God is found in silence.

Are you finding it difficult to hear God? Are things in your daily life getting in the way of your peace?

Turn off your cell phone, walk away from the TV, and tell your friends you'll see them tomorrow. Today is a day for silence.

"Silence is golden". When you sit in silence, you'll find peace of mind. You have so many distractions on a day to day basis.

Distractions: Cell phones, family and friends, your children, TV, social networks, etc.

A walk through the park, laying in your bed, a drive, meditation, etc can all be ways you can find some alone time and have silence. During your time of silence and alone time, you can feel God's joy working inside of you and his peace overtake you.

"A peaceful mind can't be bought, only experienced."-Nikki B


(Photography by Nicole Banks)

  

When it all falls apart.

  "Guess what...you’re not going to receive everything you want when you want it. However, when you trust and believe in the Lord he'll provide everything that your heart desires in due time."-Nikki B

The other day, I felt as though nothing was going my way. Everything that I wanted seemed so far away. I felt alone and as though no one fully understands what I'm going through. Then the Lord spoke to me through loved ones. My cousin Brit called me, and then my dad called me, and they both gave me encouraging words that I desperately needed to hear. Then a brief conversation with my meisner instructor opened my eyes. I discovered the root of my unhappiness are multiple things. I have to accept my current circumstances and deal with it day by day.

 
Below are steps I'm taking towards happiness. I pray my steps can help guide you to happiness if you're feeling down/blah/sad/lonely/unhappy.

Step 1: Confession: Admit that there's something in your life that's making you unhappy.

Step 2: Vulnerability: Speak to someone you trust about everything you're going through (don't hold back).

Step 3: Support Group: Speak to supportive individuals who know what you're going through (everyday if possible). They should listen, give advice and encourage you.

Step 4: Laugh: Is it really that bad? Whatever you're going through will pass. Believe that your circumstances will get better, and find something to do that will make you laugh.

Step 5: Pray: Pray that God gives you faith, hope, and understanding of his perfect will for you. Pray for patience.
Special thanks to my sisters/support group: Shakiea, Shauna, and Brittany for always being there for me.

 

Trust is lacking in relationships.

Do you feel like you only trust your partner when they're in your presence?

TRUST: firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

In the past, trusting a boyfriend has always been an issue for me. The fear of being hurt closed me off from fully opening up to my boyfriend. I was so fearful of being lied to and being taken for a fool that I used to drive myself crazy thinking about what my boyfriend was doing when he wasn't with me. If he told me he was somewhere, I would always question him and/or if he didn't call me frequently I would assume he was out with another girl. That's DEFINITELY not healthy behavior!

I discovered how to trust and love someone whole heartily. I had to work on myself. I had to figure out my insecurities. What was I insecure about, and why? By working on myself and facing my insecurities it has allowed my current boyfriend and I to have a strong foundation. Our relationship is based on trust.

-A friend of mine Santoya once told me to trust in the Lord. He's the almighty and can help build you and your partner into the person you're meant to be. 

-When you have a relationship based on trust, there's freedom to breathe. Nikki B

Do you agree or disagree?

Wake Me At Midnight Promo

Stage manager for: Wake me at midnight

Wake me at midnight

Stage manager of this wonderful production

Written by Joseph Simonelli and directed by Ron Parrella.

Buy Tickets at Theatermania.com

Show Times: Oct 10^th-12^th 8pm, Oct 12^th-13^th 2pm, Oct 17^th-19^th 8pm

Location: Producers’ Club 358 west 44^th street

YUM!!!!!

I Love sweets, desserts, sugary things! Yum yum and more yum!

This stems from my childhood. I would patiently wait for my mother to come home as I tried to predict what dessert she would bring me. My favorite dessert as a child was chocolate pudding. Yum!

Now as an adult I still have a sweet tooth. This past Thursday my mom came back from Washington D.C with yummy treats for me. Yea I'm a big kid...whateva!




