Final Post & Announcement

Hello everyone, after months of being away from you all...actually maybe not months, but at least a while...I must say that this will be the final post on TaylorRae.Co. Why? Because we have moved onto a bigger and better site. I mentioned in my last post that we had officially become a .COM site. And now I am pleased to announce the new URL to you all...

SimplyTaylorRae.Com is now OPEN!

The new URL is SimplyTaylorRae.Com! I thought it was something very easy to remember and it embodies me...because I'm a very simple person. The site is going to include much more than health and beauty. It will include just about everthing and more. I will do reviews, health posts, beauty posts, fashion posts, travel posts, food posts, and so on! Why so much? Because I am interested in all of them. I love health and beauty, I love fashion, I love to travel, and I love food. And I talk about each of them rather in equal amounts, so why not put them into a blog/website where people can find interesting facts, recipes, and other information? I am ready to put forth an enormous amount of effort to succeed with SimplyTaylorRae.Com.

With that said, I want to thank you all for continuing to support me during this transition and blessing me with advice, information, and so on. You all are the reason I want to expand and hopefully you all will be spreading the news of the new site and I hope it meets your standards! Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.

And now, I shall say farewell to blogger. Well actually, I'll still use blogger but just to read other people's blogs and show support as well. But, this marks the end of TaylorRae.Co! I love you all so very much!!!!

Thanks for reading~!

With all my love,

Taylor Rae

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!

Hello everyone!
It has been so very long since our last post! I do apologize, but it was not in vein!!! Recently, I have been so busy with work! Speaking of work, I GOT A PROMOTION, whoot whoot! Also, I am taking a semester break from college to really think about my priorities and really think about what I can major in that will help this blog advance.

Speaking of advancing the blog...

WE HAVE OFFICIALLY BECOME A .COM WEBSITE. The URL will not be revealed until August 31st! I am hoping to have everything completed with the website and when necessary, we will add new things to the site! I also will be uploading health and beauty videos on youtube soon alon with a VLOG channel! During my semester off, I will be kicking it into high gear for the blog!!!! I am hoping to gain sponsors in order to do much more for you all. I am going to put everything I possibly can in order to make this possible. My goal from here on out is to expand this website to include more than just health and beauty information and tips!  I want to include traveling and fashion information and really put my heart into it!

With that said, TaylorRae.Co is also celebrating our....

TaylorRae.Co is now one year old! And hopefully you will expect us to be around for a bit longer~! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BLOG!!! Woooooo! So, be sure to keep an eye out this friday for the unveiling of the new website! It will be announced on Twitter, Tumblr, and this Blog as well! Thank you all for the love and support for this website and I hope you will continue to support me and the website and the new direction we are being led to!
Thanks for reading~! <3
With love,
Taylor Rae

P.S. Yes, I did cut my hair short. :) I enjoy it so much~! 9 inches were chopped off...

10 More Common Beauty Myths!

I am back. After a brief hiatus due to a family emergency, I am back with a health and beauty post! Oh how I have missed you all. BUT I do have big news for you all...later this year. I am so excited, but I want to make sure everything happens before I get too ahead of myself, you know? So anyways, it feels good to be back and I hope I haven't disappointed you all! Let's begin...

I have already done a common beauty myths post before, but I keep hearing things from people and celebrities and quite frankly, I think some things need attention...like toothpaste and acne.

Beauty Myth #11 - "Preparation H Reduces Eye Puffiness"
Personally I have never heard of this one and I don't understand the logic behind it...But I've heard a lot of celebrities and websites saying it works. If you don't know what Preparation H is; it's for hemorrhoids. Unfortunately ladies, the greatest thing Preparation H can do for your eyes is making is make it dry and greasy. The maker of Preparation H, Whitehall-Robins Inc., has even mentioned that they no longer use live yeast cell in their product, which is what helps reduce eye puffiness. So, I would like to caution you readers about this technique.

Beauty Myth #12 - "Toothpaste Helps Treats Pimples"
I don't know about you guys, but when I first started getting pimples, my mom used to hand me a tube of toothpaste and tell me to dab a little bit on the pimple. It never worked for me, but I have heard of others getting results from this treatment. So, in a sense, toothpaste can help dry out pimples. HOWEVER. Toothpaste also dries out the skin. An ingredient in toothpaste, triclosan, kills bacteria which helps with pimples. But other ingredients in toothpaste can cause the skin to dry and become red and irritated. So, you may want to stay away from toothpaste because althought it dries out the pimple...it can make it look worse also.

Beauty Myth #13 - "Sunscreen Is Only Necessary For Sunny Days"
Every day we are exposed to UVA rays which can cause wrinkles. These rays occur equally every day despite the weather.  If you don't wear sunscreen, regardless of weather, you are more susceptible to age spots, wrinkles, and even skin cancer. So even if it's cloudy, be sure to protect your skin from UVA rays!

Beauty Myth #14 - "Don't Cross Your Legs! It Causes Spider Veins"
If you don't know what spider veins are, they are veins that are red or blue, branch out like a tree or a spider web, and can occur on the legs and other areas of the body. It is believed that when you cross your legs, you are putting too much pressure on the legs cause spider veins or even varicose veins to occur. This for one has not been proven. First off, vericose veins and spider veins occur mostly because of age, genetics, and pregnancy. Secondly, pressure helps decrease the volume in the veins. So, please. Cross your legs if necessary ladies!

Beauty Myth #15 - "Washing My Face Excessively Will Get Rid of My Acne Faster"
There is a healthy limit to washing your face. Unless you have legit dirt on your face, two to three times a day should be the max. Once in the morning and once at night before bed. When you wash your face excessively, you stripping your face of natural oils thus sending your skin into oil-production overload. So try to keep the face washing down to the maximum of twice per day.

Beauty Myth #16 - "If You Stress Too Much, Your Hair Will Fall Out"
I will admit, I thought this was true. Recently, I have been under so much stress and the one thing that I would always be scared about was losing excessive amounts of hair. But, luckily, this is not true and my fears are gone. On average, you lose about 50-100 strands of hair per day. If you think you're losing more than that, the likely culprit may be a nutrition deficiency.

Beauty Myth #17 - "Moisturizers Aren't Good For Oil-Prone Skin"
The only moisturizer that is not good for oil-prone skin is Vaseline. Otherwise, moisturizers can help decrease breakouts. Most moisturizers today are non-comedogenic, meaning they don't clog pores which can cause acne breakouts. Also, moisturizer prevents dry skin flakes from clogging your pores which can also cause acne breakouts. So, if you have oily skin like me, just make sure your moisturizer is non-comedogenic, and you will be fine if not better.

