Category Archives: New Beginnings

12.12.25
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📖☕️ P’osies Cafe Series: When The Walls Start Talking

Welcome, loves, to the P’osies Cafe Series, a new gathering for lovers of language and narrative. Our name, a playful blend of “Poetry” and “Stories,” perfectly captures the essence of what we’re about.  In this series, my best friend and fellow writer will join me at our writers’ cafe with our laptops, pens and paper, and a couple of iced mochas or chai lattes. We’ll be sharing our own work—from whispered verse to sprawling tales—and we invite you to listen, reflect, and get lost in the power of storytelling.

Pssss: we are about to conclude our series soon so we hope you have had a great time at the P’osies Cafe. We look forward to seeing your comments and for you to join us at the next series. Hmm. Where will we be next? Stay tuned!!!! We are so excited to bring some more treats your way.

But today, we have a new treat for you!!!! One full of humor and wisdom that you don’t want to miss!!!! So, come on in and grab your coffee or hot chocolate, and enjoy.

When The Walls Start Talking (c) 2025

Written by Saneatra Polk

She didn’t just leave the apartment. She left the heaviness that lived in her head. Some moves start in the body, but the real shift begins in the mind.

https://youtube.com/shorts/zhapbf-wzZA?si=SpZOalbgW5_0Koli

08.03.25
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August Goal List for Motivation & Fresh Starts

August is the month that whispers the end of summer and welcomes new beginnings.

Here are some goals we can add to our August planning!

📖 Read a book for leisure

🧹 Declutter for a new season

🧘🏾‍♀️ Stretch daily

🚶🏾‍♀️ Walk up to 2,000 steps each day

🌍 Learn a new language

👗 Refresh your wardrobe for fall

🍿 Enjoy a solo lunch or movie outing

💆🏾‍♀️ Commit to an evening self-care routine

📝 Journal your prayers to God daily

🎯 Set fresh fall goals & adjust old ones

🌱 Plant something meaningful

🥗 Eat healthy—intentionally

🌅 Go to bed early, rise with purpose

🔥 Have a backyard or living room camp-out

✨ (Leave space for a personal goal of your choice!)

💌 Send a handwritten note or card to a loved one

🎵 Start your day with worship music or gratitude

💜 Organize or refresh your creative space

💬 Speak affirmations over yourself daily

💰 Save a set amount each week ($5–$50 or more)

08.04.24
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Preparing Your Child For College (Repost)

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Originally posted July 31, 2018. Updates have been made.

This post features links to great products, and as an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission if you click and buy.

We have made it to August. Many families are getting ready to take road trips with necessities, fears, hopes, excitement, anxiety, goals, and dreams to college campuses all over the world. Your child made it through high school and is now about to step foot on a college campus to pursue their careers and dreams as well as develop more independence. So, how do you prepare your child for his/her big day? Here are ten ways to prepare your child for his/her move in day at college:

