Monday, May 6, 2013

I Choose Faith Over Fear

I ain't gonna lie. These past few months have been hard on a sistah. It's been so hard and so lonely and so many times I felt my light flicker...ready to burn out. So often I felt like throwing in the towel and giving up. I stopped dreaming. Couldn't see past the negative. Bad shit just kept happening. The devil just wouldn't let me be. I was a hot azz mess...

But through the grace of God/Goddess, I'm still here. And I'm coming up for air.
I've been praying and meditating, screaming and crying, laughing and praising...trying to make sense out of what my life has become.

 I chose silence because all it seemed I had was tears and fears, anger and resentment. Why me? Why now? How am I gonna get though this? Where is my support system? It got to the point where I just couldn't give any more power to the negative. I had to get out of this rut and make something better happen. I'm still climbing up out of darkness but I wanted to share with you some of the things that have been helping me get through. Later, I will give testimony on how I got ovah but I ain't there yet.

In his book, I Declare, Pastor Joel Osteen says, "Fear and Faith have something in common. They both ask us to believe something will happen that we cannot see.

"What we meditate on is what takes root. If we go around all day thinking about our fears, playing them over and over again in our minds they become our reality." And it did. Some of my worst nightmares came to pass. Because I was stuck on the sad, the bad and the ugly. I was stuck in darkness. But I was reading my spiritual enlightenment and listening to powerful praise and worship. I was doing "the work" as Iyanla Vanzant says. For me, "the work" is praying, meditating, assessing and refocusing. But I couldn't just read the books and watch the shows, I had to walk that walk. And letting go of fear and resentment is an ongoing battle.

I had to stop obsessing on the injustice, the pain, the anger and the fear. Wondering where were my "friends" when it felt I needed them most. I shut down and shut up. It's like the old saying  "If you don't have anything good to say, say nothing." My Internet capabilities dwindled as well as my smart phone signals and my creativity stalled. I kept sarcastically joking with the Sprint people that my only means of communication with the outside world was failing me. But I realize that was perhaps for the best. I didn't need a pity party. I didn't need to give voice and power to the negative. I needed to plant some seeds of positivity and abundance. I needed to get my praise on. And as I made prayer, praise and meditation a daily practice I started healing. I started dreaming again. I started believing in the possibilities. Some of my Beloveds have held the light for me and the encouragement and love has helped tremendously. And life is getting better. (I love when Iyanla  uses the term Beloved and I've adapted it into my vocab as well.)

In I Declare, Osteen also says we must choose faith over fear. "Don't use your energy to worry. Use your energy to believe." Talking about, thinking about, worrying about the bad and the negative was making my situation worse. So in order to thrive I had to shut it down.

It takes the same amount of energy to believe as it does to worry, Osteen reasons. "It is just as easy to say God is supplying all of my needs as it is to say 'I will never make it.' Don't focus on the worst. That's using your faith in reverse."


I declare I will choose faith over fear! I will meditate on what is positive and what is good about my situation. I'll use my innergy not to worry but to believe. Fear has no part in my life. I will not dwell on negative, discouraging thoughts. My mind is set on what God says about me. I know His plan for me is for success, victory and abundance. This is my declaration. I believe in miracles!!!

 
Luv,

La
XOXO



Thursday, March 7, 2013

Im still here

Been dealing with some technological challenges and other setbacks. But I'm still here guys standing strong. New blog post on forgiveness coming soon. Stay tuned.....

Luv,
La

Thursday, February 14, 2013

For the Lover In You

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

This cute charm, along with a romantic dinner concert featuring Will Downing, Trey Songz, Tyrese, Luscious,  LL, Nelly and Idris Elba, in Paris ranks high on my wish list. A girl can dream right?


red pavĂ© heart

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Ms. Maggie & Big Boy Brewsky Had A Kid: Margarita Meets Beer


I'm a cocktail drinker first and foremost. Pour me a great Cosmo or a Sidecar with a sugar rim and I'm a happy girl. Or mix me up a Mai Tai, Cadillac Margarita or Adios Mutha (Shut Yo Mouth) and we are friends for life. but when you want something quick and cold to enjoy with ribs, pizza or nachos, nothing beats a cold brewsky _if you like beer.

On a whim, I tried out a Limearita; a margarita/malt liquor hybrid that comes in beer cans. It's a step up from the old beer with a slice of lime or orange and a squirt of grenadine. Some kind of a way they have blended the flavors of a salt rimmed margarita with beer for the ultimate in microbrew madness. Thing is they are hard to find in singe serve and who wants to commit to a 12 pack of something you only want every now and then. Besides I'm not a salt rim type of sistah.

