Saved by Grace

"Here I am, God arms wide open. Pouring out my life gracefully broken."

Tasha Cobbs

I grew up in a VERY religious home. My mother is of the apostolic faith and my father is Baptist. I went to church multiple times a week. I knew all of the books of the Bible – backward and forwards. I primarily attended church with my mother because that’s how things were. So naturally, her faith became mine.

I, however, was not the perfect Christian/Holiness girl. I didn’t believe that my head always had to be covered or that I needed to wear dresses to my ankles. That was just not me. I always searched for my true self. I wear earrings, pants, and makeup - I don't believe that defines my faith. I don't believe that I am now somehow unloved by God.

Religion was scary and for most people it still is. Christianity, in particular, seems to be set rules that you have to follow and if you don’t you’re doomed to hell. Despite my thoughts and feelings on this, I know that God is real.

I’ve been SAVED BY GRACE!

Grace in the Christian faith is the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.

There have been times in my life where I know it was no one other than God that brought me through. I believe in the power of prayer. I believe that He is real no matter what anyone says.

When I heard this song by Tasha Cobbs all I could do was weep. My heart so full. There will come a time in your life when you don’t know where to turn. You feel so alone and you have no choice but to seek something higher than yourself. God has kept me. He’s loved me more than I’ve loved myself. His grace has protected me over and over again.

If you only knew my story, I should be dead…but I’m NOT and for that reason alone I will forever be grateful.

First Five Things To Do Once You're Engaged

Congrats! You and your partner have taken the next step in your relationship and decided to get married! Take a minute to soak it up, this moment. The newness of this next big step for you two together. Now, let’s talk about the first five things to do once you’re engaged!

My name is Jessica Hunt, and I have been a professional wedding photographer for eight years and published over 150 times in my career. Today I’m going to share with you my top five tips for what to do once you’re engaged! Honestly, weddings are WORK. It’s going to take a lot of planning and preparation to pull of the wedding day of your dreams.

1. CELEBRATE

No, seriously, I mean it! Take your time and bask in this. You and the love of your life are getting MARRIED! That’s huge! Don’t let the rush of your new life take away the magic of this moment for you. Look over at your soulmate, give them a big kiss, and bask in this moment! Be sure to let your closest friends and family know about this big step you’ve taken together, and get ready for the long road ahead!

2. PICK YOUR DATE

Before you can book any vendors like your photographer or venue, you will need to have your wedding date selected. Most vendors will not take retainer fees to book your wedding without a set date!

So, look over your calendar, talk with your family, and chat with the love of your life. Don’t rush on choosing a date, though! Think about the theme you want for your wedding and the seasons. Do you want a winter wedding or a fall wedding? How hot do you want it on your day? Think about your dream day and choose a date that will reflect that! You’re not restricted to just Saturdays either, don’t forget! Change it up, save a little money, and book for a Friday wedding! The first vendor you will hire and that will probably play a role in choosing your exact date is your wedding venue, so keep that in mind when deciding on your date for the wedding day.

3. CHOOSE YOUR THEME

What do you want your day to look like? Think about your color palette, think about the venue you have picked, and the season your wedding day will be in. Are you a more casual couple looking to have a brewery wedding day or does a formal, black-tie event fit your vibes a bit better?

This is a BIG DEAL. Choose what you want for your day and make it happen! You can choose for your day to look however you would like, but you just have to decide! If you’re unsure of what to select as your theme or even HOW to go about doing so, you and your future spouse may want to consider hiring a wedding planner for your event to help with things like guiding you on how to select a theme for your wedding.

4. BOOK YOUR VENDORS

Many wedding vendors book up to a year or more in advance, so as soon as your book your venue and have your date set in stone, you will want to start booking your other wedding vendors. If you have your dream vendor in mind, go ahead and inquire with them to start the inquiry process.!

Do research on your vendors, too! Have they worked on a real wedding like yours? Is the venue ready to handle all 300 of your friends and family? Make your decisions wisely and then TRUST your vendors, they are event professionals who know the most about pulling off a successful wedding day.

Make sure to scoop up your dream vendors as soon as you can, because if you wait, that photographer or venue may book a different couple for your date. Waiting to book with your favorite vendors could result in them being unavailable for your date! The sooner the better!

5. SEND SAVE THE DATES/INVITATIONS

You’ve posted a few pictures on Facebook about your engagement and changed your relationship status, but it’s time to let all of your loved ones that you’ve got a date. Do you want to make sure those you care about the most are there on your day, right? Since you’ve already got your wedding photographer booked by this time (RIGHT?? Wink, wink, wink! ), use your engagement photos for save-the-dates!

