BLOG HISTORY
WARRIOR
May 1, 2014 Thursday
You Will
Make It
We are beginning the new changes with the blog today. As the schedule said, Thursday is a day I offer inspiration. Something that I have wanted to share with you for a while is a short clip I made, almost a year back, about being a warrior.
I am not talking about joining the military but about fighting your own personal battles and overcoming them. In the clip I sing the chorus of Demi Lovato's song "Warrior" because it is very inspiring and encouraging.
I hope this blesses you today. Remember, whatever it is you are going through, you will make it to the other side, a stronger person.
Warrior (Performed by Karissa Hagemeister)
This is a short clip that offers encouragement to keep fighting through your personal battle. The end is near and you will make it.
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Short Skirts
It is getting time to bust out that warmer weather clothing. Short skirts but keep a little jacket or cover up on you.
Cream jacket and pewter skirt are from Ross. Blue spaghetti strap is from Forever 21. Earrings bought at market in Xian, China. Bracelet bought at market in Antigua, Guatemala.
Photo Taken by Roni Puckett from Dream Maker Studios
May 2, 2014 Friday
U R LOVED
Feel &
Let it
Go
Funny thing about being a human is we are all searching for someone to love us. Some of us are more forward in our approach and some of us are more hidden.
We all want to be loved, we all crave love and acceptance.
Unfortunately, in that search we often get hurt. Hurt is a part of life. The first time I really got hurt, it seemed so unfair. I thought I was the only one that had ever been hurt. It was a foreign thing to me. I did not know how to handle the pain.
Because I did not know what to do with the pain that was consuming my heart, I became very depressed and no longer seen meaning to my life. I wanted to escape it all and get away from the pain that was haunting me. I lived in this deep depression for over 6 months, wishing to fall asleep and never awake.
Pain and hurt in your heart is a normal thing that you will face time and again in this life. If you do not know how to deal with it, you can resort to depression, suicide, cutting, drugs, you name it. If you do not deal with it, it will consume you and you will never feel or see or experience the beauty of life again.
You cannot let that happen. You must overcome the pain and move on. You must live again. You must love yourself again.
When pain comes, the first thing we need to do is allow ourselves to grieve, to cry. Cry it all out until there is nothing left to cry. Go through each of the emotions that come with the grieving process: anger, sorrow, ... Allow yourself to feel each emotion, do not become numb to the pain.
We do not want to stay in the grieving process too long, after that we need to accept the situation. Whatever happened, it happened, it is done.
Finally, you need to pick yourself up and move on. Force yourself to go out, force yourself to smile and laugh at every opportunity. Take back your life and live it to the fullest.
It is your life. You are loved. Do not let pain steal that from you.
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Casual Friday
Some of you get to enjoy casual Fridays at your place of work. After a long, hard week of work why not get comfortable?!
Light denim jacket and light denim jeans. Light blue Wildfox tee from AshleGryre boutique. A nice, tall cup of coffee.
http://ashlegryre.com/
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 3, 2014 Saturday
REST DARLING
All You
need is
REST
As Saturday is the “Surprise” day of the week, you never know what I am going to talk about. I normally won’t know until the day before or the day of either lol.
Today, I have a very special and important thing to talk about. This is something that I have been trying to work on for a while and it is definitely hard but it is so important at the same time.
Let’s talk about REST. That 4 letter word that we all wish we could use but never have time to. I am just as busy as the rest of our nation. So I have a hard time not only finding time to rest but remembering too. I am very much a busy body, needing and wanting to do something at all times.
In the Bible, God talks about setting aside a day of rest, the Sabbath. It was so important that it became one of the Ten Commandments. Now, anytime God made a law or set a command, it is for our own good.
Why would we need a day to rest each week? Well for one we are not superhuman (though at times it feels like it) and for two we are not God. But if you notice, even God himself took a day of rest on the 7th day after he created the heavens and the earth and all the inhabitants. He led by example.
Resting is important for our bodies. Many other countries and other cultures understand this but for some reason, us, Americans cannot get it through our heads.
We think we need to keep pushing, going, doing as much as humanly possible. We are not getting ahead by taking rest out of our weekly routine. Instead we are wearing our bodies down and submitting ourselves to sickness, fatigue and even disease.
Our bodies were not made like the Energizer bunny. We cannot just keep going and going. We need to take that one day of rest each week to reenergize and refuel. I have noticed, as I remember to take a day and just rest, that I am actually more productive and alert the next week than if I forget and do not take a day of rest.
Try it out. Think about it. It is actually the wiser, more productive decision.
So why not take some time to rest this weekend, darling.
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Rest-in Clothes
As you take a day of rest this weekend, throw on something comfortable like stretchy jeans and a light, breezy top.
Denim from Forever 21 and light top from AshleGryre boutique on Atlantic Beach, FL.
http://ashlegryre.com/
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 4, 2014 Sunday
FIND THE TIME
P
E
R
K
Let’s say that you have discovered what your purpose in life is, or part of it at least. That’s great news. Let’s say you even know how to start or where to get things going. That is even better. But you do not have the time. Or you do not think you do.
Sundays we are discussing “Purpose.” An important part of your purpose is having the time to work on or towards it.
For the next few Sundays, I am going to share some very key and important parts from this book called, “The Other 8 Hours” by Robert Pagliarini. These pointers will help you find the time to work on the things that you need to in order to work towards your purpose and will help you remove those things that are sucking the life from you.
We will start out with a small task but a very beneficial one that must be done to move forward. First, make a list of all the activities that you do each day, for example: wake up, eat breakfast, go to work, watch tv, go to sleep. List as many as you can think of.
Now go through your list and PERK your activities.
Postpone
Eliminate
Reduce
Keep
Some things you have to keep, some things can wait for a while, some things you can reduce down the amount of time you spend on them and many you just need to get rid of.
Make sure you are actually getting rid of things that are really just weighing you down, waisting your time and holding you back.
Now that you have some inspiration, start PERKing. :)ling.
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Sunday Best
Sundays are the best excuses to dress up because you are going to church. Sunday best used to be the best dress that you own. Now you hardly see women wear dresses at church. :( Nice pants and skirts work too.
Blue silk top from Express. Khaki pants from New York & Co. Top it off with some fun accessories and do something different with your hair.
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 5, 2014 Monday
QUIT SUGAR
Your Health is
Counting on you
Monday is our Health & Fitness day of the week. With many of the different days, I have books that I am reading that I feel are very beneficial to share about the particular topic. Yesterday, I started out with one about purpose.
