Very Bessie

My life is pretty predictable. I go to the gym, I work, and I mom. I get occasional drops and sprinkles of social activities in between, but for the most part, sis be in the house. So when I got the opportunity to go to Colombia to celebrate my dear sister @mslabaje birthday, coupled with the opportunity to wear good clothes…. boy oh boy!!! ⁣ ⁣ Besides, the color oraaaahhnnjj has had me in a chokehold since I was in college (IYKYK)🤭 ⁣ ⁣ Either way, my girls and I were radiant and our looks turned heads and broke necks! Personally, I want a do-over. Is anyone having an event that I can wear this dress to again?? ☺️ (and s/o to @cuddleshan for the vid)

After more than a decade of practicing as Registered Nurse, I think I’ve finally found my sweet spot in my career. The past few years prompted me to do some serious soul searching to figure out exactly what matters the most to me… and ultimately what it boiled down to was TIME! I can say that after all this time of being employed by different healthcare organizations, and being a nurse, I’ve dealt with a variety of career highs and lows. But the biggest abuse that I’ve undergone has been the abuse of my time. It took a while for me to get here, but I’m glad to be in a position where I’m finally reclaiming my time! I make my own schedule. No more fighting for weekends and holidays off. I’m available for my family’s needs. I have autonomy and no longer deal with micromanaging. I get treated like an actual adult and as an equal within my organization. Yet I still have the opportunity to create an impact for patients daily, and they impact me just the same. I’m so thankful to be at this point in my career, and I’m only hoping to keep this blessing going. I also pray that anyone struggling to find their groove in the “world of work” finds it soon too! Drop a comment if you receive this message! Shout out to @wearfigs for this Rafaela jumpsuit in the color Dark Harbor, which dropped today. I got stopped all day long with questions and compliments 😇

Somehow I woke up this morning and I was 40 years old. Like… wait, what?? How did this even happen? For goodness sake I still vividly remember my first day of kindergarten 😩 and it feels like it was just a few weeks ago 😂⁣ ⁣ But seriously, I’ve been excitedly awaiting but also fearing this day for a while. I think I felt similarly when I was turning 30. Yet looking back, I now realize that I didn’t have a damn thing to worry about. ⁣ ⁣ These 40 years have been filled with so much … uhmmm… for lack of a better word… stuff. I’ve run into tiny bumps. I’ve had to climb some mountains. I’ve experienced triumphs, but most of all I’m continuing to grow through it all. ⁣ ⁣ As I reflect on my 40th personal new year, I would say the most notable things I’ve learned over the years are:⁣ ⁣ - God’s plan is always so much better than anything you have planned (and every time I forget it, He reminds me boldly)⁣ - Staying fit and active should be a priority ⁣ - Kindness goes a long way ⁣ - Quality friendships are so necessary… Also, yes to new friends because the human experience is all about connection⁣ - Having a plan for the future is important, but it’s just as important to live in the now ⁣ - Remember everyone else is dealing with shit and there are many other folks who don’t have their lives figured out either, so 🤷🏾‍♀️ as long as you know you’re not the only one, it becomes an easier pill to swallow⁣ - You can’t change people ⁣ - When someone crosses your mind, reach out to them. It might be the last interaction you have with them 😞⁣ - Try new things and don’t delay your enjoyment ⁣ ⁣ So here’s to becoming the newest entry level Golden Girl! I’m thankful for another birthday!⁣ ⁣ Photos by @siusview_⁣ Makeup by @artistrybybonniebridal⁣ Look curated by @iamsashadash