Beauty Myth #18 - "If You Have A Pimple, Pop It"
I have a problem with this and I am sure many of you do also. When we have a rather large pimple or blemish, we feel the need to pop it and we think that it will just BAM go away. That's not the case and for many of us, including myself, it does lead to some problems. When you pop a pimple, you are creating a wound. This wound is prone to infections and bacteria entering the skin. And like some wounds, it can cause scarring. There are other ways to take care of a zit or pimple, but be sure not to pop it and make it worse.

Beauty Myth #19 - "Cocoa Butter Is Amazing For Stretch Marks"
As someone who has stretch marks and has tried this method...I have a few statements. But I will hold back. As I said in my post regarding eczema, cocoa butter is great for moisturizing. I use it for my arms, while I use oatmeal lotion for my legs. However, cocoa butter is not proven to cure or get rid of stretch marks. In fact, no lotion or moisturizer is. Unfortunately, stretch marks are basically a natural and permanent thing for the most part.

Beauty Myth #20 - "If You Shave Your Hair, It'll Come Back Even Thicker"
In 6th grade, my P.E. teacher told me this after I shaved my arms for the first time. I have since stopped, and now that I look at my arms...the arm hair looks fine. When we shave our armpits or legs or whereever else, you take off the thin tip leaving the thicker middle. Once you give it time to grow back, it'll feel normal and thin. Be careful not to over-shave by the way. It causes ingrown hairs. Which hurt.

There you are everyone! 10 More Common Beauty Myths. I hope these were helpful! Once again, I am sorry for taking so long and I know I said I had big new for you all later on this year...but I just found out some more good news. WE'VE REACHED OVER 1000 PAGE VIEWS! I am so happy. You should've heard me when I told Anthony! I hope we reach many more and even more subscribers!!! I love you all and I am so thankful for you all taking the time out of your days to read TaylorRae.co. I hope you all have an amazing rest of the week!
Thanks for reading~! <3
With love,
Taylor Rae

P.S. Hey everyone! I want you all to meet Marlon Vincent!
He is a great friend of mine and Anthony's and has released a brand new mixtape, "Life After Death" and I would definitely appreciate it if you all could show him some love and support by downloading his mixtape, which includes the single above, "Rigamortis." You can download it HERE and while you're there, go ahead and go through his website. With that said, you can follow me and Marlon on Twitter @_MarlonVincent and @TaylorRae319. Thanks everyone for your support!

Review: FaceQ Grape Seed + Green Tea Facial Masks

Hello everyone! Ah, finally found some time to relax and post for you guys! Yesterday was so fun. I got to spend some well needed time with my parents and we went to the Korean bakeries in Annandale and got to stop by my favorite store, Lil' Thingamajigs and my favorite restaurant in Annandale which is Yechon. I splurged on myself this time since I got a bonus in my paycheck. Don't worry, I put money in my savings!! I will put pictures up after the post! (OH AND I DYED MY HAIR!!!) Anyways, today I want to do a review on a product I have been using since December and have gotten pretty good results from. So I hope you all enjoy and find it useful!

I would like to state that this is not a sponsored review. This is an item I have purchased with my own money and used on my own time. Also, keep in mind that everyone has different skin types, so you may get a different result from using this product.

So FaceQ is actually the first brand of facial masks that I ever used. I ordered the full box from SaSa.com and didn't get a chance to use them right away, however once I got a chance to use them...I was pretty pleased and have been ever since.

What are the main details?

FaceQ boxes are so cute. They always feature a little female character along with a patterned background. This box carries a little girl with lavender hair and clothes swinging with a floral background. Cute, right? The box carries 10 masks in individual packages. I paid $12.50 for the whole box on SaSa.com, however you may be able to get individual masks, although I cannot find them.

What's in the product?

The main ingredient for these masks are grape seeds. Grape seeds contain proanthocyanidin, which prevent the formation of wrinkles, loss of lustre, and resilience that can occur from damage by oxidation. The masks also have hyaluronic acid which replenishes moisture along with green tea and wasabi extracts which brighten and smooths skin and minimizes pores.

Has it been tested?

If you can read Chinese and tell me, that'd be great. SaSa.com does not indicate whether or not it has been tested.

Thoughts on the product?

I will admit, I have extremely high hopes for this face mask since it was my very first box. It didn't live up to the CRAZY expectations I had, but I do enjoy using the masks. I try to use them as often as possible to keep my skin moisturized and brightened since my acne has been flaring up again. The very first time I used them, I didn't see immediate results, so don't get your hopes up. But, with constant and weekly use, your skin will improve in brightness and your face will feel tighter. I personally, do not go by the directions on the box which say to keep the mask on for like 15-20 minutes. I leave the mask on until it is almost completely dry so my skin can absorb the goodness on its own. Once I take it off, I rub the mask on my face once more then my neck. Then throw it away.  It's something so simple and it does help with relaxing and pampering yourself.

Pros:

Price is rather cheap for an overseas brand.

Shipping is cheap as well.

Very cool and relaxing on the skin.

Smells great.

Results are great as well.

Cons:

Takes a while to arrive in the mail.

Results are not immediate.

Box is in Chinese, which I cannot read.

Would I recommend this product?

I would indeed. I would personally give this product a 3.9 out of 5 maybe even a 4. I may buy another brand, but I will always keep a box of FaceQ around just in case. :)

So that's my review. I hoped you all found it helpful...but now it's time to move on to the mini-haul and the picture of my new hair color!

Yesterday, I got to spend time with my parents and we decided to go to Annandale since it has a lot of Korean stores, bakeries, and restaurants. And I kind of...had a little too much fun with buying pastries, stuff for school, and what not...

I got 3 packs of origami lucky star paper, some pencils and markers, a notebook, 2 facial masks, box of eye masks, 4 packages of mochi cakes, strawberry cookies, box of macarons, red bean donut, and red bean bread. And yes, this is splurging for me. I tend not to buy a lot of stuff lately, so I can save up for potential expenses...like paying off my car. Or an apartment. T'would be nice, right? But God blessed me with a bonus and a day to spend with my family! So I am thankful.

Now onto my hair...

Black & Blonde BABY! I told the lady that I wanted something classy with a hint of edge and she got it perfect! I am so thrilled...I can't wait to style it and my goal for the summer is to perfect curling. I think I am going to do braids tomorrow!! Ahhh...Sorry I got excited. :)

Alrighty guys! That is all I have for you today! I hope you ladies enjoyed~! Have a wonderful rest of the week and take care!!

Thanks for reading~! <3

With love,

Taylor Rae

P.S. Don't forget to buy MC Jin's latest single "Brand New Me" on iTunes!! Listen here:

Also, you can follow me on twitter at @TaylorRae319 and MC Jin at @iammcjin for updates and what not!!

