Love. ~A Dedicated Post~

Hey everyone! I hope all is well! Today's post is a dedicated post. Tomorrow is December 1st. Tomorrow is mine and Anthony's anniversary. I will be honest with you, before I met Anthony...anniversaries were corny or pointless. Woohoo, 1 year. But, since I've been with Anthony...my whole perspective on life and love have completely changed. This post is about the past year. This post is dedicated to you, Anthony.

I still remember the phone call I recieved 364 days ago. It was 4am...and you knew I had to wake up at 5am for school. But you knew I would answer regardless. You sounded nervous. I was just happy to hear your voice, but your words still mean so much to me. You mentioned how you've never had a girl cook breakfast and bring it over to make sure you ate. I would always make you an omelette with toast. I tried to make it fancy one day by adding strawberries, but your mom ate it. You explained how being with me as a person helped you really appreciate someone not just for their looks, but for their personality and what they have to offer to the world. You talked about how I pressed you to keep God in your life and keep you focused on his word. You said no girl has ever done that for you. You asked me to be your girlfriend (for the 2nd time) and I remember crying and saying yes.
That day still brings a tear or two to my eye. Since then, my whole life has taken a turn for the better. You have been an amazing boyfriend and an amazing man of God. We have fallen short at times, but we continue to pray and ask God for his forgiveness. The other night you mentioned how our bishop once said that "buying a girl gifts is not for showering her with, but to treat her like a queen." (paraphrasing...) Although I love each and every gift you have given me (especially my anniversary gift..but we'll get to that in a second)...you've made me feel like a queen without anything. Just by taking care of me when I have cramps and am PMS'ing; just by rubbing my feet after an 8 hour shift at work, just by watching Disney movies with me even if they are childish...you've made me feeling queen. No words can describe how...thankful I am to God and to you.
You are honest. Loving. Caring. Amazing. Talented. Incredible...y handsome. ;) You are always determined to share God's love and word with people whether it be just through speaking or by your mixtapes. I have to admit, you inspired me. You told me that I can glorify God by creating this blog about beauty and health. You've inspired me with your mixtapes. Everything you have done for Christ and to better yourself has inspired me. I'm growing every day because of you and because of God working through you. You have a loving heart. And I hope I can inspire people the same way you have for me.

I want you to know that every moment I am by your side or in your presence or able to hear your voice...I am thankful for. I am thankful to see the smile on your face. I am thankful to rub your head or your belly. I am thankful to share a meal with you. I am thankful to see your face brighten up when you've accomplished something. I am thankful to be there for you when you are down. I am thankful for every prayer we prayed together over the phone before we say goodnight. I am thankful.
Dear Anthony, you asked what the inscription on the gift I got you says. I told you it's something I think we must keep in our hearts forever.

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:13

Love requires Strength. We need to have the strength to love another person the same way God loves us. We need strength throughout our day to stay encouraged and keep the devil at bay. We need strength to overcome obstacles that may cross our paths. We must always have strength. That is why I chose this scripture. When I saw it, I cried and knew exactly at that moment that I wanted to inscribe it on your gift. I hope you get the same idea I did, when you read it.

With that, I have one more thing to say. Anthony, Thank you. Thank you for a wonderful year together. You are an amazing man, boyfriend, and future husband. Like I said before, I never really thought much of anniversaries. But now, I am excited to see it. Because it's a celebration of growth as a couple. It's a celebration of two people putting forth effort to keep a relationship together and happy. It's a celebration of God bring two people closer and allowing them to love each other like he loves us. Thank you Anthony. I know I'm not good at words and writing and typing and what not. But just so you know...I love you.

May God bless us with another year and many more to come.

And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance. - Ephesians 5:2

With love,

Taylor Rae

Happy Thanksgiving!!! 10 Things I'm Thankful For~

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE~! I love Thanksgiving. It's one of my favorite holidays. I love all the food, all the family, and all the thanks. Today I just want to remind myself and everyone of what we should be thankful for. So here are the 10 things I am thankful for today:

1. WAKING UP
Each and every day I wake up and I don't take time to think about all the kids and adult out there who didn't get the same chance I did. Just being able to see the sun rise or the rain in the morning is truly a blessing. I woke up this morning and all my worries were gone. Just being with my family and my boyfriend's family is amazing.

