7 Ways to Get Cozy This Fall ♡

October 6, 2022October 6, 2022 Q'Zion1 Comment

Hey, everyone! This is Q’Zion, and welcome to The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen. I’ve got really good news; autumn has finally arrived! I don’t know about you guys, but fall has always been one of my favorite seasons. From the gorgeous warm colors, to the perfect temperature–not too hot, and not too cold–what’s not to love?

But although it’s no question that fall is a wonderful time of year, it can be difficult to find ways to transition from one season to another. As a result, today I decided to give you all some ideas for how you can start making the most of this autumn. Let’s get into it!

Bring Out the Blankets

If you live in an area that tends to get cold at this time of year, it’s probably a smart idea to go ahead and find ways to stay warm, during your autumn planning. Not only are blankets, a comfy way to stay warm, but they also make for a relaxing fall night; especially with a snack or book in hand.

Pumpkin it Up!

Now, there are a lot of things that scream autumn–some of which are included in the remainder of this list–but one of the first things that come to my mind are pumpkins! They’re bright, earthily sweet, and most of all, perfect for decorating. So don’t be afraid to decorate the majority of your house with these large, orange enhancements! It is fall, after all!

Candles, Candles, Candles . . . and Even More Candles

I mean . . . do we really need much of an explanation, here? Candles are the perfect way to add a little brightness to any room on a dark autumn night with their crisp yet comforting designs. Plus, the fact that they have delectable scents–especially when they’re fall themed–make them even more attractive as an option for decoration.

Have a Movie Marathon

One of the best ways to past time while cuddling up on the couch is to have a family movie night. There’s just something about watching comedies on an autumn night with a mug of warm, hot chocolate in hand. It’s a comfy, delicious, and timeless tradition that’s the perfect way to get cozy in the season of fall.

Bake Your Favorite Fall Dessert

Speaking of delicious, desserts are a must-have in most households when the end of the year comes around; they’re like the icing on the cake when it comes to holidays. So why not get into the Thanksgiving and Christmas spirit early with your favorite pie, cookies, cupcakes, bars, or whatever type of dessert is your favorite for fall!?! Not only will this be some extra inspiration to get in the kitchen, but you could also spend some quality time with family and friends, while doing so!

Switch Out Your Wreath–or Add One

All year long, me and Goodmommy are constantly switching out the wreath on our front door for every season—and sometimes, even more if we want to spice things up. In my opinion, they just make your home seem that much more inviting with a little burst of color. And although most people focus on decorating the inside of their homes for the holidays, we’ve got to remember to give the outside a little bit of love, as well.

Accessorize with Throw Pillow Galore

Let’s face it; throw pillows are the ultimate decoration for any living room, particularly during fall. The possible autumn-like designs are endless, and they provide us with excellent comfort–making them another necessity for a fall family movie night. And I think we can all agree that you can never have too many of those!

Seasoned-themed posts are always so exciting to create! There’s something about transitioning from one season to another that’s so exhilarating; it’s like, time to get ready for another adventure! I pray that this list will aid you well in making the most of the season of autumn.

What is your favorite season? Also, what are some of your favorite activities to do in the fall? I would love to read your responses in the comments, down below!

Have a beautiful and blessed day, y’all! God bless you all, and I’ll catch you later! Peace in! ~ Q’Zion ♡

A landscape painting in honor of spring… ♡

May 14, 2022May 14, 2022 Q'Zion4 Comments

Happy Saturday, everybody! I hope you are all having a beautiful day or night!

Although there are a lot of things that I love about weekends, one of those things happens to be that they give me plenty of time to focus on my hobbies. With no live classes to attend or studying to do, the weekends give me time to simply indulge in visual art, photography, reading, and simply relaxing.

Today, I wanted to take advantage of my free time and make a landscape painting in honor of the beautiful season of spring, and it honestly turned out even better than I was envisioning! As always, I had to show you guys my work of art and the steps that I took to make it. Enjoy, everybody!

First of all, I want to say that I used most of the colors provided in my acrylic paint set for this project. I was expecting to use no more than 10, but I ended up using about two times that. To be fair, a lot of mixing came in to play to get the exact hues that I wanted. However, I really like to experiment by mixing my paints, so this was a really fun process.

