{bellasoul's blog}

Awesome Easter weekend!

I'm super elated! I can hardly contain my joy :):):) so here's the nitty gritty...

The past few months have been a struggle while I started looking for a job, joined Mary Kay while unemployed, moved to my new apartment in December, started new job in January & started changing my lifestyle (which also includes changing my circle of friends). My job is great, my new apartment I'm settled into, my Mary Kay team started growing, my circle of friends are just what I needed & I love them so dearly, but all the while I had this debt piling up with my car & I was getting to a really rough situation that I wasn't sure how I was gonna get out of it, but I knew I had to do something, something had to give. So on Wednesday night, I couldn't sleep for about 2 hours. I figured I would call my friend David in the morning to tell him that I really need his help with trading my car in since he's a car salesman. The past year, year & a half I knew I had to get rid of this car because for one, I bought it on impulse. I was a college graduate & thought I would treat myself to my dream car, when in reality I was living above my means & not being realistic. I didn't make a deal, I was naive & took whatever the salesman gave me & basically I got ripped off because I bought the car at full retail price.. never ever ever!!! again!!!! I think it was around $23K for a 5 yr note. So my payment was $500! & add insurance on top of that, more like $600.

So on Thursday, my friend David helped me out & found me a deal with this 2004 Honda Accord he had on the lot & I got to lower my payment by half! I was off on Good Friday, so I went to see the car & make the deal official, took the car for a test drive & I knew I was making the right decision, even though I admit I was scared to make this change but knew that I had to because I couldn't keep living like I had been. I got such a great deal, the car was around $10K, I had some positive equity on my current car that I was able to carry over into this car as a down payment of $2,000. When I called my insurance to add the car & remove the other one, I found out I was going to save $115 over my 6 month policy! I was even more excited & surprised of how much money I'll be saving. The car is so smooth the way it drives, I feel so grown up. I almost feel like this downgrade was an upgrade because I went from a Civic to an Accord.. even though it's an older model than the Civic. What's also odd is that this car is the exact same color, and model that my exboyfriend Sidney had a few years ago, except his was a 2005. I'm getting my windows tinted on Monday so I'm really excited about that because Texas summer weather is NO JOKE! It gets so hot you could fry your eggs on a dashboard :) So here are some pics of my happy ass on Good Friday, lol.

Now I can breathe again!! I can save money! I am such a happy girl!!!

Happy March! <3

February was seriously the longest month by far this year. We had a ice storm/snow day the very first week of February and it put everything on hold. I was stuck at home with no tv, no internet, since I haven't gotten it connected ever since my move in December. It seems our winter really hits hard in February every year. Nevertheless, I was still able to stay productive and good things came about because of it. I am now a red jacket in Mary Kay, which means I have 3 active consultants under me, and I get to order my red jacket within the next few days. Yay! It's also nice that I get a check on the 1st and on the 15th of every month off of the percentage from their sales. Even my best friend who lives in Houston, signed up under me and she's really excited! We're gonna go to this career conference in April together, so it will be a good excuse for us to see each other. 

I signed up for a half marathon that I will be running on March 27th. That's literally 4 weeks away! This will be my first half marathon so I'm a little nervous, but I should be fine. 

I also had some eye opening experiences that all happened within the week of Valentine's Day. I did have a good Valentine's day overall, but the aftermath was just not what I had expected. It's funny that after Valentine's Day is when a lot of relationships end. Guys just don't get it!! I also think it was just bad timing. I learned that I should really guard my heart for next time because my heart took a dive and splattered on the floor. Not fun! it's like going through a mini breakup all over again. I'm done with dating! I can't bear to go through this anymore. If a guy is not gonna take me serious, then I'm out! It's just not fair when you're invested in someone, and the other person doesn't reciprocate it. Can you meet me halfway? (BEP)

Maybe one day we'll meet again...

Eve of Christmas Eve

Where do I even begin, so many things have happened since my last blog post. For starters, I moved about 2 weeks ago to my new cozy apartment. It is so much roomier, peaceful, and I love coming home to relax. I feel like I can breathe again, financially and mentally. I kick myself when I think how I could’ve moved a year ago to this place, and saved that much more money. But then again, everything happens for a reason and I don’t regret it because I felt like this was good timing. My Sebastian loves the new place too, he loves to stare out the window in my bedroom as well as the patio door in the living room.

I joined Mary Kay at the beginning of this month. I went to a party with my friend Rebekah and after we put on makeup, her director shared with us the business opportunity of doing MK, and I never heard it before and was impressed. So I joined! I thought to myself, why not? I love makeup, I love to get makeup for half price (which is what happens when you become a consultant) and I get to have parties with my friends and get them deals? Hell yeah!

