Image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
Ever wondered how to get into the beauty world? Have you always had a passion for beauty but want to take it to the next level? I've got a few tips to help you get started, and along the way, I'll show you my personal journey. The first tip is obvious. Go to beauty school; it's very expensive but well worth it. Keep in mind that there are several areas of beauty. If you want to go all out and learn hair, nails, and skin, find a course that teaches that. The community college I went to offered this, and they also offered specialized classes like Esthetics Tech and Nail Tech for those that didn't want to do hair. Another option is pretty simple. Watch Youtube. There are tons of beauty gurus on there nowadays that range from amateur to professional. One of my favorite gurus was once a makeup artist at a MAC shop near her. Just recently she launched her own palette and she worked very hard to get where she's at. Bonus? She didn't even go to beauty school. Bonus tip: Start your own YouTube. Never know; it might take you somewhere. Experiment. Ask your family and friends to let you practice on them! That's mainly how I perfected my skills. I have a family member who used to sell beauty products so I took advantage of her advice when she would let me work on her. Ask the experts. Don't be afraid to go to a makeup counter at the mall and watch the pros. Ask them why and how; most of them don't mind. Or again, go on YouTube and ask questions there. Someone will be able to help you whether it's another viewer or the guru themselves. If you're a beauty expert, share some of your tips and tricks in the trade. If you're new and want to get into it, feel free to ask questions!
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Image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
If you're a professional photographer, or even if you're just playing around with a camera, you want that perfect shot. It can't be too far to the left or the right. The lighting has to be perfect and your hands have to be steady. Well, it's kind of the same thing with the Christian life. If we aren't focused, we will easily become unstable and we will venture off onto the wrong path. References: Proverbs 4:26-27; Hebrews 12:13; Deuteronomy 5:32; Matthew 7:14 I will be the first to admit that focusing on the Lord Jesus is not easy. It's certainly not painless. It involves sacrifice...well maybe not the kind of sacrifice you're thinking of. He only requires you of your time and your talent, just like we discussed last week. The four references I gave above give a few points about staying focused on God. 1) It is a narrow path. Most people would think that a narrow path would be difficult to get into, but in this case it's not. Sometimes it's difficult to actually maneuver, but God did not intend for the Christian life to be mundane. Sometimes the difficulties can be exciting. The book of Matthew says that the narrow way leads to life in the end. Though our physical bodies may falter and die, we still have the sweet assurance of living with God forever. 2) Sometimes you have to put a little effort into it. Hebrews says to MAKE a straight path. MAKE yourself focus. If that means locking yourself in your room for five minutes of prayer time, then do it. If it means giving a little extra in the offering plate, do it. I made a prayer and Bible reading tracker in my bullet journal to keep me accountable. That's my way of making a straight path, and making sure I'm staying in focus. 3) The reference in Proverbs says to "ponder the path of thy feet..." It means to think about it, or to consider it. Is there anything you're doing or anywhere you're going that you're not supposed to be? I challenge you this week to really sit down and think hard about your life right now. Have you told anyone about Jesus? Or have you passed them by without a thought? 4) Simplicity is usually the best. The verse in Deuteronomy is as plain as day. All we have to do is what the Lord tells us to do. But how do we know what He's telling us? Get in His Word and what? Focus! Then the next part of that verse tells us what? To "...not turn aside to the right hand or to the left." See? Even God knows a thing or two about photography. Tell me in the comments below how you keep your focus on God and how you refocus when things get out of line. See you next time, Patricia (Blog Author) Image courtesy of volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
