WHY WORKING OUT WITH YOUR HUSBAND OR WIFE HELPS YOUR RELATIONSHIP

Hello wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. how are you all doing today? I hope you all are having a great day today and are not letting anyone steal your joy. Welcome to Maryam's Joyful Life. Today is a beautiful day!

I enjoy working out with my sweet man (husband). It is a time that helps us bond and talk about something else other than our normal routine. I remember when my husband purchased our Bowflex, earlier this year. I weighed over 210 pounds. I had been thinking about running and working out but had not started yet. The Bowflex gave us an opportunity to set personal weight and health goals together. My husband motivated me and helped me stay focus on my goals. Hey babe, if you're reading this, thanks for encouraging me to stay with my goals.

There were days when I didn't feel like working out or even sticking to a healthy diet. I have had days when I craved donuts and ice cream and every junk food that someone on a diet shouldn't crave. But my husband was there telling me to fight the urge or not overindulge. Sometimes, I got really upset because I felt like I needed my donuts to help me feel good. It was very hard but I tried and can look back now and be thankful for my accountability partner.

Your spouse can be your accountability partner for those times or days when you feel uninspired and the temptation to go back to your old eating habits is knocking at your door. It is at such trying times that your spouse can come in and remind you of your goals and help you stay focused.

I am very fit and healthy today. I love how I feel and the ease that I feel when I want to run or jump. I absolutely love it! Unlike when I was a college athlete, with achy joints from excessive workout, I don't feel the aches.

I'd like to encourage you to take up a new bonding activity with your spouse. Exercising together is a great way to bond. My sweet man loves it and emphasizes it and I think it is very important to spend time with your spouse doing some type of fitness activity outside of the house.

Here's a video that might interest you. We filmed our outdoor workout session together and we encourage you guys to try spending time together and see where it takes your relationship.

Until next time.
Maryam💖

SHARING ITEMS GREAT FOR MOMS AND BABIES FEATURING MOMMEDTECH

Hello wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely friends. how are y'all doing today? I hope y'all are having a great today and are not letting anyone steal your joy. Welcome to Maryam's Joyful Life! Today is a beautiful day!

I love how unique my intro is and I think I'll keep it 😁.
As a mom, life is not about me anymore and I think that's okay. I know I speak for most moms when I say that my needs come last and my kids come first EVERY TIME! There are downsides to putting yourself last but most times it's what you have to do to keep your home peaceful.

I love buying toys and items that entertain, challenge and teach my little ones how to be interactive and share. For a second there, I was thinking about what toys to get for my kids and then I received an email from mommedtech.com about a collaboration. Which was just what I needed. They have a variety of fun toys for kids and other items that are practical and developmental also. Such as their baby scales, doodle mat, wall growth chart, Dinosaur bubble gun and many more. The coolest thing about mommedtech.com is that mom is not left out. They have ovulation and pregnancy strips and kit for moms to be. I personally think that you should check them out!
My kids don't want to put down the dinosaur bubble gun. I have been having to break fights over that thing. They also love the beach and bathtime play set; which has multiple pieces that they each can play with. I filmed a whole review video that is now live on my channel. In this video, I did the unboxing, the test trial and everything you'd expect to know before buying a product. Please check it out.

I hope you enjoy the video. Comment below to share what your favorite item on my package was. I am very excited to know.
Until next time.
Maryam💖

TO THE BEST DAD, HUSBAND AND FRIEND

Hello wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely friends. Hope this message meets you in great spirits.
This post is especially for someone who means the world to me. Someone I fell in love with and can't help but fall in love with everyday over and over again. Well, that special someone is my one and only sweet love. My love, my world and my man.

I wanted to use this day to celebrate his birthday. He is the most amazing dad to our heaven-sent kids and the most awesome friend to his friends and the most one-of-kind husband to me.

Hey babe, I know we already celebrated your birthday and the Falcons also won for you and you also finally won in Fantasy this week, but I couldn't help but put you in the spotlight of my blog. You are one-of-a-kind and I praise the Lord for blessing me with the gift of you everyday. I celebrate you today and promise to celebrate you always.

Your kindness and love towards others is outstanding and I pray that The Lord shows you favor in all that concerns you. I also pray that the Lord grants your deepest desires speedily. You deserve the best things in this world and I pray that you get them too!

I love you today, tomorrow and always. You are my world and my joy. God really sent me a great one when you walked into my life almost 6 years ago. I celebrate you today, my love and can't wait for all the amazing things that are sure to manifest in our lives anytime now.

Enjoy your evening and know that you are welcome to sneak into my office for a kiss 😘😚😬

I love you!
I can't wait to see your handsome face when I get off this computer and open the door of my office lol...

With love,
Your sweet wife!

