Consequence

Consequence: the effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier. 

We come to the fork in the road where we are presented with an option. Do we veer to the left or to the right? To the left is the way that we are supposed to go but for some reason to the right seems like a much better option at the time. As humans we tend to veer to the right. There is a verse in the bible that I want to share with you that I think fits perfectly into our topic and that is Romans 7:14-25. This is a very long passage but I feel that it needs to be shared,


¹⁴ So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. ¹⁶ But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.¹⁸ And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[d] I want to do what is right, but I can’t. ¹⁹ I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. ²⁰ But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.²¹ I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. ²² I love God’s law with all my heart. ²³ But there is another power^[e] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.²⁴ Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? ²⁵ Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.


To the right is consequences and to the left is the truth. Now just because we tell the truth doesn't mean that we won't get a consequence and I am a living testimony to that as I am sure most teens are but it does mean that we could receive a lesser consequence because we decided to do what was right. I think Usher puts it perfectly "My mind is telling me no but my body's telling me yes!" Now I think we all know what he may be talking about but we can really apply that to any situation that is going on in our lives. Whether its alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, sugar, caffeine, coffee, male attention, sex, cutting, deception, lying, manipulation. Any situation we may be dealing with we can use Romans and Usher quotes and they apply to it. I know that I struggle a lot with telling the truth because I fear the consequence but what I found out through an experience that I had this past weekend is that it doesn't matter you need to tell the truth at all times. Its hard and believe me when you think about the consequences if you've already committed the action its 20 times harder to do what is right but that is why I encourage you to think before you act. Yes, it is an elementary principle that we all have learned but few of us apply it including myself. I was once told that is you take 8 seconds to think about something before you say or do it your decision will change and thats because you have gotten over the impulse and started to think rationally. So I encourage all of you when you are standing at that fork in the road veer to the left and not to the right. Take that extra 8 seconds before you respond and ask yourself if I partake in this is it only for temporary pleasure that could change long term goals. Consequences aren't fun and no one likes them so let's try to avoid what we can to get them. 

Memorial Day Weekend Outfit

I think that this outfit declares Memorial Weekend but as we all know its been scorching hot and humid outside. So shorts are needed and the sweater may be long sleeves but its see through so put on a little white tank with it and feel cool in the scorching hot, fashionable, and up to date. 

Just The Way You Are

All I can say women is that we are beautiful just the way we are. God made us the way that were supposed to be so stop comparing yourself to other women because you're not them and if God wanted you to look like that well then he would've made you her twin! Fact is as women we struggle with our self esteem but thats mostly because we put our esteem in worldly things and we shouldn't. Find our identity in christ not worldly things...I struggle with this too but I have to daily remind myself that Jesus loves me just the way I am I challenge you to do the same!

Quote of the Day

Some days are harder than others to find things to blog about. But I came across this quote and decided to share it with my followers. When certain situations happen in our lives we often find ourselves questioning God, ourselves, and the people are us. Whether we have the right to question these people is the true question. Nobody knows why certain things happen except for our heavenly Father! We may ask him why is this happening to me I'm such a good person or God you know I don't deserve this please get me out of this situation and sometimes we get an answer and sometimes we don't. When we don't get an answer that doesn't mean God is ignoring us that means that he is giving us some time to think about our situation. And most times when we think God didn't answer us he really did but were just too busy to notice it. God doesn't always speak directly to us and I definitely had to learn that. He can speak to us through other people, through a song, through the bible, through prayer, and through confirmations. When I remember that God speaks to us all in different ways then I start to remember that I need to start listening in different ways also. I want to leave you with this verse today, 1 Corinthians 10:13 it states "No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it." (MSG version) 

LOVE!

Love means a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. As humans we love others and ourselves but its when we love others that we get ourselves hurt. We all have those people in our lives that we just can't seem to get off of our minds. It doesn't matter if they don't like you back or even know you exist somehow someway you love them. Love may just be a 4 letter word but its what holds the world together and what mends broken hearts. Love can be nice and can hurt and when it hurts it takes that one special person to mend your heart back together so that you can love again. Love can take days, weeks, months, years to develop however love is never complete. Why? because theres always room for a little bit more love in this life. We can love others more or love ourselves. I've fallen in love, gotten hurt, and my heart has been mended. I don't know what this relationship is or what it entails but I feel this deep passionate affection for this one person. I think that I may be in love.........

Why do we even need LOVE?

