#TalkThursday: PRO-CRAST-IN-ATION

Hi guys,

Thursday has come around again, which means it's time for #talkthursday. whoop whoop!!!

SIDE NOTE: Honestly thought the title would turn into something cool like bea-U-tiful aka be-you-to-the-full, but you win some, you lose some!

So procrastination, what'd ya'll know about that? Bet you've all done it, been there, even bought the T-shirt, yes procrastination likes to cling on, but I'M LETTING GO!!!

There have been a couple of times when I'll be sitting, doing nothing, maybe watching some of my fav' Youtubers and a thought just pops into my head.   'I'm sure you have stuff to be doing?'

The thing is, I would fully acknowledge the thought and know exactly what I needed to do but wouldn't move an inch'. 

Recently I realised that procrastination was making me selfish. Here is how it came to me. People are desperate to figure out what they're placed here on earth to do, their purpose. Whether it be for that season or a lifetime. Procrastination was allowing me to sit on my purpose, not realising that me doing what I was gifted to do, makes way for others. My purpose is directly linked to someone else and the longer I delay and procrastinate, the longer the wait for the other person(s).

This thought hasn't left the back of my mind for a while, so I take it as a sign to just do it! What are you procrastinating about that could easily get started or even completed? 

Stop sitting on someone else's destiny and start living yours.

Peace and Love readers.

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x Stitched Roses x

#TalkThursdays: Hello New Year, How'd you Do?

Hi guys,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

We've entered a new year where gym memberships are being made, resolutions being broken(already), fresh stationary being bought and people are excited and anticipating what 2017 has to offer. I for one am excited to see what this year has in store and I just wanted to say a few things to kick it off......

 The whole world seems to want to forget 2016 in a hurry but we shouldn't despise last year. Even with the trials and all the bad news around, there were times of laughter, happiness, discovery and growth. Some have called it the year of growing pains(shout out to Simiallsmiles). When a baby is growing in the womb, the mother experiences discomfort, when the baby is about to be born, the mother will experience pains but when the pains stop, a bundle of joy is birthed! So don't blot 2016 from memory, but think on what happened that made you stronger, wiser, that one thing that has set you up nicely for whatever this year will bring.

Set them goals!! Not new years resolutions but goals. Long term things that you would like to see. 

I'm making the decision to set goals for every month, splitting them into categories, making REALISTIC strategies and working with what I've got. Not making too many for each month is the way forward for me, apart from this month where things just need to get done. 

Here's how my calendar is looking: Monthly Goals (will be made at the beginning of each month), Long Term Goals (not restricted to this year) and Short Term Goals (within the year). 

With each new month you can edit, roll over or make new goals, just be disciplined with fulfilling what you said you would( 'Let your YES be YES and your NO be NO' Matthew 5:37 ). Come 2018 you'll have achieved loads and hopefully be able to see the fruits of your labour. 

Remember at the end of the day goals are just that, goals, targets to work towards, ideals, desired results. They don't need to be rushed. 

Last thing.....

Be excited, anticipate the best. There is so much of the world to experience and so much life to be lived, it'd be a shame to waste it on worry and pessimism. The scriptures that come to mind, Jeremiah 29:11(basically read 3-23, love it) and Isaiah 43:19. Don't miss what God has in store for you(speaking to myself here too). 

I'm honestly so excited for this year, so much is happening, new seasons await, new chapters opening and old ones closing. I'm going to be sharing more and hopefully doing more and I plan on documenting it all!

Peace and Love guys.

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x Stitched Roses x

P.S. Is anyone else excited for 2017, or is it just me?

#TalkThursday: Get Ready!!!

Hey there,

Today marks my last post of 2016 and I've got another #TalkThursday for you, so lets get straight into it. 

You're praying, asking God for something, seeking his face for more, but you're not getting anything. You feel like God is silent or you're seeing others get what you so desperately want. This can be disheartening, and you may want to ask God X,why and Z but how about taking a moment to be still and self reflect. 

It may not be anything external, it may not even be a test of patience and long suffering, it may be because you are not ready. 

Bare with me while I try to break this down! 

Let's say I invite you round for dinner but when you turn up at my door, I'm in pyjamas, head scarf firmly on. The house is a mess and there is no sign of food anywhere. I'm sure you would immediately think, 'this girl wasn't prepared today' and you would feel uncomfortable in my mess, right?

 If this is the case, then why do we expect God to come into a place where we didn't prepare for him and he is made to feel unwelcome. The same goes for things we are expecting from God. If you can't handle it and you're not prepared to take something on, it won't be given to you....just yet!

 "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
1 Corinthians 10:13

Yes the verse refers to temptations but is the same not true of blessings? If you're not ready, God will wait till you are and amazingly, things will still work out because his timing is perfect. He doesn't want to put you in a place where something will consume you. 