Today, I am going to share with you about a book that I am reading and following an 8-week plan for. This book is called “I Quit Sugar” by Sarah Wilson. I had already been studying up on the sugar epidemic as I was trying to find a way to get my health and energy back. I came to the conclusion, no matter how hard it was, that sugar was in fact my enemy and causing my body to feel the way it did.
This Monday, I am going to share with you some of the things that sugar does to your body, that Sarah shares in her book. Then if you so choose, next week, you can start eliminating sugar from your diet and follow the 8 week sugarless plan that I will go through week by week with you.
One thing you need to know right up front is sugar is a drug, it is highly addictive. So you may read this and kick and scream because you are not willing to give up on your sugar but deep down you know it is what you need to do. I encourage you to resist that urge to fight this and give it a try. Do it on trial basis just to see how your body begins to feel after a week or so without sugar.
Our bodies are designed to eat only 6-9 tablespoons of sugar a day. That is like one or two pieces of fruit. Most Americans, consume more than 30 tablespoons of sugar a day.
An overabundance of sugar in our bodies not only causes intense weight gain but it messes up your immune system, causes imbalance in the minerals and hormones in your body, messes with fertility, speeds up aging, is connected with cancer and dementia, and is a cause of anxiety. That is not all that sugar does but that list alone should make you want to quit sugar cold turkey.
I will admit, quitting sugar will be hard at first. I am in my 4th week of the 8 week program. The first two weeks, you work slowly at eliminating the bad sugars first like candy, soda, cookies ... Then the third week, you quit all sugar cold turkey. This means all fruit, honey, agave and be very careful with all the processed foods you eat because most of them contain sugar.
I had a few weak moments, the first two weeks. A few withdrawals but they were not too bad. I continued to remind myself that this is actually helping me get better and I had to tell those sugar cravings to shut up.
I used to be one of the biggest sugar addicts you will know. It is kind of embarrassing how much sugar I used to eat. Just ask any of my close friends. So if I can stand up against the cravings and stand up for my body, you can to.
It will be difficult but it will be worth it.
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Brighten Up Monday
Mondays are not the most exciting days of the week, so to make them a little better throw on something sparkly.
Gold/Crem top from Ashlegryre Boutique. Dark denim from Old Navy. Put on some Gold sparkly Toms to match.
www.ashlegryre.com
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 6, 2014 Tuesday
SKIN ENEMIES
Pop O' Pink Tuesday
We are still in that spring time season so lighter colors are fun to wear and brighten people's day.
Pink/Lavender top from Ashlegryre Boutique. Bright Pink Skinny jeans from Rock & Republic at Kohls. Long necklace to add emphasis from Rue 21.
www.ashlegryre.com
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
As Tuesday is our Beauty day, meaning outside beauty, we are going to begin discussing a book that was written by a skin doctor, who gives plenty of insight on how we should really care for our skin, especially our face, to keep to it looking young and healthy.
This book is called, “A More Beautiful You” by Dr. Robert M. Freund. Dr. Freund states early in the book that, “Each one of us has a unique look that should be embraced and maintained” (page 18). This is what we are going to work on - maintaining our unique beauty.
The best way to care for our outward beauty is to pin point what enemies our skin and body have.
Here are the top 7 Skin Enemies outlined in chapter 2:
1. Sun
2. Cigarette Smoke (1st & 2nd hand)
3. Alcohol
4. Pollution
5. Stress
6. Imbalanced Diet
7. Lack of Sleep
As you can see, many of these enemies are things that we have control over. Pollution is the only one where you cannot quiet control.
Over the next few Tuesdays, we will dive deeper into the book learning how to protect your skin and learning what products are best in caring for your skin.
Top 7 Enemies
May 7, 2014 Wednesday
CLOSET CLEANING
What to
Keep??
It is time to amp up our style, beautiful women. On Wednesdays, we are discussing style. I do not want you to think that I am forcing the latest trends and fads upon you. Instead the goal is to help you discover your own style. Something you feel beautiful and comfortable in.
For the next few Wednesdays, I will share tips found in Kim Johnson Gross’ book, “What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life.” Together, we will discover what your style is for this time in your life. As we learned a few months back, everyone cannot wear everything so let us find what compliments you.
The most important thing to do, before we get all excited from finding our own style and going out and buying clothes, is to go through our closets and find what we no longer need in there. Clear some space, make some room.
This is a big weakness of mine. I do NOT like getting rid of clothes. I am a clothing designer, so I can always make something into something else. But I know I will never have time to do that with all of my clothes.
So we need to take a trip into the deep areas of our closet. Assess what things you will be wearing for the rest of your life (the basics: neutral jackets, camis, tees...). Those are good keepers.
Now it is time to “Dejunk.” Most women only wear 20% of their closet 80% of the time. So there is a lot of stuff taking up room in there. If it does not fit, you do not need it. If it looks like your grandma or your teenager daughter would wear it, give it to them.
Once you go through your closet and get rid of those things that you do not really need, you could take it to Goodwill but before you do, you might try to get some money from it for your next shopping spree. Places like Plato’s Closet and Kloset Karma buy back used, good condition clothing. You can also try your luck on Amazon.
With your newly made money, we will start to put a list together of those pieces you need to complete your style.
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Wednesday Blues
Nothing like a bright, little sundress to liven up the mid week, hump day.
Blue razor back sun dress from Burlington Coat Factory. Necklace and earring set from Hallmark. Put some wave in your Wednesday by french braiding your hair.
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 8, 2014 Thursday
INNER STRENGTH
Dig down a little deeper
Within the deep places of each of us, there is a pool of strength that is far greater than the strength that we use on a regular basis. This strength is there for us to push past the things that seem to hold us back or bind us.
Instead of reaching into our inner strength, most people go through life without trying to push past the things that are meant to temporarily hold us, things that are used to help us grow. Instead, they draw a box claiming it as their personal limitations - Do not cross the line.
Now that you know you are so much stronger than you think you are (because I told you that you are), there is nothing that can stand in your way.
Many of us just need to give that little extra push and we will hop right over that obstacle.
I will share a little story from my own life about drawing a limitation line and then years later using my inner strength to overcome it. There are many stories to choose from, but I will pick a more recent one.
For years I thought that I was not able to run long distance. I would get very short on breath and get bad side cramps. I had tried over and over but just couldn’t find the strength to push myself. My mom and my sister both said they could not run long distance either. So I figured, running must not be for everyone. I was probably skipped when that gene was being passed out. So I drew a limitation line, saying I cannot run.
Years later (to present time), I find out about the Disney Princess Half Marathon. I wanted to run that half marathon so I got a stronger determination to run from that. I started googling running techniques for beginners and read How to Run for Dummies. The strangest thing happened, I learned how to breath right and then how to really run right. I went from being someone who could not push past a half mile to someone who is passing 2 miles. I still have many miles to go to get to that half marathon status. But I am actually doing something that I thought was impossible for me.
