Category: National Months

8 Wellness Tips for a Healthier (and Happier) Lifestyle

Q'ZionLeave a comment

What’s up, everybody! This is Q’Zion, and welcome to my blog! I hope all of you are enjoying the prime of summer!

As you all know, we recently entered the month of August. But did you know that the 8th month of the year also promotes wellness in our everyday lives? If not, then today’s the day! In honor of National Wellness Month, I have created a list of 8 simple tips to help us live our happiest and healthiest lives possible. So, what are we waiting for? Let’s get this show on the road!

1. Start your mornings with something productive

The morning is one of the most important times of the day; it’s a time for us to get our gears moving and create a fresh start for a brand new 24 hours. After we finish our regular morning routine, we might as well do something to boost our energy. Stretching with some yoga poses, finishing another chapter of your new book, and learning a new language are a few options. You never know–after you begin to start your day doing something you love, you may even become a morning person.

2. Go outside and get some sunlight

Exercise is just as good for our minds as it is beneficial for our bodies. And that means that it’s one of the best ways to maintain a healthier lifestyle. A quick jog around your neighborhood or a local park is a great way to enjoy what nature has to offer while burning a few calories, before dinner. What’s not to love?

3. Eliminate negative self-talk

Wellness isn’t technically something that’s hard to achieve–but the progress starts with us. In order to transition to a state of better mental health, our mindsets have to be a reflection of that. This means that in order to make the progress that we want, we’ve got to be kind to ourselves by promoting positive words in our heads everyday. It’s much easier to reach a goal when we use our inner voice as an outlet of encouragement, rather than negativity.

4. Get a green thumb

Have you ever heard that people who garden tend to be happier? Well, then that is in fact correct. Multiple studies have shown that plants have a way of helping people feel more relaxed and content, similar to the effects of riding a bike everyday. Plants can even help increase concentration, your ability to breathe, and quality of life. So taking up the hobby of gardening might be a good idea to consider.

5. Creatively eat more fruits and veggies

Although we’ve all heard it thousands of times, we really do need to get our daily intakes of fruits and veggies. But just because we want to make an effort to make our diet more nutritious, doesn’t mean that we can’t have fun while doing it. Feel free to experiment with creative–and delicious–ways to eat healthier. Fruit smoothies, colorful salads, and veggie casseroles are a few tasty ways to spice things up in the kitchen.

6. Create something

I don’t know about you, but it always feels good when I take some time out of my day to be creative. There are so many options for what you can make–whether it’s a few quick doodles, a portrait, a paper craft, or even your own book. All it takes is a little imagination, and thousands of productive possibilities are within our reach!

7. Make sleep a priority

One of the things that we all need everyday is our beauty sleep. Without it, there’s no way that we could get through each day. So even if you find yourself busy as a bee, make sure that when your work for today is done, you get your 8 hours. This way, you can put just as much energy in the work that tomorrow has in store, and feel great while doing it.

8. Stay hydrated

The golden rule to a healthy lifestyle is to keep water in our systems. Not only does water reduce the risk of a large number of diseases, but it also does the basic job of maintaining high energy levels and keeping our brain functioning at its best. Considering all it’s benefits, drinking water is definitely a goal that we should all commit to.

Working towards a healthier lifestyle can be a challenge for some, but with a few simple changes here and there, achieving our wellness goals is a piece of cake. I challenge you all to take the time during National Wellness Month to make a few goals for yourself to pave the way for a healthier, and happier life. Hopefully, these tips were a good way to start your journey!

Let’s Chat~What are some of the methods that you take to achieve wellness? Feel free to share your response down below.

Have a blessed rest of your day, everyone! I’ll catch you later! ♡

15 Ways to Say Goodbye to Boredom

Q'Zion6 Comments

Can y’all believe it? For many of us, half of summer break is already over. ♡

Now that the 2022-2023 school year is getting closer than ever before, it’s important that we take advantage of every moment that we have left of our vacation. And since July is National Anti-Boredom Month, why not celebrate by doing things to keep us engaged?

