“Live! Come alive!”

“A good marriage, if we cherish each other as God cherished Jerusalem (see Ezekiel 16), is to proclaim to our spouses, ‘Live!’ We see them in their very weaknesses, and even ocasional ugliness, breathe life into each other and refresh each other. Dormant parts of our spouses’ personalities and giftings can come alive under our support and encouragement.

Too many marriages instead breathe death– death to self-esteem, death to peace, death to joy. Our disappointment leads us to attack each other for what we are not, while cherishing grows the best parts of our giftings into their full power and adornment. A good marriage, a cherishing marriage, says to each partner, ‘Live! Come alive! Be all that God made you to be!'” Cherish, pg 94 (A Bride Made Beautiful) , by Gary Thomas

Saying This Once

By: Gabriela Yareliz

As my friend Milica used to say, “I AM ONLY GOING TO SAY THIS ONCE,” so listen up:

Today is yours. No more wasted emotions, thoughts and words.

You are more powerful than you think, and it’s time to acknowledge that. Be emboldened.

Step out of the box you were put in. Take items and people out of the boxes in which you put them.

Use your passion to live a passionately joyeous life. Be intense with your laughter.

Don’t worry about the past; it only shades you if you let it. Step out into the sun.

Someone chose you. Trust their choice, and stop trying to fix yourself.

If something takes away your peace, then it’s too expensive.

You don’t have to be older, thicker, speak a certain language or have a certain personality. You are 20-something, strong and speak enough languages to manage the UN on your own. #worldpeace

Just because things are happening differently than what you envisioned, doesn’t mean they aren’t still fabulous.

Plan, but also, stop planning. Live.

Educate yourself to arm yourself, and then, go win your battles.

Life isn’t perfect. That’s ok. You will be ok.

Don’t lose yourself in your job, in a city, in an image, in a number or in anything else.

Go after your dreams. There are no limits.

Cook until you run out of ingredients. Then buy more.

Stop bringing up past wrongs. Let things go.

Show others the kindness you want to receive.

Stop weighing yourself. Stop criticizing yourself. You are beautiful, so treat yourself as such.

People’s disrespect says nothing about you and everything about them.

You don’t always have to cut your hair or change your look. It’s okay to settle into something for a while. It shows you are committed. You’ve donated enough hair for wigs, now, keep your hair. It’s ok to keep your own hair. You don’t always have to be giving something away.

Every time you spend time in God’s presence, He blesses you with peace. Every time. Don’t let anything or anyone rob you of your blessing.

Be a flamingo.

Wear your glasses. People who wear glasses know everything.

Live life on the edge, sometimes. I dare you to let your phone battery reach 2%.

Forgive those who can’t love you in the way you need them to.

Know that you are never alone.

(What would you tell yourself?)

Figs, Noodles & Torrential Rains

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Hello everyone!

What a day. I have been dealing with pelvic pain and ache due to my lovely endo. Don’t worry, this won’t be a Lena Dunham-style vent on the struggles with my uterus (not that there is anything wrong with that. See my post on raising awareness about women’s issues). But not today. Still, lately, my cycle seems to color so many things. It’s draining. One gets tired of the fatigue and apologies that follow irrational mood swings after a hormone nosedive. I don’t know what is more exhausting, the hormone plunge and fluctuation or the apologies and damage control that follow. They should make greeting cards for times like these. But I digress… #uterusdiaries

My prayers are with the people of the Caribbean, my Boricuas and my Floridians. Hurricane Irma is sparing no one from her wrath. I got an email from my friend and former supervisor saying, “Nena, esta feo…” (Girl, it’s ugly), with a link to live broadcast from Puerto Rico. Please join me in praying for our family, friends and brothers and sisters who are experiencing Irma and who experienced Harvey.

What else is new? I have planned two successful picnics. I made some yummy Thai rice noodles. Recipe here, created by my former colleague Nisha Vora. (So proud of her).

Today, I ran through some torrential rains in Manhattan; my shoes felt like cardboard. I discovered a huge chunk of my paycheck never makes it into my bank account because the lovely City of New York takes it. I ate a fig for the first time. Yesterday, I ate ice cream under a string-lit tree next to the Brooklyn Bridge, with my love (enjoying the last of summer weather).

Did I mention I ate a fig?

Speaking of Lena Dunham– Garance Dore published her open letter about her IVF experience on Lenny Letter. I read it like 20 times. I cried each time. Tears always spilled out when I got to the part where she says, “I cracked jokes when I learned how to place the needle on my belly, hiding in a corner of the house like a wounded animal. Telling you this still makes me cry.” I am so grateful for women who have the courage to be raw. If you haven’t read her essay, you must.

I am excited about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. I followed Meghan’s blog, The Tig, back before people were obsessed with her. She is a really neat woman.

And lastly, regarding things that are on my mind, I am working on a super exciting project. It’s personal and something I have wanted to do for a long time. I will be sharing more details soon. I am grateful to have an army of awesome women working with me.

I am off for now. Maybe, I will lay on a mat and stretch. This was just a quick update. More to come. I leave you with my news about figs, noodles and torrential rains. XOXO

Sunday Girl: August 27, 2017

“She always had something to say. Maybe too much to say. She had many flaws and wore them like a badge of honor. And when she was down, she got right back up. She was a beast in her own way, but one idea described her best.

