thebookspotbykg.
  • Home
  • Book Tings TALK!
  • Blog
  • Shop
    • FUNKY THREADS
    • MORE TINGS...
    • LOVE & LIGHT LIBRARY
  • About
  • Contact

BookTingsTALK: Broke Phi Broke

1/29/2019

0 Comments

 

C.R.E.A.M.

Picture
Happy Wednesday! Welcome back to another week! I hope that you made it through your week stress-free, less broke than you were last week, and wine IN TOW for the weekend! Because we got such a great response from our #BookTingsTALK session last week, we decided to keep the conversation flowing and the vibes going with this week's topic: MONEY! Now, we all know that money is usually a really stressful topic, but we are going to make it fun. I know you're probably thinking, "Oh yeah she would want to talk money when rent is due this week, and baby Lil Gunz daycare fees are due, and I have to buy new 24's for my hoopdie, and oh yeah, I need to file taxes or get cousin Earl to take them to the corner store for the low. Thanks Kiera you horrible biotchhhh!" Hey, money doesn't have to be that way! I LOVE a good discussion, and I am currently listening to You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth x Jen Sincero via audiobook, and I must say I LOVE IT! I am usually not a big fan or audiobooks because it becomes really easy for me to wonder off, or think of other bazillion things that I can be getting done, but this audiobook is so good! It has really deconstructed my crazy beliefs about money to the point of WHOA BABY, and did I mention that it literally feels like I am having a hilarious conversation with my bff listening to this book? YES! If you are not familiar with this author, I feature her debut novel, You ​Are a Badass as my Reading Between the Wines November book club pick!

​In You Are a Badass at Making Money, Jen will launch you past the fears and stumbling blocks that have kept financial success beyond your reach. Drawing on her own transformation—over just a few years—from a woman living in a converted garage with tumbleweeds blowing through her bank account to a woman who travels the world in style, making seven figures per year, this book is an excellent read for anyone looking for some financial advice and has a set on ready sense of humor. Jen uses her own economic transformation to teach you what’s truly holding you back from making real money. Jen will help you stop letting your doubts, fears and excuses get in the way and show you how you too, can be as wealthy as you want to be. To get a lot out of this book you need to have an open mind and be willing to change your mindset and forget a lot of what you’ve been told! She explains the importance of knowing your deepest desires and how to start taking action. This isn’t your average how to make money book, this book really focuses on your mindset, thoughts and beliefs. This book also teaches you how to get real results. The results we all are looking for! One of the reasons I love this book so far is that it really teaches you various factors that can hold you back from making all the money that you can earn. For example, this book discusses: giving your doubts, fears, and excuses the BOOT,  how to relate to money in a new, open-minded, and positive way, how to shake up the cocktail of creation, ways to tap into your natural ability to get rich, shape our reality—stop playing victim to circumstance (JUST DO IT!), and lastly, to get as wealthy as you wanna be! Sounds simple right? Let's stop fearing money, and let's kick some financial ass! (Corny? WHATEVS haha you know what I mean!) So BOOM! Let's talk about it! 

Broke Phi Broke:

1. Do you believe in creating monthly budgets?
2. What are some obstacles you face when managing money?
3. What are your financial goals this year?
4. Do you have an emergency fund? If so, how much do you believe should be saved for emergencies?
5. Thinking back to your childhood, how were finances discussed in your home?
6. Now, as an adult, what is a healthy view of money?
7. How did religion or church influence your attitude towards money? 
8. Should married couples have a joint account? If so, do you believe in asking your partner permission to withdraw money from this account? (We can't forget the classic Martin episode-Lockin Boots haha!)
9. Do you believe in splitting household bills in relationships?
10. If money had no limit, what would you be doing? 
11. Do you believe that all couples should have pre-nups?
12. What are your thoughts about debt consolidation with your partner?
13. Is poor money management a deal breaker for you in a relationship?
14. What is one thing you know now about finances that you wish you knew in the past?
15. What is more important? Money or time?
16. Do you discuss lending money to others with your partner? Is there a limit to how much you can give?
​17. I will be a badass at making money by ______________.
Feel free to share, like, comment, repost! Also, make sure to follow us on @thebookspotbykg on Twitter and Instagram as we dive into this week's questions/thoughts!  When answering this week's questions, don't forget to hashtag #BookTingsTALK! I can't wait to connect with all of you! Are there other money questions that you can think of that I didn't mention? No problem! Comment below and I will be sure to feature them during our live chat! Tune into our Twitter page tonight at 7pm for our fun live discussion! Thank you so much for reading :) 

Enjoyed Today's Post? Check This Out!