Welcome back readers! This post is going to be geared for those who may be starting school soon or maybe you already have, but need some advice on how to survive the class of 2017-2018. On this post, I will also provide you with some resources from one of my favorite study gurus on YouTube. Good luck and I wish you all the straight A's you can possibly get! 1) When you get home from school, you're probably tempted to go between your biology notes and your math notes. That's probably not the wisest thing to do; it's also not very productive. Focus on one thing at a time. 2) Priority, priority, priority! If you've got an exam coming up next week, but a project due next month, it's best to work on studying for the exam. Prioritizing will make you less likely to forget things and you'll be more organized. 3) This will sound a bit cliche`, but it works. Study the hardest subject first. If you struggle in math, go ahead and knock it out, and then you can breeze through everything else. I find that it's a major time-saver especially if you're on the run. 4) Take twenty minute breaks, thirty minutes max. But use these breaks to your advantage. Now is not the time to catch up on Netflix or goof around on Facebook. Get up and move around or make yourself some brain food. It'll help get the blood flowing, therefore helping you focus better. 5) Keep an organized study space. This is so very important. If you have a cluttered desk or bedroom, you are not going to be able to concentrate. You're also probably not going to be able to find that important document you printed out yesterday for your history report. Always make sure that you tidy it up after each study session and put things in their proper place. Hope you can use these tips and please let me know what your favorite study habits are! Below are the resources I promised from Study With Jess. Study With Jess Youtube Study With Jess School Supply Line Image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
This week's devotional kind of goes along with what we discussed last week about putting God first. Sometimes putting God first means to use our resources wisely, and that includes our money, our time, and talents. Scripture Reference: Psalm 62:10 Let's talk about a very unpopular topic, especially in today's Christianity...money. This lesson in general can be applied to anything and everything in your life, but let's look at money for a minute. Think about what you have in your bank account right now. Where's it all going to go when you pass on? Your kids? Family? A charity? That's all good, but what about when the world is gone and the only thing left standing is the Word of God? Material things are fleeting. That's why God gives us specific commands about our money. He doesn't need it because He has and owns everything; He simply wants us to be smart about it so we don't end up in debt or be stingy. Now let's look at our time. We all are given 24 hours in a day. We have the same amount of time to get things done as the biggest A-list celebrity. But how do we manage our time? Do we even put God first in the mornings or are we rushing around with an infant in one arm and the phone in the other? Time is so very precious and important, so use it wisely. In fact, Paul says in Romans to REDEEM your time. "I don't have enough time" should never, ever be an excuse for a child of God. Lastly, our talents are to be used in a manner that glorifies God. It doesn't matter if you can't sing or play an instrument. Talents aren't just limited to music or performing arts. If you can cook, why not share your recipes with the ladies at church? Or if you write, why not start a blog and share what God is telling you? There is always a way to do what God is calling you to do. Now, let's get back to the Scripture. The King James Version said to "trust not in oppression..." If your resource supply causes you to oppress those less fortunate than you are (James 2) you better check up on your heart and get humble. It also says, "...and become not vain in robbery." If it causes you to rob God (Malachi 3:8) you better repent. God also gives us principles to go by "...if riches increase...". He says to not set your heart upon them. Meditate on Matthew 6:19-21 and 1 Peter 1:4 so you don't get caught up in materialism and wind up forgetting God altogether. Lastly, God reminds us in the following verse that He has ALL power...no matter what you store up in life! Is there anything in your life getting in the way of your relationship with God? Image courtesy of the volunteer photographers on Pixabay.
