Inspiration Archives - Page 9 of 11

Event Recap – Oprah’s Life You Want Weekend in D.C., Part I

September 23, 2014 by Whitney 11 Comments

I’m still on a high from Oprah’s Life You Want Weekend tour stop in Washington, D.C. this past weekend. As I mentioned in this post, I was blessed to have the opportunity to cover the event as media. I was expecting the event to be thought provoking, powerful and of course enjoyable. To say that the event exceeded my expectations is an understatement. I had a marvelous time and walked away feeling full, blessed, and empowered. Today, I’m happy to share Part 1 of the experience with you.

Day 1: An Evening with Oprah

The main event started around 7 p.m. and I was ready to receive what Oprah had to share. She graced the stage in a floor length red gown, ready to inspire! There were so many nuggets of wisdom shared, but there were a few that really stuck out to me. Here are 4 of my favorites, along with my interpretation on how I plan to live each one out.

1. Share. Let the rest of the world know what you have. – It’s important to share our talents and gifts with the world. Being selfish with our “stuff” is no way to live. Bless the world with what God has given you. I feel that blogging and sharing my thoughts and expertise on certain topics is a good example of sharing what God has blessed me with. It’s a sure way for me to live out my passion and purpose.

2. Pay attention to your life and the signs; it keeps speaking to us. This is crucial and I’m so glad Oprah reminded me of this. We all have a purpose and a calling and being in tune with ourselves is a sure way to realize what that calling is. Something as simple as paying attention to how we act and react in certain situations helps. Be in tune with your life and what’s going on around you. As Oprah mentioned, we all have a thread. We just have to be open and willing to connect the dots.

3. When you’ve done all you can do, surrender. – Surrendering is not giving up. It’s simply realizing that you cannot do it all on our own and allowing a higher power to come in and help lift and guide you to do the right thing. We all think we can handle life by ourselves until things get really bad. Next time that happens, surrender and realize that you don’t have to do life all by yourself. God’s got us.

4. You have no power in other peoples power field. – When Oprah said this, I think everyone had an “Amen, hallelujah” moment. It’s pretty simple. WE don’t have any business worrying about other people and what they’re doing. Stay in your lane and stop worrying about other folks, who more than likely not worried about you.

As the evening went on, Oprah showed videos and pictures of her life from birth to the present day. She also shared a few stories with us. One being the time she entered a pageant and won Miss Fire Prevention, lol. Touching on on her relationship Stedman (just a little), she explained that he is “living in the light, not her shadow”. I LOVE that. Too many times society thinks powerful women cannot have a man by their side who isn’t threatened by their success or power. It is possible and Oprah made that very clear. Hearing that made me even more thankful to have a such a strong and secure man by my side.

Lastly, there were several moments during Oprah’s speech where out Life You Want wristbands lit up. Those were such magical moments. I sat there in amazement, gazing at the thousands of people in the arena. It was truly an amazing sight. It looked like stars in the sky…just beautiful.

So tell me, which of the 4 points stands out to you? Have you attended the Life You Want Weekend in your city or do you plan to? Let me know!

Be sure to come back tomorrow for Part II of my Life You Want Weekend experience. I’ll be sharing my favorite moments from trailblazers Iyanla Vanzant, Rob Bell, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Mark Nepo. Until then, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

KEEP UP WITH ME

Instagram // Twitter // Snapchat // Facebook // Newsletter

WNJ Inspires – Oprah’s The Life You Want Weekend

September 16, 2014 by Whitney 11 Comments

I’ve been a fan of Oprah for years. To say that she had some impact on my life would be an understatement. When I was younger, I remember watching her talk show with my mother and grandmother after school. I really didn’t understand much, but I did know that Oprah Winfrey talked to a lot of famous people and gave away a lot of cars, lol. As I got older, I began to enjoy and learn from both her celebrity and non celebrity interviews. I also began to understand her passion for wanting to share her knowledge and wealth with the world. By high school, I was fascinated with peoples life stories (famous and non famous), and I also really enjoyed interviewing people for the stories I wrote for my high school newspaper. I thought I was on my way to becoming a mini Oprah. 😉

As the years passed, I blazed my own trail and continued to pursue my dreams of becoming a journalist (all while keeping up with Oprah, of course 🙂 . I continued to watch her talk show and read her books. Looking back, I was able to fulfill some, if not most, of my journalistic goals. And here I am today a blogger- the new age version of a journalist, lol. I’m still writing and I’m still living out my dreams, just like Oprah.

