Move Mountains

You know the saying, "If God can do anything, can he create a rock so large that he cannot lift it?"
This statement alone sparks debate. However, I have found one solid response which lies in free will. He could have created us to follow his every command. Instead, he created us with free will. He chooses not to force us to love him. He lets us chose him. I believe the same thing goes for a rock. He could chose to create a rock that is so large that he couldn't, or would decidedly not move.
The fact that he created us with free will and he chose to create us in a manner so that he couldn't, or would chose not to force us into loving him, is evidence, that he could create a rock so large that he couldn't move it. Or at least a rock that he created with the intention of never moving it. Either way, God can do the impossible, and all things are possible through him. (Even creating large immobile rocks).
So, don't waste your time skipping pebbles on the water. Make moves. Move mountains. He blesses us and wants to prosper us. Don't waste your time doing things that everyone knows are possible. Press the limits on what is impossible. Pu-pu-push it to the limit.


xoxo


p.s. Was that last line a bit too corny?

making moves

I am currently the face of www.ekineyo.com check it out

tattoos

I've designed a few tattoos for friends but I'll never design one that falls into one of these categories below.
I don't understand why girls get tattoos of their boyfriends' names on their ring finger. Shouldn't he put a ring on that finger before you permanently put his name there? Clearly he is not ready to commit to you, so why are you so eager to make such a huge commitment? Why do we tattoo other people's names on our body anyway? Unless you have some magical fortune teller powers that tell you that you are going to be with this person for the rest of your life, why do it?
On the contrary, I completely understand tribute and memorial tattoos of family members or close friends who've passed away. A tattoo should mean something to you. It should mean something final. Something unchangeable, because it, in itself is unchangeable.
I don't have any tattoos but a lot of the people I know do. I don't think I'll ever get a tattoo personally, but I'm not against them. I try to live by the motto, live life without regrets. Nothing has happened to me that I'd want tattooed on me. I am sure that if I had a tattoo, I'd probably regret it, because it wouldn't have any meaning for me as of now.
If you are thinking about a tattoo, make sure it is something unchangeable in your life. Don't get a tattoo of your favorite rock band, because they will likely split up in 6 months. Don't get a tattoo of a flower, star, hearts, etc, because it is very unlikely that you will still find the design beautiful and meaningful in a few years. Don't get a boyfriend/girlfriend's name, initials, anniversary date, etc tattooed on you, because your next boyfriend/girlfriend won't like it very much.
Don't get swears tattooed. Nobody will take you seriously if you have an expletive branded on you.
Don't get tattoos in places you can't hide, such as your neck, wrists, hands, feet. If you disagree with this, please name one millionaire with visible tattoos, other than rock stars and pro-athletes please. Also, ask someone who has them there and see what job they currently hold, and see if they have ever been asked o cover their tattoo every day before coming to work. That is quite a hassle.
Don't get tattoos on the small of your back, otherwise known as the tramp stamp. We all know your purpose in doing this is to attract men, and it will, for all the reasons you intended it. Trouble is, finding a man that will take you seriously as anything other than a tramp after seeing your tramp stamp.
Don't get tattoos on your face. Probably the worst idea of them all. Can you imagine your wedding photos with a tear drop tattooed under your eye, or even better, on an interview for a job that requires a background check?
Don't get symbols in other languages unless you are 500% positive you know what it means or else, the symbol "truth" could just mean "toe-jam."
Don't get a joke tattooed on your body, especially if you lost a bet. Your "friends" will accept your decline to get the tattoo if you pay them each off $20, trust me its a good investment.

Other than those, I'm sure there are several other types of tattoos you shouldn't get. Before you get inked, make sure that the design is something with a huge meaning on your life. Make sure that it's in a place that allows you to enter into any profession you choose. Make sure you go to a reputable shop and see the design first. I recommend having the artist sketch it out and that you keep the sketch for 6 months. If you still want the same design 6 months later, then get it. Impulse tattoos are never a good idea.