If there’s one thing you should know about this nurse, it’s that she absolutely 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 carry an extra stash of pens because one of the worst things that could possibly happen to me during my workday is that I’d lose a beloved pen!⁣ ⁣ You can laugh if you want to, but nurses and good pens are a match made in heaven. I’ll also admit that I am a pen snob, and not every pen is created equal. So when I do purchase pens, I make sure they give me a premium writing experience (I know I sound really passionate about this because I really am! 🤣). Not any old pen will do and please rest assured that I don’t lend out my “𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥” pens. So my stash also contains junk pens that I don’t mind lending and potentially losing because folks like to borrow stuff and not give it back! And if I loan someone a pen, and they dare to utter these 4 words, “This pen writes nice,” I’m making sure to keep an extra eye on them. Trust me, I speak from experience.⁣ ⁣ As a nurse, I’ve seen and witnessed a lot of bad things, but losing a pen definitely ranks in the top 5 things that could happen and ruin my day. My pen stash is always with me just to save my sanity (and everyone else’s around me) because anyone I’ve suspected of having my pen after I’ve lost it has been subjected to pat downs and searches that would rival that of law enforcement. 😇 ⁣ ⁣ So when you see me working and having a good day, know that it’s powered by both a pen that glides smoothly and the most amazing scrubs on earth (that have more than enough pockets and extra storage for, you guessed it… pens!).⁣ ⁣ Are you picky about the types of pens you write with? Or perhaps even the color? Are you territorial about lending out pens? Pen snobs unite in the comments! And if you think the pen snobs are crazy, you can let us know that in the comments too! ⁣ ⁣ #wearfigs #figsambassador #awesomehuman #nurseproblems #nurseproblem #firstworldproblem #nurseissues #blacknurseskillinit #blacknurse #blacknursesmatter #nursesinspiringnurses #inspiringnurses #nursehumour #nursehumor #nursejokes #nursejoy

⁣ I’m just savoring these Friday vibes as I reminisce on how much money I saved just a few Fridays ago on Black Friday! ⁣ ⁣ I’m also giving serious side-eye to anyone who still isn’t using @rakuten to earn cash back on their online purchases. ⁣ (Swipe to see my initial balance from when I started my holiday shopping, and what my balance is now)⁣ ⁣ I did 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 of Black Friday shopping for (mostly) myself and my little family… in my defense, it was mainly things that sat in my “favorites” for several weeks in preparation for Black Friday deals so that it would be a less guilty purchase. ⁣ But I felt even better knowing that on top of the sales the retailers offered, I was also earning cash back on my purchases, so win-win! ⁣ ⁣ I took a poll and at least 83% of you said you prefer online shopping vs. in-store. A similar majority of you said you don’t use @rakuten to get cash back or have never heard of it. ⁣ ⁣ You know I’m one of the first people to let you know about a sale and ways to save your money, so I just wanted to remind you today to use the link in my bio and stop letting money just fly out of your hands! ⁣ ⁣ Now that you’ve seen how much cash you can earn from buying stuff you would have bought anyway, will you give it a try?

The vision won’t always be crystal clear & somehow things still turn out ok⁣. ⁣ I’m an RN. I’ve been in the game for a while. Since the big P started, nursing has become a real hot topic. The big P has only exposed so many of the issues that have existed for the longest time within the profession (e.g. inadequate staffing, workplace [lack of] safety, workplace violence, mistreatment by administration and other higher ups - just to name a few)⁣ ⁣ These were issues long before I started nursing, and they’re still a nagging problem. Yet, with each turn in my career and every transition I made, I encountered it over & over and it got exhausting! ⁣ ⁣ I knew from very early on that while I loved nursing and it was truly my calling, lots of things about it weren’t quite right, and I wasn’t able to totally put my finger on it. I also made an early decision to not be afraid to try new experiences with my career (bc nursing is so flexible). In all of that, I never truly knew EXACTLY what I wanted, but I was one billion percent sure that I was not going to stick around in an unpleasant work environment.⁣ ⁣ Sometimes, you don’t know exactly what you want until you’ve been repeatedly exposed to exactly what you don’t want… and that is precisely what happened to me. Now, I work in pharma, I have a level of work-life management that is just amazing (so far). I get to work from home and wear cozy clothes like this @wearfigs lounge set. I have flexibility and autonomy that makes me glad, and even though I don’t work in a fully clinical capacity, I still haven’t lost the essence of why I became a nurse in the first place - and that’s because I genuinely believe in helping other human beings. ⁣ ⁣ Sometimes, it takes repeated exposure to things you dislike to kind of make the picture clearer for you. So don’t feel bad for not always having things totally figured out. Each day is an opportunity to learn more about yourself and grow into the person you’re truly meant to be in order to answer the calling on your life - whatever that might be. ⁣ ⁣ Drop a 👍🏾 if you agree. Can you relate to this?⁣

