If you've been telling yourself, "I'll never get out from under my bills" or I'll never be debt free; STOP IT!  When my husband and I first got married, were in debt with school loans and credit cards.  Not too long after we married, we had a medical emergency and of course there was another bill to add to the mix.  Talk about overwhelming.  OMG, it felt like falling into a dark hole where there is no light to lead you out of it.  For me, being in debt is the worse feeling I've ever felt and I'm certain my husband felt the same way.  I can honestly say, that we weren't living life freely the way everyone should live.

After several years, the church we were members of at that time offered a class called "Financial Peace University."  My husband and I knew we needed help and something needed to be done financially.  We knew we just couldn't keep living this way.  Though we knew we needed to do something, we had our reservations about this class. Would it really help us with the mess we put ourselves in; how much of our mess would we have to talk about, etc. Despite all of our reservations, the need to take care of our situation became more important.  We signed up for the class, and without a doubt made one of the best decisions of our lives.

Dave Ramsey is the creator of Financial Peace University.  He's a well known financial advisor and author.  When it comes down to it, his program just makes total sense.  In this program, you learn how to get out of debt and how to save money at the same time. You learn to continuously add to that savings and keep building it (he calls it the emergency fund) up, so if there is an emergency, you're ready financially. This course teaches you how to get out of financial stress and move into a comfortable, peaceful financial situation. You also learn the best order in which to pay your bills. 
This course isn't rocket science and having this tool to take you step by step to lower your debt is so powerful.  It definitely can take time depending on your level of debt.  The most important thing is to start.  Don't go another year going further into the pit hole that debt is.

What I learned from "Financial Peace University":
1. I don't apply for credit cards - It's so easy to get sucked into a new credit card especially while shopping.  "You can get 15% or 20% off your perchase.  I just say "Thank you, but "No" thank you!"
2. I don't buy whatever I want, even if I can afford it.  Sometimes I just tell myself, "Not today."  One reason for this is that it really stops me from getting things I might not actually use and it also is an example to what I always tell my kids, "If it's meant for you to have, it'll be there."
3. Be ready to give. Having money isn't all about me or my family, so it's important to be ready to give and help others all year long. We know we can't help everyone, but we want to be prepared for whoever God calls us to assist.

Are we completely debt free, nope, but we're in control and have gotten down to just a few major things.  We're continuously saving, paying things on time and feeling so blessed to be able to do so.  If you're carrying the weight of your debts and are looking for a way to live life the way it should be lived, head over to www.daveramsey.com  That program will guide you to that light at the end of the tunnel. Though, there are other financial programs out there, I can only vouch for what worked for us. My point is to find something you feel comfortable using and get it going. 2018 has just begun, so it's the perfect time to attack your debt in an easy to follow format, learn to be smart with your money and ultimately live a life that's debt free. You can do it!!!!

XOXO,

Nae

I can't say enough about how fast this year has gone by.  2017 has truly had its ups and downs.  However, I am thankful for all of it.  As a family and life in general, we've had the unexpected to arise. We've had cancer to affect our family.  It's never that you don't believe it can happen, it's just that it happened and there's absolutely nothing you can do, but be there for your loved one and pray that the cancer leaves their body.  In our case there was a happy ending and my family member is now in remission. My prayer now is that the cancer doesn't return. 

I wasn't expecting to have to take a break from YouTube, but it happened.  I believe it was a blessing in disguise because I've been able to evaluate what direction I want to take with it and it's been a refreshing time.  I've very excited for my future with YouTube.  I've been able to develop my brand through Instagram and learning from my favorite blogger, Marianna Hewitt.  If you don't already know, she started a new Instagram page called "Blog With Me" this year to help anyone who wants to be a blogger and grow their Instagram page. Marianna answers a lot of questions and gives such wise advice. So visit her page and I'm sure that you'll find information you didn't know you needed. 

