Mother-Son Moment

It's true... Unconditional love never truly flows out of you as effortlessly as when you have a child. 

My little boy amazes me every day, not just because of the love that he pulls out of me, but because of the love he gives me back. He can't say it yet with his words, but his deep, knowing eyes and easy smile always let me know that everything is going to be OK. I don't deserve to be his mommy, but I sure am glad God chose me.

It's As If Time Stopped

Coming back to reality was the hardest part because reality didn't look like anything I had known before. 

It's been nearly eight weeks since my last post, but for me, it's as if time stopped. Trust me, breaking the consistency I was beginning to form in so many areas was not a part of the plan. Actually, I can't think of much that has gone according to plan – not my plans at least, but I guess that's how life is supposed to be. I don't want to overshare or overcompensate for being human and needing to breathe because the truth is I may need to "breathe" again at some point. In the meantime, though, I'm here. Just trying to put pieces together as best as I can.

Sometimes, Selfies

I don't take selfies often, but stick me in some traffic with decent lighting... don't mind if I do.

The problem with me and selfies is that either it takes 100 shots to get the perfect "one" or I'm just way too analytical... or perhaps both. I'm sure that I've taken tons of selfies that were just fine, but one hair out of place might have caused me to delete them. The one negative aspect prevents me from seeing the "big picture." Don't be like me, folks. Just post the selfie. It's not that serious.

For me, my internal struggle with selfies is just an examples of a struggle that many of us have with positive vs. negative thinking.

If I'm to be completely honest, I'm not a full-time optimist. Sometimes it takes a little more effort for me to see the good in everyone, everything, and every situation. I wouldn’t say that I’m a pessimist either, but I’m definitely a realist; and in reality, bad things happen. We get embarrassed, things stop working, short cuts turn into obstacle courses, and the list goes on. Being the planner that I am, I try to prepare myself for the worst. As I get older, I’m realizing, though, how stressful it can be to live every day thinking about all of the negative things that might happen instead of spending more time enjoying the positive. 

When I came to terms with my innate “Debbie Downer” tendencies, I started to do some research on the positive vs. negative thinking and came across information that provided insightful relief in that it legitimized my negative thinking without encouraging it. 

Negative thoughts actually serve a purpose. They remind us to be aware and cautious of situations we should avoid and promote healthy competition for successful outcomes. However, it’s much healthier to have a balance of positive and negative in our minds to avoid unnecessary stress.

If you’re not naturally a super optimistic positive thinker, try some simple techniques to be more mindful of your thoughts and think more positively:

(1) Live each moment. 

Sometimes we can get so caught up in thinking about the possibilities of the negative things that can happen next instead of focusing on the positive things that are happening right now. Just enjoy the moment. Most likely, the negative things that could happen won't happen if you don't dwell on them.

(2) Verbally express gratitude. 

Life can go by so quickly that it causes us to take things for granted, even though not intentionally. It can cause us to get into the habit of disregarding the things we're most thankful for. Tell the people you care about, work with, or inspire you regularly how much you appreciate them, and always remember to give thanks in prayer.

(3) Look at the big picture. 

I guarantee you that there is more to think positively about than negatively; that's just the beautiful thing about life. Don't miss the forest for the trees. Try looking at it from a different angle or take a few steps back to get a wider shot. I guarantee, you'll either like what you see or figure out what you can do to improve the picture.

Happy selfie-taking, people!

30 Before 30

It's my birthday week! I will be 27 – not 30 as the post title probably misleads. However, because I will be marking the close of another blessed year of life, I thought it fitting to share a personal list I developed in my early 20s of thirty things I hope to accomplish before I turn 30.

