Tha Gabulous Lyfe

  Hi Dolls! As part of my self care journey, I've been on a mission to improve my overall well-being...this includes mentally, physically, and emotionally. At this point in my life, I'm willing to try anything (within reason and legally) that improves my health. I've been coping with back pain for a while. I've tried a few measures to help with it, but nothing has eased the pain.  I remember a friend telling me a few years back about massages, and how they have helped her cope with ailments that she was dealing with. So, I thought why not try massage treatments. This took some convincing on my part, because I thought how was I going to afford this? Would I be able to commit to this long term?  For me, massages were always a luxury. Something that I wanted to do more of, but I convinced myself it wasn't a necessity. I would only get massages on vacation as a special treat to myself. Even though, I felt the physical benefits of it, I still convinced myself that I didn...

Hello, Dolls By now, you've heard me talk about my self care routine. I like to add to the routine so that I don't get bored with it and to make it fun.  Since I love to read, and I also work at a library; reading will always remain in my self care routine. I found a great self care reading challenge from Book Sparks ! Book Sparks is just as passionate about self care as they are about diving into a good book! They have created a reading list that is perfect for reading, and great for anyone who wants to start, reignite, and continue their self care routine. Book Sparks' boasts that this list will help you fall back in love with self care! If you're like me, and you're looking for new, diverse books to read...Book Sparks' list is worth a look. I've looked at the titles of the books, and the one that I plan to read is Joy Seeker: Let Go of What's Holding you back so you can live the Life you were Made For  by Shannon Kaiser. It becomes availabl...

My self care routine is always changing. Part of the routine that stays consistent is affirming myself with positive affirmations; they have really made a difference in my thinking. Some benefits of reciting positive affirmations is that they help you to remain calm, and build & increase confidence. They also help to redirect your mind to think positive. I struggle with negative thinking, overthinking, and anxiety; affirming myself with positive thoughts has helped to correct my thought patterns. Typically, you see people standing in front of a mirror, in the morning, reciting positive affirmations, (that method is completely fine) but, that's not me. I used to do that, but, I find that reciting them when the thought pops up is most helpful, for me. One of my favorite quotes from Iyanla Vanzant is " you are not always in control of what goes into your mind, but only you can determine what stays there ." I find this to be so true, and it gives me hope! I used ...

Reading books is a part of my self care routine. Reading is a way that I mentally escape from life, worries, deadlines, and anxieties, so that I can unplug, regroup, and dive into a good book! I especially love fiction and a good mystery! As of late, I have been enjoying, women's empowerment, self care, and inspirational books. Today, I will do a brief review on one of my latest book discoveries, Dear Sisterfriend: Letters that Inspire, Uplift and light a Fire in Young Women of Color . About the Author(s) Dear Sisterfriend is written by Aisha Herring, Bria Booker, Brittni Oliver, Jennifer Jones, and Tyra Whitson. These five ladies form the women's empowerment organization, The Strength of She, LLC.   The SHE in The Strength of SHE stands for Success, Humility and Empowerment; they are the three core beliefs, along with self care, that the Strength of She focuses on to empower women; particularly women of color. Synopsis Dear Sisterfriend is a collection of pers...

Hello, Dolls Autumn is my favorite time of the year! To me, it's the most beautiful season! I love the coziness of  autumn, the warmth of a cozy sweater, the leaves turning into the most beautiful colors, apple cider, coloring in my autumn adult coloring book, and every single pumpkin spice latte and frappuccino that I can taste! I was scrolling through Instagram, and I came across this post. Since I love autumn, and I desperately need to reignite my self care routine, I thought this would be a great challenge to try. My definition of self care is the simple, continuous act of taking care of your needs (without feeling selfish or guilty), whether it's physical, mental, and emotional so that you can feel your best, handle the every day demands of life, and take care of the things you need to do. Think of the saying, "you can't pour from an empty cup". If your cup is running low or empty, it will be very hard (if possible) for you to function, much less take c...

Hello Dolls, I'm switching gears on my blog for just a bit...I have been on a women's empowerment journey for myself for a while now. As most people, I have goals and a vision for myself of where I want to be spiritually, financially, and career-wise; but, I also have a plan of where I want to be mentally and emotionally as a woman. . . a better woman. Along this journey (which is never ending), I've had the opportunity to discover some amazing women and women's empowerment organizations. I have been following Taria Pritchett , a Women's Confidence Coach for at least six months now. I enjoy her newsletters, positive affirmations, and clarity worksheets. When she started announcing and promoting that she was coming out with her 1st book, I knew I had to have it! I couldn't wait to read further about her own journey to becoming a confident woman as well as glean any tips and suggestions she could offer. So, I was so honored that I had the awesome opportuni...