When I lye awake at night all I think about is you
How you made me laugh and how you made me sad
How you knew when something was bothering me
Always seemed to puzzle me 
Because we didn't even know each other for that long
But yet you always told me that I was strong-
er than my circumstances.


I don't think you know how you made me feel inside
Last night all I did was lye awake and cry
Because I can't get over you
and I don't know how you expect me to
You can't tell me that you didn't feel the same
That I didn't give you butterflies every time you uttered my name
Because I know I did
Now why can't you just admit it?

You took my heart and broke it in two
and I know I did the same for you
I know that things are complicated 
and trust me I really hate it
Because every time I said I hate you
I was really whispering I love you
But its not the same for you
You were just using me, weren't you?


Know that I now the truth I can say what I really
want to.........
And that is I hate you!
I hate how you made me laugh 
I hate how you  made me sad
I hate how I let you inside
I hate how you made me cry
I hate how I can't get you off of my mind
I hate how I was so blind
to what you were doing to me
I really hate you for using me
I hate that I have to pick up the broken pieces of my heart
and put them back together and heal from the start
I wish I never met you but at the end of the day
I hate to say but I still love you...

Keith Haring

Keith Haring was born on May 4, 1958.Keith Haring was 30 years old when he died. He started the Keith Haring foundation in 1989. The foundation is set up to provide funding and imagery to AIDS organizations and children's programs. He started this organization because he was diagnosed with AIDS one year earlier. Keith Haring achieved international fame due to his artwork but sadly died from AIDS when he was only 31 years old. Even though he died doesn't mean that his legacy wasn't left behind. He turned a bad situation into a great testimony. He may of had AIDS but he didn't let himself be defined by that. Instead of moping around he got up and decided to do something with his life. He started an organization to help those with his conditions. I think we can all apply this to our lives. Life may throw you lemons but are you going to make lemonade or try to make coffee? Do something that when you die you can be proud of. 

Loving it

Tell me you guys are not absolutely loving this outfit. I know you are go ahead and admit it. I am killing for the shoes, they are smoking hott. They may be 5 1/2 inch heels and I may be 6 feet tall and my feet may kill me every step of the way when I wear these but I am loving this outfit. Tell me what you think!!


Britney

Abstruse, word or encouragement?

Abstruse means difficult to comprehend. 


As I was thinking about what to write, my mind became blank. I am dealing with LIFE right now and its not always an easy thing. So I decided hey, lets see what the word of the day is? And wow, abstruse just hit me smack dab in the face. 


I am 17 and just got my license on Sunday. My family doesn't have a car to give me so I had to become an adult, save my money, and work 45/50 hour weeks to save up for a car. They also don't have the money to help me with my insurance and wow, is that expensive. 901, every 6 months to be specific. I started freaking out once I found out what I had to pay for insurance. I couldn't comprehend the difficulties that were going on around me. All I saw was I did what I was supposed to do and save my money so why is everything going wrong. Yesterday I went to go look at cars and test drove 4 cars. The first two were complete duds and ugly. There were obviously a NO, then I test drove the 3 car. It was a 99 Mazda 626 Lx, and it was perfect. Yes, its a 99 but it is mechanically sound and I can actually fit into the car, which is a major plus because I am 6 feet tall. Then we test drove a 2 door Lexus and wow was it fast and sweet looking. I would have to buy a new battery though and a paint job was desperately needed and again it was 2 doors. So I decided that the Lexus was not the car for me even though I really wanted it it wasn't realistic so I went with the Mazda. My dad talked the guy down to 2350 and I went to the bank to take out the money and buy my very first car. Once we got back the guy gave me sad news, that they didn't have the title. I was crushed because without a title you can't buy the car. The guy said that the guy who had the title should be bringing it buy on Friday, which means that I could have my car by Friday. This whole situation, with insurance being so expensive then my car not working out in my timing, was abstruse. 


My dad later explained that God is on my side and when times like these happen often God is saying hey rely on me and I will talk care of you. Don't fret for the Lord they God is with you. At first, I couldn't comprehend it but once I asked God to calm my spirit then I was able to. I am no longer stumped by this whole situation I am relying on the God that can and will take care of me. God knows the desires of my heart and if I lean on him, trust him, and do His will not my own he will give me the desires of my heart. In the bible it states ask and ye shall receive. Well I am asking the King of the whole world, my Father, to please allow this situation to be in my favor. I believe that come Friday I will get the 99 Mazda 626 Lx and if not God will send an even better car my way. Whats a little money and a title compared to my God who holds the universe in my hands, its nothing.