1. Live alone  –  I had the opportunity to live alone at a young age up until I was married, and I am very grateful to have had the experience. I learned so much about life and myself which came in handy for marriage.  
2. Earn my Bachelor's and Master's degrees – I hold a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications and a Master's Degree in Business Administration. Sometimes I think about going back to school. Right now is not one of those times.
3. Fall in love, plan a wedding, and get married – I have a wonderful husband of 4.5 years to prove it!
4. Be actively involved in at least three church ministries  –  I'm actively involved in the hospitality ministry and the media ministry at Pentecostal Tabernacle as well as a staff member of Apostolic Camp International.
5. Be a bridesmaid in a wedding – This seems like a silly goal, but it stems from cherishing the value of and feeling cherished in a friendship. Thanks to my good friend Karian who got married last year, I was able to cross it off of my list!
6. Invest in a quality black handbag – Again, thanks to Karian, she invested in one for me. Gotta love her.
7. Train for and run a half marathon  – Yeah.
8. Lose 10lbs 20lbs – All credit belonging to my son (OK, and maybe a little bit to my horrible eating and workout habits), I totally backtracked on this one.  
9. Hang up photos from my wedding in my home – Long story. But long story short, 4.5 years later this goal still has not been reached.
10. Redesign my blog – Reflecting on my old design, I'm so glad I took care of this goal sooner than later.
11. Go on a 40-day fast – The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
12. Develop a better/stronger relationship with my husband and family – I am SO happy to report that I have grown leaps and bounds since creating this list. Of course, there is always progress to be made, but trust and believe my relationships are not where they used to be.
13. Do something spontaneous – I'm still working on this one. I am NOT the spontaneous type.
14. Move to a new city (even if only temporarily for a job or ministry opportunity) – My husband and I were on the verge of making this a reality several times, but now that our son is here, this may be a tough one. We'll see!
15. Have a baby – This totally happened. Check my Instagram.
16. Grow my hair passed BSL – My hair is at BSL now, which seems to be its plateau. However, my goals have changed. I'm going more for strength and thickness than for length. I've never been disciplined enough to keep up with a hair regimen, but I started one last week. Let's see how well I do.
17. Learn Spanish (again) – I was fluent in Spanish throughout undergrad as a result of several years of high school and college Spanish classes under my belt coupled with working in a largely Hispanic community. I'd really like to regain my confidence in the language and pass it on to my son. I believe it would be one of the greatest gifts I could give him.
18. Go on a European Tour and/or visit South Africa – As of right now, I'm leaning towards setting the firm goal to do both. I'm hoping to tackle Europe in 2015 (previously, I've only been to the UK) which may leave room for me to visit South Africa the year after or definitely before I'm 30.
19. Volunteer and get more involved in my community – Within the last month, I volunteered to become a mentor with Women of Tomorrow, a not-for-profit mentor and scholarship program for at-risk girls in the public high school system. I was actually a beneficiary of the program myself when I was in high school, so I consider it a great honor to now be numbered among the elite group of WOT mentors.
20. Reach personal financial goals – I almost crossed this one off, but after giving it some more thought, there is just one more financial goal I'd like to accomplish before I do.
21. Complete 14 bible classes – To-date, I have completed 8, but I haven't taken a bible class in over a year. My schedule is so hectic right now, but it's a desire of mine to get back on track with bible classes. I must make time for the Word of God, and I found that taking bible classes was the best way for me to do that.
22. Reach personal blogging goals – My goals used to be numbers-based, but they aren't anymore. Now I want to focus on quality over quantity. Stay tuned.
23. Try a signature dish from all 196 countries – My husband doesn't think I can do it. I admit, I have doubts myself, but I'm positive that I have the appetite for it. 
24. Go skiing – Since I'm absolutely not going to sky dive, this will suffice.
25. Earn a senior level position at my place of employment – Woop, woop! You're reading the blog of a Senior Account Executive of a public relations firm, ya'll! It was a challenge to get to where I am, but it's definitely made me a stronger, more focused person and a better employee. Now, I have even higher professional goals to reach.
26. Do something fashionable or artistic that I’m proud of and will last forever – Thanks to my collaboration with Made By, I was able to design a dress! Love it.
27. Own a home (with a yard) with my husband – We. Are. So. Close.
28. Host a holiday dinner – We hosted Thanksgiving for 22 people last week! It was A-MAZING!
29. Vote in a state or city election – I missed the last one, but don't judge me. I'll have another chance before the big 3-0.
30. Read 30 books – See, what had happened was... I need to get on this one. I think I'm on book number two. Readers are leaders, and I do read. I have to read the news and articles to stay up-to-date on my clients' industries. However, reading for leisure is important to me, and I vow to make time for it.

There you have it, folks. This list was very personal to me, but I'm glad I shared it. It inspired me to hold myself accountable and reach the 17 goals that haven't yet gotten crossed off. Maybe I'll check in next year and update you all on my progress. Wish me the best!

20 Random Facts About Me

About 11 weeks ago (I know this because I checked Instagram), Chandra tagged me to do this. I forgot, then remembered, then forgot again. This pattern repeated about five or six times. So, this week after a few days of feeling too uninspired to blog, I remembered again and decided I would use it as an opportunity for you – my lovely readers – to learn a little more about me. I learned a lot about myself as well. Here goes:

1. My favorite drink is water.

2. I like to iron, but it takes me weeks to gear up to actually do it.

3. I feel awkward when people help me with stuff.

4. I'm convinced that I kiss my son hundreds of times a day.

5. Sometimes I belly dance in the bathroom mirror. I mean, who doesn't?

6. I got straight A's all throughout middle and high school, except for that one "B+" in Spanish 3 Honors when I was in the 10th grade.