See, when we remove those limitation lines that we place on ourselves and just reach a little deeper for some extra strength, you never really know what you can accomplish. I hope this encourages you in whatever you may be facing and inspires you to push past some of the limitations you have placed on yourself.
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Whitey
It is that time of year again to pull out your white clothing and start wearing it in public.
White spaghetti strap sundress from Candies at Kohls. Big statement necklace was given as a gift. Put on that BIG, beautiful smile because it is spring time.
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 9, 2014 Friday
HEARTFELT
Dress It Up
We all need to dress up just for fun every once in a while. I would do it every day if I could.
Ivory peplum top with black lace detail from Ross. Black pencil skirt from New York & Co. Throw on some black heels and you are all class.
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
We, as humans, are able to read unspoken messages from the way people act and talk towards us. We can tell that they are not really desiring to be close to us if they give a barely touching, pat on the back hug. Or you can tell how much they really care if they listen intently with eyes and posture all focused on you.
Surprisingly, we find so many people going around giving out fake hugs, laughs and conversations. There is nothing heartfelt in what they do. You may even look at them and wonder if there is someone behind the fake mask that they wear. They act as robots doing what everyone else is doing but without the feeling behind it.
Everyone can tell when we are not being ourself. They can sense it, they can see it and they can hear it.
I have noticed that many of the people that go through life with this facade, they love to hand out compliments to everyone. But these compliments do not seem heartfelt. They do not seem real. Maybe it is because the people giving them out do not seem real.
I wish there was a better way to reach out to those that live behind the mask. They do not seem to feel heartfelt appreciation or communication either.
But in reality, many of them do feel very deeply. They may have gone or are going through something very difficult that they are not getting over. They may not seem to accept love but that hidden wall will come down if they are given love.
Next time you get a little less than warm hug, hug a little harder, ask a little deeper and love a little stronger. Our world needs love.
Love a
little
stronger
May 10, 2014 Saturday
FAITH & FITNESS
Knowledge is
Power
Special treat for your Surprise Saturday:
My sister, Cassandra Hagemeister, and I made a mock talk show in which I interviewed her for an audition to be a real talk show host. This video is however based on real information and real results.
My sister quit eating sugar a few months back. She has always had some health problems that have made it difficult for her to lose weight.
Without sugar in her diet, she has been shedding weight. She feels and is beginning to look like a completely different person.
Enjoy the short talk show that I titled "Faith & Fitness."
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Fabulous
You can dress up any outfit with a pair of heels. Look and feel fabulous .
Coral button up, tie in the front top, with beautiful lace detail in the back by Candies at Kohls. Dark denim and nude heels from Forever 21.
Photo Taken by Blue Francois of Studio 3E - from a photo shoot for Glam Hair Salon
May 11, 2014 Sunday
SAYING "NO"
Buy
Yourself
More Time
When we are working towards our purpose and dreams, it is important for us to know how to say “no.” We need to be able to say no to others but we also need to be able to say no to ourselves with some things. I have a hard time with this so it is something I have been working on as well.
Sometimes there is too much on our plates and we need to be able to let some things go. In the book, “The Other 8 Hours,” written by Robert Pagliarini, he gives us six things to make it easier to say no and ways to buy us some extra time.
1. Abstaining - When and how to say no to helping others is important. You need to draw a line and all you need to say is that you are not able to help them with that.
2. Balancing - Taking time away from one thing and adding it to another.
3. Buying - If you have the extra money, hire off chores, lawn work and anything else you could easily let someone else take care of.
4. Boosting - Taking on a no-brainer part time job that allows you time to work on your own projects when it is slow (babysitting, hotel clerks...)
5. Chunking - Grouping tasks together, one mental and one physical (exercising and praying ...)
6. Sparking - Sending positive notes or reminders to yourself throughout the day by your cell phone or sticky notes to help you stay on track.
These are just some brief descriptions of what he described in the book. To get more time, we need to be creative. We need to stay out of situations that eat our time. We need to try to chunk some things together and get others to help us.
The time is there, we just need to figure out how to make it work for us. For the week ahead, think about things you could quit, chunk and buy off in your schedule to produce more time for you.
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Mother's Day Dress Up
Happy Mother's Day to all you beautiful mothers out there. Mother's Day is a fabulous day to dress up and show up as One Hot Mama.
Aztec maxi dress from Ashlegryre. Black satin jacket from Ross. Curl or straighten your hair for a more glamorous effect.
www.ashlegryre.com
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 12, 2014 Monday
CUTTING BACK
Reduce the
sugar
intake
I hope you are joining us on this exciting journey of quitting sugar. You may not think it is exciting but think about how awesome your body and you, in general, will feel once you get that junk cleared out of your system.
Today, we are starting week 1 of our 8 week sugar detox/cleanse. Week 1 does not start out cold turkey but we begin to strip away those sugars that are extra hazardous to our health. We can continue to eat fruit through this week. Side note: we do take the fruit out of our diet for a time, but near the end of the 8 weeks, we reintroduce it back in. Fruit is not bad for us, we do not need it in big doses though because it does contain sugar.
The point of these 8 weeks is to clean all the sugar out of our bodies. It is a detox. When you clean it out of your system for so long, you kill the cravings and you are able to eat right portions of food. No more binging or overindulging.
Week 1 Rules:
1. Food Swapping - popcorn instead of candy, cheese instead of desserts
2. Food Conscious - pay attention to labels. What kind of ingredients does it have in it (sugar, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, sugar cane, etc ... are bad).
3. Steer away from refined carbs like donuts and products made with white flour.
4. If you drink sugar in coffee or tea, use only half as much as you are used to.
5. Switch to diet soda (only for a week or two before you drop them completely).
You have a good list of things to start working on this week. It may seem daunting but all you really need to do is pay more attention to what you are putting into your body. Draw the line for yourself and stick with it.
Helpful Hints: Fructose (found in fruit, honey, ...) is sugar. Fructose causes us to eat more. It does not contain the hormone that most foods have that tell your brain when to stop eating. Therefore, you never feel full and keep eating. Fructose converts directly to fat. Fructose makes you sick (“I Quit Sugar” by Sarah Wilson, page 17).
Now that you have some extra facts, this will help make the decision easier for you to quit. Let’s begin this journey to a more happy, healthy and beautiful you. (Now would be a good time to take a before picture) ;).
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Lookin Good
This is a fun dress that can be worn multiple ways. This is just one way, with the straps wrapped around around the chest and the waist.
