Bougie Boudoir

May 23, 2018

Every year I'm alive is a blessing, but something felt extra special about 30 for me. New decade, new possibilities and new places/things/people and more growth to be had. I decided to do a boudoir photo shoot for myself to celebrate many things: my body, my mind, my life, my strength, my beauty and to capture a moment in time. You only turn 30 once and I was/am super excited to begin my journey into my 30s.

I'm going to share a select few and the rest are for my own eyes and for me to enjoy. I want to look back on these pictures and remember who I was at that point in my life and hopefully compare it to who I will be at that time.

Photography was done by the ever amazing Erica Lee Photography. She's an amazing Lexington,KY based photog who specializes in Boudoir shoots. She's one of the best and I LOVE, LOVE working with her. Makeup was by my gyal Kristin Gray MUA, a Texas MUA based here in Lexington as well. If interested, I can slide you their contact info. I guaran-damn-tee these ladies are IT!

I now present to you: Dirty 30 Boudoir

2nd Half of 2018: #LivingMyBestLife

May 18, 2018

From a photo shoot last month - had to stop and take a selfie, duh!

Y'all! I ain't dead yet! Halleloo! :) I finished my semester with a 4.0, My GPA is up to a 3.4. I only have this damn BIO 139 class between me and entering the grueling next phase of my LPN program. I'm ready to take it on. I will be full time at 15 credits. I will take Pharm II, Mental Health, Med/Surg and OB. I'm of course most excited about OB and learning the ins and outs of interventions for laboring moms and newborn babies. I can't wait to learn more about reading the fetus's activity on the monitor.

Nurses Week 2018 - still love working with my babies in OB department

Me & my fave

I also did a thing today! I booked a round trip flight for me and Liam to head to Florida next month. I work so much (sometimes 60 hr/week) and have nothing to show for it. I need some fun in the sun and the beach/sun is my happy place. I know Liam and I will have fun. Budget vacays are NECESSARY in my life! While this won't be our first vacation, it will be the first one we have taken just the two of us. My main goal in motherhood (outside of raising a pretty awesome lil' dude) is to create memories with Liam.

I'm also implementing my personal goals this year. Here's what I envision/forsee/will come to fruition for the rest of 2018:

1. Pass BIO with a B
2. As & Bs for Fall semester
3. plan, start and implement a real budget!
4. Save money consistently
5. get this child a dog somehow (Liam has wanted a dog for a year now)
6. find an effective self care routine
7. back to working out regularly (for health and weight loss)
8. pray/meditate/journal/EFT daily

As we approach the half way mark in 2018, what reflections do you have? What have you done and what will you do? Are you living your best life? What's keeping you from it?

Until again,

Bougie Beauty Babe

I'm NOT Superwoman

March 27, 2018

By bestowing upon me this title, you unknowingly inflate my abilities to a superhuman level. I'm NOT super woman. I am weak, vulnerable, emotional and muhfuggin tide! This is not to degrade myself or draw attention to my shortcomings, but this is my reality. I'm a single mom to special needs child who barely has her shit together. I concoct these amazing ideas to get/save/use money and somehow they always end up leading me further from the things I truly love and the people that mean the most to me.

I'm an overachiever, I cannot be convinced unless by my own convincing that something may not be a good idea. I'm stubborn and tenacious. I won't take no for an answer. I'm so many things, but the most important to remember is that I'm human. I cry (a lot these days), I fuck up sometimes (more often then I would like to admit) and I rarely have shit figured out. I feel like most days I'm truly flying by the seat of my pants.

What do I even have going for me? I love; deeply and honestly and with dedication. I always try. Even when I fail or fall short, I have put in the best effort and done things to the best of my ability. I'm honest. I see the good in people and try to make the best of any and every situation. I try to find the lesson in things that don't go right.

I'm not superwoman, but I AM super and I AM a woman. My super powers lie within. They lie within my ability to work hard daily to become a better and the best me that I can be!

Until again,
Bougie Beauty Babe

2018 Finna Be Lit

January 13, 2018

bringing in the new year with my favorite human being

the 2nd love of my life lmfao!

I 'm late AF per usual with my posting, but I promise I only write with great and positive news. My vision board was made and dang near completed about a month ago. I have had so many great experiences to draw inspiration from.