A Letter to My 16 Year Old Self

Good morning everyone! I hope you all are having a wonderful Monday so far. I am so glad to be posting! I have been at work for the past week since we had a huge sale in the parking lot. It's been so incredibly busy. Plus, the summer semester has begun and I am trying to get my associate's like ASAP. So I am trying to get as many classes as I can afford. But with that said, it's been a bit rough these past couple days. My right foot has been swelling up in two areas and it's been causing excrutiating pain. I'm hoping it's temporary and that after I have give it some rest, it'll get better. But, we'll see.
Anyways, this morning I went onto facebook and saw that Lindy (BubzBeauty) had a new post on her blog. It was titled "Advice for My 16 Year Old Self." Something so simple and yet meaningful in a sense. I read hers and it really made me go back 3 years ago when I was probably at the lowest point in my life. So, I decided to do one of my own.

A Letter to My 16 Year Old Self

Dear Taylor Rae,
Right now, you are probably at home sleeping...or out and about with your friends. You are trying to mask the depression and sadness you have. You're starting to lose weight. Be sure not to lose too much. Your back will give out if you do. You're starting to hang out with an older crowd, be sure to stay close to your friends in school. They might not be older than you, but they certainly have your best interests at heart.
Do not get attached to the people you meet. They won't be around long. But you won't be alone. Mommy and daddy are still there. Even though they will argue still and things are going to happen. They are still there. And you will gain new friends. And you will meet your future husband. He may not be what you thought you were looking for, but he is everything you need in a person. And you will love him unconditionally.
You will gain a new perspective on life. And you will grow out of the partying stage. I would advise you to stay away from the hookah bars. You'll get sucked in and the habit will be hard to break. You will find God, though it may seem unlikely now. And he will show you a better way of living. A healthier way. Something to be proud of.
Do not worry about your appearance. The excessive amount of pimples are only temporary. Try sticking to gentle cleansers and exfoliaters. It will do much better than ProActiv, I promise. You may lose the weight now, but you will gain some of it back...and you will have to work to get it off. Start exercising to maintain your healthy weight. Your nose is not too big. It is perfect for you. Everything on your body is perfect JUST FOR YOU. No one else can pull off what you have. You are your own person.
Be strong. Things are going to happen and you will feel helpless and vulnerable. Just know that it won't last long, so stay strong during the most difficult of times. You can do it. Have faith.
Continue to sing. Don't go out to the hookah bars. Don't start smoking cigarettes because everyone else is. Take care of your voice, because it can change the world. Practice. Sing every chance you get. Your voice is can be heard through your singing. That is how you will express yourself. That is your life, your calling, and your comfort. Don't ruin it.
Do not, and I say, do not give up. On life. On your dreams. On your family. Some much is going to happen; good and bad. But every single moment is going to make you stronger, wiser, and more human. You can cry. You can laugh. You can love.
One last thing: Never Forget to Smile.

From,
Your 19 Year Old Self

Is it wierd, that I actually got just a tad bit emotional about this? I invite you all to do this for yourself. I want to thank Lindy from BubzBeauty for inspiring me to do this, because honestly, it does help overcome past obstacles or traumas. With that, I say goodnight everyone. Have a wonderful, amazing, and blessed week!
Thanks for reading~! <3
With love,
Taylor Rae

I am Home from Israel!

I am so glad to be back everyone! I am glad to be home and glad to be sleeping in my own bed. You guys don't understand how home-sick I was. Despite how home-sick I was though, I had an amazing time in Israel. It's taken me a couple days just to even get started on this post simply because of a terrible case of jet lag and well, I have been trying to get back into the swing of things. But I have finally finished a slideshow for you all and it is the first official video for my youtube account: TaylorRae319. But as I was saying, Israel was amazing. I learned so much on this trip, not just about where Jesus walked and where many Biblical stories actually took place...but it helped me learn more about myself as a person. One of the things being that I am a little too soft spoken still and a bit more dependent than I would like. I know this post is a bit short, but I'm going to start working on videos and reviews for you all now that I know how to work my video editor and all that. I wanted to let you all know that I am indeed home safe and so thrilled to be home.
With that said, I leave you with the first official TaylorRae.co video!
I hope you guys enjoy it! It's nothing fancy, but I think it's really good for my first time creating a slideshow...let alone editing.
Thanks for reading~! <3
With love,
Taylor Rae

Leaving for Israel! ~*Israel Bound*~

Hello everyone! I am incredibly sorry for not posting too much this month. My goal was to post at least once a week, but because I am leaving for Israel a week before college finals, I have been completeing the rest of my work for my classes and taking my finals a week early...and trying to catch up on some rest because I have been so stressed out and tired! Why? Because I dread packing for international trips...although I don't think I had quite a hard time when I went to Japan...But that is beside the point.
Anyways, the day is finally here. Well, almost. Tomorrow, me and Anthony will be on our way to Israel. We've been looking forward to this for months now! I have finally finished packing and making sure my luggage meets the weight requirements. I am so exhausted though.

Sorry for my room being a tad messy. I've tried to pick up as much as I could, but my tiredness is making me lazy as well. Anyways...recently, I have been addicted to the new Nickelodeon show "The Legend of Korra"...and it is has turned me into a fool. Not necessarily in a bad way, but it's got me hooked and there's only been 4 episodes. I have bought all of them on iTunes too...so so bad. I liked the original Avatar show, but this one just seems a bit better. Sorry for that random tidbit, but I'm trying to get you up to speed with how things have been going!!Aside from school and work, nothing has really happened lately. Well actually....

The very first TaylorRae.co shirt has been made!!!!! It was made earlier this month, but I haven't really had a chance to share it with you all! Anthony and his friend were able to get the equipment to make t-shirts and TA-DA!! I am so happy about how it came out and it will make its debut in Israel!!! It was so funny though, the letters were a bit small so Anthony had to place them one at a time instead of the whole vinyl. He did such a wonderful job! I am so excited to wear it and spread TaylorRae.co across to the Middle East!
Moving on...
I am having a hard time staying awake. I have to wake up at 2:30am and get ready for the trip...but I don't want to sleep because I have all that time in the car to Washington and the bus to New York and the flight to Israel. But I am so tired from work. I guess I will just start loading up my iPod for the trip.
With that said...I'm going to get some things done before we leave, I just want you all to know..I'm not dead, but I will be gone until May 9th! So please, wish us travling mercies and safety! I will definitely create a video for you all to see everything I saw and the different experiences! I am so excited!!!! >:O I can't hardly contain myself. But thank you all for your understanding! And we are close to 800 page views! Whoot whoot! Another achievement!!! Anyways, I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Passport & iPod in hand!

Thanks for reading~! <3

With love,

Taylor Rae

My Testimony - A Taste of My Life

Hello everyone. I know this is a health and beauty, but today I want you guys to know a little bit more about me and my life so far as well as how God has impacted my life. It's not a very sad story, but I do think that a lot of you can relate in some way. There are some curse words, so I do apologize in advanced. So...I guess let's start...