This may be my situation and what I am dealing with but it can apply to anything. Don't be discouraged because you are abstruse by a situation, ask your heavenly Father and as long as you're doing what you're supposed to do and following God's will, He will take care of you. This may have been the word of the day but I believe that this is the encouragement for life. Take care! 

Outfit of the Day

I think that this outfit is just so cute. Especially on a cold windy day, it definitely works. Did you know that today is supposed to be the coldest day in April. Well, at least we will get it done and over with right? Bring on the summer that's all I really want. But let me know if ya'll like this outfit. I know I do

Unknown

 As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let us down, probably will. You'll have your heart broken and you'll break others' hearts. You'll fight with your best friend or maybe even fall in love with them, and you'll cry because time is flying by. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, forgive freely, and love like you've never been hurt. Life comes with no guarantees, no time outs, no second chances. you just have to live life to the fullest, tell someone what they mean to you and tell someone off, speak out, dance in the pouring rain, hold someone's hand, comfort a friend, fall asleep watching the sun come up, stay up late, be a flirt, and smile until your face hurts. Don't be afraid to take chances or fall in love and most of all, live in the moment because every second you spend angry or upset is a second of happiness you can never get back. 

WANTED- Hunter Hayes

Hunter Hayes has become one of my favorite artist in country music today. I fell in love with this song the very first time I heard it. I think it's because when I find that special someone I can only wish that he will make me want to feel this way. I want to be special to someone and I know that God has the perfect man out there for me. When I say perfect I really mean perfect for me. I know that God has a man that I can only dream of and even though right now I can't see it and most days I struggle with feeling beautiful I know that God knows the desire of my hearts and by me following his will I can only hope that God will bring me my soul mate. I love this song and hope that all of you will too. Listen to it and let the words of the song compel your heart. Let the words make you feel wanted by someone even if you already are or if you only desire that feeling of being wanted by someone. 

ONE DAY WITHOUT SHOES

Will you give up your shoes today so kids in Africa don't have to?

For More Information go to: www.toms.com and join in on the campaign.

Comes a Time Tattoo

About 3 months ago I got my dath pierced at this amazing tattoo/piercing shop in downtown fairfax. It's called Comes A Time Tattoo. I recommend them to anyone looking to get amazing piercing and tattoos. They are awesome at both. They use this special type of metal so that their is no infection. I went yesterday to get my traditional ring out and to get this awesome heart shaped earring. As you can tell there are no balls in the earring because the shape is what holds it in my ear. Pretty cool, huh?

Also, yesterday when I went I got my rook pierced too. The rook is the earring with the two metal balls on it.  I mean how can you go into a tattoo/piercing placed and not get something done. Jen(my piercer) did such an amazing job. I mean look barely any redness and no dried blood or crusties on my ear. Im telling you, they are amazing. They make you feel so welcomed when you go in there and they are so age appropriate. Also, they all have private sectioned off rooms,
with no dirty pictures or tv shows going on. My mom took my 8 year old sister in there to get her ears pierced. They made her feel so comfortable and even took her picture to put in the piercing album. If that doesn't say great customer service I don't know what does. Now Emily won't even let us touch her ears to change her earrings, she will only allow Jen to do it. So again, I highly recommend Comes a Time Tattoo in Fairfax. The number is: 703-383-9666. Go if you want something done, they are just amazing!! 

Word of the Day

 Most people say that you learn something new every day. I used to not believe that because I thought that it was impossible to learn something Brand Spanking new every day but boy was I wrong. You can learn something new especially when its as simple as a word you've never heard before. The Word of the Day is Penurious which means extremely poor; poverty stricken, miserly. Now I have never heard of that adjective before today. So see you can lean something new every day! Become smart-er and challenge yourself to seek out something new to learn. 

Classic Sweet Country

                                         

Okay, so I may be getting a little country. But shh...don't tell anyone. But isn't this outfit idea just darling!

Depressed??

My blog is not only an encouraging blog, a fashion blog, but its a real blog. Im not a person who sugar coats things. I believe we deserve to know the truth. Whether or not we want to face it is another story. Caution! This post does contain statistics that may shock you. Parental discretion is advised. If you don't want to go get your mommy and daddy then realize that you're reading this at your own risk and this post is about depression in teens. 


