Tag: lifestyle teen blogger

8 Wellness Tips for a Healthier (and Happier) Lifestyle

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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! ♡

This or That #7 – Hobby Edition

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I just checked my This or That category on my blog, and it’s been almost 4 months since I added to this series…let’s change that today.

For those of you who have never seen this series from my blog, I will explain all of the rules. During every This or That episode, I list a series of questions with two options each (for example cat vs dog) and I have to choose which of the items I like more and/or prefer. Today, every question will contain two options that are related to hobbies or extracurricular activities. So, without further ado, let’s do this thing! ✨

1. Video games 🎮 or board games 🎲 ?

While I love a good board game during family night, I’m going to have to pick video games. I play them almost every single day, while I play board games only on certain occasions. Both of them are really fun, but video games are a more natural choice, for me.

2. Writing ✍🏿 or reading 📚 ?

This one is super tough, considering that reading and writing are some of my favorite hobbies. In fact, I think I might need to make it a tie; I love them both equally. Plus, a person can make a living off of either reading audiobooks or writing their own story. Not only are reading and writing fun, but they both give you plenty of opportunities to make a profit while doing so.

3. Blogging 📝 or vlogging 📷 ?

In case you aren’t familiar with the difference, a blog (such as my blog, The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen) is a website that contains frequent posts, commonly filled with informal or casual writing from a person, such as myself. Vlogging is pretty much the same thing, but in video form.

This might not be a shock to you, but I definitely prefer blogging. I posted occasional vlogs on my YouTube Channel for about a year, but eventually I stopped and transitioned to blogging. I find it much more convenient since a blog post requires much less time, editing, and required equipment than vlogging does, in most circumstances.

4. Mobile games 📱 or console games 🕹️ ?

“Easy” is the first word that came to my mind when I thought of this question. Mobile games, all the way. Again, this response has to do with the one that I use the most. I tend to play the mobile game “Roblox” most days of the week. And while I have an Oculus Quest 2 (and I really love it) it’s not much of a go-to game. Since my mobile devices are super easy to pick up and play on, I tend to find myself using them more often.

5. Novels 📖 or comic books 💥?

YAYY!!! Another easy one. For me, the answer is definitely novels. I would agree that comics tend to have a lot more color, therefore they are really good for those who prefer visuals over pages of words. But there’s nothing that compares to a good novel, in my opinion. Novels (including graphic novels, which are somewhat similar to comic books) are definitely some of my favorite types of literature in the universe.

Answer Key:

  1. Video games 🎮 or board games 🎲 ? – video games 🎮
  2. Writing ✍🏿 or reading 📚 ? – both ✍🏿📚
  3. Blogging 📝 or vlogging 📷 ? – blogging 📝
  4. Mobile games 📱 or console games 🕹️ ? – mobile games 📱
  5. Novels 📖 or comic books 💥? – novels 📖

As always, this episode of This or That was such a blast, especially considering that it was focused on hobbies. I’m curious, what are your preferences from each of these This or That questions? Feel free to share your answers in the chat below.

Have a beautiful and blessed day or night! May God bless each and every one of you! Peace in! ✨

Updating my Calendar #1 | May 2022

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To the left of my wooden desk–which I primarily use to complete my schoolwork and art activities–is my huge, dry-erase calendar. We’ve had it for approximately three years now, and I find it really helpful to have the ability to change it each month and customize it to my liking.

Today, I had plenty of free time on my hands, so I decided to update my calendar for the new month of May 2022.

After a thorough wipe-down with wet paper towels and a tap of dish soap, I was able to get all of the dry-erase marker off of my calendar to start afresh. Then, I wrote the word ‘May’ in the upper left corner, followed by the scripture of the month, Hebrews 13:8.

Afterwards, I did the usual procedure of numbering each day of the month and filling in all of my daily live lessons, club meetings, and FSA tests for the end of the school year. Logging all of my appointments on my calendar is actually kind of fun for me, considering that I’m a type-A person.

