Tag: summer

Beachy vibes at the park | National Beach Day ♡

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Hello, hello, beautiful people! Welcome to my little corner of the Internet, a.k.a. The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen. I can’t believe that September is almost here. It genuinely feels like August just started! Anyway, today was the fourth time that me and Goodmommy visited the park to start our fitness journey, and it’s already starting to become apart of our weekly routine.

You guys already know that I’m always looking at the National Days as inspiration for new creative content for you all, and I recently discovered that August 30th is National Beach Day. Since I won’t be posting tomorrow, I thought I would tell you all the good news–and show some of the ✨ beachy ✨ pictures that I took at our go-to park to celebrate one of the most iconic staples of summer. Let’s get this party started!

Out of all of the shots that I took today, this one is probably in the top 3–and believe me when I say I took a lot of photos today. I know what you all are probably thinking: what does this have to do with National Beach Day if I didn’t take these pictures at an actual beach? Well, you’re not completely wrong, there. But I think that this shot truly gives those beachy summer vibes that we’re all craving at this time of year.

Let. Me. Tell. You. If you really want to see some cute animals, a park is probably the place to go. Over the course of today’s visit to the park–which was only about one hour–we saw a multitude of birds, butterflies, squirrels, dragonflies, and bees. And although you can’t really see it in the picture, I actually tried to capture some of the insects that were pollinating the white flowers in this photo. Either way, I think the shot is still really cute!

This is just a closer look of the water. All I have to say is it’s ✨absolutely gorgeous ✨!

And last but not least is this shot that I took of this crack in the ground. I think it’s super cool how plants can just sprout right through cracks in concrete, like this. In fact, plants are probably some of my favorite things to capture while practicing my photography. There are so many different kinds of flowers and trees that it’s hard not to take a snapshot every time I see one. What can I say? Plants are some of the jewels of nature.

It was nice to take a break after our usual workout and spend a few minutes by the water. There’s something about being in nature that’s so relaxing and energizing. For me, it’s the perfect way to start a new week after a few busy days. I encourage you all to go outside sometime this week, as well. Because, let’s face it; we all need to breathe some fresh air and feel that refreshing summer breeze, every once and a while.

Have a beautiful and blessed day, y’all! God bless you all, and I will catch you next time! Peace in! ♡

30 Last-Minute Things to do Before You Go Back to School

Q'Zion2 Comments

Happy Friday, y’all! Woah, has this week went by fast? I’ll answer my own question: yep. Although many of us are about to go back to school–or just beginning school–that doesn’t mean that we have to throw in the towel with having summer fun just yet.

To make this summer break even more memorable, it’s important that we take the last few days and weeks before school begins and check off a few last-minute additions to our bucket lists. As some creative inspiration for things that you can do to kick-off the beginning of a new school year–and the climax of summer–I’ve provided 30 activities to give you a head-start! Let’s go!

1. Watch a highly anticipated movie at a theatre with your family (Minions: The Rise of Gru, D.C. League of Super Pets, The Bad Guys, Lightyear, etc.)

2. Make one last stop to the beach

3. Go on a road trip to a new place.

4. Make a movie with your friends.

5. Visit a waterpark.

6. Do some back-to-school-shopping at your local mall (clothes, school supplies, etc.)

7. Go fishing.

8. Have a lemonade stand in your neighborhood.

9. Volunteer at an animal shelter.

10. Complete your summer reading with a book that you did not finish.

11. Create a wrap-up of your summer in doodles.

12. Unplug for a day and go outside.

13. Go to an ice cream shop that you’ve never visited.

14. Go to a drive-in movie with family.

15. Challenge yourself and a friend to make a tower with pencils: see who can stack theirs the highest.

16. Draw chalk-art on the sidewalk.

17. Team up with your siblings or best friends and cook a meal for your parents.

18. Bake a cake. Then, try to decorate it while blindfolded. (P.S. have some paper towels on hand! ;))

19. Attempt to break a (safe) Guinness World Record–with permission from a parent and/or guardian, of course.

20. Visit a National Park.

21. Read the Bible to get rid of back-to-school jitters.

22. Try listening to a new genre of music.

23. Go camping in your backyard.

24. Watch the sun rise and set. And don’t forget the photos!

25. Start a prank war with your family or friends.

26. Go mini-golfing on a sunny day.

27. Enjoy your last all-nighter of your summer break by throwing a sleepover.

28. Visit a science or kids’ museum.

29. Enjoy a family game night with your favorite board games.

30. Plan a scavenger hunt for your family and friends.

We tend to have a long list of things that we want to do when summer begins. And even though the time flies by, doing fun things like this is the perfect way to recharge and relax before a brand new school year! Remember, summer isn’t over yet–let’s make the most of it!