Well, it's that time of year again! Pumpkin-flavored everything, scarves, boots...you get the idea. So, the past few weeks I've been looking around and there are two things that I've seen that are going to be popular for Fall 2017. NEUTRAL WITH A POP OF COLOR: This goes for everything from your wardrobe to your makeup. You can spice anything up with your favorite color. Wanna really go all out? Do a neutral eye look and apply a colored liner in your waterline. Neutrals are classic in the early fall. When it gets a little chilly, it might be time to find a colorful scarf or a pair of blingy earrings to pull it all together. Hey, it never hurts to have a little bling. CLASSIC VAMP: Let's get real. It's not fall if you're not pulling out the dark lip shades and smokey eye palettes. Personally, I like the look all-year 'round but that's just me. Get inspired by the magazines if you don't know what you're going for. Tons of YouTubers put out their ideas this time of year (Jaclyn Hill does several amazing fall trend tutorials). Okay so maybe you're not a makeup junkie, but it doesn't hurt to see what's in the fashion world to get inspired for fall. Leather jackets, skinny jeans, and a sleek ponytail are all staples of the fall season. Invest in a good pair of boots that will last you through winter and you're set to turn heads all season. Let me know what your favorite trends are! It can be fashion, beauty, or your favorite coffee flavor. Have fun with it. Image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
Scripture Reference: Matthew 17:14-18 How many of us make the mistake of, when something happens, run to the phone and call our friends? How many of us talk to someone else first instead of God? I know I have. In today's devotional, we see that Jesus gives a firm rebuke to those who go for alternatives instead of going to Him first. The main idea of the beginning of the story is that this man was concerned about the well-being of his son. He'd tried everything. Then He made the mistake of going to the disciples for help. It was only when he realized that the disciples couldn't do anything that he had to run to Jesus. I've done that. I've pulled the "desperate times, desperate measures" card so many times and you probably have too. It's not unwise to go to godly people for help and comfort, but God wants us to come to Him first. Verse 17 shows us the firm remark that Jesus made. How often are we faithless? How often do we pervert His name by not trusting in Him? Probably more than we'd like to admit. Moving on to the last verse we see something amazing. Jesus was more than likely frustrated, but He also kept His word. He kept His promise. The man brought his son and Jesus healed him. Even though we may frustrate the Spirit of God, He will never leave us nor forsake us. He's always right there willing to help us. He's right there waiting with open arms. Here's a challenge. The next time even the smallest thing happens, pray. Just pray. It doesn't have to be long and drawn out. It can be as simple as "Lord have mercy..." like the man did. "Lord help me" is all it takes. Do you trust God? Image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
Ever had one of those weeks where you just don't feel great? Caught a cold and all the traditional methods don't seem to help? The past three weeks I've been dealing with a nasty head cold myself, and I'm going to give you some of the tips and tricks that help me to feel as good as new! 1) Chicken broth. Maybe you don't have a can of chicken noodle soup sitting around, but a can of chicken broth that hasn't been used yet. Mom gave me an amazing idea. Heat up a pot of spaghetti noodles like you would on spaghetti night, and once they are heated up, put them in the strainer. While they are cooling in the strainer, heat up the broth in the same pot and once it has heated, add the noodles back in and enjoy. 2) Peppermint tea. If you're a tea/coffee junkie like me, you might enjoy some peppermint tea. If you don't have any, peppermint oil in an oil burner helps a lot, especially when you can't breath. It's also extremely refreshing in the morning. 3) Water. I know, I know. Nobody likes to hear "drink more water", but it's the gospel truth. Drinking enough water during the day will help flush out all of the sick germs and toxins. Flavored water is also an option if you don't like the taste of regular water. 4) Binaural beats. What in the world is that?!, you may ask. I was skeptical at first, but binaural beats can be used to help with everything from head colds and sinuses to tinnitus and sleep disorders. The sounds are supposed to mess around with things in your brain (I know, lovely terminology right?) and it's supposed to relieve whatever ailment you have. Keep in mind it is only used as a supplement, NOT as a cure or a treatment. More information can be found about binaural beats on the internet. Note: The best place to find binaural sounds is on YouTube. 5) Rest. You don't necessarily have to take a three hour nap. It may take taking a deep breath and binge on your favorite show on Netflix. It makes for a good distraction from the coughing and sneezing. Do you have any tips? Share below or on my Facebook page at Southern Grace And Beauty! Image courtesy of volunteer photographers for Pixabay. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Good afternoon!
I first off want to apologize for the random hiatus. Some things came up, and then allergies have been kicking me in the rear for the past week. Hopefully I'll be up and running again very very soon. Secondly, I have a very good friend who started a devotional blog of her own: walkinthespirit.tumblr.com She has a very good heart and is an amazing writer! Go check her out and say hello. Hope to see you all soon! With love, Patricia. |
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