Not interested in save-the-dates? That’s fine! Skip ’em! Send out formal invitations a bit early, In fact, doing things early in this wedding business is NEVER a bad thing!

There you have it! I hope you enjoyed looking over the first five things to do once you’re engaged and ready to start planning your wedding day.

Meet Jessica Hunt

Jessica Hunt is a wedding and anniversary photographer serving passionate couples anywhere and everywhere. She has been photographing weddings professionally for 8 years and has been published nationwide over 200 times in her career. Jessica enjoys hitting the gym, binging true crime dramas, listening to political podcasts, and drinking too much coffee. When she’s not shooting weddings across the United States, you can find her curled up with her two cats and sweet pup watching the latest terrible action blockbuster. Get in contact with Jessica today to chat about your wedding day or anniversary photos!

How I'm handing being Plus Size and Pregnant

Photo by: Denise Benson Photography 

Being a plus sized woman in America is hard especially when you see women paraded on television that look nothing like you. Even the plus size models have a particular shape. It’s usually the coke bottle, pear shape and ya girl here doesn’t have it! I’ve struggled to fit into the typical plus size world because I’m not super curvy and I would get dirty looks shopping in plus sizes stores. On more than one occasion the sales associate told me she thought I was lost. 😒

I’ve been plus sized for most of my life. It didn’t really hit me that being plus sized and pregnant mattered…not until I got my paperwork at check from my doctor. They gave me a cute little sheet that had my weight, height, how much I have loss or gained (I lost weight by the way) and my BMI. IT WAS 34! I’m considered obese. My doctor hasn’t harped on me about losing but she has encouraged me to move – start walking for 5 minutes a day just to get the blood flowing. And honestly, I’m not mad. She has treated me like a human – which is all I want. I know I weigh more than I should but I don't need to be reminded of that every time I go to the doctor.

What being plus size and pregnant means to me is still being able to be fabulous and pregnant? I can do any and everything every other woman can do. I WILL take those maternity photos. I WILL share my growing belly. I WILL give in to my cravings and I will enjoy this pregnancy!

I believe pregnancy is supposed to be a joyous time. I'm determined to do that. I move when my body says move and I rest when my body tells me to. Understanding what's best for you and baby is the best thing you can do while pregnant!

What are or were your biggest fears during pregnancy?

Book Review: #LunchboxChronicles Raising A Conscious Black Boy In America

“It’s amazing that while we may be parents, our children help us fully grow up. While I mold him, he molds me right back in return.” Tai Hall

When I was initially contacted about the book #LunchboxChronicles Raising a Conscious Black Boy in America – I was wondering how this could apply to me…I have daughters. Then it hit me – I have nephews, cousins, and friends with sons. How could I not want to be aware of the problems they face in America every day?

First things first, I must admit, like most people a cover will catch my attention this one was no different. I like that what she chooses to include in her son's lunch box. It's real life things that our babies carry with them every day. You have an apple, banana, water, chips, a noose, a gun, and a bloody badge. It’s unfortunate that this is what life has come to but we really aren’t free.

Secondly, Hall gets cool points for hashtags! We are totally Millennial Moms. We live for a good hashtag and how she turned something so simple as her daily struggle with her son forgetting his lunchbox into a life lesson is amazing.

Without giving too much detail because I want you to read the book. I realized one VERY important thing. We are so much alike. The fears she has of raising her son are the same fears I have with raising my girls. You always wonder if you’re doing it right- even when you have no clue yourself. Our children find us imperfectly perfect and that’s the best we could ever ask for.

 I have laughed and cried with this book. Life has been put into perspective for and I love a book that can do it. We all need to read something that makes us want to do and be better.

I highly recommend you check this book out you won't be disappointed. You can find it here! 

Food for thought: Are you raising self aware children? Do they understand that life really isn't fair? What disscussions are you having around your dinner table?

Connect with the Author - Tai Hall

Instagram: @perfectly.tai

 

About the Author

Tai Hall is a multiple business owner and philanthropist Maryland native who dedicates her life to improving the quality of lives of others. Tai became an International Massage Therapist, best selling author, and owner of the largest underground dispensary in the DMV— THC Legacy established in 2017. She is versed on healing the body, holding a Bachelors in Neuromolecular Biomechanics, a Masters in Healthcare, & has traveled the world perfecting her craft. Spending several years as the team therapist at UMD-CO of Maryland in College Park, she had since moved on to open two successful in-office massage studios