I was born into the world with a mother who was doubtful of her religion and an Atheist father. That's not to say my parents were bad, they are amazing parents and I couldn't be more thankful for them. With that said, I went to church when I was little...but not for long. My mom felt that God wasn't necessary and was not real and became an Atheist alongside my father. So, I grew up in a complete Atheist household. I didn't get a chance to know God. While I was still a young child, certain things occured in my life that had a longterm effect on me and my personality. When I was very young, I was sexually molested and it escalated to rape one time. It had haunted me for 12 years. Because of that, I was a very indecisive and insecure child...and it only got worse when I was teenager. In middle school, I was sexually harrassed on almost a daily basis. When I finally told my mom, we had gone to the principal and police about it. They did absolutely nothing. They suspended the boys for 5 days...and sent back into the classroom where they sat next to me. After I reported them, a teacher told me that I should have spoken up sooner and that I made things difficult for them. This made me feel terrible. I felt like it was my fault that they targeted me. That they would continue to make remarks and they even wrote on the walls of the classroom "Taylor is a Bitch." I couldn't walk with my head held high. They would steal things out of my locker. They would still torment me. I blamed God for every bit of it. I blamed him for allowing me to develop the way I did. I blamed him for making me vulnerable and sensitive. I blamed him for making me too nice. But, my lucky break came when I was accepted to go to Japan as an exchange student. Just to get away from everything was enough to make me cry. This was God's way of taking me out of a bad situation, I didn't know it though at the time.

Japan was amazing for me though. It opened me up to something I love to do: travel. It brought me out of my comfort zone and placed me in a brand new experience where I didn't have to worry about what was going on back in California. I was with people so welcoming and they took such good care of me. I was very sad to leave them and very sad to come home. The only thing I wanted to see were my parents. I couldn't remember their voices. Once I came home, I had a new perspective on life, however ALL the insecurities were still there. After I came back from Japan, we ended up moving back to Virginia. The relief of being away from middle school, the people and teachers who tormented me. I was now moving on to high school and it's then that God really started to show himself to me. After middle school, my insecurities became more evident to my family. I remember trying to go shopping with my mom and I would come home crying saying that I hated myself, I hated my body, I don't like who I am. My poor dad had to hear me cry and cry about how much I hated myself. Slowly but surely, the crying, the constant sleeping after school, and loss of appetite at time took it's toll on me. I began smoking and drinking by the time I was 16 and when I turned 17, I was at the hookah bars every day. It sucked and I really hated the way my life was turning out. But the time I was 17 I had lost 50lbs. I looked disproportionate, I had constant back pain, and it just...didn't feel like me. I was still JUST AS insecure as before if not worse. So, the summer of 2010, I took a trip to South Carolina for a college visit. And that's when me and Anthony began talking. He and I went to the same high school together, however he graduated 3 years before me. When he asked me out, our relationship was nothing like it is today. We got so irritated with each other, we didn't have God, we just...weren't in a position to be dating each other. So, we broke up. After that, we decided mutually to really start focusing on ourselves and eventually trying to build a relationship with God. Around August of 2010, a friend of mine and Anthony invited us to a D-Xampl meeting. Me and Anthony felt something different about this group. It was a group that if I had any questions in regards to God and Christianity in general, they had logical answers that were supported in the Bible. It drew me in. God became more evident in my eyes and my heart and I began to feel and see his blessings more and more.

Slowly, I began to realize that I had blamed God for my insecurities, for the torment, for everything that went wrong. I didn't see the good in any situation. God used Anthony to bring me to Him, to introduce me to his friends who knew the Word, to bring me to church for the first time since I was little. He prayed for me, he listened to me, and he was my comfort when I questioned God. Anthony was the first person to know about the time I was raped, about the molestation. I hated my rapist. I was angry, and I had terrible nightmares about what happened. But Anthony reminded me that anger will lead me nowhere. God wanted me to forgive him...but it's not that easy. We both knew that. But God's Word is amazing. It can heal past wounds that have destroyed you. So, Anthony bought me my first Bible which I still have today. All this, while we were broken up. In thanks, I made him breakfast and would drive up to bring it to him, I would do anything for him. I would pray over mine and Anthony's relationship, our future individually and together, and also to show me a sign of what our relationship is supposed to be: friends or couple destined to get married. Every night. And God showed me sign. We went to a Lecrae concert in Virginia Beach with some D-Xampl members. I hadn't eaten the whole day just because I really didn't have an appetite and nothing looked yummy. We ended up getting right up to the stage when we arrived, little did I know that it was going to be HOT and the dude infront of me kept throwing his elbow back and almost hitting me in the face. Mix it all together and BAM. I passed out. I don't know for how long, but all I remember was trying to grab ahold of Anthony's shirt. When I came to, Anthony was kneeling beside me saying "Taylor are you ok?" and helped me up and took me straight outside. He didn't leave my side. The nurse and security took me backstage to get something to eat and some sugar in my system. Anthony was there watching over me. I was told to not go to the front because of the heat and the rapid light movements. I felt terrible, because Anthony was so pumped but he stayed in the back with me. I told him he could go, but he said he won't leave me in the back alone. That was when I knew. This was my future husband. God answered my prayers shortly after. On December 1, 2010, Anthony asked me to be his girlfriend again. Ever since, our relationship has been nothing but a blessing. And after he asked me out, many blessings have arrived. March 15, I got a call for a job interview. April 24th, I started my job with a great paycheck. June 18th, I graduated high school with high honors. October 19th, I bought my first car. This year brings many blessings as well. But God has really shown me so much since 2010.

Now that my relationship with God has grown...my trip to Israel seems so much more than a trip. It is Israel where I am getting baptized for the VERY first time. I will be baptized in the same river that Jesus was baptized in. God has big plans for me and Anthony. With our relationship with Him, our relationship with each other, our business aspirations, and everything else. He has helped me overcome my insecurities, my past, everything that was, that is, and that is yet to come. He has provided me with a man of God, friends of God, and a loving family that accepts me no matter who I believe in. I'm thankful for each day I am alive regardless of how it goes. I know that God is there watching me. I know that God is going to continue blessing me. I hope you guys really felt my heart in this. I don't want to tell you to believe in God. I don't want you to feel pressured. But know that if he can lead me away from torment, the insecurities, the smoking, the drinking...then he can get you through it too. Today, I can proudly say that I have changed my life for the better. I no longer feel tormented. I no longer feel the insecurities. I have forgiven my rapist, those behind the sexual harrassment, and those who have done me wrong. I feel beautiful, because God does not have ugly children. All of his creation is beautiful. I feel happy because God has allowed me to live another day and has given me another chance to see my family and my boyfriend. He has allowed me many opportunities. I am so thankful. And I know God has many more things for me and I am excited for each and every one of them. With that said, (I say that a little too much), I thank you all for taking time to read my blog, to read my reviews and my posts, to read the personal posts, and everything. Each and every view is so meaningful to me. We've reached over 700 views. Thank you all. I hope you guys enjoyed this post and found it as meaningful as I did. I hope you all have an amazing rest of the week.