In the “Notes” section, I like to provide some type of inspiring and/or uplifting quote. I feel strongly that in order to have a peaceful home, we have to keep positive messages throughout. Today, I decided to add “Treat every moment as if it’s your last,” which happens to be a message that I hold very close to my heart.

Not only is it a reminder for me, Goodmommy, and our household, but also to you all; cherish every moment that you have on this Earth as if it’s your very last breath.

After about an hour or so of updating my calendar, my job (for the next 29 days) was done. I really love how I used every color to make the whole thing look vibrant and fun to look at. Everything came together so nicely, and I am more than happy with the outcome!

Overall, I’m happy to have my calendar completely up to date. This was very much so time well spent!

Thank you all so much for joining me, today! God bless you all! 💖✨💖

Spring is in Bloom | Flower Photography

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In my Visual Art class for this year, one module was focused on photography, and many of the techniques associated with it. Ever since then, I’ve fell in love with taking photos, especially of nature. As of now, I do my best to take at least one nature photo every week to get some practice in.

Spring is in bloom, so when me and Goodmommy came home today, I noticed these delicate white flowers that were sprouting from a tree just outside. And the first thing I thought was; photo opportunity! So I took a mini photoshoot of the flowers–one of the most beautiful aspects of nature–and I wanted you guys to check them out.

Here are some of my latest nature photographs. All Rights Reserved.

1. I absolutely admire this angle…the flower is tilted so elegantly. Ahh, that feeling when you get a good shot is the chef’s kiss.
2. I think close ups can be super pretty when executed well. I’m definitely seeing improvements!
3. In my art class, we learned that this technique (making small things look bigger) is called macro. The way I remember it is macro = microscope. It’s super cool how zooming in a little can help you see the intricate details that you can’t see unless you take a closer look. That’s one of the most beautiful parts of photographing nature.
4. I just had to show the whole tree in a shot, so I really used the opportunity to do the opposite of macro and make the whole tree the focal point rather than just one flower. The white stands out from the shades of green so vibrantly. Very spring, if you ask me!

Photography makes me feel super happy inside. And my photographs of the great outdoors are always some of my favorites. Thank God for the beautiful scenery of spring!

Learning about different species and organisms that I’ve never heard of or seen before is always a super exciting experience. Every photo that I take is a step of improvement; and I’m enjoying every second of it.

Thanks for reading, y’all! Toodles! 🌻

Happy Resurrection Day ♡

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Thank God for a beautiful Resurrection Day! Me and Goodmommy, as well as some of our family, had a great time during praise and worship at today’s church service, this morning. All though we were tired from waking up so early, it is always a blessing to be in the House of the Lord with other followers of Christ.

Despite the fact that we are sinners, and we have all fell short of God’s Glory, He sent His one and only son to come on Earth and pay for our sins with the ultimate sacrificial love.

Although I didn’t write the poem the I will be sharing today (which is instead from an online article) it summed up what was in my heart perfectly. I hope you all enjoy it! 💛

He was bruised and brought healing!

He was pierced and eased pain!

He was persecuted and brought freedom!

He was dead and brought life!

He reigns and brings Peace!

The world can’t understand him,

The armies can’t defeat Him,

The schools can’t explain Him, and

The leaders can’t ignore Him.

Herod couldn’t kill Him,

The Pharisees couldn’t confuse Him, and

The grave couldn’t hold Him!

Nero couldn’t crush Him,

Hitler couldn’t silence Him,

Other religions can’t replace Him, and

The world can’t explain Him away!

He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.

He is Goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God.

He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful

He is Jesus, the Sweetest most powerful Name that I know, and I L💛VE Him!

Have a beautiful and blessed Easter Sunday, everybody!

Remember that God is love, and regardless of what we do, His love for us will never falter; this is what He showed us when the Son of God, Jesus Christ, died, rose, and lived again. Then, now, and forever. 💐

I painted my own ceramic room decor … Pt. 2 ♡

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Hey, everybody! So, some of you have probably seen my finished product of this adorable ceramic room decoration that I found last week. If not, I would recommend that you click this link to get the full story of how I found these, in the first place.