The first thing I did to start my painting was paint the sky. I wanted it to have a little bit of an ombre vibe (meaning that the colors progressed from dark to light) throughout the background. The sky starts off as a sky blue, and then transitions into a coral. Underneath that, I added little humps to resemble mountians, yellow for a corn field, and a solid green for grass.

Although I added some finishing touches to the background before adding all of the greenery to the painting, I think it looks pretty great!

After using some more paint to make the colors a little more solid, I decided to add a couple pine trees in the far background, as well as a tree on the right, which serves as a focal point for the entire painting. I also wanted to incorporate the classic spring colors with some flowers, which I painted in an abstract style. I really think that decision added to the simple yet really magical design of the painting.

When I finished adding the finishing touches, I was super happy with what I saw: an absolute masterpiece!

“Spring is Blooming” by Princess Q’Zion on May 14th, 2022. **All Rights Reserved.**

Painting this creation was a really fun challenge. A lot of thought went into how I could make this painting really come alive to tell the story of spring, and I really enjoyed that. Every piece of art that I make has a vision behind it, and I thank God that I was able to turn this blank canvas into something that exceeded my expectations.

LET’S CHAT~Have you ever painted a landscape? If you have, did you enjoy it?

Have a beautiful and blessed day everybody! God bless you all! ✨

I attempted to make TWO positive affirmation collage boards…

April 30, 2022April 30, 2022 Q'Zion4 Comments

I have completed about four craft kits by Creatology, all of which I purchased at Michaels, my favorite craft store. As my older followers probably know, I have fallen in love with the craft kits by this particular brand, and I make sure to buy a new one every time I get the chance. Approximately 2-3 days ago, me and Goodmommy saw some more cute Creatology kits right before we got to the registers.

The kit that ended up catching my eye was these two ADORABLE positive affirmation collage boards!

The way that this kit in particular differs from the other Creatology kits that I’ve purchased (and loved) is that it doesn’t include any paint. Instead, it has tissue paper and decorative stickers as the main mediums, which I was a little skeptical to work with for the first time, mainly because of the translucent paper. However, you’ll see later on that I was pleasantly surprised!

Least me say that this kit is LOADED with nice quality supplies. It even came with a ‘supplies included’ list on the back of the box. Overall, it provides 2 card stock boarders, 2 pieces of chipboard, 4 acetate sheets, 1 mirror sticker, 10 paper stickers, 3 glitter foam stickers, 2 colors of yarn, 35 adhesive gems, 180 pieces of tissue paper in a multitude of colors, and an Instruction sheet.

All I needed to complete the project that was not included was scissors and a glue stick, both of which were easily accessible.

Obviously, the kit gives you more than enough supplies, which I found really helpful, especially if you want to give your piece some extra details. I was even able to save some for a possible future project like this one.

The very first step was to add your multi-colored tissue paper in a mosaic design along one of the acetate sheets. I found this step really interesting, considering that you had to work with the rectangular shape, and the arrange the colors to get them to match the border color.

Considering that the one above was for the pink border, I tried to use more hot pink, yellow, and orange to make the color pop!

For the blue boarder, I used more blues, whites, and light pinks to give the piece a more mellow and relaxed feel, since that’s the emotion that I tend to associate with the shade of the blue boarder.

It’s really cool how the two color schemes of the collages have a different vibe about them, despite the fact that I used the exact same colors, LOL.

Afterwards, I glued the side of the acetate paper without the tissue paper on to a piece of chipboard. On top of the tissue-paper-covered acetate, I glued the card stock border of the desired color.

For the final step of assembly, I punched out the two holes at the top of the piece for my string.

After the assembly of each collage was complete, I added the positive affirmation stickers to each. For the pink, I used the 3D sparkly stickers. For the blue, I used the huge star mirror sticker. As the finishing touch, I applied the jewels along the cardstock boarders of each college. And voila! These two masterpieces were complete in only 120-150 minutes.

What can I say? I’m a fast learner! 😋💖🎨

I honestly don’t know what to say about these except that I AM IN LOVE!!! What I appreciate the most is the amount of short positive affirmation messages. Me and Goodmommy decided to hang them up in my room so that I can see them every morning and remember to believe in the princess that God has called me to be.

Every finishing detail was spot on, and I can’t wait for my next kit by Creatology! Each one is getting better and better! To see my other Creatology kit posts, please click HERE.