If it feels like time is dragging on forever, here are 15 fun ways to say goodbye to boredom! With this jam-packed list of fun things to do, it will be a long while before you’ll ever feel bored, again. So, without further ado, let’s get started!

1. Learn a new language

I mean, who doesn’t want to be able to communicate with more people. From YouTube videos to mobile apps to online courses, there are more than enough ways to learn a language from a culture that you admire. Who knows; your new language skills may even inspire you to travel the world!

2. Try to draw or write with your non-dominant hand.

About only 1% of the population is ambidextrous, meaning they are both left and right handed. A great way to stimulate your brain is by drawing with your non-dominant hand. At first, your handwriting might look a little rough, but over time, you could learn how to write decently with both of your hands.

3. Write down what you would do if you won 1 million dollars.

Most people would absolutely love to be a millionaire–if only winning the lottery was more common. Even if you didn’t just hit the motherload, write a plan for what you would do if you just won 1 million dollars. The boredom is sure to melt away when you use your imagination.

4. Organize the apps on your phone.

I don’t know about you, but for perfectionists like myself, there aren’t many things that give you more satisfaction than organizing things. The pages of apps in your cell phone is a really good option.

5. Paint your nails.

So maybe you’re bored, but you also don’t feel like going to the nail salon. In that case, why not paint your own nails? You could even have a mani-pedi party and paint the nails of your friends while they paint yours. And why not have a sleepover, while you’re at it?

6. Purchase a book on your TBR (to be read) list.

To all my fellow bookworms out there; do you have any books on your TBR list that were just released? If you do, why not purchase them and spend some time reading? And considering that the weather is so pleasant in many parts of the world, consider changing the scenery and reading in a spot outside.

7. Play an instrument.

Learning how to play a new instrument is a great new skill that many people want to acquire. With summer break placing a buttload of free time on our hands, now is the best time to learn how to play the piano, guitar, saxophone or whatever other instrument you’ve taken an interest in.

8. Paint a self portrait.

Have you ever tried to replicate yourself in art form? If not, all you need is one or two reference photos, some paints, and appropriate paper, and you’ve got everything you need to make a self-portrait masterpiece!

9. Look at your baby photographs.

A road down memory lane is the perfect way to bring some old memories back to life–and it’s even more fun when you do so with your family.

10. Build a pillow fort.

You and you’re siblings–if you have any–could have you’re very own slumber party by making you’re own pillow fort. With some popcorn, cushions for pillow fights, and fun board games, a pillow fort could serve as hours of entertainment.

11. Make a summer daily routine.

Considering that we don’t have to wake up for school during summer break, it becomes a lot easier to sleep in. To revaluate the structure in your daily life, consider creating a routine from morning to midnight to serve as your guide throughout the rest of the summer.

12. Go star gazing

A silent night underneath the night sky is sure to put a little pep in your step. Not only will it likely destroy your boredom and provide a beautiful sight, but it can also help you learn more about the constellations and types of stars, which kind of makes this a double activity.

13. Clean your room

When you have nothing else to do, why not get a load off your shoulders and give your bedroom a deep cleaning. Not only will it get your gears moving, but your parents should be pretty happy, too.

14. Make a fruit smoothie.

Sometimes, the best way to conquer boredom is by refreshing our pallet. A strawberry, banana, mango, or pineapple smoothie is the perfect mix of sweet and savory to indulge in this summer.

15. Learn calligraphy.

Have you every wanted to learn how to write fancier than ever before? When it’s time to send out this year’s Christmas cards, you’ll be thankful that you learned calligraphy. You’ll never have to purchase a pre-written greeting card, again.

Although boredom can hit us all at one point or another, it’s so easy to think of things to do when you look at your surroundings. In other words, possibilities to be productive are everywhere. All we have to do is use a little creativity. And I hope this list will help you do just that.

LET’S CHAT~Which tip on this list do you like the most? Are there any other things you like to do when you’re bored?

