Friday, August 31, 2012

#HonestHour w/@AisforAlex


Last night @AisforALex had an #honesthour on twitter and I jumped in midway. The discussion was about what scares you. At the time I didn't have an answer for myself. Not that I'm not afraid of anything, but trusting in God helps put those fears at bay. Yet this morning I thought some more about it and what I came up with was that I am afraid of falling back into my old ways, my old sins. The funny thing is tho, that as soon as I thought that, the Holy Spirit reminded me that I walked away before, yes the verse of how we have all fallen short of the Glory of God can be used here, but I walked away from the drugs, from the sex, from the lies, the hard liq, things that were hurting me and putting distance between the Father and I {Insert Donnie McClurkin song here "We fall down, but we get up"}. There are things that trigger our past to make a reappearance, some times we forget that our eyes are the windows to our soul, so not only the things we see but also listen to, or absorbs, it affects our living. We have to remember to guard our hearts....remembering that from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks,so all that we see and hear builds up until we can't contain it anymore. We can also think of the things we watch on TV, or the literature we choose to read, it all enters into our system and pushes us to act. It's funny how the spirit works, all day yesterday I was singing "I'm an overcomer, and I'm more than a conqueror". Yes we are human, and we will have fears, but remember that those fears were once overcome by Jesus. And that we are called to live freely in him. The enemy wants you to wallow in your sin, in your past, he's like a nag, making you think that the Father won't forgive you. But! confess your sins before the Lord and you are forgiven. Not tomorrow, not in five minutes, but the moment you set in your heart that you were wrong, God forgave you.

Overall, don't let the fear of anything hold you captive of being who you are called to be. Lately, my constant prayer has been that I exhaust all the gifts that were given to me from above, before I leave this Earth. I refer back to the Parable of Talents in the Bible, because when Christ returns I wan to be sure that all that He entrusted to me, I have used for His Glory. 

This all from Alex's #honesthour. A beautiful spirt, definitely a fellow right brainer with everyday gifts that she abundantly shares with all of us. I silently admire her drive and the freedom she has. Check her out here at The Good Hair Blog. Also here on Twitter. And here on at her online store ALS. And here on her Tumblr. Oh and if you ever want to have breakfast with her, then check her out here. (Remember silent admirer, lol. I just appreciate Beautiful things)

Thursday, August 30, 2012

The First Bite: Pineapple Kick

Pineapple, Ginger, Celery, and Lemon Juice
Sweet, Fresh and a great summer afternoon drink. 

Gathered my ingredients, cut, washed, and peeled. The ginger is what gives this drink a nice kick. With the sweetness of the pineapple, everything just blends well together.

The juicer is my roommates and it's a Sharper Image Juicer that was given to her as a gift, but can be found on the internet. 

Going down the tunnel. Pineapple are very nutritious and sweet all by themselves. I love anything pinapple. Just don't get turned off by the rough exterior. 

Both the celery and pineapple gives up a lot of juice.

It's get a lil frothy

TADA! The end.

I've been juicing on and off for over 5 years now. I get these sporadic health kicks and want to try new things. I know for sure tho that juicing is awesome and with time and money, can work wonders. Maybe I'll get into the habit of juicing and shed some of this "I love to eat everything in site" fat. Lol. 

Recipe:
Ingredients:
1 Celery Bunch
1 Pineapple
Ginger
Lemon Juice (optional)

Directions:
1. Wash Celery and cut into pieced to fit through juicer tunnel.
2. Wash and peel ginger.
3. Cut Pineapple (This was done a day before, I knew I wanted to juice it.)
4. Push each ingredient down the juicing tube.
5. ENJOY!


Friday, August 24, 2012

Breaking Chains

I am bound up by the conformity of this world, pairing me with the next curly haired girl with dark skin, plump lips and heavy hips. I am choked up by the co-dependence of independence of the guy hitting on me with his eyes, mind, and night time comprise. Chains shall be broken, that change may take place. Harm, hurt, nor failure be intentions of the everlasting Savior. For chains were broken when He spoke and uttered the words "Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3). - Daphne Eugene

Source: Google

Lately a lot have been going on, mainly in my work place. I choose to leave the name and company out due to discretion, not like many people read my blog that much any way, YET. People have been coming, people have been leaving. More responsibilities give not much communication, but heavy expectation. Not everyone can deal with change, but many time change also brings growth. With these up and coming new responsibilities that I have slowly evolved into, I fee like chains have been broken. The first link has been shattered to allow me to grow into who God wants and need me to be as part of His Grand design.