What are some things that you plan to do before back-to-school? Also, what are your thoughts on your next year of school? Feel free to share your response down below in the comments.

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

My Thoughts on the 7-Eleven Slurpee!

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Hello, everybody! I pray that you all are having a beautiful Sunday with your loved ones. Although I did a reblog yesterday, I didn’t fail to mention that it was really busy for me and Goodmommy. And while it was a lot of work, we still managed to make the most of another gorgeous summer day. ♡

On the 11th, I mentioned that it was Free Slurpee Day at 7-Eleven, and how despite the fact that we had planned to get one for me on our last stop for the day, we ended up bailing at the last minute because we found out you needed to be a 7Rewards member to get the special deal. But it turned out that on our way to the special event, we passed by a 7-Eleven gas station. And guess what? Goodmommy stopped by and bought me a large slurpee! And I think we can all agree that this more than made up for not being able to get one 20 days ago.

I remember that we used to get slurpees quite often back when I attended in-person schooling. But ever since, it seems that we went less and less until we just stopped one day. Still, it was such a sweet surprise on Goodmommy’s part to get one for me before we arrived at our destination.

7-Eleven offers a lot of fruit and soda-flavored slurpees, many of which I remember seeing years ago. I ended up choosing this option that was based on the orange Fanta soda, which I absolutely love. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever got this flavor in a slurpee, before, so I was happy to try it for the first time.

It ended up tasting a lot like the original soda–just in a frozen form. Even though it melted pretty quickly due to the blazing 90 degree weather, yesterday, it was a really bright, cool and refreshing drink in the heat–especially after not having one for so long. Almost like a little walk down summer memory lane.

Have a happy, healthy, and blessed rest of your day or night, y’all! God bless you all, and as always, peace in! ♡

A simple summer break is enough for me

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Hey, everyone! My name is Q’Zion and welcome or welcome back to my corner of the internet! ♡

Considering that in less than a month now, school will be starting for me, I’ve been thinking about doing a review of my summer break. And while I was originally going to do it on one of the last days of summer, I recently found out that it’s National Simplicity Day.

Now, it may seem like this National Day has absolutely nothing to do with summer break. But the thing is, my summer has been pretty simple. Despite the fact that we haven’t done anything extravagant, so far, me and Goodmommy have still had an amazing time simply being in the moment, resting, and spending some quality time, together.

The truth is, you don’t have to do a bunch of things to have a great summer break. So, today, I will be sharing some of the everyday things that me and Goodmommy have done to make the most of my summer break, with many of the photos that I’ve taken to keep our summer memories alive.

Let’s get started!

I went to Barnes and Nobles for the first time in years. It was so exciting and overwhelming to see all those books in one building. I can’t wait to go again!

I bought 3 new books–and thoroughly enjoyed them all! It had been a while since I got some new books to add to my large bookshelf, so I was super thankful to be able to get into the swing of things when it comes to reading.

I’ve had two strawberry milkshakes–and used them to practice my photography skills. To be honest, I think I’ve developed a bit of an obsession lol.

I’ve had a lot of fun hanging out with my betta fish baby, Peace. Isn’t he adorbs, y’all?

I enjoyed some delectable desserts at Panera Bread, and found the best cinnamon roll that I’ve ever tasted. Great, now I want another one, lol.

I’ve had several fun trips to Michaels–my favorite arts and crafts store.

I rediscovered my love for Rainbowloom, and I’ve made a lot of bracelets and figures to grow my collection. Sometimes it’s crazy to think about how much I’ve made in one month.

I’ve had a LOT of tasty food, considering that Goodmommy is such an excellent chef.

