May Thoughts

1. Let go and let God

2. Don’t overthink your ideas

3. Don’t hold back on your work, put it out and get better along the way

4. You can shop and save.

5. At 40 the only social media I’ll be doing is unboxings

6. I need someone to give me an unlimited gift card for Home Decor from anywhere

7. At different points of your life your past you is looking at present you in amazement and your future self will look back and smile at how far you’ve come

8. I want to vacation every month at minimum

9. Insecure was an era

10. Black people are so creative in so many different ways and do it WELL

May was a start to an amazing summer that I have been having so far and I know for a fact it will continue. I said I wanted to have a summer like a Rick Ross song and that’s exactly what’s happening. In May my trips started and they’re still just beginning, I did another photoshoot, and lots of other things. Life is full of ups and downs and that’s the whole point.

Click here to see my April thoughts, I saw @lashontae doing this on her Instagram and thought it was a cute way to get more personable on here

How to Make a Career Doing What you Love

As you get into adulthood or while you are an adult you are figuring out what you want to do and what you don’t want to do and where you want to take your career or what you want to do in this life to provide for yourself and your family. Many times we may choose a job not because we like it but because it pays the bills and then you blink and its 10 years later and something that was supposed to be temporary turned into something much longer. Also many times family, friends, or society tries to force you into picking something to do because it may bring “security” but you may not be happy with doing that but out of fear of scarcity you do it anyway. Many dreams go unaccomplished because of fear, which is not your fault because many times it is projected onto us by others fears for themselves, but I am here to tell you it is not too late to chase your dreams or try new and different things or multiple things at once.

Yes you want to make money, but you don’t want to spend the bulk of your days (work days are usually 8 hours in more structured or corporate environments) and you definitely don’t want to spend 8 hours of your life daily doing something that makes you unhappy because it will start to show in all other parts of your life and you definitely don't want to spend that eight hours somewhere that doesn’t see your potential and doesn’t pay you your worth which may cause you to be barely scraping by.

Whether its a dream job at a different company and in a different position or its starting from scratch creating your on business or businesses or streams of income it is definitely possible to attain, but you have to decide how important is your happiness to you.

5 Tips to make a Career out of What you love:

1. Stop caring about what others think or have to say, you are in charge of your life.

   Many times people don’t follow through with their ideas or plans because they have allowed other people’s views and opinions to discourage them and make them feel like what they want to attain isn’t possible, but just because its not possible for them doesn’t mean its not possible for you. Do you want to spend your life wondering “what if” or do you want to try it and see if it works out and if it doesn't then back to the drawing board and on to the next. Learn to be satisfied with your own opinions of your life and choices therefore you have no reason to look anywhere for answers because your decision may already be made.

2. Take the time to explore yourself, your interests, your non-negotiables, what makes you happy, what do you really want

   Many times people may not know exactly what it is they want to do but they know that they don’t like what they currently are doing. Take the time to explore different interests and things outside of your comfort zone, take on things as hobbies and then decide if you want to take them any further and start learning how you can do that. Figure out what you want your daily life to look like, how much money would you need to live the lifestyle you desire, what things make you happy, what types of structure do you work best in (flexibility or something more set in stone daily). You can’t find out what you want to do if you don’t truly know who you are or where you want to end up.

3. Let go of limiting expectations and mindsets

   Stop thinking that just because something didn’t work instantly that it means it won’t happen. Instant gratification isn’t realistic so get out of that, if you want results put in the time, the work and the effort and you will eventually see the benefit which might come slow or they might come fast but you have to remember that slow and steady wins the race and this is a marathon stop being in such a rush to “finish”. Grow up and stop thinking that just because something didn’t go the way that you expected that its all over, if plan A didn’t work figure out a Plan B to make Plan A work or if you heard one no either keep moving to the next until you hear a yes or find a way to make that no a yes. If you want everything to go your way when you want it and your mindset stops there and goes no further then you are meant to stay in the unhappy position you’re in because you don’t really want it forreal. You say you want all this money and this great lifestyle but your’e not willing to put in the work and at the first sign of inconvenience or stress you’re ready to throw in the towel, make it make sense.

