Inspiration Archives - Page 10 of 11

WNJ Inspires – What’s on My Bucket List, Part I

July 15, 2014 by Whitney 24 Comments

Every year around this time, I start thinking about my birthday. Born on August 11th, I’m said to be outgoing, self-assured and have a tremendous zest for life. All those are traits of a Leo and I suppose I agree with them. 😉 Well today I want to share 10 Bucket List Items with you – I guess that zest for life thing is kicking in, right?

My 28th year will be amazing. I’ve worked really hard this year and I’ve achieved many goals earlier than expected which is indeed a blessing. While I’m extremely grateful and thankful for everything I’ve accomplished, I’ve missed being spontaneous and trying new things. Sometimes we get so caught up in making a living that we forget to make a life. I read and posted that quote the other day on Instagram and realized that in my 28th year, my main goal is to enjoy life to the fullest. That’s why some of the things on my list are fun and silly, while others are more “serious” – it’s a good balance. 😉 OK, enough chit chat…let’s take a peek at some of these bucket list items, shall we….

1. Go to a concert (with one of my favorite artists) and sit front row.

2. Go zip lining. (this will help me overcome my slight fear of heights)

3. Train for (and run) a 5K.

4. Complete a few DIY projects.

5. Go to Essence Music Fest.

6. Go to a shooting range.

7. Get a bikini wax. (DONE)

8. Plan a spontaneous trip and just…GO!

9. Go on a tour of the White House. (SCHEDULED)

10. Complete the Daily Bread online bible course.

So tell me, what do you think of these bucket list items? Pretty reasonable, huh? What about you – what are some things on your birthday bucket list? Let me know!

Thanks for reading and I hope you’ve been inspired to think about more ways you can enjoy and live life to the fullest! Until tomorrow, be blessed and be safe…XO!

P.S. Don’t forget to link up your recent OOTD over on my Personal Style Linkup!

#WNJInspired | Being a Blogger, Feeling Burned Out and Saying No

June 17, 2014 by Whitney 13 Comments

Is it me or is there a “Feeling Burned Out” epidemic sweeping the nation? Every day I hear at least 3 people tell me that their exhausted, burned out or just plain tired of something. I know I’ve felt this way. There have been time when I literally felt like I was being pulled in a million different directions. I was constantly on edge, probably not a pleasure to be around, and extremely tired. I’ve even considered putting my blog on hold, more than once. Thankfully, I was able to get through these feelings and I was able to figure out what the root of the problem was. I was doing (way) too much.

Doing too much is the quickest way to feel burned out. #wnjinspired

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Doing too much is the quickest way to start feeling burned out. As a blogger there are so many amazing opportunities that come your way, but do you have to take advantage every opprotunity? You may feel that in order to “get ahead” as a blogger it’s neccessary to jump at every opportunity. Even if you’re not a blogger, you’ve probably felt this way at some point. Well, I’m here to tell you that there is power in saying no. Granted, I don’t have hundreds of brands clamoring to work with me (yet), but there are still opportunities that I’m presented with on a semi-regular basis.

Nothing can hold you back from what God already has planned for you. #wnjinspired

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I’ve learned that saying no doesn’t make me a bad person. Saying no (to an opportunity) isn’t going to hold me back from what God already has planned for me. I may reach my goal later than I expected, but what God has for me is going to be for me. Period. Same goes for you.

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As a blogger, I suggest saying yes to the opportunities that match your brand and vision. Eliminate the opportunities that don’t speak to you, even if you see that other bloggers are doing it. If it’s not your wheelhouse, keep it moving. And truth be told, if you say no to something that could have propelled you, (and your blogging career) it’s going to come back around. Maybe not the same way as it was presented before, but it will come back. Like I said earlier, what God has for you is for you.

So tell me, are you feeling burned out or have you felt this way before? Do you believe there is power in saying no? Let me know!

As always, thanks for reading and commenting. Your feedback, emails and comments have really kept me going on days when I was feeling burned out. Until tomorrow, be blessed and stay safe…xo!

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#WNJInspired | Using the Gifts God Gave You

June 3, 2014 by Whitney 9 Comments

Are you using the gifts God gave you? I found myself thinking about this question this time last year. I’d just gotten married, I was excited about the future, and I was even more excited about the growth of my blog. I felt like my life was beginning to make (more) sense. However there was still something eating at me. I wasn’t sure if I was using (all of) my God given gifts. Granted I was publishing daily blog posts, but there was something that had me feeling a bit creatively unfulfilled.

