Touching Thursdays : The Power Of The Tongue

Death and life are in the power of the tongue.

We hear it all the time, that the things we say greatly impact our lives and those around us as well....but do we really take heed and understand what this means? I mean, if you were a child with a relative that always told you you would amount to nothing, or that you were worthless and dunce, that might have done 1 of 2 things. 1. Made you eventually believe it, or 2. Gave you the motivation to prove them wrong....Death and Life.

So let's remember this today, and get the courage to always try to be our most positive selves. Speak healthy, positive things over our lives and the lives of those around us....and remember the power of words and the power of the tongue.

xo

Touching Thursdays: Do A Random Act of Kindness

Hey lovely people,

I haven't done a "Touching Thursdays" blog post in a while I know, but today while watching Joyce Meyers this stuck out to me. Sometimes when we are feeling at our worst, that's the time we must give, sow a seed of kindless and love...whether it's just to listen to someone's woes, help someone, smile at someone, tell someone you love them, or God loves them....it makes a world of a difference for not only the person but for YOU! Half the time I give of myself, I am the one that ends up feeling super-duper blessed....so, today, tomorrow...this weekend, do something nice for a random stranger, or for someone you love ;)

In the words of Wendy Williams....I love you for "reading"!!!

Touching Thursdays: Dr. Oz's 10 Major Agers

Hey ladies!!

Dr. Oz

I am just sooooo lovin' Dr. Oz's new talk show!!!! If you don't know Dr. Oz, then you should know that he's an accomplished Doctor and has been a featured health expert on the Oprah Winfrey show for a number of years who now has his own show!!! It's like it was made for us women, I mean he even had a show where he talks about the bacteria living in our handbags, and on our makeup, cell phones, ...the VAGINA....underwear...how to wash your thong!!!Anyway...of course he discusses other important things like food, weight, swine flu, even poop. This is very important to our health ladies, to have our insides working well so that we can be beautiful without the need for a lot of topical "stuff". I can't get enough of Dr Oz's Show and if you can, I think you should check it out!! You can watch video clips and read articles from the show on his website too, drozshow.com .

Today however, he addressed the 10 major agers that can be found in our homes! This can be found here for greater detail. But the one I am going to mention is Toulene....yes, we all know it, cause it's all up in our nail polishes!!!

Here's why he says this is an ager:

8. Toluene

Toluene, a solvent found in nail polish, paints and when petroleum-based paraffin candles are burned can cause nervous system damage. Naturally scented beeswax, soy or vegetable candles and natural alternatives to nail products are a better choice.

ANndddddd, I know a lot of us love our scented candles right?? Read this :

6. Air Fresheners and Fragrance Candles

Everyone likes their home to smell clean and fresh but synthetic fragrances that waif through the air can negatively affect the quality of indoor air, damage lung tissue and airways and irritate the eyes. Keep it real. If your house is clean it shouldn't smell.

So there you go! I hope you'll check out the show and read the rest of agers, because you know we all want to drink from the fountain of youth!!

On a side note, I'm really loving the Wendy Williams show!!!! (Woot woot) haha, she is so vibesy, and she is ever keeping it real!!! She loves talking about her wigs lol, and whatever else is fake, and I just llooove her nude lips, seems like a signature for her! I love how she talks with her guests, her expressions, just hilarious...so check her out too! I'm also loving the Tyra Show this season too!!! Are you feeling her natural hair? Kudos to her for doin that! Also, One Tree Hill is backkkk :) YAY!!!! And I'm liking The Vampire Diaries!! I'm hooked on the CW on week nights lol...AND late nights are for Sex and the City re-runs!! Alright ladies....share with me what else you think I'd like to watch and what you're loving??

Touching Thursdays: Christine Kane Feauture:- The Highly Underrated Art of Falling Apart

Click here for Christine's Blog. As you all know I love her blogs, they are just so inspiring and so I wanted to share this one with all of you. Enjoy...

