2019 Mother- Daughter Annual Trip

Every year, my mother and I take a vacation where we get a hotel, have a spa day, and go shopping. We usually travel down to Charleston because we are so familiar with the city, but this year we wanted to try something different. 

Even though I take trips throughout the year either by myself or with friends, I always have a little extra fun when I travel with my mother. O mother-daughter yearly trip is definitely a tradition we plan to keep even after I get married. 

Polka Dot Blush and White

Top // Jeans // Heels

Hello beautiful people! I hope you are having a great week so far. I can't believe August is here. This summer - I mean this year has flown by so fast. Teaching life will be starting back next week and I'm feeling bittersweet. I'm always excited to begin the school year with a fresh mind, but then I'm sad because I can't be lazy anymore (haha). Overall, I can't believe this school year will be my 3rd year as a 6th grade English teacher. I remember the first day I knew I wanted to be a teacher, which was my second semester of my freshmen year of college. 

Today's bible verse comes from Ecclesiastes 7:1- "A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume. And the day you die is better than the day you are born". This beautiful verse puts everything in life into perspective. The things we focus on and value speaks volumes about what is really in our hearts and who we are as people. Let's challenge ourselves to be more content with the portion that God has blessed us with. Remember that life could be so much worse, so rejoice in every season.

Stay blessed,

Tatiana :)

What Have I Been Up To?

Hello beautiful friends! I hope you are having a great summer. My summer has been filled with so many great adventures. I traveled to Florida two times this year for vacation. Then, I went on a cruise to Key West, Fl. and Nassau, Bahamas with my mama. The following week, I went to St. Simon's Island for a family reunion. With friends, I went to local vacation spots. Besides vacationing, I completed two gifted/ talent endorsement courses at Converse College this summer, which will enable me to teach GT classes this coming school year. As for my personal life, there's been a lot going on, but I'll reveal that in due time. 

Today's bible verse comes from Ecclesiastes 7:13- "Accept the way God does things, for who can straighten what he has made crooked?". This verse goes back to what I wrote in a past post about being content during all seasons. My life may not look the way I envisioned it to look ten years ago, but I am completely blown away with the life God has blessed me with. Ten years ago, I envisioned myself being married with a kid or two, while working some job (I wanted to be a dentist/ ballerina/ flight attendant/ Navy SEAL/ or nanny. haha). I've dated some great guys, but none of them were the right one for me and I for them. The relationships weren't God-led, which is vital. Eight years ago, I prayed to be released from people bondage, and to be blessed with a great group of Christian friends. Before I knew it, I was completely alone for a season. People I thought were my friends were no longer around. There was never a big fight or disagreement. It was more like they were there one day and then they seemed so far away. During a quiet season, God blessed me with a group of Christian friends. The crazy part is that most of us finished at the same university, but never knew each other. Even thinking back to my college career, it didn't go the way I thought it was going to go. Several things I wanted to happen didn't happen. Instead of attending undergrad for four years, I went two years and then left for a year to recuperate from all that was going on. This was a quiet season where I was so angry and pitiful, but it's a season I needed in order to be the person I am today. When I went back to finish what I started, it was as if I was soaring in life with Christ. To put all of this together, I truly believe that blessings come when we choose to be accepting, content, and when we lean on our heavenly father for guidance. During my hardest times, I wasn't perfect and I wasted a lot of time being sad, but God always brought me through at His perfect time.

Stay blessed,

Tatiana :)

Floral Dress with Bumblebee Yellow

Dress // Heels // Bag

Hello beautiful! For the month of May, I am going to be doing a 31 day spending hiatus or fast from spending. So, that means no more purchasing new shoes, clothes, makeup, jewelry, handbags, or sugary-drinks for 31 days. I did a 31 day spending hiatus back in January and afterwards it felt so rejuvenating to not spend my money on "things". I'll be doing this spending hiatus again because I have so many items in my closet that are not being used. I'm cutting out sugary- drinks as well because I really over did it this month with buying sugary-drinks. It got to the point where I was craving sugary-drinks almost everyday. During my fast from spending, I'm hoping to accomplish a few goals that I set back in December.

Today's bible verse comes from Luke 12:15, "Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Stay blessed,

Tatiana :)

The Wife Between Us- Book Review 2

The Wife Between Us, By Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

I was initially skeptical about reading this novel because of the obvious connotation that comes with the title. I'm glad I pushed past that initial reaction because this is one of the most uniquely written novels I've ever read. I don't even know how to persuade you to read this book without giving away too much from the novel. Overall, the novel is about a woman, an ex-husband, and a fiance. There were so many twist and turns in this novel that I couldn't put this one down, and it was so far from being dull that I was able to finish it in four days.