I LOVE BEING A MOM AND A WIFE AND A FRIEND AND I JUST LOVE

Hello wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. How are y'all doing today? I hope y'all are having an amazing day today and are not letting anyone steal your joy. Welcome to Maryam's Joyful Life. Today is a beautiful day!

Have you ever just stopped in the middle of whatever you're doing, to express gratitude for the many blessings of God? Maybe it's just me. I catch myself often, thanking God for blessing me with the gift of motherhood and wifehood and friendship. I truly am thankful for the many blessings God has given me. I have also noticed that each time I stop to express gratitude, I find more things to be grateful for. I really like the place gratitude takes me. I know right now, some y'all are like "Maryam, you're always happy regardless." Yes and no. We all have our moments when we feel uninspired and worn out but I have discovered that in those moments, if we could start counting our blessings and consciously stirring our thoughts in the direction of gratitude, we are suddenly empowered to snap out of that negative demeanor.

I see the glory of God in my children!

I spent this past weekend serenading my sweet man with some sweet words and love appreciations. I encourage every wife to do the same. Learn to just appreciate and serenade your husband with some sweet words without having any agendas. You know, my husband used to think that when I get like that it's because I want him to do something for me. I soon corrected that thought, so I thought. I made him understand that I do it because I'm feeling him and grateful to God for bringing such an amazing, sweet, and lovely man into my life. He then smiles and says ok, with a question mark. Ladies, what is it with men always thinking that when we get lovey dovey it's because we need something? LOL! Maybe it's because most of us only get like that when we need something.

God is so good and I love Him so much. The more I acknowledge God in my life and daily activities, the more He makes my life sweet and brings miracles my way. I am making it more of my priority to acknowledge God in all that I do, so He'll keep taking care of me and my family. GOD is soooo good to me and just the thought of His love and mercies alone make me feel butterflies in my stomach. I feel something great in the horizon. I see a shifting happening. Lord have Your way!

My baby LE'VEON

Y'all, I didn't mean to get prophetic but I've noticed that God is up to something big and it's contagious too. Is there anything in particular you're trusting God to do, may the anointing in Jesus Name touch you right now and make that thing manifest now.

My baby ZOE 

Life is beautiful when God is at the center of it. I make up my mind right now that I'll make God the center of my life always. Will you do the same? I promise, you won't, we won't regret it.

 I was with an extra serving of joy and happiness😂

I just love being a child of God. I love being entrusted with my amazing kids and husband and friends. By the grace of God I'll do a great job at being a mom, a wife and a friend in Jesus Name. Amen!
May your day be filled with love, joy, peace, health and abundance in Jesus Name. Amen!

With love,
Maryam💕

WHAT TO WEAR TO WORK OR BUSINESS MEETINGS INSPO

Hello! Wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. How are y'all doing today? I hope y'all are having an amazing day and are not letting anyone steal your joy. Welcome to Maryam's Joyful Life!
Today is a beautiful day!

Are you seeking inspiration or guidance on what to wear/buy for work or business meetings or even interviews? I got you covered. I love sharing my useful tips with you. It is always my joy to bring meaning to your life and inspire your next level.
I filmed a whole video talking about what to wear and staples for every wardrobe. If you are interested in watching it, I have shared the video in this post.

Everyone needs some wardrobe staples in their closets. Staples such as a black suit/jacket, a pair of black pants or a black skirt. These NEVER go out of fashion or use. I will share some pictures with you here too. All of the clothes featured were bought at a discounted rate. Stores featured are Ross dress for less; Old Navy,  Venus, and Nadine West. 

When you have a black skirt, pair of pants and a jacket, you've laid a solid foundation on which to build your wardrobe. What you need next are colors and patterns to put different looks together.

This jacket is a blue/black jacket that goes with patterns like the floral blouse I'm wearing under it.

 This is great for a work day or a business meeting or even an interview.

I really like this long tail jacket from VENUS. It's beautiful. Wear it over a nice blouse on a pair of pants like the one seen in the picture and you're ready to conquer that interview/day

You can also switch up your style by wearing a maroon blouse over your skirt untucked for a casual day at work.

 Or you can wear it tucked in as seen in the picture. It's really up to you.

 Or you can wear a jacket over it.

If you're feeling kinda inspired and excited, you can try some bring colors as seen in the picture with a jacket over it.

Or you can wear a jacket over that dress you love to mix it up a little bit.

 You can wear it buttoned or not. It just really depends on your preference.

Thank you all so much for reading today's blog. Y'all are amazing!
I hope you got inspired today. Please leave a comment below to tell what your favorite look is.
Until next time,
Don't let anyone steal your joy!

Maryam💖

IF THEY OFFERED A CONTRACT I'LL BE READY TO CHECK IT OUT

Hello wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. How are y'all doing today? I hope y'all are having a great day and are not letting anyone steal your joy. Welcome to Maryam's Joyful Life! Today is a beautiful day!