The Endless from Kingdom Dezigns.
www.kingdomdezign.com
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 13, 2014 Tuesday
PROTECTION
Block
the
pollution
A Little Longer
This is the same dress as shown yesterday but in a maxi version and a different color. Notice the difference in style, now a one strap dress.
The Endless Maxi from Kingdom Dezigns.
www.kingdomdezign.com
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
As we discussed last Tuesday, there are 7 main enemies to your skin. Six of those enemies you can control to a degree. But one of them is harder to control: Pollution.
Thanks to Dr. Robert M. Freund in his book, “A More Beautiful You,” he gives us several ways to protect our skin from the harmful effects of pollution (Chapter 2). We will discuss these today.
One of the biggest preventative measures you can take is to limit the amount of time you are outside during rush hour traffic and on hot days. Pollutions effect is worsened in those times.
Dr. Freund also gives us three extra steps to take to protect our skin against pollution and smoke (also known as free radicals):
1. Eat foods that are rich in antioxidants
2. Take vitamin supplements: Vitamin C (Ester C), Vitamin E (use in moderation), and Beta Caratone Vitamin A (can only get from food)
3. Use topical treatments that contain antioxidants (Lascorbic Acid & Cellex-C)
The last little bit of advice is to stay away from drinking alcohol. Alcohol destroys your bodies supply of Vitamin A.
Now we have a better understanding of what to do to care for our skin, so get out there and start protecting.
May 14, 2014 Wednesday
AS THE FRENCH DO
Follow
Fashion
Leaders
If much of our fashion comes from the women of France, maybe we need to follow their lead in fit, style and lifestyle.
Kim Johnson Gross dedicates a whole chapter of her book, “What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life” to learning from the French women. She includes a lot of great pointers that I think we need to incorporate into our own style and way of life.
Kim has many tips, but I chose my top 9 favorites to share with you (Chapter 8):
1. French women are legendary for packaging their stylish wardrobe into an armoire-size closet. (That is talent!)
2. French women dress to please themselves. (This is a big one that we could learn from. Instead of dressing to please a man or compete with other women, just dress for yourself.)
3. French women are scrupulous about wearing clothes that fit perfectly. (Not too tight, not too baggy.)
4. French women know that quality is more important than quantity. (This is something I am learning.)
5. French women know that “Closet Classics” are a wardrobe’s secret weapon.
6. French women take comfort in what they wear.
7. French women are not youth obsessed. (Embrace each stage of life, look at how far you have come, what you have accomplished and how much further you have to go.)
8. French women know that style and comfort are simpatico. (Our designers have not figured that out yet.)
9. French women know the powerful connection between what they wear and how they feel.
I am not stereotyping here. I know that not all French women are like this and not all American women need help in these areas. But if you seen a few things in this list that spoke to you, do not hesitate to integrate them into your lifestyle.
You are well on your way to being a confident, stylish and beautiful woman.
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Sun Shiny Day
This is the same style as the two dresses I have shown you over the past two days but a shirt version and a different color. Notice the difference in style, now it is two straps.
The Endless Shirt from Kingdom Dezigns.
www.kingdomdezign.com
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 15, 2014 Thursday
SUPERWOMEN
You
Make the
World Go
Round
Women seem to have so many responsibilities. They have all the house chores, caring for the kids, groceries, work, quality time with both friends and family. I have watched different women in my life and have marveled, wondering how they do it all.
I hear about people like Rachel Zoe and other celebrity women that seem to do everything and I think they must have a ton of energy and never sleep.
Then I look at my life and though I am not a mother or a wife yet, I still have a ton of responsibilities on my plate and I think, how did I get all of that done.
The majority of women are content when they have so many things to do and care for. They feel needed and full in life. I am sure if you examined your own life, you would have more things you are responsible for than you can count on your two hands.
Many of us like to joke that we are “Superwoman” or better yet, “SuperMom.” But the truth is, everyone of us needs down time. Time to sit back and recoup. We cannot go all the time. Sometimes we have to make wise decisions to let things go so we can free up more time or care for other, more important things.
When we get so busy trying to keep everything spinning, keep everyone happy, we can wear ourselves down and drop the ball. The good news is, you are not alone. We all do it. None of us are truly “Super” in that form of the word.
We all have things we do not get done when we want to and that is okay. We cannot do everything all at once, and that is okay too. So in short, I just want to encourage you to do what you can but don’t be hard on yourself when you cannot do it all. None of us can.
It is okay to sleep in a little bit longer when you have pushed yourself a little too hard. But you, superwomen, are what makes this world go round. :)
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Pop of Color
It is raining where I live today, so on dreary days one thing that makes it all better is adding a pop of bright color to your wardrobe. Nothing works better than a neon pink top.
The Endless Shirt from Kingdom Dezigns.
www.kingdomdezign.com
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 16, 2014 Friday
HEART GUARD
Life
flows from your heart
Guard your heart above all else for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23
When I was younger, I never quite understood what this meant. How do you guard your heart? Why do you guard it? Will someone come and steal it from me?
I got older and had not guarded my heart because I still did not understand it. But then someone did steal my heart. It was not in the sense that I thought it was when I was a little girl. It was a bad choice on my part to allow that to happen.
Fresh out of college, I feel in love with someone who was not right for me. I was young, naive and thought it was the right time to get married. He was the guy that happened to be there at the time. In my mind and in my heart, I had already made up that I would marry him.
He was a lot younger than me. Not ready for a serious relationship especially not ready for marriage. He wanted to play and so he played with my emotions for about a year. He finally let me know that he did not see us going anywhere and everything that had been hanging on by a thread suddenly fell apart.
I experienced what it was like to not guard my heart. I also understood what it meant when it says that everything flows from it. It took me a few years to fully recover from all the damage I had caused myself by not guarding my heart.
I now understand how and why I should guard my heart. But I also have had to learn not to guard my heart completely. After such a deep pain, it can be hard to let anyone in.
There is a fine line you have to walk. Loving the world because the world needs love but knowing that when you love deeply you can get hurt deeply. Hurt is a part of life. But when we get hurt we cannot let hurt become our life.
You cannot block out hurt completely but you can be wise about who you allow to hurt you.
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Fit for a Queen
I had to do a fitting for a fashion show that I was recently in. They had me try on this ivory gown and it was just marvelous. I felt like I was going to the grammys. I wish you could have seen the back.
From Cathy's Boutique on Jacksonville Beach.
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 17, 2014 Saturday
GLUTEN
What is
wrong with Gluten?
Gluten-free has become a more frequent option that you see stamped on food packages and in some restaurants. Working in a chocolate store, everyone wants to know if we have gluten-free products.
