Alive at Night by Amelie Rhys

g mornin friends! WELCOME to Reviews by Tee Season 2📖!

I got a book review on Alive at Night by Amelie Rhys for you!! Please enjoy and add to your TBR pile right now, you will not regret it! This book is a 10/10 and everything I needed to get back into reading! Thank you Amelie Rhys, for this great read!

And that’s the Tee 👩🏾‍💻💙☕️

Strong In Faith

Heyyy friends! I just wanted to start this blog post off by saying just how strong my faith in God has been lately. You guys knows I’m always reading my Bible, praying, going/watching church, and sharing my notes and verses of the day. I love that I’ve come so far and people can really tell my love for Jesus! So much so that Anika, small group leader and in the worship team at Port City Church, asked me to co-lead small group with her! I was so honored for the offer, and I’ve been praying about it this entire week! I haven’t accepted the offer yet, because I want to pray more about it and do devotionals about it first before jumping into the role. It’s a big one, so I want to go to God about it first and actually pray on my answer! I’m so proud of my faith, and how strong it’s become since December, and over the years. I found an amazing church home and I LOVE that for me! 

Singing Journey

So friends, the secrets out! I’ve been practicing my signing for months now. Each week is different for me, ups and downs and highs and low. But since about July, maybe June, I have been meeting with Port City Church’s worship team! JP and Anika are amazing vocalist and I couldn’t thank them enough for encouraging me and helping me with my own voice. I do two different types of warm ups, “Female Vocal Warm Up” by Jeff Mathena, and “Power Vocal Warm Ups” on Spotify! (LINK THEM). Another tip that Anika gave me last week, was using “lelele” to mask the actual words with, so that I can work on matching pitches and tones. I was so inspired after doing that for the very first time with Anika during our first mentoring session. I could immediately tell that I actually was able to hit those higher notes! I struggle with higher notes, because I believe I’m an Alto and sometimes I feel like some notes out of my range. I also met with JP two or three times since June/July, and he gave me some amazing tips. He shared both warm ups with me. He told me to record myself so I can see how I’m progressing, which I finally did a week ago! 🫣😬 Why did it take me so long? Because I was nervous, scared actually. I didn’t want to do it because one, I hate my voice being played back to me, and two, I didn’t have enough confidence to actually record myself. But last week, after meeting with Anika, she convinced me and explained that it will help me even more than I could possibly imagine. And she was right. I finally recorded myself signing! It was soooo cringe! But now I know what I need to work on! All of it!🤣 Another tip that JP gave me, and I LOVED hearing was that signing is about the hours you put in. That’s so important to know because it’s not about how many years. It’s about the hours. And I always keep that in the back of my head. With all that being said, I just wanted to share my singing journey. I have lots to work on, and great people to help with this new journey I’m on! I’m so thankful for Anika for telling me that I’m actually really good at singing, that she can tell I have potential! That was so heartwarming to hear🩵 

And that’s the Tee👩🏾‍💻💙☕️

P.s. Follow all my links for more on ATTT🩵☕️

Week of Workouts: Workout with Me!

LEZZ WORKOUT TOGETHER! 💪🏾🙌🏾👏🏾 (PSA🗣️, I’m no fitness trainer, but I do follow Brittany Lupton, who is, and other trainers as well! Also I’ve been in the gym for YEARS, and know what I’m doing and capable of!) 

W1D1: Back + Biceps (aka Pull Day!): 

Pull ups 2xAMRAP (for me first set was normal grip (meaning: palms facing away from your body), second set was neutral grip (meaning: palms facing in))

Lat pull down 3×10

Chest supported rows 3×10

Superset 1: 

Ez bar curls 3×10

Rear delt flys 3×10

Superset 2:

Alternating Hammer curls 3×10

Bent over rows 3×10

W1D2: Leg + Core Day (glute and quad focused): 

SL RDLs 2×15

Deadlifts 3×10

Squats 3×10

Bulgarian Split Squats 3×10 

SL Leg Press 3×10 

Core: 2 rounds 

Dead bugs 10 reps

Bird dogs 10 reps

Leg drops 10 reps

Crunches 10 reps

W1D3: Chest/Shoulders/Triceps + Cardio Day (aka Push Day!) 

Chest Press 3×10

Shoulder press 3×10

Chest flys 3×10

Tricep Pushdowns 3×10

Cardio: 

Stairs Level 5 for 5 mins 

Treadmill Walk for 10 mins 

Please rest as needed, listen to your body! If you choose active rest for some of the other days that are workout days, go for a walk, do yoga, or anything else your heart desires! Or literally just rest and take the day off!

