Naturalle Drea

Funny thing is, I was trying to word this as not a good-bye because I'll still be blogging, just moving platforms lol. I can't get over how fast the Summer is going and it will be August on Wednesday. If you missed my initial announcement, I will be moving platforms as of this Thursday. You can follow me  RIGHT HERE!!! I know I eventually wanted to be dot com and wondered how and when I should move there. I want to grow and expand and be successful, that is the end goal right? I started here almost 5 years ago, I had no clue what I was about to get myself into and I just wanted a place for myself. This blog went through some name changes, writing styles, and so much to grow into where I am today. I figured I would find my platform, what I really wanted to talk about and just figure blogging out. I thought it was going to be easy at first but it was not. It was hard not to become so frustrated with no one really commenting at first and the low views not realizing I had to l...

You know when you keep thinking of something and you just feel like you have to get it out? That was me before sitting down to write this post. I had something else planned to write but I kept thinking...sometimes its hard and it just evolved from there. We all heard the sayings, life isn't fair, life is hard and so on. Sometimes life can be hard but we don't experience it for long. There are so many things that I want to do but I know I can't do a million things at once. I can't just pick and go anymore, I'm someone's parent now. There are times I want to but I know things have to be planned out now. I will get to those place I want to go, just have to be patient and plan it out. It seems like we focus so much on what is hard about life that we forget about the easy stuff. We forget sometimes about all the good things that happen and to be grateful for getting through those rough patches. You may not like your living situation but you have a roof over ...

Okay, that was a funny April fool's joke when it snowed yesterday lol. Mother Nature needs to make up her mind, is Winter over yet or what?  I can't believe it is April already, Summer will be here before we know it and I'm not bathing suit ready yet lol. I have been proud of myself lately for sticking to these weekly goals I have been setting for myself. I started with drinking tea during the week and saving coffee for the weekend. I have been sticking to it but got coffee a couple times last week. I also made a schedule for myself for blogging, filming, editing and so on, I have just been so all over the place and unorganized, it was driving me crazy. I have been posting these weekly goals on my Insta Stories.  I am taking things one step at a time and slowing getting it together. I just overwhelmed myself and thought I could fix everything at once lol. Yea, what was I thinking? I had to remember to be patient and wait on things and take things one step and one d...

We are 6 days away from Christmas and I haven't finished my shopping yet!! I will most likely be out this weekend with the other last minute shoppers lol! We finally got our tree up in the house and I just wanted it to be simple this year.  I don't know how some people do daily vloging but kudos to them because Vlogmas is tiring lol. I am getting through it but it is a lot editing almost every night. I can say that I did it this year, not too sure if I will next year lol but I'll continue with occasional vlogs.  I am so exciting about how things are starting to come together and fall into place. I am grateful for staying in a positive space and kept pushing myself to keep going. There were plenty of times that I wanted to give up but the hard work is starting to pay off. I'm just excited for these opportunities and new doors that are opening. I have been really working to improve Naturalle Drea and myself and it can only get better from here. I have been up m...

At least once or twice week, I look at my blog and YouTube channel and debate if I want to keep going. I admit to looking at others and wondering what I'm not doing or how can I get there. I know I'm not supposed to look at others and stay on my own path. I know that success comes when it is your turn but sometimes it can get frustrating. You can get discouraged at times and want to throw in the towel. I remember the promise I made to myself when I started this blog not to quit or give up. I started a blog before this one and after about a couple weeks I deleted it because I impatient. I had to learn how to be patient and wait for things. I thought it was supposed to be instant where people would read and comment. A few months later, Naturalle Drea was created and it was hard to keep going. It was hard at first to not want to shut everything down again but the more I was writing and started recording videos, the more I wanted to keep going. All the views and comment worrie...

During the months of September and October, I took this 4 week writing course called In Bloom. I have been looking for a writing course to help improve my writing and blogging skills. I came across Write Laugh Dream by Ashley Coleman on Instagram and first signed up for the Writers Write WLD series. It was a four week course where you were given daily prompts and you wrote something to finish the thought. I really enjoyed writing daily and just making myself think about how to finish the prompt. After the series was over, Ashley reached out about signing up for a pilot session of In Bloom. This was another four week course but it was more interactive than the previous series. There was a video call once a week as well as a workbook for the course. During the first week was an introduction of the course, introductions of everyone and what we would be writing about. The goal at the end of the course was to help us to improve our writing and create a writing piece. I was excited to j...

I was supposed to have a video up today but I don't think you want to hear me sneezing and sniffling through the whole thing lol. This weather is crazy, its hot, then cold then hot again and of course I get sick lol. I'll have those videos up tomorrow but I wanted to get something up today.  I always get inspired to write when good or bad things happen. The other day I met up with some friends to just catch up and chat about life, motherhood, marriage and our businesses. It just felt good to be around those like minded people who want to see you succeed, help you grow, give advice, bounce ideas off of each other and so on. It just felt good to be in a positive space with them and realizing that I need to surround myself with more people like that. I need to be around people who have that positive mindset, who actually support you, gives you advice, constructive criticism and I do the same for them.  I feel like everyone could benefit from having that positivity around...