So, the big question is about my soon to be modeling contract that I have been imagining in my head😃. There ain't nothing wrong with DREAMING BIG! When God brings the opportunity and all of the provisions are right for me, I'll accept it.

Thanks for tuning in to today's post. You will enjoy it if you enjoy fashion. I have been doing reviews for Nadine West Styles for about a couple of years now. They have definitely gotten better with the clothes they send me in my package. I will be showing you a few pictures of the items they sent in addition to the couple pieces I received from an Instagram boutique called @Nyghtout.

I am very grateful to be collaborating with different brands. If you like seeing fashionable pictures to inspire your next wardrobe change, you can keep your eyes open to my posts😉.

 This number is by @Nyghtout on Instagram!

Back view

You will need a strapless bra for this one or maybe a glue-on bra to give the illusion of not wearing a bra and also keep your poppies tamed😂.

This pink pants jumpsuit/romper is by @nyghtout also.

It has pockets y'all😍

NADINE WEST STYLES

 This maroon blouse and teal pants are from my package. I paired them together, not knowing what to expect. But hey, they go together! So awesome😆

 This pyjama pants and high neck blouse surprisingly go together 😉too.

 You know, when I first took this red spaghetti strap blouse out of the pack, I actually thought it was cropped. I love pairing it with these nice grey shorts from Nadine West.

Pairing this off-shoulder blouse with these grey shorts is a hit! I love it!😁

 Definitely one of my favorite pieces out of this package😊. Never had anything with stripes that looks this good on me.

 Last but not least. This brown stripes dress is also a hit on my list. I wore it yesterday. It's really beautiful.

Can you spot my sweet Zozo 😍😍😍.

Well, this brings me to the end of today's post. I hope this inspired you in some way. 

I'm sending great vibes and loads of love your way😊😊😊.

Until next time,

Don't let anyone steal your joy!

Maryam💗

10 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO BE MORE CONFIDENT

Hello wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. How are y'all doing today? I hope you all are having a great day today and are not letting anyone steal your joy. Welcome to Maryam's Joyful Life. Today is a beautiful day!

What is confidence and why is it so important to have? Well, for starters; confidence is what helps you feel like you are a person. It is the foundation of your achievements in life. The reason it is important is because you can't be anything or anyone of worth without it. You need to believe in yourself. Confidence is a combination of belief, acceptance, work and expectations. It can be difficult sometimes to achieve if the person in the position doesn't believe that they are worth it.

I did a live broadcast earlier and shared 10 things to do in order to boost your self-confidence. Most of the people didn't get it. That's why it was easy for me to come up with a blog post for today. I'll be sharing the same 10 things here.

10 THINGS TO DO TO IMPROVE YOUR CONFIDENCE

1. LOVE YOURSELF
You can't be confident in yourself if you don't love yourself. Loving yourself means that you accept all of you. Not the you, you think people see or the you that others think but the real you. All of you! It doesn't matter your physical flaws or mistakes or imperfections. You just love you! When you love yourself, it is easy for you to deal with whatever challenges come your way.

2. DRESS UP
Yes, a good outfit can boost your self-confidence. Try it and thank me later. Put on a beautiful outfit, fix your hair and stand in front of the mirror, you'll notice the difference in how you feel.

3. EXERCISE
A simple exercise can change your life. Not only does it improve your health, it also helps you feel good. The release of oxytocin during exercise helps you feel good for no reason and that's good.

4. STUDY
You need to read your Bible and other self help books that teach you about how you work as a human. The more you know about you, the better you feel about you. You are God's highest form of creation. You have amazing gifts and talents that the world needs to benefit from. Cultivate and use them! Study more about your field of work until it becomes your second nature.

5. MEDITATION/VISUALIZATION
You need to learn to spend time in the quiet with God. Pick a particular verse in the Bible and focus on it alongside your goals or desires. Ask God questions and be silent to hear an answer.

6. IGNORE THE HATERS
People are gonna say crazy stuff about you. It is what it is. Don't dwell on it or worry about it. You just focus on your goals. Even after you die, you'll have haters. The hearts of people are possessed by satan. Don't worry about the haters. Focus on you!

7. CHANGE YOUR NEGATIVE SELF-TALK
What you say to yourself matters! If you're the type who calls yourself stupid, dumb, horrible, ugly etcetera... You NEED TO STOP THAT! Your life is a combination of all your negative self-talks. Change your words about you and watch how you start feeling good about yourself. Everyone makes mistakes but that's not a free ticket to beat yourself up!

8. HAVE FAITH
Faith is the opposite of fear. Instead of dreading the possibility of good things happening to someone like you, start expecting them to happen to you. Even if you miss it, God has better and greater plans. Believe God at His word. Faith is the currency of heaven.  You have been given a measure of faith, use it!