I appreciate all of the brands I've tried and learned about this year and I'm happy to have this blogging platform to share it on, as well as Instagram.  What I am most thrilled about this year is how much I've grown and come out of my social media shell.  Being vulnerable does help to get you out of your comfort zone and it is something I'd recommend to anyone who wants to brand themselves in social media.  You have to allow yourself to be a little vulnerable.  Step out and try something new, whether it's food related, traveling to new location or a new form of fashion (ie. trying a color/pattern you're not use to wearing).  Obviously, this is all within reason; don't break the bank, save for the things you can't afford. You know, use your own discretion.

My main goal in 2018 is to do better than I did in 2017.  I want to continue meeting my goals, self-evaluate often, grow my brand and help others along the way. I would love to travel to places I've never been and not just read about the brands, but actually go and meet the owners ( the heart of the brand). If others can do what they do well, then why can't you and I? All it takes is hard work, dedication and determination. I want to remember to take time for fun and enjoy the life around me.  It's so easy, in the midst of working hard, to forget to enjoy things, take a break and let go of the serious for a little while.  When it's time to hit the grind again, you're ready and refreshed.  There are several bloggers I'd love to collaborate with and will communicate that with them.  There are brands I'd love to work with as well and will be reaching out to them.

There are more brands I want to try and several repurchase items I don't want to live without.  I will be sharing those things with you and what works for me in detail. I want to branch out of my comfort zone a bit more in 2018 and continue to push past fears.
Below are the important things I'm encouraging myself to do and share with you.  When it comes down to it life is way to short, so enjoy it.

Thank you so much for visiting me here!  I've appreciated each of you this year.  Merry Christmas and a blessed New to you and yours!

XOXO,

Nae

How many times have you come across a place that offers decadent chocolates and a delicious barbecue menu? Well, a cozy location in Tomball, Texas does, and it was a first for my hubby and I.  I will tell you that Tejas Chocolate needs to be on everyone's bucket list of places to dine. Once you're here, it will definitely go on your list of guilty pleasures.  If you're one of those who needs ratings to get you in the door, well, on the "Top 50 List" they were ranked #6 by Texas Monthly.  That says a lot.  Let me share our experience with you.

So, my husband had the inside scoop on everything they had to offer.  He's always full of surprises like that and he absolutely loves visiting and trying highly rated bbq!  Because I didn't fully know what to expect, I walk in and become like a kid in a candy store, literally.  When you first walk in, the chocolates are the first things you see.  I look wide-eyed into the glass case windows at all of the chocolates, my husband  redirects me towards the line we're suppose to be in for our barbecue meal. So, while in line, I'm trying to choose what to get before it's our turn and there is so much to choose from. There were several delicious sounding options but I finally picked something I hadn't had in years.

Because I love a good sandwhich, I couldn't  pass up on their "Pastrami Reuben w/Sauerkraut" Sandwich.  It came with their house dressing and house mustard.  I highly suggest trying this sandwhich, if you happen to stop by on a Thursday.  That's the only day it's offered.  This sandwhich was so much better than I expected.  Don't expect a sweet dressing to spread on this sandwhich.  No, no, no! It's a beautifully flavored savory dressing that they created and it works seamlessly with everything on this sandwhich. The sauerkraut was amazing and yes, even the mustard was perfect.  This is not just a sandwhich; it's an edible miracle that makes your eyes close, everything around you go silent and the only things you're aware of are each and every taste bud experiencing this flavor filled miracle.

My husband's meal consisted of brisket, ribs, jalapeno cheese sausage with a side of green beans and carrot souffle. I never expect any less from him.  He loves to see what each barbecue restaurant uniquely brings to the table (no pun intended) flavor wise. So, what he loved about the meat was that they were seasoned nicely, the brisket had a nice smoke ring and had the perfect tenderness, the ribs were cooked well, had a great glaze that added a hint of sweetness, which made them very well balanced and the sausage had a good flavor and was juicy.  He enjoyed his sides, but that carrot souffle stole the side dish show.  I had a chance to taste a bit of it and I was floored. It was just that good! It would make the perfect dessert even though it's sweet, it's not overly sweet. Make sure you add this to whatever you order or you're missing out!