Homemade Butter Pound Cake (moist fluffy cake on the inside with a hard layer of buttery crust on the outside)



Limited edition Godiva chocolate (how cute is this box?)



Lets see whats inside...



Chocolate GOODNESS! OMG



Bite size Neapolitan chocolate



Look at the inside...
 

Flavors: Neapolitan, Cookie Dough, Pecan Carmel, Rookie Road.
My Favorite Flavors: Cookie Dough and Pecan Carmel!

This would make a great gift for a chocolate lover. Although its presented in a fancy box its inexpensive.

What are some of your favorite desserts?

"I have a sweet tooth problem. On tour, in catering, the dessert was always so good. When we started the tour I was in the best shape of my life, but by the end of it I was horrible." - Kevin McHale

Collecting DUST!

So I'm not much of a reader but that's going to change!

I went through my bookshelf and picked out books that I want to reread. I also found some books I never read before.

So excited for this new adventure!

What books do you have on your bookshelf that you want to reread or finally read? What's your favorite book?

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”
― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

"She did that"

I'm proud to say I WORE SHORTS! AHHH! Those of you who read my previous posts "Baby got thighs" and "I'm wearing shorts this summer" know how I felt about my legs.

However, I've been doing lunges, squats, butt lifts, and jumping jacks to help build muscle in my thighs. I've been able to tone up my thighs while getting rid of most of my cellulite.

I just came back from Michigan and it was super hot. Thankfully I felt confident about my thighs and threw on some shorts to cool down. I'm proud to say I achieved my goal and wore shorts for the first time this summer. YAY!!

Love the fact that I'm building muscle in my legs

Push ups and arm circles for toned arms

Staying active country style! Playing a game of horseshoe





"I don't want to be skinny. I love my curves. I want to be healthy."-Nikki B

Have you achieved any fitness goals this summer? Please share
 

Lend a helping hand

(Photography by Nicole Banks)

This post is dedicated to Kiki. In my previous post "What do you want?" Kiki asked me to write a post about giving back. Kiki I'm happy you're interested in giving back. Let's jump right in.

Giving back is not only associated with money. Yes its nice to donate or give money to the homeless. However there are other ways you can give back.

Giving back in your daily life:

 

Volunteer: Find time to volunteer at an organization near you. You can volunteer at a shelter, Soup Kitchen, school, hospital etc. Look online for volunteering opportunities.

Helping your neighbor (A small gesture goes a long way):

• Babysitting: Babysitting children while their parents enjoy a day off is a great way to give. It allows them to enjoy a day alone and clear their mind or enjoy a night out with their spouse.
• Uplift someone: Maybe you know someone who's feeling down. Surprise them with an uplifting card, flowers or treat them to lunch. Aim to put a smile on their face.

 

Listening shows you care: Have you noticed that we as humans want to be listened to. We don't necessarily need our listeners to respond to what were saying. As long as we know that someone is genuinely lending their ear and taking time to hear us out makes us feel important.

I hope this post helps Kiki :)

What are some ways that you give back?

"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand."-Henri Nouwen
 

 

Life is short! Try new things!

I went FISHING! Ahhh! It was an experience that I will never forget.

I went fishing with my dad and his coworkers. The boat left from City Island and went out to long Island Sound. I'm so proud of myself because I pushed myself to try something new. Even though I'm a girlie girl, I love a good adventure.

I'm not a pro, but I caught four fish. Yay me! For a first timer I must say that's pretty impressive :) Below are my fishing tips.

Fishing Tips by Nikki B:
 -Bait: A nice long juicy worm attracts fish. Be sure to have lots and lots of worms.One person needs at least two pounds worth of worms.
- How to hook a fish: Take your worm and wrap it around your hook several times. Don't have the worm hanging. The fish will eat the worm without getting hooked.
- Patience: Don't expect to get a fish right away. It may take hours before you catch a fish. Keep calm and stay positive.
- Have Fun: When planning a fishing trip, be sure to go with a group of people that you know will make the trip fun and lively. Pack food, beer, wine etc to help create a relax environment.