So as I mentioned before, YOU are a key factor. The state of your mind, heart, perspective and everything you take in around you. If you're not wise with your money now, but want to be wealthy, what would stop you from spending it all and going broke? God knows you may need a few more months to learn how to budget and tithe the little you have. 

What I'm trying to get at here is that, if you're not seeing certain changes, don't think God is taking his time but realign yourself. See what you need to learn in the season, see what might be getting in the way, seek his face to get closer and not just because you want something! See if this doesn't make a difference.

God wants to bless you more than you know. Great things lay ahead of you, you just have to be ready and have a willing heart!

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and ALL these things will be added to you."
Matthew 6:33

See you in the new year!

Peace and Love readers.

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x Stitched Roses x

#TalkThursday: Sticks & Stones

Hey guys,

So you probably know the saying 'sticks and stones may break my bones but words won't hurt me'. Well that's not exactly true. 

When someone says something horrible about you, it can change your mood and demeanour completely. Those words can follow you around for years. They may not realise that the seemingly little comment they made meant something to you.

How about 'sticks and stones may break my bones but words can cut deeper!'

I believe that there is power in the tongue, power so much so that when it speaks life, that is what materialises and the same for when it speaks death. So when you or anybody says something cruel, yes you are speaking those things over that person or individuals and probably doing more damage than you realise.

I have learnt to be careful with my words because what I might say out of spite, anger, jealousy etc, may not only come back to bite me but impact the other individual in ways I could never imagine. This is something that I continuously remind myself of.


Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11


I know that we don't always want to speak positively or even speak well of people, but if someone was speaking about you, with exactly the same words you're using towards someone else, how would you feel?
Edify and encourage each other with your words. Be your brothers support, your friends cheerleader.
Even if you don't get along with someone particularly well,  still make the effort to be kind with your words.
Publicly and in secret!
This applies to you too. When you're speaking about yourself, don't be cruel or down putting. Address yourself like your worth millions because if you won't be cheer yourself on who will.

Another way to see it, is if your parents, grand parents, Jesus, was standing right next to you, would you feel comfortable speaking the way you do. Would you feel like it was okay to use foul language around them?
If not then switch it up because God cares about how you speak and what comes from your heart. (Psalm 19:14) 

Moral of today's story is, be careful with the way you speak to, address, react and yes even think about people because you could save a whole lot of hurts!

'........Sticks & stones may break bones, but words cut deeper.........'

Peace and Love readers.

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x Stitched Roses x

#TalkThursdays: Show 'em what they're worth!

Hey there,

We have another #TalkThursday and we're going to chat about the value of people.

This post is a related to something I experienced a some time ago and I felt like I should write a little about it.
People feeling undervalued is what has been on my mind lately. Sometimes, I feel as though we can neglect those around us, or we forget how to treat the average Joe.
In a friendship or relationship, people like to feel like there is substance in it and no one really likes to feel the sense of unrequited love.


'You don't know what you've got till it's gone'.....Please don't let this be you, don't neglect so much, that you have to realise this!

There's just a few things I've noticed in people and myself and it's not so hard to pick up on what makes people feel special. If someone holds some value to you, show them.
From small to big things like:

Scheduling time out of your week to have a catch up, whether virtual or meeting in a cafe.

Making special effort to remember their birthday, anniversary, special days that hold significance to them.

Complimenting them when they deserve it and encouraging them when they're down and need it.

Offer to help, even if you may not really want to. Sacrifice something of yourself to see that person grow

As cheesy as it sounds, Don't be afraid to say those 3 words every now and again. Saying 'I love you', in it's many different variations, can really change the atmosphere and someones day

Learn the art of giving!
This does not always mean spending money, just spending time and giving yourself to that person is enough. Of course if you want to spend a little cash, go ahead, buy them something they've been needing, or better yet, an experience rather than material objects. Beautiful memories are worth a some time and effort. 

The point of this is to say that, if you have people around you, those that you love, respect or even those in relationships, always try and show them how much you value them, because at the end of the day, people like feeling special, knowing that they're important to you. It makes it easier when you're trying to build relationships. They now know that whatever love they give back, isn't in vein.

Now there is the point of loving without condition, loving the way God wants us to, but then there is also the fact that he created us for relationships, to be loving people and realistically,if you're constantly giving in a friendship (or form of relationship) and it's never reciprocated, you may get tired and burn out because nothing is being given back. That dampens the beauty of relationship.

'treat others the way you want to be treated'

There's so much more that could be said, but the bottom line is show those you hold dear, what they're worth to you. 

Peace and Love readers.

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x Stitched Roses x

#TalkThursday: 20 FOR 20

Hey there,

Exams are finally over and after a mini break from the blogging world, I am back and I'd like to start off by saying Happy Birthday to me! hehe..