Sometimes it is hard to adapt when things change. You are just so used to how something is and then something new comes and it is going to change everything. I am willing to go with anything that changes in my life but I had a little difficult time with a change at work.  My job title and work load has changed. Two jobs were basically rolled into one position and when I first heard about it, I freaked out a little and was scared. I am still new to the current position I am in and thought I was going to be totally overwhelmed. I still had like a million questions a day and things always came up that I did not know and now I have to learn something else on top of that. I was wondering if I was going to be able to handle this.  I know that I asked for a challenge and worked really hard to get the job that I'm in now. So this seemed like another challenge to me. I know that I was doubting myself in the job I am in now but I wouldn't of gotten the job if they didn't bel...

I can't believe I've been married for 3 months already. It seemed like yesterday I was stressing out over wedding planning and now we are officially married. I have officially changed my last name and it is weird sometimes when people call me Mrs. Johnson. It wasn't as bad I thought going around to change my name. I don't think that now we made things official that it changed us, we are still the same people but just now husband and wife. It is more trying to be on the same page with finances, life, schedules, goals and so on. It is not just about myself anymore, we are a unit, we are one. It has been an adjustment making room for us to share space because as my husband said jokingly, I'm selfish with space. I have a lot of stuff, I'm a female, I'm supposed to lol. Overall, it has been great and I'm looking forward to many years of happiness and love. I feel like I've been having a mini mid-life crisis. I've felt all over the place with my thoug...

Six years ago, we were blessed with a little bundle of joy and it was instant love at first sight. I can't get over that my son is now 6 years old. It is crazy how fast 6 years went by. It seemed like yesterday we were just staring at him, watching him sleep and wondering what we do now with a newborn. I'm just glad I know what sleep is again because those first few months were a struggle lol. He started to become mobile and it was amazing to watch him take his first couple steps and then he was off walking and running around. It is just amazing that I helped create this little life that now has such personality and such an intelligent boy. It just amazes me that he is now reading and spelling everything in sight and is just a joy to have. Yes we have our not listening moments but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Happy 6th Birthday Kellen! I wish for many more years of birthdays, love and life. I wish for you to continue to grow, continue to learn, continue o...

I had another post scheduled for today but this was on my heart to write about. I was kinda inspired over the past couple of months with this and also after seeing Girl's Trip (which was really amazing by the way, go see it). Next to my relationship with my family, I cherish my friendships. Those are the people who know you best, won't steer you wrong, there to listen to you, give advice when you ask for it or not, the people who you can call up and have a great time with no matter what you are doing and those who push you to do and be better. In return you do the same for them. I've have some friendships come to an end in the past and have out grown some friends but I've been wondering how I can be a better friend or how we all can be better friends. I'll admit to not keep in touch with everyone all the time but it is good to check in on some of your friends, you never know what they may be going through. I am one to put on that facade and act like everything is p...

I was in the craft store one day getting new fabric for a backdrop when this couple walks up to get in line. We greet each other and the woman says "Wow you have a nice head of healthy hair, its beautiful". I said thank you and she goes on to say "It's nice to see our sisters wearing their natural hair instead of all that weave, its damaging to your hair". I just nodded because I didn't agree with her statement and was so glad my number was called right after that. She just could of left it at the complement but I honestly don't understand why women do that. I honestly do not care how you wear your hair, as long as you are happy with it and it works for YOU. I have worn weave before, my hair used to be relaxed before I decided to go natural and I always change up my hair. Why bash someone else because of how they choose to wear their hair? We are supposed to be about unity, support and togetherness and it hurts me sometimes to see women tearing each oth...

If you guys don't already know, I am getting married very soon....next month to be exact lol. It has been such an experience planning everything, the trying on of dresses, DIY projects, meetings, seating charts and so on. My fiance and I had our finalization meeting yesterday with the venue and we went over everything for the day. We asked to walk through the venue again to make sure we had everything covered. We were outside where the ceremony will take place and I was standing on the aisle and looked up to see my fiance standing a few feet in front of me. It started to really sink in that we are really getting married. After that night, it will be a new chapter in our lives as husband and wife. Now I have heard horror stories on how marriage changes people, they don't realize who they really married and let things just fall apart. I hear that marriage is work and not always easy and so on. I know everyone has a different view and experience on what marriage is or has been to...

