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My 3 goals for this summer!

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It’s officially summer and I wanted to write and share with you my goals for the 2021 summer season which promises to be fruitful and not at all restful!

  1. Enjoy 

One of my goals is clearly to enjoy this season. Going on vacation, squatting on the terraces (by the way, that’s where this article is being written from 😉 ), spending time with family and friends, having fun, and decompressing! 

After almost half a year spent in lockdown, this summer will be an opportunity to reconnect with all the things we’ve been deprived of over the past few months: restaurants, movies, gatherings,… What a pleasure!

  1. Learn & work

Yes! It’s not because we’re “on vacation” that work is going to stop as well. I rather intend to use this time to work more and smarter in order to save money, finance some projects and especially… LEARN (one of my biggest goals for 2021)! 

And what do I plan to learn? 

Based on the fact that we never run out of new things to discover and that we never master everything, in each field of my life where I would like to excel, I make sure to always learn, whether it is through personal research, training or even through practical experience: any opportunity is good to seize. Besides, I believe that from every circumstance in life, there is always a lesson to learn!

This summer in particular, I have planned to take part in several events that will allow me to learn more and I look forward to it! 

  1. Preparing for the beginning and end of the year 

I have set some big goals for this year 2021, and I’m not losing sight of them for i intend to achieve them! So, this summer will certainly be about having fun, while keeping in mind the beginning of the school year in September too. Indeed, the last quarter of the year will require a certain amount of preparation and planning so that on December 31st I can check off my list of goals set at the beginning of the year.

In a few words, if there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that these vacations will be more than eventful (even if I’ll make sure to start September refreshed!). 

Of course I intend to share with you my adventures here as well as on social networks, I invite you to have a look! 

– My Instagram account: @the.christianista

– My YouTube channel: The Christianista

I already wish you a wonderful summer and great vacations, hoping that the goals I shared above will give you some ideas to make it even better! 

Take care of yourself,

The Christianista



Winter Outfits Inspiration

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I think it’s the first time I’ve ever had winter outfits shot! If you go to my Instagram page you’ll see that there are usually no winter outfits; you’d think it’s spring and summer all year round where I live!  But this year I found it interesting for you as well as for me to propose some winter looks, I hope you will like it!

LOOK 1

LOOK 2

LOOK 3

LOOK 4

Feel free to comment which look(s) you liked the most!

With Love,

The Christianista

Where to shop online

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Hey everyone,

As a big fan of online shopping, I was asked to write this article in order to recommend the right sites to order clothes from. It is true that I go less and less in store, and that the ¾ of my shopping are done online, so I hope I will be able to give you the best recommendations!

So this article is about online stores other than the ones we are used to due to their physical presence (Ex: Zara, h&m, Bershka, etc…). The first part of this article includes sites on which I usually make my purchases, the second part presents sites that I have never tested but for which I have made inquiries from different consumers.

1. Asos

I could not dare to start with a website other than my precious “Asos”. My favorite site; and you surely know it, the ¾ of my orders come from this website, and I recommend it 2000%. Why do I recommend it?

The great diversity of items: There are really all kinds of styles, for all occasions, from casual to chic, from street to gala. It’s obvious that they’ve thought about every category of people, especially with their “Plus Size” category, “Maternity” and even a “modesty” category and even more.

Brand diversity: On Asos you will not only find “ASOS” items, you will also find items from several other brands.

Fast Delivery: I personally paid €18.99 to get the express delivery option for one year, which means that I can receive all my orders in express (the next day generally) for one year. 

But in general, they usually deliver quickly when using standard delivery, between 3 to 4 days. The shipping fees are 4€, and the delivery becomes free once you reach 42€. For an express delivery, the fees are 15€. The other positive point is that there are no fees for returns, and the refund is quite fast; it usually takes between a week and a week and a half.

2. Zalando

There was a time when I used to order there all the time, but not with the same frequency as at Asos. I only order shoes there, and especially heels. I think half of my heels collection comes from Zalando. And to be honest, I’ve never ordered anything else there as I’ ve never been personally interested in their clothes.

Diversity of brands: Their diversity of brands is, I believe, even wider than Asos, which allows you to have many more choices without necessarily going to each brand’s website. This enabled me also to discover new brands that I didn’t know before.