2. MY FAMILY
I am always thankful for my family. I must admit, we're a pertty dysfunctional family, however. They've always taken care of me, had my back, and they've shown me love in the hardest of times. No one knows what the future holds, but I pray every day that my family will stay strong and hold on. I am thankful for every single thing they have done for me and I love them dearly.

3. MY BOYFRIEND & HIS FAMILY
I don't know how I could ever really thank my boyfriend. He's been there for me through the hardest and simplest of times. He's always been 100% honest with me and takes care of me when I'm sick. He makes me smile, he tells me I'm beautiful when I feel ugly. I love him. I'm thankful to God for his presence in my life. His family treats me like family. They invite me out, they offer me food, they offer me shelter. I am so thankful for their hospitality and their love as well. I can't wait to see them today!

4. MY PUPPIES
I love our family's dogs. My own dog, Cricket, is just such a baby. But, when I'm upset or tired, they all come over and take naps with me or will bother me until I smile. I do love them so much even when they drive me crazy!!!!

5. THE CLOTHES ON MY BACK
I think one of the main things we take for granted is our clothing. Yes I am sure 99% of people have clothing, but do they have as much as we do? Do they have to wear the same outfit day after day after day? Some people do. They don't have the means to purchase clothes when they've outgrown their current clothes. So I'm always thankful for the warmth of my clothes.

6. MY FRIENDS
Maybe this should've been up more...but they are still important to my heart! I have made some new friends since last year and they have been so wonderful and helpful. I love them so very much and God put them in my life for a reason. And I hope they know that I'm so happy to be their friend and for them to be mine. <3

7. FOOD
I'm pretty sure you all know just how much I LOVE food. I have an addiction. But, there are families out there who may not be getting a thanksgiving dinner. So of  course I am thankful for even the smallest bit of food I get today.

8. THE ABILITY TO TRAVEL
A lot of people like to travel for thanksgiving. I personally love to go up to Winchester to see family, because they are so heartwarming. But I do have to drive today to visit my boyfriend and his family, and many people don't get that opportunity to see their family members. So I am always thankful for each mile I travel to his house.

9. ANOTHER YEAR
This year was my 18th year on this earth and I am so thankful for it. This year has been by far the most magical! It's almost coming to an end, but I will never forget the beautiful and awesome things this year has had to offer. I can't wait for next year and the blessings it will bring.

10. EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO HAS READ THIS BLOG
Last, but certainly not least. You all. To each and every person reading this blog...I just want to thank you all for showing even the smallest amount interest in this blog. I really don't know how to show my appreciation for all of you. And I also want to thank those who actually follow the blog on blogger. It means so much to me and I hope that we will continue to grow in numbers and in posts. Every comment I recieve, I smile and I feel a need to respond with gratitude. You all make this blog. I may be writing the posts and doing the research, but if any of you didn't show any interest in what I post...this blog would no longer exist. So I want to thank you all! Thank you so so much.

There's my post everyone~! I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving! I would love to hear what you all are thankful for this holiday season! So, feel free to comment and spread the thanks! :)
Thanks for reading~! <3
With love,
Taylor Rae

How to Treat Chapped Lips!

Hey ladies. The worst thing about the cold season for me is chapped lips. I have always struggled with my lips especially during winter because my lips always dry out and chap up. It gets frustrating. It's gotten to the point where I am bugging my customers at work about which chapstick they find useful. Right now, I'm using TWO Blistex products. I also have a history of licking my lips because of how dry my lips get. It's gotten so bad now that I am using two products at the same time and it's still doing nothing. So, I'm taking a stand! I'm gonna figure out why my lips suck and how to take better care of them. I hope you guys find this useful!!! Let's get started...

So like I always say, the best way to find a solution is to find the problem and the reasons why FIRST. So how do our lips dry out and become chapped? Well, there are a number of reasons.

LICKING: I mentioned this above, but licking your lips can do serious damage just like washing your skin constantly. When you expose your lips to constant water, you're robbing your lips of the moisture they already contain. So ultimately, licking your lips will dry them out. This is a terrible habit of mine. When I do something that requires concentration, I tend to lick my lips a lot more and before I eat. It's a terrible habit, so I definitely need to work on that...just a bit.

THE SUN: Of course, the sun is always the worst. We need it, yet it can cause damage to our skin and lips if not protected. Our lips lack pigment/melonin which helps protect our skin from ultraviolet rays from the sun. So, try and choose lip balms that feature SPF protection.

