With the coronavirus amongst us, so much has been affected. The way we conduct business, attend school, socialize with people, and just in general we have been pushed into more of a virtual world than we are used to. The virtual world has always been around for the business world, but with the pandemic, we are faced with this virtual form of conducting business now more than ever.
For many people that were already working from home, this was not new to them. They already had their routines established and were already aware of the dress code that they needed for working at home vs working at home in front of a screen with others.
So styling our clothes has been a challenge lately because we think we are home and shorts and flip flops (my favorite outfit) would be great. Well if you are not in front of a zoom with others that may work. But what I have found is that even when you are not in front of a zoom meeting, getting dressed for work is important. With the mental health issues that people have been dealing with due to social isolation, keeping a dressing routine helps to lift up our morale and spirits.
If you are sitting down for a zoom, then yes it is okay to have your shorts, sweat pants, jeans, or yoga bottoms. However, the top should look and feel fabulous to be ready to work. Finding tops that are light in color and adding jewelry to match the outfit helps to give you that overall polished look. Dressing for work helps to uplift your spirits, but also the spirits of those that you are speaking with on teh zoom. Here are some ways that sweater dressing for our ladies in the cooler climates can enhance that professional look for you.
Now if you are speaking on the zoom and you are standing to do your presentation, then by all means the bottoms count. Wearing dress slacks for the presentation is appropriate with some flat shoes for comfort. This is the one time that the heels are not necessary. My favorite flats that are not only comfortable but pair well with skirts, slacks, or dresses; they are Tieks by Gavrielli. They come in many colors, they are comfortable, and they have a great track record for lasting many years. A shoe that never goes out of style.
Here is a look that can take you to the daytime or evening meeting
And you can see how I tie in some of the same accessories but change out the dress for a different look in the daytime as opposed to the one above for a later evening presentation. So my jewelry is very versatile because it can be dressed up or down for any occasion.
Now here is a look for an early morning or aftermnoon presentation.
Here is a look that is also flattering in the am and afternoon. If you wanted to make it more professional, you can add a nice blazer to dress it up more.
So as you can see whether your climate is warm or you are in a climate that has fall cooler weather, there are many different looks that you can wear to enhance your mood and look professional for work. Once you are ready to go back to face to face work, you will already have the styles that you worked on during the pandemic so that you don’t have to ask yourself daily, what should I wear and does this go with this or that.
Sometimes in life, we go through trials that will knock us down, but we are warriors and can get back up. Those are the battle scars that we turn into testimonies and messages from the mess that they cause. I am here today to say that I am living proof that anyone can turn their test into a testimony and their mess into a message. I am going to be transparent today and share with you a glimpse into a part of my message and testimony. I survived bullying as a child, bullying in the workplace as an adult, health issues during a difficult pregnancy, weight gain, emotional scarring from a divorce, and loss of family.
When my ex-husband said to me “you are fat, ugly, and damaged goods, and no one will want you and your baggage of kids.” I lived with this scarring for many years. I believed the lies that this man told me. Now what you don’t know is that at this time I was 5’7″, weighed 124lbs and my body fat was 16% with 98lbs of lean muscle mass. I was in the best shape that I was ever going to be in. I danced, worked out, and ate right. But emotionally, I was a mess because every time I looked in the mirror I saw the description of what this man told me. The image I saw was distorted and I believed the lies of deception. The devil had me believing that I was a worthless human and of no use in this world. However, a friend I met in my dance studio friended me and started talking positive words of affirmation in my ear. He was not romantically interested in me, although I wished at the time he was, however, he knew better what was needed. He took me out on dates as friends, he held my hand, he kissed me on the cheek and taught me how to change a light bulb ( literally) he taught me the thing I needed most. I needed to love myself, love others for who they were, be independent, and to just be enough. This started the healing process and the confidence to be just me. I used this newfound meaning of confidence to get through the challenges that I would later on face. But my faith in Jesus, my support of good friends (Terry, Beth, and Renee), and marrying my best friend and soul mate helped me grow into the person I have become today.
I found my soulmate and married him after 7 years of being single. He loved me as no one else had. He loved me for me and he loved my kids. We experienced in our first years of marriage troubled teens, an ex-husband that talked trash about me to our kids, I had a baby born premature, I had high blood pressure from the pregnancy, and nearly lost my life as it got to stroke level and older kids that are now estranged as a result of the divorce and remarriage. I recently lost my dad unexpectedly and have to take care of my elderly mom who lost her eyesight completely from Diabetes complications, but guess what? I am a warrior and I fought the good fight on the battleground of life and no matter what the enemy tries to throw at me, I will use my shield to fight back. I am not going to be defeated no matter what.
