My how time flies! It's been a minute since my last post, almost a year exactly. So much can happen in a year right? Tell me about it. Have you ever felt as though you're doing so much but have yet to see the fruits of your labor? Well I'm here to tell you that it happens. I can honestly say that because I have recently been there myself. This year has included many ups and downs but in return it has also included self growth. I see it all over the internet. We are in a transition, a shift If I must say. So many are seeking who they truly are including myself. Many of us have been at what feels like a stand still. The world is moving and revolving but for some reason we just don't feel as if we're a part of it. These moments can really affect your emotions. You become anxious and frustrated wondering what to do and how to do it. As for me the old saying of being busted and disgusted would invade my mind to the point that I just didn't even want to think anymore. It truly is a humbling moment especially when you come to grips that these moments are very much needed and that during these excruciating moments are when we find out who we truly are. We find our strength, and we our will to succeed. These are moments to sit back, re-group and re-focus on our plans so that we have a better understanding of how to approach and execute them. As an Entrepreneur, physically, emotionally and mentally taking a break from everything isn't always easy because deep down you know that you have to keep going. I'm sure many of you can relate and have been there yourselves or may even be there at this very moment. I want you to know that it's OK. You don't have to have it all together all the time. If for some reason you are pushed into a place of quietness where you become a little antisocial and just need time away from the world, that's OK as well. Sometimes you have to pull back from everything for a moment until you find yourself again. Until you find your why and your how. Don't be discourage during your moment of pause. Take as much time as you need, but during that time write down your goals. What are your plans? Where do you see yourself 6 months from now? What are your expectations? Create a vision board, read self help books, and watch inspirational videos if you have to. Whatever the case, find ways to motivate and occupy your mind with positive thoughts and resources. #ihopethishelpssomeone XOXO, Lawana
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I'm trying to convince my friend that her going natural was the best decision she could have made.12/6/2016 A few weeks ago my friend called me in agony over the process of her hair and stated that she is considering going back into a relaxer. You see two years ago after doing the big chop, she decided to go natural. Since then she says that her hair has not been the same and that it has actually gotten shorter and unmanageable since going natural. She feels that her hair was in a better state relaxed and is ready to end her natural hair journey.
I endured the same struggle when I made the decision to go natural. In conversation with my friend, I explained to her that the transitional stage from relaxed hair to natural is not easy. It requires a great deal of patience, and that over time she'll get more familiar with her natural hair and learn how to tame it. I know this all too well because, there were days when I struggled with just trying to style my hair. Baaaby let me tell you, there were moments when I didn't even like my hair, and struggled with whether or not to go back to a relaxer also. This December marks my 13th year relaxer free hair journey, and I can indeed say that I absolutely love my hair! I honesly have more fun with my hair now, then ever before, and I love the fact that I can switch it up whenever I feel like it. I truly hope my friend hangs in there. Being natural does take commitment but it is truly worth it. XOXO, Lawana As women, we go through the hustle and bustle of each day with concerns for our families, our friends, others, jobs, bills...etc; I mean we do it all. When we wake in the morning its all about what we have to do for those that lean and depend on us the most. Throughout the day its about them and even at night before falling off to sleep, your going over and over in your mind wondering whether or not you got this or that done. Trust me I know because I'm so guilty of this myself. I truly believe that we were born with a super power unlike any other, and that we were definitely built to last! However I will say that in all of our taking care of everyone else, we must find time to take care of ourselves. How can we authentically or productively care for others if we neglect the most important person in our life. I mean honestly, it's okay to be selfish sometimes. We all deserve a few minutes everyday to just do us. My goal is to take thirty minutes to an hour each day to relax, workout, work on a craft or just unwind and do nothing at all, but this will be my time, my time just for me. I hope you had an awesome Monday luvs! P.S... XOXO,
Lawana Hello everyone here we go again! Can you believe that we are already halfway through October? The kids are all settled back in school; the mornings and nights have become chilled and we're heading into that busy time of the year with the holidays approaching soon. I hope you had a great summer with lots of barbecue, family gatherings, vacations and more! As for me, life has been a little overwhelming, but in a good way I must say. I know its been a minute since I last posted but I've been extremely busy. Since graduating school and launching my products, I've spent some much needed time with my family, not to mention landing a fabulous job! :) Fall is my favorite season of the year, it is the time of year when the old falls off to make room for the new. Like the leaves on a tree, which are eventually stripped down to nothing but a bare branch waving back and forth in all of its nakedness surrounded by a cool breezy sky. Fall is a season of change and transition; and in my opinion, it means freeing yourself of everything that has held you back, and all that has weighed you down. It is a time of self reflection meaning, where you hoped to be in life, where you are, and what it's going to take to get you exactly where you want to be. It is also a time of relaxation and rejuvenation from all of the events that transpired over the summer.
This is definitely my favorite season of the year, and I'm looking forward to waking up on the weekends enjoying a hot latte while admiring the change of scenery in our landscapes. Happy Mid October luvs...enjoy! Happy Monday luvs! I hope you had an awesome weekend, I sure did! It all began when I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Corey Damen Jenkins, one of the top Interior Designers in the industry. I reached out to Corey in hopes to at least have a telephone conversation but got way better than that. Corey extended himself to meet and have coffee with me... (how exciting!) is all I could think. I can't tell you how nervous I was on my way there. I'm like this man is busy building his legacy and is willing to take time out of his schedule to sit with me? This is truly amazing! Corey and I laughed and talked as if we had known each other for a while, I truly enjoyed his company. This experience was definitely a WOW moment for me.
