Health is such an over-discussed topic that we can analyze it until we are blue in the face! We can live one type of diet, and find that it’s completely wrong for us. And for those people that really think they’re living a healthy lifestyle, but they seem to feel terrible all the time, is it about undergoing a certain regime or is it about something completely different? Let’s try and unravel the health fundamentals we all need in which to thrive every day.
JTwisdom
Drink Your Water! Yes, it is pretty obvious, but when we live such a busy lifestyle, we can forget to give our bodies an adequate amount of H2O. Water makes up approximately 60% of our bodies, and not only is it great for your internal organs, but it can make a big difference to your skin and you will notice the difference when you are dehydrated. For most people that feel sluggish, we need to ask themselves if they are hydrating efficiently. It’s not a very difficult thing to keep on top of, but if you are very busy, here are some of the best water drinking apps to ensure you get your minimum of 1.5 liters a day. And for those that exercise and sweat a lot, it’s even more!
Moving As Much As You Can Depending on how much you weigh, you may need to move around more, but if you live a sedentary lifestyle, and commute to the office, before sitting down all day, don’t be surprised that when you hit 40, everything starts to hurt a little bit more! We all need to get up and move around a lot more, and this isn’t a very difficult thing to do, but we need to actively look at if we’re doing enough to get that heart pumping. If we don’t, then we have to take some extra steps, metaphorically and literally!
Looking At Your Happiness Your health isn’t just your skin and your organs and your muscles, but it’s that grey matter in between your ears. To be healthy, it’s not just enough to go to the gym, but to thrive each and every day, especially in a busy world, we need to ensure that we are of sound mind. And of course, there is no such thing as normal, but we need to feel comfortable in our own skin so that we can enjoy every day the way it was meant to be. Stress and anxiety are so common now that we all feel that we’re thinking outside of our heads. We have numerous pressures placed on us, and it’s hardly a surprise that mental health issues are so widely discussed. Learning how to be happy isn’t an overnight fix, but by adding little changes to your life, you can feel the benefits.
We can overthink diet and exercise, but when we want to function on a basic level every single day, we have to listen to our bodies and minds, but understand the fundamentals that keep us functioning.
Hope you are having a wonderful day! Today marks day 17 of our 21 day fast that my hubby and I are partaking with our church. We are doing a Daniel Fast, which means we only eating fruits, vegetables, beans and nuts. No meat and no sugar. I must admit it, it’s been tough when you cannot eat the same things you are used to eating. Part of the fast is to develop a stronger relationship with God by studying the Bible. But many times knowing how to study the Word can be difficult if you do not have the right tools. Fasting is not a diet, and I reiterate fasting is not a diet; it’s working on developing a stronger spiritual connection with God.
With my partnership with LEV3L Digital and Lifeway, I had an opportunity to review a new study Bible edited by Dr. George Guthrie. Using the chronological format, Guthrie created commentary and study questions to allow the reader to get deeper into God’s word. The Bible is designed to be completed in one year and allows for one day each week for spiritual reflection.
In addition to providing me with a Bible, LEV3L Digital and Lifeway sponsored a giveawayso that one of our readers can have a Bible of their own. I am happy to announce that the winner of the giveaway is Audrey!!! Congratulations, Audrey!! You are a winner!
Audrey was selected by a random number generator of all the comments left on the giveaway’s post.
Audrey, we will be in touch with you about getting the Bible to you.
Congratulations, again!!!
Jewellery is such a great way of marking a special occasion. It is something timeless that can be treasured for a lifetime and can be worn every day as a reminder of a special moment in your life. Whatever the celebration, jewellery is always a real treat to receive and makes that personal milestone or moment of celebration even more memorable! Here are just a few ways that you can use jewellery to make those special milestones for you and your loved ones even more magical!
image courtesy of Muru Jewelry
To celebrate a new baby The birth of a child is always a cause for celebration whether it’s the birth of a relative or a new addition to a friend’s family. For the newborn child, an engraved christening bangle is a classic way to welcome a new baby into the world. For a new mother, the options for a thoughtful and personal gift are virtually endless. You can get really creative and create your own customised gift that is unique and personal to the new mom. Here are just a few ideas for a magical baby memento;
— A simple initial necklace is a special way to celebrate the birth of a new child. Wearing your child’s initial is a great way to keep them close to your heart at all times.