Today’s post was written by guest blogger, Emily Long. Emily is a Social Media Assistant and Time Rescuer for entrepreneurs and creative people who’d rather spend their precious time on their genius work. Emily is also a published poet and writer. Click here to find her on Twitter.

Someone said to me recently how amazed she was because I seemed to have it all together. She told me I am focused and clear about what I’m doing.

Huh.

In actuality, I’m making my life up as I go and shifting directions all the time. After many years of mastering how to hold it all together, I’ve spent the last couple years learning to fall apart. (Yes, I wrote “LEARNING” to fall apart.)

What I learned is that falling apart is highly underrated.

For years falling apart meant having to face uncertainty and trusting myself to be able to handle whatever came up. I wasn’t willing to go there. So I simply refused to do it.

I clung desperately to things, relationships, places, and jobs even when I knew I needed to let them go. I stayed insanely busy to avoid thinking about how unhappy I was with much of my life. I stayed busy to avoid years of grief and tears that were buried inside waiting for me to fall apart and release them.

On the surface, I appeared successful and put together. I appeared productive and focused. I was. I was successful, put together, productive, and focused on a path that was not my soul path. Not allowing myself to fall apart was keeping me miserable.

I remember clearly the first time I really allowed myself to fall apart. It wasn’t very pretty. I got in my car one night after work and drove nearly 5 hours to the beach. I sat on the beach and sobbed. The blotchy, snot all over your face, gasping for breath kind of sobbing.

I cried for loved ones who had died through the years. I cried for the pain I’d experienced as a child. I cried for knowing that I hated where I lived. I cried for knowing that many of the relationships in my life weren’t healthy ones. I cried for knowing that I was on the wrong career path and didn’t know how to get off. I cried for everything and nothing.

Then I got back in my car and went back to the life I hated.

My hour of falling apart didn’t magically change everything for me. It simply opened up space for change to start. Most importantly, it taught me that I could fall apart and still be okay. I still practice the art of falling apart – but now I do it with a little more grace and acceptance. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way…

• Falling apart can take different forms.

Falling apart can be internal – taking down protective walls around my heart, releasing limiting beliefs, or simply letting myself cry.

Other times it’s external – quitting the profession I hated, letting go of relationships, getting rid of all the furniture and stuff I no longer liked, or moving to a new state (although, most external falling apart is really an out picturing of internal falling apart).

• Falling apart can be terrifying and messy and chaotic. Or not.

Falling apart isn’t about drama. It’s about release.

Falling apart is the release of what isn’t working in my life. It can be something big or something very simple. I’ve learned that I know more, and can handle more, than I give myself credit for. And that falling apart gets easier with practice.

• Being “in control” makes me feel safe. That’s pretty much the only benefit.

Falling apart, however, has countless benefits. It opens me up. It reconnects me with my heart and soul. It shows me the wisdom and courage I already have. It clears out all the muck I hold inside. Falling apart is healing. It allows me to grow and expand. It shows me beauty and joy and delight. It lightens me.

• Falling apart can create space for something new (and better.)

A mentor of mine talks about trusting passionately in the chaos of the process. That’s what falling apart means for me – trusting passionately in the chaos of my process. Life is all a process. Trusting in that process brings so much freedom and joy.

Trust your process. Un-tether your wings. Discover your joy. Fall apart.

Touching Thursdays: What Have I Done For Me Lately?

Hey ladies!!!! How are you doing today?

Did anyone watch Sister Act 2? If so, can you remember when they sang that song "What have you done for me lately?"...although in this case, we are asking ourselves the question....but that's where it stemmed from.

I battled, well not really... that's a strong word, with what to write about today. I was blank! (Hmmm....writer's block?) But as I sat here it just came to me, I should write about taking care of ourselves. In my last post I spoke about how working for 12 hours each day made me of little use to anyone...it also meant some crazy eating times, which if this had continued for another week I might've gotten sick! Now don't get me wrong, I'm very appreciative that they provided breakfast, lunch and snacks, but the actual time that I got around to eating is a whole different story! I might've taken on too much when it wasn't necessary but I believe it was...at the time, i guess. No regrets!

