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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.

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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

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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!

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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!

Style + Lifestyle Feature: Isaiah of A Collected Gentleman

July 9, 2014 by Whitney 5 Comments

Today’s featured blogger has been featured on WNJ before as part of my Thrifty Friend features. He’s actually the only male blogger I’ve the pleasure of working with so far. Isaiah, the style blogger behind A Collected Gentlemen, is not only an expert thrifter, but he’s also an inspiring young man who loves his family, photography and has a “thing” for timeless style. I admire his style, drive and passion and I think after reading his inspiring life + style interview, you’ll feel the same way. 😉 My favorite part of the interview is his words of wisdom to those wanting to start a style blog – his advice is dead on! But enough of what I think, lol. Scroll down and check out A Collected Gentleman for yourself…enjoy!

Where are you from and what’s your occupation?

I was born in New Jersey and raised in North Carolina. I’m a freelance photographer as well as a blogger.

How do you define your personal style?

My personal style is all over the place. I consider myself a melting pot. I like to take different styles and mix them into my own. I take elements of street-wear and prep.

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

– A white tee

-Denim jeans

-Grey Sweatshirt

-Oxfords

-A floral print shirt

Name 5 must have wardrobe staples every man should own?

-A grey suit

-Denim jeans

– Light blue oxford cotton button down

– Cologne

– Brown Wingtips

*A Navy Blue Knit Tie

ABOUT A COLLECTED GENTLEMAN (ACG)

How long have you been a blogger & what inspired you to start ACG?

I’ve been a blogger for 3 years now and my inspiration to start ACG came from wanting to change my image. I loved the timeless look of people wearing suits and oxfords.

What are are you feelings on male representation in the blogging community?

I think it’s great. One thing I will say about the blogging community – everyone looks out for each other and they’re always happy to support you. I’ve never felt negativity or hate form male bloggers. Since day one of certain ACG, I was embraced and given advice on becoming a better blogger.

I notice you have a passion for photography. What about photography do you like?

I love to capture the essence of beauty, weather it’s of a person, nature, or architecture.

What’s you vision for ACG?

My vision for ACG is for it to inspire pope the way I was inspired when I was first introduced to bloggers Street Etiquette and The Style Blogger. Those guys changed the way I looked at clothes, self-acceptance, and art.

ABOUT ISAIAH’S LIFESTYLE

What inspires & motivates you?

My family inspires and motivates me 100%. We’ve been through so much, and just to see my 3 little brothers graduate from high school and attend college is amazing. Also having my Mom see me graduate meant the world to me. They’re’ so proud of what my blog has become and that keeps me going. Every time my Mom calls me she reminds me to never loose my passion.

Who are some of your style-spirations? (family member, bloggers, celebrities, ect.)

I really don’t have any, but I really admire and draw a lot of my inspiration from women’s style – they make it look effortless.

Any advice for someone who wants to start a style blog?

Don’t do it for the fortune or fame. Just do it because it’s something you love to do. People always say that everything is so saturated. The people who are really passionate about it will stand out. Figure out what you want to do and work on it day and night – enjoy every minute of it, the good and the bad. You shouldn’t let negativity stop you. The worst thing you can do is let yourself get in your own way. Just keep pushing, work hard on your dreams and don’t give up. Enjoy your journey.

How can we keep up with and contact you?

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Style + Lifestyle Feature: Karen of Your Stylist, Karen

July 2, 2014 by Whitney 23 Comments

Happy Wednesday! Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to the 1st blogger in my #summerwithnic featured bloggers series. 🙂 Karen of Your Stylist, Karen is a style blogger and stylist here in the DMV area. I’ve had the pleasure of working and hanging out with Karen on several occasions. She’s a wife, a stylish entrepreneur and above all she’s a woman of faith. I’ve been a fan of her blog and style for a while, so it’s my pleasure to introduce her to you all. Check out her full interview below…enjoy!

ABOUT KAREN + HER STYLE

Where are you from?

I am originally from North Carolina but currently live in my husband’s hometown of Washington, DC.

How do you define your personal style?

My personal style is feminine and bright. My style is an outward reflection of how I generally feel internally!

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

–A kimono for those breezy nights

-A maxi dress that can be dressed up or down

-A statement clutch that goes with everything

-A bathing suit that makes you feel amazing

– A pair of sunglasses that protects your peepers.

Name 5 must have wardrobe staples every woman should own?

