Fashion Inspiration.

"Those People."

Sometimes I feel condemned...by myself.
Sometimes I feel like a hypocrite.
Sometimes I feel like I'm doing something wrong in my walk with Christ.

...and those feelings aren't as a result of actual wrongdoings, because everyone who knows me know that I glorify God in everything I do.

Those feelings are because when I compare myself to some of the other Christians I've encountered, I realize that there is no comparison.

I go to church, I read my Bible, I pray, I have a relationship with God, I witness, and I live my life by the Book...but then I wonder why I don't see myself 'as Christian' as some of the other Christians I know??

You know, those people who goes to church every day of the week, have difficulty holding "regular" conversations, won't listen to any type of music but gospel, won't wear tattoos or piercings, refuse to watch the BET Gospel Awards because Steve Harvey hosts....

...those people.

yea...I'm not one of "those people."

I'm just Dolly.
I love the Lord with all of my heart.
I have a tattoo and plan to get more.
I have three piercings.
I laugh at the name "Diddy Dirty Money" and think "No Hands" is a funny song.
I love when Lloyd yoddles in "Lay it Down."
Rhianna's my fashion inspiration.
All of the people I know aren't exactly bishops and apostles...
I'm a regular human being.

But is 'me' wrong?
Does God seek to use the individual personalities of his children to draw others unto Him...or does He seek to transform all of us into the same type of individual?

I know that "all things in Christ become new," (2 Cor. 5:17) but I wonder...is there only one type of newness that we're supposed to become?

...which brings me to my next tattoo: "No condemnation." (inspired by Romans 8:1)

Because there's so much comparison and judgment in the world that we're failing to save souls...and I refuse to be one of "those people" who make people feel like "those people" make me feel.

High off Hope

Hiii :-)

Wondering what I should blog about today, I began to think about how happy I am with life.
Of course I have frustrations, but they ALWAYS work out in my favor.
I know that Romans 8:28 is God's personal promise to me...and for that reason I have absolutely nothing to worry about.
There is nothing that I want that I don't think I'll get...in fact, there's really nothing that I want.
I am completely at peace.

My current state of mind led me to the slogan "high off hope."
I consider that to be the state of anyone who has so much imagination that no matter what happens in the present, their dreams can get them through...

I truly believe that life is all about mindset and that if you keep your thoughts high, your spirits will the same...and for that reason, I've made the decision to be happy!!

Choose love because hate is too heavy a burden to bear.

...I am working on a natural hair post, so stay tuned!!

So Many Things...

Admist my genetically inherited external cries of "me oh my," there is a reason I'm quoting my grandmother.

THERE IS SO MUCH THAT I WANT TO DO.

Becoming more in touch with myself has led me to pursue some of my lifelong dreams.

I want to begin yoga.

I want to learn to play the guitar (previous post).

I want to try some print modeling.

I want to start my own event-planning business.

I want to learn more about these natural coils I sport.

I want more tattoos.

...and that's just what I can remember right now.

All in addition to being a full-time student. So how will it be done?

You know me all too well...tips below along with blogs that feature each subject (per my ability to find them)!! :-)

Tips: [via my best friend, Detron]

1. Reduce (in an attempt to eliminate) naptime. Six to eight hours per night is enough to remain healthy. This way you can spend the rest of your time GRINDIN' (Clipse beat plays in the background)

2. Be patient with yourself. Manage your time by dedicating 15 minutes a day to each activity. Everything has a start. This will condition you for increase.

3. Invest in a schedule book. Time management is your best friend!

4. Commit yourself to multi-tasking. If you can manage to watch your favorite TV show while knocking out homework (don't kill me professors) during commercial breaks you've succeeded! What's that saying, "kill two birds with one stone?"

Blogs:

Yoga--http://theyogainstructordiaries.blogspot.com/

Natural Hair--(there are so many) http://hairspiration.blogspot.com www.curlynikki.com is a fave!!

Alright, ttyl...I'm off to try out this Yoga thing. Wish me luck.