Just as a bit of a refresher, here is a picture of the two kits that I have used in this two-part series. Last time, I did the one of the right, therefore I’m going to be showing you guys what I did with the one on the left for this new short and sweet post.

At first glance, I was a little skeptical about the “diamond” shape of this decoration, just because it seemed like there wasn’t a lot of space to paint. But in the end, I actually really enjoyed that aspect of the piece. The more I looked at it, the more excited I got about rolling my sleeves up and painting it!

Just like the first kit, I used a surprisingly wide variety of colors to critique each of the paints in the kit. Though I must say that these had much better coverage than the paints from my last art project. The colors were just a bit dark, so I used colors slightly brighter than the original hues, as well as some white and/or cream to keep the neutral color scheme.

At some point, I had actually put some white polka dots on the light blue sections, but I didn’t like how it looked, so I covered them up with a few coats of paint. I might even add a few more, the next time I work with my acrylic paints for a bit of a touch up. However, for now, I’m really happy with what I’ve done. I think the color adjustments really paid off–they are popping!

Aaandd, that’s all for today, folks! I’ve really enjoyed customizing these decorations. Being able to really use my paints and experiment to see what looks best is such an enjoying and relaxing process. This is definitely not the last you’ll see of my art; I already have another idea, in mind.

Like always, if you enjoyed this post and want to read more of my daily content, please like this post and consider following my blog, if you haven’t already–all your support is a blessing!

Have a beautiful and blessed day! God bless y’all! ✨

Selfies, milkshakes, and birds…lots of birds | Go Out With Me #2

Q'Zion3 Comments

What’s up, y’all? How is everybody doing today…Fantabulous? I’m so glad to hear that!

So, yesterday me and Goodmommy went out to complete some more errands, so I decided to make these ‘Go Out with Me’ posts a series since they’re a lot of fun. Anyway, I happened to see a lot of birds while we were out of the house, and I’m curious to find out exactly how many. In fact, I think I’m going to do a bird count throughout the entire post to see the exact number.

Get ready for some cute new selfies, milkshakes and plenty of bird photos sprinkled in between. Starting…right now. ♡

Bird Count: 1

So the first bird friend that caught my eye (on one of our first couple stops, in fact) was this one. It honestly surprised me that it was on top of bushes. I didn’t understand why until I saw it almost fall on it’s face to catch a lizard as a snack lol. I eventually Google searched a ‘white bird with a yellow head’ and figured out that this species is called the cattle egret. Cool, right? And the bird even looked at me to say ‘bye’ as we pulled out of the parking lot.

You guys already know that I had to take a few cute new selfies, so I might as well show a couple of them. I love my my nameplate is perfectly centered in these photos. It’s almost like my statement piece, and I try to show it in all of my selfies. My efforts definitely payed off!
And I’ve got to admit, these earrings are sparkling bright, today. I LOVE my diamonds and my hearts.

Bird Count: 10

On our next stop, I saw an entire flock of birds, which I count to be nine. At this point, I was a little surprised at how many feathered-friends I was seeing. Little did I know that I was in store of many more. Seriously though, this isn’t even half of the bird count.

Next up, my Goodmommy was super sweet to drive by Steak n’ Shake to get a milkshake. It has been YEARS since I’ve gotten any flavorexcept the classic strawberry, but today I was in the mood for something different. I ended up ordering chocolate, instead. This was one of those things that tasted super good just because I hadn’t had it in so long.

Bird Count: 32

This is where the number starts doubling…or in this case, tripling. When we went to a couple of grocery stores as our final stops, we saw this huge flock of birds on the roof of a clothing store.

Plus, I also saw a portrait of two birds in a building, as well as a black bird, which was what I believe to be a Common Grackle (which appears black, but has an almost iridescent blue and purple head and body), therefore, that adds obvious to the bird count.

FINAL Bird Count: 35

As you can see, we had a whole lot of fun yesterday. And we saw a lot of birds, too. I absolutely love animals, so I am thankful that God placed them in my path for me and Goodmommy to see and learn about. Birds are super beautiful to look at.

