“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverb 4:23( NIV)

Today I wanted to write about guarding our hearts because I feel like we do so many things without knowing that some of the things we do can hurt our hearts. God know everything we do and he knows that as humans we make stupid mistakes. He is telling us that we should be careful because the devil will constantly try to tempt us in every directions. So instead of letting us focus on the right direction, the devil will try to bring us to the twisted path which will lead to nothing but to our own doom.

As a teenager, I feel like I spend my days unconsciously making stupid decision without realizing that those decisions hurt me at the end of the day.  Not only does it hurt my heart, but it hurt my relationship with others and most importantly my relationship with God. I understand we have desires and wants. But it’s good to ask ourselves, “Is my desire in right with God?”, or “Is what I am doing the right thing?”

The world is full of enticing things.  When we dwell too much on things that are bad for us, it will gradually lead us away from God and from our own true self. We need to know that we are women of God and God meant us to grow like beautiful flowers, not to wither like grass. I want every girls to know that you’re worth so much more than anything. Jesus knew that and he showed us by hanging on that rugged cross for us.
So guard your heart from that guy, guard your heart from that drug, guard your heart from that obsession, guard yout heart from that hatred, guard your heart from that anger, and guard your heart from anything that will destroy you…

I know things are easier said than done. That’s why prayer is the key.  God hears all the prayers in our heart and there is no such thing as greater prayer. All prayers are important to God. God is always ready to hear what we have to say and he is happy when we pursue that relationship with him. My question is, “Will you pursue the selfish leader that try to bring you to death, or the loving father that already assure you peace through Jesus?

If you need a prayer for your heart comment below or on our instagram page @independentgirlsny                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                             God bless,
                                                                                                               Lynda… :)

Peer Pressure

Ladies,

Peer pressure is no bueno. Whether you're a freshman in high school or a senior in college it's only natural to experience peer pressure.

When you're an under class man in high school, the pressure can seem greater because you might want to impress and appeal to your upper class men "friends".

Quick story, as a freshmen, I used to have lots of senior friends. And these friends skipped class and drank in school. And me, wanting to seem cool, would cut English class and hide out backstage. And being even dumber, we'd pass around a water bottle full of rum.

Stupid because

A) who knew what kind of germs those kids were carrying
B) I could have caught monogitis eww
C) we could've got caught and thrown out of school
And
D) being drunk in school isn't cool, it's dumb. Even though it might seem fun at the moment

Even though I wasn't forced, I wanted to seem mature like them and not like such a goody too shoes. In the end, I failed an English and Trig test, AND my parents found out.

But Kim, what are you trying to tell me? This doesn't apply to me. You may ask yourself.


No one's forcing me to do this. I want to do this.
You only live once.
We're just having fun.
They're my friends, they wouldn't do something that would hurt me.
It's just one class. It's not that important.


If you find yourself saying these things, you are most likely being pressured to do things you wouldn't normally do.

So yeah don't drink, do drugs, skip school, cut class, shop lift etc just to appeal to your older friends.

Make sure to be true to yourself, and to believe in yourself even if someone else calls you lame or childish. Cause odds are, they're threatened of the fact that you're determined to get far in life and not end up in a dark never ending pit like them. Besides, if they are truly your friends, would they ask you to do something they know you wouldn't be comfortable doing?

So you admit that you're being pressured. What do you do?

Simply, just talk to your friends. Let them know what's going on. If they're truly your friends, they won't ask you to participate in said activities. If not, you're better off without them. Remember there are plenty of other wonderful amazing people who'd love to meet you.



Xo
Kim


Have you ever felt peer pressured? Leave a comment down below if you have, feel free to let us know.

On Your Mark, Get Set… GO!

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    I am sure you have heard that whenever a race is about to start; like in a running race. So, today topic is about RUNNING. To many of us think running is a tiring activity and it not the most fun way to workout. However, running has tons of positive health benefit for our body that we aren’t even aware of. Maybe this blog about running health benefit might change your mind…

Running is a…

STRESS RELIEVER

   
   Stress is one of the biggest causes to many disorders in our bodies. Stress can increase risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and other heart diseases. Everything around makes us stressed and sometimes our responsibilities is too heavy to bear. Family problem, school, jobs, failures, our future consumes our minds. We have to remember that these stresses can cloud our mind and will keep us from thinking positively. That’s why running is such a nice way to relieve our stress. Running will improve your mood and it makes you more energetic.