  1. Have all of their financial aid for school worked out. This doesn’t just apply to four-year schools, but two-year schools also. But I always tell my students that the first stop you make when you are moving on campus is the financial aid office for a follow-up. You want to know everything is clear, what monies are coming in and going out, or how much money you have to pay out of pocket regarding your tuition and fees. Moreover, months prior before starting school, have a FAFSA professional or your child’s high school counselor help you review your child’s financial aid award letter to make sure you and your child understand it. If you and/or your child are pulling any loans, make sure you have completed the Loan Entrance Counseling (studentloans.gov) as well as understand loans and how they work. You don’t want any financial stress added to his/her first year of college, through college, and even after college.
  2. Make sure your child actually applied to the school and has gotten accepted. I know this is a no-brainer. However, you would be surprised how students say they are going somewhere only to not have applied or read through all of their college mail and follow through their next steps.
  3. Attend orientation. If orientation is scheduled prior to move-in, please try your best to take advantage of this and go with your child. This is not only a very crucial informational session but a chance to settle any matters prior to move-in. It may also be a chance to get a tour or final tour, get met with a warm welcome, and be greeted with a kick-off celebration just for incoming freshmen and their families.
  4. Have a heart-to-heart, transparent talk about some issues that can arise at school and how to use effective problem solving. Give scenarios and talk about any mistakes you have made in college or during your teen and young adult years. Discuss your expectations, their expectations, their fears, etc.
  5. Teach him/her to not be afraid to ask for help. Also teach him/her how to be resourceful if he/she isn’t. A lot of students do not know how to navigate the campus for help and resources. Students can go to their school’s wellness center for counseling, advisement and dean’s office for issues with classes, their Dorm’s R.A. (Resident Assistant) for roommate issues, the financial aid office to sign up for work study and to inquire about scholarships and financial aid.
  6. Pay the housing fee. And make sure he/she gets to know his/her roommate via phone and/or social media. The schools have things set in place for your child to safely contact and get an overall sense of who his/her roommate may be. Your child also may have the opportunity to suggest or pick his/her roommate if a student he/she knows will be attending the same school and wants to roommate with that particular person.
  7. Make a list of items needed to move in for the first year of school. Have important documents pertaining to your child’s school in a special folder and handy. Obtain proper ID and parking passes if applied. Get and request gift cards if you prefer to buy necessities at a Walmart near or in the town of your child’s school campus when your child moves in and to have on hand when settled. Sometimes, this is less of a hassle than having to rent a truck or load lots of luggage in the back. See at the end of this post also for some great products. See this site for an example of a college packing list. https://www.society19.com/10-things-to-do-before-college-move-in-day/
  8. According to society19.com, you should also review school policy and guidelines with your child.
  9. Make a list of things you need to do before you all leave. And spend quality time with each other. Your child would want to spend time with friends too so make room for that.
  10. Pray with and over your child. Cover them with the blood of Jesus. Your child will be miles away from home but God is omnipresent and omniscient. He can be with you and your child at the same time. Trust in Him to never leave nor forsake your child.

Lastly, congratulations to all the 2024 GRADUATES (high school, college, kindergarten, apprenticeship programs)!!!!!!! Celebrate your accomplishments and thank God for giving you the grace to press through. I am so proud of you all. May God guide you, protect you, and may you trust and abide in the One who created us with love and purpose.

A Planner

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Water Bottle

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Mini Fridge

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Shower Caddy

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Lamp

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Laundry Bag

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Disposable Face Cloths

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I am not new to sharing on my platforms great products I have come across and use in my everyday life, but now I get to share them and earn a commision. I value your trust above everything else, and I want to be upfront with my new endeavor. I’m in the Amazon Associates program, and some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you click and buy. But I promise I only recommend products I truly believe in and think will add value to your life.

01.10.23
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12 Ways To Live Simply

Originally Posted on December 3, 2016

To simplify means to make something easier or simpler. We live in a work-consumed, comparing and competitive, busy and fast-paced, social-site and cellphone addicted world. Our homes and work places have become even more stressful and we are reminded daily by that tomorrow is not promised. 

With that, people are desperately seeking to lead lives in which they can be more present and less stressed. They are determined to live simply in a chaotic world.

Tweet: Determined to live simply in a chaotic world. –Fruitful & Fabulous 

People are downsizing their homes, switching careers, resigning from their jobs, decluttering their homes and donating used goods to help organizations. People are looking to declutter and live simply physically, financially, mentally, etc.

So, how do you begin to simplify?

