Posted by Peace Love and Pretty Things on 4:14 PM
Recently, I was having a glass of wine on a work night. I was already tired and emotionally drained from the day, so I started to feel the effects pretty quickly. I knew I was reaching the tipping point and should probably stop drinking. But I didn't WANT to. So I kept on, trying to finish the glass. And finally, when I was more than halfway done, I decided to just toss back the rest and go to bed. But as I raised my glass for that last time, I saw it. A gnat floating in my glass! Gross! But clearly I needed a more tangible sign that it was time to stop drinking.
Signs are all around us. Some are very deliberate and universally recognized--"Stop!...
Posted by Peace Love and Pretty Things on 6:37 AM
Part of our divine right on this planet is to be loved, and part of our universal power is to give love--abundantly/unselfishly/unabashedly. As women, we're designed to love as mothers/ sisters/friends/wives/ girlfriends/teachers/neighbors--you name it. We're supposed to give raw/unfiltered/unedited love that heals/cleanses/supports/uplifts/consumes/creates and re-creates. And we do. We allow ourselves to be open, raw, emotional and vulnerable. We cloak those surrounding us in love and hope that they keep the circle going so the love comes right back to us...
But what do we do when that doesn't happen? When that raw emotion becomes a sore so...
Posted by Peace Love and Pretty Things on 6:03 PM
One of the keys to happiness is accepting that everything has a price. It’s up to you to determine if what you think you want is worth the price. There is a price to being in a relationship, and there is also a price to not being in a relationship. There is a price to being a working mom and a price to being a stay-at-home mom. Either pay up or let it go. You won’t know if you are willing to pay up until you have a realistic view of the cost implications and rewards. In other words, what are you willing to sacrifice and why?
We don’t always want what we think we want. Many of us spend so much of our lives seeking recognition, never developing...
Posted by Peace Love and Pretty Things on 2:56 PM
I am such a huge fan of Nia Long. Nia has been featured on television and in movies since she was a teenager and she has always held her own with her radiant smile, beautiful brown skin, full flowy hair and great figure. I used to try and emulate her when I was younger--I cut my hair like hers (remember the cute bob “Cat” had on All My Children?) and tried to do my makeup like hers in college with the smoky eyes and the purple lipstick, lol. Outside of her looks though, she just seems to have a beautiful spirit that radiates from the inside out and makes me feel drawn into whatever it is that she’s doing. She’s been showing up on red carpets...
Posted by Peace Love and Pretty Things on 8:05 AM
“I will stop judging myself to be not enough.”
There was a time, not very long ago, where I found myself trapped in a constant state of “not enough”. I felt I wasn’t pretty/skinny/educated/rich/savvy/talented enough. I felt like “less than”. I compared myself to others waaay to often. “I’m not as fabulous as she is. I wish my relationship was like theirs. I wish I had as much money as she does. She’s prettier than me. Her hair is so much longer than mine.….” It was never ending.
I think I’d started using other people as a mirror or a key to what I thought I should be when I was in middle school. I was always the younger girl who had skipped...
Posted by Peace Love and Pretty Things on 5:13 PM
The life of a mother is one of sacrifice and naked, unwavering devotion. If you are a mama, play the role of a mama or were raised by a mama, you have felt the rippling effect that mothers have on every generation that comes and goes. A huge part of my identity is defined by my role as a mother. It is the most intimidating and rewarding endeavor I have encountered in this life. I am challenged and honored to be the mama of two beautiful, lively kids.
I feel a common bond with fellow mothers who, like me, regard this mission with the utmost humility and passion. No matter how different our beliefs, mothers have kindred hearts that speak a common...
Posted by Peace Love and Pretty Things on 6:59 AM
It can seem like a difficult pill to swallow sometimes, but there's really no one on earth who can make us happy. We get trapped into thinking "If he would only..." Or "Why doesn't she?..." but the truth is, even if they did all the things we wanted them to, we could still be unhappy. No matter how hard they try to please us, people are always going to inevitably disappoint us--not intentionally, but simply because they are human and because they are an external by-product of our happy. Happiness, peace, positivity--all these states of being start on the inside and, as our attitude reflects them, they manifest outwardly in our lives. So we have...
