Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche...Aroma Therepy

a·ro·ma·ther·a·py

[uh-roh-muh-ther-uh-pee] noun 'The use of fragrances to affect or alter a person's mood or behavior. '  

      OK now that we have the definition of what aromatherapy is, I must express how certain cents aid in my quest of relaxation. With school, the kids, work (and all the projects I'm working on that will eventually put me in a place where a 9 to 5 will no longer be a necessity),  I have to find solace where I can. I have found a little piece of heaven in a 3.4 oz. bottle of Chance Eau Fraiche by Chanel. It's something about a fresh scent that will get me through the day. I find that I always choose a fresh scent when choosing almost everything from detergents to candles. This scent (Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche) outlasts all of my other favs...there is no comparison. I wonder how Chanel Chance E F competes with Chanel Mademoiselle or even the pleasant scent of Chanel Chance Eau Tendre...the next items on my list! 

     

     Some may say that these scents as well as many others I prefer are all floral and a bit redundant.  A sales woman told me I should try deeper, darker scents in order to mix it up and because of the weather changing. There were great brands she gladly sprayed, while bent on the idea that I would conform to the sandalwood darkened world of fragrances. Strangely, the deeper the sents were the more I was turned off. They reminded me of  fragrances someone's great grandmother would wear. (No offense to all the lovely great grandmothers out there <3) Then there were some that were just depressing. There is never a reason to go around town wearing a fragrance that smells like Peppe' Le Pew created it! That would not be theraputic for me...not by a long shot! I am sticking to what makes me smile...every time I inhale.

It's That Time of Year Again...Time for gift giving & recieving

When I saw this gift set I instantly knew who's stocking to stuff it in! I don't believe in waiting until the last minute to get my shopping done...it would be too stressful on the pockets. I had to show you guys the contents of this cute little Chanel Lip Gloss set, adorable.  For the obvious reasons I had to get a set for my stocking as well.  (No more 'Pookie' lips on this face sugaz ^_~.) And yes, I am seriously buying myself Christmas presents! Don't laugh. I know the other person that I bought this gift for as well, will be very pleased.

Lip Gloss...a girl's must have accessory! Chanel Glaze

There are some items that are a must have. You know, the kind of items that are as essential as water, and if ever unattainable, the effects would be devastating. I'm talking about lip gloss ladies. Have you ever found yourself in desperate need of lip moisture only to find out that you've lost or left your lip gloss home. It happened to me just the other day. I went most of my day with lips that resembled 'Pookies' (From New Jack City). Google Pookie, played by Chris Rock if your not familiar with this classic. I frantically searched Macy's for a lip gloss that would end my humiliation, but I couldn't just settle for any lip gloss, it had to be something that could soothe the pain caused by all the constant licking I had found myself doing in an attempt to solve this chapped discomfort. I came across Chanel's Glossimer Glaze 03. Ok, I'd like to think of myself as being as frugal as the next woman (my husband would suggest otherwise) but after  sampling this gloss...I was hooked! It was smooth, creamy, and it lasts. I didn't need to reapply every 10 min. This was great. It costs $28 but I think it is worth it. I keep 1 in my purse & 1 in my locker just in case...I refuse to look like Pookie's
baby sister ever again!
   

Wow! The Power of Prayer...

I am amazed at how God has been moving during this 12 weeks of prayer challenge. I believe the word 'challenge' is appropriately used,  for good reason. I have seen things get all stirred up! But I can't stop now...I am anxious to see how great the testimony will be! Never again will I underestimate the power of prayer!

Bombarding Heaven on your behalf!

It's been a while since my last blog entry. So Much has taken place but I am still praying, still moving forward with this 12 weeks of intercession. We are in the second month now and in those few short weeks I've seen things get stirred up in the spirit and spill over into the natural.