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everybody! God bless you all, and I will you next time! ♡

5 Things to Do Outdoors in the Summer

Q'Zion2 Comments

If there’s any time to branch out and get a little outdoorsy, it’s while schools are out for summer break. Spending our time out in the nature while the weather is pleasant is one of the best ways to make the most of the season. Not to mention that being outdoors can do wonders for your overall mental health. And since June is Great Outdoors Month, I think we all need to have a little fun in the sun.

Here is a list of a few things that anyone can do OUTDOORS during the season of summer.

Go horseback riding

Learning how to ride a horse has been a desire of mine for years–and I still hope that I will do it someday. Horseback riding is also the perfect activity for the summer. Working with animals in the community is a great way to spend break if you are someone who enjoys being outdoors.

Try rock climbing–indoors or outdoors

Believe it or not, there are many organizations that serve rock climbing classes to people of all ages. I find summer one of the best times to take on a new hobby, and rock climbing is a really great option if you want to step out of the box. Plus, you can easily start training in an indoor rock climbing gym before you transition to climbing small hills and other real landforms with the permission and supervision of several adults, including your legal guardian(s).

Watch a movie outside

All you need is a projector, a translucent white screen, a few foldable chairs, family and friends, and some snacks, and you have set up an outdoor movie party. And just in case you like this idea, but want a cheaper alternative, many parks offer drive-in movies (or movies outdoors) for free during the summer. Just remember that if you decide to watch a movie in public to practice social distancing and have fun!

Visit a strawberry or cherry field

Some people may have goals on their summer bucket list that correlate to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. To keep fresh fruits in your diet, why not visit a strawberry or cherry field–or the field of any fruit that is currently thriving where you live–and go fruit picking? Not only will this activity get you outdoors and give you quality time with the ones you love, but you will also have a healthy, delicious reward to look forward to when you get back home.

Go canoeing

Maybe you want to spend some time in the water–why not go canoeing? Based on what I’ve heard, canoeing is an activity of teamwork and strength. Not to mention that it’s also a really good low-impact aerobic workout. If you plan on going camping this summer, canoeing could be a really good way to spend some extra time near your campsite on an uneventful day.

Being outdoors feels so good around this time of year–the weather is perfect, and we have every ounce of time on our hands. Instead of staying cooped up in the house all break, spending some time with mother nature is beneficial for your physical, mental, and spiritual health. Besides, no summer bucket list is complete without activities in the great outdoors.

LET’S CHAT~Does your family have any outdoor traditions for the summer? If not, is there any activity that you want to try during break? Feel free to comment down below.

Have a beautiful day, y’all! See you next time! ♡

National Great Poetry Reading Day

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I honestly didn’t know that it is National Great Poetry Reading Day, but what’s ironic is I just posted about how I read a poem of mine to a live audience just two days ago, LOL. Although I wasn’t planning on posting about this today, I thought that it was only fair to continue with the National Poetry Month theme. You all know that I can’t skip a good National Day! 😉

If you have not read my post about my experience with my Creative Writing Club, and/or my other poetry content, I provided some links so you guys can check them out from here. Enjoy reading some of my great poetry!

5 Tips for Anyone Who Wants to Practice Poetry

Happy 2022! ~ New Year Poem

Old Fashioned Apple Pie (my first free-verse poem)

I read my original poem to an audience for the first time… ♡

And that’s all for today, everybody! Thanks so much for reading and I’ll see you all next time! ♡

I read my original poem to an audience for the first time… ♡

Q'Zion3 Comments

Today I had another meeting with my Creative Writing Club. Every month we have an Open Mic Night, where we as students can submit our original works in Google Forms to read aloud to the group. In celebration of April, National Poetry Month, every presentation for today’s meeting was a poem or another short form of writing.

School is almost over, this is the last open mic night of the year, and I had never shared any of my original work with the group. Due to these factors, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to get the exposure that I needed.

I decided to use the poem that I wrote for International Women’s Day, “Words to Women” as my selection. And sure enough, when the club leader announced who would be speaking today, I saw my name as number 5 on the list.

Although I was nervous about the whole thing going into it, I became more relaxed as I heard each student read their original works. A majority of the poems were about self confidence or female empowerment, and they all seemed to connect to each other in some way, which I thought was really cool.