  1. Declutter your homes, office/workspace, even emails, etc. Decluttering puts us in a great mental space as well as helps us create tidy, more organized and inviting spaces.
  2. Stop multitasking or at least much of the time. Many of us are great multitaskers; however, multitasking can leave us stressed and failing to give adequate attention to the tasks at hand.
  3. Subtract first before adding. Yes, in order to make room for something new and that something that should be occupying your time at that moment/season, you sometimes have to part ways with the old. This is even true about destructive relationships. If you are friends with or dating someone that is detrimemtal to your physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, pray for grace to let go and move on. Freeing up that space allows the right person to come in.
  4. Pray & meditate on God’s Word. This should have been first honestly. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all things shall be added unto thee. Nurture your relationship with God first and foremost. Noone has ever regretted putting God first. He loves us beyond measure and knows what is best for us.
  5.  Prioritize and organize. We honestly don’t know if you can find a 100% balance between everything in your life. But what we do know is that you can prioritize and organize, and make life that much better. Prioritizing also means learning to say no or when to say no.
  6. Delegate and ask for help. Despite the “S” we may feel like we wear on our chest, I guarantee you that even Superwoman needs help. 
  7. Don’t be so hard on yourself and don’t overthink everything. Make sure you give yourself enough care. And forgive yourself for not being able to save the world today. We also tend to make something worse than what it is or bring something to doom in worry alone. Trust God.
  8. Laugh alot. Laughter is surely a great dose of medicine and a great distraction when anxious and feeling overwhelmed. Laugh a lot.
  9. Check your thoughts. Train yourself to fight and extract those thoughts that have no place occupying your mental space. Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ Jesus.
  10. Live in the moment. You can’t live in the past and you can’t go to the future but you are in the present. So Tweet: So be present in the present–Fruitful & Fabulous. 
  11. Develop an emergency fund. That small cushion of funds saved for emergencies only can eliminate some stress and make it much easier to handle financial difficulties.
  12. Prepare. Prepare for the next day, assignment, trip, project, life changes as best as you can. It frees up your time and allows you to add something, if you must, or take something off your schedule.  
12.14.22
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Let’s Take This One Day At A Time Planner

I am so proud to introduce my new book, Let’s Take This One Day At A Time Planner! Just in time for Christmas and the new year. And being released in a season where I have been going through a lot as well as feeling up and down. So, we pushing through and looking forward to a new year!

To continue with the theme of my book, Bring It To The Surface: Poetry & Journal, I want to further encourage others with a special planner. I discovered that healing is continuous and living must be intentional.

Take a look!

Let’s Take This One Day At A Time Planner helps you to be intentional in taking one day at a time. This planner helps you to not only plan your week and stay organized, but also continue your healing journey and growth by being intentional in five areas: prayer, goal setting, self-care, gratitude, and reflection.

Available on Amazon now!

08.15.22
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My DIY Project Boo-boo

Update as of August 15, 2022. Not too long ago, I noticed some scrapes on my wall that showed the old paint. And just recently, I got some more paint to fix the imperfections and started noticing other imperfections (they weren’t really imperfections, just me doing too much, lbs). The paint I used to paint my bathroom has been unavailable for awhile so I got what I thought was a paint close in color.

And because I painted not only the scrapes but other areas 😫, I immediately was like I messed up my beautiful wall after seeing the results. And I am not a professional painter. Plus, the first retouch to fix the imperfections I painted with a paint brush. I realized that if I used a roller to paint the majority of the wall when I first redid my bathroom last year, then maybe get another one and with that I can blend better. I have since then found some old gray paint and mixed the paint I just bought together a bit. I also bought the mini roller and tried to blend it as much as possible. So far it doesn’t look bad now and much of it has blended better. I am thinking about redoing the bathroom later this year. I may keep the color gray though I have not found the Calming Gray paint and it is unavailable with the brand I bought. So, I will find something close to it.

This is one of the photos before I used the roller to blend it more (I will show the end result soon). I learned that with painting there is really no retouching. You either buy the exact same paint and brand or just do the whole wall over. And two, leave stuff alone. It is not going to be perfect.

It blended much better. Thank God! See photos below.

See below post of when I first did my bathroom and how lovely it looked before some scrapes and overthinking caused me to repaint. 😆 It still looks lovely though.

————————————————–

I went in and made some additional changes to my bathroom and wanted to give a final update on it. Read below to see why I made the new additional changes and here is the final (I promise this is the final one 😆) final reveal.

Check out my DIY house project. I have been wanting to redecorate my bathroom for awhile now. I finally prepped, started and now finished my bathroom. I am no way an expert and this is my first time painting walls of this magnitude so I am grateful that it looks nice and I did a good job. Had the little one record me and he said he didn’t feel like he did his best but the video turned out ok. I am grateful that he recorded me and he did a good job despite the moments he kept filming the wall 😆.

I forgot to take before and after shots of my bathroom but this is an old photo of how it looked before during the past Christmas season. The walls had stains on them and just needed an update.

So, here we go! The final reveal! The hamper I bought wouldn’t let me be great and neither would the rugs so I will be replacing those. But I am happy with my paint job. The ceiling I admit was tedious to paint but I did my best. I guess you can say my bathroom is looking forward to Spring.