Picture
Picture
0 Comments

#BookTingsTALK!

1/22/2019

0 Comments

 

Where We Talk Book Tings & More!

Picture
Happy hump day readers! I hope this week has been zenful and STRESS free because guess what? Friday is two days away, so hang on! Thank you so much for reading with me, and today I wanted to introduce our NEW #BookTingsTALK! Now I don't know about you, but I LOVE a good discussion on great reads, music, wines, mindfulness, controversial topics, and MUCH MUCH more! I wanted to create a fun place where we can talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly right here. If I haven't learned anything else this year so far, it is to step out of my comfort zone, and that is what we will be doing here, and guess what? That's okay! This is a safe space, and we are going to have fun, share opinions, and connect with one another. Because Shook One x Charlamagne tha God is my book of the month, and Girl, Wash Your Face x Rachel Hollis is my Reading Between the Wines book club pick of the month, let's dive into these two reads! They both tackle different topics: mental health and self-love/discovery, which goes hand in hand! It all starts with the mental. If your head isn't in the game, your body will not follow suit, which is why mental health and self love matters. If you haven't read Shook One x Charlamagne, first of all, YOU ARE MISSING OUT, and secondly, it is a GREAT read that "elevates the conversation surrounding mental health, especially in the hip-hop and black communities." Girl, Wash Your Face x Rachel Hollis is another AMAZING read, that tackles the twenty lies and misconceptions that too often hold us back from living our best lives! This read teaches you how to live with passion and hustle, and how to still love yourself when all bets are off. So BOOM! Let's talk about it! 

FEEL:

1. What does loving yourself look like?
2. How does loving yourself affect the way that you love others?
3. In Girl, Wash Your Face, Rachel discusses that as women, we emotionally abuse ourselves. Do you believe this to be true? Why or why not?
4. Do you believe that if you are constantly making and breaking promises to yourself, that you are not making promises at all. You’re simply just talking? What promises will you keep for yourself this year?

5. On a scale of 1-5 with 1 being poor, and 5 being excellent, how would you rate your mental health right now?
​6. What fills you up with meaning and passion? 
7. In what ways do you need to shift in order to step into your higher self?
8. In Shook One, Charlamagne talks a lot about the tremendous impact that therapy has on improving his mental health. Do you see therapy as a positive form of mental wellness?
9. What negative energy are you consistently allowing in at this moment?
10. Dear self, you are _______________.
​11. What do you value about yourself?
12. Today I affirm __________.
13. Is there someone you turn to when you feel your mental health shifting?
14. Whom do you need to forgive? 
​15. Where does your hurt stem from? 
16. What positive changes have you made so far this year? 
​17. What are your favorite forms of mental wellness/self-care? Share! 

Feel free to share, like, comment, repost! Also, make sure to follow us on @thebookspotbykg on Twitter and Instagram as we dive into this week's questions/thoughts!  Make sure when answering this week's questions, you hashtag #BookTingsTALK! I can't wait to connect with all of you! If some of the questions are too deep for you to share openly, please feel free to email me personally, as I am always a listening ear! Remember, no battle should be fought alone, and to always keep self-care at the forefront! Thank you so much for reading :) 

If You Loved This Post...

Picture
Picture

N A M A S T E.

0 Comments

Girl, Wash Your Face: How to Live Your Best Life!

1/8/2019

0 Comments

 

New Year, New Commitments!

Picture
Happy Wednesday bookworms! I hope everyone is having a great start to their new year! I wanted to jumpstart my new year by reading this awesome book, Girl, Wash Your Face x Rachel Hollis! I heard about this book via social media as one of my readers suggested it for this month's book club read, and I couldn't put it down! I love to travel, and during my recent trip to New Orleans, this was THE book to read! I do find it surprising that I have dived into more self-help books, because at one point, I would always say, "Why do I need to read a book on how to live my best life, when I can do that on my own?", but you come to realize that it's more than that. It allows you to find your way and remind you that you don't have to have it altogether at 25 or even 35. As long as you're HAPPY, that's all that matters. THAT is living your best life! This book dives directly into that. If you haven't read this book, it talks about the twenty lies and misconceptions that too often hold us back from living joyfully and productively, lies we’ve told ourselves so often we don’t even hear them anymore. Sounds familiar? Through her painful honesty and fearless humor, Rachel unpacks and looks into the falsehoods that once left her feeling overwhelmed and unworthy, and reveals the specific practical strategies that helped her move past them. This is where her amazing tips come in at the end of each chapter that I love! Through my review, I want to also share my favorite chapters and takeaways that I found from reading this book that I hope you all enjoy, so let's get to it!

