Reflection: Bye Bye 2010 Hello 2011

(picture from yahoo)

 Tomorrow's New Year's Eve! I never thought 2010 would be so memorable. I started my blog, almost partnered with a clothing boutique, traveled outside of the country for the first time, got engaged, got a position working for a GREAT fashion marketing company, connected with people in my past life and met and worked with many new people along the way. 


2010 was a year for rebirth. I symbolized that with my kickin' phoenix tattoo I got in January. I still have formula behind my ears, but I'm ready to grow and flourish into the woman and brand I want to become. 


I don't want to make resolutions; most people that do don't keep them. I want to proclaim this is a new year...heck it's a new decade...so I have new goals. Goal #1: Healthy is wealthy. You only have one body and one mind. You can add or subtract to it, but in the end it's all you got. Take care of yourself. Goal #2: Get Yo Business Right! I love blogging, but I get so caught up with "how everyone else is doing it". I need to do concentrate on me, Ruby, our needs and wants. Goal #3: Time management is key. I heard something last night on the show My Strange Addiction (my new guilty pleasure show), you need to have eight hours for sleep, eight hours for work and eight hours for you. GREAT advice. I need to manage work (both jobs), school, blogging and personal time. 

Here are a few my 2010 highs...

(my phoenix tat, January 2010)

(SOME of my girls and me December 2010)

("I'm on a Boat!"Cabo San Lucas, Mexico May 2010)

(blog post 2010)

 We're just getting started here at the Ruby Leonne camp...so we will see you next year! Be safe and have a great holiday!!

~Janelle

Reflection: Ruby's Family Reunion

Last week was a very weird week, but it wrapped up with an even over the top weekend.

 

I saw my father this weekend; a man I haven't seen in over 16 years. This past April, I found a step sibling on Facebook (gotta love Facebook). Since then I've been on this journey to find a part of myself I've never known before. I've known where to find my father for a while now, I just didn't know if I wanted to open up that can of worms. 

 

A little backstory, when my mother was preggers with me her senior year of high school, she found out there were at least two other woman in her class impregnated by the same man. Yep... my father is the ultimate rolling stone. When I asked him this weekend a count of his biological children, he couldn't give a specific answer. My father was never around when I was a child and I thank him for that. I see other people whose father toyed with their emotions; making promises they never kept. I felt sorry for those people. I rather have nothing to look forward to than to be let down all the time. 

 

When I was 16, one of my father's baby's mama (get that) urged that I reach out to him. I did just for curiosity...I'd never seen him before. I just wanted to know what he was like. I talked to him for 15 minutes on my break at the fast food restaurant I worked at. He said he would call. I never looked for the call, I knew better. He never did.

In April, I stumbled upon a guy who was a friend of someone I had FaceBook friended from high school. The guy looked very familiar; almost like looking into the mirror. He also shared my father's name. My half brother and I are trying to establish a relationship and make sure we keep in touch. (He doesn't live in Indy anymore.) After getting to know him, we found out there are possibly 30 children that share our DNA. 

So back to this weekend...I looked at my father as he stood before me. Just a poor, unhappy and lonely man, still searching from something he never found from all those women or all his kids. That thing he's still searching for is love. I don't excuse him or forgive him...I never felt he owed me an apology. I don't want anything from him. He doesn't have anything I want. He did apologize to me, an apology he still hasn't shared with any of his other children. I pity him. We exchanged numbers. I don't know what I will do with it. We will see what the future holds.

On a lighter note, I did spend the rest of the weekend with my Kir Bear. I love my niece but she's perfect birth control and reminds me why I don't have any kids!

Yeah I overcooked the cookies...

Jay trying to get in on the fun time.

Kay's favorite game right now, Don't Break the Ice. I can't tell you how many times I played it this weekend.

Janelle

LOTD: ASOS Curve Dress

 

One of these days I will stop forgetting my camera at home and stop taking pictures in the office. Today is not that day. I got my ASOS Curve dress a few days ago. I thought I got a camel color, but it wasn't. I'm still in LOVE with this dress. 

Dress: ASOS Curve

Jeggings: Torrid

Boots: Old Navy

~Janelle

...and the WINNER is....

Today is the day to find out who won the Holiday Hands gift basket.

And the winner is....{drumroll please}... LYN!!!

 Lyn email me with your contact information so I can send you the gift basket!

Thanks to everyone that participated. 2011 will be a new year with new giveaways.

~Janelle

LOTD: Old Navy Faux Fur Vest

It is dank and snowy today. Indiana is under a winter storm warning until 1 p.m.. We've already gotten around three inches. We should be getting close to five maybe six inches in some areas. It's cold and nasty...UGH I hate winter. So today I decided to wear something comfortable but fun. I'm trying out my Old Navy faux fur vest I bought a few months ago. I wore it on Halloween, but haven't worn it out yet. I like it!

(Me at the office today)

Vest: Old Navy

Shirt: Old Navy Waffle Shirt

Jeans: Torrid (Source of Wisdom)

Don't forget, tomorrow we pick our winner for the Holiday Hands Christmas Wish List giveaway! Thanks for the entries!

~Janelle

LOTD: Lane Bryant Sweater Dress

Last Thursday, I had a research proposal to present to one of the executive directors of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick for advertising class. We were told to dress up. I figured I would wear something demure but packed a statement.

I bought this sweater dress from Lane Bryant about a month or so ago. I hadn't got to wear it yet. I love it because it's the only sweater dress I've seen that has a little babydoll swing to it. I figured I would just go with some black tights and a statement necklace I got from JCPenney a while back. Not too shabby.

(My fiance' is not a photographer. I pulled him out of bed to take my picture. He was not very happy! LOL)



Dress: Lane Bryant

Tights: Lane Bryant

Shoes: DSW

~Janelle



Holiday Hands Contest: Angie's Christmas Wish List

 We have another wish list to feature today. This list was sent to us from Angie. She is a student from Indiana who considers herself single, sexy and free. Thanks Angie for sending us your list. Here is Angie's Christmas Wish List.

(What Angie sees looking into a mirror. LOL!!)

(What Angie looks like...for real! Ego girl! LOL)

Money
New Coach Bag
New Bedroom Suite
A boyfriend (lol)
A new gym membership w/ clothes
Shoes!!!!
Money

Thanks again Angie! You are in the running to receive our "Holiday Hands" prize pack worth $40. Remember guys, get your wish list emailed to us by December 15th at rubyleonne@gmail.com for your chance to win. Winner will be announced December 17th.

~Janelle