HEART PROTECTOR

    
    According to Center for Disease Control 600,000 people in the United Stated died of heart disease. The heart of woman is very vulnerable. If you think about it women has a lot of things to deal with. If you are young girls like me, we don’t have the experience of worrying about children yet. But think about other women who are married, like our moms. They have to worry about their jobs, their family, their friends, their kids, etc. That’s why running is one of the best ways to protect our heart. Running can lower your cholesterols, improves your blood pressure and decrease your change of heart attack.

FAT BURNER

    Running is a great source of fats burner. If your body goal is a lean tone body, running help you lose body fats. That’s why runner bodies look leaner. Start running! Running also help maintain weight.  However, it is important to know that your body needs fats too. Fats stores energy and it is a cushion for our body’s organs. Running is for shedding only unnecessary body fats.

MONEY SAVER

    Now if you are like me who doesn’t have a lot of money for gym membership, running is a good way to stay fit.  You don’t even have to spend money to buy a treadmill. Just lace up your sneakers, go outside and start running. (I only suggest you use treadmill if you are a busy person and have an office jobs). Since the beginning of time our ancestor has been running to hunt and even their mail man was runners. So get out there use you’re running instinct and save your money.

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    So join with me on the journey of running….! If you have any info on how running benefits us or if you have story of how running already improved your body, comment below or comment on our instagram page @independentgirlny…

                                                                                                                   Just keep running!

                                                                                                                                     Lynda

         

Half Way Up

    There are countless times that I've done things half way. Ate half the food my mom cooked me because i didn't like it, finished half my homework because I too lazy to do the rest, went half way with my sports career because I couldn't stand the pressure. I'm so full of halfs I can't remember when I've done something in full.
    This past Sunday I was really moved by something the preacher said. I wasn't all emotional about it and to be honest, at the time I didn't think it would have much of an effect on my life. But it did.


We read 2 Kings 13:

    King Jehoash of Israel ran to Elisha (a prophet) when he knew Israel might be defeated by the Arameans. Elisha commands the distressed Jehoash to open the window and shoot an arrow. He goes on to say that the arrow symbolized victory over Aram and all that good stuff... But what interested me was when Elisha commanded Jehoash to strike the ground:

"Then [Elisha] said,"Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the gorund." So the king picked them up and struck the ground three times. But the man of God was angry with him. "You should have struck the ground five or six times!" he exclaimed. "Then you would have beaten Aram until it was destoryed. Now you will be victorious only three times."

2Kings 13:18-19

    I can't help but think of the face a soccer player makes when they ALMOST make a goal.  IF ONLY King Jehoash would have struck the ground more than three times would Israel have victory over Aram forever. Three times he hit the ground, only half of what was required for eternal victory. So easily he missed the mark.
    Doesn't this happen to most of us? Don't we start something we're so full of veal about, but never finish it? There are so many times I've stopped at the half way mark: half way done with my homework, half way done with my bible reading... So many times I sworn on my great great great grand uncle's grave that I would "do better next time" only to stick my toe in water and say "nah, I can't do it."

    The preacher that Sunday spoke about something that stood out to her on a recent trip to Hawaii. Her and a couple of other people were headed up a mountain. At first they started out excited to reach the top. They quickly became tired and  took many breaks to rest. They weren't even half way up the mountain when they decided that they couldn't go any further. She said as people came down form the top , they would rave about the beautiful view at the top of the mountain. The view she would never see because she gave up.

    If you noticed, we start falling astray from our initial goal when we want to take "breaks" aka excuses.

"I can't read my bible today I was busy."

"I couldn't work out because I was too sick."

"I can't because I'm too tired from doing nothing all day."

