Latest Posts by melrudo06 - Page 2

may every black woman know happiness <3

YOU’RE WELCOME

Pierrot

Monday Night’s Watch.

Anok Yai | VS Fashion Show 2024

Another natural hair appreciation post. 🤎✨ I just LOVE our hair so much.

Another natural hair appreciation post. 🤎✨ I just LOVE our hair so much.

Anok Yai as the VETEMENTS runaway bride – closeing Spring/Summer 2025 Show

Michaela DePrince

As someone who has battled anxiety and very dark thoughts in the past, God has shown me it is crucial to not try to get out of that mindset on my own strength. These are spiritual attacks, and I need to learn to lean on the Spirit to fight for me. I do this by using scripture that reminds me of the nature of God and his will for my life.

The enemy is a liar and he uses catastrophizing and overthinking to tell us lies about ourselves and the things to come. I refuse to give him an inch into my life by coming into agreement with his lies. Understanding the spiritual nature of our thoughts empowers you to not allow them to control you, but for you to have power over them.

1. John 10:10

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

2. Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

3. Psalm 55:22

“Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”

4. Isaiah 41:10

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

5. Philippians 4:6-7

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

6. Romans 8:6

“So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”

7. Matthew 11:28-30

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.’”

God's love will have you feeling like you can conquer the world

@clarkepeoples

Miss Universe 2019, South Africa’s Zozibini Tuni.

Jasmine Tookes, 2024, via Instagram.

The femininity and beauty of natural hair >>>

How To Network 🤝📱💬

Have a Plan: Because everyone is important, it's really important to know what you're good at. Before you go to any networking event, figure out what you're good at – like things you can do well, what you know, and the people you know. Plan what you want to talk about, especially how you can help others, either now or later on.

Start with Who You Know: Talk to people you already know, like friends and colleagues. Ask if they can introduce you to others.

Go to Events: Attend conferences, seminars, workshops, industry meetups, and social gatherings related to your field of interest.

Use Social Media: Make profiles on websites like LinkedIn or Instagram to meet people in your niche online.

Elevator Pitch: Create a concise and engaging intro that highlights who you are, what you do, and what you're seeking. This way you can make a strong first impression.

Ask Good Questions: When you talk to someone, ask questions that show you're interested in what they're saying.

Provide Value: Networking is a two-way street. Offer your expertise, assistance, or connections to others whenever possible. When you start paying attention to what people can do, you might see that one person could help another person. Try to introduce people who you think have something valuable to share. When you make these good connections, you're helping the networking event go well. This will help you establish a good reputation and create strong relationships.

Say Thank You: After meeting, send a message to say you enjoyed the talk.

Follow up & Follow Through: If you said you would talk to someone later, make sure you actually do it and let them know you're still happy to help. If you promised to introduce one person to another, take a moment to make that introduction.These small things really matter to people, and just one introduction could make someone's life better.

Meet Different People: Don't just talk to the same kind of people. Meet people from different jobs and places.

Never dismiss anyone as unimportant: Don't think someone is not important just because of their job title. They could know important things or have helpful friends you wouldn't know about if you didn't give them a chance.

Join Groups: Be part of clubs or groups related to your work. You can meet more people there.

Be Yourself: Just be you. Don't pretend to be someone else.

Learn New Things: Keep learning about your interests. It helps you have better conversations.

Want to learn something new in 2022??

Absolute beginner adult ballet series (fabulous beginning teacher)

40 piano lessons for beginners (some of the best explanations for piano I’ve ever seen)

Excellent basic crochet video series

Basic knitting (probably the best how to knit video out there)

Pre-Free Figure Skate Levels A-D guides and practice activities (each video builds up with exercises to the actual moves!)

How to draw character faces video (very funny, surprisingly instructive?)

Another drawing character faces video

Literally my favorite art pose hack

Tutorial of how to make a whole ass Stardew Valley esque farming game in Gamemaker Studios 2??

