I Made the News!

I just wanted to share that I'm famous now! I made the AJC. Yes, Rho did her duty and gave her opinion on the proposed changes for trash pick-up. Yes!!

Bye Bye Braces (for real this time...)

One of the last pictures of me

with braces.

On Wednesday, I had what I hoped would be my last day with braces. If you've been reading some of my posts, I had a previous one where I hoped I'd be getting my braces off. Instead, I got new hooks and more bands. Well, this time, my orthodontist said I could get my braces off. You'd think I would have been extra excited. I was excited, but I just knew one of my previously crooked teeth had moved. I'm still not so sure that it hasn't. I've been asking people to look, don't be surprised if I ask you.

Anyways, I got sentimental too because my braces have been a part of my smile for the past year and a half. I actually began to smile more when I got my braces, I'm not sure why. My teeth weren't really that crooked. 

As much as I've been taking pictures of things, I almost forgot to take pictures of the last moments of myself with braces... Although I miss them, we had some good times together and I won't miss the pain of tightening them and changing my bands... Now I have a new pain though, ensuring that I wear my retainers. Since I made such an investment in my teeth, I need to wear it all the time. I'm concerned about my teeth moving and me wasting my money, so I plan on wearing my retainers as much as possible. It's such a hassle to take them out, especially the bottom, that I think they'll reduce all the unnecessary snacking and all the cokes that I like to drink. Well, now I have straight teeth and I like them. More smiles are in my future!! Pictures after the jump!

Black Tie Cinco de Mayo

 

I never celebrated Cinco de Mayo before I moved here, but I do enjoy the food! I know that's not the original purpose of the day, but alas. Anyways, I attended the Black Tie BBQ Cinco de Mayo secret supper last year at Oakland Cemetery and I really wanted to ensure that I went again this year. When I heard the tickets were going on sale April 1 at 9 AM, I figured I should be at the website at that time to make sure I got a ticket. I did that and was quite glad I did because the tickets sold out in 5 minutes.

This year, the secret supper was held at the Cyclorama (yet another location about the Civil War), adjacent to the zoo. I haven't been to the Cyclorama since elementary school and I'll have to go back when it's open for business. The set up was really nice. As appetizers, there was shrimp, crab cakes and a strawberry gazpacho with mint pesto. It was buffet style and we could make tacos with beef, goat, pork or chicken.  I had beef and pork tacos.  There were three salsas: corn, pico, and pineapple. The guacamole was quite delicious and fresh... that's big for me, since I don't usually like it. The music was really good, the food was delicious and the ambiance was superb. I thought it was pretty neat that Patron was a sponsor and there were multiple margaritas to try... I didn't because I'm allergic to citrus. I did try the White Russian though, it was quite good. I've attached some pictures after the jump.

Beltline Bike Tour

I'm finding that the more I ride, the more I want to ride. What better way to start Cinco de Mayo than with perfect weather and exercise? Initially, I wasn't too thrilled because I was thinking of all the eating I wanted to do yesterday, but it turned out to be a superb idea. I could work off some calories before the festivities I planned to participate in later.

Friday, my coworker, J, emailed me about doing the Beltline Tour and my response was, "meh." Then, another coworker, B, asked me about it. I think two people asking about participation semi-piqued my interest... plus there was a noon deadline, so there was no time to think too long about it. I went to the website and because we're doing the Tour de Cure in May, we decided to do the 21 mile, West Side route.

I Won!!

I usually don't win anything, but lately I've been on a little streak. Hopefully, it'll continue. *Please!!* It would've been nice if I'd won that Mega Millions jackpot, but that's ok... I won something even better though, if you like enrichment!!

I entered the Black Enterprise Empowerment Career Advancement bundle contest for April and forgot about it. The prize was a set of three books:

• The Image of Success: Make a Great Impression and Land the Job You Want by Lizandra Vega
• Work Your Strengths: A Scientific Process to Identify Your Skills and Match them to the Best Career for You by Chuck Martin, Richard Guare, Ph.D., and Peg Dawson, Ed.D.
• Coach Yourself to a New Career: 7 Steps to Reinventing Your Professional Life by Talane Miedaner

Imagine my surprise when I checked my email on Tuesday and I had a notification that I won. *insert fist pump here!* I'm excited about the books, especially the second one. I've included pictures below. Thanks Black Enterprise!!!

Black Tea Sheen Supreme Lipglass

I'm always finding new items I love and this time is no different... I previously listed the items that were used in my M•A•C Trend Show makeover. Weeeeelllll, I love the Black Tea Sheen Supreme Lipglass! The color looks brown, but it's very sheer. Wonderful on top of any lipstick or by itself.