9. YOU DESERVE IT
You deserve to be happy and loved. Don't ever feel unworthy of good things because you're worthy of good. God loves you and there are people who love you out there. Be receptive to the good things that God wants to pour into your life.

10. ALWAYS SMILE
Learn to smile at yourself in the mirror and smile at others too. Don't take life too seriously. Serve God wholeheartedly and live life with joy and happiness everyday. God truly is good and cares about you. You don't need to be afraid of anything or anyone. Talk to your Heavenly Father about everything!

I hope that these 10 points help you improve your confidence and live life to the fullest each passing day!

Until next time,
Stay blessed!
Maryam💕

AT WHAT POINT WILL WOMEN QUIT SEEING THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT THEM

Hello wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. How are y'all doing today? I hope y'all are having an amazing day today and are not letting anyone steal your joy? Welcome to Maryam's Joyful Life! Today is a beautiful day!

I often get relationship questions from women around the world and one recurring theme is that the women blame themselves when something goes wrong with a relationship they hold dear. When a man breaks up with them after years invested in the relationship, for no apparent reason, they think it's their fault. Hey sis, it's not your fault! Sometimes, it's time to move on! Especially, when you've done everything to make it work!

I had this discussion with a lady, who had given all of herself to a man she thought was going to follow through with their wedding plans, only to wake up one day to the man breaking up with her. She had asked him why the sudden change of hearts, he said he didn't know. The next thing this sweet sister would ask me is, what are the signs of a spirit husband? The implication is that she thinks it's not normal and that she must have some spirit laying claim over her, which could've been the reason for her fiance's sudden change of hearts toward her.

I asked her if she'd prayed about it and waited on the Lord, she said yes but it didn't seem to work because her ex didn't change his mind still. My final advice was to let him go! It may be hard at first, but let him go! You can't force someone to be in your life who doesn't want to be in it. God may be saving you from a worse future and preparing you for that special man who would love and appreciate you; all of you!

Most times, women limit themselves from their true love and happiness by holding on to what is not meant to be, in the first place. We create most of our heartbreaks by convincing ourselves to accept or stay with someone, who God has clearly shown us is not worth our time of day. I believe that if we make seeking God's guidance in our relationships a priority, we will save ourselves from a whole lotta drama and pain.

To listen to a guy's perspective on the topic of relationships and more, please watch this video of my husband's opinion to crucial topics:

In closing, I'd like to remind you that you're amazing and worth more than you think. Don't ever think for one second that a guy is the prize because that's NOT true! You are the prize and always will be! Recognize you, accept you, embrace you and live it up!

Until next time, sweet, amazing and lovely friend.

Have a blessed week!
Maryam💗

COOKING IS SOMETHING I LOVE DOING|| Taco SEASONING Review

Hello wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. How are y'all doing today? I hope y'all are having an amazing time today and not letting anyone steal your joy. Welcome to Maryam's Joyful Life! Today has been an amazing day.

So, for those of you who have been following my blog for a while, you know that I love cooking. I often say that I cook with love and passion. My love for cooking will only keep growing and expanding. I love the fact that I could whip up a mean freshly made food from all fresh ingredients in my kitchen. No wonder, my kids won't eat certain foods at some restaurants, except it's made by mama😊. I'm really proud of my cooking skills. Can you cook? What's your favorite thing to cook? Please share in the comment below.

I made a commitment to myself that I was going to share my tips on certain spices and seasoning that I have tried. Here's my review on taco seasoning.
So, if you're familiar with grocery stores in America, there are name brands seasoning and value seasoning. The value seasonings or brands at stores such as Walmart, Target, Public etcetera are brands that are owned by the stores they are found in.

It is no news that Walmart is the place I do most of my grocery shopping at. Walmart has it ALL! Their store brand items are called "Great Value."

There are certain things that I will not buy Great Value. Such as their apple juice. It doesn't taste the same. Anyways, back to the taco seasoning. I have tried a variety of brands from Old El paso, to Great Value, to McCormick and I tell you, they all taste the same! The more expensive one is McCormick's taco seasoning; just wanted to put it out there lol...

There are certain seasonings and spices such as vanilla extract and others that I would only buy McCormick's though 😃, but taco seasoning, is not one of them.

If you were looking to buy taco seasoning and the brand you'd  normally buy is not available, try the others because, from my experience, they are all the same.
I think that we as people, are creatures of habit. When we've become used to one particular brand, we don't want to try any other one, until that brand is not available when we need it the most. That's when some of us would stretch.

I hope that this post helps you in some way because it was a delight writing it😊.

Until next time,

Stay cool in this summer heat!
Maryam💕