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Thanks for reading~! <3
With love,
Taylor Rae

P.S. - Be sure to follow me on Twitter @TaylorRae319 and Anthony @DJiPray!!!

Review: Simple Brand Exfoliating Facial Wipes

Hello everyone! I finally have a chance to review a product again. Well then...one thing I love about my job is that I get skin care products for a very cheap price (except sunscreen...$6 for a 3oz bottle my butt!) and so once I get back from Israel...expect more reviews!!! >:)
With that said. Today I want to review Simple's Exfoliating Facial Wipes. I have been using it for a couple weeks now and I never really thought I would try wipes for my face. However, one thing I enjoy about Simple is that their products are for people with sensitive skin such as myself. So, I got a coupon at my job, bought the wipes, and now here I am reviewing it...let's move on. I'm talking in circles.

To start off, I would like to emphasize that this is not a paid or sponsored review. This was an item that had purchased on my own time with my own money. Also, my skin type may not be the same as yours therefore you may get a different result then the one I get.

So, how did I come across Simple? They have commercials. One thing that caught my eye...or rather so my ear was that they emphasized sensitive skin and me, having sensitive skin, was intrigued. I've never been a fan of facial wipes. Most felt rather awkward on my skin, so you can imagine the thoughts going through my head when I saw this at my job. But...something told me to buy it. So I did. With a coupon. (No shame! Extreme couponing here I come...)

What are the main details?
One of the main focuses on Simple is to cater to sensitive skin. However, if you have a different skin type...go ahead and try it. I paid around $2.99 with the use of a coupon. The item carries 25 wipes, a little then a month's worth. The packaging is green and rather cute and very simple just like the brand name. It's eye catching and helps maintain the brand as well.

What's in the product?
The wipes are packed with pro-vitamin B5 and vitamin E. These vitamins helps soften, smooth, and restore to improve your skin's condition. Mix this with some aloe vera, which helps condition your skin and soothe it. There are no artifical dyes or perfumes or any harsh chemicals that may irritate your skin.

Has it been tested?
Both the Simple website and the packaging claim that this item has been dermatologist tested and ophthalmologist tested.

Thoughts on the product?
So like I said before, I was skeptical of this product. I have had awkward experiences with facial wipes with them either leaving my skin so dry that I peel or doing absolutely nothing for my skin except making it sticky. They were gross. However, this has done the exact opposite. I use the wipes at night before I go to bed because it's easy to do when I'm mad tired after a day of running around and/or working. All I do is take out a wipe and wipe my skin until it's close to being dry. After the very first use, I actually saw improvement in my skin. I had a few blemishes on my chin the day I bought the product and I wasn't too thrilled. The next day after using the product, the blemishes had reduced significantly and the redness around my nose had actually reduced as well. That sealed the deal. The wipes do not feel like they are exfoliating. They feel so cool and soothing, but once I'm done my skin is incredibly smooth and firm. It's not sticky and it doesn't dry my face out. It gives me face a nice glow, not shine. There are little to no traces of oil. It's awesome.

Pros:
It's hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic.
The vitamins and aloe do wonders.
Skin is left silky smooth without excess oil or dryness.
Easy to find.

Cons:
Only 25 wipes. I need to buy more before Israel. They're coming with me.
Depending on where you go, they can be a tad expensive.

Would I recommend this product?
Most definitely. It is a high quality product that is easy on the skin and worth the price. I would give this product a 5 out of 5. Point blank. Period. They have surpassed my expectations and have helped my skin significantly.

Well everyone, there you have it! My review of Simple's Exfoliating Facial Wipes. Let me know if you have tried this product or any other Simple brand products. What were your thoughts? I hope this review was helpful and I do hope you get a chance to try out the product. I hope you all have a wonderful week! Take care and stay safe! 27 more days until Israel!!!
Thanks for reading~! <3
With love,
Taylor Rae

Pros & Cons: Glasses & Contacts

Hello! Oh my gosh, my second post in a week! IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD. Anyways, right now I am watching "Say Yes to the Dress" on TLC waiting for the season premier of "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding"...I have a problem. I love TLC. I can't help myself. Especially on Friday...I mean Bride Day. I can dream about my own wedding can't I? Moving on! So today, I want to talk about the pros and cons about wearing glasses and contacts. As you all know, I prefer glasses simply because I know I am not the type to keep up with contacts. But there are tons of people who do not like the way they look with glasses on. So, which would you prefer?

So I guess we should start off with glasses! I have been wearing glasses since 5th grade. I remember constantly squinting to see the blackboard and trying to get closer seats to the TV and what not. Ever since 5th grade, my eye sight has weakened significantly. I have thought about lasik eye surgery, but that seems out of the question for a while, haha. Anyways. Let us visit the pros of wearing glasses!

PROS TO WEARING GLASSES:
1. You do not have to clean your glasses on a daily basis.
2. They slip on and off, so there is no wrestling to put them on.
3. They have a certain look that some people like.
4. Low maintainence. Point blank.

CONS TO WEARING GLASSES:
1. They can hurt your nose and your ears.
2. If there is high humidity, your glasses will fog up.
3. They may fall off or slide off easily. (However, if fitted correctly, they shouldn't do this often.)
4. When driving or walking, your peripheral vision is blocked or distorted.
5. They are not ideal for sports...or swimming.
6. Your vision will more than likely be distorted.

PROS TO WEARING CONTACTS:
1. It is great if you want a more natural appearance.
2. They come in more than one color if you would like to temporarily change your eye color.
3. They won't fall out too easily.
4. They won't fog and water will not block or smudge your vision.

CONS TO WEARING CONTACTS:
1. It requires learning and practice just to put them on.
2. Very high maintainence & can be costly.
3. They can get irritated easily especially in a smoky environment.
4. Since they are not as big and bulky as glasses, they can be difficult to find if lost or dropped.
5. Most contacts you CANNOT sleep in.
5. Great for sports.
6. It creates a more natural vision without distortion.