I have struggled with depression myself. In fact, its a daily struggle. I often feel alone and that nobody loves me or wants to be my friend. I constantly struggle with this at church, school, and even in my own home. My symptoms often include isolating myself for long periods of time, not exercising, not taking on nanny opportunities, easily frustrated, annoyed, and angry, over sleeping, over eating, can't make decisions and can't concentrate, and easily forgetting things that are important and not important. Often I stay stuck and I feel like no one even cares that I am sad, so I gradually remove myself from friends and family. For me I go thru periods of depression and they usually last about a month maybe even two. I try to get myself out of it but its just too much work so I'd rather stay than move forward. I constantly have to remind myself of the people that I do have around me and realize that they would do anything for me. Once I realize that I'm not alone and that people really care about me, I pull myself out of it. I put myself around positive people, get back into work, go do family things, and really start to enjoy church. 


However, I realize that not all teens can do this and that most time its a struggle to see the light at the end of the tunnel and most times teens would rather stay stuck then ask for help. But not asking for help can result in some serious problems. Depression can cause self-mutilation, being a runner, and ultimately suicide attempts and for those not so lucky suicide achievements. As a teen, its lame to ask for help but I would get down on my knees and beg you to listen to these three words that I would like to challenge you with if depression is a constant struggle: ASK FOR HELP! You can't do this on your own and you need help, not from your friends but from someone who can really give you positive advice, coping skills, and ultimately be the light at the end of your dark tunnel. I hate being another statistic, to me being a statistic is being a normal person. And who wants to be normal? NObody, so challenge yourself and step out of the norm and don't be another statistic or a normal person. 


About 20% of teens will experience depression before they reach adulthood. 
Suicide is the third leading death of people ages 15-24 and the FOURTH leading cause of death for children between the ages of 10-14
75% of the people who commit suicide was first depress
90% of people who attempt suicide have a mental illness such as depression
One in five teens say that they have purposefully hurt themselves
1% or 2-3 million people in the US exhibit self-abusive behaviors
In the US one in every 200 girls between the ages of 13-19 cut themselves regularly
90% of self-injurers started cutting themselves as teens


These are just a few of the alarming statistics that I researched on the internet. Most teens who deal with depression are run-risk. These teens often runaway from home and they stay with friends, other family, hotel hopping, or just run the streets. One in seven americans will run away at some point before they turn 18. This may be a temporary thing for some kids but some may never come back home. This is the scary fact that you face when teens runaway, especially at night because most teens just run they don't have a place or plan in mind. If you know someone who may become a runner you need to speak up and tell a responsible adult because it just might save their life. 


Also, if you know anyone who is depressed and not getting help, help them receive help from a professional. Depression is nothing to mess around with because it can lead to mental illness, hospital stays, self-mutilation, and death. Teens who may be depressed may just need a counselor but some need medication and if they don't receive medicaiton they can go crazy and do things they might later regret. Get help, ask someone, please don't deal with this alone.


One last thing, I am also here to help. If you need someone to talk too because you're feeling lonely get in contact with me in person. I can't promise that I can give you the exact answers as to why you're depressed or self-mutilating but I can point you in the direction of help. Depression, self-mutilation, and running are all risk that I have taken and regret. I have been helped and thats all I want to do with someone else and thats to help them and be the light at the end of their tunnel. I love you all and so does Jesus! Again, don't try to do this on your own. You have been doing that already if you are one of these statistics. You're way is obviously not working so lets try a different way, together. Love all. Jesus is with you also don't forget that. 

Swaziland, Africa.

From July 3-20, I am embarking on a wonderful mission trip with my church. I am so excited and nervous all wrapped up in the same ball of yarn. We as a church are going there for 3 weeks. Our mission is to help out the local community. Whether its to help rebuild, paint their houses, or visit the AIDS orphanage. This trip cost is 3529! Yelp, you read it right. At first, I didn't think that I could come up with this type of money at all. In fact, we were sitting in church when the pastor first told us about the trip. I looked at my mom and said "there's no way I can go, I can't come up with that type of money." And as soon as I said that, Pastor James said "I've never met a person who wants to go but wasn't able to go because of the money." At that moment my jaw literally hit the floor. I said "oh dang, I guess I got to go now" and laughed. Ever since then I have tried to rely on God and really just remind myself that I trust you God. That where there's a will theres a way. Even though it may be God's way not my own. So the first half of our money was due March 1st. That means $1664.50 was due, I already gave $200 as my deposit. I was able to give $2750. Wow! now that was totally a God thing. All I did was send out support letters to people in my email and put a box up in my moms hair salon. Don't get me wrong there was times that I doubted God and Im not proud of it at all. There was one day when my mom called me and asked if I had received anymore money through the mail and I said no, have you received anymore money at your shop and she said no. I said with a sigh okay, well Im just going to trust God that he will provide and she said thats great Britney. As soon as I walked in the door there was mail for me, I opened it and there was a $200 check for me. I said "wow, God you're pretty funny but thank you." I believe that through this mission trip God is showing me that he is faithful and I can rely on him whenever I need to and trust him in all things. See I thought this  was too big of a job for God but I lazily forgot that God is the creator of the freaking universe whats 3529 to him. He can take care of me all the days of my life and he is faithful. I can honestly say that through this mission trip fundraising I have become stronger in my faith because I truly realized that God can take care of me, he loves me, and no matter what I think is big problem and struggle in life its really not because Jesus has overcome. I now only have 384 left to go and I believe that I will receive that money because I have prayed God help me with fundraising for this trip. God's already touched people's heart to get me half way there so whats 384 to the creator of the universe?!?