So, now that it's over, I'm reflecting and thinking do we take care of ourselves enough? It's only if we are in perfect health and shape, mentally, emotionally and physically that we can bring any form of joy or help to anyone else. So today, ask yourself this question, what have I done for me lately? If you can't recall, then please, do something for yourself asap! Pamper yourself a little, give yourself a facial, (recession in mind or I might've said have a spa day), I dunno give yourself a lovely pedicure or manicure, tell yourself, "Self, I love you, you are the bestest self in the whole world!" :) That oughta getcha goin'!

The last thing I did for myself was get those cutesy sandals and the 2 nail polishes and something else which I'm so excited to blog about (soooon) ! Alrighty, let me hear what you've done or are going to do for yourself!!

Oh....Usain has done it again! I'm so proud to be a Jamaican!!!! 2 di werl'!!!!

One love my beauties!

Touching Thursdays: When You Least Expect It!

Hey dolls,

How are you? I'm so tired, doing some really looooonng hours for this project I'm doing makeup for...fortunately, it's a good experience and it came at a time when I needed it! I'm really grateful and thankful for it!

As a result, I'm almost knocking the laptop over falling asleep hahaha. On another note, I recorded a trance song last night, and I mean, it's only because I put myself out there on youtube, and a local DJ heard my songs and sent me the track to listen to why I got this chance. This was last Thursday, when I was writing about believing in yourself and all the drama at the job. The track came when I least expected it, but right on time, I was in a space mentally and emotionally that allowed me to bring forth words lol.....to the song. I'll let y'all hear it once it's done!!!! Sometimes, no everytime, I find that this is how it works, unless you are willing to drop certain guards and put your talents out there, how will you be discovered?

When was the last time something truly unexpected happened for you just when you needed it most?

Touching Thursdays : Believe in yourself!

This week has been a great one so far, of course, not short of trials and challenges in the least! But these things come to help us grow right? We need that for sure!

Today I wanted to talk a little about believeing in one's self. When you're in an environment where you don't necessarily have a support system and people are voicing their opinions about your work and how they would prefer it, whether or not it is flattering on them (yes i'm talking about makeup, but this can be applied in general), it can be frustrating. Especially, when they are all wearing red, and want crazy blue eyeshadows and all that jazz....(yes, I'm venting). This is for a tv show, not carnival, not a photo shoot, not an editorial that requires craziness....is it me? I mean I thought that neutrals, golds, bronzes, smokey eyes best complimented red dresses....I just need some loveee....funnily, it's just one or two of my models that give me this headache...thank GOD for the others, who can appreciate the fact that yes, I would love to get away with the craziness on them but because of this red dress, it just can't be done...not to mention when a friend betrays you....I feel a little overwhelmed right now, but I can also say Charlene, you are awesome, you are blessed and favoured and you are doing well...i've heard :) (i'm just humbling myself....) Right now, it is my belief in myself, in my skills, that is carrying me through, I feel to cry some how...I'm emotional that way, but I also know that this is coming to get me stronger! It's a learning experience that I will count all joy~

So count it all joy ladies, that these trials come to make us stronger, and when no one else around you is willing to be your rock, remember, believe in yourself! You are beautiful, one of a kind, created just right, talented, skilled and well able.

Touching Thursdays : 100%= Attitude!

A=1, T=20, T=20, I=9, T=20, U=21, D=4, E=5 = 100%.

How many times have we seen this? Or heard this....that a good attitude carries you a far way?
I am here to remind you about that today. No matter who you are, or where you think you are in life, humility and a good attitude are key! The truth is, we are always on display, sometimes you think no one is watching or listening, or is observing how you behave towards a particular thing. Then BAM....the next thing you know, you're being cut from a make-up team because of your constant bickering, complaints and snide, rude remarks. Thankfully, this hasn't happened to me, but I happen to be a part of that team she got cut from.