She was unstoppable…” @kushaalagband

Sunday night, my people. Another Sunday is gone; the last one for August 2017. This weekend was lovely. I did my first picnic– basket, with checkered blanket and all. I caught up with a friend I hadn’t seen practically all summer. I cooked, a lot (you really got to love the kitchen if you are going to spend hours in it with no AC). I saw stunning places and walked and walked with my love until we almost fell over with exhaustion. It was a different, relaxing, country style weekend. I saw cows, goats, adorable monkeys with cheetah print blankets and bunnies. I felt 50F weather on my skin (autumn is announcing its return).

On Friday, I took the day off to recalibrate. I chatted with my friend at Amy’s Bread in Chelsea Market. We talked about love, life, and how God is so amazing. He gives us good things; restores us; loves us and keeps growing us (if we are flowers, I choose to be a peony). I was moved to hear her talk about how God has been working in her life. We laughed at the notion that there is so much we don’t have figured out. The journey ahead of us awaits.

We are constantly overcoming and figuring out our next move– whether it be overcoming an illness, getting financially healthy, focusing on physical and mental wellness, new jobs, tough jobs, and even navigating relationships (communication, being less independent and sharing your path, being more independent and not being codependent, overcoming traumas and insecurities, building and healing our flaws, etc., etc., etc.). There is always something we are working on.

I loved the opening quote of this post, the minute I read it. It reminded me to smile and remember the big picture. Sometimes, we need to look at the big picture. It’s simple. We get bogged down in the minutia (which is important), but it’s the big picture that helps give us the strength to keep growing and blooming. We need to remember who we are, all we have come from and overcome. We need to remember life is brilliant, and we are God’s stunning works of art.

Wishing you a lifetime of being unstoppable. May you have an empowering start to your week!

Iconic Wedding Favorites

As wedding season is in full swing, I thought I would pull together some of my favorite wedding ideas, iconic looks and inspiration.

Wedding Veil

I like traditional and symbolic elements, like the veil worn over the face, pre-ceremony.

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Kate Moss

[Photo from Once Wed]

A Church Wedding

There is nothing like starting your union in the house of God. Super old school (used to be the norm). The Royals and Downton Abbey have this on lock.

APTOPIX Britain Pippa Middleton

Pippa Middleton

The Unconventional Reception

Celebrating in a funky unique way that is memorable, and not having a traditional cake is even cooler. Margherita Missoni had a raspberry tarte, and Laila Gohar had a fig tarte in lieu of the traditional cake.

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Margherita Missoni

[Photo from Town and Country Magazine]

Natural Makeup

You should look like yourself, with an extra glow. Airbrush finish not required.

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Amal Clooney

[Pinterest]

Lace

Classic elegance.

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Kate Middleton

Unadulterated Joy

She is a queen at NGAF. She had garlic cloves dangling from her ears. She couldn’t wait to get married, and that was her makeup that day– JOY. #inspiration

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Laila Gohar

[Photo by @Polidano]

Sunday Throwback: Vulnerability

This post was drafted last Sunday. I never got around to posting it, so here we go:

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Yesterday was such a lovely day, filled with worship, gardens and long walks. Unfortunately, the end of it was messy. I wasn’t feeling well, and I ended up vomiting about five times. (I know, so gross). My boyfriend was so sweet, he pulled over (which is where I started). Not sure how I made it home clean. Lots of heavy breathing across the Brooklyn Bridge. I felt bad that he had to witness my delirious, can-barely-hold-my-head-up self. And he was so sweet. Constantly squeezing my hand and telling me I was almost home. I guess that’s another aspect of relationships and vulnerability. The one where you are so sick and spend the rest of the night basically crying and shivering in your bathroom floor.

It’s often embarrassing at first to let someone see you like that. It’s a time where you often have no control over your body, how you look, and to be honest I could barely speak. Some people texted me last night, and I have no idea what I responded.

Maybe the universe is trying to teach me a lesson. I always want to be prompt, efficient and on schedule. And yet here I am, feeling weak as hell in my bed on a Sunday morning, when my initial plan was to start cooking at 7:30 am.

I think this completes the my-significant-other-has-seen-me-at-my-worse cycle. He has seen me be moody, overwhelmed, upset, indignant, I have cried, and now he has seen me vomit a meal on the side of a Manhattan street (great view). I guess that is as good as it gets. And still, he was the kindest most compassionate person. It would have made me cry if I would have had the ability to cry without throwing up on myself.

Love is that which stays, through good and bad, and it says ‘I am going to bring you home.’ 

Monday Inspiration: August 14, 2017

When I was thinking about what to share today, I couldn’t quite string words together to describe all the pain, hatred and horrific events we witnessed this weekend.

My friend Elli Anne sent me this Bible verse today. Its truth resonated with me. Its truth is always relevant.

:: If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.::

1 John 4:20-21 English Standard Version (ESV)

Shifa Gardi

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Remembering Kurdish journalist Shifa Gardi. She was a passionate journalist following a lead to find abandoned ISIS mass graves. She was killed by a roadside bomb during the battle for Mosul in Iraq, this year. We will not forget her passion, courage and pursuit of truth and justice. Her legacy lives on.

It is people like her, that make this profession so respectable and a pillar for the world. We must document what must never be forgotten. We must share truth.

Her last live coverage:

One of her best friends, Kurdish singer Helly Luv, dedicated a song to the struggle against the atrocities in this region. She is now at the top of an ISIS hit list. May God honor and be with each person fighting, empowering and bringing awareness to the fight for freedom from these crimes against humanity.