XOXOXO

It's pronounced "Git-Tar"

Guitar lessons??? I'm thinking about it.

My little sister says it'll go well with my hair (whatever that means).
I'm guessing it was a low ball for naturalistas, but I'll take it as a compliment.

The bad boy above is a Fender DG-8S Acoustic...$199 at Guitar Center. Comes with a solid spruce top, a chromatic tuner, a gig bag, shoulder strap, picks, guitar strings, string winder, and an instructional DVD.

Good deal...link below :-)

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-DG-8S-Acoustic-Guitar-Value-Pack-104506415-i1146547.gc?source=4WFRWXX&CAWELAID=439927289

For the Love of Music.

I was never much of a music fan.
Up until this past summer the last CD I'd purchased was the B2K Christmas album back in 8th grade.
Now, I can't go a day without listening to something.

Some of my favorite artists:

I've adopted "Little Things" by India Arie as my personal mantra and thanks to Urbandictionary.com (definition #1), I've idenitifed "Girl Next Door" by Musiq SoulChild as the story of my life.

I love all of Lauryn's music; my favorites being "Sweetest Thing" and "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You." Did I mention that I want to name my future son 'Zion' because the joy of my world is there?

More posts later...maybe something natural hair related ;-)

Whose Dreams Are You Chasing??

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want" -Philippians 4:12

"Contentment."

The world teaches us to want, get, and then want some more...and while there's nothing wrong with wanting all that life has to offer, there is something wrong with wanting just for the sole purpose of being considered "normal."

Never spending time with yourself clogs your perception...you'll find yourself liking things you've never liked, doing things you've never done, and being someone who you never intended to be...that is if you spend all of your time around people, forsaking the personal time that is needed for growth, development, and gaining full familiarity with yourself.


Prime example: according to popular culture, somewhere around the age of 15 (or even earlier nowadays), girls and boys will grow out of the "cootie" stage and start acting upon their attractions to one another...fast forward 5 or 6 years, these "normal" young adults are now on the fast track to dating and within the following few years will be married.

But what about the people who are happy alone? Are they not normal? Do they have a problem? Should they be worried?

At one point, I thought so...I assumed that because everyone around me was either in a relationship or desiring one, I should be too...so I found myself getting into "situations" that did nothing more than highlight the fact that I was ahead of my time and simply trying to "keep up with the Jones'" per say.

Various sources in various ways tell me: "you go to college, you meet a guy, you get married"...and that's life.

But who is the person who created that standard? Who voted on making "happiness is directly associated with courtship" into a law?

Lately I've been on my "getting acquainted with myself" tip and that mindset has allowed me to purge myself of societal opinions and the opinions of my friends and acquaintances...released from the mindset of accommodating everyone elses' desires for my life, I've been able to conclude (amongst other things) that "keeping company" is not what I want for my life right now...I've also concluded that regardless of whether that's considered normal or not, I'm perfectly normal.


I've said all that not to bash relationships or people who desire them...not to take a feminist stand...not to persuade you to feel the same way...for no reason other than to push the agenda of being true to yourself.

God "FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY" made you. (Psalm 139:14)
The desires you have, He put in your heart.
There is nothing wrong with you because your life is not the spitting image of the people around you; you're in a lane of your own, driving a car that He custom-designed for you.

You don't have to compare yourself to other people, because they are referenced as "other" for a reason...they aren't you.

You are the one who determines what "happy" means for your life and even if you're the only one who understands that happiness, at least you'll be happy (LOL)

Over this break we have from school, work, and our other obligations, I encourage you to take time to find yourself and to find out what you really want. It's so easy to confuse ourselves with other people because although we're with ourselves more than we are with others, some of us regard others more than we regard ourselves.

I don't know about you, but I never want to end up living a life that--upon evaluation--I realize is a mere construction made of other people's bricks and mortar.

Whose dreams are you chasing? Yours or ones that someone else dreamed for you?

"You were born an original, don't die a copy."

I hope I helped someone in someway :-) BE BLESSED!!!