HANDS IN THE AIR: FRIENDSHIP

HANDS IN THE AIR *WAVE THEM SIDE TO SIDE**


Over the weekend my friends & I got together for my son's Big birthday party at the Skating Rink. We had lots of fun WATCHING the kids skate, play games, and really enjoy one another. It was pleasant being able to be with my friends and family for an enjoyable day. We all have grown into beautiful women. Nowadays we have so many responsibilities that we don't get together as often. We love to group chat, but sometimes in our busy schedules we don't have much time for that as well.

After the skate party, we all got together for some drinks and laughter. It's an understatement to say how much of a blast we had. I'm the BOSSY friend which my friends make fun of. We all have similarities and we all are different in our own ways. We fuss and fight but in the end, that's what friends are for. One thing I can say is we work our butts off.

Friendship isn't valued like it use to be. People fall out everyday. Not to say that sometimes friendships are just outgrown, but when you can hold tight to the true friends, KEEP THEM BY YOUR SIDE. This circle is over 10 years and I love them dearly. I've lost friends and some days I want to mend those friendships but I push past them and say Oh well! I don't want to be that girl who says I wish I could have told them this or that before it's too late. Enjoy your friends, make time for them, and treat them well.

Lipspiration: Uplift

Around the holidays, many people are down and depressed. A contribution of many factors could be the cause of the feelings. They are away from their loved ones, they have lost loved ones, money situations, and so much more. We see individuals stressed because they aren't able to afford to have many presents under the Christmas tree for their kids, they didn't have any meals to place on their table for Thanksgiving, and they are bringing in the New Year with a pile of bills and debt from last year. It happens year after year.

As I'm writing this post I had to stop and pray and worship GOD. Why? Because so many people are trying to fight a battle when they should just BE STILL. PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!!! No matter what the situation feels or seems like, Keep Praying. Break Chains, Destroy Yokes, GOD is on your side!! :)

If you are down right now just know that you are not the one because there are others out there feeling the same way that you are. I just pray that I can Inspire someone today or any day. If you are having any negative thoughts start to speak positive in your life. I am BLESSED, I am here to SERVE a PURPOSE another day, I am SANE, I speak CLARITY and PEACE in my/your LIFE. Just replace those words with betterment. Go around others who are happy and smiling to uplift your spirit. Speak with someone about your thoughts and feelings.

I wish you all AMAZING HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! KNOW THAT YOU ARE WORTHY AND BLESSED NO MATTER WHAT YOUR SITUATION FEELS LIKE AT THE MOMENT!

Lipstick Canvas: Lifestyle Inspiration

I absolutely loved this quote as soon as I seen it. Isn't it crazy how when you are struggling or not in the realm of where you should be, you see how others don't believe in you. They may downplay your motives, kill your dreams or belittle you. You can tell them of your dreams or the actions of your life plans and you see how they brush it off like she will never do it. 

But, as soon as you surpass to a new unexpected level you have people questioning how did you achieve this and that, now they are intimidated by your ambition and hard work. They question your achievements and accomplishments. You know why, because they didn't believe in you in the first place. 

Make sure to surround yourself by people who truly care about you and your life. Many don't want you to succeed and are only there to hear of your downfalls. 

I asked myself the same question after reading this quote. Erica, why are you stuck in the same position and feeling how you are when you the sky isn't even the limit, you can go above and beyond. It's time to change and transition my life. 

This quote speaks directly. Just reflect on it for one moment. It screams my name all over it. 

Photos: IG 

Day 5: Lipstick & Love Happiness Challenge

Today was a better day, let's just say Thank God For Friday's. I'm going to be short and sweet with my happiness post. 

My happiness is dedicated to my parents. I am blessed to still have an active mother and father in my life, and to still have healthy living parents. They have been the mold of my being. My parents have instilled so much in me. My childhood was amazing, filled with such worthy values and morals. I love these people because they made me who I am today. 