I also have my own site and I offer FREE SHIPPING! so please check it out! www.marykay.com/lauramelanie

The other night my mom came with me to one of the meetings we have every week and she signed up to do it again! She used to be a consultant from when I was in highschool, and she’s excited to do it again because this time we’ll both be doing it together. My mom and I aren’t very close, so I hope that this experience will help us to be that much closer. For the new year, I really wanted to have new friends and this is definitely another way of being able to meet new people and make new friendships, so I’m grateful for that.

I also found another job, with a better company and better pay. The location is still very close to the other job I was about to take, so the pros outweigh the cons. I’m not worried about burning this bridge with the other job because where one door closes, another one opens. With this job, I will use my bilingual skills by talking to customers in Spanish so I’m really excited about that. It’s amazing how the less you practice Spanish, the quickly it is for one to forget certain words that normally would come to you. What really excites me is that this company is international and this is the first time they are launching their business to a Spanish speaking country so I will be sorta like a pioneer, being there from the beginning. I start on January 3^rd and I am ready to get back to work! I have been on this ‘funemployment’ like my friend Gaby likes to call it, for about 3 months now! 3 months vacation! Not complaining, but at the same time I need to stay busy, productive, be around people, and earn some money!!!

I am so thankful to God that everything is slowly falling back into place when at first everything was falling apart. I’m coming out of the dark tunnel and ready to let the sun shine down on me. This holiday season I get to spend it with my loved ones, and I couldn’t be happier. Life is not perfect by any means, but I feel I am such a stronger person because of these past few months of 2010. For 2011, I am starting off fresh with a new apartment, new job, new friends and the path is clear for me to take it on.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!!!

Halloween 2010

and now presenting Laura "la gata" {catwoman}

This year I wasn't even sure that I wanted to participate in Halloween festivities, even though it's one of my favorite holidays of the year since it's so close to my birthday. I just didn't feel any motivation since I've been unemployed, and not wanting or needing to spend money on a costume. Since I'm such the procrastinator, I didn't get the urge to find something until Saturday. I went to this Halloween costume store, but they didn't have what I was looking for. I had to make a quick trip to the grocery store, and I found my catwoman mask, which was the last one left. The other ones they had were white. I got it for only $4.99! I already had a black corset, black leggins, black shorts and boots that I had in mind to wear. 

Onto the pics!

3 kitties!

Jello shots!

Me before taking off my makeup and going to bed.

Hope you guys had a spooky Halloween!!!

P.S. My birthday was pretty laid back. Just went to hang out with friends at a restaurant to watch the Rangers play the Giants, but they lost :-/ At least we made it to the World Series :)

Glam is fab

Ok so I am under a slump.. like almost depressed slump. Lately I've been following a few makeup artists/gurus on YouTube and they are heaven sent because I've been experimenting with my makeup more, and I find myself having a lot of fun with it. I've always wanted to be an artist, but I'm not talented in that regard, so I guess doing makeup is the next best thing for me.

I'm following Kandee Johnson and when I first found her I had no idea she was older than she looked.. I found out she has 2 or 3 kids and one on the way! Needless to say, she is talented and I've enjoyed watching her theatrical skills as she does very glamorous makeup.

Last night I found Jessica Harlow.. since one of my FB friends likes her and I stumbled on her blog and viewed a few of her YouTube videos and they are just lovely. Not to mention she's BEAUTIFUL. Well, so is Kandee, but yeah.

Without further adue.. here's what I did today.

I did some fall like colors in brown, copper and gold. Even though this picture shows different because I used a gradient to accentuate the picture, but I loved how it came out. 

I also did my eyebrows.. even though they don't look so even, I like how they stand out.

So what do you think?!

P.S. Halloween pics/post coming up as well as my birthday update!

Go Shawty! It's my birthday! 28!!!

YAY! It's my birthday! Finally :) I never thought it would get here, haha. I got a free car wash along with free vacuuming, so my ride is looking FLY. I'm here at Starbucks and my barista gave me a free coffee cuz I mentioned it's my bday, yay! This past Saturday I decided to do my birthday dinner since this weekend is Halloween and it's harder to get people together. I went to Carrabba's Italian Grill, which is one of my favorite restaurants. A few of my friends came out and it was so good to see everyone. Afterwards, I went to Gloria's to dance and what have you. I'm not sure I had as much fun there than I did last year when I celebrated in downtown Dallas. Now this weekend, I'm going to downtown and wear a costume I'm borrowing from my friend. Times are tough man! A friend of mine has a table and we're gonna party hard baby!

Tonight to celebrate I'm going to Humpedink's with some friends and watch the Rangers game. I couldn't be happier that the Rangers are now in the World Series. Wow. Afterwards, if I still got some wind, I may go to this lounge in uptown. Not planning on staying out too late cuz I have a job interview tomorrow!!! woot woot!