4. Stop tying yourself down to things

   It is okay to change your mind, it is okay to change your mindset and it is okay to change your life at any given time that you feel the strength to do so. You are not tied to doing something just because you started it, no you shouldn’t give up on things easily or quit, but if you’ve truly tried your best and are not happy then let it go and move on. Not everything has to last forever and nothing has to be set in stone if you don’t want it to. Find your power and take it back and stop letting everything else drag you through life.

5. Realize your path is yours for a reason and will be different from others, give yourself time and grace

   You may accomplish things at a different pace than the people around you, it may take you a little longer or it may take you less time but you will never know unless you try your own shit in your own way. Do things the way you want to not the way others are doing it or think you should do it. Be yourself and stop trying to be a duplicate version or everyone else. There is one of you and that is your power. Nothing is an overnight success so give yourself time and grace to grow into who you truly are and continuously elevate that. Comparison is the theif of joy, you aren’t them and they aren’t you.

No one said it would be easy but pick a hard.

5 Ways to Remix your Pieces

On the internet people love to make people believe they can’t wear their own clothes more than once for all of these reasons that make no sense, but I’m here to tell you that you can because I do it all the time and I have a closet full of clothes and could buy more when I want but when I shop I shop for pieces that I can get multiple wears out of.

So I’m here to give you some tips on how to remix your pieces and wear them as many times as you want and if you do it right people won’t even be able to tell its the same piece, but if they do notice so what they’re in your business and shouldn’t do that.

5 Ways to Remix your Pieces:

1. Get quality and/or statement pieces

   When you invest in pieces that truly are wardrobe staples you don’t have to worry about wearing the same things twice because you can wear it so many different ways

2. Don’t shop per outfit

   When you only by pieces when you’re buying a whole outfit you limit how you can wear it, don’t get pieces that only go with the things you bought at that time because then it’ll be hard to figure out what else you can wear it with

3. Wear it a different way

   When you want to repeat an item in your closet try to wear it completely different than the first time you wore it or style it differently by adding a different shoe, bag or accessory piece

4. Stop caring about what other people think

   This actually is rule number one, once you stop caring about what other people think and trying to look and be like everybody else you will feel more free to try different styles and looks and wear your clothes as many times as you want because you bought them and its your business. As long as you wash it wear it as many times as you want, period.

5. Know your style or hire help

   A part of being able to remix your looks is actually having style and knowing what your style is. Anybody can buy fashion or clothes but not everybody has style, take the time to figure out what yours is and how to bring it to life but if you don’t have the vision for it or you’re having a hard time hire a stylist or personal shopper because you would rather pay someone to help you that knows what they’re doing than to keep wasting your money on stuff you don’t need or won’t wear.

I hope that these tips will help you in remixing your pieces and getting enough wear for the price that you pay for your things. The goal of a good wardrobe is versatility. For closet consultation and wardrobe styling services you can email me shakaylae@yahoo.com to book a consultation and we can get that wardrobe in order.

5 Tips on How to Make Your Home Quarantine Comfortable

So we’re in the house and most of us have been for the last seven months, whether you’ve been working from home and your job is keeping it that way, you work for yourself or went back to work but you may be returning back home soon due to the seasons changing and the second wave of COVID approaching due to flu and cold season, and as we all know if you have to be home all day everyday you want to make sure your home is a space you actually want to be in.

When working at home you want to make sure that your home is a place that motivates you to work or that you feel comfortable enough to be in, and no everyone may not have their own place and that’s okay but whether the whole place is yours or you just have a room or other spaces you can use I wanted to give you some tips on how to make your spaces quarantine comfortable.