What I love about this club so much is that it gives me an opportunity to meet people who love to write, just like me. Not only did tonight’s meeting give me a chance to learn and gain inspiration from others’ work, but I was even able to share what I liked about each poem, and provide positive constructive criticism if the author requested it.

When it was my turn to read my poem, the whole thing went by very smoothly–I knew that what I had wrote was good. I was a little shocked at the flood of positive feedback that popped up in the chat. Many of the other club members repeated a quote of the poem that identified with them or gave positive comments such as how they liked how I talked about our differences and how they make each of us beautiful.

One of the most rewarding parts of being a writer is knowing that your work was able to touch a person and remind them of themselves. Poetry can be interpreted in many different ways. And one sentence can hold a lot of power.

Overall, I shared this with you all today to remind you that it’s good to step out of your comfort zone, from time to time; it feels so good to know that you conquered a past fear or challenge of yours.

Some things can be nerve wracking to think about doing, especially when that something is sharing your original work in front of an audience. However, when we are doing something that makes us nervous, it shows that we care. Not to mention that it gives us room to grow as people.

I hope this was able to inspire you, today. Don’t forget to be thankful for every moment, because we never know which one will be our last. May God bless you all; peace in! ♡

Whom Shall I Fear? | A Christian Poem ~ Reblog

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Hey, everyone! In honor of Good Friday–a day of remembrance and appreciation for what Jesus did for us–I will be reblogging a poem about the Prince of Peace today. The title that popped in my spirit was Whom Shall I Fear. It’s a poem based on Psalm 27:1, about how with Jesus, everything and anything is possible.

I hope that this poem will inspire you mightily. Enjoy! 

Whom shall I fear?

When You are the Lord of lords, and the King of kings

You are good and Your mercy endures

As your many angels sing



Whom shall I be afraid?

When You are my stronghold and my refuge

You’re always by my side

And I can’t deny that you always pick me up, at the oh-so-perfect time



Why shall I be wary?

When You are a promise keeper; You speak truth with your words

No love of any kind compares

To how Christ loves the church



Who am I to You, my Heavenly Father?

I’m the apple of your eye

A branch of the vine

You set me free and made me Your daughter



Who can come against me?

When You have won this battle

Before any hand can touch me

No matter where I travel



So, whom shall I fear?

When You are the leader of the world

The many boys and girls

And pure white pearls



Thank You, Jesus

I know this to be true

Because of who You are, there’s nothing to fear

Hence, my godly fear for You



- Whom Shall I Fear, Written by Princess Q’Zion on March 21, 2022. All Rights Reserved.

Overall, I had a lot of fun writing this poem. What I love about poetry is how you can use words to paint a picture. It’s almost like a painting, but you decorate the canvas with your words instead of art supplies. Plus, any creative platform that allows me to talk about the goodness of God is one that I favor.

Thank you so much for reading! Have a beautiful day, and God bless you all! 

World Autism Awareness Day | How to Support the Cause 💙

Q'Zion1 Comment

April is National Autism Awareness Month, Every April 2, also dubbed World Autism Awareness Day, is for autism organizations around the world, as well as people with autism and their supporters to come together in the stride of giving people with autism, also known as Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), an opportunity to reach their entire potential in political, economic and social platforms.

Considering that about 1 in 54 people under the age of 21 are diagnosed with autism every year in the United States (at least, according to various online sources) it’s very easy to say that autism is very common. The amount of diagnoses seem to have risen every decade. As a result, many people, including myself, have 1 or more family member(s) or friend(s) that has autism.

Because autism affects many children (and people, in general) around the world, it’s important that we do our best to support people with autism and their stride to make a difference in the communities. But, how exactly do we become aware, understand, accept, and support the cause for equality? That is where I come in.

Disclaimer~Let me say that I cannot speak from the point of view of a person in the autism spectrum. Every person, with or without autism, is different, so if you are in the spectrum, an advocate, or simply someone wanting to learn more about the subject, feel free to add any feedback in the comments to add onto to what I say and/or express your thoughts on other ways to support autism acceptance. Thanks! ♡

Back to my main subject: here are a few ways to support the cause! Enjoy!