So imagine my excitement when I was contacted about covering both days of Oprah’s The Life You Want Weekend Tour as media! Excited much?! I had to read the email several times for it to sink in. I am BEYOND grateful and excited about this news. To be in the same room as Oprah is one thing, but to be able to soak up her wisdom is another. And to do so as press/media? Yeah, pretty much a dream come true.

Oprah, along with Iyanla Vanzant, Deepak Chopra, and 3 other “Life Trailblazers” will be a part of this event as well. I’m in for 2 days of inspiration, motivation and life changing moments. I am ready to receive it and I cannot wait to share my experience with you all!

So tell me, have you attended or do you plan to attend Oprah’s The Life You Want Weekend in your city? Do you plan on attending the one in DC? Let me know!

Be sure to follow me on social media. I will be sharing my 2-day experience with you on all my social media outlets. Wishing you a blessed and productive day. Until tomorrow, stay blessed and be safe…XO!

KEEP UP WITH ME

Instagram // Facebook // Twitter // Newsletter

Spiritual Wellness | How to Stay Inspired During a Tough Season

September 9, 2014 by Whitney 11 Comments

Have you ever wished for the seasons to change? One day you’re happy with the warm and sunny forecast and the next, you’re tired of the heat. You then find yourself wishing for fall to hurry up and get here. That kind of thinking is similar to the seasons in our lives. One day we’re happy with the way our lives are going. The next day we find ourselves in a tough situation and we start wishing and praying for a change. We’ve all been there and it’s natural. However, I believe wherever we are in our lives, we are to live in that moment. There’s obviously a reason we are where we are at this time. I call this thinking Living in Your Season. This is something I’m working on and understanding more as the days go by.

I’m pretty open with what’s going on in my life here on the blog, but I don’t talk about everything. I do however want to share something that you don’t know. I’ve been going through a tough season for the past few months and only my family (really) knows and understands the depth of it all. While I’m not gravely ill, my health hasn’t been 100% for some time now. Because of this, I’ve experienced an array of emotions – angry, sad, confused…just to name a few. I’ve watched the physical state of my body change and it hasn’t been pleasant. I’ve also watched my energy go from 10 to 0 and that has been the biggest downer for me. I’m usually an upbeat and energetic person. I have a pretty active lifestyle and I enjoy it. But nowadays my energy comes and goes so quickly. All this change is an unfortunate “female issue” (as they say) and to be frank, it sucks.

How to Stay Inspired During a Tough Season

Click To Tweet

This season has been really hard, especially because I still have to go about my day to day life as if I’m “fine”. But recently, I’ve made the decision to live in this season. I’ve decided to take this time to devote myself to making a few necessary lifestyle changes. I pray daily and I always read some sort of devotional each morning, but I’m now taking the words and meditations to heart even more. I’m meditating on the words and repeating silent prayers throughout my day. I’ve gone from asking God, “why are you letting me go through this” to “what am I suppose to be learning from all this”. I’m opening myself up to receive whatever it is He’s trying to teach/tell me. I’m trusting that this season won’t last forever and that I will come out on the other side even better. What have I learned so far?

1. This too shall pass.

2. Pay attention to your body and its changes; you know your body better than anyone else.

4. Be proactive about your health.

5. Periodic life AND body cleanses and detoxes are necessary in order to live a healthy lifestyle .

Have you ever been through a tough season in your life? How did you get through it? Let me know!

In doing all of this, I’m realizing that what I’m going through won’t last forever. As long as I continue to take care of myself, physically, mentally and spiritually, I will be able to make it through anything. Until next time, I pray that you all stay blessed and stay safe…XO!

KEEP UP WITH ME

Instagram // Twitter // Facebook // Newsletter

Chrisette Michele Interview: Rich Hipster, R&B Divas of LA & More

August 20, 2014 by Whitney 15 Comments

Yesterday morning, I had the pleasure of speaking to the lovely Grammy-award-winning singer-songwriter Chrisette Michele. A fan of her music and overall style for years, I was thrilled and humbled to be one of the bloggers to interview her. Chrisette has been diligently working on her upcoming music project, The Lyricist Opus, as well as her new blog/website Rich Hipster. She’s also been busy filming the latest season of R&B Divas LA. With so much going on, Chrisette still took the time to graciously share her thoughts on beauty, style, fashion, current events, and more. Following Chrisette’s style evolution from her first album, I Am, I can tell that she appreciates vintage and thrifted pieces. So, of course, I had to throw in a question about thrifting.

Who are your mentors and how did you find them?