In a sense, it's all a matter of preference. If you know you would not be able to keep up with the up keep of contacts, then glasses maybe your best option. If you'd like a more natural look and are willing to put effort into it, contacts are for you. For me, I don't know how I look without glasses. It's been a 9 to 10 years. But, I know I am way too lazy and low maintainence for contacts. I've made glasses work though. I even have a pair of perscription sunglasses (transition lenses don't work in the car...so be prepared to fork up $300 for a pair of perscription sunglasses that are walmart brand).
Well, I hope this has been helpful for you all! I know it has for me when I had to make my decision and even remake it. Anyways, I hope you all have an amazing weekend! I think it's going to rain all weekend here...ugh. Allergies AHOY. Take care and stay blessed!
Thanks for reading~! <3
With love,
Taylor Rae

Yet another birthday picture...:)

How to Maintain Red Hair

Oh my gosh! I have neglected this blog for too long. My apologies!! March has been beyond a busy month. The final payment for mine and Anthony's trip to Israel was this month, so fundraising was in order and trying to come up with the money some how was necessary. With that said...WE ARE GOING TO ISRAEL!!!! It's official. Bam. But also, yesterday was my birthday. I turned the awkward ol' 19. We didn't do a big party or anything, me and Anthony went shopping for Israel and then met up with my parents at a Japanese restaurant that I love for my birthday dinner. We didn't even do a cake, but then again I've never been a fan of cake although I do bake a mean batch of cupcakes! Anyways...moving on. So, today I decided to dye my hair a dark brown/red color. I wanted to do something different and dark since I went a bit lighter the last time I dyed my hair. And quite honestly, I have no idea how to maintain red hair...and quite frankly, I'm scared. I know I added more brown to it just so it would take less maintainence...but still. So, I did some research and here are some tips on how to maintain red hair.

I am still working with my bangs!

I don't think you can really see the red in this picture seeing as how it's taken in my poorly lit room but it gives you an idea. So let's get started!

Maybe that should've said "Dyed Red Hair"...too late.

So like I've said, I'm kind of a noob when it comes to maintaining red hair. I've always stuck with very neutral colors that requires little to no maintainence. But, I guess this will help me appreciate my hair and take incredible care of it. Moving on...

Tip #1: Cold Water - After watching many videos and reading many articles...ALL I SAW WAS COLD WATER. When you wash your hair in warm water, it opens up the pores and the color can wash out even faster. Red hair tends to fade incredibly fast, so in order to slow this down especially in the shower...go ahead and turn that dial on cold. Cold water helps close porous hair which will help the color stay in and last a tad bit longer.

Tip #2: Dry Shampoo - Whenever you wash your hair, you are washing some of the color out regardless. With red hair, you have to be extremely careful because red fades faster than most hair colors. Try to limit how much you actually wash your hair to every other day or even less than that. And for days where you skip a wash, go ahead and use dry shampoo. This will make your hair look like you've showered and what not, but you're not risking the color.

Tip #3: Moisturize - Anytime you dye your hair, you're already damaging it and stripping it of moisture and all them goodies. So you may want to use moisturing shampoo or conditioner or even just a mask. I prefer to use a mask of course, but the choice is all yours. It's always good to keep your hair healthy and moisturized because it'll give it a beautiful shine!

Tip #4: Limit the Sun - As with most colors, the UV rays from the sun will fade your hair. Red just so happens to fade incredibly easier. Of course. Try to stay away from the sun as much as possible. This is gonna be difficult for me since the trip to Israel is coming up. BUT, there is a way to protect it if you like to go outside...it's called a hat. I just bought one. I'm sure you can too.

Tip #5: Minimize Heat - Using heated tools such as a blow dryer, curling iron, or a straightener will strip your hair of necessary moisture that your hair needs strictly because it is dyed. If you need to use a heated tool, be sure to use a heat protectant spray (I need to buy one...) and if you blow dry, try to stop before your is actually dry so that you can preserve some moisture.

Those are the most common tips out there! If you have any that you'd like to share, please comment! I love to hear reviews and ideas and tips from others. Especially on subjects I have no clue about. I'm so glad to finally post again! Thanks to everyone who wished me a Happy Birthday and I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed week. Take care everyone!

Thanks for reading~! <3

With love,

Taylor Rae

A photo from my Birthday...

It's Been A While...

Hello everyone! I know it has been so long...and believe me...I've felt like these past few weeks have lasted so long. Anyways, I've been busy with so many different things recently. And I must admit, I have been a tad bit stressed out. It's gotten to the point where all I want to do is sleep, I've been grumpy, and I've been crying way too easily. But, I have been studying the Bible and reading "The Blessed Life" by Robert Morris which I highly reccomend for anyone who seeks financial freedom and blessings. And as you all know...Me, Anthony, and D-Xampl are going to Israel in April just to walk where Jesus walked and really gain a blessed experience. We are beyond excited and God has blessed us through this journey. Especially for me and Anthony. Our relationship has grown incredibly since this journey began. We've come closer together as a couple. We've began to depend on God so much more for our relationship and really learn to wait for God's timing. It's been difficult, but in the end after much is learned, God will reward us. He always has a reward. Anyways, Israel is coming. So we've been fundraising for that trip.
So, I'm working on a post about my possible outfits for Israel. I'm thinking about making it into a video, but one step at a time. I'm trying to find time, but tomorrow is definitely a day off from everything for me. If any of you have any suggestions on what to wear to Israel...let me know. All I know is that it's supposed to be in the 70s weather wise and we're gonna be like right next to the Dead Sea. So I would love suggestions because I'm kind of clueless...
Anyways, it's rather late for me and I did have work today so I'm a little worn out. I'm going to try and relax and get much rest tomorrow so I can blog with vengence (I'm pretty sure that's not how you spell it..) and bring you all the first fashion post for http://taylorrae.co
Thank you guys for your understanding and I really do hope that after tomorrow, I will be able to regain focus and rest! Take care everyone and have a fantastic week!
Thanks for reading~! <3
With love,
Taylor Rae

5 Products I'm Dying to Try!

Hello everyone! I hope you are having a wonderful Valentine's Day. It doesn't matter whether you're single or in a relationship! Personally, I think Love should be celebrated every day. There shouldn't be just one day to really show affection. Anyways, I know it's been a while since my last post! I have been bombarded with so much stuff lately...the gym, college, family, and everything else you can probably think of. But I do have some time today. And I'll be honest, I've had a long writer's block. And today, I want to try and undo that. So, I'm going to start off easy. I want to talk about products I am dying to try. I have seen these products online or in store and I am so tempted to buy them. (I probably would...but I'm broke until after Israel.) So...what are the products I really really really really want to try?

So I think I have a problem. I love researching about different skincare and hair care products. And right now I've been wanting to buy (but have been too broke to even try...) these products! I've seen GREAT reviews on them and best believe...I want to see what they can do myself.

Product #1: Bumble & Bumble Gentle Shampoo

One day when I was with my girlfriends catching up, we stopped by Sephora. I knew I shouldn't have gone in there because it was like paradise for skincare and haircare. One thing I always look for is shampoo for chemically treated hair and since my perm I have been so uptight about my hair care. I have read almost every review on Sephora.com and everywhere else I can find and I have found nothing but fantastic reviews about this product. It is supposedly very moisturizing that you may not even need a conditioner. So, I hope I can buy this for my trip to Israel and really test it out then!