For a while, I knew it was associated with some kind of disease but it seemed to become so much more prevalent that I thought it was becoming a diet fad too.
The other day, I had happened to watch a talk show, I believe it was Katie Couric’s, and they discussed Gluten and the disease that is associated with it. Many of the symptoms they discussed, I have had for quite a few years. So I decide to do some more research on the subject. It turns out that many more people have this disease and they do not even know it.
I have decided to try the gluten-free diet for a few weeks and keep track of any changes in my body. They have said that this is the best way to see if you have the celiac disease because sometimes, even when tested for it, the test comes back negative and you may still have the disease.
Here are some of the symptoms (found on webmd.com):
• Digestive problems (abdominal bloating, pain, gas, diarrhea, pale stools, and weight loss)
• A severe skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis
• Iron deficiency anemia (low blood count)
• Musculoskeletal problems (muscle cramps, joint and bone pain)
• Growth problems and failure to thrive (in children)
• Seizures
• Tingling sensation in the legs (caused by nerve damage and low calcium)
• Aphthous ulcers (sores in the mouth)
-
Missed menstrual periods
-
Extreme fatigue and fogginess in the brain
This disease makes it hard for your body to absorb the nutrients it needs from the food that you eat.
For a while, I have been feeling low on nutrients. I have changed my diet so much that all I should be getting is vitamins and minerals that my body needs.
So I am going to try this out and see if my body starts retaining the nutrients that I need. I will keep you posted.
Image from www.glutendude.com blog. Great source for more information on this diet and disease.
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Royal
This was the dress that I did end up modeling for the fashion show I mentioned yesterday. I fell in love with this dress. Made me feel so royal and beautiful.
From Cathy's Boutique on Jacksonville Beach.
Photo Taken by Erica Lavender
May 18, 2014 Sunday
LIFE LEECHES
What is eating up all of your time??
Whenever you are working towards your purpose and your dreams, you are going to run into obstacles, you are going to get distracted and you will face life leeches.
Today we are going to discuss Life Leeches. What are life leeches, you may ask? They can be people, objects or places that are eating away your valuable time. You may not even see them as something bad but they are using the time that you could be using to work on and towards your destiny.
Robert Pagliarini, in his book “The Other 8 Hours” shares a long, detailed list of Life Leeches in chapter 4. I am going to briefly share all 24 of them. As you read through the list, think of your life and pick out the ones that are specific to you that are eating away your time.
1. Television (you knew I was going to say that didn’t you??!) - This is a big life leech. If you are a huge tv fanatic, start limiting the amount of time you spend in front of the tube, take a way a little each week.
2. News Addiction - I never understood this one. The news is full of lies and trash but some people are obsessed with it anyways.
3. Social Media - is addicting. Use social media as a positive tool to boost your business but don’t spend hours stalking all your friends. Its just not getting you anywhere in life.
4. Perfectionism - nothing is ever perfect, I’m sorry.
5. Maximizing - or multi-tasking
6. Disorganization - Having everything organized really makes everything go quicker
7. Health - health issues can put a damper on your plans or end it completely, that is why it is wise to care for yourself both in exercising and eating right.
8. Gossip - talking about others, seriously?!
9.Celebrities - okay time to get your own life
10. Video Games - sorry guys, this one is for you. This is often more of a waist of time than tv.
11. Porn - yep, I said it. And it is not cool so get over that addiction quick.
12. Being Reactive - you do not need to react to everything, sometimes it is best to let things go.
13. Answering the Phone - I do not have a problem with this one lol. I hate talking on the phone but sometimes those conversations are just going to be big time eaters. Try talking on the phone when you en route to somewhere or doing other physical activities.
14. Complaining - no one wants to hear it. You will be okay
15. Reading - unless you are reading about something to boost your skills or knowledge. Leisurely reading is good too but limit the amount of time you spend on it.
16. Meetings - just send out an e-mail high lighting all the important things.
17. Conferences - most conferences are just trying to get money out of you. If you can read a book about it or watch something on youtube, do that instead.
18. Driving - don’t we hate it
19. Car Pooling - may seem to make sense but you waste a lot of tome waiting for everyone or collecting everyone.
20. Doing more than necessary - I have a bad habit of doing this :(
21. Trying to change others - you do not hold the power to so leave it in God’s hands.
22. Upgrading - seriously, it always seems to take at least an hour and there is always a new upgrade
23. Working for a workaholic - enough said.
24. Sleeping - we need our sleep but sometimes too much sleep is too much.
Hopefully, you found some things in this list that you can work on and try reducing or eliminating from your life. There are many more but don’t want to overwhelm you.
Let’s start working on removing some of those leeches so we can get our energy back to work on the things of real importance.
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Fun & Flirty
For those of you who do not live in Florida, sorry. This is a total beach outfit but it has enough color to make it exciting.
Coral halter top from Pac Sun. Brown lace skirt with coral fabric underneath from Kohls.
Photo Taken by Tamara Haygood
May 19, 2014 Monday
EAT FAT
Trading sugar for fat foods
As we move into week 2 of quitting sugar, we start replacing our sweet treats with foods higher in fat. Good fat that is. We need to replace what we are taking out of our diet or our bodies will feel gipped and start storing fat as it kicks into survival mode.
Sarah Wilson from her book, “I Quit Sugar” says that “this is the very trick that makes the sugar quitting program work.”
I have found this to be true for me. I was one of those people that ate sugary treats like they were going out of style. So when I decided to quit, I need something else to curb my cravings to.
The good fats do not actually make you fat, as one would assume. The thing about these treats are, you can eat them and when your body is content, it will tell you when to stop, unlike the sweet treats. These fats fill you up when sugar would have left you wanting more.
So this week, trade your sweet tooth cravings in for cheese, eggs, avocados, nuts and coconut.
Important facts to remember this week:
-
Fat does not make you fat. Sugar does.
-
Fat fills us up so we do not gorge on it. But we were designed to gorge on sugar.
-
Sugar turns directly to fat.
-
Sugar messes with our hormone systems.
Now that we know the truth about sugar and fat we can make wiser choices in our diets for our bodies sake.
Best of luck to you as you begin week 2 and remember good fatty foods are not the bad guys. :)
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
It's Monday
Sometimes I do too much over the weekend, so when Monday rolls around I feel like being a bum lol
Wildfox tee from Ashlegryre boutique and jean skirt from Guess.
www.ashlegryre.com
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 20, 2014 Tuesday
SUNSCREEN
We all scream for sunscreen
I am as much a sucker for sun as the next girl is. I love laying out and soaking up the rays. It is so relaxing and refreshing. It even boosts my spirits.