Today I turn 20, so I thought I might as well start off this new chapter with a new post and it's Thursday so it just works. 

In my 20 years of life there are a lot of things I have had to learn, picked up along the way or been taught by others who went before me and I thought, hey why not share! I spent the last weeks trying to remember and think of lessons and morals that changed the way I do life and that I now carry with me.  

Let's get right into it then....

1 | Ask and you'll receive
When you ask God for something, and it actually happens, it's one of the strangest feelings. ei. it's peak exam season and you're asking God for peace and clarity, then when you get it you feel like you should actually be panicking because exams are hard but you're fine. That's one reason why you should be careful what you ask for because if you actually get what you want, and it's bad for you, then it won't only be strange but may be detrimental to your future.

2 | Actions and Reactions
Another lesson I've learnt in my 20 years of life is that peoples actions do not always need to determine your reaction. They don't have to affect how you feel or see yourself. Don't let actions or reactions form your standard for yourself. People's opinions change constantly and if you let the way someone reacts to you damage your mindset, you'll never be steady.

3 | What if
This was me a lot, still is sometimes but I'm learning that 'what if' can wait. I'll just choose to live out this moment right here, stay in the present and let tomorrow and what ifs arrive when they arrive.

Matthew 6:34 -"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

4 | Great expectations
Not everyone's expectations will match yours so learn to live with those differences.

5 | Write it down
Lists... Some people can just remember everything and go with the flow, but not me. If I want to be productive and get things done then lists have to be made, just as well, seen as I love organising, fresh sticky notes and new pens, ohhh the thought of new stationary puts a smile on my face. I'm most effective when I can see things in front of me.

6 | What type of learner are you?
Linking to number 5, I've learnt that I am very visual. Understanding how you process information and remember things is key. It took me a while and even though I can pick information up other ways, visual aids are the best. So having lists in front of me instead of just thinking about them is great. Taking online test like THIS one can be helpful, or just keeping track of what's easy for you to comprehend when it comes to your work or revision in my case.

7 | Cuppa' tea
I've come to the firm realisation that not everyone is going to like you and that is really okay. Some people just don't gel, some people just aren't into tea. Don't get worked up when you don't fit in with someone's ideals, there'll be people out there who like you as you are. You'll be their cup of Earl Grey and that's great.

8 | Faith
You grow the most in the difficult times in life. Your faith is stretched you get a little bit wiser, a little sharper every time you go through the 'valleys'. You probably won't feel it happening but you'll see the fruits on the flip side.

9 | 6'2
Something I picked up once I'd moved to London, I'm not that tall! Really and truly, coming to a place with so many different kinds of people, I almost felt normal, loool. Someone said that I looked about 6'2 in a picture and I am so certain that that was an over exaggeration. A little random but it's something that really stuck out to me because I've always been labelled 'tall' for most of my life.

10 | Cheerleader
Realise that you are your best cheerleader. When others aren't around to cheer you on, you may have to do it yourself.

11 | Thinking tank
I have been told that I am a thinker, some would say an over thinker and you know what, I agree.

12 | Alone time
Being alone is not always a bad thing. Picking up from some of my friends and own experiences, spending time alone with yourself, your thoughts and God is so therapeutic. It doesn't mean you're anti-social, it just means you have time to think, breath and get to know yourself a little more. Don't be scared to be in your own company!

13 | No quitting
Something I learnt from Toure Roberts is that it's okay to say you're going to give up, when you know you're not actually going to. When you have nothing to go back to and going forward is really the only option, it's okay to be tired and want to stop, as long as you don't!

14 | Adventures
Another thing I've learnt about myself is that I like a good adventure. Love being adventurous, trying new things, going to new places. Granted a lot of the time it doesn't end up being as great as expected but I'll be able to say that I did it.

15 | 'L for learner'
You have to always be open to learning. Never close yourself off thinking you know it all or you've acquired as much knowledge as you need to live out your days. There is always so much more.

16 | Failure
Failure is inevitable, in some way, shape or form, we are all going to fail at something in our lifetime but it's not the end. Failure is what makes you better, as long as you keep getting up.

17 | Stronger than you think
I'm stronger than I think. When a situation demands more of me, I feel like I have no choice but to step up. Same goes for you, you're way stronger than you think you are, it only takes the right circumstances to make you know it.

18 | Fear is fake
Fear is something that I've spoken on before, check my previous post on it HERE.
Right now, I can say I've learnt that fear isn't reality(more often than not), we fear what we may never encounter and it's all just long because it dampens other parts of your life. I'm learning to not let fear dictate how I do things or the decisions I make. Any fear based decisions are ones that I try to stay away from.

