Tag: memphis bloggers

Are You Successful?

FROM MY SPIRIT, Woman Power Up
Photo by Pixabay

What is success to you? Do you get to define success for others? Who defined success for you? I mean really think about where you got YOUR ideas of what success is. Did you get it from your parents? Friends? TV? Social Media? Society? Religion? Yes. I said religion because some of us were taught incorrectly about being wealthy based on the lack of proper explanation of several scriptures. So, I encourage you to take some real time to define success for yourself without comparison to other people.

I recently out of frustration thought “I should be further along than I am.” And then a friend said it too about herself. And an associate said they felt they should be further along. But this is what was given to me when I said it: “By who’s standards? In comparison to who? You? Observing everyone around you and comparing yourself? Maybe by your own nice, little, neatly mapped out plans of your life on a whiteboard or in a notebook? Perhaps in your mind? Further along?”

I thought about this. I honestly was thinking about where others were and my own plans. I couldn’t be further from my plans if I intentionally diverted from them. This is why I wrote the affirmations in the blog yesterday: https://nikkisconfettilife.com/2023/05/24/where-are-you/ . But what was expressed to me about this statement was some of what I wrote in the above paragraph and also what is in the next few paragraphs.

You are where you are supposed to be. You are where you need to be. You are where you are however you think you got here. If hearing you are where you are because you made the choices you made seems too lofty or a dump reasoning, then hear this: “I am where I am because of some choices I made and some choices I did not. I am here because of myself and others whether I consciously or subconsciously (willingly or naively) allowed certain things to take place. I take responsibility for that but I do not take responsibility for the things I could not control. I take responsibility for my healing and I choose to make better decisions and choices.” I wrote all of that because it’s more complex than “You are where you are because of the choices you made.” And people never stop, nor do most care to see that. It requires thought, rationale, comprehension, and compassion and who has time for that today?

Feel the difference in “I should be further along” and “I am right where I need to be for change. I am right where I need to be for growth.” Say it aloud. Feel it. Remove the weight of “I should be further along” and see that feeling as an indicator that you are ready for change or growth. “Oh! I am ready for change. I am ready for a new adventure in life. This is getting boring or old.” You feel much lighter. You are more apt to take action for the right reasons after you FIRST define success for yourself based on YOUR internal dialogue. Not what the world or people say success is.

The heart of a human plans their course but the Lord guides their steps. Proverbs 16:9

Many plans are in one’s heart but the purpose of the Lord will prevail. Proverbs 19:21

~Nikki

Have you defined success for other people? Why? What is success to you?

Are You There God? It’s Me, Nikki.

FROM MY SPIRIT

I used to think that when I asked or talked to God about something and God gives me an answer that seems unrelated, way out in left field, God didn’t care about what I was talking about. Since I’ve grown, I have learned that it means these things thus far:

1. I hear you but that’s not the pressing issue right now. We’ll get to that later.

2. I’m telling you this, showing you this, because this is what I want you to focus on.

3. Let me take you forward and then back to what you were talking about and it will all make since soon.

4. This is a piece of the puzzle. Hold that until you find the other piece. Let’s go on an adventure to the answer. Guided footsteps. (Sometimes, I don’t “be” feeling like going though! 😬)

5. That is the answer. Look again.

6. That’s not your business.

7. You wouldn’t understand it right now. Wait until you grow some more.

8. I’ll tell you when you get to the next realm and even then you wouldn’t care as much about it as you do now. So, be at peace with never knowing some things and never understanding some things. (How? Trust God. Accept the peace Jesus willed to us.)

~Nikki

St. Louis Love 630 ft up (Pt. 2)

TRAVEL, Uncategorized

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My view from within the Arch. Photo Cred: Nicole Jackson of Posh Photography

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Illinois is over there somewhere!

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I like this shot. We could see pools on top of some buildings. (Must be nice!) Photo Cred: Nicole Jackson of Posh Photography

It was my daughter’s idea to go inside and up The Arch. Initially, I was going to let her and my niece go, but decided I had to go to insure their safety. The next thing you know, my brother and nephew were game and we all went. It was crazy being inside this tiny pod that seated all 5 of us. It was tight quarters and they ask if you are claustrophobic! It was weird as you could hear the ticking and clicking, and feel the bend of the arch on your way up. The Arch sways about a few inches on regular days, but up to 9 inches on windy days. Thank God it was not a windy day! Our ears popped a little, but once we got to the top…those views were lovely!

~Nikki

Weekend Confetti! Memphis Farmers Market Opening Day Pt 2

FOOD, Memphis, Photos, Uncategorized

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My next stop was at Wilson Gardens. As you can see they are our neighbors from Arkansas. I am trying the pumpkin squash and was given simple directions on how to roast it. I was happy to find butter lettuce and fresh spinach. I’ve already made an omelet and tonight I will saute some along with the lasagna we are having. We had a garden salad my daughter made last night. This is what I like about the market. Many times you end up learning new recipes or trying different vegetables.