7. I'm in a borderline abusive relationship with food, but I love it too much to break up.

8. I really enjoy reading, but rarely make the time for it. Any book suggestions?

9. I don't think I'm photogenic, and, as such, I'm the worst at selfies.

10. I like to shop alone... Actually, I like to do most things alone.

11. I have three brothers. No sisters.

12. Lately, I prefer lifestyle blogs over fashion blogs. I would have a lifestyle blog if I was confident that I wouldn't bore you to tears.

13. My favorite sitcom of all time is The Cosby Show.

14. I collect random facts in my mind, so when I came across @UberFacts on Twitter, I was like, "Hey, somebody gets me."

15. I prefer online shopping over shopping in-store, but I hate the waiting part. So, I usually check the store before I actually purchase online.

16. No matter how much I love a particular perfume scent, when it runs out I almost never replace it with the same one.

17. I'm not afraid of needles/injections. (I figure that is rare and random enough to share.)

18. I'm a horrible singer... but I can imitate singers pretty well.

19. I call bloggers whose material I read often my "blogger friends."

20. I surprised myself by thinking of 20 random facts about me.

I'd love to get to know you better as well. Tell me something random about yourself in a comment below or shoot me an email.

Taking a Break...

I'm taking a short break from the blog, but I'll be back soon! In the meantime, check out some of the great deals my partners have going on:

Paulina Carmel - Free shipping using discount code BLOG12 at checkout.

Jen Clothing - 10% off using discount code GarmentsofPraise at checkout.

Firmoo - Free prescription or nonprescription glasses by clicking here.

Shabby Apple - 20% off EVERYTHING site-wide (even sale items) by clicking here and using discount code NewYears at checkout.

Happy shopping, and thanks for stopping by!

God Bless,

Typh

Liebster Award Tag

A whiiiiiiiiile ago, Chantal tagged me and nominated me for a Liebster award. I don't really do tags (then again, I've never been tagged...), but I figure this could be a way for my readers to learn a little more about me.

Here's how it works (I think):

1. Each blogger nominated must post 11 things about themselves.

2. Answer the 11 questions the tagger has asked.

3. Create 11 questions to ask other bloggers.

4. Choose a few bloggers with less than 200 followers to nominate, and link them on their blog post. (You can't tag back the person who tagged you.)

11 things about me? Here goes:

1. I was born in Jamaica.

2. I have a Bachelors in Communication and a Masters in Business Administration.

3. When I was little, I had several pets including a dog, cats, and bunny rabbits.

4. I'm an old soul... I love '50s, '60s, '70s, and '80s Jamaican and American culture.

5. I. LOVE. FOOD. (I know most people love food, but I seriously think I have a problem.)

6. I've never gotten a speeding ticket, although I try not to speed... a lot.

7. I have an iPhone that is wasted on me. It took me months to download apps that I barely use and over a year to sync music to it (just 37 songs).

8. I learn the Word of God better when it is formally taught to me in an organized manner which is why I take bible classes.

9. I'm slightly O.C.D. when it comes to my closet. Everything must be clean and ironed before hung up, and I can tell if something was moved within 5 seconds of walking in. True story.

10. My favorite things to do are laugh, travel, spend quality time with my husband, and anything that will create a lasting, happy memory.

11. I'm not very interesting.

11 questions Chantal asked... Oh, and answers:

1. What do you think it means to be a friend? To me, a friend is someone who is honest and present. (You don't have to me near is proximity to be present.)

2. Romance or action movie or both? Both, but it's easier for me to watch and understand a romantic movie.

3. Do you admire any celebrity, explain why or why not? Not really... I don't follow celebrities enough to admire one in particular.

4. What career do you want or currently have, do you love it? I work in public relations and marketing. Yes, I love it.

5. What ministry are you passionate about? Any ministry that I can effectively use my talents to win people to Christ. I'm involved in a lot at my church, mostly behind the scenes.

6. Your favoritest cartoon ever? Favoritest? Sailor Moon, Tom & Jerry, and Boondocks (hilarious!)

7. Hair up or down? Down. I don't have patience for up-dos.

8. Bible app or actual Bible? Actual Bible!

9. What's something that you are really good at? Writing... Although I'm the queen of writer's block.

10. Do you procrastinate? It depends. Since it depends, I guess that means yes.

11. What do you think the first word out of your mouth the moment you saw God in all if His Glory? I imagine that I would be speechless.



