Trials Make You Stronger

Hello My Lovely Jewels!

I have really missed blogging, writing in general. Life has a way of taking you away from the things you enjoying doing, if you let it.

The biggest part of my absence from blogging was finding a job (8 months of applying), and the other was personal. It seems as though I battled with one thing, conquered it, and then the next battle began. I was constantly asking God, when am I going to receive my break through and stay through. So I finally began working, then there was a big haul that came about in my personal life. Thankfully, God is on my side and I am coming through that storm a stronger person and on top. Through it all, I am grateful and blessed for where God has me. Through each storm I remind myself of that old saying, “If God be for me, who can be against me?”

ANYWAYS!!!!

So I must share about the job struggle. I graduated December 2013 with my bachelors, and ever since then I have been trying to find a job that would allow me to use my degree. I filled out at least 50 job applications, maybe more. Out of those applications I got an interview for 3 jobs. Just 3! Upon the third interview I still did not land the job (NOT RIGHT AWAY). It felt like eternity, but 4 weeks later I got a call saying I got the job,  if I STILL WANTED IT (of course I DID). The process for getting hired was long and a lot of steps (full of paper work).

Yep, that's me! LOL ;)
Yep, that’s me! LOL 😉

You’re probably wondering what job it is. It is one of the most rewarding, yet stressful, long day, take your work home, work on the weekend kind of jobs. I am a TEACHER!!!! I teach English at the high school level. Something I have always wanted to do, teach the youth. It was a long road, but worth it. I do not plan to teach forever, in fact probably not even a decade. Children are OUR future, and I want to be a part of helping them take advantage of all the wonderful opportunities they have to become thriving adults that will give back in some way later on.

Through everything we go through in life there is a lesson learned. This has been a rough year. Upon every situation that came up I would ask God “What good can POSSIBLY come out of this?” At the moment you do not believe that there is any GOOD that will come out the situation. With time, God reveals the good that is produced out of things that we see as calamity in our lives. We may not get it, or want to understand it because of the pain. But there is a reason for everything.

So the next time you are battling something, see it as the birth of something new. As the saying goes, “All things happen for a reason”. There is a lesson to be learned out of every experience we go through in life. You WILL come out of it STRONGER!

I once was down with a frown, BUT today I smile letting my light shine! BE HAPPY!
I once was down with a frown, BUT today I smile letting my light shine! BE HAPPY!

I am back, and I hope to never stay away this long again. I have new goals, for blogging, that I plan to begin implementing soon.

I’d love to hear how you may have been waiting for something for a long time, and how it was when you finally received it. Please share by leaving a comment below. Have a WONDERFUL DAY JEWELS!

What Are You Wearing This Fall?

It finally feels like the fall of the year. I’ve been wearing my boots, sweaters, and jackets. I love this time of the year! Each year trends change. I am not one to promote trends. I like to promote individuality. Everyone knows that I am all about being true to who you are. However, this fall/winter has the color that I wear everyday as the “it” color. BLACK! I cannot express how much I love to wear black. My closet is full of black clothing. It is not just because it is slimming, dressy, sexy, and sleek; it’s simply because black is cool. I know it sounds crazy, but I have been wearing black clothes since I can remember. So I am definitely excited about the clothes that are out right now, and coming out for this season and winter.

Forever21.com
Forever21.com

The trend is not only black clothing, but black and white, as well as black and gold. Those two color combinations are also my go to when I shop and get dressed. Of course, this does not mean that you stop adding a pop of color to your wardrobe during this chilly season. Great colors for right now are emerald greens, red, plum, dark shades of purple, sapphire, navy, metallic colors, and animal prints. Don’t be afraid to add those colors to your black and white or black and gold outfits. I will be going crazy with leopard/ cheetah print items this fall/winter. Remember, the best thing about black is that you can add just about anything to it, and look fabulous!

lanebryant.com
lanebryant.com

Whatever you do, do not be boring with your black ladies, LET IT ROCK! Have fun dressing it up. Always, jazz up whatever you wear with your personal touches of style. Listed below are several stores to check out this season. There are many more, but these are just about everywhere and accessible online.

Jewels, I hope you have a blast shopping this season. I would love to hear about the stores you enjoy shopping at, so please leave a comment below.

Check out these stores:

-Cato (catofashions.com)

-Old Navy (oldnavy.gap.com)

-Lane Bryant (lanebryant.com)

-Forever 21+ (Forever21.com)

-Asos (asos.com) look under women, then, curve & plus size…also, this store ships products all over, so if you are in the UK select that country or if you are in the USA be sure to select America, for the proper currency

Who Do You Dress Up For, Yourself or Them?

I get this all the time, and I want to know why people feel this way. So I often get asked, “Who are you all dressed up for?” My answer has never changed, “For ME!” Why is it that wearing a scarf or a big necklace makes you all dressed up. I don’t care if I was wearing a dress and everyone else had on jeans. Just because I took a different route from the average Joe does not mean that I am getting “Dressed UP” for someone other than myself. MAYBE I dress the way I do, because it makes me happy. I like to dress up. My whole family knows that about me. So if I show up somewhere looking a tad bit over dressed, they are not surprised. By the way, I never consider the way I dress, overly dressed. I don’t think anyone could ever be too dressed up for an occasion. This only applies when you are being yourself. Now, if you are dressing up to impress someone, and it turns out you are way over dressed for the occasion, then you are at fault for that and will feel the eyes staring at you for your big mistake. BUT, for those of us who just love to add accessories to dress up a t-shirt or a blazer on top of t-shirt, jeans, and converse, you are just being yourself. That is all that counts, being yourself. When you be yourself, you will never feel out of place or over dressed, you’ll feel like YOU.

I had to address this, because I hear it way too often. I was at open house at the school I am doing my internship at, and I had on a simple black and white striped dress with knee high black boots. All of the teachers were asking me, “Who are you all dressed up for, the parents?” I replied, “No ladies, for Me!” There is no other explanation for this. I love to dress up, it’s fun, and it’s a part of who I am, that I hope NEVER GOES AWAY!

This is the thought for today. If you guys would like to share your thoughts on this subject please comment below.

Have a WONDERFUL Day being YOURSELF, Jewels! 😉