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Restore – Word For The Year

January 3, 2020 by robincharmagne 2 Comments

Hi Pretties,

Happy 2020! We are all excited about this new year and all the goodness to come. As tradition goes at robincharmagne, we have a word for the year – RESTORE!

The Shift

2019 continued to be as challenging as prior years with family loss. I know these things happen to everyone but it just seemed like it happened in triples for my family bringing more sadness. How much loss can a family endure? We leaned on each other and struggled through the rest of the year. On top of that feeling unsettled with work and home as well. Nothing felt “right” and I was not motivated to do a whole lot, just a few things that I had previously committed to and couldn’t back out.

But, towards the end of 2019, I began to see signs of restoration in different parts of my life. I think it started with the Paris trip. I just felt better, happier, feeling free to just be happy and to live. And then changes on my job – better assignments, changes in my home – motivated to decorate and organize things, and old opportunities resurfacing – back to teaching. The shift was happening and accepted it and I chose to carry it into the next year. God said He would restore what was lost and I see that happening, slowly but most surely. Of course, my loved ones cannot be restored, but having strong extended family and loyal friends restores feelings of love, protection and support.

I am ready to claim EVERYTHING that was lost because God is a restorative God. What are you claiming?

For encouragement and motivation – Words for the year 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019

55 Things – Monday Musing

July 22, 2019 by robincharmagne 10 Comments

Happy Monday. This week kicks off my birthday on Saturday. A LOT has changed in 5 years since I celebrated my last milestone birthday – primarily the passing of my Dad, Sister, and Brother and Mom’s illness. I still feel a sense of loss most days, but for the most part, I have adjusted to this new normal that seems totally crazy. And, I am thankful for another birthday!

One thing that hasn’t changed are the lessons I learned in 50 years. Nope, I am not creating a whole list of 55 more lessons, but I am adding 5 more things I have learned in almost 55 years.

LOL, it has been quite a ride to 55 and I keep learning and growing and being clear about what’s important. Some of it serious like being healthy – physically and mentally and some of it is just plain fun, like wearing white whenever I feel like it! I will see y’all in 5 years with 5 more things I have learned. What have you learned this year that is making a difference for you?

5 Ways To Show Love

February 4, 2019 by robincharmagne 4 Comments

REBOOT – Word For 2019

January 7, 2019 by robincharmagne 24 Comments

Hi pretties,

Another year all fresh and new, don’t you just love it? Whatever happened or did not happen in the prior year does not matter because we can start anew with these 365 days. Some folks just tweak or improve on what they did last year and some people like me are rebooting, yep restarting.

Sometimes you need to just shut down and then start over. With the unforeseen events of 2018, I did shut down. After my twin brother passed away, I did not do a whole lot of anything, except work and that was because like everyone else, I need to earn a living. Not much shopping, dining, traveling, crafting, sorority, nothing. I did not leave the house very often, nothing interested me and I settled into a deep sadness.

Of course I went to grief counseling which helped tremendously, but I still had anger towards God for taking my brother. I decided He and I needed to have a meeting. In order to hear from God, I think you need to be close to nature, so I visited the mountains of the Arizona desert (travel post coming soon). Beautiful setting to walk each morning while having this important conversation. I cried, I laughed, I yelled, and then I got quiet. I asked why. I wanted to know what is the purpose of so much death and dying in one family? As I looked around I heard God say, that is the circle of life, you live and you die. It is really that simple. I shed the anger and thanked God for each day and said it is time to get back to life.

Image: personal, The Phoenician, Scottsdale, Arizona

After my trip, I was much more accepting of the “whys” of everything and I decided I would start over in 2019. But then a little fear creeped in, until I ran across a series of videos about the life of Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, or Coco Chanel as we all know this icon of fashion. Did you know she restarted her fashion house at age 71? And, today, Chanel is still a profitable and sought after brand. If she could do it in her 70’s then so could I. It is never too late for a fresh start.

I am glad to be back in the saddle and doing the things I love, like writing blog posts and I am ready to share more fashion inspiration, home decor ideas, and travel topics. I am excited about 2019 and everything it holds. This reboot is going to be epic!

What is your word for 2019? Have you ever started over?

View Words for 2018 and 2017!

Memory Keeping

November 2, 2018 by robincharmagne 29 Comments

#ad-I was provided this product by Messages in Metal; all the opinions are my own.

Hi pretties,
It has been some time since I blogged and I am so happy to be back today with a very personal post. Sadly, over the last 2 years, my family dynamic has changed with the passing of my Sister and my Dad. I would say 2018 has proven to be quite challenging, but even those words do not seem adequate with the passing of my Twin Brother earlier this year. Of course I miss them all terribly, but the passing of my sister and brother hit me especially hard. The three of us could not have been more different – John the tech guy, me the goody two shoes, and Nickey the rebel! We shared a love of anything with wheels and science fiction and defended each other fiercely against anyone, including our parents. I have so many funny memories of the three of us that will live on in my heart, but when Messages in Metal reached out to me, I discovered a very special way to keep them close.

