by | May 8, 2016 | Inspirations |
Hello Beautiful People,
Today is Mothers Day and it’s suppose to be a special day, right?
Well, many people are celebrating and having fun with their mothers and families, however for many it can be a day that they can’t wait until it’s over.
My mother
My mother’s highschool graduation picture before going off to college
My mother passed away almost 22 years ago. I know she is with the Lord in heaven, however I do miss her. I see people enjoying the day, saying what they did with their mother or how they spent the holiday. Am I jealous? No, but it makes me think of how she and my Dad raised me. I am not supposed to cry; but sometimes I do.
Happy Mothers Day! How many children do you have?
No birth children, my hubby and I have two fur babies that are very energetic and spoiled. As I reflect when my husband and I got married right after the honeymoon, we realized that we would be taking care of my dad, there was no baby in the plan. I had no brothers or sisters to help with making sure meals were prepared or taking turns to go to doctors visits, etc. I am not asking for sympathy that’s just how it was.
My Daddy was priority and thank the Lord I have a husband who was there with me all the way when we were taking care of my Dad.
My Grandmother
My Grandmother and I at Union Station
My Grandmother went to be with the Lord seventeen years ago. She’s an inspiration and worked hard to provide for her family. She was there for me in many ways and a great role model.
My Aunt
My Aunt DJ, my mother’s sister is special to me and my husband. She lives out of town; but we are very close and if she needs me I am there for her.
I have 3 nieces and 3 nephews by marriage that I have seen grow up, graduate and do great things and that’s a blessing. Seeing them in our wedding and now they are working, married and with their own kids, going off to college and graduating from high school is pretty amazing. They grow up so fast. I am an only child so being an Aunt is special. I don’t get to see them as much because we don’t stay in the same town, but hubby and I make sure we keep in contact.
Make sure you celebrate Aunties Day on July 24, 2016!
This is a great saying from Melanie Notkin, Founder and Author of Savvy Auntie
“Babies are born from the womb.
Maternity is born from the soul.
There are many ways to mother.”
What’s so special about Mothers Day!
That I realized God is my mother and my father because both of my parents are with the Lord. Spending time with my heavenly Father and focusing on a relationship with him not just lip service soothes my soul.
Psalms 23 (Message Bible)
A David Psalm
23 1-3 God, my shepherd!
I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
4 Even when the way goes through
Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure.
5 You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
6 Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life.
If Mothers Day is not such a great holiday for you and you can’t wait for Monday to come, I am praying that the Lord would comfort you and wrap his loving arms around you because you are his child.
by | May 1, 2016 | Beauty, Food |
Hello Beautiful people,
It rained and hailed tonight right after hubby and I got home from church, thank the Lord the pellets were small and did not damage our Jeep or our house. Seeing lightning so clearly on the horizon as we drove home reconfirms that it is spring. After dinner, I had a few more steps to get in to reach my 10,000 daily goal. I realized how much I work out my body – with weights, Zumba, Daily Burn and other forms of exercise. While exercise is important, it is also good to take vitamins and supplements to give your body the extra nutrients that it needs. One key area, but often overlooked, is taking a supplement for your eyes. For the past month, I have been taking Vision Support 1000 Lutein Eye Supplement, which can be purchased on Amazon for $12.99.
Vision Support 1000 Lutein Eye Supplement
The company says on the bottle Vision Support Lutein Eye Supplement will
Promote healthy vision
Support Maximum Eye Support
Eye Strain Aid
The capsules contain Vitamin A, Zinc (as aspartate) Quercetin, Lutein, Lycopene, Bilberry, L-Taurine, Grape seed (95% extract),N-Acetyl1-L-Cysteine
Other ingredients:
Gelatin, Stearic Acid, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Slicone Dioxide and Magnesium Stearate.
For me, a typical day includes working on the computer for many hours and using my iPad or Kindle. It is a necessity for me to make sure that I look away from the screen at regular intervals, at least every 15 to 30 minutes. Taking a vision supplement is an added benefit for overall eye health; and making sure you get an annual eye checkups. Please check with your physician to see if a vision supplement is right for you.