Happy inks!
xoxo

New Yorkers

When visiting New York City there are a few things you should know. The first thing you need to know is how to tell a fellow tourist from a New Yorker. 

1. New Yorkers speed walk. Tourists stop in the middle of the sidewalk and/or stroll at a snails pace.

2. New Yorkers look at their phones while walking (at the speed of light). Tourists can't multitask.

3. New Yorkers cross the street when it is clear. Tourists will wait 5 minutes for the little white man walking symbol even if no cars have passed in the last 4 minutes.

4. New Yorkers ignore bums. Tourists give them money (to feed their habits).

5. New Yorkers will step on pigeons if they get in the way. Tourists feed them.

6. New Yorkers look at the sidewalks and/or phones as stated above. Tourists look up at buildings.

7. New Yorkers weave in and out of crowds and on bikes weave in and out of traffic. Tourists create crowds by standing there and create traffic by not knowing how to drive in the city.

8. New Yorkers go into buildings. Tourists take pictures in front of them.

9. New Yorkers check their pockets after being bumped into. Tourists say, "I'm sorry."

10. New Yorkers will give you directions like 4 blocks downtown, 3 blocks east. Tourists pull out maps.

11. New Yorkers dress in business suits or like 70's hippies. Tourists wear visors and fanny packs.

The next thing you need to know is where to find good grub.

Do not travel all the way to New York City and eat at Olive Garden, Red Lobster, or Ruby Tuesdays. You can eat that back home. Go somewhere that you can only find in New York. For a quick slice of pizza on the run, hit up any of the Three Brother's Pizza places for a $.99 slice. Ever tried Halal? If not, there are plenty of vendors on practically every corner. For a famous restaurant with great giant sandwiches, try Carnegie Deli. If you are craving any type of food ever invented, you can find it in New York City. Make use of my instructions on how to tell a New Yorker from a tourist, and ask a New Yorker where to find good eats in the neighborhood.

Things to do. 

Yes, go to all the tourist sights. Check out Times Square, Central Park, shopping on 5th Ave and Macy's Herald Square, etc. But don't waste your money on a $40/per person tour bus ride. Get a map and take the subway. Go see the Statue of Liberty but don't waste your money on a boat tour. Take the Staten Island ferry for free. Buy tickets for Broadway shows the day of the show from the Tkts booth under the stairs in Times Square. This will usually save you 40%. Also check out websites that list free things to do in the city everyday. Most museums in the city are free on certain days or have a 'suggested donation', such as the Met, (Metropolitan Museum of Art for all your tourists), which means you can give them a nickel, or a dollar or a five and will be allowed entrance.

Nightlife.

Meatpacking district is where all the locals go for swanky nightlife. Clubs to check out, if you can get in, SL, 1Oak, Park, Avenue, Griffin, Bunker, Gansevoort. Dress Codes are strictly enforced everywhere. No jeans, no sneakers. If you are looking for a younger crowd, Webster Hall is a pretty cool place to see, especially on Saturdays when they have Circus nights. You will find lots of cool pubs and bars on any street.

Where to stay.

If you don't know anyone who lives in the city, get a hotel room in Queens or Brooklyn near a subway stop and ride the subway into the city. It should save you a lot of money, but check out various prices on comparison websites before you book. Don't forget to check if they have a complimentary breakfast. If a family of four gets complimentary breakfast at a hotel that costs $150 a night, but doesn't get one at the hotel that costs $130 a night, go for the more expensive hotel, because breakfast has the highest markup of any meal and can cost a lot in the city.

The subway.

Do not be scared of the subway. You might get lost, but not after the first two days of your trip. Ask for directions, and read signs. Maps are posted everywhere and New Yorkers are usually willing and happy to help. Sure its a little dusty, okay very dirty, and there are bums everywhere. But, the bums are usually harmless other than the odor they give off, especially in the summer. The subways are much safer than depicted in movies. Keep your guard up, and your purse in your hand, but there is really nothing to worry about. Ha ha, I made it sounds so good, huh?