​First of all, I believe that EVERY woman should read this book. We have all been in a place of uncertainty or the "What am I doing? I should be farther along by now" phase. We have all questioned ourselves and our purpose at least once, and we have all made mistakes! What I love about this book is that it is real. It's raw, and it peels back emotional layers! Every chapter had its own meaning. Each chapter gave new insights into the lessons Rachel learned on her journey to become an employee, wife, mother, business owner, author, and social media lifestyle artist. She shares the many disappointments and pains along the path to success. She shares her flaws, mistakes, and “wish I could do-overs”. She shares intimate details about her siblings, marriage, children, and parents. She discusses the business she created and her transformation into a social media lifestyle blogger. She shares her passion for life and the joy of living. She reminds us the importance of happiness, and to not merely just exist, but to LIVE. LIVE with purpose! Here are some of my favorite chapters of the lies that I used to tell myself and how I overcame them:

Picture

Lie #1: Something Else Will Make Me Happy...

This chapter begins by stating the first lie that Rachel had to confront, that is, ‘something else will make me happy’ (Hollis, 2018). Rachel lived a life full of challenges that denied her the opportunity to be happy but found comfort in a misconception that when she grew up, she would find something, or some other life that will make her happy. She narrates several struggles in life that made her unhappy both as a child, and as a grown up. For example, she wet her pants while playing with friends, and had to douse herself with a bottle of water so that her friends could not know what happened (Hollis, 2018).

This simple act made her hate herself because she had not accepted the person she was. She also grew up in a family with challenges characterized by cries, and fights (Hollis, 2018), an environment that could traumatise a child. Hollis (2018) states that “father handled stress with anger while mother handled stress by going to bed for weeks at a time”. This then means that there was no environment of peace, and sobriety but a traumatic environment that was not conducive for the development of a child. The demise of her brother (who committed suicide) further provided challenge, and compounded her problems.  Based on the photographs she posts on social media with her husband, however, people see her as a person leading a relatively better life (Hollis, 2018).

K's Girl, Get Yo Life Tips & Tricks:

  1. Stop Comparing Yourself: Yes sis! Stop comparing yourself! You are a unique and beautiful spirit that cannot be duplicated, so stop comparing your life to the next woman's. This was always really hard for me, especially as a writer! It is super hard not to compare yourself to others especially brands that are really successful, but you can't compare your work to theirs. Each writer is different with different writing styles, and you must own your own! I had to stop not only comparing myself, but as Rachel puts it, I had to stop comparing myself to whomever I thought I was supposed to be. Stop being what people "expect" of you, and focus on simply being the BEST you, that's it. 
  2. Positive Vibes Only: Let those toxic people go! You know what they say, "You are who you hang around." Are the people that you surround yourself with adding to your life in any way? Are they challenging you to think outside the box? Are they your biggest cheerleaders, supporting your goals and dreams? Are they someone that you admire? Ask yourself this! If you have to question any of these statements, release that toxic energy. As Rachel says, "If you find yourself in a slump or feel as though you're living in a negative space, take a good  hard look at who and what you see every day." BOOM.
  3. Do What Makes YOU Happy: Happiness is key. As a writer, I had to stop questioning myself and my purpose, and ask myself, "Is what I'm doing bringing me joy?" I had to stop thinking of blogging as a numbers game, and really enjoy the freelancing! That's super important, and it shows in not just your writing, but your everyday life as well. Do more things that feed your spirit. Whether that is long walks after work with your significant other, going to bed early, quieting your mind through meditation, or just breaking away from social media for a couple of hours, do it! You are the author of your story. Choose how you tell it!

Lie #2: I'll Start Tomorrow...

Chapter two talks about how one can honor promises he/she makes to himself/herself, thus being able to stop a habit, and start a new one. The chapter begins by stating the second lie that Rachel believed, that is, ‘I will start tomorrow’. We have ALL been there! She proceeds to give examples, and scenarios (of both herself, and her friends) of struggles with keeping one’s own promise, as a result of believing the lie. For example, she narrates how she started, and failed to continue with several programs including plans to attend gym, marathon, and walking to work (Hollis, 2018). Like Rachel, many women also start such plans with good intentions, but find it difficult to continue because they find it normal to dishonor the promises they make to themselves. While one may want to honor the promises they make to themselves, they find the urge to break the promises irresistible. The distractions in life are among the factors that create the urge of reverting to old habits thus abandoning a promise such as never to drink diet coke again. Rachel (2018) gives an example of a woman who promises herself not to take a certain meal but goes ahead to take it on her child’s birthday. The child’s birthday, therefore, becomes the distraction.