  • If we look back at the first book, God broke up; separated land from water, and found it to be good. (Genesis 1:9-10)
  • Farmers dig up; break up soil to plant seeds, in which turns into fruit and vegetables, producing good things.
  • The common phrase coming from women who are at that stage in pregnancy "My water broke", then coming out a baby, a good thing.
  • Lastly, an egg. In any way we put it, boiled, or just broken to be scrambled etc, even the coming out of a chick or any other animal.... brokenness, change, good thing (FOOD) lol. 
So with the changes that are happening all around me, chains are being loosed, barriers and being broken, and seals taken apart. In turn making room for growth and new good things to come. We shouldn't be afraid of change, we should strive to embrace it, accept it, and move freely in it. My pastor in Texas reminds us when it comes to the promises of God, that God does not give us a vision without provision. So may we break the chains of fear, worry, and doubt and move into new territory claiming it as our own!

There's a song by Israel New Breed that I love and it says, "No limits, No boundaries, I see increase, ALL around me, Break Forth...."

Lord I pray for a releasing of your strength to whomever read these words. That they may be empowered to break the chains and accept the breaking in their lives, that we may become new creatures in you. For in you brokenness is good. In Jesus name....Amen.

The First Bite: It's not DiGiorno it's Divine


For the past couple of weeks I've been craving my stuffed crust meat lovers pizza that I usually get from Pizza Hut. Somewhere in my craving I forgot that I now lived in Brooklyn, NY where places like Pizza Hut, Dominoes, and Papa Johns are scarce. I was having a NY moment of wanting it now and fast, which prompted me to use Pillsbury Pizza dough and make my own stuffed crust. I think it came it fairly nice. But I plan on making my own dough next time. Maybe I'll have a couple of dough prepared for these cravings. 


Ingredients: Pillsbury Pizza Crust, Mozzarella Cheese (Shredded and Sticks), Spicy Italian Sausage, tomato sauce and Spinach.
Roll out pizza crust and form it to the back pan, align mozzarella sticks along the edge


Roll over excess dough to cover sticks

Slice sausage to cut out meat

Peel away the skin and place in skillet with no oil to cook

This is how the meat looks after cooking. 

I put the crust in for about 8 minutes....I don't think that was a good idea, because the cheese melted too much...owell.

Sauce it.

Cheese It


Spinach it

Meat it


VOILA! Yumminess. 

Bon Apetit!
Divine Beauty 

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

The First Bite: Leftover Shrimp


So the other day, I made some orange soy shrimp over mashed sweet plantains (I promise a post later). But any ways, I had some shrimp left over and instead of making a full blown meal I just whipped up some white rice and peas munched away at these little critters. Of course the meal was fast, easy and delicious. I'm a lover of seafood, but shrimp is one of my FAVORITEST (I know it's not a word, but it is my blog :-)

So anyways, I just wanted to post something and not leave my readers (crickets) alone for too long. I promise, I have so many good meals to post about and I will in due time. Please bear with me, but in the mean time, just salivate over your screen and take in the delicious fusion of orange juice and soy sauce. I am still working on trying to create recipes as it is not one of my best forte's. Below are some more shots of my deliciousness!




Bon Apetit-
Divine Beauty


Monday, August 13, 2012

Year 26: Boss Tendencies::Letting Go

 "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

One of the most common questions to date that children are asked about what they want to be when the grow up. Many times a child's decision is based on the influences of their environment or based a situation that may have occurred. 

Growing up, I first wanted to be a pediatrician because my older sister wanted to pursue that. For a while it stayed that way, and I justified it with saying that I loved children. I even went into detail to say that I wanted to be a neonatal nurse. All throughout high school I was in the Health Academy which I despised. During my junior and senior year in high school, we were able to participate in internships. Being in the health academy I interned at a local hospital which confirmed my dislike for the health field. I knew I would not put my phlebotomy certificate to use. So on to college I go, thinking I then wanted to be a lawyer. My mother also boosted that claim when she shared with me a prayer about how she prayed for a Pastor, a Doctor and a Lawyer. My siblings and I were all lined up to fit right into her prayer until life happened. We grew up and began thinking and really channeling our inner selves. We began seeking God for OUR life. I remember always saying how I want to go to law school in NY. Even while in TX, I would say the same thing. However, whenever I would study and take the test, the scores came back not impressive. My brother even invested in a LSAT class with Powerscore and still, my score was just about the same. 

So here I am, now in NY a year later, and I have confirmed that law school is not in my future. Every time I would pick up the book to study, I get sleep or nothing retains. It's as if I am forcing it. I honestly do not think, when it comes to your passion and desires, anything should be forced. Not saying that it will be easy, however there should be an enjoyment in the pressure. I stacked up my LSAT study books and placed them on the ledge.