I have so many right now. India Arie is one of them; we started off being signed to the same label. She came to see me perform at an open mic night one day without knowing I’d be performing and ended up taking me on tour with her. She’s been my mentor ever since. Iyanla Vanzant is another person I speak to often, just to talk and get advice from. Pattie Label, Lionel Richie – these are just people I’ve met, maybe backstage or on stage; they decided to give me their phone numbers and told me to keep in touch. They’ve been very helpful throughout my life.

What are 3 of your top vintage/thrifted pieces?

(1) Those long silk kimonos. You throw them on with a white tank top, a pair of ripped-up jeans, and stilettos, and suddenly, you’re fabulous! (2) Levi’s jeans – the cutoffs you get in the summertime. They last for a really long time, you can ruin them with bleach, and they cost like $7-$10! (3) This long rectangular patent leather French Connection clutch I got in San Francisco. It has gold and sequin stripes across it. It was $6, brand new with tags and everything! I carry it everywhere I go when I want to be fabulous!

How do you determine who you want to collaborate with?

It’s all about the vibe. We have to connect, and I have to understand why you’re making the music. Usually, I’m in the studio hanging out with the person I’m working with before we even make the song. In most of the hip-hop collaborations I’ve done, I met them outside of the studio and hung out. It took hanging out with Jay-Z 4 times before I could execute my part of the song correctly. It’s really about friendship and connection.

Chrisette also explained that as she grows as an artist, she has a “responsibility to let her fans know what she’s doing,” hence the launch of Rich Hipster and her decision to join the cast of R&B Divas of LA. From watching her on R&B Divas, you can see that she’s willing to open up and share (most of) her thoughts and feelings with the other ladies. And despite the tension between her and Chante Moore, Chrisette told me that “women can get along even if they don’t like each other – they can figure it out.”

Women can get along even if they don’t like each other – they can figure it out. – @ChrisetteM

Click To Tweet

Chrisette’s excitement for her next musical project, The Lyrics Opus, was evident, and I, too, cannot wait for the musical masterpiece to drop! She explained that “this is what real music looks like” and said there would be no rap or hip-hop collaborations with this project. And as far as launching Rich Hipster, this is the 1st time she” has not been afraid.” When you visit the site, it’s clear that she’s inviting you into her world. She shares outfit posts, some behind-the-scenes footage of crafting The Lyricist Opus, and so much more. It’s quite an enjoyable experience! I applaud and commend her on being so fearless with her vision. I admire that.

So tell me, have you checked out Chrisette Michele’s new site? Are you excited about her upcoming project? Let me know!

Again, I was truly honored to have had an opportunity to chat with Chrisette yesterday. She has a sweet spirit and is not afraid to show the world who she is. For more on her upcoming projects, visit Rich Hipster, and be sure to catch her on Wednesday nights on R&B Divas of LA. I’m really looking forward to finding out the outcome of that “I Know Right” collaboration with her, Chantè Moore, Leela James, and Lil Mo. Mmmm…. 😉

KEEP UP WITH ME

Instagram // Twitter // Facebook // Newsletter

28 Life Lessons…

August 11, 2014 by Whitney 12 Comments

Happy Monday! As I celebrate my 28th birthday today, I want to share 28 life lessons I’m taking with me into my new year. 27 was a year of lessons, preparation and growth. It was one of my most challenging years for many reasons, but it was a great one nonetheless. This year I will have less stress, more peace, less worry and more faith. Until tomorrow, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

1. Gods love is real

2. Prayer works

3. Your word is your bond

4. Family is everything

5. Trust your intuition

6. There’s a season & a reason for everything

7. Life goes on

8. Be nice to yourself & others

9. Saying “no” is sometimes necessary

10. Smile

11. Do what makes you happy

12. Be yourself

13. Take chances

14. Make mistakes

15. Learn from your mistakes

16. Work hard, play hard

17. Be genuine

18. Treat yourself

19. Don’t be selfish with your gifts

20. When God says move, MOVE

21. Stay true to who you are

22. Stand up for what you believe in

23. You’re not designed for everyone to like you

24. Love your decisions

25. Surround yourself with those who make you better

26. Try new things

27. Enjoy the moments

28. Live the life you love {borrowing this from Mattie 😉 }

Style + Lifestyle Feature: Molly of Still Being Molly

August 6, 2014 by Whitney 4 Comments

An infectious smile, a positive and upbeat attitude and an adorable baby girl. Those are just a few of my favorite things about visiting Molly’s blog, Still Being Molly! I’m a regular over at SBM and have been for quite sometime. This North Carolina blogger willingly shares posts about fashion, style, makeup, money, and more! Her blog is a true reflection of what a lifestyle blog should be. Read more about Molly below and be sure to stop by her blog to say hello! 🙂

ABOUT YOU & YOUR STYLE

Where are you from and what’s your occupation?