You better believe I had room for dessert.  There were so many chocolates to choose from, it made it hard to pick the first one.   My kids picked "It's the Great Maple Pumpkin" "Cherry Jubilee" and "Tomball Tea Party".  We (the hubs and I) also added "Sweet Potato & Smoked Honey", "Salted Caramel", Kahlua and a few others to go.

Also, the wonderful young lady who described each chocolate so well, could see that I was indeed was a true chocolate lover, and revealed another Tejas Chocolate treasure.

Though, they had several candy bars to choose from the "Dark Matter" chocolate bar intrigued me.  I'm so glad I chose this one.  The black chocolate, black pepper infused bar with with the perfect amount of black lava sea salt underneath was so ridiculously good, I wish I'd gotten two of them.  This just gives me another reason to go back and visit them again. 

If you are ever in the Houston, TX area, you must take a side trip to Tejas Chocolate, in Tomball, TX and experience everything they have to offer. Most important, the staff is amazing.  They are so kind and you feel at home.  You can tell that they are glad to be there and so you just can't help but feel the same. There is more than what we tried.  Oh, if you get their tea, please don't forget to add their mint syrup to your tea. I love mint in my tea, but I never thought to make a syrup.  You don't have to worry about trying to avoid mint leaves going up your straw. Genius!!! Please check out their website for more information and exact location: http://tejaschocolate.com
If you've been or if you go after reading this, I'd love to hear your experience.

Thank you all so much for stopping by.  I appreciate it!

XOXO,
Nae

Who doesn't love a great biker jacket?  If you do, now is the time to sport one or two.  They're everywhere and come in a huge variety of beautiful colors!  You can get them in leather, suede or save a few bucks and go for faux.  ASOS has such beautiful biker jackets in tall and average body types, as well as prices to fit most budgets. The "New Look Tall Faux Leather Shearling Collar Biker Jacket" is in a unique color, "Mink".  It appears grey in some lighting and in others a beautiful soft mauve.  All I can say is, It is simply GORGEOUS!

How I styled this jacket:

It's great with light grey ankle pants.

A black maxi or midi dress combined with this jacket creates a chic look.

Oh yeah and don't forget black jeans with heels or boots.  The removable faux shearling collar is so soft and gives this jacket a cozy warm look.

Have you fallen in love with biker jackets this season?  Have they been a part of your life forever and you've just been waiting for everyone else to come around?  LOL!  Whatever the case may be, thanks for visiting me here.  Have a blessed weekend, everyone.

XO,

Nae

When I think of fall and winter the first word that comes to mind is "Cozy".  That's exactly the way I want to feel on those chilly to freezing days. At home, on those days, I wrap up in a blanket or a throw, and curl up on the couch with a cup of coffee, hot chocolate or tea.  However, you can't always wrap up the same way on an outing.  One texture that automatically brings me those cozy feels is "Faux Fur".  My love for this type of fur runs quite deep and I don't think it'll ever go away.

Animal fur has been a fashion status symbol since about the late 1900s.  Now, though animal fur outerwear and clothing is still available, popular and pricey, we have the faux option.  The cool part is that faux fur is so much more realistic looking now-a-days and more affordable than the real thing.  Also, I just love the warmth and beauty faux fur pieces bring to any outfit; casual or dressy.

Here are a few of my faux fur must haves:

This very soft purse that easily converts to a clutch can dress up a dress or work well with jeans (black or blue), a white top and a black leather/pleather jacket. (Purchased online at Boohoo)

I love a cute slouchy knit hats with a faux fur ball accent.  They are perfect for keeping your head and ears warm when you're out and about. (Purchased online at American Eagle 2016)

First of all, the color pattern in this scarf is absolutely perfect!  I wear this piece with a black or tan turtleneck (can include a skirt, dress slacks or jeans). (Purchased at Walmart 2016)

Truly, vests can be such a stylish addition to an outfit, so why not a furry one. This Forever 21 find is the perfect faux fur addition to my fall/winter wardrobe.

