tick tick tick

When i was younger, I just KNEW I was gonna be married at 21, starting my family RIGHT after that and living this "Cosby" life. HAHAHA...I laugh when I think about it, and you're probably letting out a little chuckle too. But don't laugh too hard. mmmm hmm. I know. It's not  a secret, I know that you had the same dreams. If not you, I know one of your friends did right?

Well anyway, I am sure that I was not alone in thinking that life and love worked that way. Here I was at 25, not even close to being ready for marriage. I couldn't even imagine being married 3 or 4 years prior. Yeah Right, Right? Since Ray and I had been together for years, we definitely got the "when are you getting married?" question, while at IUP. I remember reACTing to that question with a expression of marriage being out of site out of mind. Married?? That's BIG....what do I know about being someones wife? I'm young, I still have time to LIIIIVE :-)

Years later after a maturity, a break up, a love rekindle, etc. My mindset changed tremendously. I was now a god parent of a handsome little boy, Logan Jamal Bristol, I was older, and my parents were older; I felt like it was time for me to start a family in my "old age" haha. When I say family I mean a husband, wife and children.

As all the engagements had been begun with the people in my "generation", so did the comments from my female friends,"I wanna be married." Not Just my female friends, I was a culprit too. For some reason when you hit a certain age, as a female, if we say "I wanna get married" it has a whole different meaning this time. We mean business and are on a true mission in our hearts. We start realizing what we want in a husband, a father, a LIFETIME companion. All those things are important in our husband to be, wouldn't you agree ladies??

I knew what ring I wanted, I had friends that were planning their wedding, so I started my process. :-) lol I wanted to be ready :-) I started thinking about photography, videography, wedding websites, guest lists, wedding songs lol.....Oh yea, I was doing ONE thing as the hip folks say now-a-days.

Before my linesister got engaged in june, she attended two or three bridal shows. ( I'll talk about them in a separate post) After attending one show, she won a drawing for a trip to a tropical island. She was so nervous because she wasn't really engaged yet. This same linesister invited me to a bridal show so that I could see what its all about. :-) It took place in downtown philly the best thing there was this dessert: Trece Leche, mmmmm it was soooooo good!

A few days after attending the bridal show, I was called by several venders. One of which was the same trip to a exotic, tropical island. Now I was nervous! What was I going to do if they ask me when I got engaged??? or When my wedding date was??? Exhale, because it wasn't that bad, and if it happens to you, you'll be fine. Just message me for details if you have questions.

tootles for for now loves..Thanks for reading...stay tuned

We got History and Herstory

This is us, my sunshine and I. This is truly one of my favorite shots of us. Beautiful weather, beautiful people, beautiful smiles, just beautiful.


*We were going on a trip to the mall that day. We love to eye shop together..hahaa..I'm so serious though.


So now you know that we were college loves and like any couple, we had no choice but to learn from our experiences. After we both graduated with our BA's in 2007, he went home and I stayed to get my master's degree. So we tried the long distance thing. During that  time, he continued to do the sweetest things. For our anniversary that year, he couldn't travel up, so he had 5 ..."friends"..each bring me a soft pink rose and a card. one for each year that we were together. :-) it was so sweet. he is so thoughtful.


Although we were together all those years, "we seemed" to have grown apart from each other. In fewer words, We broke up, people. It is what it is.
Question of the blog


What do you get when you have the following equation:
   x +a(ka(Ψ))+ iup+philly=..........lol...you get UUUUUS.


We had our time apart, but as I said in my earlier post, Remained inseparable. We had similar friends, close relationships with family members lol. and those family members always asked about the other one. There was no getting away if we wanted to :-) We got a chance to start over while continuing our love like it never paused. :-)


The rest is history or in this case; herstory :-)


to be continued...

Pre-Engagement- "we got History"

You guys are such a cute couple!
When ya'll getting married???
You guys look like brother and sister! (lol haters)
Ya'll been together forever!!


Those are the statements you hear often when you are a college couple. At least that's what my Husband and I heard through out our relationship during and after college. We met at IUP my freshman year in 2002, we started as friends, danced in a Christian dance group together and sang in a Gospel choir together. As I understood college life more, and loosened up....By loosen up I mean, I was able to walk around campus with out feeling like someone from home had eyes watching me. I was so sheltered. and felt so trapped, and although I was a few hundred miles away from home, it took me awhile to feel free to explore what life had to offer.