TOOTHPASTE: I don't know many people allergic to certain types of toothpaste, but maybe this could be the reason why your lips are red and rough. You may want to rinse more thoroughly after brushing, or even just try different toothpastes until you see a difference!

FOOD: You may be allergic to foods touching your lips. It sounds terrible. But, if you have a food allergy, be sure to NOT eat it. Also, if you already have dried, chapped lips...be careful about what you eat. Acidic food/drinks, salty food, spicy food/condements, and even alcoholic drinks can irritate the skin on your lips and make the problem worse. I know that I can't eat popcorn often because it burns my lips and also lemons will hurt significantly if my lips are peeling. It sucks, but you gotta do what's best!

DEHYDRATION: If your body doesn't have the proper hydration it needs, it shows on your lips. Try drinking more water. Also, try lip balms or lipsticks that moisturize. The dry air indoors and out can cause dehydration for our skin and lips!

BREATHING: I tend to breath through my mouth rather than my nose because I have sinus problems and my nose can be stuffed for days. I've become rather accustomed to it and now I feel like I need to constantly. Although sometimes it's necessary, breathing through your mouth instead of your nose can cause our lips to dry and become chapped also.

There are more reasons such as syndromes, allergies, and what not, but these are probably the most common! So, now that we know why we get chapped lips...why not take care of them?

Here are some ways to help treat chapped lips! Some are natural and some can be bought in stores!

LIP BALMS: Use lip balms that have moisture and SPF protection. I know lots of people use regular peteroleum jelly. Ingredients that may help are shea butter and hyaluronic acid. I would highly suggest using organic lip balms and stay away from flavored lip balms.

LIPSTICKS: Yep! Turns out one of our favorite makeup items is actually beneficial. A lot of lipsticks have moisturizing ingredients along with SPF protection. So, not only can your lipstick make your entire look, it can also help chapped lips.

HOME REMEDIES: As you all know, I love DIY home remedies. They are fun to make and apply and it's all organic and natural. One of the most simple remedies I've ever seen is for chapped lips and that is to cut slices of cucumber...and then rub it on your lips to soothe irritation and retain moisture. Also, honey is an amazing moisturizer and helps heal. So just rub some honey on your lips! Try not to lick it though!!! You can also buff your lips with a tooth brush and some vaseline. And last but not least, olive oil. Olive oil is great moisturizer for your lips and hair. Just rub some on your lips and that is all!

Products I'm Interested In...

So, I would not leave you ladies without sharing products I'm interested in. I personally do not like Blistex products. I have tried so many in hopes that they would work, but for me they don't. So, here are some products that have amazing reviews and would reccomend for myself and you all.

EOS Smooth Sphere Lip Balm

A girl I work with was using this and she said she liked it. I've read tons of reviews and 95% were positive. They are cute and relatively reasonably priced. I believe you can find it was walgreens and CVS.

NIVEA Milk & Honey Lip Balm

Everywhere I look, someone is talking about Nivea lip products. I suggest the milk and honey, because...well milk and honey are very good for your lips. They have a wide range of other lip balms that have SPF and moisturizing properties!

HURRAW! Green Tea Lip Balm

I honestly just saw this today on AprilAthena7's blog and I was immediately interested just because it said "green tea". You all know I love green tea products. It's all organic and looks very moisturizing. I may get this for Christmas? Haha, maybe maybe.

Anyways ladies, I hope you enjoyed this post! :) I hope you have a wonderful thankgiving!! Expect a little gift from me then!! Have a blessed week and stay safe!

Thanks for reading~! <3

With love,

Taylor Rae





How to Make Your Hair Grow Naturally!

Hey ladies! Long time no post? I am trying! Anyways, today's topic is how to stimulate hair growth naturally. Everytime I go to my hair dresser, she always is surprised at how long my hair is because it grows so fast. I constantly have to trim my bangs because they grow out so fast and within weeks they are down to my chin! I never used fancy products back in the day, but since my perm, I have found my hair growth has slowed a little. So I've been finding ways to stimulate my hair growth without using any harsh chemicals or...the dreaded extensions. I also want thicker hair since the cold season is here, so here are some wyas that may work for you and I hope they do 100%!

TRIM

Every resource I used were very forward about getting your hair trimmed. If you really want to grow out your hair, you need to get rid of your split ends and breakage. It permits a more healthier growth in your hair, plus it makes it look nice and tamed. Not frizzy. As regards to length, just trim off the split ends. Don't take off inches upon inches thinking it'll grow back twice as fast!