So, tourists! We welcome you to our lovely home. Come look at the buildings we forget about. Enjoy the bright lights that keep our blinds closed. Take in the beauty of the sights we take for granted. But whatever you do, do not stop in the middle of the sidewalk. That is like stopping your car in the middle of the highway.

xoxo

Confidence

Tonight on my way home from work, the subway was packed. I was standing up, holding onto the pole, staring at my reflection in the window and thinking to myself. I felt pretty. I felt confident. I felt as if people on the train saw me and saw something great, even if they didn't, I didn't care. I thought, "I wish every girl in the world could feel happy about themselves; feel confident; feel pretty." Like everyone, at times, I feel like I could lose a few pounds here or there. At times I feel like my nose is too big, or I'm not tall enough, or my ears stick out.
The fact is, we waste too much of our lives thinking about what we'd like to change instead of thinking about how great we are just the way we are. Let's feel confident more often. Let's feel pretty. Life is so much more enjoyable when you are happy with yourself and don't have to stress about being self-conscious. I wish that every girl could feel happy, confident, and pretty. Hopefully in time, I will help at least some, if not all, to feel that self-confidence more frequently. We all deserve to feel good about ourselves.
You are beautiful. God made you just the way you are, flawless. You have a purpose, and it is great.
xoxo

Model City

Location plays a huge role in the opportunities that we have. That's why it is so great that more and more opportunities are coming to those in small towns. For example, if you've ever watched America's Next Top Model, they always have a few girls from small towns in the midwest, they have one girl who lives in a trailer park, one girl who grew up in a shelter somewhere, and then they throw in some girls who are from big cities as well to make "good tv." Well, you may think they just do it for viewership, but whatever their reasoning, it still gives an opportunity to someone who might not have another one otherwise. It is very difficult to break into the entertainment industry living in a town that doesn't have one. I can tell you first hand, living in Connecticut and trying to make it big in modeling, is a challenge. Moving to New York City made it a bit easier to get the jobs, but it is still a struggle. With more opportunity comes more competition. Nobody said it was going to be easy, and its not, but the more you try the more success you will find. You can never get booked for a job you don't try for. Don't take it to heart when you don't get booked. It doesn't mean you aren't good enough, tall enough, skinny enough, beautiful enough, it just means you weren't the look they were going for in this particular job. Eventually, someone will be looking for your look. There are opportunities out there, you just have to go search for them. They don't come to you. So, this advice goes out to all of you who live in small towns and don't think you have a chance in a million. Move. Yes, you're going to have to save up some money to do so. Yes, you might not know a single person by name for weeks. Yes, you're going to be lonely at times. Yes, it will be a struggle. But know this, it is worth it. Whether you try and succeed or try and fail, at least you tried. Isn't it better to live knowing you tried than to wonder for the rest of your life, what if? Live without regrets. If your opportunities are limited for success in what you want to do with your life, move your life. It's okay to fail, people will respect you for your courage to try, but nobody will commend you for giving up without a fight. Good luck in all your endeavors!
xoxo

The best blog entry I've ever written.