Spring is in the Air

 I don't know about ya'll but I know that spring is here because of two reasons, one: my allergies are killing me and two: its gradually getting hotter and hotter. I love the spring but the fact that I want to rip my nose off isn't my favorite thing of all time. I do enjoy though when I am babysitting being able to take the kids out of the house. I hate being crammed in the house being bored. I mean who wants to watch Sesame Street and Yo Gabba Gabba all day, I mean come on lets be honest with each other. Also, with the weather increasingly becoming nicer that means were closer to Memorial Day weekend. Yeah, yeah, I not its in May but that means the pools open soon. YES!! wait, that means we gotta get into that pool shape body. Nobody wants your flab out in the summer, winter now thats okay. I started this whole new way of life thing yesterday. Its so hard because I love to eat but this "diet" consist of smoothies. One smoothie for breakfast, handful of fruit for snack, oh wait smoothie for lunch, handful of fruit for mid-afternoon snack and a 500-600 calorie dinner. I know so exciting! I also am kicking my butt into shape by working out and not letting myself be lazy. I am not only doing this "diet" to increase my sense of self but also too be completely eligible for the Army. Yelp, ya heard me right! I plan on enlisting when I come back from Africa. Oh yeah, I'm going to Africa for those of you who don't know in July. So I have got to get into killer shape. Any ideas for me to be healthier let me know whether its a comment or in person. It can be vitamin info, exercise ideas, healthy food options that will allow me to stay in my 500-600 calorie dinner, really anything. Let me know, my ears, eye, and belly is open! Thanks.

Death

 Death it comes in many unexpected packages. Death isn't planned like a birthday party or a christmas celebration, it comes at a drop of a dime. Death doesn't have a criteria or standards. Death happens to everyone and it can happen at any time. Especially when its least expected. The family and friends that are along side of the person who is dying or have died often feel anger, pain, and blame. In the process after death people often experience confusion, frustration, and chaos. I only know this because I have recently experienced death. Early Tuesday morning my great grandma died from a failing bowel intestine. I was extremely distraught when everything happened and it totally caught me off guard. I know now that she is in a better place, a place where there is no more pain and suffering, and that place is heaven. I know for sure that she was greeted at the gates of heaven by Jesus and Jesus said Good job, welcome my good and faithful servant. She was a living testimony of what Christ-like attitude is. This process is extremely hard and calming at the same time. I am currently in the Anger stage as most would say about the grieving process but I know that she was a Christian and I can take comfort in that. Knowing that she's spending an eternity in heaven. It makes me realize how short life really is. She may have been 81, but thats a pen dot on a sheet of paper thats a mile long. I often question this whole Jesus thing but since this death I have been able to really put my faith back in Jesus Christ. I only hope that thru this process I can not relapse and set my priorities straight. I think its really funny that just a few days ago I posted about living in the present not for tomorrow. My great grandma wanted to see my Rugby game this Saturday but now we will all be attending her funeral. I should've thought about what she could've seen today instead of anticipating the future. I only wish that in her last days I would've lived for today not tomorrow. 

Future? Past...PRESENT!!