    Just like she said in her story, they took breaks because the were too tired of walking. Little by little those small breaks they took held them back from getting to the top. The little excuses we make hold us back from the victory the Lord wants for us. The view at the top of mountain could have been her victory if she just kept going.

    To be a little more personal, that specific day I was frustrated with the Lord because I couldn't see how any of my prayers were making a difference. I was yelling at him. Funny thing is, I go to church and the first thing the preacher says is "if you've been praying about something keep praying. Don't stop half way and give up. Keep crying out because the Lord will move in your prayers." Slap to the face.

    I just want you girls to know that no matter what you're starting right now, you better finish it. If you're praying salvation over family members, keep praying. Don't stop. You might be like Jehoash, three strikes away from restoration in your family. If you're working hard to get in shape, don't quick, you're three strikes away from that goal. If there is a class you struggle in, don't stop, you're three strikes away. If you've been struggling with economical finances and need to pay for school or your family needs help, don't sop, you're three strikes away from financial victory. If you just started a relationship with the Lord, don't stop, you're three strikes away from a true relationship with him.
    Girls, let's be young woman of our word. Let's start something and let's finish it. Be doers. Act upon it. And let's not be okay with spiritual complacency. He wants to take us from glory to glory, don't be okay with just half way.

  

Sorry, no fun post for today. I just want to get something off my mind. Priscilla

5 Beauty Essentials For School

Girls,

School is almost starting! Crazy I know. I can't believe summer is over (insert tears here). 

While I'm not the person to wake up an hour early on school days just to make sure my hair and makeup are perfect, I do have 5 essentials that I never leave my house without. And without further a do, here they are...

1. Mascara

Mascara can give the illusion of longer, more voluminous lashes, bigger eyes and it takes less than a minute to apply.
Lately I've been using the L'Oréal Butterfly mascara. I love that it doesn't clump and fans out my naturally long lashes. As you can see I love all the Maybelline mascaras. It's kind of an addiction.

2. Hair ties/hair clips/hair pins

You never know when mother nature or even an intense phys ed  period will strike and frizz up your hair, so you've gotta be prepared.
I've recently been using tiny hair clips (I'm sorry bows!).

3. Lip balm/gloss

Never suffer having dry lips. It stinks, it's totes not cute and it makes you feel totes not cute.  Moisturize your lips between classes ladies (you never know when you'll spot your crush jk). 
My all-time fave balm is def Nivea because it moisturizes like a dream and doesn't dry out my lips at all like Chapstick and Blistex do. For gloss I love the Clinque and Revlon line.

4. Oil absorbing sheets

Being oily is just not fun. Could I be any more obvious? After a long day at school and gym class and sweating your face might get a wee bit oily. Oil absorbing sheets are awesome in that, they'll get the oil off your gorg skin and won't ruin your makeup (total win).
I have combination skin type and I tend to get oily on the bridge of my nose and my chin. Ugh not cute. So thank heavens for oil absorbing sheets. ☺

Last but certainly not least....

5. Compact Mirror

I think that carrying one is just sooo important. I don't know how much I can stress it.  You might have friends who are too nice to tell you that type got your lunch stuck between your teeth (like I do). Or you might have friends who mess around with you, or maybe you don't have any friends :(. But hey, at least your mirror won't lie to you and will be there for you through thick and thin.
But what I'm trying to say is that if you go to school with your makeup/hair on point, don't go the rest of the day blind; you don't know if your mascara or lipstick has smudged or if your ponytail isn't smooth (its happened to be before.... soooo embarrassing).

So there are my top 5 beauty essentials. If you have some beauty essentials, let us know what they are in the comments down below.

XO,
Kim 

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Tips For the New School Year

 

    Hey girls! It’s Lynda. How was your summer? Mine? Well, it was good and busy. I joined this summer health internship for half of the summer and you can guess I was pretty busy. And my last two weeks was rocking even though it was short! I am sure all of you have been busy too.  Busy from jobs, busy from schools or even busy from boringness. 

    

    Now its time for serious talk girls...School is starting. Its back to alarm setting, bus waiting, traffic hallways, and messy worksheets. Many of you girls aren't exactly excited to go back to school and I am with you girls…school is tough. Our parents and teachers might not understand how stressful school life is, but the three of us knows how you feel. We are walking on the same shoes too. So saying that I bear you some gifts, in other words, school tips!