Four the fourth day (I chose to do this for the first day this week, but will be switching that to the fourth from now on) you can do some type of HIIT TRAINING! For example, my “sad girl workout”🥲 this week was from Brittany Lupton’s EMOM workout! It was an amazing example of what to do, I just was not properly prepared for it on Monday. I didn’t eat nutritionally, I was dehydrated probably as well. So I will be giving this a try again to redeem myself! Speaking of redeeming yourself, here’s how I come back from a workout that I don’t think was my best. Firstly, have an amazing support system and people you can go to that will still give you some good advice and tips and let you know you’e doing great still. We all have these kinds of days, so don’t dwell on it. Secondly, make sure you have a good workout routine and good goals that are easy to accomplish! For instance, I went home right after that “not so good” workout and wrote down my ideas for the remainder of the week, shown above! Then, I made sure my meals were nutritionally balanced and more Whole Foods! I made sure to up my water intake, etc. Thirdly, once in the gym with the good routine and balanced diet, I made sure to dial it back a bit (lessen weight, lessen sets, and reps!) and find good form and mind and muscle connection! I’m doing my push day right now I was draft this out in my notes and I can tell the difference in my form with less weight and less sets!! I came back strong this week after that “not so good” workout! And I pray this next week I can redeem myself again with Britt’s EMOM workout! 

I pray you find this helpful and continue to do what’s best for you! My goal is 3-4 times a week and I was able to do that this week! 

Have a great week, and catch some gains! 💪🏾👏🏾🙌🏾

And that’s the Tee👩🏾‍💻💙☕️

P.s. Follow all my links for more on ATTT🩵☕️

Happy October 👻🎃

Or “Merry Christmas!” in the words of my sister Kaysie🙄 (she needs to slow down with all that, because I am NOT ready for Christmas or to be 27 two days after that😂 Lbvs). But HOW IN THE HECK-IN-BOB is it already October????? Can someone tell my why we are rotating around sun faster than normal please? Because yeah I did a lot better, thanks to my motto: I will and I can, last month but geez I wasn’t ready for it to fly by that fast.

Either way, September was good to me. I learned so much about myself this past month, I overcame some barriers as well. Mentally, physically, and spiritually. My finances need a bit more help but I became more aware of my spending habits, which was a goal for last month. And it will only continue to get better now that I’m utilizing my finance planner (link here in most recent blog post).

I’m very proud of myself right now. I’ve read 12 books of the bible (Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Revelation, Philippians, Romans, Ephesians, 1 Corinthians, James, 1 and 2 Timothy, Colossians, and Hebrews) this year! And they’ve all impacted me in different ways. I’ve also read 19 books this year so far! Sadly I did not finish a book in the month of September but that’s okay, that a good for this month, to finish two books before November. I have gotten better at going to the gym in the month of September. Went four times this week alone! Hit some PRs. And lastly, I have As in both my classes this fall semester! I’m doing so well in all aspects, and I’m so proud of me for that!

Tell me some things you’ve accomplished in the month of September. What are you most proud of?

I love you all, and by the grace of God, and from today’s lesson from church, I’m minding my own business, and getting things DONE!

And that’s the Tee👩🏾‍💻💙☕️

P.s. Follow all my links for more on ATTT🩵☕️

Big Reset 🤎👩🏾‍💻

Hello everyone! Let’s welcome all the cozy vibes coming in with September☕️🍂!! I’m so ready for it, don’t get me wrong I love summer, but fall is where I feel most comfortable. So with that being said, it’s time for a fall reset!

Organized and Disciplined!

That’s what I’m going with this month! I have a digital planner (click link to get yours!) that can go with me anywhere. It has a yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily planner. A budget and finance planner, that I need BAD! It has a vision board, reflection, and more!! I have to get back into that because the first week of August was amazing with using that!

Speaking of August, I struggled hard last month. It was good then went down hill, FAST 💨 All the roller coasters 🎢 of emotions, money slipping though my fingers, prayers and devotion were my saving Grace last month. All I could do was give it to God and ride that coaster til the ride came to a halt on September 1st, when I decided to put my foot down and say “I will” and “I can”. No more of this “whoa is me”, I’m done with that. I’m one for feeling your emotions, but we can’t stay there. We can’t let the darkness consume us.

So with that being said, I’m getting out my digital planner and editing it, putting all the laundry away, practicing Spanish and singing warm ups, I’m making a budget, writing a workout and meal prep plan. I WILL and I CAN! Say it with me. I. Will. I. Can.