19 | Beauty and the beholder
Weather you see it or not, there is beauty in everyone.

20 | Drum roll please....
The last but by no means the least, in fact probably the most important lesson is that without God, I wouldn't be very far. In fact I'm pretty sure I know where I could have been and I am so so grateful that he loves me enough to not have let me live that life. I honestly couldn't do it without him. Adding to that, I realised that life with God can be fun, banterfull in fact (yes I just made up a word). My walk with him has also brought me some amazing life long friends so, can't complain much.

Extra one for the road: Cherish those who love you and try for you because those people are dimes in a dozen. Make sure you give it back and show some appreciation every now again. Guess you could say this is my way of showing that. Check it out and I hope it blesses you and you enjoy listening.
Poem: L.O.V.E


And that's all for now folks. A long post yes, but hopefully you got to the end and picked up something for yourself. More posts to come so stay tuned!!

Peace and Love readers.

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x Stitched Roses x

#TalkThursdays:"Escape The Ordinary"

Hello beautiful people, 

I was in Manchester doing some retail therapy and I spotted this top in Primark and it struck a chord with me, so I bought it! 

I'm the kind of person who likes a bit of excitement, I don't mind change and LOVE trying new things, especially when it comes to food and I don't like to stick to one thing for too long,sitting still has to be regularly practised. 

I seem to always be moving, trying to grow a little, experience more, do more and I try to live out the amazing things God has set before me. Granted I fail, a lot, yes I get it wrong and have to step back but I'm realising that I'm not comfortable being ordinary and neither should you! I can't stay stagnant, it makes me uncomfortable, more uncomfortable than growing does. 

'ESCAPE THE ORDINARY' 

Fight to get out of the herd,don't be content with being the same as everyone else, come out of the notion that just surviving is okay. We are so privileged to live in an age where so much is possible and with a little hard work, things are readily available to us, especially at younger ages. I don't know about you but I don't want to wake up just to survive, I want to thrive! 

Live life, embrace change, ride the waves and fight through the hard times so when you come out on the other side, you'll come out on a new level and be working with more than average, more than ordinary.

If you want to start a business go for it, but do it with excellence, create a new standard of craftsmanship. If you want to get in shape, girl get your sweat on and push yourself. If you want to reinvent yourself do it, don't fall into the crowd and blend in,but embrace the beauty and uniqueness that was placed in you by God and show the world that you're more than just another statistic but you are the exception to the rule and more than a conqueror! 

'ESCAPE THE ORDINARY' 

A couple of days later I saw this same phrase on an advert and I got thinking again..... I want to go on holiday, I want to go off on an adventure with an open return ticket. I want to experience more than just London. See who else is out there, learn more about this planet I call home. I want to know how it feels to live somewhere new, I want to walk in someone else's shoes for a day! As much as I like London and all it has to offer, I want to see more. It's not like I want to escape my life here forever, I just want to get away from my '9-5' (even though I'm at uni and not some desk job), and do something new! I want to see what other beautiful things/places are out there. That being said, never forget to appreciate your environment, there's always some beauty to be found somewhere. 

This post is for me as well as anyone else who needs it. I often find myself saying in my secret place, I don't want to just be average, I don't want to just survive but I want to be better, do better, know better and thrive! 

Really and truly I didn't know what I was going to write about when I started this post, but the words just started flowing in a random thought pattern, can you tell? I hope that this hasn't been a wasted read for you but has reminded you of what is in you and the potential you have to be more than ordinary.

Peace and Love readers.

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x Stitched Roses x

#TalkThursdays: Feel The Fear & Do It Anyway

Hey there,

So I was out and about and I got a thought that related to fear. It's something that I find myself thinking about a lot. The thought was that fear is a horrible thing that can plague your mind and stops you from seizing opportunities and experiencing life. 

There was a time when I was making a friends dress. Know I know how to sew, I also know that I'm not the best at it and I've still got loads to learn, but I know enough to sew a dress without hassle. Now it fully shocked me when this dress started going wrong. Everything that was so simple, now seemed too challenging and it was getting annoying. After the first attempt, I got scared. I really didn't want to mess up, wanted to show I had SOME skill and I didn't want to be told I was wrong. I basically ended up abandoning it for a good few days. I know this sounds a little silly, but I like my work to be the best it can be, and once I get scared it will flop, I'll just leave it till I feel confident enough to tackle it head on. Not the best method, I know. Coming back to the dress, I had my second wind and decided I would give it my all and finish it that day. NOPE, I was wrong,I freaked out as soon as the dress started going wrong again. Only this time it seemed to be the machine that was out to destroy the dress. Sulking and frustrated I asked 'how many things can go wrong with one dress,jheeze!'. That is when I had the thought, I had let fear convince me that I was incapable of doing it so I had started filling in the lies that told me I couldn't, that I shouldn't have said yes in the first place and that I'm about to let this friend down. A moment was needed then I had to get over myself and just get on with it. I felt the fear, the fear of getting it wrong, fear of disappointing people and being embarrassed and I did it anyway!

