CELEBRATING AFRICAN QUEENS ON THE BLOG TODAY!

Hello wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. how are y'all doing today? I hope you 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!

So, I love being around confident women. It is an empowering atmosphere to be in. I have always been a pusher of self-confidence and accepting of whom you are regardless of what anyone thinks about you.

I have grown to believe that the best way to live your life is to live it the way you want to, not paying attention to what others think about you whether good or bad. Here's a clarification. If you base your actions off of what people think, there will always be this subliminal desire to always please people and they will expect you to please them ALL THE TIME! That's a messed up way to live because you can NEVER satisfy another but yourself! However, when you live your life doing what you think is right before God and on your own terms, your actions are not dependent on what people think, say or do!

Queen Hamamat is a Ghanian international business woman bringing jobs to the population of her village in Ghana. She's just assisted in creating a Shea Butter Museum in Ghana.


I grew up in a community where bleaching your skin is normal because the dominant belief is that light skin is beautiful. That's a belief that works for those who believe it. I have since learned that dark skin, chocolate skin, brown skin, caramel skin, any type of skin is as beautiful as the one who beholds it or accepts it. Every skin type is beautiful. I can not ignore the fact that there's always been this stereotype around women like me who have rich, dark brown skin.
Before I became more enlightened, I refused to think that I was less beautiful because of my skin tone. It broke my heart to see women hurt themselves by bleaching their skin so they could feel beautiful.

Beauty is everyone's natural state of being as long as they allow it. I have sisters who bleach but I have never had the desire to bleach my skin. I love my skin and want every dark skin Queen to love their skin also. Your success and happiness are not dependent on your skin tone. God, the Creator didn't make a mistake when He made you. You are truly masterpiece. I say this because I have seen your essence. Quit letting people define you. Society doesn't have the right to put a label on you!
Start right now,  decide right now that you will embrace and see the beautiful masterpiece that you are!

Here are some Queens who are breaking boundaries and giving beautiful dark skin girls and women an example of success to look at. They let you know that you can be dark skin and happily successful!

Bettinah Tianna is a Ugandan TV host; she's pictured on the right. Nandy is a beautiful model; pictured on the left.

Lupita Nyong'o a Hollywood decorated Kenyan actress.

Nikki Thot is also an example of a beautiful Queen.

Finally, Queen Maryam is also an example 😍

You don't have to damage your god-given beauty in other to feel accepted or loved. Anyone who does not accept your skin is the type you don't want in your life. You don't owe ANYONE an apology for how you were created. Right now, walk in fullness of your QUEENDOM, sweet lady, sweet girl. You deserve all the success and happiness in the world!

I hope this post inspires you!

Until next time.
Maryam💕

I LOVE BREAKFAST TIME WITH MY FAMILY

Hello wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. How are y'all doing today? I hope y'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!

It is always amazing to write. Anytime I get the opportunity to blog, I feel very happy and blessed!

What makes you feel particularly blessed? Share with me in the comments below.

My sweet family loves to eat. Food is a tradition in our home and we all enjoy it. I am very thankful for the ability God has given me to cook and enjoy the food with my sweet family.
My sweet man loves eating together as a family. It's something he looks forward to whenever he is off work and can eat breakfast with us. So, I decided to go all out this time. Our normal breakfast is sausage biscuits and water. The kids usually eat breakfast before we do and they enjoy their warm cereal. I decided to break the norm and give us something different to eat.

My menu was bacon, sausage biscuits, apple juice, tater tots, and apple slices. My sweet man was so thankful for breakfast and I was very happy. The food was so good and so much that I took a nap after breakfast. We ate everything except for the tater tots.
I also filmed the process for my internet family. If you want to hangout with me in the kitchen and with us at the dining table, watch the video?:

God is good, God is love and I am so thankful to Him for my family and His many blessings.
Until next time.

Maryam💕

MY KIDS TRIED COLD CEREAL FOR THE FIRST TIME

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

So, my sweet babies had not tried cold cereal prior to today. I had the idea to capture their reaction on camera and post on our YouTube channel. My children are so traditional in what they want and do. Let me clarify. We are used to going to the park by a certain route and after the park, we usually walk around the lake and finally, cross a bridge that leads us to the route we take back home. We've been doing this for over 6 months and my kids have gotten a hang of it. Especially, my sweet son; Le'Veon. Le'Veon maps out our trip and activities from home before we get out. Anytime I make an attempt to change our plans in the last minute, Le'Vy instantly tells me that's not right and he doesn't like it.

Anyways, my babies like to go through with our plans and any slight change in plans in the process, aggravates my kids😂😂😂. I'm still trying to figure out where my kids got this habit. However, It is so amazing watching my kids display their personalities and understanding. I am so grateful for them and God for this.
So, I didn't know how my kids would react to the cold cereal. I have tried feeding them some unfamiliar foods before and they were really upset. I asked them if they'd like to try it and Levy said yes. Zozo was just ready to eat and didn't really pay attention to the preparation.

They finally tried it and Le'Veon liked it a little bit but Zozo could only endure the first bite 😂😂😂.
Here's the video:

I hope this made you laugh or entertained you in some way.

Until next time.
Maryam💕

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💗