And that’s the Tee👩🏾‍💻💙☕️

P.s. Follow all my links for more on ATTT🩵☕️

Blog Refresh 🪴👩🏾‍💻

Today I wanted to come on here and talk about my blog, the website and what it’s actually about! This blog is supposed to be about me and my life, and I’ve planned to create that vision for you all! I also use Instagram to post a lot of my content. But I do want to get back into my website and dedicate more time to that. For one, I pay for it. Two, I loved it so much when I first started creating it!! And I want to get back into that. So without further ado, please take time to read exactly what my blog is all about! 🙌🏾☕️!

My Diary!

This has so much meaning to me! Because this is where I post the most of my life at. What I’m going through, what I’ve done, events, etc. I love the Tee Diaries, because that’s where all my thoughts and feelings go. Some posts are short and sweet, and some have more meaning to them. With the diaries (also a ton of highlights on my Instagram as well, go check those out! Link below), I want to be as real and honest as I can be. Sharing my tips, tricks, and tactics to this thing we call life! Below will be some recent and past links for you to take a look at if you’re new here!

My Fit Journey!

Oh Fit Journey🥹what a journey you’ve been! This year alone, has been a great time! I’ve leaned soooo much about myself these past 8 months of 2023, and that’s not even where my fit journey began, it’s been YEARS, I don’t even remember when I actually started? Maybe 2015-2016? I’ll have to look back at that 🤔. Either way! Here we are, this section of the website is where I posted my routines that changed a lot, my motives and goals, and how I planned to get back in the gym after my hip injury/recovery. I’ve come so far with this fit journey and I want you all to go back take a look, links below. This is where I plan to continue sharing my routines and explains of my workout splits so that you can have examples and follow along and workout with me!

My Reviews!

As far as reviews go, this can be about my favorite products, clothing, books, movies, etc. Here I just give a short and sweet a review on something I’ve wear, seen, or read. I have a few already, that I’ll post below for you to go back to too. This is a great place to go for references on my favorites lists!

My Recipes!

This one is the most yummy!! 🤤 Ya girl loves to cook and bake (a little bit😅 I’m no baker 👩🏾‍🍳) but I do love to cook! I’ve saved some of my favorite recipes and I’ll link them below! And I’ll continue to do so, I’ve learned a few new ones so I’ll post those as well coming up!

My Interviews!

Here was a place I wanted to interview people on their careers! I’ve only done one and it was with my step sister on being a stay at home mom and she ROCKED it (I’ll share below)! I do have two or three others I want to do so I’ll get on that!

My Short Stories!

Listen y’all! I’ve wanted to be a writer for so long but it just never happened so here I am as a blogger 👩🏾‍💻😂! Anyways, I do have a short draft but HATE it lol so I didn’t post it and probably won’t post it. But I do want to get back to writing. It was my passion other than fiction romance novels, I wanted to write my own. And I have but never published. Young Tee did so good on her old stories! I love reading them and editing now as my older self (but I haven’t in a long time, few years maybe?) because I have grown so much. I even took almost all the writing courses GVSU offered! So I know what I’m doing, I just have done it! Maybe by the end of the year or early next year I’ll have something for ya. Yeah I’m trying to convince myself 🤣 so what!

But with all that being said, that’s what this blog, MY BLOG, is all about. Just taking you through life with me and I hope you’ve enjoyed it and come to enjoy it even more!

God gave me this blog for a reason and I intend to use it! 🩵☕️

And that’s the Tee👩🏾‍💻💙☕️

Twisted Lies by Ana Huang

WELCOME BACK to Reviews by Tee📖! I finally finished the Twisted Series last weekend and I cannot believe how relatable and amazing book 4 of the Twisted Series was! I connected to Stella so hard, like I was actually living her life and Christian…OOOWEE! Don’t even get me started on him and how much he was obsessed with Stella but wouldn’t give in until it was almost too late. BUT before I give any spoilers, just go read this book for me, please! You will not regret it!

And that’s wrap for a the Twisted Series by Ana Huang! Please let me know how much this book makes your heart race, just as much as mine did! I am so sad that I read all these already, what a great series, 10/10!

Have a great weekend, and don’t forget to READ📖!

And that’s the Tee 👩🏾‍💻💙☕️

Twisted Hate by Ana Huang + The Fine Print by Lauren Asher

Good morning friends and welcome back to the blog! Today, I have TWO book reviews for you! One 4 star rated and one 5 star rated! Each had they own things I loved about them and each of them were great reads that I recommend you READ RIGHT NOW!

Speaking of 4 stars, I have never really rated anything on here less than 5 but “Twisted Hate” was kind of hard to get into at first, oh but once I did…there was NO going BACK! And to wrap up the month of May, “The Fine Print” was a great binge read into summer time! Let me tell you! Asher knew EXACTLY what she was doing with this one! So, without further ado, here are my reviews and thoughts on both reads!