 "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift from God, which is why we call it a present." -Bill Keane
I think this quote is amazing! Most of us dwell on our past but what we don't realize is that our past is history, which we can learn from. While, tomorrow is not promised as God says. Which is why tomorrow is a mystery but yet we go on planning our lives as if we are guaranteed tomorrow but it is not. That is why I suggest living in the present. Live as if there is no tomorrow as Tim McGraw states "Live like you were dying."I found this positivity blog about 10 ways to live a happier life today and thought that you might want to know some ways you can live in today not tomorrow, so here they are:
1. Be kind in small ways.-For most of us road rage is a struggle so be kind by letting someone in your lane. The little things like these small changes make you feel better about yourself, and most of us need an encouraging boost so why not be kind in some small way.
2. Be appreciative of other people.- Stop looking at the annoying things about people and appreciate their smile and how there always on time and make sure to tell them what makes you appreciative of them.
3. Cut back on the time you spend with most negative persons in you life.- Don't be negative be positive so spend the majority of your time with positive people. Please remember, hurting people hurt others.
4. Cut down or cut out on the most negative media influence in your life.- TV shows, magazines, books, blogs, and music can really be debbie downers so switch the time that you spend looking at or listening to these things to positive shows, books, blogs, or music. Being influenced by positive influences will allow you to be more positive because you're not being dragged down in the wrong direction.
5. Be 5 or 10 minutes early.- Being early will de-stress you because you're not worried about being late and making bad impressions. So wake up 5-10 minutes early so you can leave 5-10 minutes early so you can technically be on time to your meeting or job. Being early shows a sign of responsibility and thus you're actually on time when you're early. When you're on time your actually late and when you're late you're just late. 
6. Do what is not "you". By changing what you get at lunch, or watching a scary movie, or even learn about something that doesn't interest you will give you a different perspective in life and thus when large or scary opportunities arise you will be more equipped to stepping out of your comfort zone.
7. Let go of one thing fro your past.- By holding onto an argument from yesterday it can actually hold you in bondage. What we have to realize is that life happens today, right now. And by holding onto bondage we are only hurting ourselves because we can't embrace today for today because we are too busy looking behind us. 
8. Take the smarter and higher road.- Don't be a push over, set boundaries and say no when needed. Don't get caught up in the drama that goes on around you instead try to reach an understanding. But if that doesn't work remove yourself from the situation and make your day a better day and possibly theirs.
9. Be kind to yourself.- Stop hating on yourself and the next time you fail to do something or mess up don't beat yourself up instead keep your head up and keep going in a positive direction.
10. Appreciate yourself.- Here's a challenge spend 5 minutes tonight writing down the things you can appreciate about yourself and do this for 30 days and see how your view of yourself changes. 


  

STAND UP its International Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day across the world. This was first introduced in the 1900's actually 1910 to be exact. Women play a critical role in developing nations. They enhance agriculture an rural development, improve food security, and can help reduce poverty levels in there surrounding communities. The theme this year is- Empower Rural Women-End Hunger and Poverty. The Food and Agriculture Organization reveals that productivity gains from ensuring equal access to fertilization, seeds, and tools for women can actually reduce the number of hungry people between 100-150 million to be exact. So in he insight women are spectacular and this day is really used to show off just that. Its used to celebrate women's accomplishments and advocate for gender equality. There are 10 easy ways to celebrate this special holiday to all the women out there.
1. Take the Day OFF!!
2. Give Flowers to Women-flowers are a symbol off this holiday.
3. Donate Money to Women Causes- such as Kiva
4. Protest- this holiday was born on activism
5. Wear RED Lipstick- "Rock the Lips" campaign to support this holiday
6. Stand on a Bridge- "Join me on the Bridge" campaign in honor of this holiday
7. Check out Some Art- Go see the National Museum of Women in the Arts  in DC, french female painter
8. Eat A Cupcake- Most bars and restaurants give out free cupcake in honor of this holiday
9. Defeat Sexual Harassment
10. Look Back and Forward- Look back on women and their accomplishments but realize there's still room for improvement. 


This information was courteous of the Washington Post online. 

Challenge of the Day

 The challenge of the day. Make outstanding cake pops like we did. Bet ya can't, ours are banging!! My awesome cousin Dana and I attempted to make cake pops for her best friends baby shower. Thank God this was only the test drive for the baby shower. Trial and Error really shined here. They look great and the thought was there they just needed some decoration help but we put some of them out of there misery. They may not look awesome but they tasted delicious. 

Beautiful

"You are beautiful no matter what they say words can't bring me down. Yes, you are beautiful in every single way. Yes, words can't bring me down. So don't you bring me down today."-Christina Aguilera.