After praying and talking to my husband, I realized 3 things; (1) I was ready to take my God given writing abilities to the next level, (2) I was ready to share my gift of personal styling beyond my blog, and (3) I was ready to gain more income. Fast forward a year later, the question was brought up in church a few weeks ago. Of course I thought about it and realized that, YES. I was actually using the gifts God gave me and because of that, I’ve been able to accomplish those 3 things and more!

Now I know there’s still more work to do on my end. You may be thinking, well how can there be more? You just checked off those 3 things….what else is there?! Think about this – when someone gives you a gift for your birthday you hope that it’s something you can use more than once, right? We should think about our God given gifts the same way. When you have certain gifts, you’re expected to use them continuously. That means I still have more to give and more to do.

When you have certain gifts, you’re expected to use them continuously. #wnjinspired

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So why am I sharing all this? It’s simple – using the gifts God gave us is imperative to living a truly happy and fulfilled life. Why be selfish with our gifts? They were given to us to inspire and help others. To “make it plain”, it’s our responsibility to use the gifts that we’ve been given.

So tell me, what are some of your gifts? Are you using the gifts God gave you in a positive way? Let me know!

Thank you for reading and for sharing. As much as I enjoy inspiring you, you all inspire me as well. Until tomorrow, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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#WNJInspired | I Still Believe There’s Good in Everyone

May 27, 2014 by Whitney 10 Comments

Every now and then, we can all use a little pick me up. The way the world is these days, we could actually use a pick me up every day. From the senseless killings to the random plane crashes to these unbelievable natural disasters, I honesty believe that we’re living in the last days. People aren’t as compassionate as they used to be and there are so many people who seem to be carrying so much anger with them.

As hard as it may be, we should all believe that there’s good in everyone. #wnjinspired

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Forgiveness is a thing of the past, kind words are few and far between, and asking for help seems to be out of the question. It’s also getting tougher and tougher to find genuine people who have your best interests at heart. It seems like we’re all so quick to judge each other instead of uplifting and praying for one another.

Do you believe there’s still good in everyone? What are some of your favorite inspirational quotes? Let me know!

Despite all of this, I still cling to my faith, I remain prayerful and I still believe that we all have good in us. I’d just like to see and experience more of the good than the bad. So for today’s Inspirational Tuesday post, I just wanted to share a few inspirational quotes and scriptures that have touched me lately. I hope these words help, motivate or inspire you today. Until tomorrow, be blessed and stay safe…xo!

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P.S. I also read Style Honesty and Still Being Molly’s posts this weekend – a GREAT source of inspiration. Check them out!

#WNJInspired | 7 Tips on Pursuing Your Passion

May 20, 2014 by Whitney 20 Comments

Ever since I was a child, I had a passion for writing. I wrote my 1st short story in 4th grade and having my teacher bind and publish it for the whole school to read was a MAJOR moment in my 4th grade life, lol. I also remember “playing store” with my cousins and friends when I was little. I’d have them act as customers while I rang up their items. The items in this case were Bibles, Encyclopedia’s, pens and whatever else happened to be in my grandfathers office/library. Fast forward years later and I’m still pretty much doing the same things; writing and “playing store”. Granted, the writing and store playing is now on a different level. But I have yet to stray from what intrigued and inspired me as a child. This leads me to sharing my 7 tips on pursuing your passion.

Blouse: Jones New York, Thrifted // Denim Pants: Style & Co.

7 Tips on Pursuing Your Passion

1. Think about what you enjoyed doing as a child. Did you enjoy writing poems? What about telling jokes? Maybe you enjoyed knitting and making crafts with your grandmother. Think about those things to get your mind going in the right direction. Think about how you felt doing those activities. If it made you happy or brought you joy, that’s a good place to start.

2. Write/create an action plan. Get a journal, notepad or notebook and write! Write down your goals, plans, dreams, things that inspire you, etc. Create a plan for yourself and figure out how you’re going to pursue your passion. Are you going to open an online store to sell your homemade items? Write it down. Also, list your short term and long term goals.

3. Keep your day job. It may sound obvious but, don’t quit your day job to pursue your passion if you cannot afford it. Let’s be honest, not many of us have the luxury of working on our passion full-time. But that doesn’t mean it will never happen. Keep working and doing your best where you are, while working towards making your passion a full-time job.