Messages in Metal

This is a Montana based company that makes personalized jewelry to celebrate all the special moments and special people in our lives. These metal pieces are crafted in .925 silver and come with a chain. Some pieces are offered in gold plating and with beautiful Swarovski gemstones. I chose the infinity design with the names of my brother and sister.

Simple packaging in classic black and white.

Black velvet box that securely holds your pendant

messages_in_metal_personalize-_robincharmagne

Absolutely perfect – Infinity Necklace in .925 Sterling Silver

Happy, together again!

I am so happy with my pendant, it shipped quickly after ordering. It is very well made, feels light but is substantial. The Messages in Metal website has many options in the size, shape, and type of pendant. This is a perfect way for me to honor my siblings and keep them close to my heart. Please visit the website to see all of their unique pieces.

Do you wear personalized jewelry?

3 Lessons I Learned From The Royal Wedding

May 21, 2018 by robincharmagne 4 Comments

Hello pretties,
Still basking in the beauty and joy of the Royal Wedding. Actually I had not planned to watch it, but I woke up just when it all began and I must say I am glad I did. The entire ceremony was beautiful from start to finish – my highlights, Bishop Curry’s message and the Kingdom Choir. I was so moved by both. Bishop Curry’s message of love was much needed and timely given the current climate. And the Kingdom Choir, just absolute pure beauty, their voices like angels. I just love them and will definitely try to see them in person somewhere in the UK or US!! Oh one more thing, Meghan’s Mom, regal and proud, she has a fan in me. I turned off the television thinking I believe in love again…here is what I learned…

Lessons Learned

1. Get out of that dreaded comfort zone, you know the one where you text, talk, and meet. Don’t be afraid to try something new like a blind date! Prince Harry and Meghan met on a blind date. I have never been on a blind date but definitely open to trying especially if my close friends suggested someone cool! After all, they know me pretty well!
2. Be open, I realize my dream partner might not fit that perfect picture in my mind. I don’t think Meghan actually dreamed of marrying a Prince! I am willing to drop my prototype for the real thing.
3. Setup boundaries when needed. The press hounded Meghan and Prince Harry put a stop to it. I might not have paparrazi chasing me in Target, but if the people around me are being negative or not supportive, I will shut them down!

I am rooting for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex! Did you watch the Royal Wedding and what was your favorite or most memorable part?

Write The Vision – Monday Musing

January 30, 2018 by robincharmagne 2 Comments

On these last few days of January 2018, I am finally getting my vision board life together. Some people swear by the power of vision boards. Fearless Woman Blogger, Whitney Nic James, has an awesome post about why You and I need to do this! So with a made up mind, the vision board party of one has begun. Here is how I finally got my butt in gear…

Tools

A poster board, canvas, construction paper, or your planner
A stack of magazines
A glue stick or scrapbook tape
A pair of small cissors
An open mind and heart

The Start

From my research on Pinterest and Instagram, poster board seems to be the most popular medium to use for a vision board. But, I chose to use a planner/agenda – the My Infinite Agenda. I snagged this agenda at the stationery show in New York last year. The clean layout and the blush and teal color combination was so pretty and girly. Not to mention this agenda is all about living the life of your dreams with pages to show gratitude, document your goals, and functional planning pages. But the best part is that a portion of the sales of the agenda go to a good cause, Days for Girls which provides feminine hygiene products. I met the founders and they were so passionate about living your dreams and helping others! Super cool. Okay so inside this agenda are specific pages for a vision board. This quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is MOST appropriate to kickoff this vision board party.

That is the premise behind crafting a board. Layout the plan for your life, regardless as to whether you have it all figured out or even know how any of it will happen. Then, take actionable steps to make these things come to pass. I am pretty clear about my vision, but this agenda asks some good questions to help you define your own vision.

The Process

Alright so I have my motivation and some guidance if I get stuck, then the real fun begins, putting it on paper.

Find a magazine clipping, cut the clipping, glue or tape it down, bam done!

Goals, projects, dreams, etc. start in the mind, so I zoned in on magazine clippings with words or phrases that were positive and encouraging. I found a page that had teal green numbers so I used them to list out my 10 vision phrases the foundation for the rest of my vision board.

This agenda has other blank pages to layout your vision. I plan to use those pages to hash out my vision for 2018 in more detail. Now, you do not have to craft yours like this, there is no right or wrong way, do what feels right to you.