I started imaging how to take this taste sensation to the next level. And wala, Sandra Lee, queen of the cocktails, to the rescue. She recently featured this Lime Beer Cocktail on her show. I haven't tried it yet but when I do, I'm going to add a few shots of tequila and some orange slices. Sounds yummy? Let me know what you guys think of this recipe and the beer/maggie  trend down below.





Lime Beer Cocktail Recipe : Sandra Lee : Recipes : Food Network

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

DIY Fashion | Crystal Collar Embellishment | Fab How To



A little something for my fashionistas....Embellishment is everywhere these days. But most of the items i come across are either a bit gaudy for my tastes or way to over the top. This great DIY from Popsugar shows how to update a tame piece of clothing with a little shimmer...Enjoy!!

Let me know what you think of this DIY below.

Conversations with Scandal


 
 
OMG My celebrity girl crush Kerry Washington is killing it these days on the No 1 TV show SCANDAL. Luv her and luv the show. Check out this conversation with the cast. And yes, they discuss Celebrity Blogger Funky Dineva.....if you dont know now you know.. Enjoy

Sunday, January 13, 2013

New Year, Better Me


Here we go again. Happy New Year 2013.

And like in past years, I’ve decided to make some changes. I want to be a better me. I’m keeping it broad because there are so many aspects of my life upon which I want to improve and expand. I am doing some things right. But I know deep down that I’ve been half stepping. And it’s reflected in my life.

I’ve been reading self help books, motivational and inspirational literature most of my life. I’ve been on a spiritual quest for ages. But I’ve never fully committed to the work. I would start off doing my affirmations, meditations and journaling but I was easily distracted by ego, work, friends, etc. Time after time, I would let my self work fall by the wayside. I was too caught up in doing whatever project to focus on myself. Things usually end up in some form of disarray _me with heavy heart and regrets and left to pick up where I left off on my journey.  

My latest lesson was unexpectedly losing my job. I was terrified. Because of previous financial setbacks I barely had enough to cover a month’s bills. It was right around the holidays so this add extra stress and anger. I went on a pity party. Why me? Why now? Why didn’t my good friend give me some kind of warning? How could they leave me hanging like this? Now I know the Bible says Ask and ye shall receive. But I let fear and negativity cloud my life. And man did the lack monster get me good. So much bad news it made my head swim, heart sink and blood pressure rise. I got sick; couldn’t sleep for worrying about how I was going to make things happen. My nerves were on edge and I felt like I was at the end of my rope.

I’m aware of how I am affecting my own life positively or negatively. I am the Master of my thoughts. And law of attraction says basically you are what you think. So If I focus on negativity, lack, scarcity, hate, disappoint rest assured more of that to come. And ain’t no body got time for that. LBVS.

First Step: Change my thinking

                 I’m starting with the (hu)man in my mirror. I’m asking her to change her ways (of thinking and feeling).

I’m no longer harping on worry, negativity nor lack because the more I think those things the more of that is what’s appearing in my life.  “You can see the law of attraction everywhere,” Lisa Nichols explained in The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. “You draw everything to yourself. The people, the job, the circumstances, the health, the wealth, the debt, the joy, the car that you drive, the community that you’re in. And you’ve drawn them all to you like a magnet. What you think about you bring about. Your whole life is a manifestation of the thoughts that go on in your head.”  WOW

The beauty of it is we have the power to change our thinking and in turn change our lives at any moment. So now when I find myself drifting towards worry, fear, sadness I’m going to shake my self off and change it up real quick. You can erase previous thoughts by replacing them with good thoughts. We’ve all heard the saying “Think before you speak,” now I’m going to also remember to choose what I think.

For my self care, I’m incorporating positive self talk, affirmations, journaling, meditation, reading for enrichment, uplifting music, etc. I read my bible, attend seminars on various subjects, watch religious and spiritual TV. Some of my favorites are Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday, Rev. Michael B. Beckwith, Joel Olsteen, and most recently I’ve received the word from Rev. Meeks of Salem Baptist, Rev. Gaylon McDowell of Christ Universal Temple and Gabrielle Bernstein.

I choose to focus on love, abundance, beauty, positivity, hope, kindness, generosity. And in turn more and more of those things will appear in my life. And hopefully as I “fix my life” I will inspire others to join me on the journey of self love and self care.

Don’t Believe Me Just Watch.

Luv,
La