Check out the video of my progress before the finish. https://youtu.be/tAvuQXxRMlY

My DIY Video recorded by D.K.

Track: Krys Talk – Fly Away [NCS Release]
Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds.
Watch: https://youtu.be/LfDfb-87F_s
Free Download / Stream: http://ncs.io/flyaway

12.25.21
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Merry Christmas And A New Year Is Loading…

This year went by quick but seemed so long. It is like 2021 copied and pasted 2020. The struggle was real. And we are continually learning to deal with the new normal. I was going to do a post about my year in review with more pictures, but naw. I don’t need to post anymore selfies or photos or make it all about me. This year was stressful and blessful at the same time for me and I bet for many of you all also, and that’s that. I just pray as we approach a new year that the things we need to fall off fall off so we can walk lightly and respond well in this new year as well as receive what God has for us. And learn what we need to learn to pass some tests and overcome some more things. I pray for those of us struggling with anxiety and depression to pack on courage to keep going and to take one day at a time, trusting God all the way.

Anyway, I am elated to say if you are reading this that you and I both made it to December and we are close to a new year. Although our finances may not be where they need to be, we still have a roof over our heads and food on our tables. Although we still have some more healing to do along our healing journey, we have come a long way. This year was not easy. It was stressful and heavy. This year also, I anticipated feeling depressed again on my birthday (12/10), but I actually felt ok. I even looked better despite having Covid and being in quarantine. My entire immediate family had Covid with mild symptoms and towards the end of our quarantine, we believe we also got food poisoning. But we are well today and grateful.

I know the holidays may be hard for some and many are going through right now, but I pray you have a joyous day. I pray you hear laughter, feel loved, and reach out to someone that God has just for you to touch your heart and lift your spirit and vice versa. I pray you have enough to eat. I pray that you remember those lost loved ones with a smile and that you understand that it is okay to grieve too. I pray that you are healthy or getting well. I pray that you start new traditions like watching a Christmas movie that you will watch every Christmas. Or cook a new dish and share it with your elderly neighbor or single mom. I pray that you embrace yourself through your healing journey and take one day at a time. I pray you won’t be so hard on yourself and know that you are worthy and loved by God, the Great I Am.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Christmas In The Winter Available Now At Amazon

04.13.21
by

My DIY Project Update

I went in and made some additional changes to my bathroom and wanted to give a final update on it. Read below to see why I made the new additional changes and here is the final (I promise this is the final one 😆) final reveal.

Check out my DIY house project. I have been wanting to redecorate my bathroom for awhile now. I finally prepped, started and now finished my bathroom. I am no way an expert and this is my first time painting walls of this magnitude so I am grateful that it looks nice and I did a good job. Had the little one record me and he said he didn’t feel like he did his best but the video turned out ok. I am grateful that he recorded me and he did a good job despite the moments he kept filming the wall 😆.

I forgot to take before and after shots of my bathroom but this is an old photo of how it looked before during the past Christmas season. The walls had stains on them and just needed an update.

So, here we go! The final reveal! The hamper I bought wouldn’t let me be great and neither would the rugs so I will be replacing those. But I am happy with my paint job. The ceiling I admit was tedious to paint but I did my best. I guess you can say my bathroom is looking forward to Spring.

Check out the video of my progress before the finish. https://youtu.be/tAvuQXxRMlY

My DIY Video recorded by D.K.

Track: Krys Talk – Fly Away [NCS Release]
Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds.
Watch: https://youtu.be/LfDfb-87F_s
Free Download / Stream: http://ncs.io/flyaway

04.09.21
by

My DIY Project

Check out my DIY house project. I have been wanting to redecorate my bathroom for awhile now. I finally prepped, started and now finished my bathroom. I am no way an expert and this is my first time painting walls of this magnitude so I am grateful that it looks nice and I did a good job. Had the little one record me and he said he didn’t feel like he did his best but the video turned out ok. I am grateful that he recorded me and he did a good job despite the moments he kept filming the wall 😆.

I forgot to take before and after shots of my bathroom but this is an old photo of how it looked before during Christmas season. The walls had stains on them and just needed an update.