I’ve gotten closer to my Heavenly Father God through constant prayer, gospel music meditation, and the reading of His Word. He has truly blessed me mightily.

And of course, through it all I’ve spent a lot of quality time with my Goodmommy! I feel as though us being home so much has brought us even closer together, and I am thankful to God for a mother-figure like her.

As you can see, although the first half of my summer break was fairly simple, each of the things that I have done with the ones I love has been such a blessing. Sometimes, simply enjoying each of the everyday aspects of life can make your summer that much sweeter. And while we have several fun activities planned for the second half of my time off—including a visit to MOSI and possibly completing obstacle courses at a local park–I am grateful for all the fun that I’ve had so far.

Yep, a simple summer break is just enough for me. ♡

LET’S CHAT~How did you/have you been spending your summer break?

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everybody? See you next time!

7-Eleven Day – A Day for FREE Slurpees

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Hey, everyone! Happy Monday! ♡

All throughout the summer of this year, I’ve been writing a lot about how we can beat the heat. And one of the most fun ways to do just that is, you guessed it, eating and drinking. I’ve already given a few examples of some of my favorite desserts to eat and drink in the summer: ice cream, milkshakes, and fruit smoothies. But there is one particular option that I’ve failed to mention; slurpees!

Also known as slushies, slurpees are drinks made out of tiny ice crystals and flavored with a sweet, fruity, syrup. It’s kind of like the hybrid of a snow cone and a smoothie. This common cool beverage is a summer favorite in many western countries.

You may be wondering how slurpees could be relevant to today. Let me explain. In the United States, July 11 is considered National Free Slurpee Day. Why, you ask? Well, one of the most popular convenience convenience stores, 7-Eleven, celebrated its 95th anniversary today! And as a special treat for their loyal customers, they decided to give out free small slurpees from July 1-11.

Me and Goodmommy were originally going to stop by after we completed some of our weekly errands to get one for ourselves, but then we found out that this year 7-Eleven put an unexpected twist on this seemingly irresistible deal: the only way that you could redeem a free slurpee is to download the 7-Rewards app.

When me and Goodmommy found out about that small detail, we were like … yeah, no. But she did say that she could take me to Wawa—another example of a gas station convenience store that sells groceries, snacks, and a variety of beverages—to get one of their smoothies, instead. So, that’s something that we may be doing in the near future.

If any of you are fans of 7-Eleven, I hope you enjoyed a free slurpee of your own. But even if you aren’t, make sure to get yourself a little something this summer. After all, we could all use a cool, sweet treat once in a while.

LET’S CHAT~Have you ever heard of and/or tasted a slurpee? If so, did you like it? And if not, have you ever tasted anything similar?

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everybody! See you next time! Peace in! ♡

5 Simple Tips for Staying Fit This Summer

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In many parts of the world, the temperature is getting hotter than ever. And while there are some benefits to the summer heat, some may find it hard to stay active underneath the blazing sun. Even though it’s hot outside, we still want to enjoy our summer by feeling and looking our best. But the thing is, how do we maintain a healthy fitness routine when it’s over 90 degrees outside?

Well, that’s where I come in: today I will be sharing a few simple tips for how you can stay active this summer, so we can all use summer break as an opportunity to live our happiest, healthiest life.

What are we waiting for? Let’s get this party started! ♡

1. Consider doing water workouts.

Most people spend much of their summer time swimming in pools and dipping their toes in the ocean. And while these are standard things to do to have some fun in the sun, they also can make for a great underwater cardio workout. Keeping yourself fit while working out in the water can help add some variety to your weekly routine. Not to mention you’ll stay cool, while doing so.

2. Drink plenty of water to beat the heat.

If there’s any tip that I could give to stay fit in the summer, it’s hydration. While we should make sure that we keep ourselves healthy even in the heat, we still need to make sure that we keep fluids in our system, in the process. So, make sure you bring a water bottle with you when you work out in the sun. Trust me, you’ll be thankful when you begin to feel some sunshine vitamin D.

3. Work out during the coolest time of day.

Not a big fan of working out in the oven of summer? You may want to consider keeping up with the temperature forecasts. The mornings and the evenings–around the time the sun rises and sets–tend to be the coolest times of day. Therefore, a jog around the park during those hours can keep your workouts cooler and a lot less overbearing with sunlight.

4. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Earlier, I mentioned how water is a great way to stay hydrated. And while drinking water itself is the best way to keep yourself refreshed, most fruits and vegetables contain a large percentage of water, as well. Not only will this give you your daily dose of fruits and veggies, but there are several ways that you can incorporate fruits and veggies in your diet. Salads, smoothies, crepes, and omelettes are a few tasty examples.

5. Consider taking community classes.

For many people, working out is much more fun when they are doing so in a group. If you are a fitness lover who prefers to avoid exercising independently, there are many community fitness classes that could be wonderful options to satisfy your need for socialization. Whether you enroll in a class that teaches zumba, yoga, water aerobics, pilates, cycling, or many other types of workouts, you will likely have a great time working out alongside your peers.

Staying healthy is always important, no matter what time of year. There are so many ways to be creative with what we do to keep ourselves healthy, both inside and out. And I hope that these tips will help you do just that–and have fun while doing them, too.

LET’S CHAT~What is your favorite way to stay healthy during the summer?

Have a fantabulous rest of your day, everybody! See you next time! ♡

The I Love Summer Tag ☀

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Hey, everybody! My name is Q’Zion and welcome or welcome back to my blog. I hope you are having a fantabulous day or night!

I decided that today I wanted to post something really simple, but still summer-related and fun to read. So, I decided to make another tag, which is officially dubbed “I Love Summer.” Since I am a big fan of the sunny season, I created this tag to celebrate and give you all some info on my summer habits and preferences. Let’s get into it!

Rules

1. Ping back the creator of this tag by providing a link to the original post.

2. Post these exact rules on your post of this tag.

3. Answer all 11 questions.

4. Nominate some of your blogger friends and/or leave it open to anyone reading.

5. Have fun!

I Love Summer Tag

1. What’s your favorite thing about summer?

I really love the bright weather, especially when the weather is around 76-80 degrees with a small breeze. Just after spring, nature is flourishing and that makes for a really photogenic season.

2. What is your signature summer style?

I usually wear bright colored tops–mostly t-shirts–with comfortable leggings or jeans to match. My jewelry usually has lots of color to match with my outfits and make the colors pop. And I’ll usually add a pink or orange lip gloss to tie it all together.

3. Which dessert do you prefer during the summer?

Milkshakes, obviously. I get them once a month. But to be fair, I was doing so before summer even started lol.

4. Beach or swimming pool?

I like both, but I will say swimming pool because I’m not the biggest beach go-er.

5. Where would you spend your dream summer vacation?

I would love to go to either Italy, Sydney (Australia) or Jamaica. I would probably spend most of my time checking out the famous landmarks to learn more about each country’s history and local restaurants to familiarize myself with different cuisines.

6. Do you think that you spend more money in the summer?

Yeah, for sure. I tend to stay home a lot more when the school year is in session, just because during the weeks I have work to do and feel like doing nothing but resting when the weekends arrive. The summer gives me much more time to relax, which makes going out of the house a lot more appealing, to me.

7. What’s the most annoying part of summer?

The insects–particularly the lovebugs, gnats, and mosquitoes. Especially the mosquitoes.

8. Do you spend most of your summer indoors or outdoors?

Indoors. To be fair, just because I go out more in the summer doesn’t mean I do so that often.

9. Who do you spend your summers with the most?

My family, particularly my Goodmommy and intermediate family. I haven’t even really spent much time with my friends from school, but we have made sure to check up on each other through texting.

10. What scents do you associate with summer?

Pineapple, watermelon, saltwater, and barbecue.

11. What colors do you associate with summer?

Warm colors like yellow, red and orange since they remind me of heat, and where I live is pretty hot during this time of year. But any bright color gives me the summer vibes–like sky blue and hot pink.

Nominees

I’ve nominated everyone who likes the season of summer to replicate this tag. If you do decide to give it a try, I hope you have lots of fun with it and I’m excited to read your responses!

Thank you so much for reading this fun tag with me! Let me know in the comments if you all enjoy my tags and would like to see more of them, in the future. It’s a lot of fun making them, so I hope you like to read my tags, as well!

