Author: Sincerely Angie

The Forge

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Happy new year! I honestly wanted to record a podcast episode and post this blog post on 12/31/24 but time didn’t allow. Then New Year’s day comes and tragedy hits nearby. The intentional massacre on Bourbon Street. Now this post is seeming more necessary than before. Praying for the minds and hearts of people.

Now, here’s my take on the 2024 movie The Forge. The last movie I felt led to write a whole post about was The Shack starring Octavia Spencer in 2017. You can check that one out here. I took a lot of notes, so I will link a podcast episode here to listen to, if you don’t want to read it. It was just released on Netflix, but it went to theatres a couple of months before that. Hopefully you’ve had a chance to watch it. I won’t spoil it with too many particulars.

On first watch, the main thing that stuck out to me was the power of prayer. When I thought to do a post, I watched it again to be able to give a more detailed opinion.

  • Isaiah: anger issues based on an absent parent and obvious respect for women and resistance towards men.
  • Some of the beauty salon scenes seemed unnecessary and having a twin made no sense. (I think the cinematography team just wanted to show off). 
  • Mr. Moore was always willing to help someone in need and made time to pour into them and his employees know and understand this. 
  • The mother always prayed and always thanked God when He moved. 
  • The older praying woman’s initial prayer was not for Isaiah to change into who they wanted him to be but for him to see himself how God sees him and change his heart. 
  • Isaiah was a fast learner and when exposed, change occurred. 
  • Being a disciple and the importance of reaching out to help others and pass on the Word of God. 
  • Isaiah’s first step was to inquire, then he asked Jesus to help him because he realized he needed help. His decision, his timing through prayers from his mother. He was encouraged and sought God for himself. He asked God what would he need to do to be better in his quest of Him. He knew that his game occupied a lot of his time so he learned sacrifice. 
  • Being around like minded people is paramount. A relationship with God requires changed behaviors. Change will include challenges. (Him seeing his father). 
  • Isaiah talked to God honestly. Made a choice to forgive. Gave his troubles to Him. Prayed for his mother. Surrendered. 
  • A family in Christ to support you, help you, pray with and for you, encourage you is necessary.  
  • Isaiah asked for forgiveness from someone who didn’t even remember the offense. A depiction of how God forgives us and remembers our sins no more. 
  • You gain a different level of confidence when you go to God first and trust that He will work things out. 

In all, should you watch it, yes. It started off pretty slow for me. I tried about 4 or 5 times to watch it, before giving it my full attention. It wasn’t until the last 20 minutes of the two hour movie that I began to shed a few tears. I was overwhelmed with gratitude because of the life God has blessed me with and because He answers all of my prayers. Even the ones that haven’t come into fruition yet.

Sincerely,

Angie

Scent-cerely

Sincerely Angie2 Comments

Did you catch it? Lol! Yep, you guessed it. This post is dedicated to my current favorite scents! If you are subscribed to my YouTube channel, then you already know what type of time I’m on. Watch the fragrance playlist here.

Over the last 5 years maybe, I have been on a perfume kick. Over the years, I have taken a lot of pride in being a woman and doing all things lady-like or girly. I went through a purse binge, shoes are still a thing, blazers, jeans, lipsticks and eye shadows, false nails and pretty much anything you can think of. I will buy it and buy a lot of it. On clearance of course, but purchases are made nonetheless.

I, like many other ladies have always worn some smell good but it was usually what was on sale at B&BW or a department store. Mainly, body sprays from VS or B&BW and celebrity fragrances like Brittany Spears, Paris Hilton, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Mariah Carey, etc. But over the last 5 years or so, I’ve put a little more funds behind the fragrances I buy or get gifted to me.

My first intro to higher end fragrances was Alexander McQueen. I knew nothing about notes, silage, the olfactory journey and body chemistry when it came to perfume so at first sniff, it caught me off guard. Some time later, it grew on me and I actually like it. The bottle is half full. I’m still learning about the notes that I like and maceration. I love unisex scents but a few notes I enjoy are white florals, oud, amber, woody, aromatic, saffron, jasmine and musky.

Now, let’s get into my favs(#1 being my favorite overall), their price(high and low end), links to get them on Amazon and where/how I like to wear them. Hopefully you can grab them for your special someone for Christmas!

https://youtube.com/shorts/FLcK-Rabtqg?si=Gk0V00ZJjwXNIOet

My top 5 fragrances! 1. La Vie Est Belle(Lancome) 2. YSL Libre 3. Red Zara Temptation 4. Shaghaf Oud Tonka 5. Bade’e Al Oud Sublime(Lattafa)
  1. La Vie Est Belle – Lancome ($150+) Grown and sexy! For date night or girls night out.
  2. YSL Libre – ($100+) Very grown and sexy exclusively for date night.
  3. Red Zara Temptation – Zara ($17 in stores/$30+ online) Perfect for everyday wear or running errands. Perfect dupe of BKR540.
  4. Shaghaf Oud Tonka ($45+) Perfect to wear if you’re going shopping or to brunch.
  5. Lattafa Sublime ($20+) For everyday wear to work or to sleep.

I have many more faves and go-to’s but these are the ones I tend to reach for first.

Sincerely,

Angie

Just Because You Never…

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Just because you never experienced something, doesn’t mean you can’t start today or that it’s okay to remain in “neverland.” Never, is a crutch that I don’t think we talk about enough. The word “never” can also keep us in bondage because “never” is such an absolute word. “I will never…” How do you know that life won’t force you to do what you never thought you would? I digress. I will speak on that side of never after I return from a solo trip I “never” thought about.

I talk often on many podcasts episodes and blog posts about my childhood and how I never grew up with love. But that never stopped me from wanting, showing and being the love that I wish I had as a child. In case you didn’t catch that, what I’m saying is, just because I never experienced it, doesn’t mean I can’t make a conscious decision to change that for my present and future. Ask my ex bf from when I was 19 years old. He will tell you how I operated in love at 19 without even really knowing what love was.

We are not all the same and we don’t get there at the same time but you shouldn’t be 40 still blaming your childhood on something you could have changed when you learned better or if you really wanted to.

On the job I’ve heard people say, “I was never taught that.” For me, I am a quick learner and I am inquisitive. If I see or hear of something I wasn’t aware of, I ask questions and research to learn more about it. Just because you weren’t taught it, doesn’t mean you can’t learn it when you hear about it.

Jesus, Google, Siri, Cortana and Alexa, are all available 24/7. They don’t have off days. They are just one short call away. Utilize that.

Years ago an old friend of mine said that he wasn’t romantic because growing up he never saw romance in front of him. I was flabbergasted because in my mind I’m thinking, haven’t you watched TV, movies and/or heard R&B music??? Romance is everywhere. Just pay attention, try and apply what you see or hear and see what sticks. It’s a choice to remain where you are because the crutch is so much better than the discomfort of trying something new or different.

I’m not perfect nor am I striving for perfection. I just want us to be more self-aware of excuses and crutches that hinder us from growth and a victim mindset. We can all point out areas where we didn’t know something and willingly pursued it. We just have to be more adamant about being that way in other areas of our lives and setting fear to the side.

Sincerely,

Angie