K's Girl, Get Yo Life Tips & Tricks: 

  1. Start Small: ​Okay yes I have a hard time with going to the gym too, but we have to start with small victories! Did you drink more water than you did yesterday? Did you run that extra mile? Did you push yourself to higher heights? That's what's most important! Cutting out a habit is hard, but adding a new healthy habit gets easier I promise! Don't feel like you have to do it all in one day. Focus on creating those small goals and achieve those! Your body will thank you for it. 
  2. Broken Commitments: I never knew how big this was until I watched Iyanla Fix My Life: Braxton Edition. Broken commitments are so common these days, that we have to get a hold of them. We easily jump on board with anything that sounds good, not thinking about the commitment and whether it is attainable. Fasting? SURE. Going out to dinner with the in-laws? OF COURSE. Baby-sitting little Ray-Ray? No problem. We know that these things are important and what we should be doing, but this isn't always real. Think about your yes. Will you actually be able to do it? Commit to only those things you know you can accomplish because they are extremely important to you. That's it. Saying NO is okay. 
  3. Fact Checkin Yourself: Be honest with yourself! If you are consistently blowing something or someone off, address it! I am the biggest flaker ever, and I have acknowledged that! I know that I have to really think about whether I really want to do the things that are asked of me. I'm getting old you guys! Naps are important, and when it's cold, I love to cuddle up and stay in! These are all of my excuses that I have recognized, addressed, and come to terms with. Through this, I have learned the power of NO. Once again, saying no is okay and I have accepted that. 

Lie #3: NO Is The Final Answer (HA!)

In chapter six, Rachel adequately provides eye-opening information on how to react once one faces an element of rejection. In her understanding, Rachel believes that one is gifted the ability to determine what to accept, and reject, and this is the reason sometimes she refuses to be a public speaker, or when faced with rejection she refuses to accept, and looks for other alternatives to address the issue (Hollis). In essence, the writer aims to share the perspective that even though ‘yes’ is normally considered as the easiest answer, by learning how to say ‘no’ one is in a better position to achieve the greater things in life.

This chapter aims to reiterate that when one faces a rejection, it is upon the individual to dictate whether he will lose hope, or whether he will find other mechanisms of challenging the issue. From her assertions, audacity is one of the major components which enhance the productivity of a given individual. This implies that when one has the courage to face rejection from different areas, then one is able to grow through the pressure, and achieve the greater things in life. For instance, she shares a lot about when her book was rejected by various publishers but she did not give up but instead continued to work harder.

K's Get Yo Life Tips & Tricks:

  1. NO Is Not The End: Do you know how many no's that I have endured throughout my journey of blogging? Do you know how many times authors have ignored me when I have asked to set up an interview to be featured? DOZENS. I didn't let that stop me from achieving my goals and dreams! When one door closes, another one will open always! For me, the NO's fueled me! They allowed me to work harder and push more to turn those No's into Yes. The big takeaway is don't let people telling you no be your deciding factor and your end game. Remember your purpose! Follow your dreams!
  2. Revisit Your Expectations: Sometimes when people hear this they think, "Oh so I need to quit?!" NO! Don't quit! Just revisit your expectations. Now when people tell you no, don't go harassing them until they give you the answer that you want. That is not what I'm saying. As Rachel says, "Use the no you hear as an indication that you should try an alternative route." This is okay and so true!
  3. Keeping Your Goals in Plain Sight: I know this is easier said than done, but remember why you are doing what you're doing! We all know it's easier to focus on your goals when you're pumped up or excited about your new project, but it's when life gets in the way that it becomes harder. What I love to do to remind myself of my goals is to write them down! Create a vision board! If you are a visual learner like me, this is perfect! Tape sticky notes on your door or your mirror! Do anything that will help you stay on track and keep your visions clear! If you're stuck, think, "What would Beyonce do?" :)
Picture
0 Comments

    Welcome

    Welcome to the launch of my new book blog! Thank you all soooo much for reading and I can't wait to hear your thoughts, ideas and comments! Enjoy! :)

    Archives

    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Book Tings TALK!
  • Blog
  • Shop
    • FUNKY THREADS
    • MORE TINGS...
    • LOVE & LIGHT LIBRARY
  • About
  • Contact