Fast delivery: In terms of delivery, it’s just as fast: a 2-3 day delivery with the option “express delivery” available. And the good thing is that there are no delivery costs for regular deliveries.

Payment option: I must admit that on this point, they offer an excellent advantage at Zalando: there is no obligation to pay at the time of the order. You can indeed order without paying, and receive the bill at the same time as the package. What I particularly appreciate in this option is that the return of an order becomes very simple because you don’t have to initiate any refund procedure, you just have to send the items back.

3. Boohoo

Unlike Asos and Zalando, Boohoo only sells its own brand. However, it also offers great diversity, including several different categories, identical to those mentioned above for Asos. One can also mention the categories for small and large sizes.

In terms of quality, I must admit that it is not necessarily the best, it depends a lot on the type of items but given the very affordable prices they offer, there are no surprises. Moreover, they often make great discounts on their articles, which makes it possible to really find clothes at very low prices.

As for the shipping, I have always chosen shipping in Belgium (when ordering on Boohoo France) and the option offered costs 9.99€ and I always receive my orders within two working days. There is no free delivery available in Belgium. Similarly, when you want to return ordered items, fees are charged; I personally had to pay 5 euros to return an order via DPD.

Please note this! I insist on the fact that I order on Boohoo.fr, i. e. in France, because from now on if you order on Boohoo UK, expect to pay customs fees due to Brexit.

4. Shein

I have never purchased any of the items of this brand before, so the following reviews are reviews that I have collected from various consumers that I have asked to give me feedback.

Regarding delivery timing, Shein delivers within 10 to 20 business days and offers free shipping for purchases over 45 euros. An amount of 2.50€ is charged if the total order varies between 25€ and 45€ while you have to pay 4.99€ for delivery for any order below 25€.

The quality of the clothes is not the best, and just like Boohoo, this brand offers trendy clothes at such affordable prices that it is recommendable for anyone who wants to shop with a small budget. The other positive point is that they also offer a lot of discount codes throughout the year!

One remark that has been made more than once and that I will surely take into account if one day I decide to order on this website is the fact that the clothes are generally in the small size, and that it is therefore recommended to order one size up.

5. PrettyLittleThing

I have also never ordered on this website, so I based my order on the opinion of a regular consumer.

As far as quality is concerned, it depends again on each piece of clothing, depending on whether the tissue is thin, transparent, etc. She advises us to take a good look at the photos and videos available on the website to get an idea of the appearance of the cloth and its quality. 

As for the prices, they are very affordable and the website provides very often promo codes, which offers a good alternative to the customer: buying large quantities of clothes at very affordable prices.

In terms of delivery, it is done quite quickly. You will find on their website that the regular delivery to Europe is between 5 and 10 days but it has been attested that in general, the package arrives within 5 days. Be careful, PrettyLittleThing being in the United Kingdom, it should be noted that with Brexit regulations, customs fees should now be charged, which would be quite high! And this, my dear people, is a piece of information to keep in mind if you want to shop there!

Well, I hope this article will have been helpful! Of course, these are not the only online stores where you can do your shopping, but they are well known and we often hear about them. Don’t hesitate to give me feedback if you order for the first time on one of these sites, and here is my Instagram account “@the.christianista” if you need more information about ordering!

Lots of love,

The Christianista

2020, what a year!

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Who would have believed that on January 1st, 2020 when we shouted ” HAPPY  NEW YEAR !” that we would live through everything we’ve lived through this year? Who would have thought that our working lives would be put on pause for so many months? That wearing masks would be our new normal? That leaving home would be almost a luxury? That gathering together would be a privilege? No one! And still…

If someone had told me that my year 2020 would look like what it did, I wouldn’t have believed it. I had already said it in a previous article: at the beginning of the year 2020, I belonged to the category of people who did not take the appearance and the spread of covid-19 seriously, until the first lockdown arrived on our doorstep in March. That’s when my year turned out to be the “Year of the Unexpected”, an Unexpectedness that turned out to be positive .