Posted by Peace Love and Pretty Things on 3:49 AM
Nights like this I wish that raindrops would fall. I envision black clouds casting their shadows over every corner of my life, and out of habit I brace myself for the rain that will surely come next. Sometimes I find myself in darkness, and I resentfully pout and resign myself to spend some time there when the light switch is within my arm’s reach. Oh, the drama. The internal soundtrack has certainly been melancholy today.
As I was riding home tonight, listening to 808s and Heartbreak, I decided to have a good cry. Every woman should have one from time to time. I probably get a knot in my throat at least once a day, because I’m just a sappy...
Posted by Peace Love and Pretty Things on 7:57 AM
Good Morning,Prosperity is my divine birthright. I believe that the universe showers me with abundance--a wealth of love, family, money, peace and joy--and that as I give these things, I receive the same in return. Life is a cycle--I know that everything I put into it, is what will manifest itself back to me.Affirmations*I deserve prosperity.*I have plenty of time and money.*The Universe showers abundance upon me.*As I express my needs, they are met.*As I give, I receive, receive and receive.*There is limitless supply and it is mine.*There is plenty more where that came from.*Money is simply energy that I exchange for what it is that I need.-Sri...
Posted by Peace Love and Pretty Things on 7:33 AM
I told myself for years that I would never, could never do it! And then I did it. I started growing out my relaxer.
It started out as just an experiment really. I kind of accidentally noticed that I was going for longer and longer periods past my previous 6 weeks without getting a touch-up. I would go 8-10 weeks and realize that my hair was still manageable. Then I'd go 12-14 weeks...and finally I asked myself, "Do I really need this? What would happen if I just kept going?"
I remember what my hair used to be like when I was a little girl--thick, healthy, long and full. And ever since I've been relaxed my hair has been different--brittle, temperamental,...
Posted by Peace Love and Pretty Things on 10:38 AM
“Almost always it is the fear of being ourselves that brings us to the mirror….”
I’ve never liked my toes or my knees…I have my reasons. My arms and hands are so long that my fingertips are ridiculously close to reaching my knees when I stand with my hands at my sides. My forehead selfishly stole a good inch from my scalp that it really didn’t need. I’m in my thirties, but I still have acne-prone skin. And somewhere inside there is still a 13 year old, insecure girl who wants bigger breasts, clearer skin and smaller feet. This girl in me wills me to compare and contrast myself to other girls and wonder what it feels like to have all the physical...
Posted by Peace Love and Pretty Things on 7:30 AM
It' s so easy sometimes to get caught up in all the things about life that I wish I could change...all the things that I want to do, all the things I wish I had time to do, all the things I could do "if only", all the things that irritate or upset me.....When those negative thoughts start to overwhelm me, I try to combat them with positive thoughts of all the things that are perfect just as they are. I try to remember all the things that I have to be thankful for. So to that end, here is my list of "thanks". It reminds me that I can find good in every aspect of my life, because even if it doesn't seem to be good at the moment, I know it will be for my highest good in the long run.
"I give thanks for peace and joy and family. I give thanks for my little boy's too big feet and too long toe...
Posted by Peace Love and Pretty Things on 5:42 PM
"Oh sistahhhhh, we’re two of a kind sooo…sistahhhh, I’m keeping my eye on you…"
In the past few days, I’ve been noticing articles, facebook updates, emails and conversations about women, particularly black women, and our love/hate relationships with each other. I feel particularly engaged by this subject because I'm a firm believer that women need to support each other in order to reach our full potential. I would go crazy without my girls! Who understands the headwinds we face each day better than another woman? The tension between women comes from the damaged self-image we have that tells that we should feel threatened by anyone who has something...
Posted by Peace Love and Pretty Things on 3:57 AM
Faith. Positive thinking. Hope. Optimism. A glimmer of possibility like the sun peeking out from behind a cloud. Like the sun, blessed assurance is there and it shines brightly even when we can't see it because of the clouds in our lives. It is what gets us out of bed in the morning and gives us the strength to keep getting up when we fall.
I recently read the following excerpt from The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale about channeling negative feelings into positive attitudes leading to inner peace and real accomplishments. These five reminders are great affirmations to increase your faith and confidence. I thought these...
