Whitney Nic James

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Quick and Easy Summer Snack Ideas

July 20, 2020 by Whitney 2 Comments

I’ve always been a snacker. I love a good crunch and I’m also partial to the taste of something sweet and savory. So, while I’m working from home it’s imperative that I have some tasty food to snack on.

Although I still love a good chip and candy moment, I’ve moved away from making those my go-to snack choices. As I continue to refresh my healthy habits, I’ve been more conscious of what snacks I eat. If you’re looking for a few quick and easy summer snack ideas, below are three of my favorites:

Fruit Salad

I eat some version of a fruit salad at least once a day. If you follow me on Instagram, I’m sure you’ve seen me share one on Instastories. While I mostly eat my fruit salad without any toppings, sometimes I add honey or Cool Whip. Both toppings give the not so sweet fruit a boost and the already sweet fruit an extra kick.

Mini Charcuterie Board 

I probably eat some form of a mini charcuterie board at least 3 times a week. To keep it interesting, I try to change up the variations here and there. However, the two ingredients that are always on my board are cheese slices and olives. Everything else is negotiable. Even when I’m the only one eating it, I make sure my charcuterie board is neat and pretty. The way you present food, even to yourself, is important.

Quick and Easy Summer Snack Ideas

Mediterranean Salad

I’ve only recently started making this salad on my own. I used to purchase Mediterranean Salads from the grocery store pretty often, so it’s been nice to save a little money. Prepping this snack ahead of time helps “making” it super easy. Below are the ingredients I use:

  • Cucumbers
  • Feta Cheese (sometimes)
  • Tomatoes
  • Olives
  • Olive Oil
  • Himalayan Salt
  • Pepper

Quick and Easy Summer Snack Ideas

3 Quick and Easy Summer Snack Ideas

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Filed Under: Style Tagged With: mjconsistencychallenge, mjconsistencypays

Fearless Faith Friday: How to Build a Relationship with God

July 17, 2020 by Whitney Leave a Comment

Oftentimes, I share my thoughts on my morning devotional on my Instagram Stories. I’ve also started sharing some of my tips for better Bible and scripture study. The one thing I try my best to convey when sharing anything faith-based is that although building a relationship with God takes time and commitment, it doesn’t have to be complicated. If you’re trying to build a relationship with God or revive the one you already have, I suggest not taking on too much too soon. If you haven’t opened your Bible in a while, don’t try reading it from start to finish right away. More than likely, you won’t succeed nor will you fully comprehend what you’ve read. Don’t overcommit. Take your time. God’s not going anywhere. Before I share a few ways you can start building or rebuilding your relationship with God, I want to share what it means to have a relationship with God:

What does it mean to have a relationship with God?

Having a relationship with God means having a direct and personal connection with Him. A relationship with God includes trust, love, worship, and fellowship. As I shared before, like any relationship, one with God takes time and commitment. It will take time to grow, but as long as you put in the effort and make spending time with God intentional, your relationship will blossom into something truly wonderful. How to Build a Relationship with God Here are three simple ways you can get started on building or rebuilding your relationship with God:

1. Start a Prayer Journal

Having a prayer journal has been very helpful. Sometimes, I struggle with what to “say” to God or how to “speak” to him. Writing my prayers in journal, letter, or bullet point form makes communicating with God much easier.

2. Use Flashcards to Memorize Scripture

I learn best by doing or by seeing. If you’re a visual learner like me try this method of memorizing scripture. Even if you’re not a visual learner, using flashcards to study and memorize scripture can be beneficial.

3. Don’t Compare Your Relationship to Anyone Else’s

Your relationship with God is just that; yours. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad for how you communicate with God or for what your relationship with HIm looks like. Everyone’s relationship with Him will look different, and that’s OK. God didn’t make us the same, so he doesn’t expect our relationship with him to mirror someone else.
How to Build a Relationship with God
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Filed Under: Lifestyle, Style Tagged With: mjconsistencychallenge, mjconsistencypays

Summer Reading List: 5 Books to Read this Summer

July 16, 2020 by Whitney Leave a Comment

Books to Read this Summer

Reading has always been one of my favorite past times. In the past, I’ve opted to listen to books using Audible. While I do love audiobooks, it’s sometimes difficult to comprehend or even remember what I’ve read. So these days, I’m making an effort to physically read more books.