My Dad and I



Putting the worm on my hook



Time to Fish



Ahh! I caught one!



Someone caught a flying fish and let me take a pic with it



Look at my beautiful bass




The fisherman cleaned the fish




Flaying the fish



Dinner



Fish seasoned by me so you know it was good :)

"Yes I'm a girlie girl but I love adventure" -Nikki B
        

Tell me, would you ever go fishing? What new adventures have you tried this summer? Please share :)

Follow me or request me

Follow me on twitter Noroom4weak and SistersofK or facebook.com/ImNBanks

What do you want?

This post is dedicated to my viewers. YAY!!! So even though most of my viewers don't leave comments, I know that you guys exist because my page views are increasing rapidly.

Question: what do you want me to discuss in my next post?

 Leave a comment below and I'll be sure to respond. The winner will be mentioned in my next post. Don't be afraid to share your ideas because I'm writing for YOU. Therefore I need your feedback. That's the only way I'll know what you want.

So holla at me ;)

Thanks,
Nikki B

Sisters of K

Women's Independence Day was a success!! YAY!! Great positive energy. There were a hand full of people that came out which allowed each individual to have their time to share their story.

If you're wondering what is Women's Independence Day I discuss the meaning in my previous post titled "Women's Independence Day".

In my post "Women's Independence Day" I wrote, "My Goal: is for us to share with one another an issue that we may be facing or have faced that made us feel alone and disconnected from others. By doing so, we'll realize that we share common issues and that we're not alone."

I'm proud to say we reached our goal! Everyone in the room opened up and shared their stories. I was so impressed with their bravery and ability to open up to one another. We all realize how important it is for us to share and listen to one another. I will never forget those who came out to support. This is only the beginning of many more events to come!



Sisters of K was launched that day. Sisters of K includes my two older sisters Shakiea, Shauna and myself. The K represents my mother Karen. Our mother has always been our provider and our backbone. Ever since we were little girls my mother taught us about Jesus. We believe Jesus has called us to help as many females as possible by uplifting their spirits with positive and motivational words.

All of the beautiful women that made this event unforgettable. (one is missing)

We all sat in a circle and shared our stories.
 

My close friend Kharyzma and I.

(From left to right) My mother with songwriter, actress, and mentor UNek.

Shauna's sister in law aka "my second mother" Lizette. I discuss my bond to Lizette in my previous post "My second mother"

Kharyzma is listening to one of the females share her story.

It was awesome meeting all of you ladies today...let's keep this great movement going.

*Women Power* Violet

 

Thank you Nicole "Don't Let Anyone Stand In The Way Of Your Blessings" Mommie Loves you Babie Gurl.-Karen

 

Thank you all for sharing your stories. I am very touched and inspired by what I heard today. Thank you and see you all soon :) -Kharyzma

 

My sista you r a bright light for dark spaces...let ur light shine young sista-UNek

 

 

 SistersofK@gmail.com
Twitter SistersofK

 Would you be interested in attending a Sisters of K event? Is there a certain topic you would like for us to discuss in future events?

 

 

 

 

 

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden."

I have friends that come and go. Is there something wrong with me? Do I push people away? I was walking to the train station the other day thinking about this to myself and it puzzled me. How come my friendships never last? I couldn't figure it out. Then Jesus spoke to me through Pastor Carl Lentz

My sister Shauna encouraged me to watch "Carl Lentz @ Fuel Conference" on YouTube (a must see!).Carl Lentz is the lead pastor at my church hillsong NYC, and he said "you were never called to fit in, so please stop trying." Once I heard him say that it all made sense to me. Pastor Carl then quotes the bible saying,

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will."-Romans 12:2

OMG YESSS! I feel as though I'll connect with my friends but then I'll out grow them. I'm always working on bettering myself spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally. Therefore things I used to do I out grow. Example, I used to go to clubs, bars, and lounges a lot but then I realized it was poison to my mind, body and soul. Now I can't remember the last time I been to a bar or club. I would always leave the bar or club feeling empty. When I started to read the bible more I slowly transformed into a different Nicole. This has a lot to do with so called friendships dissolving into thin air. But hey, "I wasn't made to fit in".