Lipstick & Love, 

Xoxo, Erica 

Lipstick & Love Happiness Challenge: Day 4

I'm here laying on my couch thinking to myself that I'm a tad bit late getting this post up. Today has been very busy but nonetheless, better late than never. 

It's Day 4 and I dedicate my happiness to LOVE! I dedicate it to my other half. My relationship has been one of the best things that has happened to me and I'm appreciative of the love we both have. It's not easy at all times, but nothing worth having comes easy and I'm all for the fight of unconditional love. My other half pushes me to my limits, he genuinely cares and he is always there to count on. He has made me into a better person. 

It's weird that most people contribute the woman to making the guy a better man but what's amazing is I met the better man who has helped me to become a better woman. I'm getting all mushy here now. 

What did you dedicate your day 4 too? 

Lipstick & Love, 

Xoxo Erica 

Emptiness into Happiness: 7 Day Challenge

    

                   Image:Google 

This is my Sunday thoughts from the bed. Currently I'm trying to catch up on some rest or let's just say relaxation because I've been on the go lately. 

Friday night I attended a birthday dinner and afterwards we went over to a coworkers house for drinks and fun. We were all talking about many different subjects. The one that stuck out the most was about how we as individuals can feel so empty, so powerless, and questionable of ourselves even when we have support of others. 

They talked about how our childhood really affects and shapes us in our Adulthood. You know there are situations that we dwell on and never forget? Isn't it crazy how someone can compliment us and we still never believe it? Why are we so critical of ourselves? 

 

We don't realize that as much effort as it take to feel emptiness we can change it all into happiness. It begans with us and our thoughts. I challenge you all and I challenge myself that this week each day we will find one or many things that make us happy and write it down or share it with a loved one!! READY.... SET.... GO.... Day 1 starts tmrw!! So plan ahead and start smiling now :) 

 

Lipstick & Love, 

Xoxoxo Erica 

Real Talk: Parenting

Parenting/ Real Talk/ Inspiration

Let's have a little real talk conversation today :) This site isn't for the woman who lives a fairy tale life, I myself don't have that, not the American dream with the white picket fence and two dogs. I live a realistic life with ups and downs, a road that I want to often travel straight but it sometimes winds me up and causes a detour as well. All of it is worth it, it makes me who I am and strengthens me each new day.

So let's talk Parenting, which is a wonderful blessing to bring in a bundle of joy into the world and enter into Parenthood.

We have the two parent homes, the single parent homes, and also the children whom may be raised by someone else other than their parents. Parenting is such a joy, it is amazing to watch our child/ren take their first walk, say their first words, see what they like and don't like, their unique personalities and developing talents. I think it is so vital that both parents be involved in a child's life whether together or not. I believe that a mother is the nurturer, she kisses the boo-boo's. A father is the strength whom teaches the child how to handle the tough situations. Both parents have the birds and bees talk with either their daughter or son. A father teaches his daughters how a woman should be treated, he is the example of the man she want to have in her life. A mother teaches grace, class, the level of respect that should be given and so on.

It is hard when you are a full time parent, and the other is just PRN. This isn't a part time thing, it takes so much responsibility and patience. We are a jack/ jill of all trades. We become a teacher, a superhero, a doctor, a chef, a custodian. We are so much in our kids lives. They watch our every move and copy what we do. We have to lead the way and build the road to their future lives. Train a Child in the way that he or she go and as they are older they will never depart from it. I teach my son that he can be whatever he wants to be in life, I breathe life in his direction each and every day, I remind him that I love him and I am always there no matter what. It isn't easy at times, I become frustrated and impatient, but I am thankful for his unconditional life, his smile when we are together, and so much more.

We never know the love of a parent till we become parents ourselves.

Henry Ward Beecher

Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.

Charles R. Swindoll

Children are educated by what the grown-up is and not by his talk.

Carl Jung

Share your parenting moments with us, we would love to hear them.