Tips time!!

ü  Be positive: Schools can bring out a lot of negative thoughts. Past failures, anxieties, and fears. Be aware that all the negative thoughts can keep you blind. It can keep you from seeing the true YOU! It even keeps you from seeing YOUR potential, YOUR uniqueness, and YOUR talent.  Try to shove that negative aura away and rise above your hardship. Don’t let anything hold you down. Remember you’re stronger than you think.

ü  Be prompt: I am sure you have heard this over and over again every time school year begins. But I am not giving you this tip about being on time on class. BUT about your school work. DON’T PROCRASTINATE! I Repeat… DON’T PROCRASTINATE!!!!!! This is one of my goals as well. The more you procrastinate, the more stress you’re giving to yourself. So do your school works early, and not in HASTE. The earlier you do your school work the more excellent your work will be. So let’s work on that together. Prevent yourself from distractions. For example, social network. It easy to say we don’t have enough time to do our school works. But if you think about the time you spent on social network, time pass quickly. All those hours could have been use on at least one of your home works. Remember Time is Money. So spend your time preciously.

ü   Be confident: I know it’s hard to believe that you can succeed. Especially when all the kids in your class are excelling. It’s like running a race. You all started in the same year, same time, and same place. But you feel like your trying to catch up to them everyday. You have to learn that YOU are different from everyone else.  BELIEVE IN YOURSELF! Believe that you can achieve your goal. Believe that you can be the best that you want to be. Believe that you are smart. When you focus too much on others, you won’t be able to focus  on what you can acquire with your ability.

ü  Be changed:  Do we agree that studying is boring? And have you ever tried to study but couldn’t get an ounce of knowledge in your brain? I felt like that too. During my internship this summer, I learned from one doctor not to look at it as studying but look at it as learning. She said “There is a difference between studying and learning.” As I sat there and heard that, my whole perspective about studying changed. It was hard to adjust and see what she meant. But the next time I tried to study, I looked at it as learning new things. It turns out to be more exciting and adventurous. So, girls never be afraid to change. Change to improve yourself, not to change who you are. If this idea still doesn't work for you then try to find a new way of how you can improve your study. Comfort is one of the keys to successful study. If you’re not comfortable with your environment or your surrounding when your studying, search a comfortable niche where you will be able to focus.   Maybe you’re more comfortable studying with your friends, or studying at the library. For instance, my comfortable niche to study are my quiet room and my favorite; outside with nature. One time I even study at my backyard.  Try it out yourself. Just spread a sheet on the grass and study.  Being outside helps me focus rather feeling coup inside the house. Think creative and try new things that will help you.

ü  Be bold:  Last but not least, don’t be afraid to show the world who you are. I use to be really shy, and I still am working on it. Please, don’t be like how I was. Be open, make friends. Take a little risk and learn from all your experiences. Life is too short , so don’t waste it. This school year is YOUR time to SHINE! Go out there and be part of something. Join a club, join a sport, join the drama team; anything that you are interested in. Especially if you’re freshmen in high school, being involved is good because your college resume will be terrific at the end of your senior year. God gave you breath each day for a reason. So live each day to the best and be and inspiration to others. 

    That’s all for the tips for this school year. Just to let you know a little secret, all this tips refers to me as well.  So, together let’s thrive this year and be our extraordinary self. I hope nothing but the best for each and every one of you girls.

                                                                                                                                        

GOOD LUCK!!!

Lynda

Share me some of your tips for a good school year.

 You can comment below or comment at out Instagram page @independentgirlny. 

All Natural Facial Routine

 

    Recently I've been going crazy searching for some new products to buy because I have terrible acne scars. I was searching around and I found this serum called Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution that is suppose to fade away the scars. All the youtubers were raving about it so I decided to check out the price. Now, if you're anything like me, 50 dollars for a tiny bottle of serum is absolutely crazy. I really wanted to try it out, but I don't have the money so I ditched that idea.
    I did some more look and stumbled onto this fabulous site crunchybetty.com . There are so many recipes on facials and scrubs using what you have in your kitchen!