However, sun is very damaging. I used to be the girl that did not wear sunscreen, instead I would lather on tanning oil or baby oil to attract the sun. I wanted to be dark because that is the “in” thing. But many times, the “in” thing is the stupid thing to do.
The girls that spend countless hours in the sun without any protection or even with minimum protection are the ones who will have wrinkles at 25 and leathery skin at 35, making them appear much older than they are. Sun causes you to age rapidly and causes skin cancer.
So is it more important to be “in” right now or to look young and youthful 25 - 30 years from now?
I chose the long term benefits because I want to care for myself and keep my skin as happy and youthful as long as possible.
You will no longer see me lathering on any kind of tanning oils but if I do have to go out in the sun, I lather up on the sunscreen, sunglasses and sun hat on. Yes, I am one of those weirdos that even brings a big umbrella to the beach. Sun burn? No thank you.
Here are some tips for sunscreen that I found quite useful from Dr. Robert M. Freund’s book, “A More Beautiful You” :
Sunscreen is always a must, every single day even if the only sun you will see is coming and going from work. Sunscreen works best when it is water resistant. You do not need a sunscreen stronger than SPF 15-20. That number is actually used to calculate how long the sunscreen lasts (SPF 20 = 5 hours of protection). Apply the sunscreen liberally and often.
This next tidbit was very helpful: Use physical sunscreen instead of chemical sunscreen. Physical sunscreen acts as a shield of armor between you and the sun. Chemical sunscreen absorbs the UV rays, not really protecting you.
Zincoxide is a key ingredient you want in your sunscreen.
Dr. Freund recommends Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen for your face and Anthelios (La Roche, Posay) is a good physical sunscreen.
I know it is hard to go against the grain and be different from everyone else but in some cases it pays to be different. Think more about caring for your body instead of trying to be “popular.” You will thank me later.
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Chinese Silk
I told you I am a designer, right? This is one of my latest creations made out of silk I bought when I lived in China. It is so comfortable but so beautiful at the same time.
Sorry ladies, this is a one and only type of dress.
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 21, 2014 Wednesday
STYLE RULES
Style rules for any age
When it comes to style and finding the right look for you, there are some rules that do not change for anyone and do not change no matter what age bracket you are in.
Kim Johnson Gross pinpoints six rules that everyone should follow when looking for their style in her book, “What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life.”
Style Rule #1
Distract by Attracting - If you have any area on your body that you are not so fond of, draw attention away from that area by drawing attention to an area of your body that is more “appealing.”
Style Rule #2
Achieve Visual Balance - Whether we are apple shaped or not we do not want to appear top heavy. Visual balance is creating the appearance of curves, accentuating the waist.
Style Rule #3
Fit is crucial to looking your best - or as one style icon of the past said, “Your clothes should be tight enough to show you're a woman but loose enough to show you're a lady,” Marilyn Monroe.
Style Rule #4
Don’t follow fashion trends. Wear what looks good on your body.
Style Rule #5
Use color to your advantage - we each have to figure that one out on our own.
Style Rule #6
Pay attention to your body changes and dress accordingly.
These six rules will help us as we continue the search for our perfect style. As we get older our style will change, but these rules will not.
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Bright Colors
Have I told you how much I like bright colors yet. LOL A Lot!! This is the perfect summer fun dress.
Sunburst maxi by Line & Dot from Ashlegryre boutique. Gold ballet flats (love them) from Payless (yes, I know).
www.ashlegryre.com
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 22, 2014 Thursday
NEVER ALONE
No matter what ...
Going through this journey called life, we enter many stages and pass through different seasons.
We go through times when we are surrounded by friends and family, feeling the love from every corner. We go through times surround by others but feeling completely alone. Then there are times when we are not surrounded by others and are truly lonely.
The biggest comfort I’ve had through every season is knowing that whether I am surrounded or isolated, I am never alone. I am never unloved. And neither are you.
Whatever season of life you may be in, there is a God that created you and he cares very deeply for you. He watches over you constantly and I have found that he makes the best companion.
He is the one that I clung to when I was sad and alone, desperately wanting to get married and be loved. He is the one that I clung to when my parents got divorced and my world turned upside down. He clung right back to me all along, never once leaving me to fight this life on my own.
He holds me gently even now, as I am so content in my single life and enjoying the season that I am. He has brought me to a place of fulfillment and completion in him. His love consumed all those empty places that I tried to fill with people and relationships.
So in those times that you are feeling alone, remember that you are not alone. Take those times to converse with God and allow yourself to experience the love that he is pouring on you. You will enter into a beautiful season, like one you have never experienced before.
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Summer Lovin'
Just getting to wear summer clothes makes me happy. Isn't it strange how the weather can have such a strong effect on your mood.
Light orange top from Bebe, white shorts from Old Navy and Bright pink tote made by a Belguim company, Essentials, bought from Ashlegryre.
www.ashlegryre.com
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 23, 2014 Friday
JOYFUL
Fix your eyes and your thoughts
Our hearts feel the weight of many emotions, some are light and uplifting and some can be heavy and weigh us down. Being able to feel is part of being human.
I know I have been through difficult seasons were my heart was very heavy and depressed. Those times I wished to be more of a robot than a human so that I would not have to feel.
But if we take ourselves out of feeling the heavy hurts, we will not get to feel the light joy. Joy is such a beautiful feeling.
The only way I can describe joy is having your heart bubble over with something more extreme than happiness. Your heart is so full of joy that it explodes and reaches to every part of your being, rubbing off on every person you encounter.
Joy is contagious. I think that is one of the best parts. After going through so many years and seasons of depression, it is so wonderful to be filled to overflowing with joy. People love to be around me because they cannot help but smile and laugh as I make their day brighter just by the joy that I now contain.
Joy comes by taking your eyes off from the hurt and the pain and refocusing them on things that you are thankful for. Think back through your life, remember all of the good times with family and friends. Remember the gifts that have been given to you both physical and immaterial.
As you become more thankful for the great things that have happened in your life, your heart begins to slowly fill up with joy. Then you just have to keep your eyes and your thoughts on the good things.
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
Philippians 4:8
Since we have to feel, it is a part of life, why not feel the joy. Fill yourself up with the good things of life and then feel the joy as it consumes every part of you.
Light always conquers dark. Joy always conquers depression.
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Patterned
I am more of a solid color type of girl but sometimes I come across a pattern or a selection of colors that I like a lot and I break away from my normal.
Fun, patterned dress from Dillards, black belt from Express.
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 24, 2014 Saturday
WORD TO THE WISE
Think
first
...
