"Planning for the New Year"

                                                            Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Happy New Year!! What an exciting time to be alive in the land among the living! There are so many milestones we collectively as a country are embarking upon and if we are to put our best foot forward, it is imperative that we plan our 2017. There is a powerful creed that is often quoted, "When we fail to plan, we plan to fail." I am a firm believer that an organized life results in an overflow life. In all things, the Bible declares we are to do them decently and in order and that God has full knowledge of the plans He has concerning our lives that yield prosperity, hope and an expected outcome. With that being said, here are a few tips that I believe can assist you in ensuring that your New Year be better than your last year!

1, Ask God what He believes for your life and what the plans are concerning your life.
2. Ensure that the goals you have set are measurable and realistic.
3. Create consistency by investing in a planner and organize it accordingly.
4. Schedule all health appointments in January for the year for you and household and ensure the offices have accurate information on file to contact you prior to your appointment date.
5. Get clear on the revenue that is coming in your home and what amount is going out so that you can strategize on how to stay afloat throughout the year.

I pray these tips are helpful and help create harmony in your life in this new season of your life! I would love to hear from you on how you are strategizing to have a better and blessed year! Leave your nuggets in the comment section. Have a blessed week and a prosperous New Year!

Proverbs31: Proverbs31: #IVoted

Proverbs31: Proverbs31: #IVoted: Proverbs31: #IVoted : #Election2016 is finally over and prayerfully our nation can start to move forward in the business of striving for gre...

"My Best Friend's Wedding"

On October 15, 2016, I had the honor of being a bridesmaid in my best friend's wedding at Oak Hollow Farm in Fairhope, Alabama. The entire weekend was magical ,full of  love and Southern sophistication! What I love about Megan and Drew's wedding was how they both collaborated and compromised on the date and details of their special day. #FutureSouthernBrides In order to protect your peace and to ensure that your groom and his company are happy, always plan your wedding on a by-week for your favorite football team or follow Megan's lead and have the game playing in the groomsmen rooms while they are getting dressed with plenty of snacks for them to enjoy. #YouGoGirl What I love about Megan's  planning of her wedding was how she consciously considered the cost of her wedding over the class of the wedding. Our beautiful navy couture bridesmaids dresses were from #BellaBridesmaids in Mobile, Alabama and because of excellent execution in planning, we were given a very reasonable time to save for the costs of the dresses and were afforded perks for ordering early.  We adorned our dresses with rose gold jewelry and Megan gave us the option to wear comfortable taupe shoes so that we could fully embrace every experience of the day! 
      Now go with me as I take you on a journey to relive the visions of love from Megan's special day. Beginning with the rehearsal dinner on the day before, the wedding party was served a full spread Southern style dinner that consisted of steak, potatoes, a garden salad, corn on the cob, shrimp and a delicate vegetable stir-fry followed by hot peach cobbler for dessert (delish)! Upon arrival to the rehearsal dinner, each bridesmaid was gifted with a beautiful rose gold bracelet and a framed picture of a special memory that we each shared with Megan. We were serenaded by a local talent guitarist and his wife and Megan honored us with her musical gift of song by singing a classic, "When the Right One Comes Along." 
          On the morning of the Hodges' big day, the wedding party had fellowship and breakfast in the guest house on the property of the venue. We partook in Chick-fil-A chicken biscuit bites, fruit trays, cheese trays and my favorite mimosas! We had such an amazing time catching up and sharing our memories of childhood, college experiences, motherhood, careers, and the #2016Election. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing diverse perspectives from Megan's Maid of Honor Shelley from Australia and Ellen from New York.  Upon the time of the wedding, Megan and Drew did a "First Look" (a moment between the bride and groom before the ceremony) and there were no dry eyes to say the least! I was not open to the concept but after witnessing it, my heart is open to the collaboration. The wedding was held at dusk behind the venue in a mystical wooded area clothed with oak trees, lights and southern style benches for the guests to witness the union. The pastor opened the ceremony so beautifully by telling the bride and groom and guests about the sacredness of marriage and how the wedding finger is the only finger that has a vein that goes directly to the heart (how amazing is that)!! I also loved how the pastor was attentive to details and perfectly intertwined Megan's love for Harry Potter by ending the ceremony with a quote from one of the novels, " You are protected, in short, by your ability to love." What a beautiful way to end a beautiful day!  The wedding reception was nothing short of amazing! Guests were treated upon arrival to Southern sweet lemonade, an open bar, sounds from an amazing band called "The Shade of Giants" and a Southern Style BBQ and Fish Fry all in one beautifully decorated barn! We indulged in prime rib, fried catfish, grits and mashed potato bar, salad, cheese, fruit tray, and squash casserole.  After a full night of festivities, Megan and Drew spent a few days of restoration at one of Baldwin County's historic and beautiful venues, "The Grand Hotel" where they enjoyed a Sunday brunch and all of the amenities that the gift of love affords. 