     This week I will continue to pray for our youth. Someone I've known for the past 13 years, a young man I've seen grow from a cute & chubby little boy, one who grew into a handsome young man, has passed due to violence. This tragedy has crushed the hearts of many. Even though the reality of the situation is evident the disbelief still lingers. My prayers are also for the comfort of his loved ones. Tragedies of this nature are heart wrenching reminders of how desperately our youth need us on so many levels. So this week I am bombarding heaven for our youth sake. I know that we can't always be around to protect our youth from everything...but we can pray. When was the last time you dedicated a prayer for some one else's child, or for the schools, or for the parents who struggle with teens who are bullied or teens who do the bullying? All I'm saying is that prayer changes things. We owe our youth at the least that much.
 <3 U Quise...RIP

In memory of

Day 10: Focus...Impress yourself!

Believe God will, believe you can.
Write your vision & make it plain.
Count the cost.
Be true to yourself, your vision.
Pace yourself.
Sometimes you'll have to push yourself,
but the end result will blow your mind!
Each step taken is an obstacle conquered!


Empress yourself...with yourself!
Look at yourself and smile.
Everyday you get better & better.
Everyday you get closer to your goal 
I'll be here cheering you on...all the way!

Day 7: The time for licking your wounds is ova!!!

" A just man falls seven times, and rises up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief." 
(KJV Proverbs 24:16)
  
    
          Life happens. You live long enough, you will experience storms that come and shake your very foundation. You may find yourself doubting God, and questioning why. Why me?  I type this with all sincerity and in love...So what you were knocked down. What matters is that you pick yourself up. Make the conscious decision to continue the good fight of faith. What is faith? It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. I saw no hope. My pain was ever growing and there was no relief in sight. I had come to the realization that I could not afford to walk away and not run on. For my soul's sake, I have to run on to see what the end will be. "For the battle is not given to the swift, nor to the strong but to he/she who endures to the end." So why not start again? It's never too late. Failure is apart of learning. You can't stay in that dark place even though you are hurt. You can't blame God for the actions of people. All you can do is learn from your mistakes and continue to grow in God. In time, you will learn to trust your discernment. Your sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit will guide and protect you. But you first have to dust yourself off, pick yourself up by the bootstraps and just stand. Place yourself in the position for healing to take place. You can't grow in that dark place. You are who God says you are and that's why the fight is great. "He will never leave you nor forsake you, so that you may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."(KJV- Hebrews 13:5,6) ; He that which has begun a work in you will perform it 'till the day of Christ" (KJV-Philipians, 1:6) <3

Day 4: (KJV) Mathew 24

Take the time to read this scripture in its entirety. This scripture helps me to focus on the goal at hand. Its good to be reminded of the reasons why we fight this good fight of faith...

Day 3: Don't Be Afraid to Clean House...

           I have to say I had a blast with my children yesterday. I pulled the grill from off the deck & joined the block party. The music resonated from one end of the block to the other. The girls & I discussed fall fashions, Gucci vs Louis Vuitton and school uniforms. I danced the slide with my youngest daughter. I helped my youngest son attempt a back flip on the trampoline and watched as my oldest daughter out-sang a girl who's twice her age. Then got rave reviews for my jerk & teriyaki burgers and steaks, served with seafood salad, I'd shared with neighbors. And to top the night off My oldest son & I reminisced of the days when he was the only child as we looked at pictures and watched Desperate House Wives on Netflix! I've lived on this block, in this house, for the past seven years and never have I joined any festivities...until yesterday! I feel a certain freedom now that wasn't there before. I could tell myself that its because my children are older but that's not the reason why. Over the past 2 years I have either removed myself from things that bound me to fear & frustration or had gotten rid of things that caused fear & frustration. Doing so has allowed me to be in a position to bond on my terms.


           I know from personal experiences that in life, sometimes we find ourselves between a rock and a hard place but a decision must be made. My decision caused me to have to start over from scratch in every area of my life. A life that I had built over the past 12 years.  Grant it, it has taken time for healing from anger, pain and even fear to occur but, through the process I have gained so much more. The trade off is immeasurable in comparison. Sometimes you just have to place yourself in a better position. Other times you just have to take the trash out...I did both at the same time! Similar to spring cleaning. Things are rearranged, pulled out, thrown out, all so that the filth that's hidden under the couch and behind the stove and fridge can be cleaned. If left there, the filth accumulates causing greater issues and discomfort in the home. Well, for me it would. Yesterday, I saw a glimpse of the reward of said cleaning. Unity, liberty, bonds repairing and new ones forming. Sometimes in life the best decisions made are the most difficult to make. But look at what's to gain by choosing to get rid of the junk (people) that caused the mess in the first place, as opposed to pretending the mess isn't really there to begin with.