And there you have it! Proof on why you should get these books, or dive into your TBR right now and read both of them! I enjoyed both for different reason and I will cherish the emotions I got from these! Don’t mind me, just a romance girl, that’s all!

CURRENT READ: ‘Twisted Lies”, book four of the Twisted Series! I’ll have a review for it once I’m done, don’t worry! I can already tell how good this book will be! What are you reading? What’s in your TBR? Comment below, and follow my links below⬇️!

Have a great month, and don’t forget to READ📖!

And that’s the Tee 👩🏾‍💻💙☕️

SHIFTED

Heyyy y’all! Let’s just dive right on in!

It’s been a HOT HOT MIN since ya girl has been online and posting blogs but let me tell you! My life has been in a whirl wind 💨 🌪️ since my last post! Honestly, I had this big, big plan on how I wanted to post, what I wanted to post, and when; but God had another plan for me! He told me to sit down and focus! Get my head in the game NOW. And what I mean by that is how I literally shifted into a new, older me with a snap of a finger, starting January 1st!

At the beginning of this year, I really shaped myself into putting me first and MEANING that. For instance, if it didn’t/doesn’t benefit Tee, I am not doing it! If it doesn’t make me happy/happier, I’m not doing it. If the conversation doesn’t concern me, I’m not being in it. And in the last like two or so months, I changed even more and said to myself, if I want to say no, I will! I’ve been really standing by my own side and my own mental health/state and taking a stand for Tee, and her future self! I have accomplished so many goals this year it’s incredibly insane! And I’ve still got more to go! 

God has really done his work on me. So here’s a prayer I have for me and my future self: 

Dear Heavenly Father, 

Please keep me focused and in this way that I am in the present, and move in the direction you see fit. Open doors that are for me and close the ones that are not! Take me the way you already have planned for me. Thank you for all the things you’ve done and helped me achieve and accomplish so far in my life, and thank you always for everything you’ve ever done for me! I praise you Lord, and thank you giving your only begotten son for us all on Earth, and washing away our sins. When I got baptized, something changed, pushed me, motivated me even more than I already was by you Lord. 

I love you,

In the name of your son, Jesus Christ,

Amen! 

Alright! So, after all this information that I just gave you, I want to talk about what I’m going to do next. BALANCE! That’s what’s next for me. I’ve worked so, so hard on my mental health that now it’s time to shift over to balance and time management! First of all, I want to thank Brittany Lupton and her most recent podcast episode on her Fun and Gains Podcast about “balancing life” and how to really sit down and realize that not everything I want to do in a day needs to be completed. Also that all things in my life that I need to do, do not need to have the same chunk of time associated with them. That’s something I really was struggling with. I was like “oh I need to do Spanish the same amount of time I read for fun,” or “dinner and family time have to go together” or “I need to spend hours on homework just like I do this thing” NO NO NO! Everything gets their own time block, Tee! Some days, I’ll spend more time doing one thing than the next. Brittany used a great example, when she talked about working on YouTube content. She spent the majority of her day just on that content because she felt like it needed that kind of attention, and the next day she moved on to something else. Navigating time management is going to be hard for me. But I know I can do it. 

Question: how are you going to do it Tee? 

Here are some steps I am going to take, step by step! (Tips from Britt herself)

  1. Make a plan and define priorities 
  2. Take action 
  3. Be consistent 
  4. Practice self discipline 
  5. Remember self care and breaks are important too! 

Below is a daily planner template that I’m going to try to start using this coming week. I already have a weekly workout planner that I used earlier in the year that I’m going to start back up. I also am adding a weekly planner and weekly meal planner as well! All of these are from Canva and I cannot wait to see how it all plays out!

With all that being said, I’m going to close up here. I know that was a lot to throw at you but over the past few weeks I’ve been drafting and drafting and drafting, and each time I draft a new piece/paragraph comes out of me. Therefore, I’m really going to buckle down on balance and realigning myself with the help of time management! This summer is filling up with things I want and have to do, school is starting to buckle up on the workload, so I want to be ready for it all! Because then I can start putting scheduled free time and me time in between those things, because that’s important too!

3 Things I’m Grateful For

  1. My ability to control my emotions and feelings
  2. Myself for putting me first and foremost
  3. My longing to be the greatest version of myself.

Remember:

-Don’t let the hard days win

-Your peace comes first

-You are enough

-You can do this!

Thank you for coming to my Ted talk!🤭💃🏾 Stay tuned for more Tee Time! I love you all! Please FOLLOW, Like, and Subscribe to my Blog, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Linktree (links below) to see my journey and adventures. Have an amazing Memorial Day Weekend!

And that’s the Tee 👩🏾‍💻💙☕️