5 Tips on How to elevate your Space for Quarantine:

1. Make sure it smells good

   There’s nothing better than a space that smells as good as it looks and makes you want to be there

   -Get candles

   There are lots of amazing Black Owned Candle businesses, check out my Black owned business directory, Google and Instagram. One of my favorite Black owned candle companies is Lit BKLYN, as well as overall great candles at different stores and online. Browse the internet for good recommendations.

   -Get a humidifier

   Sold at Amazon, Target, Homegoods, TJ Maxx etc. at all different prices and you can get sets of essential oils

   Humidifiers are a great way to not only keep your space smelling good but to purify your air and help keep your mind and body calm and destress you without you even having to do anything. They are good to have and good for your health

   2. Keep your space clean and organized

   Whether you have a room, apartment or house make sure you keep it CLEAN, there’s nothing worse than being in a dirty or cluttered space (especially for me being the germaphobe I am) take the time out of your day to clean up your space and pick up after yourself if you make a mess so the job doesn’t pile up

   Stay organized, hit up Homegoods or Amazon for some storage organizers or whatever you need to buy to make sure everything has a place. A cleaner space helps to declutter your thoughts

   3. Make it pretty

   Make sure your space looks like something you want to see, not saying you have to go full blown HGTV, but by surrounding yourself with things you like to look at it makes your work space more comfortable and it may inspire you to even work harder.

   Check out Pinterest for ideas on decorating everything from your desk to your whole room or space, you can get low cost decor from Amazon, Homegoods, TJMaxx etc. take a little more time to care about other things that may brighten your mood and you’ll see and feel the difference

4. Find a designated area where you will work

Yes you may be at home but that doesn’t mean work from your bed everyday, not having a designated area to work can make you more lazy and off task. Set up a work area that includes a desk or something to work on and all of the things you will need to get things done

Working from the bed may be something you end up doing once a week just because you need a break and you’re human but don’t make it an everyday thing.

5. Set the tone

Working from home can start to make your home feel less enjoyable if you let it.

Set a time of when you will work and make a space for where you work so you know that your work doesn’t leave that area and you are only at that area from this time to that time, also take breaks for lunch or just to chill even if you’re not leaving out the house

Play some music, a podcast or a show in the background so you have something to get you going and keep you entertained while you work.

Open the blinds for some sunlight and get yourself ready to be productive whether that’s eating breakfast before you start working, drinking some tea, working out before work or whatever else you see fit.

Not to say that everyday will be perfect but Working from home doesn’t have to be a drag if you can spruce up the place where you are working and living and now this is where you are most of the day, if you set the tone for how you want your work day to go and if you set the vibe to get yourself in the mood to get things done!

Know is a better time than any to make renovations and spruce up where you now lay your head and work.

5 Tip on How to Plan Your Month

When a new month or a new quarter rolls around the planning begins if you are a planner like I am, it takes a little more time and effort than planning your day or week. When its a new month or quarter and you have a business or businesses or you just have a lot on your plate it is important to set goals and have an organized way to go about accomplishing them.

5 Tips on How to Plan Your Month:

1. Try to do it before the month starts if you can

   This will allow you to get ahead of yourself and to plan out what you want to accomplish before the month can meet you with things you didn’t expect. Don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t get around to this before the month starts but if you can then do so. Take a little bit of time after your other obligations are maybe at the end of the night or do it while you’re working and plan out what you want to get done personally and with business, what growth do you want to see, what things worked in the current month that may not work in the next and what do you need to do more or less of. Write it out and make it plan, also don’t be so stuck in your plan that things don’t have room to change especially if the change is for the better.

2. Set realistic goals

   Be honest with yourself on what you have the time and energy to complete, you don’t want to set unrealistic goals that you don’t have the current capacity to complete and then end up disappointed at the end of the month because you got nothing done, I’m not saying be easy on yourself or don’t try to challenge yourself but be aware of who you are, how you work and what is already on your plate. If what you need is more resources or information to accomplish larger goals focus on getting that.