Day 2...Proactive style of Praying

Yesterday was Day 2 of this 12 Weeks of Intercession (12WOI). I thought that I would pray for healing but the Lord took me some where else in prayer all  together. God has made it clear that in intercessory prayer there comes a time for defensive prayer.  Other times, we as prayer warriors have to take an offensive approach, as this is spiritual warfare. I look at it as being 'Proactive' as opposed to being 'Reactive'. The power of prayer amazes me! To know that God considers my prayers and when I pray his word His angels excel in strength moving on our behalf according to the Father's will. (KJV Psalm 103:20) These are the days in which we need to have a proactive style of prayer. Praying for protection, guidance, discernment, understanding & Godly wisdom in all things is proactive. God says He desires for us to pray without ceasing. This blesses us. In doing so we stay connected. It is easier to be lead by the spirit of God when we are in the presence of the Spirit of God, on a daily basis. I know life has its demands and time restraints on how often I would pray. I chose to dedicate, even if only for 5 minutes, a little prayer time. Even during those times when life has me super busy. The truth is you have to take the time to pray. I've never seen a successful prayer warrior who doesn't pray! The more you pray, the more God will lay issues & people  on your heart to pray for. And even teach you how to pray concerning different circumstances. Like in all things practice makes perfect.

Day 1: Lead By Example

Today was the first day of 12 weeks of intercession. It was a blessing in spite of obstacles thrown in my path! I prefer to focus on the good that planted seeds of faith & hope rather than seeds of doubt, worry & fear. I can only imagine what greatness will come of this positive mindset. Today's prayers were for families and their well being. Even my youngest son joined us in the prayer and he is 4yrs old. He usually wants nothing to do with sitting still but he himself had a prayer request. Seeing this was a delight. We as parents have to lead by example. Children listen to what we do rather than what we say. It's a wonderful lesson taught when what we say aligns with what we do. Children, even though they rebel at times do to their desire to show independence, prefer for our yes to mean yes & our no to mean no. This consistency gives  the child a sense of stability and security. They won't admit this while they are still trying to test their limits, of course. But, when they mature, they will thank you for being their parent first, leading rather than dictating alone. The greatest role model for a child other than Jesus himself should be his guardian, a parent or whoever the care provider is. This makes many of life's transitions so much easier. It's good to know, in this world full of illusions & the ever changing unpredictables, that mom & dad practice what they preach.

9-1-11 begins '12 Weeks of Intercession'

Tomorrow, 9-1-11 marks day 1 of 12 weeks of intercession. 

     When life threatening emergencies arise, the first thing we do is call a Dr. or go to the emergency room for immediate medical attention. We seek help from a professional, who's sole priority is our physical health. Well, what do we do when the life threatening emergency is spiritual? Now, I know that not every one believes that we  as humans are a trichotomy, meaning we are a living soul, with a spirit,  all wrapped in flesh. And that these three parts of us each have needs. So, for the next 12 weeks my focus will be on those who do and those who also, understand that the spirit and the soul are often neglected. When this happens, similar to  when the physical body goes undernourished, becomes ill or has been abused, healing needs to take place. If healing does not occur then the ailment worsens and begins to spread. It begins to effect other areas of the body. As it is in the natural so it is in the spiritual; as it is spiritual before it is natural. When a specific ailment is present in the natural body one would seek a specialist. If one has feet problems one would seek a podiatrist. Arthritis, one would seek a Rheumatologist.  For the next 12 weeks I will seek the greatest Dr. known to mankind. The creator of mankind! I will try the Lord with great expectation with his word in my mouth in spite of pain, fear & frustration! In spite of that ugly goat doubt as well. The names on the prayer list are many and I can't wait to see what God has in store for us!

Encourage yourself!

Today, I see that I have to imitate Paul & preach myself happy! 