Introduction to flying small aircrafts

French/Dutch/Fishtail braiding

Playing the guitar for beginners (well paced and excellent instructor)

Playing the violin for beginners (really good practical tips mixed in)

Color theory in digital art (not of the children’s hospital variety)

Retake classes you hated but now there’s zero stakes:

Calculus 1 (full semester class)

Learn basic statistics (free textbook)

Introduction to college physics (free textbook)

Introduction to accounting (free textbook)

Learn a language:

Ancient Greek

Latin

Spanish

German

Japanese (grammar guide) (for dummies)

French

Russian (pretty good cyrillic guide!)

✨I am the Best Series✨

Finance Month: Investing Pt. II

Introduction:

This week we're diving a bit deeper into the world of investing. Now that you guys have a solid understanding of what investing is and how to start doing it, I want to discuss what one should look for in a competitive stock, and share an example stock analysis. My hope is that by the end of this lesson you guys not only will be able to discern the difference between a bad and good stock but will also leave feeling comfortable picking out a couple of stocks for your own portfolio. So let's get into it:

What should you be looking for in a stock?

A company/industry that you resonate with: It's much easier to research an industry you're genuinely interested in, so look to stocks that are a reflection the things you actually like. For example, if you're interested in socially responsible investing, look for companies that focus on ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance).

A good price-to-earnings ratio (P/E Ratio): A P/E ratio determines whether a company is a good value compared to others in the industry. In more basic terms, a P/E ratio determines how much investors are willing to pay for each dollar of annual earnings. So if a ratio is 20, that means investors are willing to pay $20 on every $1 of annual earnings. Stocks with P/E ratios below 15 are considered cheap (which is good) and those with ratios above 18 are considered expensive.

Checkpoint: As you can see from the AAPL's stock chart, its P/E ratio is 38.82. What does that mean?

A Low Beta: Generally, beta measures a stocks volatility compared to the S&P 500. Generally, beta above 1 is considered volatile (not good) and below 1 stable (good). When looking at beta however, it's good to have perspective. A stock that has a high beta that has been outperforming the S&P 500 will likely yield higher returns over a shorter period of time. So while this could be good for your portfolio in the short-run, it could cause issues further down the line. So if you're risk-averse like me, you want to go for a lower beta.

A High Dividend: Basically, Stocks that pay dividends will give you an extra payout on top of the potential depreciation price. Therefore a high dividend yield will likely give you more solid income from a single stock. However, there's a balance to strike. Yields that are too high are often temporary because often times companies that are facing financial challenges will issue high yield to attract investors. So look for stocks with dividend yields of approximately 5% to 8%.

Checkpoint: Based on this graph, which stock would you be most willing to invest in based on it's 2020 dividend yield?

A balanced chart: It's very important to understand how to read a stock chart. A stock chart will tell you basically everything you need to know about a particularly stock, so being able to navigate one is essential. Stock charts appear in the form of line, bar,  and candlestick charts and are used by both fundamental and technical analysts.

Checkpoint: Take a look back at Apple's stock chart above. Looking at it's P/E ratio and Dividend Yield. Based on these numbers, would you say it's a viable stock?

Example stock analysis (what I look for in a stock and how I assess it):

**Before going into my stock analysis I want to make it very clear that I am by no means encouraging anyone to invest in the LULU. Please do your due diligence and research your own stocks. This is just an example of how I go about assessing a "good stock" and what I look for.

Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ: LULU):

Industry Overview: Health and fitness equipment industry revenue has more than doubled, to $2.3 billion, from last March to October, according to NPD retail data. Sales of treadmills soared 135 percent while those of stationary bikes nearly tripled, depleting inventories.

Low vertical cost capabilities: Cheap production offers higher margins for LULU. LULU’s 21% profit margin vs NKE’s 12%.

Strong Brand Reputation: The brand has cemented its reputation and prices as just as fixed.

International Opening: LULU has only started to establish the international component of its business. Overseas presents less image challenges regarding gender.

Financials: LULU has a very healthy balance sheet primarily financed through equity with 4 billion worth of assets and 1.2 billion in working capital.

Business Overview: As of June 2021, LULU allows customers to resell their clothing back to the brand at a discounted price. These clothes are in turn resold back to the consumer with all profits being investing into circular design and renew and recycle programs. With no dividend yield, the company is focusing on strong growth which has been exceedingly successful. The past 4 quarters, LULU has beat earnings expectations even with the struggles retail stores have faced.