Product #2: Maybelline Baby Lips

I have seen these everywhere. And at cheap prices. But I keep telling myself to finish my EOS lip balm. *sigh* There is a girl at my job who uses it and she says it's nice. I've seen reviews online and they are definitely good. I know I wouldn't get the tinted kind, but I do need a lip balm that restores my lips...and from the commercial, that's just what it does. Plus it's moisturizing, so there's another plus. BAM. I am debating on where to purchase it though...CVS is expensive but would it put points on my card or should I just go to WalMart? Decisions decisions. WAIT. I still need to finish my EOS lip balm.

Product #3: Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser

I don't know if you all know this...but I love my Biore Marshmallow Whip Foaming Facial Cleanser. The foam is so freakin' gentle and it even works well when I use an exfoliator on my face. When I found out (at my job) that Aveeno had a foaming cleanser...I just about freaked out. It's pretty cheap too honestly although some people pay like $10 for it. One thing I love about Aveeno is that they use ingredients that are natural and beneficial to your skin. And they're daily moisturizing lotion with oatmeal has really improved my eczema dramatically. I will always stick by Aveeno if other things don't work. They are a really wonderful brand.

Product #4: TONY MOLY Tomatox Brightening Mask

This is one of those products where I had it in my cart on Amazon and I took it out because I still have to finish my faceQ masks. HOWEVER, I still fully intend on buying this product as soon as I feel it is financially appropriate (ahahaha...) and I will brighten up my skin! IT SHALL BE DONE. But honestly, this product uses tomatoes and I've never used such a product, so I am always willing to try something new that will provide me to give you all information and an opinion that may help you when you're deciding on whether to purchase it. It looks so refreshing and oh gosh...I can't wait for the day it will be mine.

Product #5: Sebastian Craft Clay

...So I'm running low on my hair clay. I use it for really two purposes. 1. To add volume. 2. To reveal texture. I have been using Garnier for YEARS now (since my freshman year of high school) and it is now slowly coming to an end. I love using hair clay and I keep hearing about Sebastian craft clay. It is a tad bit expensive, but from the reviews, I guess it's worth it? It's also matte so it won't make your hair shiny or wet looking which is a most definite for me. I'm a little apprehensive about buying this, but we'll see! I really want to try it!!!!

Argh, it's almost 1am. I am so tired and my whole body is hurting from exhaustion. I guess it's time to head to bed. I hope you guys enjoyed this post! I'm so sorry about taking forever, but I promise I am doing the best I can. :) You guys have been so faithful and I truly appreciate it. I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day! Have an amazing rest of the week and I will see you all soon!

Thanks for reading~! <3

With love,

Taylor Rae





Bridal Showcase & What Not

Hello everyone! I feel like I've been gone for so long. Well, maybe I have. I have been so incredibly busy this past week. I really have wanted to do nothing but sleep, sleep, eat, and sleep. Plus Anthony was in California for 5 days and I was bored and lonely. But now, he's home and we got some well needed rest. So, today's post is going to be a personal post. One of the most exciting things from this past week (and probably the worst for Anthony, bwahahaha) was going to the bridal showcase up north with my girlfriends. My friend is getting married next year and we went to get ideas for her wedding and get as many free prizes and business cards possible. Plus, there was a wedding fashion show which was good for us...plus it gave me ideas for mine and Anthony's wedding...one day. :P

It was so fun though. Honestly, if it weren't for my heels, I would've had a marvelous time. I tried so much wedding cake and desserts! I was in heaven. We found awesome ideas for her reception and I got some ideas for my own. Plus...I found my dream wedding dress (if I can't afford the Rapunzel-inspired dress by Alfred Angelo). It has a vintage feel to it and I LOVE floral patterns.

You can't really see the pattern but it is beautiful. And it is for a reasonable price. $450. Oh yeah. Future planning AHOY. But that was my Sunday. It was so nice just to spend time with the girls and honestly, the bride to be is like a big sister/best friend to me. I am so happy for her. Me and Anthony look up to her and her fiance and I think we always will. I can't wait to see her on her big day!! I know she's going to be so thrilled. So..moving on.

So, I'm trying to remember what else I did that was awesomely amazing. I can't think of anything. But I have been working, going to class, and all the usual that I did before. But, I am going to be getting some skincare/haircare products for Israel because the weather over there may be a drastic change and my allergies will go crazy! Plus, airplanes scare me. They do terrible things to my tummy and skin. So, between now and when I come home...I'm going to do more reviews and I WILL (I claim it) USE MY YOUTUBE ACCOUNT. I will make time for you guys. :) I promise!!

So...tomorrow, my plan is to post a review on faceQ grapeseed and green tea facial masks! I've tried them out and I will give you my take on them tomorrow.

With that said, I think I'm going to cut this post short. Simply because all I've done since the Bridal Showcase is sleep. No problem with that, I've just been exhausted. I hope you all understand! Anyways, have a wonderful weekend everyone! Take care and be safe.

Thanks for reading~! <3

With love,

Taylor Rae

How To Take Proper Care of Your Nails

Hello! I'm back! It's a tad late, but I am trying to stay up to say goodnight to the boyfriend once he gets off work...so why not write a post while I'm waiting. So, let me just catch you all up on what's happened personally and then we'll move on. SO. The trip to Israel is getting closer and closer and now it's down to 99 days. So, once it hits 30 days, I'mma be on trip preperation overload. Also, this weekend has been both amazing and terrible. The amazing part is...Anthony bought me "Tangled" after suffering through multiple showings. The terrible part is I am in terrible pain. I've been getting this extremely painful headache and migraine at work and now at home. I don't know what it is or where it came from, but I'm trying to not let it affect me. Especially when it comes to my blogging. :) Anyways...Why don't we get started...

I think this is a topic that many women and even men could take notes on. Even for myself, I find this so helpful. So before we learn to take care of our nails, we need to know what our nails are made of. Our nails are made keratine, which is what our hair and even the top layer of our skin is made of. Keratine is a type of tough protein that is meant to protect the soft tissues of our finger tips from injuries and enhancing the sensitivity of the finger tip.

So one part of taking care of your nails is to know when they are healthy or when they are in danger, for lack of better words.

Your nails can tell a lot about your health, but it's easy to tell whether or not you have healthy fingernails.
1. Smooth Fingernails - Run a finger across your nail. If it's smooth, your nails have a healthy formation. If they have ridges or any dents or pitting, they are probably unhealthy.
2. Clear or Flesh Color - Your nails are supposed to be clear or at least flesh colored with a white or off-white tip. Dark nail polishes may create discoloration, so don't be too alarmed. However, if it is a heavy discoloration, you may want to see a doctor as it may be signs to something bigger.
3. Straight Fingernails - Straight fingernails are healthy. They are forming correctly. If there is curling, then there may be a problem.

