Finding Joy

It has been a long time for a lot of things...
since my last blog post
since my last praise with God
since my last sense of joy in friendship...



Though they sound so negative, it has been a long time coming for me to finally feel differently about those things and share it on my blog. I had a lot of ideas about what I wanted to share, but this is what I want. Something raw and real; my sense of struggle

School can be stressful, and between scholarship applications and preparing for college, the senior year stress, chaos, drama, life itself, I have been swept off my feet. I was having a hard time knowing what sturdy and steady was. To be stable and constant. I was so stressed and lost in chaos that I feel like I lost myself for a while. The last time I blogged was over summer, where there was no stress, I could breathe and not worry about school. But so many things have happened since then, and I have learned so much.

I have always tried to have a better relationship with God, but sometimes it is difficult to as a student, and that shouldn't be any excuse, but it is true. We get carried away with so many things. But I have realized that that is exactly what is okay. That is the point. God pushes us to work for our faith. It takes work. It doesn't just come easily or handed to us on a nice platter. I have tried to find time for myself, and for God, and for prayer, and to light a candle, to read versus. I do. But not consistently. I need to try harder. I want that better relationship with God. A better relationship with God will help me to have better relationships with friends and family, and myself!!!! 

As I have struggled with my faith, I have struggled with being happy in friendships. Young women need to be lifting each other up, and that's exactly what I need to do better with, as do many people, guys and girls. Last night, I spent time with some girls discussing God and the Bible. Half of the girls I didn't even know until that night, but I felt so close to them. I could trust them and feel them radiating these genuine vibes. People that actually care about what you have to say, and what you're going through, they are trustworthy. It is incredibly rare to meet those people, so you need to hold on to them. I felt that God brought us all together because we have really been needing each other. 

As I get closer to God and to genuine ladies, I am feeling 1000000 times better than I was a few months ago when I was bogged down with school, and a long list of other things. It is incredible what one night with friends, or one peaceful and successful day to yourself, or reading a few versus can do for the body and mind. If you are struggling, or even at an ultimate high in your life, my phone is always open, and so are the comments below. I would love to hear what you have to say. 

This post was probably unexpected because it is unlike anything else I have shared on my page before, and the first post in months. I want to end with a few quotes I have found that are uplifting and positive in case you are in need of an extra push today, or tonight, or tomorrow, whenever you need these...











Thank you for reading this blog post. I understand it was lengthy, but if you made it this far, thank you! And I want to mention, even if you aren't religious, or are still finding your place, everyone should be happy and uplifted, whether it be by God, friends, or whatever gives you your purpose. Until next time, comment, check out my social media, and subscribe to the blog! Au revoir, Nichola Rae ❤❤❤

Summer Favorites

Hey everyone! Before I go on another trip for summer, I wanted to share some of the things I am loving right now! Some of them are for traveling, some of them are just what make me feel all summery, and others are just part of my daily summer routine! 

This one piece swimsuit from Shein! It's super flattering and the perfect shade of pink!
This coconut milk shampoo and conditioner! This is a new favorite of mine! I started using it a few weeks ago! It's sulfate free, making it much healthier for your hair. I've noticed a big change in my hair, it feels healthier, thicker, and even looks longer. Not only that, but I've noticed that I'm not breaking out as much! So it has been beneficial for my skin care as well. & I LOVEEE the smell of this stuff.
Pinterest is something I use year around, but no matter what month it is, I always find myself looking at summer stuff. It makes me so happy, everything is colorful, and I get great ideas for pictures, art, and blogging! You can find me on Pinterest @Nichola Jarvis ! Be sure to follow my 'Sumer Time' board to see more of what I'm loving! You can check it out here!
My Pura Vida bracelets! They're super cute and stylish! I sleep in them, bathe in them, and wear them with everything! 

My off-white canvas vans! I wear these almost everyday! I love my Adidas superstars still, but they are nearly falling apart! These vans are so cute and go with everything I wear! They are comfortable and take little to no effort to put on!

Neutrogena face wash! This is something I have been using for over a year now, but it is a constant reminder of summer because it leaves my skin feeling really clean and fresh, and it also smells amazing! I highly recommend this if you are looking for a good face wash! It has helped keep my skin so healthy! 

This super cute sunhat! I've had this for a few years but quit wearing it until I found it again a few weeks ago! I'm very pale and have to be careful about my sun exposure, so having a cute hat to wear some days is really nice! It's light weight and basic, and goes with tons of clothes! 

These sunglasses and necklace! They are both very basic, I got mine from Shein when I ordered some clothes, but you can find stuff like this at Target or even TJ Maxx! I love Jewelry, but have always had trouble finding any cute and simple necklaces! So I love this one! It doesn't get tangled and I love the little stars! The sunglasses go with everything, they are a good size, and they work well! 

Flowers! I absolutely love flowers! Seeing them in stores, outside, or anywhere, they brighten my day! I love flower patterns on clothing right now!  A HUGE favorite! 

Lastly, packing! I love packing! It gets me so excited for my trips! It puts me in a happy mindset and makes me excited to share photos with you that I take on that trip! 

I hope you enjoyed some of my summer favorites! If you have any favorites, feel free to comment or DM me on Instagram to share, I'd love to know what you are loving right now! Until next time, follow me on social media, and check out my 'Summer Time' board on Pinterest by clicking here. And check out my summer playlist, Chasing Waves, on Spotify, here!
Au revoir, Nichola Rae. ❤❤❤
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