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Lydia’s Healthy Edibles is a GLUTEN FREE company. Many people are choosing gluten free products. Some because of health reasons and some because of “healthier” options. I have an illness and I do notice a spike in my inflammation when I eat some of my favorite desserts. I also have friends that MUST have gluten free products. I could not wait to share this with them because often it is difficult for them to find. I saw blueberry muffin mix, carrot cake muffin mix, lemon! My next go round at the market I will certainly purchase one or two of the mixes. I was adhering to my budget as one knows at a market you can lose it! (Okay, maybe just me!) They have granola ( I want that too!) and other products. To learn more check them out on: Facebook or on instagram @lhedibles

Next up is deliciousness that almost was gone before we made it home! Las Delicias Corn Chips and the amazing guacamole!!!!! I cannot wait to purchase these again. I had to share with family and thank goodness because I may have eaten more than my share!

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~Nikki

Weekend Confetti! Memphis Farmers Market Opening Day Pt. 1

Memphis, Photos, Uncategorized

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It was opening day for the Memphis Farmers Market this past Saturday. Multiple product vendors and multiple local farmers bring quite the variety. Each week there is something different and some vendors are staples. My first stop was the all natural soap station. How could you not notice all of the beautiful colors and the fragrances floating in the spring’s wind? I did not know which ones to choose as I wasn’t the only having a hard time deciding because the table was crowded with customers. I finally settle on lavender lemongrass and two cherry blossoms. One for my daughter and the other for my niece who hung out with me all day Saturday. Cosgrove and Lewis. cosgroveanlewis.com an also on Instagram! @cosgroveanlewis

Cosgrove and Lewis
Cosgrove and Lewis

Next was an amazing all natural cleaning company. I smelled each product and wow! Your brain is going “Wait, that smells familiar. Oh, now where have I smelled that before…is that oregano?” When these guys say all natural they really mean it! So Fresh and So Green Housekeeping Co. www.etsy.com/shop/sofreshsogreengreen You can follow them on Instagram! @sofreshansogreen.memphis

Handmade pottery is always something that catches my eye and local pottery is always under the pavilion at Memphis Farmers Market. Erica Bodine has beautiful, quality, colorful pottery. facebook.com/ericabodinepottery and you can find her on Instagram as @ericabodinepottery

 

Fresh flower are what I look forward to at the Memphis Farmers Market. It is an instant mood booster in my early morning daze and graze through the market. I may have had my coffee to get me there, but I am nowhere near awake. Luckily with the colorful flowers and smiling cheerful vendors it all quickly changes as the hustle and bustle of the market gets underway.

~Nikki

Food Confetti: Scoops Parlor: Memphis Black Restaurant Week 2017

FOOD, Memphis, Uncategorized

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Husband and wife team, QuaSheba Jones-Callicutt and Terrance Callicutt, are the owners of this unique place in in the city of Memphis, TN located at 106 GE Patterson Ave. I visited them next on my tour for Memphis Black Restaurant Week. The diversity of African American culinary is extraordinary and reaches beyond stereotypes. At Scoops the gelato is locally made! I had the salted caramel gelato and it was the best I’d ever had. It is the perfection of salty and sweet! I find the salty caramel mix either too salty or too sweet but this was perfection. I had the Main Street Crepe. Savory savory savory… and my spinach salad was fresh. Service here was excellent. I definitely have found a new lunch and gelato spot.

~Nikki

Food Confetti: Sweet Potato Baby: Memphis Black Restaurant Week

FOOD, Uncategorized

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This week is Memphis Black Restaurant Week 2017. I chose Sweet Potato Baby to start my week off. Sweet Potato Baby is owned and operated by executive Chef Aryen Moore-Alston, former 2014 competitor on Food Network Star. I ordered the Uptown Grill Cheese which consisted of bacon and a sweet onion relish. The combination of that with cheese was so delicious I savored every bite and I wish it never ended. There were three different type of fries and I chose the garlic parmesan fries. Included in this weeks lunch special (each restaurant participating has a two course lunch special and a three course dinner special for $25 this week) was the choice of a salad, soup, or dessert. I chose the Whipped Vanilla Dream Cake and it was a dream! You know it was the perfect sweet. What I mean by that is, it was not too sweet but right on the edge, just enough, perfect! It did not go over board. What I like about Memphis Black Restaurant you get the diversity of African American owned restaurants and they get the exposure they deserve. It’s a real economic boost that helps the city and the restaurants.

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~Nikki

Fashion Confetti: A Night Out

Fashion Confetti, Uncategorized

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The shoes are by Guess, which  I’ve had for sometime, but I purchased them at TJMAXX. The dress is by London Times and my lipstick is Zoe’s Red by L’oreal. I went out to a birthday celebration at IN LOVE’S nightclub here in Memphis, TN. The dj was great. The service and staff was great. The live band, the PC band, was amazing. It was a setting for adults.

~Nikki