"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."-Matthew 5:13


                                                (photography by me)

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."-John 15:5

Jesus has blessed you so much...why do you only see what you don't have?

(Photography by me)

I don't know if you experience this, but sometimes I find myself thinking about what I don't have instead of giving thanks to Jesus for all that he has blessed me with. Jesus has blessed me with all that I ask for (and I ask him for a LOT of things). However, once I receive his blessing I find myself thinking about the next thing I'm going to ask for. I'm going to work on appreciating Jesus endless gifts to me.  I've asked him to give me love, peace of mind, strength, faith, hope, money, a job, friends, support, grace, happiness, food etc and Jesus has always provided. Therefore I shouldn't be a selfish child and keep on taking without realizing all that Jesus has already done for me.

If you suffer from this as well, I challenge you to make a list of all of the things that you asked for and Jesus has given you. Place it on your wall as a reminder and hopefully you'll realize how blessed you are.

"Take your time and enjoy your current blessing before you ask for another blessing"-Nikki B

As I look into my future what do I see...

WEST ELM has to be the best furniture store EVER!!!! It's up the block from my job, which means my lunch breaks are mostly spent looking around and day dreaming about how I'm going to decorate my future home. I could be having the worst day ever, but I walk inside West Elm and suddenly I'm filled with happiness. I could stay there all day walking around smiling.

I declare that I will have West Elm furniture in my home! If you want something in this life no matter your circumstances, you have to have faith that you can obtain your goal. I may not have the finances right now, but I believe in my heart that West Elm was made for me. By working hard and saving my money, I'll be able to achieve my dream.

One of my many visits to West Elm (photography by me)

My dream bedroom set 

Living room couch

 

The lamp for my bedroom

Organic Blown Glass Pendant for my kitchen

Living room lamp (I love trees, and fell in love when I saw this lamp).

Glass Orb Chandelier for my dining room

All the little tools I need to make different dishes from scarch

 My dream Fridge!

My dream shower!

Chandelier for my bathroom

My home will be filled with candles....

And scented diffusers



 Look beyond your circumstances and paint a picture of the items you want. With hard work and faith, you'll receive your blessings.

"Home is where the heart is."

-Pliny the Elder



EATING OUT AND DRINKING TURNS INTO FAT!!

It's gorgeous out! And I've been going out to restaurants, drinking , and having way too much fun eating whatever I want.!!!!



I'm way too excited about this jumbo frozen margarita!...calm down there Nicole...geeessh!



Second drink? Really Nicole? I basically licked my plate clean...and look at my gut. - _-

My fun doesn't stop there shawty! Another day, another frozen drink!...full of calories, I know :(

I enjoy going out to restaurants, (I mean who doesn't). However, I'm noticing the pounds  are starting to come back on (goes on scale and my eyes pop out of my head). I'm not making smart choices. I'm still going to go out and have fun but there's a limit. Instead of me having two drinks I'll have one. Instead of me having a jumbo glass (do I want a bad liver?), I'll have a normal size glass. It's going to be an everyday battle, however I take my health very serious. Now I'm determined to make smarter choices for the rest of the summer.

I haven't worked out in over a week but today I did jumping jacks, squats, lunges, arm circles, butt lifts, push ups and light weights. It felt good to see myself sweat and feel my body get sore. I'm learning to enjoy the pain. 

 Arm circles help build arm muscle. I do this for at least three minutes.

 Time to tone! LETS GO!

 Toned arms are sexy

 The hardest thing for me to tone is the back fat on my arm...wish I could melt it off or something lol



"I made a commitment to completely cut out drinking and anything that might hamper me from getting my mind and body together. And the floodgates of goodness have opened upon me - spiritually and financially."
- Denzel Washington