We make things deeper than they actually are, we give our situation too much credit and we undermine ourselves. Who every told you that the situation you're in is bigger than you? Even when you feel overwhelmed, you're still in it and with one step at a time, you're moving forward, despite how slow you may be going.  Sure at the start of something unfamiliar, you may not be that good, but that's how it is, you start something new and keep practising, keep going till you get good. Persevere, instead of being scared to advance.

When fear tries to stop you, be reminded it's not that deep, you won't get more than you can bear and mistakes can always be corrected. 

I was scared about what to do, the process, the pattern but fear made me forget that I already had what it took. We are given everything that we need for situations, God makes us well equip with the skills and the wisdom to execute the things he's put in our hands.

The truth of the matter was that it was hard and humbling but a learning curve non the less.It was something I had to experience and even though I knew what I had to do, I let fear
make me waste more money, time and effort than needed.

If I let it control me, I wouldn't have made that dress, I wouldn't have improved my skills and gained more clients or even have learnt about myself.
When you take fear away from a situation, you see the obvious, you see clearly, you see the simpler things, the things you already knew before.

Don't be so scared to make a mistake, I'm saying this for myself, as a self claimed perfectionist, it will ruin your experiences and make you look back with regret at what you could have done, how great things could have been etc...

Making mistakes is part of life, it is how you handle them that builds your character. 'It isn't about how you get knocked down or how many times, it is about how you get back up and carry on fighting'.

So........What is fear holding you back from doing today?

Peace and Love readers.

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x Stitched Roses x

#TalkThursdays: Goals

Hey guys,

So it's fast approaching, the end of the year and people usually look back at the past year and ahead to the future.It's nice to be reflective and also see what the new year can bring.

At the beginning of 2015 I made a list of goals and things I'd like to do.

I'm just going to share a few of them with you, the successes, failures and things that'll be carried over. 

 Successful goals/things that actually happened:

~Get closer to my brother~

This was one of my first things from the start of the year. He's still young but remembering how I was at his age made me realise, it's better to build a relationship earlier rather than later. I really didn't want him to grow up feeling distant from me. We've definitely bonded a lot more and we talk regularly,even though he's still a loud,sometimes moody pre-teen.

~Go on holiday at least once a year~

Yes, this may is very cliché but I've had this urge to travel for a good couple of years now, and life's too short to not enjoy the world while I can. I went to Portugal with my friends and it was a great first experience. I plan to start in Europe then Asia and so on and so forth. Expect many pictures and cultural posts.

~Get into 2nd year and stick with my course~
Although it seems small, this was a goal because during the year, I found myself questioning if Law was really for me, I mean REALLY questioning. It just got a little bit too much. But I'm still here, holding it down, by God's grace.

Things that weren't so successful:

~Getting my own studio space~

I wanted my own studio space so I could make garments, have space to actually play about with designs etc. I started searching but soon found that studio's are expensive, which were way out of my budget and university wasn't letting up on time either. I would love my own space to experiment and make garments and just be free. Soon come though!

~African Fashion Week/ London Fashion Week~

I never got to go because I had another event on around the same time but this is one that is staying on the list. Why wouldn't you want to go to African fashion Week. The vibrant colours, the culture, music, just everything. The same goes for London Fashion Week, the way everyone looks so stylish, the amazing runway shows. Next year, I will be making an appearance.

Things staying on the list:

~More travel~
Staying on the list is travel, starting with the rest of Europe, so Oslo and France/Paris.

~Random~
A stay at the St. Pancras Renaissance London hotel. Not for any particular reason just because it looks so grand.

~Launch the 'brand'~
So, I'm launching a branch, I don't think I've mentioned but I'm a budding designer, and I have a vision, which includes making a successful brand. This didn't happen this year but hopefully, by next year summer, I'll be launching, along with a friend! Exciting stuff.

New additions:

~Savings~
Even though I'm at uni', I'd like to be able to save a large amount. I'll be saving for a couple of things, which include the holidays I plan to go on(because those aren't free) and investing in the brand.

All these are just a few from the long list of goals and dreams I have. If you don't set goals or dream about things, especially things bigger than you, then what do you have to work/look forward too. I don't just want to go on auto-pilot through my education and get to the end to sit in a 9 to 5 with nothing else exciting. Nah, I want to live and experience the best of life!

Doing this kind of thing at the start of each year helps you set the pace at which you want things to move, obviously curve balls will always come about, so we leave room for those, but you have a good idea. They're not like New Years resolutions either, where you give up after 3 weeks, but you have the whole year to do whatever with them. Chop, change, move or even expand into a 5 year plan.

