Check in + October 2017

Hey guys
 I wanted to take a moment to update you guys on what's going on in my life.I have been working really hard at work. As many guys know I work with kids and their families who are at risk of being placed outside of their home due to behavioral issues. My work life has not had much consistency lately and  can sometimes  be very very draining. Also I'm in grad school, I'm graduating in December.

Praise God!!!!!!!!

So I have a couple papers and just weekly homework to get done, as well as  a normal day-to-day life like a house, husband, dinner luckily JMN takes care of that majority of the time. But when I come home from work I'm drained.  I am sleeping which is not my norm but I'm thankful. I'm still just really tired and I don't have energy a lot of days.  This summer I literally traveled almost every  weekend. I went to Mexico, Waco,  Dallas, and took a family beach vacation to Orange Beach, AL. I have so many pictures that I want to update and show you guys . I want to make more of an effort to share  my life with you guys so thank you so much for being patient. Y'all are the absolute best.

AMN2

Hobby Lobby + May 2017

You guys ever go to HL and literally want to buy everything you see ? I've gotten to the point where I just take pictures of everything I like. I'm thinking eventually I'll just make it.
I literally have stuff for rooms in our new house.  And let me just say we are not moving anytime soon.  

Dr. Jasmine Krystal Alexandra Grace Wise + May 2017

Our favorite girl in the whole world graduated with her doctorate!

So of course we drove to Waco to support her. 

Jasmine we are so proud of you and all of the accomplishments and hurdles you have knocked down. You are amazing :)

End of an Era + May 2017

Catherine left the Deli! I know people leave jobs all the time but for us McAlister's was more than a job. We literally grew up in those 4  walls and left our growth marks all around the building. The people we met changed us for the better and the worst. I know I am gratful for working there.

Laquita and I went to visit Cathy on her last day and brought a cake to celebrate. 

End of an Era

But also a beginning to an even better life.

Sunflower Festival+ June 2017

Apparently once a year in a small town called Gilliam, LA, they host a Sunflower festival. WHO KNEW! Well Buzzfeed did. So ET and I got together and had a good ole time checking out all life had to offer.

According to Buzzfeed there were suppose to be fields and fields of sunflowers.....

I took my faux Polaroid camera. Which produced these beauties.

Boston Day 1+ April 2017

So our official official 1st day was spent in the air bnb. Elise got there about 2 hours after I arrived. OHH Let me tell you.

So in the previous post I told you that the Boston Marathon was the day we arrived. So the airport was swamped. I walked off the plane and outside to figure out transportation. My plan was to get an uber but it was $23!. NOPE! So I started plotting how was I getting to the house. I decided to take the train which was FREE. It took about 15 minutes but then I had to walk 15 mins with my luggage up some hills. That wasn't a smart decision for an asthmatic but at least I got some exercise  and a opportunity to see the neighborhood. 

So when I actually got to the Air bnb I met the owners played with their kids while I sipped on some ice cold water until it was ready. 

Then of course I ran through the apartment like I was a member on the Real World. After all the running I was hungry so I ordered delivery from a menu that was left on the information board. There's a picture of the handout in my last post.

When Elise arrived we piled in the bed and watched tv or the rest of the night.

The next morning we talked to Whole Foods which was only a mile or so away. The walk was beautiful. Check out some of my snaps and pics below. 

After Whole Foods I called a Lyft back to our Air bnb. The driver  was Hilarious! She was taking U turns left and right and she clearly had no idea where she was. We asked how long she lived in the city and she said all her life. She sounded so much like me.  

I ended up having to do some work and Elise had to do some homework so I think we chilled until later that evening when we went to this horrible bar where some man in his 50s offered us drugs and we purchased disgusting drinks. 

Eventful...