I'm tagging Nisa Mack and Seun. I actually don't have questions for you girls... I'm just interested in learning 11 new things about you :)

Make it a great day!

100th Post!

 

100 posts! Wow!

 

For my 100th post, I thought I'd pull photos from some of my favorite outfits in honor of #FlashbackFriday, but mainly I'd like to say thanks! Thank you all so much for reading, commenting, and following along. I hope that in more ways than one you've gained some inspiration.

 

Thanks again!

 

With Love,

Typh

 

1 Corinthians 1:4

Taking a Break...

 

I'm taking a short break from the blog, but I hope to be back soon! In the meantime, feel free to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @typhaniestewart.

 

I miss you all already! Until next time...

 

Isaiah 40:28-31

Celebrating Jamaica 50

Happy Jamaica Independence!

#Jamaica50 #landofmybirth #LandILove

There is so much to love about Jamaica: the people, the music, the scenery, the food (!!!!!), the overall culture! But did you know Jamaica is one of few countries whose National Anthem is also a prayer? Just another thing to be proud of :)

Speaking of national pride, has anyone been following the Olympics?

Serenity

 

Top: Forever 21 | Belt: The Limited

Just felt like sharing...

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7

ACI 2012: One Way

Happy Monday, everyone!

As promised, today I'm sharing some highlights from my week at ACI 2012! Apostolic Camp International has been a tremendous blessing in my life for the last seven years, and this being my second year serving on staff was an even bigger blessing. It was undoubtedly a week to remember! The theme was "One Way: The Decision. The Direction. The Destination."

I provide a bit of context to the photos in the form of key words and brief descriptions down below. If you're curious about any of the shots, feel free to leave a comment and I'll tell you more!

(For more information on ACI, click here.)

<< Visit again tomorrow for a new outfit post. >>

 

Materials ready for campers' arrival // Husband excited about "One Way" theme // Little sisters ready for sessions // Time for service! // Bush Chapel // Altar service // Lunch // Denim jackets - 2012 uniform :) // Camp staff having fun at recreation // Monster feet! // Kindercamp puppet show // Fun for the little ones // Arts & Crafts // Happy birthday, Kevin! // Vintage night // Pentecostal Hymnal // Tarrying for the Holy Ghost  - 11 souls were filled! // One Way

(Photos courtesy of ACI 2012 campers)

John 14:6

These are a few of my favorite things...

Brooches! They may be a little old-fashioned when it comes to accessories, but since my style is a bit mature at times, I love to use them when getting all dressed up. These are a few of my favorites from my collection :)

Check back tomorrow for a new outfit post!

Modesty is the Best Policy

Shirt: Banana Republic | Skirt: Express | Shoes: Aldo | Bag: Ninewest | Brooch: NY & Company

Photos by K|D Imagery

There are a few reasons why I started this blog. Some of them I've already shared in the "About" section or in a previous post, others are more personal. Let's get a little more personal, shall we?

Near the end of last year (2011), my husband Dwayne and I fell into a significant transitional period, and I desperately needed a creative outlet. I wanted to find a way to stay inspired and be consistent with my writing as a new freelancer while increasing my motivation to read the Word and share it with others. At the time, I was following a few fashion blogs and was blown away daily by their interesting posts and trendy outfits that were practical for the everyday woman. I then began to search for Christian fashion blogs... Unfortunately, I was beyond unimpressed.

Although I don't by any means consider myself the best dressed female on the planet, I thought the world needed to see something different -- style from another perspective, if you will. When it comes to style, most fashion bloggers and gurus will tell you that it's personal. I agree 100 percent. Every look will not work for everyone because personalities and lifestyles are different. Personally, my style is influenced primarily by my relationship with God and who I am in Him. I believe that my appearance is just as great of a witness as my words. Therefore, when I shop or get dressed, modesty is the best policy in guiding the decisions I make. I admit, I do hope to attract attention from the way that I dress... but it's the type of attention that I receive that sets me apart.

Keeping up with the trends is fun, and I enjoy it. (Today's outfit trend is mixing black & white print with color.) But I make an effort to find ways to do it while staying true to myself and Who I represent. I hope this post encourages someone not to be a trend-chaser, but to work on your own personal style. Allow what's on the inside of you to show on the outside, and I promise you'll be more comfortable and confident, and others will notice too :)

1 Timothy 2:9-10