I am on cloud nine to finally have the first part on paper. There is a Bible verse that says, “And the Lord answered me, and said, “Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Habakkuk 2: 2-3 is the entire verse but most people focus on verse 2. Looking at verse 3 it emphasizes, not only do we write it down, but we cannot rush this vision. As humans, we get so impatient when things don’t pop off right away. Just wait and at just the right time, things will come together. I am excited.

Have you crafted a vision board? How is it going?

MLK and AKA

January 15, 2018 by robincharmagne 4 Comments

Hello pretties,
Celebrating to auspicious occasions today, The birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the 110th Founders’ Day of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Given the current climate in our country, I thought this quote was most appropriate. I am just wondering how long will it take or what will have to happen before some people speak up??? In the spirit of what Dr. King stood for, serve your community today in whatever capacity you can, just do something to improve your community!

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated celebrates 110 years of service today. The first Greek letter organization for college trained black women, founded January 15, 1908 on the campus of Howard University in Washington, DC. AKA women have a long history of service to the communities we serve.

#Facts

Founded: January 15, 1908 at Howard University, Washington, DC
Incorporated: January 29, 1913
Twenty Pearls: Founders and Incorporators
Motto: “By Culture and By Merit”
Symbol: Ivy Leaf
Flower: Pink Tea Rose
Colors: Salmon Pink and Apple Green
Official publication: Ivy Leaf magazine, first published 1921

Increase – Word for 2018

January 3, 2018 by robincharmagne 4 Comments

Hello pretties,
Happy New Year y’all! I am kicking 2018 off with a tradition I started a few years back, choosing a word to direct my activities for the year that supports my goals. For the last almost 2 years, my blogging life has really fallen off, months with no posts or very sporadic posts, which creates a decrease in all areas of this blog life. So I chose the word increase for 2018.

The Definition

Y’all see the definition, “make greater”, yeah that part, oh that got me pumped for real because that confirmed I chose the right word. A word that says the possibility exists to be greater in all areas, including this “influencer” world. Blogging is definitely a first love, but the events of the past year and a half decreased my interest. Unfortunately, I fell into a pattern where I would get my mojo back but then it would wane after one or two posts.

The Why

So I asked myself, why do you blog? Well, I like sharing what I know with others. This platform is so good for helping people increase their knowledge with unfamiliar topics or increase knowledge in a familiar subject area, by providing usable information. Either way, my readers learn something valuable. That is it, increasing value and knowledge for the readers that take the time to visit this blog, soak up the information, and leave a comment or question (yes I love comments and questions!!!).

Goals

Next up was deciding what are the goals that can manifest increase on this blog? How do I get to increase? Creating this increase will not be an easy task because it feels almost like starting over in way. Of course getting out of the dreaded comfort zone is a huge part of this increase, to be more I have to feel uncomfortable in new spaces that can propel robincharmagne forward. That is goal number one actually – get out of the cozy zone. Currently working on defining other goals, which is a big job, and then breaking those goals down into smaller tasks. That is how you eat an elephant right, one piece at a time. Have you heard that expression before? It is true.

There is so much opportunity to increase robincharmagne and make it a valuable resource for fashion, home decor and travel. I feel like I am back in the game, ready and committed to increase, one goal at a time.

You can read prior words, 2015, 2016, and 2017.

What is your word for the year?

Bible Journaling – Monday Musing

April 24, 2017 by robincharmagne 26 Comments

Bible-journal-robincharmagne

Hello pretties,
April is a month of renewal and I thought it would be the perfect time to share with you, my lovely readers Bible Journaling. Journaling is a popular tool for memory keeping – family events, special occasions, all those special bits of life we don’t want to forget. So why not journal about our faith, in a very creative way. Take a peek…

What’s Inside?

hand lettering guides

Doodling guides

Fun Tools – stamping

Fun Tools – stenciling

Bible Journaling

Joanne Fink and Regina Yoder, the creators of Complete Guide to Bible Journaling: Creative Techniques to Express Your Faith, have created a beautiful guide for documenting our thoughts on faith. It’s another way to further think about a particular scripture, parable, religious figure – digging deeper if you will. To get you started, there are prompts – checkout page 9. You can use a variety tools; for example, washi tape, stickers, die-cuts, watercolor paints, hand lettering, etc. And, there is no wrong or right in bible journaling. But if that wasn’t enough, there is a gallery of real life examples of bible journaling for inspiration. The bonus goodies in the back are amazing – vellum for tracing designs, stickers, tabs, and much more.

This guide is the perfect tool to start bible journaling, with vibrant illustrations and lots of extras! I love this guide so much, I have one to gift to a lucky reader. Hop on over to my Instagram for all the deets.

Do you journal?

P.S. This is a great Mother’s Day gift!

Linking with these lovely bloggers.