There comes a time in our lives where we have to come to a point of letting go. Giving up what others want for you even if they may mean well, is a freedom factor for you. My mother and family always have pushed me for law, but what I think they have failed to understand was how to read us as individuals. Being of Haitian descent, I realize that they only want whats best for us. Becoming doctors and lawyers and businessmen are prestigious titles indeed, however that is one title I am okay with not obtaining. 

I am on a search for what it is that God wants for me. I pray to be in HIS Will and that I am able to exhaust my gifts and talents by the time He comes. 

Let go of the heaviness of other ideas of who they think you should be, so that you can be free to be who God wants you to be. 

Divine Beauty

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Weekend at a Glance

Saturday was a High Bun and Scarf kind of day. 

At the train station, heading to Summer Streets.

My roommate is fitter than a 5th grader.

Left my mark on a canvas.

I FINALLY purchased a pair of Vibram FIve Fingers!!! So excited to start running in them. 


Be Still


“Develop my ability to discern your will and energize me to do things that are pleasing to you.”
                                                                                                                              – Jon Walker

In the short span of my morning I have read a couple of articles that for me all had a reoccurring theme of stillness and hearing God’s Voice, doing things that are pleasing to Him.

I tend to have my thoughts all over the place, sometimes when speaking and often times when writing. I just want to get it all out before it’s forgotten. So forgive me now, if along these lines there is no cohesiveness.

I read an article this morning written by Russell Simmons about meditation and clearing the mind. When the mind is clear even if it is for a mere 20 minutes, you are able to set things in order for the day. I think the art of meditation is something that everyone should get into before and after each day. Setting up your day on the right foot leads to success in every facet of that day. Then after it is all said and done, at the end of the day winding down with worship music or literally sitting still for a moment going over the day and emptying out the mind helps you to ease into a more relaxed state of sleep. I am yet to be there, in a place where I can wake up and take 20-minutes to organize my thoughts and thank the creator.  I am one who cherishes sleep. Not that I don’t Thank God for waking me up each morning and giving breath, I just do it while I’m walking to the shower, taking it, getting dressed and running out the door. I do it while I’m walking to the train station and marveling at his wonders as I pass under trees and clear blue skies. I’m just a natural multi-tasker. Anywho, for the next couple of days I am going to TRY and wake up a couple of minutes earlier than usual and try to find peace in the midst of car horns and sirens.

Psalm 46:10 says, ‘Be Still and know that I AM GOD’

Simple?  Obviously for us humans, it’s easier said than done. Being still means that you are whole heartedly placing your trust in God’s hands and definitely HIS timing. As there begins to be a shift in seasons in my life, I am trusting God to show me and tell me (really remind me) of His Will for my life. What it is that He has destined for ME.

So join me and be still for 20 minutes and allow God to wash over His Peace, His Love, His Grace, His Mercy. Him.

It is in the stillness of my universe that God speaks. When my mind is clear from worry of tomorrow, clear from doubt of what people will say, clear from fear of the unknown, and clear from debris that life brings. It is then that He Speaks. 
-Divine Beauty




Thursday, August 2, 2012

Year 26: Boss Tendencies::Know Thyself

Source

Who are you? 

I finished typing that question above and then the line to continue typing just kept staring back at me flashing, waiting for me to answer the question. A mocking “Well? Who are YOU” resonating with each flash.

Automatically when someone ask me Who am I, I respond with a confident “I am the daughter of a King, destined for great things” of course with reference to Jeremiah 29:11. {Insert Verse here}. Every morning we wake up we are reassured simply by the air of breath we took within that second. Everyone is not privileged to have seen the day, yet because Christ loves us and He knows that he is not through with us yet, we get to see yet another day.

This segment of my blog “Year 26: Boss Tendencies” will be about my chronicles of being 26 years of age and going through life. Really pursuing the facets in life I would like to change, improve, and even get rid of; things such as my finances, health, food, crafts, relationships, and more. So I figure the first post in this series should always begin at the beginning with the foundation of knowing who you are. Being able to look back at where I’ve been I can understand who I am in the present and who I would like to be in the near future.

Boss Tendencies for me is simple: becoming a lady. Everyone woman is not a lady. But every lady is a woman. There are some things that I like to hold on to which makes my life a little easier, but then again I can get a little too comfortable. For instance make-up…..not a big fan, but when I do put it on it does make a statement. I want to be able to know different ways of applying it especially for the different seasons in life.

At 26, a shy month away from my one year anniversary of graduating with my MBA in Operations, and making a major move to NY, I am tired of what seems to me no progress. However, I have learned to accept my accomplishments and strive for new goals, because I know that once I put my mind to it, it can and will happen. So let the fun begin, and I hope that you will jump on board while we ride Year 26.