Give it a try, set goals, write down dreams in a place that you'll remember, make a wish list, because there's nothing wrong in having something to aim for and God cares about what matters to you and establishes your steps.

Feel free to share your goals, successes and failures of this year. Comment below or lets chat on social media, my twitter and instagram are below.

Peace and Love readers.

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x Stitched Roses x

#TalkThursdays : Encouragement

Hey guys,

Today's post is just a little bit of encouragement for you, which helped me very recently too.


Psalm 37:23-24 (NCV)
When people's steps follow the Lord, God is pleased with their ways. 
If they stumble, they will not fall, because the Lord holds their hand. 

So sometimes you question, is God still there, am I doing the right thing, does he still love me? And the answer is yes, he's still there, still madly in love with you and is guiding your steps.

I went through a weird patch very recently and I had to try and retreat back into his presence and I got thinking. God is like an earthly father or guardian who is longing to know your business, watch you grow and be able to look at you with delight, because his daughter (or son) is doing good and he's proud of you. We are truly our own harshest critics, when you think because you slipped up you've lost God's attention and love, we're so so so wrong.
He wants to see us happy, he wants to see us thrive and live life to the full, so when you're walking and you hit a stumbling block, just know that you will get over it and succeed. 'He delights in every detail' is another translation. What matter to you matters to him, at the end of the day, your will is eventually going to be in line with his, so the desires and things you aspire to achieve are placed to give God glory. They're not just random, and when it comes to his glory, God will get it, one way or another, so things will work out.
Some versions say 'when a person's steps follow the Lord', if you and God are cool and you're maintaining your relationship then there should be nothing to worry about. Really just focus on following his word and try to walk as Jesus did, we try to emulate him, so do just that, while baring God in mind,always. If you keep God in you heart and mind, going completely off the road is less likely!

 Just because it seems like he doesn't hear or is ignoring you doesn't mean that's what's going on. You're heavenly  father won't just abandon you because he loves you with this unconditional, amazing and unending love. Abandonment isn't in the mix. Think of it this way, he's working in the background, orchestrating your destiny, putting things in place and setting up opportunities to show you just how much he loves you.

So when it all comes together you'll be able to see where he was coming from and appreciate him more. If we got things at a drop of a hat, we wouldn't value it as much. Let's face it. If we were made to wait in line to receive an amazing gift you'd been promised, but we had to wait for ages, you would start to question if you even want it. You start to question the integrity of the one who promised it to you. Meanwhile the gift is there waiting with your name on it and all you'd have to do is hold out in the line for a bit longer.

'They will not fall, because the Lord holds their hand'
Just another great example of how you can't fall because the one who wrote your destiny won't let you fall.
It's comforting to know that he has my back, creator of heaven and earth and everything in between. And yes he has your back too!
Remember he sees you, still loves you and is keeping you from falling further than where you've stumbled now.

Peace and Love readers.

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x Stitched Roses x

#TalkThursdays: Lets talk fashion trends!

Hey there lovelies,

So today's #TalkThursdays is fashion related, why?, because I like clothes, hehehe !

I can't remember if I've mentioned this before but Autumn and Spring are my fav seasons because you can still look cute and stylish and play around with layers and textures and not be overly hot (Summer) or shivering with cold (Winter).

There are a select collection of colours that are associated with Autumn, and they tend to be incorporated into the passing trends around the season and this year is no different. So, what we're gonna do is check out some trends for this Autumn, talk colour palettes and walk through a couple of staple pieces that will be interchangeable, on trend and be great for those chilly Autumn days. I'm going to TRY and mix it up for people with different styles and prices.

LONG DUSTERS

I'm starting with this because everyone NEEDS a good durable coat for the colder seasons and there's no rule against looking good while keeping warm. If you don't believe me check out some of this falls' runway shows. Chanel, Dries Van Noten and CK have exhibited some fab' dusters. 

GONE RETRO

ASOS MARKETPLACE 

ZARA

VINTAGE

BOOHOO

SUEDETTE

 *not really going to keep anyone warm but it fits in with the current throwback trends, i.e. 70's.

FUR(FAUX)

Now fur is one of those things I don't really do, even faux fur, and honestly I don't know why because it does look good when I see it styled well but hey, each to their own right? The fur look is very chic when worn well and just looks warm and cosy,hmmmm. Prada have this down and if you want to look effortlessly chic with minimal effort, invest in a fur coat or piece. I appreciate that some people like real fur but faux fur, in my eyes, is the better option. Saves hassle and animals I guess. I'd say it's definitely a staple piece too.

BOOHOO

STOLES

*notice the deep red here, yerp autumn palette alert!