Wisdom is so important in this world where the media deceives, the government hides information and we are just told to accept it all at face value.
I see often enough people going through life, following the crowd, doing what everyone else is doing and not thinking once about the consequences.
They do what they are told, as mindless cows being led to the slaughter.
Wisdom is cool though. It is not something that you were either born with or you weren’t. Everyone of us could have wisdom but it is something you have to work for. It requires use of your brain and listening to the little voice inside of you that tells you when or when not to do something.
Wisdom is not following the crowd. Wisdom is watching others and learning from their mistakes so as not to make them yourself.
Wisdom is not saying the first thing that comes into your head. Wisdom is thinking thoroughly before answering so as not to stick your foot in your mouth.
Wisdom is not taking the advice from everyone that wants to share their opinion. Wisdom is studying matters out on your own and making a decision after seeing all sides to the issue.
It is little things like this, and so much more, that can really make a difference in your life if you would just take the time to be wise.
I do not drink, smoke or have sex with any/everyone. Why? Because I know how harmful each of those things are and the consequences of them. I have chosen to be wise and not follow what the rest of the world is doing.
What areas do you feel like you need more wisdom in?
If you look in the Bible, there is a whole book full of wisdom. The book of Proverbs has wise advice for so many situations and seasons in life. Most of the book was written by the wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon. Some of the language can be a little difficult to understand as it was written ages ago but this is where that studying that I mentioned earlier comes in handy.
If you feel like you do not make wise decisions often, have no fear, that can all change. Effort, on your part, can make a world of difference in your world.
Think before deciding, acting or speaking.
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Knots are Hott
I love this little dress. The knot in the front brings it some character and conceals in all the right places. Plus it looks great with my eyes. lol
Turquiose knot dress from Kohls. Golden ball dangley bracelet from Premier Jewelry. Earings purchased in China.
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 25, 2014 Sunday
CREATING
Matching Outfits
Siblings are great. This is my brother and sister with me and we had matching outfits for family pictures taken on the beach.
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
For those who are more interested in pursuing their passion and their purpose than they are in working the mundane, 9-5 cushy job, a little creativity is a must.
We get so used to being the consumer that we do not think about being the creator, the one behind the different items to consume. The one who makes the product to fix the problem.
There is more to life than working your life away for someone else. You can go after what you are passionate about. You can make that invention that would fix small and large problems. You can be different. You can create, and you can make a difference.
“If you settle for a paycheck, you will only be worth what your employer pays you.” Said Robert Pagliarini in chapter 5 of his book “The Other 8 Hours.”
Robert reminds us that we are bombarded with over a million ads a year that send us the message that we need to buy and consume. This kind of makes us numb to the idea of thinking outside of the box or creating something different.
One key thing that Robert highlights is, everyone sees the world a little differently and because of that, anyone can create something special and unique.
You may not think you are a creative person but I believe everyone has the ability to create. You may need a little motivation or try working on your creative skills. Once you come up with something, do not shout it down. You never know how well something will do until you test it out.
Successful people plunge ahead without listening to inner reservations that tell them they can’t.
Remember that everything that is out there right now started with an idea. The first step is having the vision. Then you need determination to take it further and act upon the idea. Next thing you know, you could be the next Steve Jobs.
Try working on your creative juices this week. Consume but instead of looking at products as the end all, try thinking of ways that it could be a little better.
Feeling creative yet??
Get those creative juices flowing
May 26, 2014 Monday
COLD TURKEY
Say good bye to sugar :)
Happy Memorial Day to everyone!! As you are enjoying time with friends and family today remember to cherish your freedom. Thank God for the men that fought and died for it. Say a prayer for all the family members that lost their loved ones.
Now, if you have been following along with us in this journey to quitting sugar, we are now entering the third week. This week, we will be quitting everything COLD TURKEY.
It may sound scary but if you have been following along and making the proper adjustments in your diet these past two weeks, it will not be nearly as hard as you think.
This means, for the next three weeks, we will not consume fresh or dried fruit, juices, granola, jams, condiments and sauces, yogurts, honey, agave, any kind of sugar and especially no chocolate or soda.
The reason we are excluding these things from our diet for three weeks is to get a proper detox, cleanse from all the sugar that is in our system and blood stream. This will allow our bodies to start over as if it never had sugar in the first place.
After these three weeks we do begin to bring fruit back into our diet.
The three weeks of no sugar flew by for me. It started and the next thing I knew, it was over. It did take up to the third and part of the next week to really detox the junk out of my system and you can feel it leaving.
In Sarah Wilson’s 8 week program in her book, “I Quit Sugar” she gives us some helpful hints on how to read labels of products to see if it is okay for us to eat during this time of our cleanse.
If sugar is the first or second ingredient in the list of ingredients, that is a big, red flag. Don’t eat it.
Read the list of ingredients on every product you are considering consuming. Any form of sweetener is not good, except for brown rice syrup (in small amounts).
Dairy has 11g of sugar naturally and that is okay, but if a dairy product has more than that, it is a no go.
Drink a lot of water. This will keep you from wanting any drink that contains sugar and will also speed up the detox process.
I found that as I was going through these three weeks that I drank a lot more coffee (black) than I normally would. I actually had to remind myself to drink water because for some reason, my body was not letting me know that I was thirsty but I could tell because my skin and my hair were getting dry.
Watch carefully for the different signs that your body is giving you. Pay extra close attention to everything that you put into your system.
When I started these three weeks, I would have very rare, short moments of desiring a sweet treat. But they would leave just as fast as they came. Sugar is not even half as tempting as it used to be now that I know what it does to me.
I am here for you if you have any questions as you are going through your detox. I will be your support. You can do it :)
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Never Quit
I am gearing up for the Never Quit 5K on Jacksonville beach this weekend. I picked up my outfit at 1st Place Sports Running at the Town Center and I am ready to go.
These outfits are so awesome!! The words and images are made out of 3M reflector material and were put on each piece of every garment by hand.
www.neverquitnever.com
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 27, 2014 Tuesday
ANTIOXIDANTS & ...
2 to 3 servings a day
Antioxidants are very beneficial for keeping your skin healthy and younger looking and feeling. They help fight against all the other free radicals that are trying to destroy your skin. Cortisol, on the other hand, affects your skins ability to regenerate.
The most exciting part about antioxidants is that if you are eating right, you are already benefiting your skin and health.
We each should be taking in 2 to 3 servings of each of these antioxidants a day. Below are the 5 major antioxidants that we need and the foods that you can find them in:
Vitamin A - liver, eggs, carrots, spinach
Vitamin C - broccoli, bell peppers, oranges, spinach
Beta Carotene - carrots, broccoli
Vitamin E - nuts, green leafy veggies
Omega-3 Fatty Acids - walnuts, salmon, flaxseed oil
Notice, a big percentage of these antioxidants are found in vegetables, namely spinach.
