LION.

MY Ministry!

Happy Monday, L💛VE! 

Monday #065 Time Stamp: 8:14 AM

I hope your week is off to a fabulous start! I wanted to take a minute to tell you to, 'KEEP GOING...Good things are ahead!' We need to hear that sometimes! I stay encouraged by reading my bible as much as I can and I like to listen to all types of music for inspiration and strength! This is part of MY Ministry!

Back in 2009, I was attending Faith Christian Center International Church in Charlottesville, VA. One day, I was volunteering in the Children's ministry and a teacher and I were getting to know one another. She told me that there was a 'ministry inside of me.' For years after that, it stuck with me but I didn't quite get a revelation of what she actually meant until a few years later! There is a ministry inside of all of us! YOUR story is YOUR ministry! Everything that you have endured, good and not so good and ALL of the in-between is part of an individual ministry that only you can tell. I will tell you one thing, I am PROUD of my journey and all of the things I have been blessed to endure and survive! Praise Him!!

...and YOU should be proud too😎😎😎

Your story is just beginning and you have SO much more fun and beauty to experience but I just wanted to drop this in your ear as encouragement! Let's GO, Love! Be brave and courageous and let God do the rest!

Enjoy the rest of your week!

I love you and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it!

YAASSS!!! smiling😊

COWBOY CARTER and what it means to Black women from the country!

Happy Happy Monday, Legend💫💫💫 

Monday #064. Time Stamp: 8:00 AM CST.

I have waited and waited to begin to describe what Beyonce's new 'COWBOY CARTER' album truly means to me because my country roots run deep! I was born and raised in Big Stone Gap, Virginia; a predominately white town with around 5,000 people. This was the population back in the early 2000's so it may be less than that now. I had an absolutely incredible childhood! I was born in the 80's. My parents loved playing music in the house, especially during the holidays. Their favorite album during this time was 'The Temptations' Christmas album! An absolute blast. My siblings and I knew all of the lyrics! That love and passion for music that began as a little girl has grown into a full blown musical ministry! Music is like air to me! Listening to it takes me to another level! I have studied music and dissected lyrics through my writing for so long that I feel if I wanted a career in music at some capacity, I could be incredibly successful! 

One genre of music that I have been most passionate about is country music. Big Stone Gap is a very country place! People live a very honest life and work hard for what they have. There aren't a lot of opportunities there to make money so for a long time during the 80's and 90's, people worked in the coal mines. My mother was a coal miner for 19 of my early years living in Virginia. Her job was very dangerous but she was EXCELLENT at her craft! Like a lot of my friends father's, she would suit up and go into the mines to not only provide for our family but also to teach us so many valuable lessons about work ethic, SACRIFICE, passion, trust, discipline and most of all, LOVE! My mother is retired now, but my country roots will always run deep.

My high school friends and I would have slumber parties all of the time. We would play all kinds of music but when the country songs came on, that's when we REALLY came alive! I've always loved 'The Dance' by Garth Brooks AND 'Temporary Home' by Carrie Underwood! Shania Twain's, 'The Woman In Me' album was pure🔥🚒🔥🚒🔥🚒🔥🚒🔥🚒 FIYAH!!!! 'From This Moment' will be one of several of my wedding songs! I know the lyrics to that entire album! There is just a really different vibe that comes while listening to country music and that vibe is exactly what you get when you spend time in Big Stone Gap, VA. It is the simple life a million times over!

When I heard that Beyonce was making a country album, I was so excited and was literally on the edge of my seat wondering what this album would sound like. Beyonce has been my favorite artist for years! For many reasons! BUT mainly because I love soul music and her vibrato is so incredible to hear! I have studied her for years and her music has helped me digest so much pain. We are both 42 year old, black successful women, from the COUNTRY!!!! SO, I started listening to her new album and I have been studying music for so long now that when a song begins to play, I immediately know if I will like it or not! 'AMERIICAN REQUIEM' is on a whole other level and the rest is history! The album is a perfect masterpiece! Her vocals. Music to my ears! I am SO excited about this album and where BEYONCE is taking country music for everyone but especially other black female country artists. Beyonce makes me SO proud to be a black woman from the country! As if I couldn't be more proud!

👏👏👏👏👏 

Paper Rings?

Happy Mindset Monday, Love Muffin!

How are you? 

How was your weekend? 

Fabulous AND Well, I hope!