Competitive Advantage: The field of athleisure is extremely dense. While companies like Nike, Gap, and Under Armour dominate the field, none of them have seen revenue growth like Lululemon. The main drivers of their boom come from the relatively low cost to make their products. Vertical distribution allows their products to be moved without drawing additional cost within the movement process.

Recommendation: BUY.

Conclusion:

I hope you guys enjoyed learning a bit more about investing this week! While the stock analysis may seem daunting, you certainly don't need to go that deep. As long as you understand your stocks' chart and what's going on with the company in the news (like if the CEO just got fired for sleeping with his secretary, you probably shouldn't buy that stock), you should be fine. Understanding how to pick and analyze a stock is not easy and takes a good amount of time to get used to (I have years of experience, which is why I'm able to do so pretty quickly), so don't get discouraged by the process. Take it in strides, and of course, if you have any questions feel free to reach out! Next week I'll be discussing some of my favorite financial literacy/investing resources!

Lovingly,

Elle

Harsh truths we need to accept to move forward?

It doesn't take much to reach the top.

If you decide to get on your floor right now and do 10 push-ups, you will have done what 80% of women will refuse to do. If you turn off your phone 20 minutes before bed tonight, you will have done what 90% of young people in the modern world refuse to do. Most people are addicted to self-sabotaging behavior. We all know that eating crap and not exercising is bad for our bodies. We all know that scrolling on social media for hours each day is bad for our mental health. We all know that buying items we don't need isn't going to make us truly happy. Yet we choose to continue these habits because we don't want to feel uncomfortable. And there's actually a neurological reason for this: when we try to break a habit we've grown used to, our brain literally does everything in its power to stop us as a self-protective measure. So we have to work really hard to do what we know is good for us.

It's harrowing to understand that most people are willingly ruining their chances of success and happiness, but it's also a powerful realization. Why? Because you can use that knowledge to your advantage. If you commit to making really small changes every day to become just 1% better than you were last week, you will propel yourself MILES ahead of the curve. Stop trying to force yourself to change your entire life today. It's not going to work because your brain will reject it and you will be left feeling distraught. Instead, try to implement a single change into your life every week. It can be turning off your phone 5 minutes before going to bed instead of scrolling through reels for 30 minutes in the dark. It can be watching a 3-minute guided meditation every morning. It can be only drinking water instead of soda. Whatever that thing is, just stick with it and trust that by taking really simple and small actions, you will surpass the vast majority of the population.

This is why you're struggling to change your life.

How many times have you seen a video that offered advice that you committed to taking in order to change your life? How many times have you actually followed through and implemented those changes? We live in a world that gives us access to some of the best and most revolutionary information out there. In this day and age, we can go on youtube and learn EXACTLY how to become an entrepreneur, get a six-pack, meet our dream partner, and make millions of dollars. And while we don't have any issue watching these videos and being inspired by them, seldom do we actually make a move. The reason is that, once again, our brains like to play games. We subconsciously accept that if we are cognizant of the things we need to do to change our lives, our lives will magically change without us actually having to do those things.

So just understanding that we need to be in a calorie deficit to lose 15 pounds makes us believe that we have the power to lose 15 pounds. I mean how many times have you heard someone say "I know I have to lose weight, I just have to get started" and subsequently lose no weight at all? How many times have you told yourself you have to start meditating and yet never started or failed to meditate more than a couple of times? It's easy to learn how to change, but it's incredibly difficult to actually do something with that knowledge. But here's the thing: In order to actually change your life, you have got to get off your ass. Just knowing that you have to make a change is not going to cause that change to take place. You have got to take action.

Stop being a victim.

Playing the victim isn't just saying things like "I can't trust men because my father never showed me love", but it's also saying things like "I'm single because the men out there are trash" or "No one takes me seriously because I'm a Black woman." Whenever you say things like this, you're disempowering yourself immensely. And guess what? The world doesn't care that you've had a hard life. The market doesn't care. No one is going to give you an award or a bag of money because your life isn't fair. Yes, many of the men out there are gaslighters and cheaters. That's not the reason you're perpetually single. YOU'RE the reason you're single. Yes, people are racist. That's not the reason you can't find a job. YOU'RE the reason you can't find a job.