I am originally from Herndon, Virginia where I was born and raised but currently live in Durham, North Carolina. I am the Director of Marketing for a company called rAVe Publications – we are a media company that covers commercial audio / visual technology. I also am a mom! I call that a job in and of itself. 🙂

How do you define your personal style?

I’m a bit of a chameleon when it comes to my style. I like a little bit of everything… with exceptions, of course. But I’m always open to trying something new. However, my “go-to” style tends to be on the more classic and preppy side.

What are your 5 must have wardrobe items for the summer?

– A denim vest! I wear one ALL THE TIME! It’s the perfect layering piece.

– A fun pair of bright, printed shorts.

– A comfortable, but also fun maxi skirt.

– Flowy layering tanks – the kind that can be worn with shorts, jeans, skirts, and you can easily throw a cardigan over top.

– A lightweight tunic – that’s a super versatile summer piece that can be thrown over a swimsuit at the BEACH or it can be worn with jeans or shorts.

Check out @stillbeingmolly’s Lifestyle Feature. She talks about motherhood, blogging and more!

Click To Tweet

Name 5 must have wardrobe staples every woman should own?

– A denim jacket

(A serious must-have; it goes with everything.)

-A good pair of neutral riding boots

(Boots can be worn in ALL seasons, I wear my riding / cowboy boots all the time.)

-Cardigans. No woman can have too many cardigans.

– A lace dress

(To me, the lace dress has replaced the LBD…)

– A neutral maxi skirt

(Perfect for any occasion)

ABOUT STILL BEING MOLLY (SBM):

How long have you been a blogger?

I had a Live Journal BACK IN THE DAY (but I don’t really count that… I just used to write random stuff on it). I moved over to WordPress.com from LiveJournal in 2007 right after I graduated college, and then moved to a self-hosted blog on WordPress.org in November or December of 2009 (I can’t remember exactly when). So, about 7+ years or so!

What inspired you to start SBM?

I have always loved to write. I was a creative writing major in college… so a blog was naturally a therapeutic way for me to just write. I have never been good at keeping a journal, so my blog has chronicled my life for the better part of a decade. Over the years it has evolved and changed as I have and has taken on MANY different forms. I really like where it is now.

Where do you see SBM in 5 years?

I think every blogger hopes and prays (at least in the back of their mind) that they would be able to do it full time. So, yeah, there’s a part of me that wonders if I’ll ever be able to take this thing full time. I love it and pour my heart and soul into it and work really hard on it… so I’d love to be able to say that one day it is my full-time job. For now, I just treat it like it is. 🙂

What’s the best & toughest thing about being a blogger?

The best thing is the people that I have met through blogging. I realize that is extremely cliche to say, but it’s true. I’ve made some amazing friends through blogging and have connected with so many awesome people some of these people are now my best friends and I never would have met them if it weren’t for the blog. I love the opportunity to connect with people on such a deep level!

The toughest thing is just the natural “comparison” trap that all bloggers find themselves in eventually. It’s a constant struggle to not compare yourself to everyone else out there and get caught up in the “mess” of it all.

ABOUT YOUR LIFESTYLE

What makes you happy & what inspires you?

My family makes me happy. Simple things like playing with my baby girl and her giggling at me or nights on the back deck with my husband bring me so much joy. I am inspired by EVERYTHING around me. I’m always taking stuff in wherever I go. I used to be a comedian so, naturally, I’m a bit of a people watcher and I observe my surroundings constantly. I draw inspiration from the guy across the street to the way a display is set up in a store.

What are 3 things you do daily to live a healthy lifestyle?

(1) Exercise. I try my best to do this regularly and it is a challenge, but I’m working at it!

(2) Sleep! Sleep is sooooo important, especially with a baby. So I sleep whenever I get the chance.

(3) I cut back on my Diet Coke intake. It’s no secret I’m obsessed with Diet Coke… so I stopped buying it to have in our home. I only have it as a treat when I’m out. That’s made a huge difference! I drink SO MUCH water now!

As a wife, mother, and entrepreneur how do you find balance in your everyday life?

Balance is a thing I struggle to find every single day and I don’t have it all figured out, as much as I wish I could. It’s just a matter of prioritizing each thing as it comes and taking things one step at a time and one day at a time. It’s also REALLY important to realize that you don’t have to (and can’t) do it all.

Be honest with yourself, at all times. Don’t try to “fake it til you make it.” ~ @stillbeingmolly

Click To Tweet

Any advice for someone trying to find their passion& purpose in life?