DISCLAIMER:
I received this bottle of Vision Support Eye Supplement at a discounted price in order to write this review. I did not receive any monetary compensation. All opinions are strictly my own.
by | Apr 30, 2016 | Beauty, Fashion |
Whether you’re going for a romantic dinner or a trip to the cinema, when you’re on a date you want to look your best. This is the perfect opportunity to spend some quality time with your special someone. So you understandably want to look and feel your absolute best. Getting ready for date night is something that many women look forward to the most. Instead of just sticking to your everyday look, you can make more of an effort and get dressed up. This can make any woman feel more confident and beautiful. To help you achieve the most flawless finish possible, here are some at-home beauty treatments you should try.
JT out with her hubby at a special event.
Teeth Whitening
Who doesn’t love having a bright looking smile? Teeth whitening has become a highly popular beauty treatment that you can do yourself at home. You can use toothpaste, bleaching trays or strips to help you get a celebrity worthy smile. They can remove stains and yellowing on your teeth while also making them look healthier and cleaner. It also takes little time to get the results you desire. Making them an ideal treatment to prepare you for a romantic date night. Do your research into the different types of teeth whitening before you buy. You can read reviews on the best teeth whitening strips here or ask for guidance at your local beauty counter.
Conditioning hair mask
Hairs masks are a brilliant beauty treatment that will make your hair look healthy and shiny. They are quick and easy to apply and have long-lasting results. Making them perfect for your date night beauty regime. You can buy pre-made hair masks from reputable brands such as Aussie and L’Oreal from most drug stores. Just make sure buy one that is suitable for your hair type and that works in little time. Or you can create your own using ingredients from your kitchen. Egg yolks, olive oil, and mayonnaise can all be combined to create a nourishing hair mask. Find out more on making your own hair mask here. Your hair will have never felt so soft and looked so glossy.
Face and Body Scrub
If you want to have soft and smooth skin all over, a body scrub is the perfect beauty treatment for you. This will exfoliate your skin and remove dead skin cells, makeup and dirt from your pores. This will make your skin glow and also makes it easier to apply your makeup evenly. Again, you can make your own face and body scrub using coconut oil, brown sugar, and lemon. Or you can read reviews on exfoliating scrubs online. Never scrub too hard as this can cause damage to your skin and always consider your skin type before you buy. Your date won’t be able to stop looking at you when your skin looks this clean and clear.
JT and her hubby at home after a special night out.
Give yourself plenty of time to try these beauty treatments out before your date night begins. You’re bound to receive endless compliments from your boyfriend or husband about how good you look. Which is bound to make you feel incredible throughout the date.
by | Apr 25, 2016 | Fashion |
Hello Beautiful People!
What a week!
I found out that Prince passed away on Thursday when I arrived back at work from my from lunch break. I could not believe it. At first, I thought, it could not be true?!? Sadly, the reports that I was hearing turned out to be true. Prince was an icon, a musical genius, and a true professional who had a heart for helping people.
I celebrate Prince’s life, I never met him nor did get a chance to go to one of his concerts, but i enjoyed a lot of his music. I could not listen to Prince’s music as a young girl because my parents would not allow me. We use to have this show here in the Lou called Friday Night Videos. I had a chance to see the video for When Doves Cry. I practiced and practiced and was able to get the moves down pat, including his signature scream. I was not allowed to listen to the radio because my parents never knew what song might be playing. My Dad was an avid Jazz enthusiast, so I may get a chance to turn the channel to catch some pop tunes; but it was mostly Jazz for me growing up. When I was in high school I had to exchange gifts with one of my classmates. I but don’t remember exactly what was the reason for the gift exchange. But my friend wanted the Purple Rain album. I knew that I could not get that one for myself, so chose another favorite of mine, Wham! I know you are saying, you can buy it for someone else; but not yourself? Hey, I didn’t ask questions, I followed the directions and that made for a happy household.
I remember watching the Raspberry Beret video and I asked my mother if she could get me my very own beret from JCPenney. The beret was white with leather trim. I remember the lyrics, …”The kind you buy in a second hand store.”
Another memory I have was of guy who thought he was Prince. He would dress in purple and I would see him walking down the street dancing in his own world. He was the boyfriend of a girl I was friends with while in high school. When I would be on the bus going to school, he would motion for the bus driver for his stop and he would do a spin and jump up and go into splits before he got off the bus. It was pretty amazing to see the influence Prince had on him.
My style file today is dedicated to Purple Rain and the influence that Prince had on fashion for both men and women.
I decided to wear my purple Bob Mackie 3/4 quarter length cardigan for church today. The design amassed with pallets and black embroidery that highlights the cardigan reminds me of rain. Prince was never afraid of incorporating lace, sequins or pearls in his wardrobe and still be masculine.