No matter where you go, you will always find those people who you just know you will knock heads with, or they will make what could potentially be a peaceful place, one of misery! These people are everywhere, they're like garbage trucks, and once we entertain them, they get to dump all their piled up garbage on us.

So go out today, and smile, and be happy, be blessed, think positively, (try at least) and remember, to have a good attitude no matter what!

Touching Thursdays : Be Not Discouraged!

I've been facing some major discouraging remarks lately, which I can only use to fuel the fire within me to pursue my dreams, and realize my goals. So it was only fitting that today I say to you, that it is impossible to please man, but with God as guide, we in pleasing Him and following through on the dreams He has placed in our hearts, can rise and overcome negativity to be who God made us to be.

We won't always live up to other people's expectations of us, and then they are upset and hurl a ton of discouraging remarks....we can only use this as the motivation to get going with our dreams!

So be not discouraged, even if things seem to be moving slowly, remember, the darkest hour is just before the dawn.

Here's a quote for you to think on:

Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary. - Cecil Beaton

Touching Thursdays: Prisoner of Hope

I've just been seeing life as a precious gem, and I've been feeling like I have taken so much for granted and I don't want to fall in that trap again. I try to do something with meaning in the daytime, so as not to let the time just fly by without having really added value to my life or someone else's. I'm just all about the love right now, I feel like sometimes I have so much negativity coming at me, and sometimes I fall in the trap. but I am seeking to change that. Two weeks ago, I decided to be a Prisoner of Hope, which means that like a prisoner, I can't do anything else, but HOPE. Having made this choice, I can see where I have effectively put my faith in action, and faith is what gets the Hand of God working...

The day I made that decision, I hadn't been working for quite some time. I am a professional makeup artist, that's what I use to make my livelihood right now. I had only one job in the queue, and so you can say, nothing was happening for me. On the day I became a prisoner of hope, and vowed to remind myself each day that something good was going to happen to me, I got a call for a two week job that would begin the following week! I was floored. I believed that GOD would work it out, but I also couldn't believe that it would be that soon! Forgive my disbelief Lord....so today, I want to inspire you, to be a PRISONER OF HOPE!

I wasn't the one who coined that term either, it's in the Bible....I don't know what you ladies believe or don't believe...but in general, I think it's good principle that could help us all in one way or another! Joyce Meyers is actually the one who I first heard with this...I love her, I watch her everyday almost! She used this example with David from the Bible, Psalms 27:13-14:
[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living!
14Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.
(Amplified Bible)

Then she interpreted it to mean this: What on earth would happen to me if I did not get up everyday thinking something good would happen to me today?

SO...if for one day in your life, CHOOSE to be hopeful! CHOOSE not to let anyone define how much hope you have, CHOOSE positivity and CHOOSE to be a Prisoner of Hope!

Christine Kane made a blog about this today and I thought I'd share it :

“Your playing small does not serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine…” – - Marianne Williamson

Touching Thursdays : Do What You Can With What You Have

This kinda just came to me just now....in a time of despair where the recession looms with no end in sight, so many are laid off, the bills are piling up....etc. It's really easy to give up! But remember that when you were born, there were talents you were born with, whether it be a natural knack for crafts, music, a beautiful voice, whatever it may be, sometimes our greatest resources are the very things we look over....inadvertently maybe, but maybe also because we don't think we're good enough. I say, just do it! Reminded by the death of a legend, we realize that we have to make the most of right now.

So what do you have that you can use? I have my voice, I've been singing since I was born, and yet, I'm so scared sometimes to sing....I'm trying to overcome that and I'm trying to use what God gave me before I lose it! Along with makeup ie.

Let's see what we have, and see what we can do with it!

Touching Thursdays: LIVE YOUR LIFE!