The word best implies opinion and not fact. However, the only way for me to attempt to write the best blog of my life, would be to base it entirely on the best book in the world. A book with all the secrets on how to live a successful and fulfilling life. A book that gives you guidance and comfort. A book that equips you for daily life, a long life, and your eternal life. Of course, the Bible.
Inspired to try to write the best advice possible, I realized that I am not certified or qualified to give relationship advice, career advice, how to raise a child advice, or any kind of advice. But lucky for me, I know someone who is. That would be God ladies and gentlemen. 
Whenever I feel the urge to seek the Bible for some inspiration or advice, I usually open the book to any random page and read the first thing that I see. No matter what it is that I read, I have faith that it will touch and inspire me and bless my life. I went about it today in a slightly different manner. I flipped to the back in the dictionary-concordance and searched for words that deal with my current internal struggle. Guess what? Most of the words weren't listed there. Possibly because they didn't use terms like "cohabitation" when the book was written. However, I found some words on the same page that touched me and I'd like to share them with you.
Companion- one who is a friend or associate or helper.
Compassion- sympathy; pity.
Condemn- to give out punishment to; to pronounce guilty.
A few scriptures that contain these words supply you with direction as to how to, or not to, use these words. Colossians 3:12 says, "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness." Romans 8:1 says, "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Then I proceded to look up marriage and this is what it says, "Marriage- the joining together before God and other people of a man and a woman to form a new family." I read a few different passages on marriage and the one that seemed to stick out the most was in Hebrews. Here is a big chunk and it gives you guidance on money, faith, commitment, love, and more. 


Hebrews 12:28-13:6 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, ²⁹ for our “God is a consuming fire.”

 ¹ Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. ² Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. ³ Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

⁴ Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. ⁵ Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

   “Never will I leave you;
   never will I forsake you.”
 ⁶ So we say with confidence,
   “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
   What can mere mortals do to me?”


This passage is the most important and gives you the most instruction on how to live your life. Here are the secrets. Here are the rules to living a happy life. Happiness is not found in money; it is not found in condemnation. 
1. Be thankful and worship God, the giver of life.
2. Love everyone. There is no room for hate in a happy heart. Show kindness to all. Try not to judge, because we have no right to judge and no say in who makes it to heaven.
3. Hold your vows and your commitments. Be true and honest with one another. Do not stray from your marriage or your friends.
4. Money is no object because all things are possible in Christ. Do not worry about money and do not love money. Love people.
5. Have confidence. This will help you to succeed in all aspects of your life from your career to your relationships. Confidence is the key. Have faith in Him because he has plans to prosper you, not to harm you.


I hope that these 5 points can help inspire and help us all to lead more successful, more fulfilling, more happy lives. Try to incorporate them into your live every day. Instill these goals and morals into your children and friends and most importantly instill them into your own heart. Take ownership of these guidelines that God has given us. He gave them to us so that we would not have to face challenges and pain. I would usually say Good Luck to you, but luck is no factor when it comes to God. May he bless you indeed.


xoxo

Snooki, Christina Aguilera Look-A-Like?

So I was watching the first episode of The Voice, and I realized something, Christina Aguilera looks a lot like a bleach blonde Snooki right now. Check out the show, and her bad wig.
xoxo

beautiful song

I don't even like country music, I suppose this is more gospel however, it is beautiful.



xoxo

Smartphones

After years of putting off the upgrade to a smartphoene, I finally gave in. I am very frugal and didn't see the point. I was content with my $10 per month unlimited "Internet" which included checking my email and the occasional attempt to view facebook. I debated the upgrade for a few months, being very indecisive all along. One day I walked into an AT&T store with every intention of getting another quick messaging phone. I was due for an upgrade about 6 months ago but never decided on a phone. I left with an iPhone and upgraded to the $25 a month 2GB data plan. Not at all what I anticipated leaving with but I decided it was finally time for me to join the rest of my peers in this digital age. Now I am hooked. It is literally like having a computer at the palm of your hands, and stored in your pocket. Here are my main benefits of using a smartphone; interactive games with friends, ability to quickly surf the web to any website including email, ability to connect to wifi, and applications for everything! In fact, I am writing this post currently from my iPhone while sitting in bed. The convenience and speed is awesome and it's something that can really benefit anyone. I wanted to write about smartphones in general and not specifically the iPhone because I am aware that there are even more advanced phones out there already and also I am not partial to the iPhone brand specifically, I just got it for a good eal that's why I decided to go with it. Any smartphone is really fine. Good luck if you decide to go upgrade! Add the app "Words with friends" and play me! My username is Michelleberman (creative, I know).

Xoxo

Is it possible to follow your heart?