I didn’t expect to have a great year;

I didn’t expect to be given as many lessons;

I didn’t expect to be able to live spontaneously;

I didn’t expect to have as many opportunities;

I didn’t expect to have as many connections;

I didn’t expect to flourish;

I didn’t expect to keep projecting myself when nothing was certain anymore;

I didn’t expect to be that positive;

I didn’t expect to create as many beautiful memories;

I just didn’t expect 2020.

It certainly wasn’t the year I had imagined, the year I had expected or wanted, but it was the year I got and lived by bringing the best out of it. “Let’s get the best out of it” is the mindset I had adopted a week after the first lockdown, and I remember writing about it in a previous article… And as I was writing it, I had no idea that we would still be in the same situation today… And yet, today I am more than grateful to see that having gone through the last 9 months in this state of mind has allowed me to live this year to the fullest!

So for you who are reading, maybe your year 2020 has not been as bright as it should have been, maybe you even call it the worst year…  I don’t know what you’ve been through, and I don’t want to pretend that I do, but as I try to find the words to encourage you, I remember that a year ago, I myself described 2019 as the “worst year”, until I changed my way of considering circumstances So I invite you to read my article entitled “2019, worse or better year?”

One year after writing this article, I can testify that I would not be who I am today without having gone through what I went through in 2019. And I could not have lived 2020 as I had done it without having gone through 2019, a year for which I am very thankful today. Hang in there, the best is yet to come!

I have no idea what 2021 has in store for us, but I would like so much to invite us to approach it by trying to bring the best out of it, by taking advantage of every moment, by focusing on the positive and by being able to see and seize the several opportunities that will present themselves before us!

I already wish us a great year 2021!

Lots of love,

The Christianista

 

 

My 10 best songs of 2020

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Here is my last playlist of the year. It includes 10 songs released in 2020 that have set the rhythm of my year! 

  1. Hillsong Young & Free – Indescribable
  2. Lord Lombo – Saison
  3. CrazyHope – Incapable
  4. Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, Elevation Worship – The Blessing
  5. Da T.R.U.T.H, Limoblaze – Go like
  6. Hillsong Young & Free – Lord Send Revival
  7. Mireille Basirwa & le collectif J’adore – Coule en moi
  8. Maverick City Music – Getting Ready
  9. Dévotion – Nzambe Monene
  10. Elevation Worship – No One Beside

Good listening to all !

With love,

The Christianista

The 1 year anniversary of the blog!

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On September 30th 2020, we hit my blog’s first anniversary milestone. And who says anniversary, also says event. I thus wanted to trace in this article, the organization of that 1 year anniversary party.

I started by heading towards a photo studio to do a shoot. I absolutely wanted to take some pictures with a cake for the occasion, actually, it was the only thing that I was definitely going to make happen no matter what, I was sure of it for months. Here is the Instagram pages of the cake’s baker and the photo studio that I booked :

  • Cake: @madeby.kw
  • Photo Studio: @papalove.company

The birthday celebration also took place at the photo studio, right after the shooting. It was set around a table that had been set up purposely. I’d invited about 10 people. The party’s theme was pale pink, black and white, which are my 3 official colors.

The decoration was therefore made according to the theme. Ditto for the dress code: black for the guests, white for me. Regarding the references of the decoration, apart from the tablecloth that was bought in a fabric store located on Rue du Brabant (Brussels), everything else came mainly from the store “AVA” which I highly recommend to you.

Also, for everything related to special candles, confetti, etc. I highly recommend the “Balloons – Events” store located in Saint-Gilles (Brussels). This is where I bought my candles at a fairly modest price.

For my beauty makeover, here are the Instagram pages :

  • Hairstyle: @hildahairdesign
  • Makeup: @partysosomakeup
  • Nails: @kingdomofbeauty.brussels

And as I explained in an Instagram post, it was far from the event I had in mind when I thought about the 1 year anniversary of this blog, but for this season, it was the event that was needed.

Thanks to all my guests for their presence and thank you @gladysm.photos (Instagram) for all the photos!

Know your why

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I still remember long before I was convinced of it myself, I had already been declared a blogger. I was already told at the time that I would create a blog, and if it wasn’t proclaimed yet, then I was asked if it wasn’t at least part of my plans. I surely felt flattered, but above all, I told myself that I didn’t want to do it just for the sake of doing it or to please people, but because I felt that I MUST do it.