Be honest with yourself at ALL times. Don’t try to “fake it till you make it.” If your heart doesn’t feel right about something, listen to it. Trust your gut instinct. Seek counsel from your close friends and family members who will be honest with you. At the end of the day, do what you love. Who wants to waste their life doing something they hate?

WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU?

WNJ Inspires – What’s on my Bucket List, Part II

August 5, 2014 by Whitney 19 Comments

Last week I shared 10 bucket list ideas from my 28 Things to Do While 28 list. I was so happy to see those 10 ideas spark an interest with some of you. A few people even reached out letting me know they were inspired to start their own bucket lists! 🙂 So today, I’m sharing the rest of my bucket list ideas. Here we go!

11. Complete the Bible in 1 year (starting on Aug. 11th)

12. Complete another Thrift With Nic! Tour

13. Learn how to sew (at least the basics)

14. Pay for a strangers meal

15. Cook a BIG meal for a special occasion or holiday

16. Try eyebrow threading (OUCH) (DONE)

17. Change my hair color for a day (wearing a wig counts 😉 )

18. Meet a celebrity (DONE – Will Meet Several at The Merge Conference in Aug. 2015)

19. Take a pole dancing class (heeeeyyy 😉 ) (DONE)

20. Own a pet (a fish counts, lol)

21. Start a YouTube page (DONE)

22. Attend Blogalicious (DONE – Will Attend Sept. 2015)

24. Get a facial (DONE)

25. Attend a wine tasting event/or class

26. Apply/Pitch to speak at an event/or school (DONE)

27. Invest in a new camera and computer (NEW COMPUTER, DONE)

28. Invest in one luxury purchase (handbag, shoes, jewelry, etc.)

So what do you think about these 10 bucket list ideas? Still pretty reasonable, right?

As always, thanks for reading! I hope I’ve inspired even more of you to create a bucket list of your own. As I said in last weeks post, life is way too short not to enjoy it. 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!

Spiritual Wellness | 7 Ways to Detox Your Life

July 29, 2014 by Whitney 9 Comments

I’m a firm believer that every now and then, detoxing your life (in some way) is necessary. It’s no surprise this topic has been on my mind for a while. Every year around this time, I find myself reflecting a bit more and focusing on positive change. As I approach 28, my goal is to continue living a happy and healthy life, as well as (gradually) adopting a more simple lifestyle. Detoxing your life is a sure way to ensure such lifestyle. Check out 7 easy ways to detox your life.

Picture Source

1. Pray. Before I make any changes in my life, I pray about it. Praying for guidance and clarity while detoxing your life will help keep you on the right track during this process.

2. Clear out clutter. This is something I’m in the process of doing. From your closet to the kitchen cabinets to your garage – whatever you’re not using, throw it out! If it’s old clothes, donate them to the Goodwill or Salvation Army. If it’s canned food, donate to a food pantry. Junk in the garage? Call a junk trunk to come haul it out. Clear out the clutter and prepare for a fresh start.

3. Edit Your Surroundings – Sometimes the reason we’re stuck in neutral or even reverse is due to the company we keep. When you succeed, not everyone is happy about that. Be careful of the company you keep and be careful who you share things with. I’m a firm believer in energy and some people know how to suck all the good energy out of you. You do not need people like that rallying behind you. Pray for positive people to enter into your life and embrace their positive energy. Their way of thinking or habits may be a good influence on you.

7 Ways to Detox Your Life #selfcare

Click To Tweet

5. Unplug. Not having your cell phone within arms reach may cause some to go into a state of shock, I get it. But I believe it’s a necessary step if you’re trying to detox your life. Whatever picture you want to like, upload or retweet will be there tomorrow. Just take a break from the phone and social media for a while and enjoy your surroundings. Become more present and connected with the people around you like your spouse, family, and friends.

6. Keep it to yourself. What did we do before social media sharing? We kept things to ourselves and enjoyed life’s moments with those who were there with us. If you really want to share certain moments, like vacations and special date nights, snap a pic and share it later. While you’re in the moment, be in that moment. Enjoy yourself and the people around you.

7. Move your body. Become more active by taking a walk, a jog, signing up for a yoga class…just something that gets you up and moving! Moving and doing certain activities gives you energy and makes you feel alive.

So tell me, what are some ways you detox your life? Let me know!

As always, thanks for reading. Your comments and feedback are awesome, so be sure to share your detox tips with me! 🙂 Until tomorrow, be blessed and stay safe!

KEEP UP WITH ME

Instagram // Twitter // Snapchat // Facebook // Newsletter

« Previous Page