When I read, I like to highlight, take notes, and refer back to certain sections. You can’t really do (all) that with audiobooks. And while I haven’t read as many books this year as I planned to, I’m making time to read and finish a few books this season.

Here are five books I plan to read this summer:

1. The Origins of Others, Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison is one of America’s most beloved and most notable Black female authors. According to a few reviews I’ve read online, The Origins of Others is essentially six lectures given by Morrison at Harvard University in 2016. She touches on race, fear, belonging, and an array of other topics in relation to literature.

2. No Disrespect, Sista Souljah

From the first time I read the line, “I came busting into the world during one of New York’s worst snowstorms, so my mother named me Winter”, I’ve been a fan of Sista Souljah. Her remarkable first novel, The Coldest Winter Ever, was a staple for every young black girl’s bookshelf. No Disrespect, published in 1994, is also said to be remarkable and riveting in its own way. Each chapter is devoted to someone who made a difference in her life and also gives a real-life look at how Black people are being treated in America. Although this book was written 20+ years ago, I’m almost certain the lessons and experiences she recounts are eerily relevant today.

3. The End of Me, Kyle Idleman

I started reading The End of Me thinking it was a normal chapter book, but it’s much more than that. Idleman brilliantly weaves Bible stories and scripture into each chapter to show how we must come to the end of ourselves in order to experience the full life Jesus has to offer.

4. Woman of Color, Latonya Yvette

Woman of Color explores motherhood, sisterhood, beauty, style, loss, and resilience from the author’s perspective. After thumbing through the pages, I can already tell this six-chapter book, part memoir, part lifestyle guide, will be a refreshing, intriguing, and heartfelt read.

5. More Myself, Alicia Keys

Since elementary school, I’ve been fascinated with autobiographies. So reading More Myself, part autobiography, part narrative documentary, has been a treat. Keys is a great storyteller. On the one hand, her life seems very normal. Then you start reading about her experiences working in the music industry and you see that her “normal life” is also extremely compelling.

5 Books to Read this Summer

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Filed Under: Lifestyle, Style Tagged With: mjconsistencychallenge, mjconsistencypays

Plans to Revive My Healthy Lifestyle

July 15, 2020 by Whitney Leave a Comment

Revive a Healthy Lifestyle

Deciding to revive a healthy lifestyle can be a daunting task. Breaking bad habits and getting used to a new routine takes hard work and discipline. However, making and sticking to those changes is always worth it.

There’s always a lot of excitement surrounding goal setting, but not much emphasis on how to reach goals. For instance, in this post, I shared four focus areas I plan to refresh this month- morning routine, evening routine, health & fitness, and home. I also listed three goals under each area. I didn’t, however, share how I plan to achieve certain goals.

The goal is important, but without a plan, it’s easy to fall back into unhealthy and unproductive habits. So, here’s my plan to reach my health & fitness goals:

Drink 1 gallon of H20 a day

A few months back, I purchased four 32oz mason jars from Target, along with a pack of reusable straws. In the evening, I place both items on the counter. I also put a fresh gallon jug of water in the fridge. Because I pre-cut my fruit for the week, I already know there are enough lemons and cucumbers to add to my water in the a.m.

Move My Body at Least 30 Minutes a Day

For the month of July, I decided a 30-minute outdoor walk/jog would be my form of movement during the week. So, before going to bed, I lay out my workout clothes on top of my dresser. My sneakers are already by the door, so that’s already taken care of. I also have the “Bedtime” setting on my iPhone set to 9:30 p.m. for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. While I may not go to sleep every night at 9:30, setting this alarm reminds me to be in bed and ready for sleep. I usually doze off between 10-10:15.

Schedule a Monthly Virtual Therapy Session

Therapy has been a game-changer for me in more ways than one. I take my appointments very seriously so to ensure I won’t miss a session, I schedule my next appointment before logging off with my therapist. I also add the date and time to my iPhone calendar immediately after the session ends. If I wait to do this later, I almost always forget. Having my sessions locked in a month ahead of time gives me so much peace of mind.

Without a plan, a goal is unlikely to be achieved. You may have to tweak your plan here and there or rework it all together, but at least you have something to work with. So, here’s to making the decision to revive a healthy lifestyle, coming up with a plan, crushing goals, and much success!