There are so many faux fur clothing items you can add to your fall and winter outfits.  It's up to you to pick what works for you.  I hope you enjoyed seeing what I'm into.  If you've been looking for something to add a little more warmth and style to accent what you already have, I hope this gives you a bit of inspiration.

Thanks so much for visiting me here.  Have a blessed day!

XO,

Nae

We all need a good dose of fall greens, and I don't mean veggies.  It's true, we need those too.  With it being autumn and all, it's easy for us to gravitate to all of the yellows, oranges, reds and burgundies that we see and less of the greens we're losing in nature.  Because of this, it's an easy color to forget in our wardrobe. Green is one of the colors that shows life is in a plant and the first sign that a plant is still viable in the spring.  I, for one, am a big fan of certain shades of green this time of year. 
Let me show you a few outfits I hope gives you some inspiration, and perhaps a bit of life in your fall wardrobe.

Sage green always is a big player for me and I love that I found it in this dress from Old Navy last year.

I love camo print.  This top is a "Faded Glory" brand top from Walmart and I couldn't believe the sleeves were long enough.  It goes so well with these olive colored distressed jeans.

Lastly, this emerald green, cold shoulder dress, that I recently purchased from Venus.com, is one of my favorite dresses for this fall. I wore it for the first time at my sister-in-law's beautiful wedding in October.
I pray that each of you have a blessed November.  Thank you so much for taking a moment to visit me here.

XO,

Nae

If you don't know, now you know; I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE DIY projects! There isn't anything more rewarding than creating something with your own two hands that looks like something you would pay good money for out of the store. This particular project was created by my friend, Fee!  You can check out her Insta-feed @feesetfree. We share not only a love for things like this, but also a deep love for the Lord. She is so creative and I love her beautiful decor, meals and everything she chooses to share.  When she first came up with this project, we were suppose to do it together.  I could never find a mirror that fit the measurements for my unique space. Fee created her beautiful chalkboard mirror and I continue to be on a hunt for the perfect one for me.  Little did I know, until recently, she was hunting too. LOL  I'm so blessed to call her my friend.

I'd looked online for various mirrors, as well as in several stores, to find the right mirror for my space. One day while in Walmart, I thought I'd look again for mirrors and see if they had anything different.  They didn't, but my outlook was different.  Instead of looking for a longer mirror, I saw smaller individual mirrors that might work.  I took two home and held them against my wall and I was so happy to see that not only were they the perfect width, but the fact that they were two separate mirrors really added something special to that area decor wise.  This was such a fun and easy project, I wanted to share it, because anyone can do it.  In this smaller size, you could give these as gifts as well.

You'll need glass cleaner, paper towels (to clean your mirror), newspaper (to protect your surface), chalk paint, paint brushes and some chalk to write and draw once your chalk mirror is completed.  Let's get into the steps:

Make sure to clean your mirror really well to remove dust and leftover glue from underneath places where stickers were.

Mix your chalk paint thoroughly!  It's very important.

Begin painting.  I went from corner to corner and taking my time with each stroke. Though I didn't use painter's tape, I'd recommend it, especially if you want to paint with more speed and have the frame of your mirror be protected.

Allow paint to dry completely in between coats.  It took about 3 coats on one mirror and 4 on the other.

Decorate and hang as you like.  Though I didn't have any on hand at the time of this project, I'd recommend colorful chalk for more creative drawings.

If you do this diy, I'd love to know and see photos of your creation.  Tag me on Instagram or twitter @glamourgurunae; I'd love to see your diy photos there.
Thanks for taking a moment to visit me here.  Have a blessed day!

Love,

Nae