And when the right moment came, believe me, the vision and the plan followed. I still remember the time I had to stay up all night, a sleepless night during which I wrote the whole vision and my blog’s mock-up. Afterwards, realizing that it couldn’t have just been my imagination, I prayed for this project and I especially remember asking God to place the right people all around me. And that’s when the adventure began, from the conception of the blog to its launching, until the present moment, a year later. (By the way, I realize that He has answered my prayers beyond my expectations, and to this day I am grateful for every single person who has been involved in this project and who has brought his or her contribution to it).

Why am I telling you all this? Because the belief that I have to do what I am doing, and having a clear vision of what I need to accomplish is my why. Why did I start a blog? Why am I sharing this article? Why am I investing my time and money in it? Why am I taking pictures? Why am I sharing my lifestyle? Why am I sharing playlists ? Why? Why? Why? Behind each one of my actions, my posts, my projects are hidden answers to every “why” you might ask me.

Knowing my major “WHY” and all my minor “whys” is what allows me to move forward, what allows me to keep dreaming, what allows me to persevere and not stop when facing all that awaits me despite all the changes, detours, falls, and other obstacles that could have already stopped me.

“Know your why” is really a message that I will carry with me for life, and with which I will never stop encouraging people. And I pray that you who read me, may not only know it and especially remember it in your daily life, in each of your actions, but that it may also be useful to you in every thing you would like to achieve. There is in this why, an extraordinary strength that allows us to move forward, to set goals and reach them, to keep on dreaming; an extreme strength that allows us to hold on no matter the adversity and difficulties we may encounter; there is behind this why, the accomplishment of a plan, a life tailor-made for us.

Why do you do what you do? Why does it matter? Why is this goal important to you? Why? Ask yourself all these questions!

And on that note, happy first anniversary to my blog, the adventure goes on and I’m sure that the best is yet to come. Thank you to all of you who read me, who believe in me and who encourage me every day. May God bless you and accompany you in everything you undertake,

Lots of love,

The Christianista

Where to eat in Brussels? 5 location recommendations

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I think it was finally time to start putting some restaurant recommendations on this blog! Here is the list I made following my summer :

1. Afrosian

The very best of my summer. I loved it SO MUCH ! I’ve been wanting to try it out for over a year now, but for some reason I hadn’t been there until this summer. 

The space is small, indeed, but well laid out, and with a good atmosphere. For my meal, I went for an Afro dish, and one thing that I particularly liked was this touch of Asian cuisine that I could find in my basic Afro food, and it was just perfect. Hence the name of the restaurant I guess …  And that’s not to mention their cocktails ! You really get what you pay and are thirsty for ! Really great!

The photos above were taken from their Instagram page.

Here is their website: http://afrosian.be/

2. Tigermilk

This one place that I’d spotted during the confinement was definitely on my list of restaurants to try out. It is also located in Paris. The site is beautiful and very cozy, and it’s important to note that I generally choose my restaurants according to their aesthetic … I had a “Superbowl” there and I have nothing to say, it was super good and filling. I will go back there!

You’ll find above the dishes we had taken.

Here’s their website: https://tigermilkrestaurants.com/

3. Frank

This one was not on my list initially, it was proposed to me and I loved it ! If I could literally start every single day there, I would definitely do it ! Because actually, it’s more of a place for having breakfast, brunch or just a coffee. 

It is located in Brussels, not far from the Central station. We ate on the terrace but I can assure you that the interior design is gorgeous ! Besides, I did recommend this place a lot and received only positive reviews so far.

The photo on the right just above is what we ordered.

Here is their website: https://www.frank.brussels/

4. Kicoucou

I’d seen this spot in so many Instagram stories that I decided to put it on my list of restaurants to try out. I went there and liked it a lot! This is an African restaurant that I 3000% recommend to you, and especially since the menu has a great variety, there is a lot of choice!

I had a burger at the Ntaba, I don’t know which one, but it was delicious. Not to mention the drinks with the multiple flavors they offer! 

I didn’t take any picture of what I ate, I’ve only made videos. But I will not hesitate to add a photo to this article as soon as I return there !

