Smart Girls Have More Fun!

As I sit to reflect on this year, it has taken me a while to realize the blessings. This year has been full of ups and downs, both personally and for my family. I have loved and lost, and felt lost. Through every experience, I've realized that there has been joy and pain, but this year has brought me back to basics. This year has grounded me, taught me to get back to the simpler things, focus on love, happiness, and family. My family has struggled with great and tragic losses in the past year. However, as I sit and think about all that we have endured, I also must realize that we have been strengthened. This year has been the first year since my Uncle Sterling passed away, that I've felt like my family was becoming whole again. We have gathered and celebrated with each other like we used to do in the past. We have all reconnected and made it a point to be with each other. We have strengthened our bond as a family and for that I am eternally grateful. This year I made a sile...

Woke up this morning, feeling quite numb. It was on this morning one year ago, that my mother woke me up very early on her way to work, saying my grammy wasn't responding to her, come and check on her. I immediately jumped up and went to my grandmother's room, all the while knowing that something must be wrong. I tried to get her to answer me, but there was no response, I tried to find her pulse, but there was none. I immediately called her doctor, who rushed over to the house, to confirm what I already knew, my grandmother was no longer with us. It's been a year, and I still miss you like it was yesterday. I think about you every day, sometimes I lay down in your bed just to feel near to you. There have been so many days that all I've needed is to lay in bed and talk to you. The house hasn't been the same without you here. Axel still looks for you every morning. It breaks my heart that we can't be near you anymore. I never knew how I would handle your death...

I'm a November baby! We are the BEST! On November 9th, I turned the big 3-0! To celebrate I decided to go to Las Vegas with a few of my friends! My 30th birthday was a memorable occasion to say the least. I had a fabulous time with some of my best girlfriends. Leading up to my 30th I also set out to do a few things that I'd always wanted to do, so of which I achieved, others are still waiting, but I will definitely get to them. Spending my birthday weekend in Las Vegas was such a treat. I've been working 3 jobs and in graduate school, so it was a much needed release. I got to be wild and carefree for a weekend and spoil myself rotten because it was my birthday. I love birthdays and I love celebrating them, it is the one special day that's all about you. Well this month I celebrated the whole month. When you're away for your birthday you can do that because not everyone got to celebrate with you! Las Vegas is an awesome city, I started my 30th year with a bang ...

Happy Birthday to my creative, lovable, some times annoying little sister! Today is her 19th birthday and in true Kennedy fashion she has requested, that I blog about her birthday again. Today she's 19 so let's celebrate the things she's accomplished in the past year. 1) She's finished her first year of college 2) She got into her dream Art program 3) She's learned some independence 4) She made new friends 5) She's volunteered at my job when I've needed her help 6) She got a job at the National Art Gallery 7) She experienced a new culture 8) She's tried new things 9) She's learned how to cook All while being uniquely her! So Happy Birthday to my little sister! I'm so proud of you and all of the great things you've accomplished this year! Keep doing well!

Losing a loved one is always so difficult. Some days are fine and others I'm just a mess. I try to be strong most of the times, but I just can't control my emotions sometimes. Right now is one of those moments. The simple act of breaking off a piece of chocolate from the refrigerator brought on a whole pile of emotions. BACKGROUND: I went to boarding school in England, and there I fell in love with Galaxy chocolate, it's so creamy and delicious.... Anyway I can't get it anywhere else in the world, so now that my best friend is in Law school in England she sends me chocolate as a consolation for not conversing with me much anymore. You know with all that studying and stuff...not that chocolate is a substitute for chats with the bestie, but I understand and graciously eat to my heart's content! Anyway I digress, breaking off a piece of chocolate set me in to tears because I could hear my grammy asking me what I was getting in the kitchen and then asking me to bring ...

I have never celebrated a half birthday before or referred to my age in halves, but as my 30th birthday approaches, I'm doing something different! Today I'm 29 and a half, which means there are exactly 6 months until the Milestone that is my 30th birthday. WOW! 30 years old, I remember thinking of this age and all the expectations of myself at 30, well my imagination doesn't quite match reality. However, I know that I am exactly where I'm meant to be. So with that being said, I'm going to maximize my happiness and have some fun in the last 6 months of my 20s. I figure my 20s deserve to be sent out in style. I know most do a 30 to 30 list, however seeing as it's my half birthday, I've come up with my 15 (half of 30) things to do before I'm 30 list. Number 1 on the list is run 10K. I started training a couple months ago and was doing really well, but then got sick and got off course, so now time to get back on the road and carry on with my training!...