extra chances to win, follow MyMemories on Facebook, Twitter or their blog and let me know on a separate comment. 
4. Follow me on twitter, that's @MissRaha or like my Facebook Page, or follow my blog, again let me know on a separate comment.


Have Fun!!




xx
Raha

The T-Word

I'm a research girl. Like, if I have a problem, I will Google and read the hell out of it. So, lately I've been reading a lot about trust. Love and sweetness is all good in a relationship, but definitely trust is the backbone of any relationship.

Source: weheartit.com via Kaitlin on Pinterest

So, here are some tips I found about building trust in a relationship

1. Be truthful, don't lie about the small stuff, it adds up

2. Be reliable, let your actions match your words

3. Set boundaries

4. Be trusting, innocent until proven guilty

5. Be fair, don't be imposing, jealous or naggy

6. Be trustworthy, treat your lovvah (hehehe) like you would want to be treated

7. Be calm, be a rock that can be leaned on

8.Talk about everything



Most importantly,

Source: Uploaded by user via Lynn on Pinterest

xx

Raha

Team Player

Source: fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net via Tara on Pinterest

I will be the first to admit, I was not a team player. I felt I had valid reasons. I could work faster alone, I didn;t have to compromise or take direction, I could just be. I hate that version of myself, honestly, I doin;t know how people could stand me then. I was proud and arrogant.

Right now, I'm proud to say I am a team player. It's simply a matter of realizing confidence doesn't relate to arrigance. There are two mistakes people make when it comes to being in a team. 

One is, thinking you're always right and not wanting to listen to the opinions of others. When this happens, you just have to take a minute and consider someone's plan or perspective and not jump down their throat. This was me, like if we had group discussions for an assignment, I would skip the meetings and email work that I'd done single-handedly.

Two is, not putting yourself out there enough because you feel like your ideas will be shot down. This is also me at points. The best way to handle this, is to come heavily prepared, if you truly believe something should be done in a certain way to be successful, present, defend and do it.

I think those are the biggest lessons I've learnt this week.

Any suggestions?

xx 

Raha

College Pancakes

Hey Guys,

Yesterday I saw some pancakes on TV and had a crazy craving, only thing is I only had flour in my little pantry. No eggs, no milk, nothing else that ordinarily goes into pancakes. So, I headed to the shops to buy some baking powder/soda (don't ask me why I didn't just buy milk and eggs as well)

Anyway, as a college student living in a tiny apartment with no fridge and little disposable income, I'm on the search to find ways to make home-cooked classics on the cheap, and with ingredients that will keep relatively well, fridgeless. Introducing my first in this line of recipes.....

COLLEGE PANCAKES

• 1 Cup White Baking Flour
• ¾ Cup Water
• 3 Tablespoons Sugar
• ½ Teaspoon Baking Soda
• 2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
• ¼ Teaspoon Salt
• 1 ½ Tablespoons Margarine
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1. 1.       Sift all the dry ingredients together, all except the sugar. It makes the pancakes airy and soft.
2. 2.       Add the sugar.
3. 3.       Add vanilla and margarine and half the water and whisk together.
4. 4.       Gradually add the rest of the water until thick, but pouring consistency.
5. 5.       Heat frying pan, under high heat but reduce it to medium-low. I used margarine, but you could use whatever your heart desires.

N.B Make sure you oil the pan for each pancake, they will get stuck if you don’t.

N.B These pancakes are really soft and fluffy and will break apart if you make them too big.

Enjoy!

xx 

Raha