TURN DOWN THE HEAT

I am pretty sure this is obvious, but just in case. Heat can do a ton of damage to your hair. Blow drying, perming, straightening, curling. These can all effect hair growth. Not only do it damage the hair, but if you use it every day, it could cause your hair to break. So minimize the heat products to 2 times a week at least. I'm very sure you will see results not only with your hair growth, but with the general health of your hair.

VITAMINS & MINERALS
Our hair is always in need of vitamins and minerals. There are specific vitamins and minerals for your hair, however, that promote hair growth! These vitamins include: B6, folic acid, magnesium, and zinc!

VEGGIES & PROTEIN
I cannot stress enough how the right foods can be beneficial to our skin and hair! For your hair, choose specifically green, yellow, and orange vegetables. They contain beta carotene which promotes hair growth and supports hair health. I personally love peppers such as green peppers and orange peppers. They add color to a dish and very awesome health benefits! You also need to get a good amount of protein in your diet. (Note: A healthy amount!!!) Protein levels a direct to the health of your hair. If you aren't getting enough of protein, there is no way your hair can have the strength to grow. Try eating some eggs in the morning. I eat a lot of bean dishes (especially when my boyfriend's grandmother is in town...) and my hair has grown some since!

DIRECT HEALTH
I want to point out to you guys how your stress can effect your health and beauty. Stress and lack of sleep can stunt your hair growth. Be sure to just relax and get 7 to 8 hours of sleep. If you want beautiful hair, you need to take care of yourself!

MASSAGE & MOISTURIZE
Hair can grow faster if there is proper blood circulation in the head and body. While you're in the shower and using shampoo, be sure to just massage your scalp thoroughly for a couple minutes before you rinse. This will increase blood circulation, allowing hair to grow more properly. Also, your hair may be dry from all the pollutants in the air which can stunt hair growth also. Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to help give your hair the moisture it needs throughout the day.

Now that that's settled, I do reccomend some products that I have been using to kind of volumize and help my hair growth by keeping it healthy.

My Shampoo & Conditioner

I use DOVE Damage Therapy Cool Moisture shampoo and conditioner. It has green tea and cucumber extracts which have done wonders for my hair. Plus it's affordable and easy to get. Every since I have been using this, I have seen my hair becoming shinier and less oily. Plus, my hair smells awesome. My layers are a little more defined and I can run my fingers through my hair without a tangle. Always nice, right?

My Hair Mask

Next is my beloved hair mask! Unfortunately, this baby is hard to get for me. I go through sasa.com to get it and I am far from disappointed with it. It is the Essentials Ultra Honey & Shea Butter hair mask. Everytime I use this product on my hair, I see more volume. I love having volumious hair because it helps make my face look...better? (For lack of better words...) Also, my hair just feels so much healthier and softer. It's an awesome product and I highly reccomend it.

Anyways everyone, that is all I have today. I hope you guys found this helpful!!! :) Have a wonderful week everyone! Stay safe and keep well! Be blessed~!!!

Thanks for reading~! <3

With love,

Taylor Rae



Feed Your Skin with Oatmeal!

Hey ladies! I'm baaaack!!!! It's been forever since my last post! I am trying so hard, but I hope to do a personal post tonight just to kind of catch you all up on the different things of my life. :)
As for now, here's another health and beauty post for you all to enjoy and use to your benefits!

So, I will be honest with you...I have never really liked oatmeal. I could never stand the texture or the taste, it was awkward for me. I would never go near it until I was reading so many articles on how awesome oatmeal is for skin. And of course, I was tempted. So I did a little research for you all and here are some awesome skin benefits you can treat yourself with by oatmeal!

I recently bought the new Aveeno Oatmeal moisturizing lotion and I am very happy and impressed with the results. I guess that's why I wanted to do a post in the first place. I have seen a significant difference in the way my skin looks and how smooth it is! I am very pleased. But how is oatmeal good for your skin?
Well first off, oatmeal is filled with antioxidants that provide healthier circulation throughout and can do extreme wonders for your skin. It also has omega-3s and fatty acids which can be beneficial too.