The people who can acknowledge their setbacks and move forward regardless are always going to be the ones who win in the end. I know women who are fat, objectively unattractive, and downright unintelligent who STILL ended up with the love of their lives. I know of people who are dyslexic and have incredibly low IQs who STILL ended up becoming CEOs. How did they do it? They stopped making excuses, accepted the fact they would have to work a bit harder than everyone else, and got to work. You need to look at yourself in the mirror and admit that every failure in your life is a result of your actions (or inactions). You need to STOP blaming others. It's you. It's always been you. And you know what? Understanding that is a beautiful thing. After all, the first step to self-improvement is self-awareness.

Lovingly,

Elle

You’ve talked about learning about history before. Although I know you would argue to learn about what interests us the most, there are some topics in history that everyone should be knowledgeable about. In your experience/opinion, what are these topics? Thank you.

Here are the topics that come to mind! World History

World Wars I and II & the links between them

American Revolution – Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1783  

Trade in the Roman World designed by The Romans created one of the most impressive road networks of the ancient world

The rise and fall of empires, in relation to conflicts, protests, and riots against corporate globalization, and the threat of worldwide terrorism against the West

Cradle of civilization: Ancient Discoveries of China, Egypt, Mesoamerica, or India, or any other civilization that led to a high level of craft specialization and artistic production from each civilization, creating opportunities for trade  

Architecture through the ages: the changes in architecture through various traditions, regions, and dates, growing from human’s basic needs of shelter and protection.  

Women’s rights movement around the world. To see the overall timeline of women’s rights movements, you can explore women’s activism from generations past and present on the UN Women website.  

Math and Science discoveries throughout ancient history that contribute to how we apply math and science today 

Ancient conquests and their influence on the modern world map formation 

Nuclear warfare, a military conflict or political strategy which deploys nuclear weaponry.  

US History

Attack on Pearl Harbor, the military strike by Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

The Vietnam War: Social consequences and treatment of veterans returning from the war 

Immigration in the late 1800s: the “melting pot” and “salad bowl” metaphors 

Gold Rush and its development of the California state 

Civil War and the participation of women and African Americans 

JFK Presidency, Policy and Assassination  

My Lai Massacre, incidents of American violence committed against unarmed civilians during the Vietnam War 

Sept 11, 2001 attacks and their impact on American security policies, foreign policy, and views on Islam through media and movies 

Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, its tactics, movements and outcomes 

Yellow journalism and its impact on Spanish-American War  

Asian History

Western imperialism in Asia and Asian transformation in the areas of religion, economy, and society  

The Story of Vietnam: From Prehistory to the Present 

Open Door policy and its impact on the economies in the US and China 

Ancient Korean & Chinese Relations  

The Forgotten History of South Korean Massacres in Vietnam 

Invasions of the Korean Peninsula and its struggle for unification  

Yasuke and its defense on Japan’s Greatest Warlord 

British Malaya: British involvement in Malay Politics 

The Great Game: a political and diplomatic confrontation between the British Empire and the Russian Empire over Afghanistan and neighboring territories in Central and South Asia. 

The Indus Valley Civilization, one of the world’s earliest civilizations  

African History

The transition from prehistoric Africa to some of the classic civilizations, such as Egypt, Carthage, and West Africa

The major kingdoms that emerged in Africa during the Middle Ages

The impact of colonization in Africa over the course of the 19th and early 20th centuries

History of decolonization in Africa during the second half of the 20th century, and how decolonization some of the problems that arose in different African societies as a result

The Atlantic slave trade

The rise and decline of apartheid in South Africa

European History

The relationship between Turkey and the European Union, and its impact on the position that Turkey has today 

Black Death, cause, symptoms and impact  

Religious crisis in the 16th century: the birth of Protestantism 

The Agricultural Revolution and the development of market economies 

The spread of Christianity: the political aspects 

European imperialism, in relation to the economic and political power overseas 

The Industrial Revolution and societal consequences 

The influence of Locke and French philosophies on the rise of liberal political thought in Europe in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries 