Thank you so much for reading, and I’ll see you all next time! ✨

6 Reasons Why I Love Blogging

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It is honestly hard to believe that I have been blogging for over 8 months now. On August 1, 2021 when I started this blog I had no idea how much love I would have for my website. God has blessed me mightily with this gift, and every day, with every post that I create, my love for blogging gets stronger and stronger.

Therefore, today I will be share the top 6 reasons why I love blogging the way I do. Let’s get this party started! ✨

Blogging is A Creative Outlet

Writing has always been a passion of mine, and blogging is essentially writing in a nutshell. Even though it can be a challenge sometimes, I enjoy brainstorming for ideas on what I will post next. Sometimes, God will let me see things throughout the day to give me an idea. Being able to share my experiences as child of God, a person and a teenager with you all is always one of the highlights of my day.

Helping and Inspiring People

Another one of the aspects that I really appreciate about blogging is that it is a way to encourage people and lift them up. When I’m writing, sometimes I don’t know who I am touching or who God had me type the post for. In other circumstances, my writing is a way of teaching myself and helping me follow my own advice. Making people feel good about themselves and who they are, as well as encouraging them to spread love and positivity to others is a major goal on my blog.

I Get to Spread My Faith

This is a biggie, right here. I think it’s so important to have young children of God who encourage other adolescents and young people how to follow God and be His example. Blogging has helped teach me to boast more about the Lord and about my faith. Christianity is a big part of who I am and who God has made me to be, so it’s only natural to incorporate that into my website.

I’ve Created so Many Memories

A blog is a document of your life, your experiences, your feelings, your faith, your family, and all the little pieces of the big picture. I know that every day I am documenting something that I can look back on to remember my childhood and how I felt about life. Every photo and every paragraph tells a story of my life and is another sweet moment to last a lifetime.

Blogging Provides a Sense of Ownership

To me, my blog gives me a sense of ownership and responsibility. It is my duty to maintain, monitor, and create content for my blog. In this way, I think it helps me to prepare for when I have my own business one day, which is always a bonus.

Blogging Allows Me to Grow as A Writer (and a Person)

Since my blogging has put me in the position to write every day, I have seen the progress that I’ve made in regards to my writing skills. While I loved to write even before I started my blog, I wasn’t writing outside of school every day, so this has been a change that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. Plus, throughout the process I have learned more about myself, therefore making me more confident in the gifts that God has blessed me with.

I had a blast sharing some of the reasons why I hold my blog so dear to my heart and I hope you had just as much fun reading my thoughts!

LET’S CHAT~If you are a blogger, what is your favorite part about blogging? We may even have some similarities: feel free to comment down below. Kind vibes only, please. ♡

Thank you so much for reading! Have a beautiful and blessed day, everybody! ✨

World Autism Awareness Day | How to Support the Cause 💙

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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! 💙

When was the last time you told your family ‘I love you’?

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In my home, we tell each other ‘I love you’ multiple times a day. In the morning when we wake up, throughout the day and before we go to sleep. And by family I don’t necessarily ONLY mean people that are blood related–I mean the people who love us, care about our well being, and are present in our lives.

We all have people who are constantly supporting us through it all, and those are the same people who deserve an ‘I love you’ for their contributions in our lives.

To be honest, I believe ‘I love you’ should be spoken as well as showed through actions. The words are extremely colorful in the sense that they can be said (or shown) in more ways than one. And these are some examples:

  • give them a hug
  • treat them to breakfast in bed (only if you are 16 or older and/or your parents allow you to cook unattended)
  • be patient and listen more
  • leave a motivational note
  • spend quality time
  • let someone else choose what movie to watch or game to play during family time
  • say ‘I love you’–that’s probably the simplest, of all of these ideas LOL

Showing our family that we care about them isn’t hard~all it takes is a simple ‘I love you’ and a few actions to show it, here and there. Out of all the people in the world, it’s those who love us the most who need to know that we appreciate them. Don’t forget; the next second, the next minute, the next hour, nor the next day on this Earth are promised for ANYONE.

Therefore, make the most of every day, and never let a day go by without telling your loved ones ‘I love you.’

Have a beautiful day, everybody! God blessed you all! ✨