So, here we go! The final reveal! The hamper I bought wouldn’t let me be great and neither would the rugs so I will be replacing those. But I am happy with my paint job. The ceiling I admit was tedious to paint but I did my best. I guess you can say my bathroom is looking forward to Spring.

Check out the video of my progress before the finish. https://youtu.be/tAvuQXxRMlY

My DIY Video recorded by D.K.

Track: Krys Talk – Fly Away [NCS Release]
Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds.
Watch: https://youtu.be/LfDfb-87F_s
Free Download / Stream: http://ncs.io/flyaway

08.06.20
by

Use This Time Wisely

Many of us are enduring reopening phases as well as quarantine during this pandemic. It hasn’t been easy but for the most part, we have made adjustments to how we do things from our careers to home life. Nonetheless, this pandemic has served much stress, loss, anxiety, uncertainty and hardships. Yet, many are still holding on despite the turmoil from Covid-19 and even the many issues, like racism and gun violence, that are now on the forefront of our current society that people are waiting and fighting for to finally be addressed.

As in one hand chaos and turmoil increase in the world and in another hand the world slows down. We are left to understand that we can’t approach life as we have been. We may have to make some adjustments that are deep within and that will prepare us for the next season. We may have to reevaluate how we were living before this time. Rediscover some goals and dreams. Realize that God can use this time for our good and He can help us use this time wisely.

Were you burned out prior to the quarantine? Were you in need of some quality time with your family? Did you have a business or foundation that has been on your heart to start? How about following through with writing or face timing a person God has laid on your heart to reach out to remind them God cares? Did you want to finally get healthy mentally and physically? Did you need to learn a second language? Did you need to let go of some things and some relationships? Did you need to get your bank account healthy? Did you need to finally deal with some pain and trauma? Did you need to strengthen your prayer life and faith walk? How about learning patience and trusting God?

Prior to the quarantine, shutdown, Pandemic, I was burned out. Overwhelmed and anxiety through the roof. I had some things I needed to deal with, boundaries to set, and goals to accomplish. One of those goals was to build my trust in God. And I also desired to have more quality time with God in prayer, His Word and presence. Other goals were simply to cook more, be more present with my family, write more, work on and eventually release my book. I also wanted to practice more self-care. I needed more self-care.

Using my time wisely and accomplishing these goals haven’t been easy and I am far from perfectly disciplined, if there is such a thing. However, by the grace of God, I have come to grow in these areas and accomplish some of my goals. I give glory to God because He not only knows what I need and what those around me need, but He works all things together for my good.

I have been cooking more, making sweets and dishes such as cheesecakes, brownies, shrimp and chicken alfredo and more.

I love food and I love cooking and sharing my cooking moments and meals with family have been great.

I finished my book; praise God, and I am enjoying again taking photos of nature. I have also been tackling fear and anxiety by being vulnerable with God, with prayer, His Word and grace.

Additionally, I’m learning to rest, spiritually, in the Lord and naturally to replenish and refuel. Walking with family, movie nights, and having pool time or errand runs have helped me to be present with family. I also sought a bit of therapy and started back journaling. God told me a while ago to reprioritize and organize my life. I wish I had started this mission before all of this but it is not too late.

God first and foremost and then everyone and everything else shall fall in their proper place. Learning to trust God and set boundaries will also help me to get some order in my life. Letting the Holy Spirit lead me and doing things with purpose and simplicity in mind will also help. Lastly, I aim to continue with strengthening my faith walk and love walk.

To conclude, I don’t know your goals or what God is calling you to do. I don’t know what you need to heal from, what things you need to part ways from and who you need to turn you attention back to. But I do know that you still have time today right now to choose to use your time wisely and set the stage for God to lead the way in your life. To choose to go deeper in the things of God and dwell in His presence like never before.

To choose to receive the life and life to the full Jesus came to give us as well as receive God’s unfailing love. To choose to live simply, fruitfully and purposefully. Prepare now and pray more. Rest while you can. Ask God to teach you to trust Him and rebuild your life on the foundation of His Son. Seasons will change. Prepare for the next season. Learn from this one and do all that you are supposed to do in this one.

Put Your Shoes On Honey,

Our journey awaits,

Tannika