Do your best where you are while working to make your passion a full-time job. #wnjinspired

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Shoes: Lane Bryant // Purse: Thrifted

4. Research. Find articles, blog posts and anything else that has to do with your passion. Become an expert at whatever it is you want to pursue. If you can’t afford to subscribe to magazines, head to the library. They have a ton of magazines and while some may be outdated, they still have useful information on a plethora of topics. Also, sign up form FREE seminars and participate in twitter chats and Google Hangouts that pertain to your passion.

5. Find a mentor. If you admire someone, reach out to them. Let them know you notice what they’re doing and don’t be afraid to tell them how they’ve inspired you. Build a relationship with that person and be sure to stay in contact through emailing, text messaging, phone conversations, etc. NOTE: Be genuine and speak from your heart. People can sense insincerity and people can spot a suck-up a mile away.

6. Network. Going back to #4, research and find out about networking opportunities in your area. Being around like-minded creatives feeds your passion. This is crucial in pursing your passion. Check out this post for more reasons why networking is important.

7. Don’t give up. Finding and realizing your passion can be exhilarating and tough at the same time. There will be times when you can’t give your all to your passion because of prior obligations. And you may run into people who doubt your passion. Do not let that stop you. Keep going, keep thriving, and remember how great your passion makes you feel.

Go for it! Here are 7 quick and easy tips on pursuing your passion. #wnjinspired

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So tell me, how are you pursuing your passion? Is there something holding you back? Let me know!

Let’s keep the conversation going and let’s inspire and motivate one another! If you have any topics or questions you want me to discuss here on WNJ, feel free to contact me! I’d love to get your feedback/or questions! As always, thanks for reading and until next time, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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#WNJInspired | The 1st Year of Marriage & What I’ve Learned

May 13, 2014 by Whitney 12 Comments

Hubby and I celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary on Sunday (Mother’s Day). It was a beautiful day, spent with family, food and laughter – the same things we were surrounded with last year that time. I really can’t believe it’s been 1 year already – time has flown! This roller coaster ride has been a wild one, but there’s no one else I would have wanted to take the ride with. Check out the 7 things I’ve learned in the 1st year of marriage.

The 1st Year of Marriage – 7 Things I’ve Learned

1. Stay in the Word. Like any marriage, we’ve had our trials. Being in The Word and praying together has helped strengthen Darrius and I when faced with certain trials in our marriage. We both have a strong foundation and we know that with God, all things are possible and all things will work out…in time.

2. Communicate Your Feelings. Even if you don’t solve the problem at that moment, communicate how you feel. If you’re upset say it. If you’re hurt, say it. Don’t play the guessing game. Keeping the communication lines open has helped avoid many disagreements. Speak about it, get it out and don’t leave them guessing.

3. Talk Money. I really don’t like talking about money but, bills have to be paid and thrifting has to be done. Therefore, money talk is necessary. 😉

4. Keep Your Circle Tight. It’s great to have friends and acquaintances but the less people you have in your business the better. I think we’ve both learned that not everyone welcomes a happy marriage (or relationship). Some people want you to have the same problems as they do, which causes them to (directly or indirectly) pass their bad vibes and energy your way. Keeping our circle of friends tight has eliminated that. We know who has our back and we’re thankful for them.

#Marriage Tip: Keep your circle tight & keep people out of your business.

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5. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff. As I mentioned in this post, husbands will leave the toilet seat up. Let it go…accept it, lol. Darrius comes home some days and just wants to watch silly videos on World Star Hip Hop. That’s “his thing” so, I let him do that. Does he always clean up the kitchen (right) after we’re done dinner? No…but I do, lol. It’s not the end of the world. Let go of the silly stuff and focus on what matters.

6. Date Night is a Must. As I told you in this post, I’m learning how to “dress up” for date night. Our date nights are so much fun, and they’re so necessary. We make it a point to go out for dinner, go for a walk, or even take a quick overnight trip as often as we can. We’re both working hard in our careers and we also have extra circular activities that sometimes cause us to miss one another here and there. Because of that, we really value our date night/alone time.

7. Have Fun. I love my husband and we have SO much fun together. We love to travel and road trips seem to be “our thing”. So when we have a trip coming up, we’re always excited! Finding enjoyable activities to do together is key to a happy marriage.

As we head into year 2 of our marriage, do you have any advice you’d like to share? Let me know!