⁣ Somehow the baby I birthed turned the “Big 1-3” and it’s so hard to believe!!!⁣ ⁣ My baby boy is growing up! I’m confident that I’m probably making a much bigger deal of it than he is, but he’s low key been waiting for this day since he was like 8 😂🤣⁣ ⁣ As I reflect on these 13 years of raising you and getting to know you, I have a few thoughts that I’d like to share…⁣ ⁣ 1. Everything I say or do is to keep you happy, healthy, and safe… yeah I know it sounds crazy and sometimes you think I’m doing the exact opposite, but I PROMISE, when you’re older you’ll thank me!⁣ ⁣ 2. I’m so proud of the level of responsibility you carry. You handle your business like a boss (most of the time😝) and as much as it terrifies me, it also makes me proud to be able to step back a bit and begin to nurture your independence as you become more patient and confident in your own abilities. ⁣ ⁣ 3. I pray that you make good decisions. Teenagers can be a bit flighty in their decision making. And of course error is part of being a whole human. But I do want you to know that as you grow, your parents won’t always be there to clean up your “mess” - so when you do make poor decisions, learn from them, fix them if you can, ask for forgiveness, and do better next time. ⁣ ⁣ 4. Remember life will be filled with highs and lows, but you, my son, are smart, talented, kind, resilient, and (brutally) honest. I think those are a good foundation of qualities that you’ll need to get through almost anything. ⁣ ⁣ Bottom line, it’s been such a pleasure to watch you grow and mature. Happy birthday to my first love!⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #teenmom #raisingteens #teenageboymom #13thbday #barmitzvah #blackboyjoy #momsincolor #blackmomsblog #parentsofteens #njblogger #njinfluencer

⁣ Been gone for a minute now I’m back with the jump off!⁣ (If you don’t know that line, you might be too young or you were very “well-behaved” and didn’t listen to certain types of music 😝)⁣ ⁣ Okay, so I know I haven’t been hanging out on my feed as much lately and my Story presence has kinda fallen off too, but, you know… LIFE! ⁣ ⁣ These days I’ve been making a great effort to be my best in my “life stuff” and that’s caused me to take a bit of a step back from social media. I haven’t truly taken a real break away, and many of you have been able to track me down in my DM’s and do welfare checks 😂. However I’ve been kinda just enjoying being a content consumer and just simply liking posts and laughing at memes and just hanging out here. ⁣ ⁣ I’d also like to shout out the real G’s who create content full time because when life happens, y’all kick out content without a hitch. I admire y’all!⁣ ⁣ Nonetheless, it seems like I’m starting to find my groove again and the pics and vids will be in regular rotation soon. ⁣ ⁣ What would you like to see more of on this page?⁣ ⁣ By the way, @wearfigs could easily replace my fall wardrobe with this new color drop! I’m wearing my new Auburn set and I’m in love!⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #wearfigs #figsambassador #nursepost #blacknursesrock #blacknurseskillinit #workingmoms #lifeswork #mentalhealthawareness #njinfluencer #njcontentcreator #njblogger

⁣ Never underestimate the power of some fresh air and sunshine!⁣ ⁣ Lately I’ve transitioned to a role that involves me working in a hybrid fashion - visiting patients and providing medication education, and during the times when I’m not doing visits, I’m at home. While the transition has been a very welcome change away from the stressors of more traditional nursing roles, I’ve stuck with my routine of actually taking a few minutes to spend time outside of my work environment. I became a nurse 15 years ago 😬🤐 (oops, did I say that out loud?!?) and 2 things that have been non-negotiable since my first day of work have been 1) wearing compression socks, and 2) stepping away or outside for breaks (even if it’s just for a couple of minutes).⁣ ⁣ It’s crazy how taking just a few moments to decompress helps you come back to work so much more clear-headed, refreshed, and ready to begin again. I know today is Friday, and the workday is winding down for many, but I urge you to take just a few minutes to just stand outside and breathe. Don’t be afraid to take your meal breaks alone, too! Sometimes you just need to quiet your mind and when you get a chance to actually do that, it really can be beneficial.⁣ ⁣ Today, I took a longer walk to my vehicle just to enjoy the gorgeous weather, and show off my new Chennai Jumpsuit from @wearfigs in Deep Purple. The compliments were endless! I guess that means I need to get a few more! ⁣ ⁣ Do you make it a point to take intentional breaks from work? Or do you power through til the end?⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #wearfigs #figsambassador #awesomehumans #nursingroles #blacknurseskillinit #blacknurseskillingit #travelnurse #nursingjobs #nursescrubs #nursewear #nursefashion #njblogger #njinfluencer