THAT GILET THO'

FOR THE MORE ADVENTUROUS 

COPPER FEEL !

VBOUTIQUE 

PATCHWORK

*That 70's influence coming through here and in collections from Valentino.

RICH BURGUNDY

Onto a colour of Autumn, burgundy or dark reds, berry, ox, maroon. Call them what you will, they just have that Autumny feel. Just to clarify, this isn't the only Autumn colour, in fact mustard is a rather big one but the deep reds and burgundy colours are my favourite. It's as if once the leaves begin to fall, the stores stock up on all things burgundy. It is indeed a great colour, very warm and rich in tone and emulates the luscious colours of the leaves that pave the floors around this time of year. 

SHOES ANYONE

MORE SHOES 

*These are for men and are a little bulky but they would make for great collection to the chunky/ugly shoe trend. And yes, I kinda want them!

WAISTCOATS

PIE?

*Another masculine piece.

DRESS

HIGH WAISTED TROUSERS

*Now side note, high waisted trousers have been a thing since spring, but they're still in and can take you from casual to 'boss lady' in an instant.

CO-ORD

THAT STAPLE DRESS

KHAKI or OLIVE 

Here is another colour of Autumn, which I didn't notice before but it appears to be everywhere I look. Khaki and Olive for me are essentially the same thing but one has more saturation/depth of that murky green colour.(If you guys know the difference, please enlighten me) I think that this colour is so fitting for Autumn, I honestly don't even know what it is about it but it just works and is a nice way to add tones and colours to your wardrobe, as people often go for muted tones in colder months.

BOMBER

PLEAT SKIRT

CUTE DRESS

THE MIDI

THE SLIP DRESS

The slip dress has come back with vengeance, being stocked in so many high street stores now. I used to think they looked like sleep/lounge wear but it just goes to show how styles change and how 'flowly' people are with what they like. Celine and Rag & Bone make it look so beautiful on the runway.

URBAN OUTFITTERS

MISSGUIDED

ASOS

TOPSHOP

STOMPING BOOTS/THIGH HIGHS

A trend that is really bringing sexy back is the thigh high boots. They just add extra 'va va voom' to an outfit, hence why I'd call them a staple piece. Plus they'll keep your feet, ankles and legs warm. But let us not forget about the old faithful knee high boots, keeping us cosy and sturdy from way back when, also a staple.

These boots also add a touch of 70's/80's twist to your style because of the suede material they're often made in.

OFFICE

OFFICE

PUBLIC DESIRE

GREYS

Grey is also a simple and just almost automatic colour for autumn. It almost acts like a base colour for layering. I'm not going to add links because that would just be a little too much. However grey pieces aren't hard to find at all.

PLAID

Plaid is another one where I feel I don't have to put loads of links up because you can find them just about anywhere. The whole lumberjack feel is great for this time of year because it adds texture and breaks up what could have been a plain outfit. Whether you stick with the classic reds, or sway off to greens, blues or greys, plaid will always be plaid.

TURTLES

Turtle necks basically just save you from wearing scarves and keep your voice box warm, need I say more?I shall just place a couple of turtle necks here, so you can look and see how amazing and versatile they really are! Just take a good browse.

ASOS IS WHERE IT'S AT !

So guys, this is the end of my rather long Autumn trends/fashion talk type post. I hope you enjoyed it, if you carried on this far, and really hope you got some tips, inspiration and a full shopping baskets after this. 

If you have any questions or trends you want to share with me then contact me or leave a comment down below. Till next time.

Peace and Love readers.

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x Stitched Roses x

Thankful.

So Beautiful people,

Let's talk life. This week's topic is being thankful.
We often tend to look at the negative, the difficult, the things we don't have or the things we lack and this doesn't leave much room for anything else. Fair enough these thoughts and mindsets can lead people to drive themselves to something better but then once you've achieved what seemed unattainable, what happens to that mindset? Does anything ever become good enough, does any situation have an upside to it? Or do you end up in a loop, constantly trying to attain the seemingly unattainable, with thoughts buzzing in the back of your mind telling you that it's never good enough, that you need more or you're just stuck trying to find the next 'big thing' because you've conquered one area and you feel you lack in another?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not 'coming' at anyone who thinks/lives like this, I'm just saying from what I've experienced and seen, it can become destructive and so many people don't even realise they are hurting themselves by fuelling everything based on insecurities and a negative outlook.

Now, WHAT IF you took that mindset from negative and all the rest, and changed it! Started looking at 'the bright side of life' and started seeing those difficult situations as challenges and chances to grow. You stopped seeing everything you don't have and started seeing everything you DO have, remembering that someone somewhere has it worse than you. The things you have, become a great achievement and what you seem to lack, doesn't become an issue but is then accepted, because nobody can be good at everything. Weakness is a natural part of life and even if it is just one weakness, everyone has one and that is most definitely okay.