LET’S CHAT~Have you ever hand made a collage? If so, what did you use to make it (photographs, digital photos, newspaper, etc.)?

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everybody! May God bless every single one of you! Peace in! 💖

I painted on three wooden letters… ♡

April 16, 2022April 16, 2022 Q'ZionLeave a comment

A little less than two months ago, I showed you guys these three plain, wooden letters. I decided to get a Q and a T to stand for me and Goodmommy’s initials, as well as an & sign to go in the middle. Automatically, I saw the opportunity to make them my own with a little something called acrylic paint.

I asked Goodmommy what colors she wanted me to incorporate into my design. She replied pink and purple, which I was really happy with since they go with the colors of the spring season. I also decided to mix a yellow, scarlet, plain white (and eventually green) paint to give the whole thing an Easter vibe.

And of course, I had to take this opportunity to use one of my brand new paint pallets for the first time. As I expected, it was much easier to keep my paints from mixing. Plus, the look is really aesthetic–perfect for photographs.

I looked up some simple designs to paint on wooden letters, and I eventually found this video of these different flower designs. While I love the overall format, I changed the design by adding a plain white background to really make the colors pop. On top of that, I added some other intricate details to increase the visual interest.

The different shape of each letter (as well as the small size of each) made this project much more of a challenge. I honestly expected the paint job to be extremely minimalistic and bare, but I was actually able to incorporate many more tiny touches than I anticipated.

Overall, I am super satisfied with the finished product! The Q and the T are so vibrant, and the bold color of the & in the center is a great accent piece that pulls everything together. Goodmommy really loved it as well.

What I really loved about this project is that it helped me to do something out of the box. I had to figure out which design would look best on each letter, especially on such a small scale. The color scheme really flourishes with the spring-y vibe that I was going for. I’m excited for my next project!

LET’S CHAT~ Have you ever painted on wood? If so, did you like it?

Happy (Early) Easter, everybody! Don’t forget to remember the reason for the holiday–Jesus’ sacrifice of love, which we all ought to be thankful for! See you later! ✨

We redid Peace’s tank..and he loves it! | Betta fish tank decor

March 1, 2022March 1, 2022 Q'Zion4 Comments

Happy Happy Tuesday, everyone! I hope you all are doing fantastic! ✨

So, as you know, I got my new Betta fish, Peace. He’s doing absolutely amazing, and I wanted to give you guys another update on him. If you’ve been reading my most-recent content, you probably saw our set up for Peace’s fish tank. While the castle was a very beautiful addition, we wanted to switch things up for Peace and buy him some new decor.

And, you probably guessed by now that it looks absolutely stunning! Well…I’ll just let you guys see for yourselves.

This morning, Goodmommy went to Petco to get this really cool realistic, rocky background to tape to the back of the tank, this cool pink and green glow-in-the-dark synthetic plant and a new house with Archangles (from the Bible) carved on the outside. As soon as we added all the ne decorations, Peace immediately started to check everything out. He’s so inquisitive and always wants to know what is going on.

I was somewhat surprised to see how quickly he went inside his new house, though I’m glad that he seems more energetic then ever. He already has a few favorite spots.

He was so excited that he didn’t even notice his food that we put in his tank. Thankfully, we were able to feed him after he explored everything and calmed down a bit.

Fun fact: Bettas love food, and Peace is no exception. He literally swam to the very top of the tank once we opened the lid to feed him his pellets.

It was super heartwarming to see Peace’s response to his tank. Honestly, we do spend quite a bit on him, both in time and money, but it’s all worth it. He really is such a sweetheart and I thank God for placing him into our lives. It makes me happy to see Peace happy and healthy.

And no—Peace is not spoiled.

He’s loved. ❤️🐠💙

7 Simple and Chic Valentine’s Day Decor Ideas

February 10, 2022February 11, 2022 Q'ZionLeave a comment

I really enjoyed writing yesterday’s post for some reason, and Valentine’s Day is getting closer by the second. I figured, why not keep the theme going?

Now, since I’ve already given you guys some ideas for how you can make your Valentine’s Day fun for the whole family, let’s now direct our attention to decorations. Valentines Day decor is romantic, sweet and playful. But the rich colors give off just the right amount of sophistication.