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How to Use the Powersheets Goal Planner to Plan Your Month

July 14, 2020 by Whitney Leave a Comment

I’ve always been a planner. As I’ve shared before, I thrive on routine, and I’m much happier and much more productive when I’m leading a disciplined life. So this month I decided to go back to using a planner to help organize my days.

For years I searched for the perfect planner. At first, I was all about the gold polka-dot Kate Spade planner. I actually used it for quite a few years. Then, I ventured into solely digital planning with my iPhone and Google Calander. Both methods served their purpose, but as my daily and monthly tasks began to change, I needed something different.

I’ve been using the Cultivate What Matters Powersheets Goal Planner, also known as “Power Sheets”, for the past two years. I have the 2020 12-month dated planner. Right now, the six-month undated versions are available. This planner is perfect for you if you:

  • enjoy tracking your progress
  • find joy in self-reflection and writing lists
  • prefer intentional and faith-based goal setting 
  • aren’t afraid to answer tough questions and face your fears
  • like to dig deep to figure out what makes you happy and what motivates you

Admittedly, I haven’t used this planner since February. However, this is the kind of planner that you can pick up where you left off and still feel confident about goal setting. At the beginning of each month, there are three pages to fill out and one page to complete once the month is over. Here’s the breakdown of the pages:

Prepare Well

This is the first page to fill out at the beginning of each month. Included is space to fill out four sections:

  • Important To Do’s
  • I’m Excited For
  • On My Mind
  • I’m Hopeful That

Make What Matters Happen This Month

This page also includes tips on how to simplify and prioritize your goals, as well as how to sort your goals. The sections to fill out include:

  • Goals to Focus on this Month
  • Action Ideas

Tending List 

This page is my favorite because you really get down to the nitty-gritty of goal setting and tracking your progress. There’s space to fill out “action items” for the month, the week, and each day. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect:

  • Encouraging Words
  • Top Priority
  • Monthly Action Items
  • Weekly Action Items
  • Daily Action Items

Month in Review 

This is the final monthly page. Here, there’s have space to fill out the following:

  • What you’re grateful for
  • Goals that are growing well
  • Someone you’re grateful for and why (x2)
  • What you’re choosing grace over guilt about
  • The progress you’re celebrating
  • Favorite memory
  • Good lesson learned
  • What you’re saying NO to
  • What you’re saying YES to

There’s also the option to download two “wildcard” pages. These can be found on the Cultivate What Matters website. There are so many other interactive and insightful pages that I didn’t share. Those pages really make you dive deep and require a bit of self-work. It can seem overwhelming, but it’s worth putting in the time and effort.

All in all, this planner is very in-depth and extremely helpful with simplifying goals, tracking your progress, and introspection. If you have the desire to set intentional goals with a sprinkle of faith along the way, this planner is for you. I’m so thankful that I’ve found my way back to this planner. I now feel even more confident about achieving my goals.

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How to Keep Your Home Organized

July 13, 2020 by Whitney Leave a Comment

As I continue refreshing and renewing my way through July, I’ve been reimplementing some of my old habits to ensure that my home is as organized and as neat as possible. For the most part, my husband and I are pretty organized people. We always say that I’m the organizer and he’s the cleaner. I get excited about shelving and storage containers and he gets a thrill out of finding the newest cleaning supplies and natural cleaners.

Regardless of who likes to do what, there are certain tasks we do to when it’s time to organize and clean. Here are five simple tasks we do to keep an organized home:

1. Make the Bed Everday

My grandfather ingrained this into my brain as a little girl and ever since then it’s stuck with me. Not only does this make the bedroom look neater and more put together, but it also helps mentally prepare me for a productive day.

2. Clean as I Go

I try my best with this one. For instance, if I’m in the kitchen meal prepping or cutting up some fruit, I’ll be sure to put the knives and any other utensils or items used in the dishwasher as soon as I’m done with them. Also, if I’m baking or cooking, I usually clean up my mess as I make my way through the kitchen. That way I can move onto my next task seamlessly.

How to Keep Your Home Organized

3. Have Shoe Storage at the Entryway

We’re a “remove your shoes before you come in” household. Not only does this eliminate unwanted germs from entering the home, but it also keeps the foyer nice and neat. We also store our most frequently worn shoes at the entryway. Doing this cuts down on clutter and makes our “everyday shoes” easy to find.