And I suggest you consult their website right here : https://kicoucou.be/

5. Grand Central

I didn’t know that place and didn’t have it on my list, I found myself there because I had a meeting planned at that location. And let me tell you that I liked it so much that I went back to that restaurant a second time within a month. Very large, friendly, and it’s not only a restaurant but also a bar. I really liked the summer atmosphere that radiated there.

The two times I’ve been to Grand Central, I’ve had a drink and ate fries. I haven’t gone through their entire menu yet, but I surely will!

However, note that they do not offer straws with their drinks.

The photo on the right above is what we ordered the first time.

Here is their website: https://www.legrandcentral.com/

for those who follow me on Instagram (@ the.christianista), you will find among my highlights a section called “f&d” where you can find the addresses of several restaurants I’ve been to. And most of the time, prices are very affordable for the places I present there.

Here it is, don’t hesitate to give me a feedback if you ever test these places !

With love,

The Christianista

My summer 2020 playlist

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Hi everyone!

My summer 2020 playlist: As summer 2020 is coming to an end, I bring you a playlist of 15 songs that I have discovered during my vacation. I hope you’ll like it!

  1. Virtuoz – Hosanna
  2. Hillsong United – Like an Avalanche
  3. Gloire Grace – Tout près de moi
  4. Gil Joe – Thanksgiving
  5. Zoe Worship – Be Okay
  6. Hillsong Young & Free – Indescribable
  7. Jonathan C. Gambela – Onction
  8. Limoblaze – Blind
  9. Hillsong Worship, Tasha Cobbs – Awake My Soul
  10. Lydia Kabs, CalledOut Music – He is with me
  11. Nolly, Marizu – Blessed of God
  12. Kierra Sheard feat.Todd Dulaney – Follow
  13. Dena Mwana & Soweto Gospel Choir – Si la mer se déchaîne
  14. MercyMe – Almost Home
  15. Maverick City Music – Have my Heart

4 beauty salons that I recommend for a makeover in Brussels!

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After the lockdown, I did major updates at 4 different levels : hairstyle, hair removal, pedicure and manicure. You will find in this article all the references you need !

STEP 1 – HAIRSTYLE

For my hairstyle, I opted for cornrows, THE hairstyle that I had in mind throughout the quarantine. I got them done at “Hilda hair design“, located 5 minutes away from the Matonge neighborhood. It was the first time I went there; someone recommend it to me a few months ago and I was not disappointed !

One thing that I also really appreciated and that made the difference to me is the aesthetic side, it’s a really beautiful salon !

You can check on her work and actually contact her via her Instagram. Here’s the link: https://www.instagram.com/hildahairdesign/?hl=fr

STEP 2 – HAIR REMOVAL

For the hair removal step, I went to “Tahira – Art“, a beauty salon in Saint-Gilles (near from the Brussels Zuid station). This institute is pretty renowned, especially for their eyebrows reshaping. I’ve been going there for a few years now and I recommend it 100%.

Here’s the link for an appointment: https://www.tahira–art.com/

STEP 3 – PEDICURE

It was a first for me, I’d always been told that the day I’d start I wouldn’t be able stop so I wanted to be sure to get into at the right time lol. My pedicure was done at “Doan’s Nails“, located two minutes from the Lombardie tram stop. https://www.treatwell.be/fr/salon/doan-s-nails/

I found this salon “by chance”. I simply searched on google “Pedicure Brussels” and I was shown a list of salons according to the style of nails that I chose. 0 disappointment and it will remain my favorite pedicure salon for a while. I opted for the “spa + semi permanent polish” formula for a duration of one hour.

STEP 4 – MANICURE

The last but not the least! I’ve been longing for that step for the entire duration of the lockdown ! I’ve had my nails done at the “Kingdom of Beauty” salon. Also a first for me and it wasn’t disappointing one bit, reason why I recommend it! The salon is near from Central Station, at the “Park” tram stop. 

It is also a hairdressing salon so for any information, reservations or if you just want to take a look at their work, I invite you to check out their Instagram page:  https://www.instagram.com/kingdomofbeauty.brussels/?hl=fr

 

That’s it, more recommendations centered around those subjects will come for sure! Also, I didn’t mention the prices but feel free to contact me on my Instagram “@the.christianista” for any information!