Lovingly,

Elle

Great Ingredients To Look For in Skin Care

In all skin care products there are a few ingredients working behind the scenes to make your skin clear, beautiful and smooth. With so many products and so little information on these products it can be very daunting walking down that skincare isle. Every product is filled with ingredients targeted at solving a different need… anti aging, acne, dryness, wrinkles, sun spots, etc. To avoid aimlessly trying products you think may or may not work for your skin, you can educate yourself on the ingredients themselves to better customize and adapt your skin care routine to fit your unique and fabulous skin.  

Vitamin E

Vitamin E, also known as Tocopherol, is a skin healing antioxidant. Best in low amounts combined with other potent ingredients (combine with Vitamin C for great results), known to help reduce and prevent the appearance of scars. Vitamin E is also great at preventing sum damage, so if you enjoy your time outside consider incorporating Vitamin E into your skin routine. Pure Vitamin E oil can be a bit excessive and actually cause more harm than good, so look for it as an ingredient in other products or use with caution. Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Moisturizer is a great one!

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is filled with potent antioxidants that will shield skin from sun damage, pollution, etc, all outside elements that age the skin. Vitamin C also promotes skin radiance by helping fade dark spots, reduces inflamed skin and boosts healthy collagen production (firm skin yay!). Try products like Ole Henrikson Truth Serum Vitamin C Collagen Booster or Glossier Super Glow Serum. 

Retinol/Vitamin A

Retinol is the name for the entire Vitamin A molecule. It’s known for it’s anti aging properties because it tells your skin cells to function normally and healthy even if they are damaged or aging. Retinol in clear or jarred packaging will quickly become ineffective because they’ve been exposed to air, so if you do decide to purchase products with retinol, buy accordingly! Try products like Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM and Paula’s Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum.

Ferulic Acid

A plant based antioxidant that provides sun protective properties as well as protects against other free radicals. Works by re-enforcing the skin’s cellular wall strength. Ferulic Acid works well with Vitamin E and Vitamin C. Try products like Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening Solution and SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic (link goes to Dermstore which always has 20% off!)

Niacinamide

This improves skin’s elasticity, diminishes discoloration while improving skin’s tone and texture by strengthening cellular bonds and tightening skin. Niacinamide will help make your pores smaller and help with wrinkles, great universal and anti aging skin ingredient. Like eating greens for the skin, keeps everything healthy. Try products like First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra Firm Sleeping Cream or Paula’s Choice Resist 10% Niacinamide Booster.

BHA/Beta Hydroxy Acid

BHA is an ingredient in Salicylic Acid, known to gently exfoliate the skin while being mildly anti bacterial. Great for acne prone skin or those who want a light chemical exfoliant with little irritation. Try products like Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2 Percent BHA Liquid Exfoliant. 

AHA/Alpha Hydroxy Acid

Some of the most effective AHA’s include Lactic Acid and Glycolic Acid. These ingredients work to exfoliate skin cells by breaking down the substance in skin that holds skin cells together. Great for aging and discolored skin. These ingredients have minimal impact in rinse off products like cleansers because it doesn’t give the ingredients enough time to get their job done. It’s best to buy these ingredients in forms of toners, serums, oils, etc. Check out products like Sunday Riley Good Genes Treatment, Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner or Paula’s Choice RESIST Weekly Resurfacing Treatment With 10 Percent AHA.  

Hyaluronic Acid

This ingredient retains moisture and keeps water from leaving the skin making it great for aging or dry skin. Youthful, plump skin is usually known for it’s high moisture content, replicate that look with Hyaluronic Acid! This ingredient is most effective in the form of serums and moisturizers. Try products like Paula’s Choice Ultra Light Super Antioxidant Serum with HA, The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2%, Derma E Hydrating Night Cream.

Philippians 4 🤍

There is something so precious about knowing that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. There truly is no one like me and there will never be another me. All my desires, aspirations, dreams, personality, and unique traits have a purpose, and because of that I must cherish and love every single fiber of my being.