The 1st day of Spring was March 20, last Wednesday and you know what that means...More Sun and the beginning of Spring wedding season!!! I saw a commercial for the Taylor Swift 'Eras...Taylor's Version' tour live on Disney+ recently and I had to watch and was SUPER entertained. She is an extermely talented and dynamic entertainer! I absolutely loved dancing, singing and grooving to it! Soon after the Disney+ special, I heard a song of her's called, 'Paper Rings' on Soundcloud GO! SO cute! The lyrics go..

'....I like shiny things, BUT I'd marry you with paper rings...!'

So, It got me to thinking, since I am still currently single, What would be my perfect wedding proposal and engagement ring????? AND would I marry my husband with a paper ring????? So deep, soo deep! Alot of women say that their engagement ring doesn't matter...Personally, I have always wanted a diamond with my birthstone incorporated some sort of way for my wedding ring. My birthstone is Peridot💚💚💚 But, I would love my boyfriend and marry him no matter what kind of ring he proposed with! I have seen men propose to their ladies with a different ring at proposal and then have another ring at the wedding when they exchange their vows in front of God and their loved ones! And alot of couples have a simpler engagement ring and upgrade to something more fancy later on in their marriage! I want to know, ladies AND gents; what do you think? Ladies, would you be offended if your man proposed with a paper ring and Gentlemen, would you propose that way? Please, let us be honest! LOL.

I would love to know your thoughts!

Have an awesome week! Love, Love, LOVE, you💚

The Devil is a KNOCKOFF, DUPE and a FRAUD!

Nice VS Kind. Which One Are You?

Happy Happy Monday, Love!

Monday #056. Time Stamp: 12:04 PM CST.

The 2nd official Monday in 2024. I hope this 'Mindset Monday' finds you all doing well! What a week it has been already! I was on a bible study a few weeks ago and my Pastor was discussing with us the difference between being:

1. NICE vs KIND

Nice: <adjective.> pleasant, agreeable, satisfactory

The waitress was so NICE!

Kind: <adjective.> characterized by sympathy or forbearance, helpful nature

He was very KIND to us!

Here is the difference: Anyone can be nice. You can simply be in a good mood and want to do something nice for someone. BUT in order to be kind, one has to have a different sort of heart posture. You have to have a contrite heart to be kind and God has called his children to be kind all of the time! Being kind also comes with humility, gentleness, and patience! -Colossians 3:12

Are you Nice OR are you Kind? Please, feel free to leave me a comment. I would love to start a conversation about this. I hope you have a blessed and fabulous week ahead! I love you and there is nothing you can do about it. Byeeee😘😘😘

Red-Lip Bandit! My Favorite Skincare + Makeup Products for 2024!

Happy New Year, Beautiful!

Monday #055. Time Stamp: 2:15 PM CST

Happy Monday! It's 2024!!

If you are anything like me, your intentions for the next few months have been set and your favorite planner(s) have been purchased to document! I made some decisions to level up in 2023 and revamp my skin, hair and overall beauty regimen. I was able to find some really affordable products after consulting with beauty advisors at both Walgreens Pharmacy and ULTA Beauty. BOTH carry excellent products! I have seen MAJOR results since using every single one of these products and I am so happy to share them with you! I even shared my FAVE RED LIP that you guys see me wearing in just about every IG story! All of my favorite and current products are listed below! Enjoy.💋💋💋💋💋

SKINCARE PRODUCTS: Purchased at ULTA

• Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant: I use this to exfoliate a few times a week. It is super gentle.
• La Roche-Posay-Gentle Foaming Moisturizing Wash: I am on my 2nd bottle and it is very hydrating.
• Carbon Theory-Tea Tree Oil & Citric Acid: Wonderful product.
• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream with Hyaluronic Acid: YAASSS!

• Urban Skin RX-Clear Skin Cleansing Bar for melanin skin: Purchased at Walgreens Pharmacy

MAKEUP PRODUCTS: Purchased at ULTA

• NYX Lingerie XXL Matte Lipstick: Has a 2 year shelf life.
• Estee Lauder-Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup

BODY PRODUTS: Purchased at ULTA

• Dr. Teal's Sleep Spray: Lavender & Chamomile Essential Oil Blend: EXCELLENT
• Dr. Teal's Moisturizing Bath & Body Oil: Eucalyptus Spearmint Essential Oil
• Nemat: Egyptian Musk Rollerball Fragrance: Smells like Heaven.
• LAVANILA: The Healthy Deodorant-Vanilla Blackberry 

HAIR PRODUCTS: Purchased at ULTA

• Peppermint Essential Oil to massage on my scalp to prevent dryness.