Dr. Robert M. Freund in his book, “A More Beautiful You,” gives us a few ways that we can reduce the effects of cortisol so that your skin is able to regenerate itself easier.
First, increase your meal frequency to every two to three hours. Second, take time to really relax. Lastly, get enough sleep at night.
One little extra beauty tip for you today to help you on your quitting sugar journey, excess sugar in your bloodstream speeds up the aging process.
Now we know what foods to eat, how often to eat them, what to avoid and the importance of sleep and relaxation. We are set to having more healthy and radiant skin - without any products having to be applied.
My skin feels better all ready.
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Sister's Night Out
Having a night out with your sister or the girls requires primping and picking fun outfits that you do not get to wear often.
I do not know what my sister is wearing but the dress I have on is from Express.
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 28, 2014 Wednesday
AGE APPROPRIATE
Confidence is key to classy
Getting older means experimenting with different styles and outfits to see what fits you for your new season in life. It can be hard for some women transitioning from one stage of style to the next.
We have gotten used to one way for so long that we may not realize it is time for us to change. And change, what do we change to? What is best for my age bracket? What looks best on my body type?
And some of us just refuse to grow up lol. I plead guilty, sometimes.
Thankfully, Kim Johnson Gross, in her book, “What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life,” gave us a good list of what it means to dress age appropriately.
Some of these we have covered before, but read through and see if there are any new tips you can apply to your closet and style.
Age Appropriate means:
Finding a balance - Trusting your gut and not your fears - Being mindful of body changes and rethinking what you wear to flatter them - Dressing to feel comfortable with yourself - Not giving up on style - Tight is too tight - Flattering your body instead of wearing a trend - Being mindful of how you bare your legs - Quality over trend - Not wearing head to toe matching designer clothes - Confidence is the best thing to wear - Dressing for your own pleasure - Not wearing souvenir t-shirts
I am still learning that somethings do not quiet look appropriate on me as they once did when I was a teenager.
Fashion and style is a constant learning process but it is very rewarding getting the perfect outfit matched with priceless confidence.
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
New Dresses
I hope you are already for my line to come out to stores near you by next spring. This is a sample of the back of one of the designs that I am getting ready to send to my manufacture.
Coming soon to www.kingdomdezign.com and stores near you.
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 29, 2014 Thursday
DROWNING
Time for some
R & R
Talking with a friend earlier today, we were discussing how we just want to be able to do it all. We want to spend time with our loved ones, work jobs we love, work out, do all these things.
But we pile high our plates and get into these ruts where we feel like we are drowning from all of our responsibilities. Just recently, I started feeling that way, not for the first time. It can be disheartening when you get into these ruts.
They can cause you to want to give up. Quit it all. But in reality, all you need is a break. You just need to get away from it all. Allow yourself some fresh air, read a book or two, clear your mind and then after that, you are ready to take it all on again. Or maybe not all of it.
We do not want to give up on any of our dreams or the things we are working on. So when these moments hit, just remember they will leave as quickly as they come. It really is just your body saying, “Hey, give me a little R & R.”
So instead of throwing a fit and throwing in the towel, why don’t you just take a small break. Allow yourself time to regroup and then jump back in the ring.
In the time that you take to clear your mind, try to think of some things you could let go so that you do not end up feeling like you are drowning only months later.
If the water is getting over your head, it is time to get out of the water.
I am taking a vacation to the mountains later this summer. But that is still a few months away so I will take a few days off from working on and thinking about all of my projects so that I can allow myself to get back on track, at least to make it until my big vaca!!
What can you do to get yourself out of the rut??
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Cute & Simple
I love black tops. For a while, that seemed to be all I was buying. I had to train myself to look for something else. But they go great with everything. That is my excuse and I am sticking to it.
Black top from Nine West, pink floral skirt from Wet Seal.
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 30, 2014 Friday
GIFTS
Loving in every language
Love is a deep, mysterious ACTION. In fact, love is and can be expressed in numerous actions. We all love and feel love differently.
If you have not read “The Five Love Languages” by Dr. Gary Chapman, it is a must read if you ever want to have any form of deep relationship with anyone: family, friends or a mate. His book also helps you discover your own love language if you do not know it already.
Dr. Chapman goes into depth explaining how humans love and feel love in 5 different ways.
Today, we will discuss one of the love languages. The language of gifts.
Some people show love to the ones they care the most about in the form of giving gifts. Then there are people that feel the most love from others when they receive gifts.
It does not have to be anything big or expensive. It could even be something homemade. But to them, it shows that you were thinking about them and that causes their “love bank” to fill up.
We all give and receive love in different ways from everyone in our lives. Someone could be pouring love on you and you may not even know it.
So we all have these “love banks” and when people love you in your language, your bank begins to fill up. In turn, you should be pouring the love back and filling their banks up.
It is important to be able to express the way that you love for those you love. But if you truly love someone, you will study them and find what their love language is and begin showering them with love in their own language as well.
This is one of the reasons why love can be so hard to understand. It is like we are speaking in so many different languages and hearing in different languages. So we must learn to love in other languages.
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Makeover
One thing that I love to do is take clothes and make them over into something new. That is part of the clothes designer in me.
The skirt that I have one was once a long sleeved dress. The top is from Ross.
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister
May 31, 2014 Saturday
WEBINAIR
Are you ready for it ????
For this Saturday’s surprise, I am pleased to announce our fist webinair will be showing on Sunday, June 8th from 6pm to 8pm EST. We will have a sneak peek showing of the webinair earlier in the week and that time will be announced later.
Our first webinair will be free to all viewers so you can invite your friends to watch it. I will put up the instructions on how to view it later this week.
It may not be as exciting as the ones to come but it will be informational and interactive. I am inviting anyone and everyone who is watching during the 2 hour time period to e-mail or facebook us any questions or comments and we will respond back to you right away.
The webinair will not be two hours in length, not even a half an hour long, but it will be available for the two hour period to view.
I am looking forward to Bringing BeaUtiful Back’s first webinair and I am looking forward to hearing from all my readers. You are all deeply loved and Oh, so beautiful!!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Outfit of BEAUTY of the Day
Slimming
I do not wear dresses like this one often. But I love how they are so slimming and just follow the curve of my body. And the slit - slits are fun too.
This dress is made by Calypso and is from Ashlegryre boutique on the beach in Florida.
Photo Taken by Karissa Hagemeister