I finished my first semester of my LPN program with a 3.2! That's 2 Bs and an A. I'm soooo not mad about it! I had to withdraw from BIO because I was crashing and burning in the class due to not being able to keep up from the start of class, but I am retaking it this semester and I'm not settling for anything less than a B! Also, I am considering transferring to Midway's night program. I'd get my ADN and be that much closer to MSN. If that doesn't pan out I will stay at BCTC and finish the LPN program or transfer to Midway as an LPN instead. I've got options.

I started working another job (full time for a couple of months and then I will go to every other weekend). I'm working on an OB unit with both moms and babies. Y'all already know my heart is full! I'm on night shift by choice so I will be on Walking Dead mode for the next couple of months.

I'm taking a Creative Writing class this semester for kicks and because I miss writing. Shout out to CS for helping me realize just how much I truly needed to write again. I'm already geeked about the first assignment and truly looking forward to producing some great works over the next couple of months.

Liam finally got to resume his in-home behavior therapy and we have a great babysitter that both Liam and Luna love! Soon we hope to dive into ABA in the clinical setting at the center. My pockets are a little slimmer because of it, but she does homework with him, has taken him on some play dates and even offers to help out around the house. She's a really good kid and I'm glad to have found her.

In other news, I'm hoping to be a guest writer on a blog for bougie mamas lol :). How fitting right? I also plan to do more for this blog and be more active. Consistency is key. Stay on the lookout y'all for many more thangs to come. I'm hype about this year. Hype about my future and hype about ME! This is my time for ultimate self care and living my best life by my terms. I feel it in my bones.

Love and light y'all,
Bougie Beauty Babe

29 blackgirlmagic dear future husband don't kill my vibe I'm lit live your best life love marriage my husband will be lit my marriage will be lit no negativity bih single mom single parent

Dear Future Husband

November 18, 2017

photo cred - Erica Lee Photography

"You lift my heart up

When the rest of me is down

You, you enchant me, even when you're not around

If there are boundaries, I will try to knock them down

I’m latching on babe

Now I know what I have found

I feel we're close enough

I wanna lock in your love

I think we’re close enough

Could I lock in your love, baby?"

Dear Future Husband,

If you've made it this far...you have accomplished a feat no man has yet embarked...you married me! Lol You have calmed the savage beast - you understand this joke because you know how I am. You obviously know about my love of Sam Smith because his music will somehow be incorporated into our wedding festivities. Your winnings include: well ME lol, a lifetime of love, adventure, debates, witty/smart ass one liners, beautiful kids, someone who has got your back and most importantly a real life partner.

As additional compensation, you will be spoiled, encouraged, motivated, supported and have a road dawg as you accomplish your dreams. You will have access to unlimited laughs on both good days and bad days. You will fall more in love with me daily as we take this journey together and learn more and more about each other.

It's not just about what one person can do for the other, but what we can do for each other. I also guarantee that I will only be selfish to the extent that is required to fill myself up until I am full enough to give from my cup to yours and everyone else's. I promise that in everything I do it will be with you and our family unit in mind first. I promise to make parenting a team effort. I will always keep you in the loop when making any sort of major decisions pertaining to our kids.

I will give you your space when needed. I truly understand the need to be alone and decompress sometimes. I vow to let you grow at your own pace and support you in that process of change. I promise to chronicle the best part of our lives together in an anthology of poetry. I usually can only write when I am heartbroken or my heart is full. Your task is to keep me feeling like the latter. I'll cook for you and with you. We'll have regular date nights even if that has to be at home in our own space.

In return, all I ask of you is the aforementioned and more. I require your attention, affection, protection, love and fidelity. I require your best. I don't want pieces of you, but the whole thing. I don't want to be told what you think I want to hear, but what you truly feel and mean. It's pertinent that you hear me, listen to me and that we can find solutions together. Our relationship won't be perfect because we aren't, but as long as we communicate we can solve any problem.

Physically, let's just say we're all adults here and you can let your imagination roam...I'll be your Dorothy in the streets and Blanche in the sheets lmfao. We'll stimulate each other's minds and bodies and use our time together to explore and discover.

I promise the story we write together will be done of love, respect, kindness and perseverance. A life filled with laughter, happiness, kids, family and strength in the face of adversity. We'll be two lives intertwined into one unit, us against the world.

If for ever, any reason you become a different person with different needs who can no longer provide the love and care you once did to me and ours, it might be time for you to go. Love does not hurt, but love does grow and change. If your love changes in a way that can't be fixed, let me go. I promise to love you enough to do the same.

With love,

Your future wife,

Cicely aka the Bougie Beauty Babe

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