Here are some pics from my bday celebration--

I always notice the time 10:27.. weird I know!

27 was my golden birthday, but it was also one of the hardest years. I'm happy that I am now 28, entering a new chapter. Cheers to me! :)

When life throws you lemons...

...I squeeze the lemons into my margarita LOL. Yeah baby! {New layout, btw!}

October really started off with a BANG. I got fired from my job about a week ago (on the 8th) and although it was shocking, I also felt a sense of relief because that chapter is now closed and I can move on. It was really unfair on the reason why they let me go, but it's their loss. All I know is that the next employer I work for really should appreciate my work and give me their expectations up front to where there won't be any gray areas.

The company I was fired from was so disorganized, the managers were not proactive in their work, and when shit would hit the fan, that's when they would come down hard on us employees. It just was not a positive work environment anymore and it all started in April of this year. I couldn't even take a vacation because I would feel guilty or afraid that they were going to have a problem with me being gone. I'm glad I didn't take the vacation though because I ended up getting a full 40 hour vacation pay on my last check.

It's crazy that a week before I got fired, I gave my notice to move out of my apartment. So while I'm trying to find a job, I'm having to move pretty soon on Dec. 1st. It feels like DEJA VU because last time I got fired I also had to move out. This time I have more time, but still.. it's a lot to handle, but I know I will be ok. 

I know it looks bad that I got fired from this job and my last job, but honestly I feel like I'm misunderstood by managers etc. I hung out with my former coworkers this weekend and they told me they think it was unfair that I was let go, and that I could actually file a lawsuit against the company because they never had a job description for my title, but yet they held me to the standard on fulfilling those duties. Not my focus right now, but I think I'll look into it because I don't think it would be fair for that to happen to someone else.

Tomorrow morning I have a job interview at this company in Plano, which is only 15 min away so I'm glad I'm not having to drive far like last week. Last week I interviewed at this management company in downtown Dallas and I hope I get the job there. I haven't heard back yet from the manager, so I'm still looking and keeping my options open.

Will keep you guys posted on my job hunting. Sigh.

Photos of me from this weekend--

Hello Tuesday ;)

This weekend was pretty crazy.. there were birthday parties I went to.. a little shopping.. and a whole lotta dancing and eating. I wanted to go to the gym this weekend, but it did not happen at all.

My date was ok with the guy. I don't want to waste his time or mine so I am not going to contact him again. In a way I feel bad because he doesn't know anyone here, but then again I don't feel bad because I'm sure he'll adjust and do what he's gotta do. I know for a fact that it's hard to be friends with a guy without the person maybe wanting more than friends.

I went out on Saturday and had a blast in uptown. Here's a pic I took before heading out.

I got the dress for only $8 at Plato's Closet, and I paired it with some gold jewelry and my beige pumps from Guess. It looked pretty cute and sexy. Red is my color for sure. I also painted my nails red and it looks so nice and natural. I can't believe I used to get my nails done fake all the time. I appreciate my natural nails so much now, especially when they're free.

I love this app I use on my iPhone called PictureShow. It did both of the effects on these pictures.

Gotta get back to work. Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Yes, I've been to Paris, France.

via www.flickr.com

I love this photo because that could be me holding that postcard of the Eiffel Tower. I wanna go back so bad! this time with a lover, or a friend. I just wanna go back <3

Highschool Reunion

My 10 year highschool reunion is this weekend. I can't believe it's been 10 years! Boy, do I feel old! They're having the Homecoming game tomorrow night which I am pumped up to go because we'll have our own section. Then we're getting together at a Mexican restaurant and there's a $5 cover. Saturday is the actual reunion, and the tickets were quite expensive, around $50 to $60. I just can't justify spending that much being how I'm about to move in 2 months. I figure that Friday will be a good way of getting to see everyone and carry on. Besides, most of my classmates are on my FB.

One of my classmates Patti, posted a pic of her from her Senior year. She nudged me to post mine so I took a picture with my camera and posted it. I don't have my scanner with me since it's at my parent's so I had to do it this way.

I will edit this post and post the pics because I'm posting this through my email so that it will complete my profile LOL. I just hate seeing that progress bar everytime I go to my dashboard.

  This is my Senior pic that was on the yearbook. I noticed my mole here was smaller than what it is now! but I love my mole, hehe.

I remember I was 16 when I had this picture taken. I was wearing my 'Sweet 16' necklace. I still look the same, and I've been told this.

I really am excited to see everyone. I wonder if my cousin will go but her birthday actually is tomorrow so she may be out celebrating it with her friends and family. We aren't close anymore and we haven't spoken in about 3 years. It really is a shame, but sometimes people can't handle being in your life and they have to go their own way. If I could I would force her to stay with me, but it was so painful always trying and it not being reciprocated.

Would you go to your highschool reunion? and have you gone?