Not only is he an awesome Designer with an amazing gift for design, he's also an amazing down to earth individual and I'm truly thankful to have met his acquaintance. Thank you Corey! XOXO Lawana Hello luvs I'm back and with some really great news! I'm a day late posting this but I've had a ton of things going on these past couple of weeks and I can't wait to tell you all about it. I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself! I can't share everything at the present moment but something happened last week that made every tear, every heartache, every struggle and every disappointment all worth it. You see, I learned at an early age to never depend on anyone to give you anything. I learned that in order to be something you have to know what not to be. I also learned that in order to achieve success, you must also embrace moments of failure. Life can be something else at times but, when you can say to yourself... Against all odds no matter how many times I fail, I have a reason to get back up, I have a reason to try this over and over again until I get it right. You see, when you can accept the good along with the bad, believe in yourself and the ability that God has given you, there is nothing that can hold you back.
This June 3rd 2016, marked one of the most memorable days of my life! I graduated with my Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts, specializing in Interior Design. I'm so proud of myself! Who would have thought that this teen mom, high school dropout and divorced mother of five would have the mental strength to persevere above and beyond the obstacle presented before her and become a college grad at the age of 43? And I'm not done yet! I may not be Beyoncé but hunty, I am feelin myself! This is one of the greatest moments of my entire life, because against all the odds that I've faced, I didn't give up! I'm feeling accomplished, empowered and not only that I'm more than a conqueror! I wish my mom were here to share this moment with me, but in my heart, I know that she's looking down from heaven with a smile on her face. God has a plan for me that is much bigger than I can ever anticipate or imagine, and against all odds I can and I will walk in my divine purpose. Against All Odds! Lawana While celebrating my accomplishments of graduating this past weekend, the announcement of the death of a Dynamic Power House made it bitter sweet. Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) of Louisville Kentucky made his transition June 3, 2016 and our world will never be the same. Our butterfly who stung like a bee is now still, and the hands that were once balled ready for a fight, lay relaxed in absolute peace. Ali was a man of great faith and integrity, who never allowed the cares of this world to influence or alter his beliefs. He executed those beliefs when he was drafted for the 1967 Vietnam War. Proving then that he was the greatest, Muhammad didn't fold nor did he bend. Despite the fact that he was convicted and sentenced to serve a five year prison term and fined $10,000, Ali stood strong in his faith quoting "I ain't got no quarrel with those Vietcong."
Ali was a true role model for all young black men. He taught us as a whole that if you believe in yourself, your faith, your ability and your dreams, that you too can be the greatest. The world has lost the greatest fighter of all time and he will truly be missed. Farewell to the greatest. Lawana Sprucing up a home takes time as well as money and when you're limited on cash it takes even longer. I know this all to well, because I've been in my home for what will be four years and I'm no where near being done making my house into my dream home. So I'm working with what I have and in other words, I'm making it do what it do baby! Below are a Before and After pic of my fireplace makeover. I hope you like it! Beautiful right? Ok so this is what I did, first I removed all of the other junk that was in front of it...lol. I played around with a few of my little knick knacks and came up with this. Lovely, don't you agree? Now the paint color hasn't changed, although I'm definitely going to be doing a paint job throughout the entire house soon. However, until then I'm working with what I have, and you can too!
Happy Decorating! Lawana A gardening disaster turned success. I planted tulip bulbs three-years ago and it has been a complete disaster! I had this dream of having a stream of beautiful tulips along the bushes, but instead I got nothing! The first year was an awful flop, I got leaves and no flower. Last year, more leaves popped up which made me very hopeful, but still only two bloomed. Ever since I put those stubborn little buggers in the dirt, only two had bloomed.
Planting flowers was never an issue for me in the past and I couldn't understand what I was doing wrong. I started feeling as though I had lost my touch, thinking that my green thumb was gone to the point of no return. This year my tulips finally decided to show their faces and I couldn't be more excited! I took this close-up somewhere around the end of April and just wanted to show you what they looked like. They were absolutely beautiful! I can't wait to see what they'll look like next year! Lawana Oh how I love thrifting! Throughout my child hood, one of my moms favorite sayings was, "One mans junk is another mans treasure." Now that I'm an adult, I realize that to be so true, especially when your living on a budget. I find all kinds of cool things at the thrift stores such as clothing, house ware items and even accessories. Now you know I'm a girl with very expensive taste, sometimes I even shock myself with some of the things I'm attracted to because my bank account doesn't reflect the rich girl who's living inside of me.
Just last week, I was on my way to T.J.Maxx, I had about $150.00 to spend on a designer bag. While riding, I noticed a thrift store that I had shopped at about six-years ago. I hadn't returned to this particular store because it's twenty-miles from where I live and I couldn't recall the name of it or exactly where it was. Any how, I decided I'd go inside to look for hidden treasures. Walking in the door I was like a kid in a candy store. The store was so well organized I couldn't help but look through everything they had. I had to really get a hold of myself and remind myself why I was there. I eventually found what I was looking for a nice simple black everyday handbag, and it was new! Can you believe it! I got a brand new purse for $12.80! Not only that, I found another one for $8.00 and another for...brace yourself, drum roll please...$4.50! Wow ! You know I'm feeling like such a smart shopper, right? Three bags for under $30! You can't tell me this girl doesn't know how to shop and have money left over. Ladies you know how we do! Lawana |