Boston, MA + April 2017+ Air bnb

 Elise and I went to Boston to knock off one of my states on my list. We had been talking about going for a couple months and finding a flight and hotel was a complete disaster. Finally flights went down and we were able to book but were still unable to find somewhere reasonable to stay. We found out that the day we fly in was the Boston Marathon, which completely made sense as to why everything was booked and expensive.
 We decided to do an Air bnb. It was amazing! It was in Jamaica Plain, and the owners were super sweet.

Check out the pics & video below.

Thoughts?

Happy July!

Happy July Guys!

It's been awhile! I have allowed life to slow me down on doing things I love; sorry about that.

I didn't even get a chance to get that facelift that I wanted but don't fret I will make it happen!

I hope everyone made it out of the winter and into summer feeling free.

Alisa

Hey Folks

Hey guys!
Sorry for the mini hiatus. I have been living life a bit and decided to take a break.
Hope you guys had a great holiday season.

Over the next couple of months Trapped in the South will be getting a face lift. I am trying to be more specific and intentional with my posts. You can expect music reviews, book reviews, travel diaries, restaurant reviews, and lots of pictures.

:) Hope you stick around for some entertainment.
Alisa

Good Morning 2017

Good Morning folks & Happy 2017. I hope that 2016 had some type of positivity in your life.
 Every year I set goals and try to reach them in a years time. 
Lets see how I did.

2016
1. Lose 50 lbs   This year I did Whole 30 & lost 19lb in 30 days. Then by  my birthday I'd lost 3 more. I'll post about my Whole 30 journey soon. :)
2. Continue to work on my degree  This semester I made a 4.0. I have 7 classes left !
3. Read 6 books. Does BOT count? If so, Unbreak my heart Toni Braxton, True Love, Jennifer Lopez,Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, Issa Rae ( LOVE), Yes, Please, Amy Poehler, Year of Yes, Shonda Rhimes, One Night, & Naughtier than Nice, Eric Jerome Dickey. 
4. Finish my kitchen My kitchen is still not finished. I really hate the backsplash .We still haven't put our electric outlet plates up. I also want a pot holder added to the kitchen.
5. Fence in our back yard  Our backyard is done !!! Did I post pictures?
6. Blog at least 2x a week I think I've done really well with this up until a couple weeks ago.
7. Workout at least 2x a week - I go through workout spurts. This definitely the longest I've gone without working out. 
8. Work on my relationship with my family - I've been trying. I went to Seattle to visit my brother the first time in 7 years. I've been holding conversations more regularly with others.
9. Detangle my hair once a week Yall my hair is so bomb and  I need to do a better job. I just don't want to detangle it. 
10. Give back/ volunteer I have given my time, resources, and kindness to many. 
11. Visit 2/10 states I need to visit - My plan was to go to Oklahoma and Kentucky this year, but I found out that I have already been to Kentucky. Did I post about Tulsa?
12. Go to 1x concert this year - CRUSHED it ( in the my Fat Amy voice) Chris Brown, Omarion, Tyrese, Monica, August Alsina... I feel like there was more....
13. Complete dream - Im not sure why I labeled this all ambiguously. I should have written " complete JMN's dream."
14. Host a child in foster care -TWO.... I'm behind on blogging. 
15. Make a difference in someone's life. - I think so
16. Enjoy outside more. -Ehh
17. Get baptized. -2017




2017
1. Lose 50+lbs
2. Visit 2x states I need to visit.
3. Travel abroad. 
4. Workout at least 1x a week.
5. Go to at least  2x concerts.
6. Continue fostering.
7. Graduate Graduate School.
8. Get Baptized
9. Replace our carpet with hardwood flooring.
10. Buy new couches.
11. Get a promotion.
12. Blog at least 1x a week.
13. Create a new Blog.
14. Write to God more.
15. Read 6 books.
16. Extend our family.
17. Continue to mend family relationships.
18. Make personal alone time for myself. 
19.Spend less time on my phone.
20. Celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary.
21. Love more.
22. Write a children's book.

:)