— Lockets are a beautiful way to store a meaningful keepsake. You can choose a special photo or even a lock of the baby’s hair to keep them close each day.
— Fingerprint or footprint jewellery is a memorable way to keep a record of your babies early years. This involves making an ink-less impression of the babies hand or footprint which is then miniaturised and carefully incorporated into a handcrafted and highly unique jewellery design.
Weddings & Bridesmaids Gifts Many hours are spent organising the bride’s outfit for the big day, but choosing jewellery that compliments the dress is equally important too. You don’t always need to wear something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue but wearing an old piece of jewellery that has been handed down by a parent or grandparent is a meaningful way to remember loved ones past and present as you start a new chapter in your life.
You can also make the brides big day even more memorable with a wedding gift that symbolises her new found love. Nothing symbolises the unity of marriage more than two entwined rings or a love knot design. Both can be beautifully engraved with the bride and groom’s names for extra meaning. The infinity symbol is also represented in many bridal gifts and is the perfect jewellery design to represent the enduring nature of love. For the maid of honour and the bridesmaids, jewellery is a great way to say thank you. Phil Barnes, the founder of Muru Jewellery believes that “Jewellery is a great way to show the special people in your life how much you care. By finding a special meaning that suits your loved one’s personality, you can make them feel special every day.”
image courtesy of Muru Jewelry
Birthdays & Anniversaries Finding a truly special present for a loved one’s birthday or anniversary is not always as easy as it sounds. Jewellery is a very personal choice and is often worn as an expression of someone’s character to reflect who they are. Here are a few easy steps to help you make her birthday or anniversary one to remember;
— Treat her to a birthstone necklace which makes a uniquely personal gift and adds a touch of colour to any outfit.
— Show her that you love her to the stars and back with a zodiac necklace that features her unique birth sign.
— Chakra, dreamcatcher and talisman jewellery is an easy way to spread positivity, love and wellbeing and is a gift with a positive message.
Capture the moment and creating memories Whatever your style, jewellery is the perfect way to make those special occasions even more memorable. The jewellery we receive often occurs around meaningful moments in our lives and allows us to capture the moment and carry it with us every day.
When jewellery is meaningful and personal it evokes many memories and becomes a daily source of inspiration that will be treasured for many years to come.
~~FTC Disclaimer~~ This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links.
It could well be the most complex sell you will ever make but your home has some kind of inherent value so it also could be the easiest. It’s a double edged sword selling a home because you will always want more for it, but you know you can’t push it too far. Your home is also affected by the surroundings so in a sense you don’t always have full control when it comes to pricing. On the other hand, if you know a thing or two about interior design, the qualities that are popular in the current market and or specialist value then you can always point this out to the real estate agent. It’s okay to demand more but you have to have reasons for doing so. The sad part is, many people don’t get told the true value of their home or perhaps they don’t see the truth in it. You can avoid being ripped off and get what you should by understanding your home better.
Are you in style? Homes that are in style will always fetch a higher price when selling. They simply don’t need redecorating by the new owners and thus the price is already factored in. this can be mentioned specifically to your real estate agent who can put it in the description of the home. By doing this anyone who is interested in how the outside of the home looks, will be doubly impressed when they seek more information. Be mindful that you take pictures of the home and the interior design. The color scheme, wallpaper, flooring, and possibly even the fixtures should be included.
An accurate valuation It’s important to not rush the valuation process. No doubt you are keen to sell your home quickly but for a fair price. However larger homes need to be fully examined because space is more of a factor than say a normal or rather average home. An average home needs to have a minimal amount of rooms, while the larger a mansion or a villa is the more the price will fetch regardless of how many rooms. That’s why a company like William Pitt does accurate valuation that includes land and the home together. They offer an automated valuation tool which you can use anytime to gauge what your property as a whole might be worth. It pays to have the correct measurements so that you may gain an accurate but general valuation.