In my sophmore year, Ray and I exchanged numbers, he stalked me (tee hee hee), and eventually, Feb 14, 2004 we became a couple. We had a typical young love; talked on the phone till dawn, never wanted to hang up the phone till one would fall asleep. Even then the other would listen to the other sleep as if it were music to their ears. We ate together and studied together. We started little silly traditions together that brings smiles to our faces when thought about today. An example: Before every choir trip, he used to by a 10 piece of hot wings from KFC. (we had to work on a college budget, $0) lol...It was such a sweet moment to look into each others eyes and share spicy wing dings as we traveled to a ministry engagement. Romantic right??
He is a gentleman of  Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. fa 02, and during our relationship I became a Sophisticated Lady of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc, Spr 06. (Don't nobody know). He was a great support during and after. He was always my number one fan.


We had many ups and many downs, but through all of it we still remained inseparable. We disagreed on things as anyone could imagine, but we still remained inseparable. We did a lot together. He was my introduction to many things in my adult life. I have learned so much from him, whether he likes it or not ;-)


Together, we: Danced as members of No Bounds at IUP ( our friend nef takes pride in introducing us)
                      Sang together as Alto and Tenor in Voices of Joy the gospel choir of IUP
                      Modeled in multiple Fashion shows together: Ebony and Ivory, VCA, etc.
                      Party walked together: Pretty boys love pretty girls
                      Acted together: The Lord will make a way some how by Myra 2003?4?
                      Cried together: RIP Roderick Jackson and Johnie Colson 
                      Ran for Homecoming King and Queen together :-) what a story to share
                      Laughed together: two silly people, what do you expect
                      Argued, got angry, and grew together: College sweet hearts.....yea
                      Prayed together....
I mean...I could go on...but what more can I say but, We got History. 




to be continued

Enchante'

Hello out there. Thanks for stopping by my blog. My name is....well I have many names that family and  friends call me, its just a matter of which name to give you. I will go with the most popular of the bunch. Many call me Sheesha ( She-Shah). This name was given to me by one of my dear nephews, Byron Scott, who is now 14 years old. I don't even want to talk about how old that makes me feel :-) , so of course, we won't lol.


I have a lot of plans for this blog. If you ask my close friends about me, they will tell you that I am something like a Jake of all trades. I like to say, Jane of Many trades, master of some, well, one day. I love: the Lord, Expressive arts: ACTING :-), dancing, singing, I love to use my hands and create crafty things, I love to do natural hair, my own locs, cook, bake. The list could go on.


What sparked my interest to start this blog??? Well, since you asked, I might as well share my inspiration right?? tee hee hee. ok since you insist. :-)


I am a newly wed. Yup, we're THREE months in!! On Sunday, October 9th, 2011, I became Mrs. R.E. Bynes. I was what they call a DIY (do it yourself) bride and was able to plan the whole wedding, with the help from hubby and friends. Every wedding experience has successes, failures,shoulda-coulda-woulda's, etc. I learned a lot from planning a wedding about myself, about friends, family and more. I learned that stuff will get REAL in these planning streets, lol....YES I did just get "hood" on you.


On a serious note, there were things that happened during my planning process and actual wedding day that I wanted to share with other bride's-to-be. Things that could have been avoided if I followed my womanly instincts.I don't want to scare you by making you think that it will be a terrible experience. Of course there are things to share that can be repeated for the bride that runs out of ideas :-). Trust it CAN happen.


A bride-to-be plans and plans, calls and emails, glues and tapes, cuts and trims and.....well you get the point. There are msgs that I want ALL FUTURE Brides, Maids and Matrons of honor, Bridesmaids, Best Men and Grooms Men, Guests, and all others to know. I shared with a friend that I wanted to write a book, a manual of some sort to better prepare wedding participants. The day comes and goes by so fast that people tend to forget the real reason of their attendance. My friend said suggested I start a blog with my thoughts. After reading my words and NATURAL reACTions, hopefully people will be ready to play their part the best way possible for their loved ones, one of the BEST DAYS OF THEIR LIFE!




Bridal stories to be continued....


Thanks for reading, come back again. don't forget to follow!


love always,


Natural reACTress