So this is a very somber post...just last weekend, my Uncle passed away, he was sick and he lived to be 79, but it is never easy to see your loved one be buried into a hollow hole in the ground. :(
It was even more so heartbreaking that the funeral was the day before Fathers Day, and I felt for his 7 children and 22 grandchildren etc.... He had a really great sense of humour and was a really good role model for my Dad since he was about 30 years older than my Dad.
And then just yesterday, I heard that my friend's mom passed away in her sleep...she was pretty young probably in her 50's and it's just sad and it reminded me that, death is certain and to be more positive, that is all the more reason to LIVE!

We have so many fears that stop us from being and doing all we are and living to our full potential! There is so much that we allow to stand in our way, whether it's the daily struggles that we face, or it's that friend we won't forgive, or that person that really hurt us that we said we forgave but we really didn't.....life is just way too precious and valuable for us to not live it to the fullest!

One way of living life to the fullest is being grateful and thankful for everything! OR finding something to be thankful for and taking the time to reflect on these things before going to bed. That helps you to wind down the day, think about alllll the events of the day, and just taking a breather and giving thanks before going to sleep. I have a gratitude book that was put out by THE SECRET (you know that documentary) which helps me to put down on paper what I am thankful or grateful for today and what I want to be grateful for tomorrow! So it also helps me write down my hopes and then I get to measure when it happened.

So what are you thankful for today?? I'm thankful for life itself, and the power of being alive and I'm thinking about what I can do with my life to really live it and make my mark.

What are you going to do to just live your life??

Touching Thursdays: Be Someone's Encourager - Christine Kane

In our beauty blogging world of beauty, it's also so important to develop the beauty we were born with, the one on the inside, the one that exudes no matter what our outer beauty is like....the spirit deep within us. So I came up with Touching Thursdays, every Thursday I will post something encouraging, inspiring and motivating, that hopefully will touch you, my lovely readers!

Today, I want to share with you a post from one of the inspirational blogs I subscribe to - christinekane.com.

I love anything that will inspire me as a woman, and person, mentally, spiritually & emotionally....so I wanted to share this with all of you beautiful women!

You can click on the link to be led to her post or read it below...

http://christinekane.com/blog/be-someone%e2%80%99s-encourager-today/

Today’s guest post was written by Sue Ludwig, a neonatal occupational therapist and a published poet. Sue is a consultant to neonatal intensive care units around the country and a national speaker. She lives in Ohio with her husband and two children.

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”
-Edith Wharton

We all need an encourager.

Someone who is truly happy for our successes. Someone who reminds us how strong and powerful we are when we feel momentarily defeated.

Encouragers don’t promise rainbows and sunshine. They promise presence, wisdom and great energy.

They choose to be the mirror that reflects our light.

Using that clear, nonjudgmental, revealing mirror, they reintroduce us to ourselves.

Our encouragers never see us as less than we are. When we’re writhing around in self-pity, they stand a few feet away waiting until we’re over our fit. We look up and there they are again holding the mirror.

We see we’re simply so much more than that moment.

We get up, brush ourselves off, and thank them.

Christine is an amazing encourager. In part because she set the intention to be such a person. And in part because it brings her such joy to reflect another’s light and watch it multiply.

The best way to show gratitude for your encouragers is to be one yourself.

I originally wrote this poem for someone who needed such encouragement. She had spiraled to a place where she could no longer see her true powerful self. The poem made her cry not because she couldn’t believe she was wonderful, but because deep down she knew it to be true.

Please send it on to anyone who needs your encouragement. Reflect their light and watch it spread.

Awakening

You will begin to feel your weariness abate.

Your loneliness, your brokenness is being mended
carefully, slowly,
so as to remain steadfast over time.

Your fears are being replaced
by the pure power
of love
like spring rain,
like a waterfall cascading over your shoulders
with its raw beauty and power.

Your strength will awaken
like the first sight of sun after
days of rain
and you will stand
in awe of your forgotten self,
the self who kept you moving
one foot in front of the other
through these years of pain.

You will begin to realize what your soul
has known all along

you have always been whole
always been loved.

You are in need of healing
not in need of perfecting,

a gift to those in your life
who will always be blessed
by the incredible wonder

of you.