With that being said. I want to let you guys in on my current night facial routine! 

Honey Cleanser:

1.)  Wash your face with warm water. Warm water helps open up pores so the honey can do its job cleaning out the dirt. Then take a clean washcloth and gently pat your face dry. Make sure you PAT your face not RUB. Any harsh rubbing can damage your skin and cause premature wrinkles.

2.)  Take a pea size amount of honey into your fingers. Go ahead and give yourself a spa treatment by massaging the honey into your skin. Leave it for 5 minutes then rinse with cool water.



Lime Toner:

1.)  Squeeze the juice of a lime into a small container.

2.)  Depending on how sensitive your skin is, dilute the mixture with water. My skin is pretty tough so I add about one table spoon to two table spoons of lime juice. But if your skin gets irritated easily, feel free to use more water.

3.)  Take a cotton pad or ball and apply the liquid all over your face focusing on dark spots.

4.)  Let it dry on your face. Do not wash it off.



Grape-seed Oil Moisturizers (for oily skin):

1.)  The lime/water mixture has finally dried. Yay! Dab a finger into the oil and massage into skin. Make sure you get some underneath your eyes to tackle those dark circles.

2.)  Do not rinse. Leave it on for the night. Don't worry, your skin will adsorb the oil overnight leaving your skin feeling soft and glowing in the morning. I wouldn't recommend applying oil on your face in the morning or before going out. 


Disclaimer: Try this out on a small section of your face first as some people can be allergic to grape-seed oil or any of the other things listed.


Here is a list of what each step provides for you:


Honey: 
    Antibacterial
    Anti-aging
    Moisturizing (natural glow)
    Heals Wounds

Lime:
    Lightens Dark Spots
    Anti-Aging
    Removes Dead Skin

Grape-seed Oil (For oily skin):
    Tightens Skin/ Anti-Aging
    Minimizes Dark Circles
    Moisturizer

 
    I've been doing this routine for about two weeks and I kid you not, my face is the best it's ever been. Going natural is not only cheaper, but safer. You no longer have to worry about harsh chemicals damaging your skin. Give it a try and let us know how it goes for you!

Go For it!

Priscilla

Question!

What do you usually do for your facial routine?

Spinach Protein Shake

Allo lovies,

Looong time it's been and we apologize from the depths of our little hearts. Today we have for you guys a green, totally knock-your-socks-off delicious, super simple, protein shake.
I know some of you might be turned off at a green drink, but I advise you guys to expand your horizons. 

Protein is sooo good for your body. Whether you're a growing teen, recovering from an injury, starting a fitness program or amping up your workouts, protein is essential to the growth and performance of the human body.
Note that using protein powders are only a way to incorporate more protein into your diet and shouldn't be the only form of protein in your diet.

Spinach contains tons of important vitamins and minerals that help to keep our faces clear and bones strong. It's also a great source of protein. So eat up ladies!

What you'll need:

•1 ripe banana
•3 strawberries
•1 cup of milk
•1 scoop of protein powder*
•A TON of spinach (1 or 2 cups) 

* Protein powder is totes optional. Being the only vegetarian in a Hispanic household, it can sometimes be tough to make sure I'm getting enough protein into my diet.

-Cut up the banana and toss into your fave blender.
-Wash and cut the strawberries making sure to remove strawberry cores. Toss those berries into the blender too.
-Next dump in that scoop of protein powder, if you're using it. I used EAS Lean 15.
-Wash your spinach and drain thoroughly. And into the blender they go.
-Now pour in the cup of milk.

Make sure to blend this bad boy real good. The last thing you want is to be chewing spinach stems from your smoothie. When blended well, you won't even taste the spinach so blend blend blend (just don't burn out your blender :p).

Pour into a tall glass, or a shaker cup (I just left it in my magic bullet cup don't judge me!) and garnish with a strawberry and enjoy.

Xo,
Kimmie

Did you try this? Tag us in your pics on Instagram @independentgirlny and let us know what you thought about this recipe.