So they say follow your heart. How is that possible, since your heart is inside of you? You can't possibly take it out, put it in on a cart, push it, and then follow after where it goes. It obviously doesn't work this way.
Also, since elementary school they teach you that in fact, your heart doesn't do any decision making whatsoever, your brain does all that. Why do we insist on celebrating Valentine's day with heart shaped cards and poems about how my heart belongs to you. Really we should be saying my brain is only thinking of you, or at the very least, my brain thinks about you a couple times a day. Slightly less romantic, but far closer to the truth.
So if we can't follow our hearts, what do we follow? What is everyone expecting us to follow? Intuition? What about when you are really just stuck? What do you do when you don't know what to follow, when the path is not clear, when you've come to a fork in the road and either path has a few bumps and a few potholes, but they both are also lined with beautiful flower beds and scenery? How do you choose which path to go on when your intuition fails you?
When someone told you to follow your heart, your decision could have been really easy, meaning you really already knew what you wanted or needed to do, so you weren't really following anything, you were leading. You made a conscious decision to go on one path or the other.
Maybe another time, your decision was very difficult, you had no idea what to do and pondered on it for weeks, months, maybe longer. What did you do to finally decide? What made you decide? Was it an inner voice or gut feeling, or something external that pushed you to one path as the other path was closed for construction? I believe the latter is much more common.
When faced with a tough decision, these are the only two options I see happening. The first is very simple, you have a decision to make, and you know exactly what you want to do and you do it. Just because it is easy for you to decide what you want to do, doesn't mean it is an easy decision. For instance, when I decided to stop going to college and move to New York City, it was easy for me because I knew what I wanted to do and was happy I was doing it. That was still a very tough decision.
The only other option, when a tough decision arrises, is that you are stuck decision-less until some external force pushes you towards one path. This is how I feel right now; like I am waiting for some force to move me.
I hope I didn't lose any of you in all that rambling. Heres the gist of it, How do you follow your heart, when your heart isn't telling you which way to go?

xoxo

were you born that way?

marriage

Do people marry their soul mate, or just the first person they date who is ready to get married when they are ready to get married?
xoxo

Funny relationship quotes

"911, I need your help, I have 3 minutes to get a Valentine's Day card, or I'm a dead man!"

"My wife says I don't listen to her, or at least I think that's what she said."

"Me and my boyfriend broke up over religious differences; He thought he was God, I didn't."

"I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury."

"Marriage is give and take. You’d better give it to her or she’ll take it anyway."

"We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops."

"My husband said he needed more space. So I locked him outside."

"Marriage is the only war in which you sleep with the enemy."

"I got rid of my boyfriend. My cat was allergic."

"Relationships are when one person is always right and the other is the guy."

Hope these give you a laugh or two!
xoxo

Timing is Everything

So, if you checked out my last post, I submitted to a contest to be a fashion reporter during NY Fashion Week. However, even though the contest isn't over yet, I have conceded. A few of the girls in the contest have a huge youtube channel following and have thousands of votes. Good for them, this is obviously not meant for me. However, the good news is, the magazine that was sponsoring the contest reached out to me and asked me if I'd be willing to do a shoot for their magazine in the future. So, it all works out in the end. I get published, and the girl who won the contest can interview me. :)
I have trouble with patience, as most of us do today. We are the generation of now. We want everything instantly. The problem is, it takes hard work and determination to get what you want. I know that I will be passed up on several jobs but I'm okay with that because I am faithful that jobs will come my way. People will be impressed by me. They will want to work with me again. Success is where I am headed. It may be a long journey, maybe a short one, maybe full of bumps or forks in the road and a few flat tires, but I will make it in the end. The same goes for everyone. We all have to jump hurdles and fix our own flat tires. AAA can't come and tow you to the finish line, you've got to figure it out on your own.
Oh, and by the way, pray that God keeps your road free of deep potholes, and that he continuously fills your gas tank so you are never left on empty.
xoxo