Being True to Yourself: PART 2
Stay Encouraged.

"When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place."

~ Unknown

Lord knows I am the queen of being stressed out especially when it comes to school ,work and my social life. Stress can easily discourage us and make us want to give up. People around you who tend to not have the same heart as you can discourage you make you feel like you aren't enough. .You may even question "why am I even doing this ? whats the point anymore?"  . STAY Encouraged. That is the biggest part of being true to yourself. If you have to be your own motivation , do so! Tell yourself it gets better because if you Pray and put your mind to it ...it does. Stay in character and know yourself. Know yourself enough to know you are so much better than the negativity around you. This isn't advice I am just telling you all, This is advice I am currently trying to live by myself. The more of yourself you put out there in the world , the more people will be negative and try to bring you down. Build something I like call a "SELF ARMY". A self army doesn't physically fight nor does it argue. A self army is the defense in your head that tells you that regardless of what she or he is saying YOU GOT THIS , you are awesome and everything you are currently doing will more than anything pay off in the end. So today, start building your army. This world is cruel and the more you do the more the world will try to bring you down  but once you build that army you will immediately fight back with self assurance and positivity . No turning back now , it is your time.

xoxokaneica

influential women sunday




                                                                  photo credit
photo credit

Phylicia Rashad also remembered as Claire Huxtable from The Cosby Show(1984-92) is the true definition of an influential woman. This television and theater actress is also a Tony award winner and is still acting at the age of 66. Phylicia Rashad shows young women that being classy is never out of style. Recent work includes Steel Magnolias(2012) , For Colored Girls(2010) and A Raisin in the Sun (2008)

More Info on Phylicia Rashad 

what is CONFIDENCE ?

Today I volunteered at an assisted living home that my mother works at. It was a great experience to work with the elderly.Even if we only played bingo it was just a natural sense of wisdom in the room. It was amazing to look at these beautiful women and just imagine that everything I am going through now is just a sweet memory to them now. As I walked out of the facility on a natural high, the receptionist tells my mother "wow, she's very confident". I smiled, because it wasn't my clothing, my hair or any materialistic thing that caused her to notice my confidence as i was wearing just a T shirt, jeans and my hair was messed up by the fan blowing in the bingo room upstairs lol. Confidence is not a look or anything you can buy, it is simply a state of mind. It is how you think of yourself.  Looking beyond your appearance. SELF LOVE is confidence. Loving yourself regardless of your mistakes you've made in life. We were not made to be perfect people . We were made to grow and learn. Confidence is not knowing how you are going to get there but knowing where you want to be. Understand the road will not be easy but knowing it is worth it. Confidence is finding your peace and to know that absolutely no one can take it away. Confidence is talking to God and knowing a blessing is coming your way regardless of what the situation is. Confidence is SELF ACCEPTANCE. Loving every little weird aspect of yourself, smiling at what others may judge. Know that if they're judging you, it simply means they aren't confidence with themselves. Last but not least STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS. That is the biggest flaw we have as young women unfortunately. Once you just look at yourself and say that  " I am irreplaceable and there is no one like me' who can tell you any different !? Confidence does not come out of compliments is come from loving , accepting and being yourself. Suddenly you will start dressing the way YOU want to, doing the thing that YOU want to do and the compliments will come naturally. Do remember compliments are not important just focus on being the best you. 

xoxokaneica

How to achieve the "natural" look. 

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 Guess y'all don't know who this is. Rapper, Nicki Minaj has taken a new twist on her signature look. Transitioning from pink wigs, heavy make up and over the top accessories,shown in the photo below, to her natural hair, soft makeup and minimal add-on's to her clothing. Many , including myself, appreciates this side of Nicki. Young girls who look up to her will no longer feel the need to be over the top with their makeup to look like their favorite rapper.

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So how exactly do you achieve the" no make" makeup look? (SN: i am NOT a professional :))

Makeup is all about what looks great on YOU. Focus on what you need and are comfortable with.

If you happen to have any dark circle or blemishes, use a concealer as close to your skin tone as possible and put a layer over any problem areas. Using a concealer closer to your skin tone helps to give you the most natural even look. Once again using only ONE layer helps your make up not look "Cakey"  .

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photo cred

Try to stay away from foundation ! foundation is amazing for special occasions but for everyday, foundation can be the one factor of your makeup that causes you to not look "natural". If a concealer is not enough to cover anything  you feel is a problem area on your face instead of adding foundation seek a lighter option. Couple lighter options include a tinted moisturizer, bb cream or even a gel or water based foundation. 

Okay so you may be thinking that liquid isn't your thing , You're a powder girl ! So how do you look natural by just using a powder foundation ? Powder foundations are the easiest to become cakey and look like you have makeup up on because the powder may not sink into your pours as easy as liquid make up. No worries ! With powder foundation , really with any foundation, I suggest you getting one professional picked out for you at your local department store. It is important that you find a powder that blends really well and matches your skin tone very well. My trick to achieving a natural look using a powder is to apply wet. Whether or not you are using a compact sponge or cosmetic brush just apply a little water or a setting spray for example MAC's fix plus or ELF's mist and setting spray. This will help the powder melt right into your skin !

Ladies , there is NOTHING wrong with wearing makeup everyday. Just make sure your make up doesn't cover the real you. When you look in the mirror with or without your makeup on your view of yourself should never change. Don't ever forget you ARE beautiful.photo cred

xoxokaneica

 Okay , so recently Solange Knowles has been in the media in a negative spotlight but lets not forget how beautiful she is ! I don't condone violence but this beauty shows nothing but passion and sass with her don't care attitude.photos source