3. Break down your goals

   Break down each of your goals on how you can go about accomplishing them. What do you need to do daily to meet your goals, how much time do you need to dedicate to each thing, what things does each goal require you to do. Take the things on your monthly to do list and break them down on your daily and weekly to-do lists if to-do lists are your thing. Don’t just write things down but put action into accomplishing them and making them real.

4. Allow yourself grace

   Sometimes things happen that we didn’t expect and can’t prevent so if those things happen and they alter your plans don’t beat yourself up about it because it was out of your control, but figure out how to adjust and change what is necessary. If you don’t get a few goals done but don’t feel like you have a valid reason it is okay, you are not on a deadline and if you know that you gave your best then that’s all you can do and just try harder the next month to get more accomplished. you don’t want to beat yourself into burnout or depression and not want to do anything at all. You are only one person and you are not a superhero, remember that you are now where you used to pray to be.

5. Put relaxation on that list as something to do

   With all the goal you may have that you want to accomplish you still have to make sure that you are giving yourself time to enjoy your life outside of work, to recoup in order to be able to continue working, to enrich yourself so you have the energy to keep elevating. Don’t think that the grind and hustle are the only things that are important, your well being is more important than that because if you aren’t well then you can’t even enjoy the fruits of your labor and the things that you’ve worked to accomplish. Take days off. implement them into your schedule, allow yourself to unwind at night and get adequate amounts of sleep (definitely talking to myself too)

I hope that everyone accomplish all of the goals that they set for themselves and go out with a bang this year especially since there has been so much going on. Remember to enjoy your moments while they are happening, you deserve relaxation too and slow progress and small ins are still worth celebration.

Why Wearing Gold Jewelry is Important

All Jewelry is from Shein// Top: Pretty Little Thing//

You NEED Gold jewelry, here’s why….

1. Gold jewelry looks AMAZING on Black people

2. Gold jewelry looks luxurious

3. Gold jewelry goes with everything

4. Gold Jewelry is perfect for ALL seasons especially summer

I love gold jewelry, I love the way it bounces off of my skin, I love the way it goes with every look, I love the way it can be the final piece that a look needs, I love that it always looks luxurious and upscale, I love what it represents and I personally feel like its a neutral color and definitely can fall under basics

From Gold jewelry to gold packaging, gold home decor etc. gold just always looks amazing but it has to be just the perfect shade and quality for it to not go from luxe to cheap looking real QUICKLY. Of course you have to have the right eye and vision to find the perfect “gold” depending on what you’re buying but gold anything always catches my attention!

Here’s some great places to get affordable luxe gold jewelry:

Shein

Pretty Little Thing

Third Crown Black Owned

Aziza Handcrafted Black Owned

Sucre Couture Black Owned

Take a Step Back from the Work and BREATHE

Sometimes you can be so deep in that everyday can start to feel like you’re on a hamster wheel just going and going and not stopping to take in what you’re doing, not stopping for fresh air, not stopping to give time to other things, not stopping to pour back into yourself after all of the pouring out you’ve been doing and overall just getting so caught up in the “bigger picture” that you don’t even appreciate the things that are helping to paint that bigger picture on a day to day basis, and also working so much and focusing on grinding and hustling that you don’t even really realize how much you’re accomplishing.