When no one else is there to encourage you, you must encourage yourself!
"When the enemy comes in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against him"   (KJV Isaiah 59:19)
I am not alone for "He will never leave me nor forsake me." (KJV Hebrews 13:5) 
"He knows what I need before I even ask." (KJV Mathew 6:8) 
"God has not given me the spirit of fear but of power, love & a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) 
 Now... I am encouraged!


 It is essential to meditate in the Word of God, so that when trying times arise, the word of God will comfort your heart & soul and that peace that passes all understanding that guards your heart & mind (KJV Phillipians 4:7) will overtake you as opposed to your fears and emotions becoming ruler over you. Learn to Master your emotions through faith in the Word of God. At the end of the day it's all about your relationship with God that determines the outcome so get used to being comforted by His Word as opposed to the words of any one else...God's word's will always fulfill that which He sent out out to do!

http://youtu.be/JbEaftzaFWA

"Give Her The Fruit of Her Hands..." (KJV Holy Bible) Proverbs 31:31

When I thought to quit God had mercy on me and showed me buds of a harvest, my harvest from seeds I've sown...
         
             Sowing good seed, in good soil, ultimately brings forth a bountiful harvest. Trust the law of seed time and harvest!

Dedication and perseverance, in spite of, always makes the difference.

Enjoy Life...on life's terms!

In life, the only constant is change! So why fear tomorrow? Embrace it. Welcome it with open arms. trust me doing so will allow you to embrace today. Worry robs you of today and tomorrow.

A Right Balance

It easy to say in life that everything is either black or white. But that statement only satisfies those who, for what ever reason, choose not to look at the depth and breadth of a thing. When you live long enough and experience life on different levels you begin to notice all the grey areas. It seems one of the hardest and most crucial lessons to learn are those that involve a "right balance". For example: loving someone unconditionally without being taken advantage of; hating the "sin" but not the sinner; being shrewd as a snake but innocent as a dove...you get the idea. Today, I am forced with loving through "tough love" and this, my friends, is not an easy pill to swallow. Rather, it is a jagged little pill. But because my love is so strong I am forced to administer "tough love" all while attempting to repair the fragile state of my loved one. Mind you, the only way to do this is to protect my heart in the process. A right balance of wisdom, discipline toward my love, self control, and forgiveness are but a few items weighing the scale...In this too I give God all of me asking that He gives me more of Him that edification is obtained in every realm.

Why give up now?

Staying focused on your vision in spite of obstacles builds character and makes for an awesome testimony! Now is not the time to give up, yet it is the time to fight harder, with skill all while keeping your soul at ease. Enter into His rest and know that He is fighting with you, not against you!

Never Settle for less...

Never settle for less when you deserve more! It's better to take a chance on achieving greatness than taking the greatest risk of all which is to do nothing at all! The moment you settle is the moment when you've chosen to lose. You've got to play the game to win!

Spa Day!

My Daughter, Amber, is playing hooky with mommy today (she wet her hair last night without me knowing & went to bed. When I saw her this morning I was shocked. All I could do was laugh, afro city...so we're having a "spa day" hair, nails, facials, movies & music... my other children were a little jealous. (I'll make it up to them this weekend) Are there any recommendations for great spa facilities in Philadelphia? Please share your experience with us.

Wifey Material...

I just over heard a conversation between two young ladies ranging between the ages of 22 & 29. One spoke on the importance of sexual intimacy prior to marriage. In today's society it seems as if women prefer for the man to milk the cow before buying it...(if you know what I mean) Does pre marital sex hinder or enhance the chances of tying the knot. Define the qualities that a man looks for in a woman whom he deems "wifey material".

Biggest fan...

I say "Be your biggest fan" others will jump on the bandwagon soon enough! You've got to know & believe in your inner greatness or noone else will.

Believe...

If you don't believe in your self FIRST no one else will! Tell yourself as often as you possibly can "I got this" ^_~.

Which do you prefer?

I've been in the jewelry business for some time now and I have to say I truly love all styles of jewelry. I have come across some who will only wear silver, some who will only wear diamonds (I can understand why) and there are some who will only wear gold ect.
I'm curious. For the next 3 days I will post this question and wait to see the results:
Which do you prefer when purchasing jewelry GOLD, SILVER, or the newest stickler I've found LEATHER(with spikes)?





Lady V