Key features If you have a garage as part of your property, you should be using that as a selling point. The key features of a home must be celebrated as more and more new homes are not featuring them. If you have a driveway this too should be advertised and made sure to be seen as something that is useful to the new owners for safety and security.
Getting the right price for your home is hard fought sometimes because there are so many factors that can get overlooked. Take proper measurements of your land and then with a professional company, gauge the real value of your home and land together.
It is a 12-degree snowy day today and it is also the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. I know I that there will be posts on Facebook and YouTube of different speeches by King giving honor to the man who preached PEACE. I know today is a day off from work for some. However, I hope that we will all take some time out to reflect what this day is all about. Embed from Getty Images
Please listen to the “I Have A Dream” Speech, by Martin Luther King, Jr.
National Archives PDF of ‘I Have A Dream‘ Speech here
What Does The I Have A Dream Speech mean to you?
I know that as a person who is a honey peach caramel complexion that I actually can sit in any seat on the bus and not be asked to get up because of the color of m skin. Also, I can drink a sip of water from any fountain or go into a restroom I choose without having to look at a sign that says, NO COLOREDS. I know that my godson can go to a school where all lovely colors are welcomed. We aren’t looking at race, but instead focusing on their knowledge.
JT with her godson, Zach.
With where the world is going today, King’s message is even more important and never gets old. His message never gets stale or trendy, no matter what the decade or century.
The naysayers say that the ‘I Have A Dream’ speech was too sappy or too sugary and that we need to fight back with hateful verbal attacks, and not with love. I believe that those naysayers are wrong and that love is the only way.
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:14 (NIV)
Hate is what started all this mess; and love, joy, and peace will be the building blocks that will change it. The I Have A Dream speech is not just for people with African dominate DNA. It is a message for the world and that is why it resonates through the ages. People try to put others in a box that represents them and we can’t because we are all unique.
This year I am celebrating each month with my hubby our 20th wedding anniversary. I married a man who has European dominate DNA. When we look at each other, we see best friends in this thing we call life, we see love. God blessed me with a man who truly loves me for me, and that runs deeper than the color of my skin.
The Media
Today we are in an age where advertisers are now placing on billboards multicultural singles, couples, and families in ads of all different kinds from buying a home to styling natural hair. That’s the way it should have always been, everyone is unique and beautiful. I hope the marketing teams of these brands keep it going at even more in an effort to be inclusive.
Reflecting I remember going on a retreat with my (future) husband in preparation for our wedding in 1999. The St. Charles Lwanga Center offered a pre-marital retreat for couples who were planning to be married in the Catholic Church. We had to take quizzes to measure compatibility and after that, you go on a retreat to meet other couples like you. We would discuss with couples such things as finances, kids, etc. before getting married because you both want to be on one accord. I was a great start because you learn to communicate with each other and talk about everything.
One day when we had a break between sessions, Jay and I went outside to get some fresh air and just hugged each other. Nothing gushy or mushy, just a simple hug. The retreat was in a predominantly African American neighborhood. A black man driving in a car stopped at a stop light and yelled, “Man what are you doing, you can’t hug her!” and drove off. We just looked at each other in astonishment that this was happening in 1999. Well, that didn’t stop us and here we are twenty years later. Some would say that this wasn’t racism because African Americans are not capable of being racist because they were oppressed then and now. Love goes beyond color of the skin. Racism can come in all shapes and sizes and it takes love to stop it in its tracks.
Jay and T at the Pre-marital retreat, back in 1999
What does the I Have A Dream speech mean to you? And what are you doing to make it a reality in your life? What is your dream today?
Learn More About JT
Bubbling with Elegance and Grace started out as an outlet for my passion for fashion but has evolved into a place for me to teach, collaborate, and inspire. My hubby has since joined the team and we have been digital creators for 13 years. We are thankful for those who believed in us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
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