Posted on by Kristina Knowles

Every girl needs her…

Signature fragrance…right!?

I was invited by my Mother to go the local Department store named Woodworth & Lothrop to pick out my fragrance. Fragrance, me…really? I was sixteen and felt excited and scared at the same time. Did I need a fragrance, if I did why? What was this all about?

My Mother, a tall beautiful blonde, who I looked up to “literally” for most of my life. I write most of life because I eventually caught up to her in height. And she smelled amazing, her fragrance is Chanel #5, still wears it. Whenever I smell Chanel #5, I instantly think of her and smile.

So here I am, sixteen years old heading to “Woodies” to pick out my signature fragrance that I would wear forever. We parked the car, headed straight for the perfume counter. The lights and colors felt like I was at an elegant Carnival without the food, it was beautiful. A beautiful woman, full make-up, long manicured nails and dressed to impress approached us as soon as we touched the glass counter. I have no idea where she came from, but it was like she popped up from the floor. I was memorized by it all and rightfully so, I was only sixteen and impressionable.

The women greeted us with a big beautiful white teeth smile, and then the question: How may I help the two of you? My Mother instantly spoke up and said we are here to pick out a signature scent for my daughter. Then her smiled turned to me, and said,”Well isn’t this a special day?” Then the festivities begun.

The fragrance woman asked me some questions, then she sprayed a little white piece of paper with popular scents for me to smell, she also used my wrist or I smelled sticks from the perfume bottles. It was intense, at times overwhelming but I was spending a special moment with my Mother that I would never forget. I pray that I will never forget the day my Mother took me to find my signature scent. We found it by the way that day at the Estee Lauder counter, I picked “Beautiful.” It smelled beautiful, it was in a pink and gold box and my Mother liked it too.

I stopped wearing “Beautiful” and started wearing “Flower Bomb.” I thought it was time for a change. Then this past Mother’s Day a package arrived that brought tears to my eyes. My Mother sent me my signature scent “Beautiful”, I was blown away. And it brought me back to that very day when my Mother told me we were going to pick out my very own fragrance.

via Daily Prompt: Fragrance

Posted on by Kristina Knowles

Pink ballet flats and a Scar…

I once heard that scars are a reminder that the past existed. Several years ago my wonderful birthday fell on Thanksgiving. As I looked at the pile of pink presents, I couldn’t wait to wear my new pink ballet flats my Mom bought me. And when I tried them on, I noticed the 4 inch scare on my foot that had become a distant memory. My son and I went on a camping trip to a friends cabin in Bluemont, Virginia one Memorial Day weekend. We didn’t know what to expect but the closer we got the sky was bigger and bluer, the mountains taller. It was just so gorgeous and peaceful. Our mornings started off with kayaking and taking in the sights. Our nights were relaxing and quiet. We were free from video games, emails, constant telephone calls and other distractions we’ve grown accustom too.

My son and I talked and laughed a lot, more so than normal. I was really glad we were able to take this trip together. On the morning of our departure, I was cleaning up after our meal and out of a bag of trash poked a piece of glass that ripped open the top of my foot as I walked by. I couldn’t believe my eyes, I think I went into a calm shock. My son rushed over, looked down at my foot and took over. He got a wet paper towel and tried to apply pressure in order to stop the bleeding. My son then picked me up, like I weighed nothing, and took me over to the truck. The owner of the cabin took us to the emergency clinic. Once I was seen by the Doctor, she told me that my son was asking about me and wanted to come to see me so he could cheer me up. I told her that he may come back, so he did and he started making me laugh. Seventeen stitches later we were back in our car headed home.

As I looked in the rear view mirror as we were leaving Virginia, I was smiling. Smiling ear to ear and so happy because I was so proud of my son. I needed to see my son in a different light, he showed me a side of him I never knew existed. The scar will be a positive reminder of our amazing weekend away to Bluemont, Virginia.

We should allow our children to know what it feels like to be responsible, take charge and be the greatness God put in each and every one of them.

Have an awesome day!

 

Posted on by Kristina Knowles

The overview of the Five F’s…

F…FRIENDS

Friends and family mean a lot to me. A good relationship is worth it’s weight in gold. I have friends from school, work, my neighborhood and friends of friends. We need to nurture our relationships with our friends and family. If you are in a relationship that is hurtful, you need to reevaluate why you are letting yourself be hurt. Or, if you are blessed with friends and family that love and respect you, pat yourself on the back. I will share advice on how to keep a good relationship going or how to leave a bad relationship behind.

F…FASHION

Fashion is so fun and can be intimidating for some. My life long love of fashion started first in my DNA then was encouraged by my Mother. My Grandma Leola had a love of making clothing and owned her own dress shop, my Mother started dressing me in fashion as soon as I left the hospital, I didn’t have a chance or choice. However, I love helping people look and feel their best, that can be so rewarding. So I am here to help and assist in any way I can…you’re welcome.

F…FAITH

Where do I start, I absolutely love God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit with all my heart, with all my soul. I don’t know where I would be without it but I do know I will be a Christian all the days of my life. I want to help people find and understand Jesus on their own with awesome examples of my own experience. My testimonies are special, real and my own. God will put us through a storm for a good reason and we must be grateful for it.

No judgement here, just my daily belief in God. I will share my opinions and concerns of being a believer. What makes us all so amazing, is our own personal relationship with God. I attend church on Sunday’s, I bless my meals, pray every day and try to navigate through the reality of life while raising a man-child. I am a grateful person and appreciate all my blessings. God has a plan for each and every one of us, I pray you are using your gifts.