Here are 7 simple and chic ideas for how you can make your home flood with hearts–literally.

Also, BEWARE. Gorgeousness is coming up! :))

Festive Heart Throw Pillows

Real talk: throw cushions are perfect for any season, but heart-shaped pillows for Valentine’s Day are so elegant. Not to mention that they’re cheap and may go in any room that you please. No matter what type of chair you have, cushions can make any seating area more spectacular.

Flowers, Lots of Flowers

Flowers are a classic Valentine’s Day symbol that aren’t just good gifts, but also good decorations. In my home, we love to keep fresh flowers on our island, which we use as a dinner table. Their dainty and delicate appearance are sure to stand out in a vase, around your fireplace, or even on your front door. The possibilities are endless!

LED Neon Light Wall Decor

I am in LOVE with this. If you really want decorations that make a statement, especially in a creative space like a home office or your room, I highly recommend an LED light. They look fantabulous in red, their lifespans are long, and they’re great for ambiance.

DIY Heart Tree

To be honest, this might be even better than flowers! Anyone who is looking for a DIY activity is sure to love this one. All you need are some thin sticks or branches, which you are likely to find in your backyard. Then, cut out paper hearts, and glue them to the ends of the sticks. I really appreciate how this looks home made, but in a cute way.

And just in case Do-It-Yourself is not really your thing, you could always use a Christmas tree or mini-tree and add heart ornaments to it. We did so in our living room and it’s gorgeous! I’d definitely recommend.

Cinematic Light Box with A Sweet Saying

In case you aren’t familiar, Cinematic Light Boxes are little boxes with LED lights. What makes them unique is that they come with a set of letters that you can insert inside one of the 3 sections to create a message, which I believe is a great way to fill your home with loving words to set the mood. If you add some type of hanging decoration around it with a few rose petals, it’s sure to scream Happy Valentine’s Day.

Mini Heart-Shaped Candles

Candles are in style all year round. The rich aromas can fill any room with a sweet scent. But they are also extremely romantic, sophisticated, and lively: perfect for a Valentine’s Day dinner date.

Candy Display

One of the best parts of this holiday of love is the candy. A candy display full of Sweethearts, M&Ms, or maybe some baked goods that you made yourself are perfect for any family get together. And if there are lots of kiddos in your family, make sure you stock up. Otherwise, the candy will be cleared out in a snap!

All of these cute ideas are sure to make any home more Valentine’s Day ready. There’s nothing like decorating for the holidays, and February 14th is no exception! What did you think about these decor ideas? Do you and your family decorate for Valentine’s Day?

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everyone! ❤️

They always say “Home is where the heart is.” My home is where GOD is.

January 17, 2022January 17, 2022 Q'Zion2 Comments

Note – First of all, Happy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Let us celebrate together as we aim to make the world a better place; equal for ALL people.

If your walls could speak, what would they say?

Do they speak love, happiness, joy, peace, or chaos and confusion? I thank God that my walls speak love, and always have. God is Love, and therefore, God is here.

Since I started virtual public school (about 5 years ago) I’ve been more of the type to stay home. I’ll go out with Goodmommy sometimes to complete errands. Some other occasions include a girls’ day out, family visits, holidays, birthdays, etc. However, I definitely don’t mind staying at home when I don’t need to go anywhere else, lol. I think whether or not someone is a homebody can be affected how they feel when they are at home.

Me and Goodmommy have always kept scriptures, positive messages, and words that inspire us all around our house. Literally, wherever you look, you’re bound to see some words of wisdom on the wall. I believe that what we have inside of our home can affect our attitude, overall,

Think about it. What you fill your home with fills the atmosphere. And the things that we allow in the atmosphere of our home can naturally effect the type of energy that we feel. Our homes should be a positive space filled with love, happiness, and good memories that last a lifetime. But that’s impossible if what we allow in our home doesn’t reflect that same positive atmosphere.

I’ve learned that home isn’t a place, it’s a feeling. — Cecilia Ahern

A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams. There’s nothing half so pleasant as coming home again. Home is where love resides, memories are created, friends and family belong, and laughter never ends. —Eric Brown

May your walls know joy; May every room hold laughter and every window open to great possibility. – Maryanne Radmacher-Hershey

For our home to be a refuge it needs to be a place where love, compassion, and patience prevail. – Allan Lokos

Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts. – Oliver Wendell Holmes

The home has endless love, laughter and laundry. – Unknown

I hope you all enjoyed reading these inspirational messages, quotes, and words. Depending on how this post does, I might make another post about how to keep your home a space filled with positive vibes. So, if you want me to post something like that, please like this post and follow my blogs so you will be notified when that time has come!

