Tag: Celebration

  • 5 Things You Should Do Before Your Next Birthday

    5 Things You Should Do Before Your Next Birthday


    Birthdays are exciting, that’s a universal fact. It’s an occasion that’s held in high esteem regardless of gender or culture. That’s just the way it is, we all share a common interest in giving reverence to the day we were brought into the world. That’s enough reason to think of a birthday as more than a day to stuff your face with cake and post supermodel standard pictures on social media.

    It should equally be a time to pause, reflect, and perhaps congratulate yourself for making it this far against all odds. With all that in mind, here are five things you should do before your next birthday. So, when you congratulate yourself this time around, it’ll have a deeper significance. 

    1. Reconnect or Bond with a Family Member

    As you get older, without knowing it, there is a sudden need to establish an identity for yourself. In the process, sometimes, people get so deeply invested in the struggle that their relationship with family members is affected. Take some time aside on this day to call up a family member you have not seen or spoken to in a while and reconnect with them. 

    If you don’t have estranged family members, consider bonding with your parents. You’ll be surprised at how interesting they are especially since you’re relating with them on a whole new level. You’ll also get a whole lot of insight because older people do have a whole different outlook on life.

    1. Go for a Medical Check-Up

    While there is no one-size-fits-all response to how often a person should go for a medical checkup, it’s importance should be enough reason to do it. Regular health examinations can help spot problems in their early stages which in turn, increases the chances for a responsive treatment. So, if you haven’t gone for a health examination in a while, do it before your next birthday. There’s nothing better than celebrating a clean bill of health.

    1. Have a Fitness Goal

    This could mean different things to different people because fitness is not just about staying skinny, it is the overall ability to perform daily activities. At the core of staying fit is having a clean diet and exercising. So, try to set fitness goals and aim to reach them by your next birthday. To get this done, get your Curves N Combatboots gym clothes out and prepare to smash those goals.

    1. Be Kind to Yourself

    It seems quite obvious, but the sad truth is that lots of people are quite harsh when it comes to themselves. Self-love doesn’t come easy but one major way to do this is by staying kind to yourself. Let go of past mistakes, accept parts of your body that you do not like, give yourself treats, and also challenge yourself to give up bad habits. At the end of the day, a major part of living is acknowledging your imperfections but also learn to appreciate the wonderful things that make you stand out. How do you do this? Well, the first step would be to practice self-care every day. Self-care starts with putting time aside for yourself and prioritizing your needs, whether that be taking time off from time to time or making an effort to improve your mental well being. It’s also important to say yes to yourself once in a while; hand tattoos, a small vacation, or even a pamper session are all things that you deserve to do if you want to.

    1. Set Up an Emergency Plan

    This was saved for last because it’s an incredibly grownup thing to do. Living an extra year is no easy feat, but if you’re going to make it to the next year without breaking down you need to have contingencies in place. The trick here is to think simple, what could happen in the near future to throw you off your game? One easy way to stay ahead here is to set up an emergency fund that you can access in case of an emergency.

    Contributed post

  • I Almost Passed Out When I Was Asked To Participate In This.

    I Almost Passed Out When I Was Asked To Participate In This.

    A few months back, I received an email that left me stunned…

    It read (in part)

    “I am curating an exhibit at the Institute of Texan Cultures (A Smithsonian Affiliate museum) to feature Black designers. I am looking for original designs that can be put on display. That can be clothing, shoes, accessories doesn’t matter just as long as it is an original design by a Black designer from or in Texas.”

    YES!!!!! Was my answer before I got to the part where she asked if I was interested.

    She went on to say it will be on display in September. She also said a sketch of the item will be needed for approval.

    I couldn’t believe she asked me. It was such a big deal. I had to knock it out of the park.

    I knew exactly what fabric I wanted to use for the dress. It had a unique pleated design that I’d been eyeing for a very, long time. Plus, it came in the PERFECT shade of blue.

    I whipped up a sketch of my dress idea and sent it to her by email. Providing all of the fabric details (of course!)

    Fashion not fear blue dress illustration

    She loved the idea!

    “What will the dress be made of?” – she asked.

    “Pleated chiffon.” I proudly answered.

    So, it was set! I would be making a dress to be displayed in a museum for all to see. Plus, I was asked in May, the display wasn’t until September so I had plenty of time! Right??

    Wrong!

    I received a follow up email in June asking about the status of the dress. I had the sketch and knew where I going to buy the fabric from. That was about it.

    Why is she asking so early was my first thought. Instead, I told her about my progress or lack of.

    “Can you have it don’t by July 20th?” was her reply.

    “Sure!” I answered. But I was sweating bullets. Then, I felt puke at the back of my throat.I thought I had a good 4 weeks!

    The weeklong family vacation that was already planned and paid for left me with only 1 week to make this dress!!!

    Could I do it?? I knew I work good under pressure but this type of pressure was too much! It is too soon in my sewing career to think making this dress was going to be a piece of cake. Something ALWAYS goes wrong. Always.

    And it did! First up, I found out that the fabric couldn’t get to me in time. I needed this fabric!! What was I going to do??

    Make it happen! That’s what. And that what I did.

    After a week of sleepless nights filled with looking for new fabric and sewing; the dress was safely dropped off to a coordinator at the Texas Cultures Institute in San Antonio, Tx.

    The design is a bit different from the sketch. Especially since I had to change the fabric. But I love it so much! Stay tuned to find out how the dress turned out and how you can go check it out in person.

    Thoughts?? Let me know something special you have going on right now in the comments…

    Stay Fearless đź’‹