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*Today's bible verse comes from Psalm 139:13-15, " For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth."

Stay blessed

Tatiana:)

Happy Easter 2019

Dress // Heels // Bag

Happy Easter or like my pastor says, "Happy Resurrection Day!" I woke up this morning with such a sense of peace in my heart that I knew only Jesus Christ could provide. I felt so "born again" and "brand new" in knowing that Christ died for me. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most prolific occurrence in the Christian doctrine, and it is why I as Christian have faith. I hope you celebrate today and everyday in knowing that Jesus Christ loved you so much that He died for you! 

Today's bible verse comes from John 11:25-27, " Jesus said to (Martha), "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?" "Yes, Lord," she replied, "I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."

Stay blessed,

Tatiana:)

Red Romper

 Romper // Bag // Keds

Hello beauties! These past weeks have been one for the books. Last weekend, I flew down to Tampa, Florida to visit my sweet cousin and her husband. We went to Clearwater Beach, spent time in Tampa, and had dinner one night in St. Petesburg. During my mini- vacation, I was able to knock out two novels. One of my new year resolutions was to start back reading more novels. Back in the day, I remember knocking out three to four novels novels in a month, but now that I'm so much more busier it's a lot harder to get through one book. Since January, I've been able to read four great novels that I was able to really enjoy. Since this is my spring break and I have some extra time, I plan to publish some book reviews on the novels I've read and the novels I plan to read. Let me know your thoughts!:)

Today's bible verse comes from Colossians 3:23, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men".

Stay blessed,

Tatiana:)

Where the Crawdads Sing- Book Review 1

Hello beauties! I did a couple of book reviews in the past, so I figured I would start doing them again. My goal is to do a book review every week, if time permits. 

Where The Crawdads Sing, By Delia Owens

"Where The Crawdads Sing" is about a girl named Kya Clark (Marsh Girl) who becomes a suspect for a murder. This is the type of book that will have you falling deeper in love with nature to the point where you can actually feel yourself sitting by the marsh and soaking in the salty air. I have to admit that it took me awhile to actually get into this novel because it has a mix of a murder mystery, coming-of-age story, and the profound beauty of nature (which was my favorite). I'm so glad I gave this novel a chance and finished it to the end because before I closed the novel I was left speechless. The ending will have you completely in awe at how well the author meticulously wrote every detail of the story to lead to the ending.

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*Today's bible verse comes from Isaiah 40:8, "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever."

Stay blessed,

Tatiana :)

Lime and Fushia

Dress // Heels

Hello gorgeous! I have been obsessed with lime green and fushia paired together lately, but I didn't want to look like a teenybopper. I decided the best way to pair these two colors together would be with my lime green wrap dress and my fushia heels. This look is definitely mature, but at the same time it's playful, girlie, and chic.

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*Today's bible verse comes from Zephaniah 3:17, " The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."

Stay blessed,
Tatiana :)

Target Shopping Haul + Free Will?

Romper // Top // Heels // Hat 

Hello beautiful! I hope you had a great day. Today's post is a little different. I am going to discuss free will which means the ability to act at one's own discretion or the ability to choose between different possible courses of action (Galatians 5:13). Awhile back, one of my friend's mentioned the idea of how God knows everything we are going to do before we do it, so how does free will exist? I didn't know how to answer their question nor did their question change my heart regarding my faith, but through studying and researching I now have the answer.

 In life, we have many choices that can lead to different consequences. The choices we make are irreversible in the sense that we can't change past mistakes, and our past always has an impact on our future. Those past mistakes are simply that -past mistakes that we learn from to not repeat in the future (God loves you so much and has forgiven you for your sins, but you have to forgive yourself in order to live freely). 

That being said, God is omniscient of the consequences of every action we make (Hebrew 4:13), but He does not override our free will. By this, God has blessed us with how we should live a good life by first meditating on the Bible. Every life lesson is placed in the Bible to help guide us and allow us to live freely. That being said, we have the choice to live a good life or a bad life. It takes more than knowing the whole bible from Genesis to Revelations to live a good life. Meditating on scriptures, praying, and being aware of your surroundings can influence your path. The old saying, "Bad company corrupts good company" is a very true statement. (1 Corinthians 15:33). Bad influences can alter how you use your free will. 

I know this post may have been a little more intense than my other posts, but if you don't mind let me know your thoughts below in the comments section.

Stay blessed,

Tatiana :)