Have a beautiful and bless day, everyone!

Top 5 Christmas Traditions that Help Make the Holidays Memorable | Blogmas Day 9

December 13, 2021December 28, 2021 Q'ZionLeave a comment

Top 5 Christmas Traditions that Help Make the Holidays Memorable

-ajoyfulchristianteen ⭐

Christmas is a special holiday, filled with love, family, joy, giving and sometimes gifts. While there are so many things that make this day special, there is nothing like the Christmas traditions. These activities that many people do each year to celebrate can make amazing memories and allow for quality time with our families and friends.

Let’s take a look at some of my favorite Christmas traditions ! ⭐️

Decorating the Christmas Tree

Every year, me and Goodmommy never forget to set up a festive Christmas tree. It’s just so satisfying to add our personality to it with unique ornaments and garlands to add a little texture. And that final angel or star on top wraps it all together like a bow does a gift. To me, Christmas trees are one of the best ways to light up our home with the Spirit of Christmas.

Christmas Movie Marathon

Sitting on the couch, binging classic and new Christmas movies is definitely a favorite in my house! The nostalgia that I get, and the laughter that it causes is so memorable, and a huge part of the reason for why it’s a tradition. Hallmark Christmas movies are our favorites to splurge on as soon as November begins!

Advent Calendars

I think that advent calendars are so whimsical, and bring even more excitement to the holidays as you wait for Christmas Day to arrive. The suspense from not knowing what trinket you’ll receive next makes them so fun to have. Especially as a family.

Gingerbread Houses

A good gingerbread house can definitely be a joy, especially when you have a close family member or friend by your side. Sure, they can be a little tricky, and messy, to put together, but it’s super fun to look at your work, when you’re done. And the best part? They’re edible, of course!

Christmas Dinner

When Christmas Day finally arrives, the anticipation is over. Me and my whole family get together, and we have a wonderful Christmas dinner. A huge part of Christmas is spending time with family, so any tradition that centers around my loved ones is one of my favorites.

Christmas traditions are simply ways that we celebrate the Christmas season. To be honest, these examples are just a glimpse of the many things that you can do with your family this time of year. The list is almost endless with many festive possibilities!

Have a blessed day, y’all! ✨

Me and Goodmommy Made Gingerbread Houses! + Pics! | Blogmas Day 8

December 12, 2021January 23, 2022 Q'Zion1 Comment

Hey, y’all! Today is National Gingerbread House Day, and to celebrate, me and Goodmommy made our own gingerbread houses!

I must admit, we both had so much fun, and the final results came out pretty good, if I do say so, myself!

❤️ Wait! ❤️ If you’d like to see us actually making our gingerbread houses, be on the look out for the video on our TikTok account! We would really appreciate it if you would follow us @GoodGrands!

Decorating gingerbread houses is so magical during Christmas time! It serves as quality time with your loved ones, and a tasty snack afterwards! Definitely a win-win!

Question of the Day

Comment down below some Christmas traditions in your family! Have you made a gingerbread house, this year?

Have an amazing day everyone! Have a beautiful day! ✨

My 2021 Christmas Tree | Blogmas Day 3

December 3, 2021December 28, 2021 Q'ZionLeave a comment

Christmas is a holiday centered around the birth of Jesus. It’s also a time for family, love, good food, and the appreciation for what you have (which should be every day). In my opinion, another one of the many jewels of Christmas is the festive decorations, specifically the Christmas tree.

One of the first decorations that me and Goodmommy set up in our home in December is our Christmas tree. It’s a tradition that the whole family can participate in, and it’s super satisfying to watch those colorful lights shine throughout our home.

If we have a Christmas tree, we must remember to be thankful that we were able to get one, real or artificial, large or small, because there are some people and families out there who simply can’t afford one, especially due to the financial poverty caused by the pandemic.

Today, I wanted to show you all me and Goodmommy’s Christmas tree for 2021!