Teen Pregnancy, why won't anyone talk about it

The scare heard round the world. Whats the issue that most deny is even happening? Its the dramatic increase in teen pregnancy. The show Teen Mom shows the negative and positive things that can result from teens having unprotected sex and thus resulting in a baby. I have had personal experience with this topic. I may not have given physical birth to a baby but I had to carry around a fake baby for 6 months. I have had previous unprotected sex and didn't even think about it but because my parents made me do this project I think twice when I may be put into a situation. There is no way I am in anyway prepared to have a child at 17. To all parents reading this blog, I RECOMMEND you giving your child a fake baby for 6 months and have them come up with a schedule for the baby and have them find daycare off of a $8 hourly wage. This will have them think twice about having sex(period). Sure they will be pissed at first( I sure was) but in the long run you (the parents to them and potential grandparents) won't have to be taking care of a little one. Believe me once they realize how expensive they are, what hours they wake up in the middle of the night, and the fact that their 6 month old can't go to a football game or to the club, they won't want to put themselves in situations to where they could be a teen parent. 
HARD CORE FACTS:

• about 820,000 teens become pregnant each year. That means that 34% of teens will have at least one pregnancy before they turn 20.
• 79% of teens that become parents are unwed. That means not married and most likely single parents
• The main rise in the teen pregnancy rate is among girls younger than 15
• Close to 25% of teen moms have a second child within 2 years of the first birth
• The US spends on average 7 billion dollars each year due to teen pregnancy
• Only 1/3 of teen moms complete high school and receive their diplomas
• By 30, only 1.5% who had pregnancies as a teen will have their college degree
• 80% of unwed teen moms end up on welfare
• The daughters of teen moms are 22% more likely than their peers to become teen moms
• Sons of teen parents are 13% more likely than their peers to end up in prison
• The US has TWICE the teen pregnancy rate as Canada
• Both Germany and France have a teen pregnancy rate FOUR times lower than the US
• Japan's teen pregnancy rate is EIGHT times lower than that of the US
• 82% of teens feel that other teens shouldn't be sexually active
• 72% of teens agreed that other teens should have access to birth control if they choose to be sexually active
• 73% of teens feel that being a virgin shouldn't be embarrassing
• 58% of teens feel that other teens shouldn't be sexually active at all
• Fewer than one-half of teens in high school has had sex
• 67% of teens that have had sex wish they would've waited (60%-boys & 77% girls

These facts can be found on http://www.teenhelp.com/teen-pregnancy/teen-pregnancy-statistics.html 

So parents educate your kids about sex and stop turning your head the other way. Its happening lets stop ignoring it and face the facts. Teens want to have sex because they don't feel loved or they don't know how to have a healthy relationship. So to all the Dad's out there spend quality time with your daughters. Let her know how a man is supposed to treat her. Maybe then she won't be trying to look for love in all the wrong places. And Mom's stop trying to be her best friend and give her some advice worth repeating. She doesn't want a friend she wants someone who will hold her through her tears, fears, disappointments, and laughter but if you act like her friend what makes you think she's going to confide in you if your just going to give her the same advice as her friends. Parents be parents and stop trying to be their friends. There's a time for everything . So pay attention and know they times when she needs you the most. Teens are talking are you willing to listen?

Like what is leap year?

Leap Year??
Persons born on leap day, February 29, are called "leaplings" or "leapers." However fun it may be to rib them for enjoying 75 percent fewer birthdays than the rest of us over the course of their lives, they do have the special privilege, between leap years, of celebrating their nativity a full day earlier if they so choose. It was once thought that leapling babies would inevitably prove sickly and "hard to raise," though no one remembers why.
Ironically, notwithstanding the fact that the whole point of adding an extra day to February every four years was to align the human measurement of time more closely with nature, in days gone by folks apparently believed that monkeying with the calendar like that might actually throw nature out of whack, even hampering the raising of crops and livestock. It used to be said, for example, that beans and peas planted during a leap year "grow the wrong way" — whatever that means — and, in the words of the Scots, "Leap year was never a good sheep year."