1.) Address a Person with Autism with Respect — Most of the time, it is generally standard to refer to someone who has autism as a “person with autism” rather than an “autistic person,” if a situation where you are introducing them comes into play. While the two phrases may seem like the same thing to some, putting the word “person” before the word “autism” is acknowledging the person or people as individuals and human beings before the fact that they are in the autistic spectrum. However, you may want to ask the person with autism what they prefer to be referred to, and go based on that, as the answer can vary depending on the individual.

2.) Befriend or Spend Time with a Person in the Autism Spectrum — Try spending time with a person who has autism. Sometimes, it takes hands-on experience of being with a person to be able to understand them and how they think on another level. Showing support towards someone who is affected by autism can be a great way to spread awareness to your community and be an advocate towards the cause of celebrating differences.

3.) Educate Yourself — It can be a little tough to support a cause when you aren’t even completely aware of what autism is, how it affects people, and what you can do to help. All it takes is a little internet research to set you in motion to being a better example and advocate in your community.

4.) Donate to Charitable (and Reliable) Autism Organizations — This one may be a little obvious, but its always a great idea to support a good cause of any kind by donating to organizations that pour back into their communities. If you’d like to find some autism organizations, click HERE to view a list.

5.) Wear Blue — Blue is the “official” color to celebrate autism awareness and spreading the word in our communities. Therefore, another nice way to show your support is wearing the color blue throughout April. You can even post a selfie of yourself wearing blue and include the tag #LightitUpBlue to put a stamp on the statement that you will be making through the color.

Thank you all so much for reading some tips for how to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day as well as Autism Awareness Month. This post was really rewarding to write~it makes me happy to use my love for writing to spread awareness of messages of equality and unity.

Autism is not a disability in any shape or form. It is just another beautiful way to see the world.

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everybody! 💙

Radiant in red to honor heart disease victims

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As you all know (if you saw yesterday’s post, that is) today is National Wear Red Day! Yesterday, I wrote about the reason behind National Wear Red Day—to honor the women and men who have passed due to heart disease and/or stroke. I also explained what we can do as support towards the strides to lower these statistics. And one of the most predominant strategies that I mention was wearing red!

But, of course, it wasn’t enough to just say what we can do to support this amazing cause: I wanted to put my words in action. Check out me and Goodmommy looking radiant in red as a tribute to American Heart Month.

Of course, we had to do our normal routine and take an entire photo shoot once we got home, LOL. But I’m happy that we were able to make a statement through both fashion and color: two different methods of expression that blend to a tee.

Any time with Goodmommy is a treat, but we sure had a lot of fun going out today. Even though we mostly did just errands, Goodmommy was super sweet to buy us both a strawberry milkshake with red cherries on top. We didn’t actually eat the cherries. But the color of our milkshakes were pink, a color in the same family as red. So technically, we second-handedly added another red(ish) element to our National Wear Red Day.

I hope you enjoyed this quick read. Hopefully, you had fun celebrating National Wear Red Day, as well!

Have a beautiful, blessed, and red day, y’all! God is Good! ❤️✨❤️

Happy Black History Month!

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Guess what, y’all. Today is February 1st, also known as the very beginning of Black History Month. People in countries around the world celebrate the contributions of black brothers and sisters, as well as our allies, to help our nation progress into what it is today. Everyday is a part of our history. Everyday, new history is created that will last through generations.

Black History Month is simply when our history, heritage, and culture are acknowledged, not only as black people, but as American citizens and human beings.

This month isn’t just about self recognition, or the recognition of others. It’s also an opportunity for us to educate ourselves and learn about contributions to the world and our nation, as well as how we can participate in peaceful, modern movements such as Black Lives Matter. Black History Month is a time to give back to our communities and continue to take steps forward.

And the beauty of it all is you can take time to honor Black History no matter who you are. Anyone can make the choice to become educated, so that we may rise together and continue to make progress in the places that we call home.

What choice will you make today? ❤️💛💚