2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (NIV)

So even in our weaknesses we can still find strength, still have a fighting chance, still be able to move along and not just survive but thrive!

Now once you've switched the negative to positive and realised that it's okay to not have it all, and you understand that what you don't have isn't necessarily a reflection of your abilities etc, you can begin to recognise the other amazing things you possess.
This is where being thankful comes in. Taking a moment to reflect on what you've already done, what you already have and the accomplishments that you've 'bossed' should make you realise you have more than you thought! You're so much more than what you think you are. Changing your mind set to think 'I don't have it all but thank God I have something' because something is always better than nothing!

For the little things, be thankful, when you don't have enough to buy the latest thing on the high street but you have enough to pay your bills, be thankful. When your job gets a little 'dry', remember that some don't have jobs. This extends all the way to the big things like winning a free car, or finally closing that big deal at work!
A thankful attitude makes you GRATEFUL and leaves less room for that negative/restrictive mindset.

Think about it....
(*side note, I know this wasn't posted on Thursday but just think of this Friday as the new Thursday, lol. It'll be a one off and TalkThursdays will be by-weekly from now on.*)

Peace and Love readers.

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x Stitched Roses x

2 steps forward, 10 back

Hey guys and dolls,

So I'm starting a little something where we talks on Thursdays so 'talky Thursdays' if you will. I can talk a lot but I often keep things to my self or in my journal, or if you're close to me, I'll lay it out for you every so often. But sometimes the little nuggets of knowledge and insight I gain, I want to share with more people because someone out there may need it as much as I did. So here's a chance for us to maybe get to know each other a little?, or even share together! 

Today, my first 'instalment' is being stationary in life!

Ever feel like, in life, you move 2 steps forward, you grow, you develop, become a better version of you. Then you get knocked 10 steps back by a curve ball. This applies to all aspects of life, in education, in careers even just in social life, health and relationships. The strange thing is, it can go from one single minor set back to full blown crashing walls and everything falling apart all at once, and it gets difficult to find a 'silver lining' and then the feeling of being deflated and defeated kicks in!

Yeah, well if you've never felt this way or anything similar to this then kudos to you, but as for me, even as someone who loves God, I still get these moments from time to time and the last episode of this wasn't that long ago, but the difference between this and others was that I learnt how to overcome it, I learnt how to control a few of the sporadic emotions and learnt to find comfort in God!

A side note this post is for everyone, those who have some form of faith and those who don't, it's all love from this end! 

When it comes to being knocked 10 steps back, there a few things you could bare in mind and these are things that I've come across and I'm learning to adopt and having just one or two of them in the bag will make all the difference!

- Go easy on yourself! I feel like this is an incredibly important one. If you don't let yourself make mistakes or give yourself time to be you, you'll end up being your own harshest critic and not allowing yourself to make mistakes means you won't be able to let yourself be free. It's not everyday be perfect, some days try and be normal....

- Something similar is acceptance. You've got to accept what life has thrown at you and that you are indeed human. A human who is subject to emotions and change, so embrace it!

- Find your true friends, your 'woes', your 'homies' (too much? lol). Keeping people around you that truly care will go a long way.

-Close to the previous point, find a special somebody to be accountable to. Accountability is when you have one or more persons that you pretty much tell it all to and you give them permission to tell you off, correct you etc. Essentially you're giving them the responsibility of being your right wing man/woman! This is something I've found to be VERY helpful, seen as I'm so stubborn it helps to have someone I love and respect enough to correct me! (Having a mentor would also do the trick)

-One for me personally is praying about it. When I pray about something that's really getting me, I usually get a sense of peace and the feeling that someone else has your back constantly and knowing that God says it'll all work out in the end, makes me happy and takes so much weight off my shoulders.


- A great one from a friend is learn to adapt! Yes adaptability skills are important, on and off of your CV! If you learn how to adapt to situations, you're more likely to become more fluid with things, a 'go with the flow' kinda person. Things will slide of your back more easily and you should find that situations in life are but for a moment and will eventually pass!

-Make a game plan. Albert Einstein said "Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result". If you notice bad patterns or habits that often lead to the rough patches or the feeling of going backwards, don't do the same things over and over again, instead make a game plan, make goals, have something to work towards and see if change can't make things better!

Last but not least.....

- Allow time heal, make time for reflection!

I really hope this post has helped someone out there and remember it's not all doom and gloom! If you have any more questions or have any more tips for me, them drop a comment or send me an email on stitched.roses@gmail.com

Also let me know what you all think about #TalkThursdays, if y'all like it, we'll keep it up !!!

 Peace and Love readers.

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x Stitched Roses x