It feels like time is going by too fast. I can't believe that my wedding will be here next month and I'm keeping pretty calm (when on the inside I'm screaming and running with my hands in the air)! I feel like I've been in wedding planning mode for so long, I won't know what to do with myself afterwards lol. The new job is going well so far. There were a few times I started to doubt myself in the position because things got a little rough and I felt like I had to be an expert at it. I felt like I had to prove something because I was finally given this opportunity and wanted to show that I could do this job. I didn't want to make mistakes and felt like I had to be somewhat perfect. I had to remind myself that there is not such thing as being perfect, it is okay not to know everything at once. I had to remember that things take time and you can't rush things. There is still so much to learn and I had to remind myself that they did pick the right person for th...

I'm thankful to be seeing another year and 33 looks good! Yesterday I celebrated my birthday and I didn't want to do too much. I just went to Sephora to get my Birthday gift (and brought other stuff lol) and went out and had margaritas and lunch with my fiance and treated myself to a mani and pedi. It was good just to have a day off and relax. It seems like the attitude of this country has changed so much and it is a bit scary. A lot of people have very strong opinions about recent events and what has been going on lately. I'll admit, I am very scared of what the next 4 years will bring. It seems like we are going backwards in time and it is not a good thing. I am scared of how people will be treated, if manners, equal treatment of others, respect and just plain common sense will go out the window. I know that I can't live in fear and chosen to take a positive and optimistic approach to things. I know I can't control,how other people think or their views. I'm ch...

The only thing I don't like about the new year is when the gyms get so crowded for the next couple of months! Like where did all these people come from? Lol! I will probably be one of those people lol. It seems like 2016 has gone by super fast! It was full of a lot of good and bad stuff and I have no complaints. I got through the year still employed, roof over my head and clothes to wear. I learned so much about myself in the past year and looking forward to applying those lessons to my life. I'm glad I finally learned how to be patient and wait for things to happen when they are supposed to. I can't wait for 2017 because of my upcoming wedding!! I can't believe it is coming up and I'm excited and nervous. I'm taking on a new role as a wife now and I hope just because you make your relationship legal I'll say, it doesn't change us. I know I have been all stressed about wedding planning but the goal is to stay married and happy. I know we will do just tha...

I had another post planned for today but I'm not sure what was up with my laptop and the pictures downloading super slow. I got a little impatient and wasn't going to write anything but something just came to me. It seems like there is so much going on right now, it is hard to see anything that is positive in the world. It just seems like everything is so crazy and out of control. I know a lot of people feel fear, anger, sadness and hurt. I just felt so inspired after attending The Fearless Conference. It was great to be around so many women and no one was talking about each other in a negative way, everyone was super sweet, down to earth and genuine. You don't see a lot of that on tv now. I know reality television is supposed to be for entertainment but how women are being portrayed sometimes is not right to me. I have stopped watch a lot of those shows because I just see women tearing each other down, calling each other outside of their name, being very disrespectful and ...

It is currently 12:45am and I just finished twisting my hair and kind of forgot I had a post that is supposed to go up today lol! I had something else planned for today but just wanted to be personal today. I had the most amazing weekend and just still thinking about it. I attended The Fearless Conference in Philly but I was doing my first Instagram takeover during the conference!! A little while back, Ahiyana Angel of Life According To Her reached out to me about taking over her Instagram stories during the conference. She first thought of me because I'm in the area and has been watching me on social media since we came in contact at her event, I Need New Friends (I have a post on this event, just to refresh your memory, you can read  RIGHT HERE )! I was super excited because someone thought of me and saw potential in me going to an event on their behalf. I then became a little nervous about doing so. I really didn't tell too many people until everything was all set. I will ha...

I have a lot of thoughts and things I want to write about on here. Most of the time, I just keep it to myself and sometimes it makes it on here. I kind of hold back some things and I'm not sure why. Maybe because I'm afraid of a backlash or how people may take what I'm saying. I'm trying to really break out of that and just express myself through my words. I am a blogger lol! I know many of you have seen recently that singer Alicia Keys decided to go makeup free. Her reasoning sounded so freeing and liberating and I really applaud her for that. I love those who stand out and are not afraid to be daring and take risks. What I can't stand is people, men and women telling other women they don't need to wear makeup or question why we do. Or those against not wearing makeup and telling others they need to. I have no issue at all stepping out the house without an ounce of makeup on. I'll look like I'm 16 lol but I can step out the house without it. I know some...

**A little disclaimer that I am speaking on the recent event that have been going on and I am not intentionally offending anyone, just speaking what has been on my mind and what I have been feeling.** The events of last week had me feeling so emotional and at a lost for words. It really got to me because I am a mother and those innocent children lost a loving parent. My heart went out to those families and I just cried seeing how it affected them, especially that 4 year old who watched her father die in the car. That really hit a nerve with me because that will haunt that child for the rest of their life. It made me feel so much fear for my son and fiance, especially for my son. I want him to be able to grow up in a world where he is not wrongfully punished for his skin color or be judged just because of that. I didn't want my son to be walking around fearing for his life. This made me think of Martin Luther King Jr and how he fought so hard for equality, peace and justice in a ...