Women Traditions on Leap Year? Why is it so special to women?
In keeping with the theme of nature gone awry, a whimsical tradition dating back at least four centuries (and still trotted out at four-year intervals by newspaper feature writers) holds that leap years confer upon women the "privilege" of proposing marriage to men instead of the other way around. The convention was (in literature, if not in reality) that any man who refused such a proposal owed his spurned suitor a silk gown and a kiss — provided she was wearing a red petticoat at the moment she popped the question.
The origin of this romantic tradition is long forgotten and steeped in legend. One tidbit often repeated in 19th-century sources claimed it grew out of a statute passed by Scottish Parliament in 1288, of which one of the many quoted versions reads:

It is statut and ordainit that during the reine of hir maist blissit Magestie, ilk maiden ladye of baith highe and lowe estair shale hae libertie to bespeak ye man she likes; albiet, gif he refuses to tak her till be his wif, he sall be mulcit in ye sume of ane hundredth poundis or less, as is estait mai be, except and alwais gif he can mak it appear that he is betrothit to ane other woman, then he shall be free.

Mind you, this passage was already considered suspect by some of the same Victorian authors who quoted it — not only because the text couldn't be sourced ("the only authority for this statement is the 'Illustrated Almanac' for 1853," wrote one critic, "which probably manufactured the statute as a jest") but also because its "old English" phraseology rings too modern for the year 1288. In addition, the text itself proved to be quite variable — in regards to grammar, spelling, and even content, with some versions boasting an extra clause specifying that the law pertained to "ilk yeare knowne as lepe yeare."

Motivation

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”-Jim Rohn 

Today is all about motivation and habit. On Saturday's I go to a meeting called Losing to Live and if I haven't learned one thing, its motivation. With accountability I can do anything, with motivation I can succeed, and with habit its becomes a way of life. So don't give up! Your handwork will pay off in the long run. Whats easy is never worth it. Good luck! 

Video of the Day

I really love country music but I especially love Brad Paisley. Here's probably my all-time favorite song and video by Brad Paisley. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!


Here's the lyrics so you can follow along:


Well I'll never forget the first time that I heard
That pretty mouth say that dirty word
And I can't even remember now what she backed my truck into
But she covered her mouth and her face got red
And she just looked so darn cute
That I couldn't even act like I was mad
Yeah I live for little moments like that

Well that's just like this last year on my birthday
She lost all track of time and burnt the cake
And every smoke detector in the house was goin' off
And she was just about to cry until I took her in my arms
And I tried not to let her see me laugh
Yeah I live for little moments like that

I know she's not perfect but she tries so hard for me
And I thank god that she isn't 'cause how boring would that be
It's the little imperfections it's the sudden change in plans
When she misreads the directions and we're lost but holdin' hands
Yeah I live for little moments like that

When she's layin' on my shoulder on the sofa in the dark
And about the time she falls asleep so does my right arm
And I want so bad to move it 'cause it's tinglin' and it's numb
But she looks so much like an angel that I don't wanna wake her up
Yeah I live for little moments
When she steals my heart again and doesn't even know it
Yeah I live for little moments like that

GTL......

Looking cute is a must even at the Gym. After all you never know who you might run into. It may be Sunday but that doesn't mean you have to wear your holy sweatpants. So here's a few good ideas at an affordable cost.

As you can tell I love Victoria Secrets:
(first picture) YOGA FOLD OVER LEGGING- $29.50
(second picture) CROP LEGGING- $17.50
(third picture) STRIPE RACERBACK TANK- $22.50
(fourth picture) YOGA SHORTIE- $24.50

Nike is always my second choice

Under Amour Slash Capri-$49.99

Nike Mystifi Warm-Up Pant- $49.99

Nike MLB Burnout T-Shirt- $19.99

Cute Outfits=Cute Shoes

Nike Shox Navina Sl- $89.99-109.99

Now that you have your outfit and shoes, aren't you missing something?? Like a cute tote!!

VS Army Weekender Tote- $39.50
VS Tote Supermodel Essentials- $68.00


Last Thing: CUTE Water bottles 

Only $12.50 at Victoria Secrets 

Now that you have all the essentials to working out, go to the Tanning Salon and do your laundry, get your GTL on!!

Smile, someone needs it

When you receive flowers they aren't ugly and withered. Flowers are unexpected and they really make someone's day. So why do we go around treating people like a rose stem filled with thorns instead of a delicate rose. Words hurt and so do looks. Be nice to someone today and see the smile that you will put on someone's face. I encourage you to do this because you never know what people are going through. You may be the ray of sunshine in someone's cloudy day. You never know if someone was contemplating suicide because they felt like no one cares about them and when you smiled when they were fixing to leave, you showed them that someone does care. And instead of committing suicide they walked out that door with a smile on there face with a pep in there step and a reason to live. Treat people the way that you would like to be treated. This is an elementary principle for us but yet we always forget it. Do this today and it will not go void, someone will be blessed by your smile.