So as a person that goes through this as well I wanted to give you a few tips on how you can simutaneously work and give yourself a damn break

1. Set boundaries

   -By setting business hours even if you work for yourself

   Don’t let people text you about business or needing help with something in the middle of the night if you know their job not calling them at 2am to work

2. Give yourself time off

   -Schedule or plan to take days off or give yourself vacation days or decide that you aren’t working on the weekend (I recently did this and it was such a game changer and breath of fresh air)

   -Schedule in advice if you can so you can plan for your business to still move during the days you are off

3. Set aside time to get inspired

   -You can’t keep working if you burn out or your mind is so clouded that it can’t even think of new ideas

   -As much as you work take that same amount of time to keep those creative muscles moving and creative juices flowing

   -Indulge in whatever inspires you or makes you think of new ideas

4. Set aside time to just enjoy yourself and have hobbies and things that bring you joy aside from work

   -Find things you like that you aren’t trying to monetize

   -Find things that bring you peace

   -Find hobbies that you may not be perfect at but they make you feel good by doing them

5. Don’t let go of your passion and spontenaity

   -Your passion is what keeps you going

   -Its okay to just do some things on a whim if they feel right

6. When you do something good celebrate yourself

   -This will help you to stop and smell the roses and see what you’re accomplishing while you do it instead of realizing later down the line

   -Buy yourself something nice as a celebration

   -Pamper or wine and dine yourself so you can bask in the fruits of your labor

I Want to Smell Like Luxury: My Current Fav

So I LOVE perfume and I am definitely a perfume girl. I love very sexy and grown scents, I feel like it says a lot about someone if you can smell their cologne or perfume when they enter and leave a room. Good perfume and cologne draws you to a person and makes you want to know what scent they are wearing. I feel like if you are a well dressed and put together person a good perfume or cologne collection is vital.

Like I said before I personally like a sexy and grown scent, one that just makes you seem or feel like to yourself like you have it all together, you’re making moves in life, you like luxury and it makes you smell like MONEY. I am a firm believer in investing in good perfume (because they definitely can be an investment and are far from $20 like you may spend at Bath & Body Works) I feel like with the cheaper body sprays that I know we all have used from Victoria’s Secret or Bath & Body Works they don’t last throughout the day and sometimes they don’t smell as good or they lose the smell as time goes on, but you can make a conscious decision to elevate yourself especially once you become an adult, get more money and invest in perfume that will last you throughout the day and become your signature possibly.

Yes it’s important to invest in good perfume but you also have to learn what your smell is because everything is not for every body and it may smell good on someone else but it may not smell good on you. Like do you like more crisp scents? do you like cleanly scents? do you like floral scents? Do you like classic scents? Do you like warm scents, do you like light scents etc. figure out what’s best for you and then go from there.

With it being a pandemic you don't really have the luxury of going into a store and smelling different fragrances to pick the one you want, but you can look at reviews and just take a chance on what you think may fit you or align with your style and personality. I kept seeing this Yves Saint Laurent Libre perfume and hearing great reviews, and I’m also a fan of Yves Saint Laurent so I grabbed it from Sephora and when I received it I absolutely loved it (this size is a little over $130, 3.04 oz)

This perfume is so grown and sexy and just smells expensive and if you’re anything like me you’ll love that, its honestly perfect for date night or if you’re going out somewhere but overall I love it. If you want to walk around KNOWING that you smell good, if you like compliments on your smell then grab this or want the perfect touch to a great outfit then you NEED this.

I do feel like there is a different fragrance that goes with each different outfit and the one that is just your go to, but you will start to get into those favs once you begin to build your collection, yes it may be expensive to build a collection but it will allow you not to use your one good perfume so much so they’ll last longer, and you can build at your own pace. But that goes into figuring out when it comes to yourself and your maintenance what do you like, what are you willing to spend and what do you prioritize. But once you start getting into fragrances you’ll realize what I mean about there’s a different perfume for each different look, they make you feel and smell a different way. Girl get you some good perfume and instantly elevate your whole being and confidence.

I want to leave you with a tip….. It is always important to know what you want to portray or how you want to feel when it comes to wardrobe, how you look, how you carry yourself etc. and you can’t be afraid to spend whatever you can afford or allocate on yourself because it is very true that when you look good you feel good and when you look good, feel good and SMELL good that’s when you really know you’re THAT girl that you think you are.