My hubby and I wore purple on Sunday, he wore a purple cotton shirt and I wore a black shirt with my Bob Mackie cardigan.
I didn’t wear a necklace because I thought the cardigan spoke for itself, however I wore a purple drusey ring and a fashion bracelet that was gifted to me.
The outfit worked and the purple is a deep color and means royalty.
This is one of my favorite videos, Diamonds and Pearls. When I heard this song, I bought some a 36″ strand of pearls from a girl at school named Rochelle. She sold fashion jewelry when I was in high school. I wore those pearls with all sorts of outfits.
In interviews Prince was soft-spoken; but didn’t take any stuff off of anyone and would get his point across. Videos of Prince from loving fans are being taken off Youtube because Prince was very specific about his musical content and who had access to it. This is a vintage interview below I watched on Youtube with Larry King interviewing Prince whom at the time called himself “The Artist.” In this interview he was married at the time and gives you a little glimpse why he called himself the Artist and how he felt about his music.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8mg7CxAYUM[/youtube]
He wrote his own songs and if he wanted to make sure his music was filtered the way he wanted to into various outlets then he had the right to do so.
Prince wanted this video taken down but it’s Radiohead’s song so it’s still up on Youtube.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFXZNt4oLkE[/youtube]
This was his final appearance on the Arsenio Hall show in 2014 below.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYK4o6o1YFo[/youtube]
I miss Prince and celebrating his life, his music will live on forever.
*I linked a Youtube that wasn’t uploaded by me of a video of Diamonds and Pearls in this story; however, it had been taken down which I was not surprised at all. I included in its place some good interviews with Larry King and Arsenio Hall in case you missed them. Also, included to video, 2008 Coachella, Prince performing Creep.
by | Apr 17, 2016 | Beauty |
Hello Beautiful People,
Today was beautiful, a little warm, about 80 degrees. I was doing my walk to reach my 10,000 steps and I could tell the difference very quickly when I hyped up the momentum. Hopefully it will stay in the 70s for a while longer, I was getting use to those cool breezes.
Well with it getting warmer and were shedding the sweaters, turtlenecks and coats. More focus is on the face and our skin. The number one anti-aging benefit is plump, moisturized skin. How do we get that? First, you need a good serum before you put on your moisturizer. A serum acts as an anti-aging force that elevates your moisturizer to a new level. I have been using the Valentia Clear Lift Revitalizing Serum that claims to support natural circulation of an all over youthful and revitalized complexion.
Other benefits:
Repair Refresh Renew
Renews texture and tone
Deeply moisturizes
Minimizes fine lines (This is a bonus)
Increases elasticity (Another bonus)
Brightens and corrects (Youthful glow)
The serum goes on smooth and feels very soft on the skin after I cleanse my face.
Key Ingredients:
Source:Valentia
Wake Bioferment (Seaweed): Increase skin oxygen consumption to detoxify and boost antioxidant defense.
Gotu kola:Lessons the appearance of scars and increase skin firmness.
Lactic Acid:A natural Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHA) that increases skin cell turnover, for healthier renewed skin.
Licorice:Lightens unwanted pigmentation and corrects skin discoloration.
Argan oil:Naturally rich in Vitamin E, this oil reduces water loss and protects skin resiliency and elasticity.
Valentia Clearlift Revitalizing Serum is cruelty free, paraben free and suitable for all skin types. The serum contains 98% natural ingredients, it contains phenoxyethanol which is the last ingredient on the box. I wonder why they didn’t go for 100% but I digress, the phenoxyethanol is the last ingredient so it’s not much in the serum.
image from Amazon.com
How to use the serum?
The directions state that you can use 1-2 pumps after cleansing face and follow with your favorite moisturizer and eye product. Before I put on the serum I use a couple of drops of Argan oil on my face rubbing it in a circular motion, this feels so good. One pump was all I need for my face and neck. After that I used a moisturizer and eye cream. In the daytime make sure you are using a good SPF and even better if its in your moisturizer.
Overall, I really like the serum and the benefits of anti aging for the face and neck. It didn’t sit on the skin and absorbed very well and my face felt moisturized and hydrated. The Valentia Clearlift Revitalizing Serum retails for $35.00 and can be purchased on Amazon.com.
Bubblingwitheleganceandgrace.com purchased the Valentia Clearlft Revitalizing Serum at a discounted price and the opinions are honest and come from the heart.
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