Lipstick & Love, XOXO

Images via Google, Quotes via BrainyQuote

Inspiration 101: Yourself

Dear Self,

You've been great, you've made mistakes. Stumbled across obstacles and hardships, and jumped over hurdles and made accomplishments. Throughout everything you have endured, let your passion still burn inside of you. Add fuel to the fire each day to be a better you. I know that you have doubts, and fears but remember those things get you nowhere and only hold you stagnant to the negative thoughts that you penetrate. Everything you need is inside of you, you were equipped and packaged with the full line of favor so when you ever feel like you can't do it, just take a step back, take a deep breath and speak I CAN DO ALL THINGS through CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME... Only time that you began to look back at your past is to see how far you have come. Aren't your proud? Maybe you aren't where you want to be in life, but just wait you can be catapulted far beyond anything you have ever expected. Are you still working on your lifestyle, those dreams and talents you possess. Push yourself, there is no limits. Even if you feel alone know that someone out there is rooting for you. You are beautiful, driven, and I can't wait to see what the world has in store for you. Your friends think you are crazy but amazing, your family knows you too well, and your lover challenges you to be the best because they are your other half to make the whole. So as you go through today, SMILE BEAUTIFUL SOUL... The world awaits you! 

Sincerely,

Yourself.

Lipstick & Love, XOXO

Images via Google 

Chasing Dreams: Paying the Cost for it.

Chasing our Dreams is a distinction of living and not living, our fantasy and our reality. Your dreams only become your reality when you take a step towards making it happen. But dreams can be confused with our true purpose. I believe that your true purpose is something you go to sleep thinking about, wake up too, and can't stop thinking about it. It is what you know so badly you were put on earth to do. It is not your get rich hustle or get known quick scheme. It is merely breathing life into what you love!

You have to pay the cost for your dreams. At times you will not make any money from it, when you first began you may be putting all of your money into your dreams. But showing your passion and perseverance while still working hard without any currency will eventually bring great rewards and benefits. You have to learn to start from something and build from there. It is like being an intern for yourself or for a company that brands what you want to do, and working your way from the bottom to the top.

Sometimes your dreams may require you to leave behind a current job that is stable which brings in your source of income to take care of yourself. Some people are not scared to leave their job and pursue their dreams full time. It may take moving to a state where your dream is known on the forefront and taking a low paying job for now; stable income vs minimum income. This will disrupt your financial stability but it will only disrupt it for a temporary time, just think there are bigger things ahead. Moving away can also mean getting a roommate, but just wait on it.... That penthouse that you have been eyeing is still in position to be yours.

I don't think that Chasing your Dreams only bring about negative effects and situations because in the end when you finally reach that level that you have been working so hard to get too it will leave you fulfilled and happy. Now I can't claim that once you get there it will be all gold and glitter because that would be like saying we never have any bad days. More Work, less Rest. But realizing the reward is far greater than the struggle. And always remember do not let others kill your vision because they don't have one of their own.

~Happy are those who dream and are ready to pay the price to make them come true ~ Leon J. Suenes

Photo Credit: Google Images

This the Ish that I live for: There's some things I need to work on but I know you see me working (Checking In)

It has been awhile since I have posted but trust me when I say that I have not put the site to the side. I've been taking the time to plan for what's to come for Thee Lipstick Canvas and just know that I am excited. I have so many great ideas and posts in store but it all takes time for great things! 

I've also been working on ME. I'm back to being the bookworm I once was.  Finding that space that we all need to become the person we know we can be. Having a clear mind creates room for excellence to approach. 

I hope that all has been well. What have you been working on since the new year began? Feel free to leave your comments below and don't forget to follow the blog :) 

Lipstick & Love, XOXO 

Photo Credit: Mwah! 

Food for Thought: Soulful Sunday

         Photo Credit: Google Images

Our weekend is winding down, and I hope that you all enjoyed your Sunday. It's a day for us to gather and recollect our thoughts, prepare for our upcoming week and get our house in order but make sure to relax as well. 

Food for thought today: You can be better or bitter, Powerful or Pitiful. But you can't be both! 

Wishing you all a prosperous week! 

Lipstick & Love, XOXO. 