5. Schedule Cleaning Days + Know My Responsibilities

My husband and I have a cleaning schedule. Although it’s just us right now, this schedule helps eliminate unnecessary disagreements as well as keeps our home in order. I’m responsible for dusting, washing + folding clothes, restocking the bathroom with cotton swabs, floss sticks, and other bathroom necessities, and watering our plants. I’m also in charge of keeping up with our food and household inventory.

Darrius is in charge of vacuuming, bathroom cleaning, and taking out the trash. We split the dishes, bed making, and cooking. We also have a shared grocery and household item list that I created using the Notes App. This makes keeping up with our household inventory a breeze.

4. Use a Calendar

About once a month, Darrius and I sit down and go over our family calendar. From birthday celebrations and date nights to doctor’s appointments and trips home (for Darrius), we like to be sure that important dates are blocked off and planned for ahead of time. There’s an erasable calendar in our kitchen that I fill out monthly. If there’s an event or special occasion coming up, it’s on the calendar. We schedule our own doctor’s visits and any other medical appointments on our own, using our iPhone calendars.

5 Simple Ways to Keep Your Home Organized

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I can only live with clutter and disorganization but for so long. I know things don’t always go as planned. That’s life. However,  keeping our home as neat and as organized as possible is a priority. These five simple tasks can help make keeping your home organized a priority as well. 

Filed Under: Lifestyle, Style Tagged With: mjconsistencychallenge, mjconsistencypays

Fearless Faith Fridays: Introduction + What to Expect

July 10, 2020 by Whitney 2 Comments

For years, I’ve wanted to share my faith and love for God here on the blog. I do weave my faith into most posts, but it’s time for me to go deeper. It’s time for me to make space here to share my thoughts about God and faith. So, welcome to my first “Fearless Faith Friday” post.

If you follow my Fearless Woman I Am Instagram account, you may remember my “Fearless Faith Series“. Last summer, I featured seven faith-filled, purpose-driven, women. These ladies shared their own faith stories plus offered words of encouragement. This powerful and impactful series was truly the start of something amazing. I plan to revive, revise, and expand that series here on the blog in hopes to make an even bigger impact.

What to Expect

On Fridays, you can expect to read my thoughts on an array of topics; each one coupled with scripture, as well as a word of encouragement. I also intend to share my testimonies as well as lessons learned from some of my real-life God moments. In the future, I plan to reintroduce the “Fearless Faith Features” as well.

The Purpose

My purpose is to share the goodness of the Lord with God’s people and to leave you both fulfilled and faith-filled. My goal isn’t to convert you or to force you to believe what I believe. This is my effort to build bridges, provide understanding, and to encourage you to live a life less worldy-focused and more faith-focused.

As I prepare to move forward, I invite you to share this news with your family and friends. If you know someone who can use a quick weekly faith-based pick me up, tell them about “Fearless Faith Fridays”.  I’m excited for what’s to come, and I hope you are too.

Until next week, stay safe and be blessed.

Filed Under: Lifestyle, Style Tagged With: mjconsistencychallenge, mjconsistencypays

The Perfect Summer Playlist: Black Girl Magic Edition

July 9, 2020 by Whitney Leave a Comment

Black Girl Magic Summer Playlist

While scrolling Twitter the other day, I came across the link to Gabrielle Union’s “Black Girl Magic” Playlist on Spotify. Of course, I clicked the link almost instantly. The playlist was on point, just as I suspected. I mean any playlist that includes Mary J. Blige and Brandy is already on point.

After listening to the playlist, of course, I was inspired to create my own. My playlist, the “Summertime Fine: Black Girl Magic Edition”, includes 40 songs. From Janet Jackson to Chloe x Halle, this playlist is guaranteed to be on heavy rotation all summer long. It’s one of those playlists where you won’t be tempted to skip a song. Just select the shuffle feature and let it play.

As I’ve shared many times before, music is my solace, a safe place. I also believe that music can be healing. With so much turmoil and misfortune happening in our country right now, it’s safe to say that we can all use some healing. So, I’m confident this summer playlist will ignite joy, happiness, and a bit of nostalgia for all of us.

Enjoy!

The “Summertime Fine: Black Girl Magic” playlist is the perfect soundtrack for the summer!

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Filed Under: Lifestyle, Style Tagged With: mjconsistencychallenge, mjconsistencypays, spotifyplaylist

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