– A skin tone camisole (can be worn on it’s own or under something else)

-The perfect pair of black pants

-A thin belt perfect to wear over or under many other staples

– A pair of jeans that makes you look good from all angles (dark denim is universally flattering)

– A plain white tee

About YSK

How long have you been a blogger?

I began blogging in 2012, one year after I got married. Blogging allowed me to express my creative side and also meet new friends, like Whitney! 😉

What inspired you to start YSK?

Your Stylist, Karen is not only a blog but it is also my business. I recently launched my new website that highlights YSK, the business. I am a personal stylist and personal development coach that serves professional women.

Where do you see YSK in 5 years?

In five years, YSK will have successfully helped hundreds of women, on an individual basis, as well as through YSK LifeStyle workshops. YSK will have created at least three more service areas to help women style themselves from the inside out.

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

The best thing about being a blogger is having the ability to reach and connect with so many people from all different walks of life. I’ve had Skype conversations with my blogger pals in other countries and collaborated with like minded women after meeting at conference, like Lucky FABB. The toughest thing about being a blogger has to be the pressure to stay consistent. I have so much I want to share with my readers but do not always have the time to make things “perfect.” My need for perfection can get the best of me and it takes me longer to post than I would like. Stick with me and I always come back with something useful!

Karen’s Lifestyle

What makes you happy & what inspires you?

Serving God by using the talents he gave me to draw more people unto him. It’s not as complicated as it sounds, I promise! I just go about my day being open and honest with those that I come into contact with and HE does the rest.

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

1. I am working on portion size because I have learned that

even when eating healthy, there CAN be too much of a good thing!

2. I experiment with new recipes from “Skinny Taste”

and you can find some of my favorites on my Skinny Pinterest boards.

3. I love going to a nearby park and walking the trails.

Enjoying nature and staying fit allows for the perfect weekend combo.

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

Trial and error taught me some pretty awesome life lessons. My priority is my role as a wife so I know that my actions have to reflect that declaration. I make sure to put the computer down and actively engage with my spouse at the end of the day.

Any advice for someone who’s trying to find their passion and purpose in life?

Pray and ask for guidance if you are seeking YOUR passion and purpose in life. I emphasize YOUR because it is so easy to try and follow the path of someone else that you deem successful. You have a unique life path and nobody can do it better!

How can we keep up and connect with you?

Website – www.yourstylistkaren.com
Facebook – facebook.com/yourstylistkaren
Twitter – twitter.com/yourstylistkar
Instagram – instagram.com/yourstylistkaren

#WNJInspired | What I Learned from Master Class on Own, ft. Lionel Richie

June 24, 2014 by Whitney 8 Comments

Most Sunday evenings you can catch me watching Master Class on Own. I’ve been a fan of autobiographical and biographical content, filmed on written, singe I was a kid. I remember being fascinated with the story of Princess Diana and reading and watching every little thing that had to do with her reign as Princess all the way until her untimely death. I believe that’s where my interest in “celebrity lifestyles” began.

This past Sunday, singer Lionel Richie on Master Class sharing bits and pieces of his life story. Certain pieces of his story struck a cord with me. As he recalled his highs and lows in the music business, and in life in general, these 3 things stayed with me:

1. When you feel like you’re loosing momentum keep going forward.

2. Accept who you are and be OK with knowing what you want – like yourself.

3. Success can be lethal, if you don’t know how to handle it.

We can learn life lessons from anyone. #wnjinspired

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I’m a firm believer that we can learn life lessons from anyone. Some may think celebrities can’t teach us anything or think they have it easy, therefore they can’t possibly know about “regular life”. Celebrity is just a title. At the end of the day, they put their pants on and go through life’s challenges just like we do. Which is why I’m such a fan of this show.

I’ve learned new lessons, been reminded of past life lessons and been intrigued by so many of the episodes. Aside from Lionel Richie, some of my favorite Master Class lessons have come from Whoopi, Robin Roberts, Cindy Crawford and Goldie Hawn.

So tell me, have you ever watched Master Class on Own? If so, who’s been your favorite? Also, what’s one life lessons you’ve learned along the way? Let me know!

As always, thanks for reading, commenting and sending feedback. You all continue to keep me inspired. 🙂 I hope you all enjoy the day and I’ll be back tomorrow. Until then, be blessed and stay safe…xo!

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#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!

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