So, now that we've determined whether your nails are in healthy condition, we've got to take proper care of them to ensure they remain healthy and look amazing while we're at it too! This can range from your diet to what you actually do with your nails. So, what can we do to take better care of our nails?

A Healthier Diet

Your diet can effect your nails health. If your nails aren't healthy, maybe you need to add more protein-filled food into your diet since your nails are made of a protein. You always want to minimize your sugary foods intake, but try to minimize alcohol, calcium, and zinc level intakes. The protein will prevent any (or any more) damage from being done to your nails.

Moisturizing

Your nails can dry up a lot like your hair can. You need to make sure your nail beds are hydrated. To do this, you can increase your intake of water and fruit juices (I prefer cranberry and orange juice mixed together). Also, don't be afraid to use moisturizer on your cuticles to keep them healthy and it will prevent them from drying up.

Gloves

I learned this the hard way. I had to go to work at 4am to remove and replace labels. Well, I tried using my car keys to remove labels but that didn't work out too well. So I used my nails. And by the time I got off, my nail was broken and I have paper cuts underneath my nail. It was so painful. So, basically, all you have to do is wear gloves when you're doing household chores and the sort including gardening. If you use chemicals, it will take away the moisture, dry up and rip and peel your nails and cuticles. If you work with dirt and soil, it can get underneath your nail and cause an infection. Gloves should be your best friend when performing these tasks!

Vitamins

If you have certain deficienicies in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Calcium, this will affect your nail by causing it grow dry and brittle. So, if you have to or want to, you can take vitamin supplements to make sure you're getting the right amount to have correct forming nails.

And last, but not least...Maintenance

Buff It Out!

Buffering your nails with a fine abrasive wand will remove all the dead skin cells, therefore making your nails shinier. You can also use a nail file to maintain your nail's specific shape. It's easy and will make your nails look great without having to go to the nail salon.

Increased Circulation through Massage

When your fingers feel run down or strained, feel free to give your fingers and thorough massage. From tip to stub, just massage to get rid of any uncomfortable feeling. Also, rub your nail beds and cuticles to increase blood circulation and promote growth in your nails.

Base It!

Use a base coat or nail hardener before applying nail polish. This will prevent damage from the nail polish and may even prevent discoloration. It will also help lock in your nail's moisture.

Pamper Your Nails...

If you have the money, feel free to get regular manicures and pedicures to help maintain your nails. More than likely, your nail technician is going to be able to help you with more specific problems and even administer treatments that can protect your nails.

Alright everyone! What a long post...but hopefully it was helpful! Thank you all so much for spending time at TaylorRae.co! Every view means so much to me! I hope you all have a wonderful week. Remember to file for your income taxes! I'm getting mine in this week, and it's going straight to Israel! AMEN. Take care everyone & be blessed.

Thanks for reading~! <3

With love,

Taylor Rae

Godly Love - Love For Our Families.

Hello everyone! I hope you all are having a wonderful week. I sure am. Today, I was very inspired to do a Christian post because me and Anthony were having our own Bible study and I felt God saying to me that I need to expand my blog. I will still be doing posts regarding health and beauty and lifestyle, but every once in a while...I want to share my love for Christ and share His Word with willing readers. I hope you all will continue to support TaylorRae.co.

Godly Love.

Let me give you a little testimony before we begin. For 16 years of my life, I was an Atheist. I had no interest in God or Jesus Christ. I didn't believe in His love for me. It wasn't until I met Anthony and our friends Tawney and Raymond that I really got to see God and how he is moving in people. Anthony invited me to church when we first started dating and I just felt something in my heart, like there was a hole that was missing. The more we went, the more I felt it. It didn't take long before I found myself longing for God's love. I found peace and a home in Christ. It hasn't been an easy journey. Especially since my family is Atheist. But, God has provided me with an abundance of blessings and love. And I'm thankful to God each and every day.

With that said...

Let's talk about Godly Love today.

There are different kinds of Love, I guess, in today's world. There's love in a family, love in friendship, love in relationships, and love in God. There's even love for our enemies and neighbors.
I want to cover all of these today, in the best way I can. But I pray that you all will have open minds and open hearts to this.

So let's begin.

I don't know your history with your family, but I'm just going to assume that you have a fairly good relationship for the most part. God created every relative, every ancestor, every bit of life in your family to make sure you came into this world with a support system and those who can guide you in life. Whether they took that responsibility or not was their choice, but overall, they are to set an example in the household. Love within a family is very important to God. Without love, what is a family?

"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." - 1 Corinthians 13:7

This scripture speaks near and dear to my heart when I think about my family. It wasn't even a year ago when my dad was told he was losing his job. My family was devastated. But we had love for each other, believed in each other, hoped for the best with each other, and we endured the pain. I prayed every night for my dad to find some way to rise above. And he did. They decided to let him keep his job along with all the benefits and more. Love is so powerful in a family. It can make us stronger and more united. Especially when it comes from Christ. My parents may not believe God had saved us, but I believe He was working on a miracle with my family. The love for one another in this family can make God do wonderful things.

"Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you." - Deuteronomy 5:16

When you honor someone, you're showing some sort of affection or love to them. God wants you to honor your parents with love and respect. They've taken on the task that God has given them and may have felt some hardships because of it. Your parents may not be the best parents, or they may have made mistakes, or are even rarely in your life, but they still created you through God. So, showing honor to your parents and giving them love is giving to love to the Lord because he created them with a purpose to create you.

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." - Ephesians 4:32

I really want to direct this scripture to siblings. A lot of the times, we tend to argue or fight with our siblings for sometimes petty reasons. It could be a clashing of two different opinions or just two different personalities not mixing well. It could even be over a TV remote. But in the end, they are still your sibling and you're gonna have to put up with them for the rest of your life. That is why it is best to be kind to them. You never know what may happen to them the next day, God forbid anything happens. But it is always best to forgive them if they have wronged you or admit you're wrong. You don't want to end things on a bad note with your family. God created both of you equally. He doesn't want to see ANY of children arguing or fighting. So forgive and let live.        

Loving your family is important. Not just in a Christian sense, but in an every situation sense. God created love for a reason. It was to unify people. It was to create a sense of security and peace. God's love for our family is enormous. And let me just say, it doesn't matter whether your family is Atheist, Buddhist, and any other religion in the world. He still loves them. He's blessed my parents abundantly and they don't even give any credit to Him. But He still puts love in their hearts. He still watches over their families and ancestors. He still watches over me and my brother and sister. Don't think He's forgotten about your family. Because He hasn't. He's watching and waiting.

That's all I have for today. This is going to be a series, so I think the next time it will be Love For Our Friends. I am going to work on putting together more scripture base and just gathering my thoughts more organized, so if you have any suggestion, please feel free to comment. Take care everyone, and May God Bless You & Your Families.
Thanks for reading~! <3
With love,
Taylor Rae