by Torrie Oglesby | Oct 20, 2015 | Lifestyle+Culture
Fall is here STRONG ladies and if you’re anything like me you are thrilled for scarves, boots, and PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE’S!!!!
However, the Pumpkin Spice latte is expensive ladies. It’s actually the most expensive drink on the Starbucks menu and it’s not as healthy as it could be. No fear! Your fellow coffee lover is here! After careful research I have come up with a less expensive and much healthier alternative for your Pumpkin Spice lattes! Your wallet is going to be much happier this fall and your belly will still get to enjoy that delicious Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Recipe for the perfect and cheaper Pumpkin Spice Latte
What you need:
1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
3 tablespoons pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2-3 drops of liquid stevia
8 ounces brewed coffee
Cinnamon and whip cream to top it off
What you do:
- Start by brewing your coffee.
- While it brews, In a saucepan, mix together almond milk and pumpkin. Cook on medium heat on the stovetop until all is blended well.
- Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, spices, and sweetener, place in a cup.
- Pour coffee into a large mug; add the foamy milk mixture on top. Sprinkle with cinnamon and top with low fat whip cream! Enjoy!
With love and big smiles,
torrie
by Torrie Oglesby | Oct 20, 2015 | Learn + Grow
This week’s #GIRLBOSS: Kennesha Buycks
What makes her #GIRLBOSS certified: She is the creator of Restoration House Interiors, a mommy of 4 beautiful children, and a daughter of Christ working overtime to give Him all the glory with everything she puts her hand to. Through her platform she encourages and reminds women that who they are matters and what Christ wants to do through us matters even more!
You were made to do something amazing here. Don’t doubt it for a moment. Who you are matters. Your story matters. Your message matters.
-Kennesha Buycks
- Speak Your Truth
A lot of people sugar coat things on Instagram or only show you the best parts of their days, but Kennesha speaks and shares her truth with no apologies and it’s absolutely refreshing. Through posts about her hair or posts about her day she is always honest and transparent!
- Make a SELFIE a SELF REFLECTION
When Kennesha takes a selfie she makes sure to make it something that effects everyone. It’s not just her gorgeous face and a silly caption, but a moving caption and a thoughtful one that makes you reflect on yourself as well. Even with a selfie, she manages to turn our eyes inward and upward.
- Always create
Kennesha’s feed is filled with moments of creating! She’s an interior designer so it’s who she is. She creates beauty with her food, her hair, her clothes, her designs, her decoration and not to mention her beautiful family!
by Altimese Nichole | Oct 20, 2015 | Lifestyle+Culture
Growing up in a single family home was tough at times. All financial responsibility for the home fell on my mother – and she worked two jobs the majority of my childhood to make ends meet. In the midst of the difficult journey, my mother took the time to pour invaluable wisdom in my life— after all, we were all we had.
One of the many things she taught me while growing up was centered around finances. Having a financial background and career, she made it a point to teach me core financial nuggets of wisdom. If your heart is open to receive, I would like to share a few with you:
- Credit is EVER-REY-THANG!
So is credit really everything? YES. Credit is EVERYTHANG!!!
“If you have a bill due and no grocery in your house and your contemplating on which one to pay—pay that bill first. Because of your decision to pay that bill, you can easily go to the bank to request a 0% APR loan, which will help you to pay for those grocery for your home. But never, ever neglect your bills unless unforeseen circumstances force you into that position. If that’s the case, communicate with your collectors. If you tell them upfront, they’re more willing to help you through it vs. a lack of communication and an abundance of unpaid bills.” ~ My mom
It sounds crazy but America’s score of your responsibility matters. They don’t see you struggling to pay your bills but that score will follow you wherever you are in life, for the rest of your life. I am a personal testimony of this. While in college, I followed my mom’s advice and used ONE credit card to build my credit (which is still the same company for the one credit card I have now as an adult). Within one year, my score doubled. I needed a car but had no down payment since I was still in school. I went to a dealership and within a few hours I drove off the lot with a brand new car, a 4% interest rate, and no down payment needed. Don’t be fooled; protect that credit score the way you would protect your most valuable possessions.
- Make Credit Cards Work for YOU
“To build credit, get ONE credit card (all you need is one) and put $100 or $200 dollars on it each, and PAY IT OFF. Continue to do that each month and it will trigger your score in a positive way.”~Mom
Never have an on-going balance on your card. By doing so, your become obligated to pay interest. Additionally, get a card that has a great rewards system. This will help you earn points toward free gift cards, flights, hotels, and more. I personally know quite a few people who pay their bills through their cards to maximize their points. Let me explain… Instead of using the money that they ALREADY HAVE in their bank account to pay their bills directly, they go through a process: they pay their bill with their rewards card first, wait for the points to accumulated, and then pay off the credit card in total. IF (and only if) you’re highly engaged with monitoring your card and you’re self-disciplined to do this would it be recommended. However, this method uses the credit card to the advantage of the consumer.
- Use the Cash-and-Carry Method
“Every now and then, assess your spending habits and do a financial clease through the cash-and-carry method. Carry just cash and keep your receipts. At the end of the month, see what you’re really investing your money in.” ~My mom
Have you ever noticed that if you take out money from the bank, you tend to hold onto it much longer than you would the money on your debit card? When we physically see the money transaction, we tend to think twice about our purchases. If you’re trying to get a handle on your finances, I highly encourage the cash-and- carry method, leavening your cards at home. For emergencies, dust that check book off, and carry it with your cash! Why the checkbook? Checks are so archaic yet so very intentional. To write a check, you’re deliberately thinking about the money you’re spending—and you will have access to your account, should life throw you a curveball.
- The Co-signing Trap
“Never co-sign unless you’re married to the person you’re co-signing for. Even in that case, be careful. The co-signer holds the primary responsibility for the loan. So, should the initial borrower fail to make payments, the collector has the right to immediately go after the co-signer. Just don’t do it. Not for friends and definitely not for family.” ~My mom
Her words said it all. No explanation is needed.
- Ignorance Isn’t Bliss
“Just because you don’t know about financial responsibility it doesn’t give you a pass to do immature things when it comes to money. Financial matters involve numbers. Numbers don’t lie and care nothing about concept, ideas, hopes and dreams.” ~My Mom
Make financial education a personal goal in your life. Read books, research the companies your working with, and learn about 401k’s and investment opportunities. Financial matters are personal yet brutally public if not handled properly. Educate yourself. In a world with all information at our fingertips, we truly have no excuse anymore.
Have you ever received great financial advice? Please share with the STRONG community!
by Altimese Nichole | Oct 20, 2015 | Learn + Grow
Through life, it’s so easy to look at another person’s life, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter handle believing that their life is perfect or without life’s blemishes. We forget that life happens to everyone and although social media is great for connecting us- it is also great at masking the true reality in our lives.
Looking at someone, we never know what others are going through. We could see someone daily with a smile on their face and they are the same person crying their sorrows at night. Before placing judgment, criticizing, or sparking jealousy in your heart, always remember that you have no idea the real journey of walking in the other person’s shoes. It’s not always greener on the other side.
Imagine if everyone focused on their own portions in life:
If we focused on our relationship with God.
If we focused on our marriages.
If we focused on nurturing our children.
If we focused on our friendships.
If we focused on our health.
If we focused on our families.
If we simply focus on our own lives, we wouldn’t have time to judge, critic, or condemn another. Additionally, we would realize that our grass could be so beautiful, full, and healthy with a bit of nurture, time, and intentional care.
Don’t leave your grass unattended to because you’re so busy looking at others. Attend to your own portion, and make it lovely.
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