F…FITNESS

I enjoy healthy living and eating. My amazing parents decided at the ripe old age of 4 years old I would be a member of the College Park Maryland Boys & Girls Club. I love organized sports and have been an Athlete ever since. I have had my unfortunate times with mistakes and blunders when it came to eating and working out. I want to help those who want help and coaching maybe even a cheerleader in eating clean and healthy along with exercise. I share my easy recipes and easy work tips on my YouTube Channel: Kristina Deignan. The hardest part of anything is change, especially when we are bombarded with ad after ad and television commercial about this food or food restaurant. I am here to help you navigate through the confusion.

F…FINANCE

Your relationship with money is so important. I learned early and I am still learning to be a better steward for me, my family and God. I like to help people save money on purchases and curve their spending. And I am looking for new ways to improve my own relationship with money as well. I want to help others see the warning signs and avoid some of the mistakes I have made my self. I want to help you, let’s do it together.
Well, there you have it. The Five F’s and what they mean to me and you. I am excited to officially start my journey to help, save, minister, free and love all of you. God bless and have a great day!
Posted on by Kristina Knowles

The $250 Million dollar Powerball…

Jackpot can make you dream like never before. The “What If” I win dream is a very powerful feeling when the jackpot is high. I really like thinking about all the wonderful things money has the power to afford me to do for others. It evokes grandiose dreams, charity donations and gifts to family and friends.  Lavish thoughts and splurges galore, all for a $1 ticket for a chance to win. Wouldn’t it be awesome if we didn’t have to wait for a lottery jackpot to dream big? Dreaming is free, we all are allowed to dream good intentions and happy thoughts about our friends and family, even complete strangers we would like to help.

Praying is a form of dreaming our heart makes. I pray that with a clean heart we can focus on so much good on our world and the world at large. It starts with me and you, to pray big Godly prayers. We should make time every day to pray so we can get closer to our real happiness. I believe true happiness comes when we can help our neighbors, friends and family right now, don’t wait for the lottery to be a jackpot winner or giver. We are all winners at this very moment, no ticket needed. God is the jackpot giver, He knows exactly what you need and when you need it. So be intent on praying for God’s jackpot plan for your life and not your own, I promise it’s better than you could imagine for yourself.

I have been blessed with amazing friends and family that have helped me beyond belief, I am so grateful.

Have a great day!

Posted on by Kristina Knowles

Are you a victim of Identity Theft…?

We hear about cyber security and identity theft a lot lately. It’s scary to think that someone out there is willing to destroy you or to steal from you. It is sad, but it reminds me how we give permission for our own personal identity to be lost. I would love to see an ad that would remind us to protect our personal identity that God gave us when we were born. We can lose it when we start a new relationship, a new job, pregnancy, even a sibling can rob us of our own personal identity. And it’s because we let them take it away from us in the first place. I remember feeling a bit of an out of “Kristina” experience when I had my son. I am a huge advocate of being who God made you to be, I began to feel that slip away. I quickly realized it and got back to me. I felt it slip away again when I was divorced after 13 years of marriage. Be cognitive, be in the present and never forget you. The natural good of who we are is very special, never let anyone take that away from you. Protect it like you would eggs in a carton, a seat belt in a car, a helmet during a motorcycle ride or even a credit score. We are constantly protecting every thing but ourselves. Do you feel like you’ve lost your identity? I promise you can get it back!

I hope you have an awesome day!

Posted on by Kristina Knowles

What if you had 3 minutes…

To talk about your son or daughter?

Early one morning I was eating breakfast with my son when he was 15 years old. While listening to our favorite Christian radio station, 91.9 WTGS, they announced Joseph was the name for The Family Name game. My son and I instantly looked at each other with excitement. I called in, got through and waited patiently to talk about my son, Joseph. I could hardly wait, I was busting out of the seams. Joseph had to leave for his carpool but I gave him a kiss good-bye and continued to wait. The DJ’s finally took my call and asked me to talk about Joseph. I told them how proud I was of Joseph, he attends a christian high school (DeMatha Catholic High School) that he played sports (football and lacrosse) and volunteered for the homeless (S.O.M.E.). I was beaming through the phone, then I started to tear up. Why? As much as I love Joseph and how proud I am for him, I just want him to be a good man in the end. The DJ’s were so kind to listen, to be so kind to me. At the end of our phone call I was told we won the Chick Filet dinner out, so awesome.

I got to thinking, do our children or loved ones truly know what we would say if we had 2-3 minutes. And if in your heart you didn’t have anything special to say about your daughter or son, why not? I sometimes find myself at a store listening in shock to parents scream at their children, it breaks my heart. If our children don’t feel or see our love for them, how will they ever love themselves. Take time to be patient and love your child/children. You’ll be amazed with the results, I promise.

When Joseph got home from school he mentioned that he and everyone in the car heard what I said on the radio station. Joseph smiled at me and told me thank you and that he loved me, that is all I needed to hear.

Have an awesome day!

 

Posted on by Kristina Knowles

Love thy Neighbor…

As you love yourself. We have heard this over and over again, I can’t tell you how many times but it is a lot. Easy enough, right!?

Well, not really and not for a lot of us. First, we must raise up children who truly understand the definition of love by God. Then we must show these children by our
 example what is looks like when we truly loves ourselves to give it as a gift to others. God created love in all of us but we are so quick to abundantly love the world’s view of love and not His. 

I am not surprised that so many people find it so difficult to love themselves. Most can’t stop the self hatred that comes from comparing themselves to others, instead of being grateful for who God made them to be. We were all created in His image what better way to see ourselves, right!? 

Let’s all vow to God today that we are going to start to love ourselves today, even the ugly parts that we convinced ourselves exist. We will wipe away all the mean things that have been spoken over us by the enemy. And finally, let us appreciate ourselves where we are today and celebrate in anticipation of being better with every tomorrow.