Personal Style: OOTD

I decided to showcase a little of my own personal style today or in other words my  OOTD. It was very rainy here so I actually changed out of my pumps into a pair of Zara flats. 

I would like to describe my go to ensemble as comfy chic'. Being that I work in a office, flats and comfort is best for sitting at a desk for many hours. I'm obsessed with heels, handbags and color when choosing pieces to purchase or wear. What do your personal style usually consist of?? 

Lipstick & Love xoxo 

Inspiration: Big Person, Small Heart.

Hello rainy Sunday! As we are wrapping up our weekend and preparing for a new week ahead I wanted to give us all some inspiration. 

Can you remember the last time you did something for someone out of the kindness of your heart? Sometimes we become so wrapped up in ourselves and think that if it doesn't benefit us that we will not take part in it. When we have those thoughts it is pure selfishness. Sometimes we don't help others, don't smile or invite them in, or we judge them on what or who we think that they are. 

Status plays a huge role in today's society and although it always has their are social networks that give everyone the opportunity to gain some sort of status. Have you noticed how people with 10K followers usually like and converse with people that are similar to their own group. A person with 100 followers may be an individual with a lot going for themselves but are overlooked by companies, people of status, and more just because it LOOKS like they don't have what it takes. 

All in a nutshell, you can not be a BIG person with a small heart. Give everyone a chance, smile at everyone you meet or pass by, and do not down or overlook them because they may not act, speak or dress like you. You never know who God will use to bless you or help you. 

Lipstick & Love xoxo 

Monday Motivation, Our Credit: Becoming Secure and Stable

Happy Monday Lipstick Lovers! It is the start of our December and the ending of our year of 2013. Yesterday I woke up and said it is December 1st, and I need new goals and new challenges to make myself better for this month. I keep a journal of my thoughts, my bills, goals and much more. I try to reflect on what I need to improve or what was accomplished within myself even if it is small or a task rather big.

One thing I will be honest about is that I have not always been great with saving, investing or my finances. And still I am no where near where I could or should be but I have improved myself. I find that writing everything down is very helpful such as when a bill is due and the amount, then going back to mark it off as paid or whatever the case may be. When you organize yourself you can understand what is going on with your finances.

I have been holding on to my credit report for some time, and today I decided to print off a brand spanking new one. Credit is so detrimental to our lifestyle and it affects us tremendously when applying for homes, cars and even minor retail credit cards. The first step to fixing our credit is becoming educated with what everything means and admitting that we can work on it unless you already have that 800 credit score. *Closes eyes and wishes* lol! I have been educating myself on the terms of credit and taking notes for improvement.  Free Credit Report is a helpful site in printing and viewing your score and report. Another helpful tool is going to your bank and speaking with a Financial Adviser which can be beneficial in understanding where to begin and what you are looking at when reading your report.

Isn't it amazing what numbers can do to your life? I want to be able to buy my dream home and dream car, I want to be able to relax after retirement, and send my kids to college, I just would like to be debt free. So my motivation to you & I is that WE HAVE TO BEGIN SOMEWHERE AND LET'S BEGIN by BECOMING STABLE AND SECURE so THAT WE CAN DO WHAT WE ALWAYS WANTED TOO!

Lipstick & Love xoxo

Photo Credit: Google, entertainmentpic.blogspot.com

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your day with Family & Friends. Here is just a little wisdom I fed myself today via TD Jakes app :) 

Lipstick & Love xoxo 

Masked: When we are a Beautiful Nightmare!

Photo Credit: Ambelav.blogspot.com via google

I decided to display such a beautiful masked picture to tie hand in hand with the post for today. My thoughts for today are that we can be perceived as such a  beautiful person in this world to others but we can be a beautiful nightmare to ourselves. To me it means that we hide ourselves behind a mask, we may look so beautiful on the outside but on the inside we are experiencing a nightmare. 