Have a fantabulous rest of your day everyone! Laters! ☀

Just some summer photography … – Go Out With Me #6 ♡

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Hey, everybody! This is Q’Zion and welcome back to my blog! ♡

Today me and Goodmommy had our monthly girl’s day out, and on our short journey I took a lot of photos to sharpen my skills. Because I was so satisfied with how they all came out, I decided that I would dedicate this post to some of my most recent summer photography.

Each of the photographs in this post were taken by me and therefore belong to me. They cannot be redistributed or republished on any source except my blog. Thanks!

Without further ado, let’s get started. ♡

My lovely grandmother was gracious enough to take this photo of me–since I had already taken one of her, and I wanted you guys to see my outfit, too lol. I also got my monthly milkshake from Steak n’ Shake. The only difference is that it was strawberry this time. As always, it was the perfect way to cool off from the heat of summer.

Me and Goodmommy were both fairly tired this morning, just because we woke up so early. Though either way, Goodmommy looks absolutely fabulous, as always. I really think everything about this shot was perfect; thank God that I was able to snap at just the right moment.

When we were walking outside a building to complete one of our errands, I was met with this gorgeous wall art, which is actually pretty popular in the city that we visited today. I’d seen this particular art several times before, but today I thought I would take advantage of the opportunity and show it to you all. I don’t know who painted this masterpiece, but whoever they are, they have a great eye for design.

We eventually went to Michael’s to get some extra supplies for our T-shirt business–which you can check out on Etsy HERE–and some more rubber bands to support my Rainbow Loom hobby. While we were looking around, I happened to stumble upon this colorful exploration-themed isle. The bright colors gave me such a summer-like vibe, so I knew it would be the perfect photo to add to my personal collection.

Aside from the usually angle at which I photograph my milkshakes, Goodmommy recommended that I take a shot of the inside, considering that the staff made it perfectly, today. It ended up looking really aesthetic, so I’m really happy with how this one came out.

I had a lot of fun this afternoon spending quality time with my Goodmommy while taking these gorgeous photos, and I’m even happier that I get to show you all my work. Summer is one of my favorite times to practice my photography skills, due to the perfect natural light and blossomed nature.

Each of these photos are a part of my 2022 summer story, and each memory that I make with the ones I love is a blessing from my Heavenly Father. For that, I am forever grateful.

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everybody! See you later! ♡

Happy Father’s Day ♡

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On the third Sunday of June, people in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada celebrate Father’s Day. A day to show our appreciation for the fathers and father-like figures who are present in their lives.

A father’s job is to love, protect, discipline, empathize with, and provide open arms to his children. The men in our lives teach us strength, love, forgiveness, and friendship. And without our fathers’s love and guidance, many of us wouldn’t be who we are today. Today is a chance for us to thank our dads for every sacrifice that they made to give us the lives that they never had.

Today, I wrote an original poem named “Father of Mine” to celebrate this special day and thank fathers around the world. I hope you all love it as much as I did! ♡

You’ve been my rock, and kept me strong
Sacrificed a thousand times
You never left when I did wrong
It's hard to believe you're the father of mine 

Ever since my birth
Our bond was set in stone
Your voice is a reminder 
That I’ll never be alone

You’re not just my father
But you’re also my friend
Through thick and thin, both losses and wins
You’ve stayed true until the end

And even when you’re miles away
You’re still right by my side
The wisdom still resides in me
From my everlasting guide

I’ve wondered a thousand times
Does anyone have a father like mine?
But all I need to do
Is look at you
And I realize

You’re a one of a kind design

— “Father of Mine” by Princess Q’Zion, written on June 19th, 2022. All Rights Reserved.

Once again, fathers are a blessing in our lives–both our earthly and Heavenly Father–and I thank God for not only His guidance, but for that of every single father that He has used to give us instruction, strength, and love. And I hope that everyone was able to show some love to their “father of mine” today.

Happy Father’s Day, and I will see you all next time! ♡

Flower Photography |Nature Photagraphy Day

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A/N ~ Hey, y’all! I’m so glad you’re here! In celebration of Nature Photography Day, I will be sharing a reblog of some of my personal flower photography. Enjoy!

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! 🌻