Proverbs31: #IVoted

Proverbs31: #IVoted: #Election2016 is finally over and prayerfully our nation can start to move forward in the business of striving for greatness in our househol...

#IVoted

#Election2016 is finally over and prayerfully our nation can start to move forward in the business of striving for greatness in our households and local communities. This election has been extremely discomforting and painful to watch play out at times to say the least. The uncertainty of American families' stability and health have been on edge and friendships ultimately shattered because of differences in ideology and how one perceived their candidate of choice from their frame of reference. Secretary Clinton was crucified for emails and her actions while serving as Secretary of State and to add insult to injury, the reputation of her husband and his past was brought back into the forefront as a weapon to cripple her. President Elect Trump on the other hand ran a not so traditional election with what many perceived to be divisive rhetoric, racism, sexism and an elitism attitude. Nevertheless, our country has spoken in record numbers and the masses believe that Trump is the better candidate to move our country forward. In the days ahead, it is imperative that we filter our emotions in a respectful and healthy manner whether they are of excitement or discouragement and extend grace to all mankind. Let us not become entangled in emotion and may we dismiss distractions and anything that comes in any form to rob us of our peace. As we shift into a new year with a new president, let us pray fervently for healing upon our land and continue to do what we can with what we have. I leave you with an excerpt of President Obama's speech concerning President Elect Trump's victory... "We are now all rooting for his success in uniting and leading this country. The peaceful transfer of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy."

Proverbs31: #BULLYING

Proverbs31: #BULLYING: I debated on blogging on the issue of bullying, but it is unfortunately trending throughout the nation, our schools and local communities. W...

#BULLYING

I debated on blogging on the issue of bullying, but it is unfortunately trending throughout the nation, our schools and local communities. We hear of bullying often, but it hits home when it reaches your home. Kenzie has been dealing with bullying for a few months and we assumed it was "kids being kids," but over time it progressed severely and the aftermath of her mentally trying to filter and process the negativity overwhelmed her. Nobody desires or expects the call of your child being overwhelmed with grief and despair, but it happens. As a mother, I questioned my mothering skills and inability to see the weakness in a daughter who walks in such strength. How do you protect a child from the reality of the reality of not only her generation but the world collectively? How do you instruct a child to not return negativity to the culprit who disarms it without reproach? How can you explain to children that what they see adults play out on a national stage in the daily highlight reels of television, politics, news, in sports, etc... is unacceptable publicly although it is deemed acceptable socially... As I sat there in the residue of her pain, I consulted God for wisdom on how to assist her through this storm.  I share with you what I shared with Kenzie..."As long as you live, people will always seek wrong in you even when what you are doing is right. Always remember that you are fearfully and wonderfully made by God and hold on to the truth of who you are no matter how many lies they tell about you. Never apologize for being great. " Remind your children and all those in your sphere of influence to not internalize the jealousy of others and to always take the high road, no matter how lowdown they get. Remain blessed:))