As always, thanks for reading! I’ll be back tomorrow with an outfit post AND a linkup – I’m making up for yesterdays Personal Style Linkup. 🙂 Enjoy today, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

#WNJBlogs | 10 Things I’ve Learned About Blogging

February 18, 2014 by Whitney 39 Comments

The other day, I looked back at my very 1st blog post from March 2011 and instantly realized that I’d grown so much as a blogger. I actually leave my old blog published because from time to time, I look back at where I started as motivation. Especially on days when I’m not feeling it. That said, I want to share 10 things I’ve learned about blogging. Maybe you’re thinking about blogging but unsure of “what it takes”. Or maybe you’re already a blogger and you find yourself at a fork in the road, unsure if you want to continue blogging or not. Whatever the case, I invite you to check out this post. In one way or another, I hope it helps. 🙂

1. Stay True – Regardless of what’s “popular” or “trendy”, blog about what you know and what you’re passionate about.

2. Be Consistent – You don’t have to blog every day but, have some kind of blogging schedule so your readers know when to expect your posts.

3. Connect – Do your best to respond to blog comments and questions. When a blogger responds to my comments, it shows me that she/he actually cares that I visited their site.

4. Network – Attend as many conferences, meetups, etc. that you can afford. This keeps you up-to-date on the latest blog trends and it keeps you motivated.

5. Be Nice – It’s a small world, but an even smaller blogging world. Word travels fast so, be careful how you “act” online and in person.

6. Plan Ahead – This is something I’ve gotten better at, but I’m still working on it. Planning your blog posts and social media posts saves so much time. Especially if you have a life outside of blogging.

10 things you should know about blogging.#wnjblogs

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7. Work Together – Working with other bloggers is a great way to introduce yourself to a new audience. Find another blogger that shares your interests and figure out a way to team up!

8. Learn to DIY– When it comes to the blog itself, a lot of blog tweaks and changes can be done by you, the blogger. You don’t have to hire someone to do every little thing for you. If you’re investing in your blog, why not learn a thing or two about how to run a blog?

9. Trial & Error – Try posting at different times for a few weeks and pay attention to which time brings more traffic. You can also do this for your social media sites too!

10. Have Fun & Keep Going – For me, blogging is fun. I love to write, meet new people and connect with readers so it’s a perfect match! 😉 Also, don’t get discouraged because you “only have a little bit of followers”. Followers will come and even if they don’t, remember why you started in the 1st place.

So tell me, what are somethings you’ve learned about blogging? Let me know!

I hope you’ve found this post helpful. As always, thanks for reading! Until next time, be blessed and stay safe.

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WNJ Inspires – Love, Part I

January 28, 2014 by Whitney 10 Comments

Are you all ready for another inspirational blog post? I must say that these posts are some of my favorites. I love inspiring you, my readers, because in return you all inspire me by leaving such amazing and sweet comments. It’s such a blessing, and I’m so thankful….thank you all for inspiring me.

Today, I want to begin talking about love. I’d like to think of myself as a “lovey dovey” and happy person. I love to smile, I hug everyone I meet, I laugh (a lot) and I’m that cheesy friend who sends cards and letters for every small occasion. 🙂 I am the way I am because I was raised in a household filled with love. I never had to wonder if my parents or grandparents loved me – it was a given. To this day, I still say I love you whenever I hang up from talking to a family member.

LOVE Sweater: Lane Bryant// Cardigan: Lane Bryant// Slacks: Marshall’s// Shoes: Thrifted// Necklace: eBay// Watch: Charming Charlie

So what’s the big deal you ask? I think sometimes we get so caught up in life’s day-to-day routines that we forget how much an, “I love you” or even a smile can lift someone up. I’ve lost some pretty meaningful people in my life and boy, what I wouldn’t do just to be able to hug them and say I love you. Life is so short and the world can be such a cruel place. Letting those you love know that you love them imperative. Even if you’re upset with someone close to you, find a way to get over it and move on. It’s not worth it. Here are 3 easy ways to let your loved ones know you love and care about them.

1. Send an “I’m thinking about you” text to someone you haven’t heard form in a while

2. Set aside 5 to 10 minutes out of your (busy) day to call & check in on someone you love

3. Hug more

Do you tell your loved ones you love them? Is there someone you may want to reach out to and remind them how much you love them? If so, waste no time. Until tomorrow, be blessed and stay safe…..XO!

P.S. Don’t forget to linkup your recent outfit post with my weekly Personal Style Linkup!

**Linkups: Style Sessions, WIW & Love Your Look **

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