Fighting Acne
Oatmeal is an all natural product meaning it doesn't have harsh chemicals that will cause your skin to break out even more. It is a natural cleanser and gentle exfoliater. It soaks up all the impurities without pushing harmful chemicals into your pores! This is important especially for people with extremely sensitive skin. It will do wonders and make your face smoother and brighter without the excess oil.

Treating Dry and Irritated Skin
Oatmeal contains anti-inflammatory properties which means it is great to use if your have irritated, red skin. Colloidol oatmeal may be best for this situation. People use oatmeal to treat their sunburns or poison ivy by healing the skin and opening your pores.

Here are some recipes for facials masks and baths you guys can use/take to better your skin and even relax yourself in!

For People with Excess Oil
All you need is ground (colloidol) oatmeal, water, and milk if you please! Very simple for those who don't have much time on their hands. Just mix the oatmeal and water together to make a thick paste and add milk whenever you please. You can also replace the water with milk if you'd like. It will nourish your face and help you control the oil!

For People with Acne
This mask is going to be more an exfoliater! All you need is 1/3 cup of fast cooked oatmeal, 1/2 cup of milk, and 1/4 of honey. Mix the water and oatmeal together and cook for however long the package requires you to cook it. Once it's cooling, add the honey and mix mix mix! Then apply a thin, even coat on your skin. You can add some lemon into the mix also to help exfoliate. After it dries, go ahead and rinse! Oatmeal will absorb excess oil, exfoliate dead/excess skin cells, and soothe your skin!

For Baths
Just fill your tub up with lukewarm water and add colloidol oatmeal. Your bath will turn a milky white and will benefit your skin and help you relax!! Very easy and it will make you feel like a princess.

A little bonus from BubzBeauty!

I hope you guys enjoy and start to use oatmeal a little more!!! It is definitely beneficial and beautiful! If you guy shave any more recipes, tips, or just have tried oatmeal before and enjoyed the results; I would love to hear your testimonies and comments!!!

Be sure to stop by tonight! A personal post is'a coming!

Take care everyone, have a blessed week and stay healthy! Be sure to bundle up because it's getting cold!!

Thanks for reading~! <3

With love,

Taylor Rae



Biore Marshmallow Whip Facial Wash Review!

At long last, it is time for my first review! DISCLAIMER: This is not a sponsored review. This is solely based on my personal experience with this product and it may affect you and your skin differently. Anyways,  I told you guys a while back that I wanted to buy the Biore Marshmallow Whip Facial Wash because I had seen all these bloggers saying such amazing things about it. Well I got it a couple weeks ago and gave it a bit of a test run and I am far from disappointed.

So first off, the packaging. It's very simple, yet adorable. I got the original pink version and it fits in perfectly with the rest of my facial products. The marketing for this product is adorable too...with the little foam angel and the attractive girl who has two little foam blops on her cheeks. I just like the bottle shape and color, don't judge me.

First things first, the foam. The main asset of this product is the fine, fluffy, and high density foam. The high density foam creates a cushion for your face from your hand and helps make it seem like it's massaging your face. It feels so good, let me tell you. Plus the bubbles are incredibly tiny which helps cleanse your face much better, leaving it cleaner for longer. I normally use this product at night because I use an exfoliating cleanser in the morning, but I find it more effective for me at night also. Your pillow has so much dirt from your hair and dust from your room, it can cause your skin to break out. Since I've started using this facial wash...my skin has cleared up incredibly. The results are remarkable to me...seeing as how I have had sensitive skin that has almost been impossible to clear up.

Moving on, the main ingredient is collagen and camellia sinensis leaf extract. These leave your skin plump and moisturized. I can definitely feel a difference in my skin after washing it. My skin feels plump and cute and that is something I really do enjoy about this product. Plus, the ingredients don't leave a strong smell and that is also a plus! Products with a strong smell tend to have certain ingredients that cause my skin to break out even more. With the marshmallow whip, I can't even really smell anything...which I really don't mind!

Overall, this product is truly fantastic. The only thing that is disappointing is that...it's hard to get. For me at least. There aren't many Asian stores close to me, so I will have to stick to Amazon.com to get ahold of this baby! I highly recommend it though, even if you do have sensitive skin! It is definitely worth the money.
I hope you guys enjoyed this review! It's my first, so please feel free to comment on how I can improve or whether you found this review to be helpful or not. I really appreciate it everyone! I hope you have a wonderful week! Take care and stay blessed!
Thanks for reading~! <3
With love,
Taylor Rae