Think about this. Sometimes you are having the worst day or in the worst situation and it seems like nothing can go right, and instead of a little bit of rain on your parade, it's a pour. But you still have to go about your day as if you are not crying or experiencing turmoil on the inside. Someone asks, "How are you" and the reply is I'm great, or I'm okay but really you just want to begin bawling and spilling your heart out to gain some relief and vent. 

We have learned to mask ourselves, because at times we are afraid to tell someone that my life is not as amazing as you think it is. I'm going through a lot right now and I wish I had someone to just talk too, or to get a hug from and tell me that everything is okay. But out of fear that they may not understand your situation, or they probably won't even care, we mask our emotions, hold everything in and like a shaken soda bottle we don't even realize that eventually we are going to explode. 

The question is when do we realize that we can take off our mask, that we don't have to keep hiding behind our beauty that only one can see from the outside. Sometimes there is someone who is staring at you thinking the same thing, will they listen? I wish they knew what I was going through. 

Today if you are feeling like a Beautiful Nightmare, just as you wipe the makeup off of your face at night before bed. Begin to clean your mask, each layer, each piece at a time. Don't rush yourself, know that the nightmare can only become Beautiful when you allow it to be. We are a masterpiece, and no matter what we feel on the inside we have the opportunity to speak nothing unless it is Positive and Beauty into our life. IT CAN BE DONE!! No matter what YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!! 

Lipstick and Love xoxo

Monday Motivation : Thankful

Happy Monday! Today I am THANKFUL. It is a new week, a new day and new beginnings to what your heart desire. Not just this week but everyday we should give Thanks. Since Thanksgiving is approaching, I just wanted to ask you all WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?? It is a time that we get to celebrate with our family, and friends and come together. We have our family in the kitchen, and we are wondering what is on the menu, and will our aunt bring over her special pies? Some of us aren't as happy during these holidays due to not having a close knit family, or missing a loved one that you wish was here with you to celebrate this time. I, myself lost my grandfather one year ago around this time so I have been thinking about it, and my family is not one that always gather around the table and come together, so at times I get down around the holiday season. BUTTTTTTT...... I've took it upon myself to change my mindset this year, and guess what NO MATTER WHAT the circumstance is or what my situation looks like, I'M GOING TO BE THANKFUL.

We all have a lot to be thankful about, just think of the little things in life, We woke up in a warm home, we are able to do the things some are not, and  we have the opportunity to create how we want our day to go, we can smile, and we can turn anything into being positive. Just think of it this way, there is someone out there who wishes for what we may have, who wishes to even get a meal or too see family.It is heartbreaking, and although we may be going through something, we can be in a worst situation.

We create our atmosphere and our attitude. We can create an amazing day by simply waking up and saying to ourselves "Today will be great."  So with this week, take an approach to be thankful for everything. Greet others with a smile, and be nice to anyone who crosses your path because you never know what they may be going through. Extend a good deed!

Lipstick and Love xoxo

Photo Credit: Google

Soulful Sunday: Your Isolation may be your Preparation

Happy Sunday Loves! Today I woke up and said I needed to go to church via web. I logged on to The Potters House website and watched Sarah Jakes Wednesday night message. It was her first time speaking at her father's church and I must say I was blown away. 

So, let's just get into my Soulful Sunday. At times we all feel like we are a mess, in a mess and don't know how to get out of the mess. We try to take control of our situations and think we are super hero enough to fix it on our own. At times we become isolated and feel as if it is our punishment because of the mess we caused. Guess what? Our isolation may just be preparation for us. It is preparing us to become better, preparing us for something bigger than ourselves, bigger than anything we have ever imagined. Stop viewing your isolation as a bad thing. As Sarah stated we soil our minds in this time when we think it is punishment, saying to ourselves " I caused this", and blaming yourself. Know that sometimes we are grounded to focus on our homework. It is a time to focus on you! Believe that whatever you may be going through is only preparing you! Let God Be in Control! It all will work out! Today we are going to Smile, Be Happy, and focus on our Preparation. 

Lipstick & Love xoxo

Photo Credit: sarahjakes.com