I share this with you today because many times I have women come to me and say your life is so perfect I could never get out of the mess that I am in. No, my life is not perfect, my life is messy like anyone else’s, but what makes it different, is the outlook I look at life with. Circumstances at times cannot be changed but how we look at them is something that we can control. I have a special needs child with intellectual disability and yes he is a handful at times, but nevertheless, God gave me this little boy to share the miracle that he is because he is fortunate to be here on this earth. Doctors gave him zero chance of being conceived naturally, 5% chance of survival after being born, and towards the end of my pregnancy when my blood pressure got to 220/124 and my son stopped breathing, a crash c-section was done to get him out and we both crashed. But guess what? On October 13, 2009, God breathed life into my lungs and baby Kaleb and said today is the day that I have set aside to give you something to share and give hope to others. That became my testimony and how the nonprofit organization The Gift of Life was born.
Through this confidence in myself that came from my Lord and Savior and the support of a loving husband, I completed my bachelor’s degree in nursing as well as my Doctorate of Nurse Practice, I established 27 Miracles Wedding and Event Planning Windermere Baby and Family , Rosie Moore author of children’s books and adult books, and a representative of Ms. Puerto Rico World. SO this may seem like a lot of accomplishments and they are, but what good does it do me if I do not share my gifts and talents to help others?
Matthew 16:26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
So look in the mirror, open your eyes, and repeat this, “My name is Rosie Moore ( insert your own name), I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and I am more than enough. “
Psalm 139:14 says I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Listen to my Tea Time With Just Rosie Moore podcast for some positive words. Then join me on my Facebook group Empowering Girls and Women here you can follow stories of other women and share your own story as well as be inspired.
I have to admit that the last three weeks have been a whirlwind of information overload. We have heard updates from our President, our Governor, and our County Mayor. Through all of the news stations, online journalists, and newspapers, our social media has been bombarded with news of people getting sick with the COVID-19, people dying, businesses laying employees off, food and other supplies unavailable on the shelves, and families forced into working from home and homeschooling their children. But through it all when I sit out on my back porch the silence is deafening. I have been praying daily several times a day for our nation and our leaders. I have also prayed for my family’s protection from this invisible but deadly virus.
I feel God’s peace in my life. I go to bed at peace, I work during the day and I am at peace, I wake up and I am at peace. But I have to ask myself why is there silence? Has God forgotten about His children? Are we being punished as a global nation? As I read through scriptures and devotions and pray, it occurred to me that the reason there is silence is that for many years there was noise. The hustle and bustle of driving to work on overcrowded interstates, rushing to go here and there, parties at bars and venues, hate crimes, protests for different causes, bullying in schools and the workplace, as well as an increase in divorce rates, and abortions.
With the closing of non-essential businesses and a shelter-in order of everyone in their homes, the earth has been silenced. I see people walking and running outside for exercise, families playing on their front and back porches as well as riding their bicycles. There has been a silence of the news talking about crimes, protests, and all the news that causes stress to many because the focus has shifted to the virus. But again, I ask myself, why now? What is God trying to do with our global nation?
Yesterday I sent out messages on Facebook on our support pages for Empowering Women and Girls, our neonatal intensive care unit support page, and several texts to friends to just do a well check. I felt the need to connect with them to see how they were doing and what I can do to help them during this difficult time. Many responses were general to say that they were doing as well as can be expected given the circumstances; but some were sad because their jobs laid them off, while others were scared or angry because their employers were making them work without any protection of wearing a mask not knowing who they can be exposed to. I thought about it and responded with words of encouragement. But as I thought further, I sent information to some on work at home jobs and to others, I encouraged them to take this time to do something for themselves that they wanted to do; whether to go back to school or something as simple as rearranging closets, answering emails, and organizing their business marketing and websites.
As I continued about my day yesterday, I still felt a pull in my heart that there was something I was not grasping during this time. I prayed before bed and asked God to show me what is the lesson that we are all supposed to learn here? It wasn’t until midnight that it came to me and immediately I got up to write this blog that you are reading today. This is all about a Silent Night, a Holy Night, and John 3:16; ” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ” I know you may be asking what does that have to do with this pandemic. We are “one nation under God; indivisible with liberty and justice for all.” When you look up the meaning of indivisible, it means unable to be divided. Our nation and our families have been divided for quite some time. Our worship to Him has been diminished because something always distracts us from our time spent with Him. Our family life has suffered for many because we are focused on working all the time (myself included). This is not a post about pointing fingers and shaming anyone as the phrase says when you point at someone remember there are three fingers pointing right back at you.
When God sent His Son to die on the cross for us, He sent Him to save us, forgive our sins, and to worship Him. As a nation we did okay for a few years, but then the inevitable started and we lost our focus along the way. This last year we have seen hate among races and preferences, bullying, suicide, mental health problems including depression, murders, employers overworking employees not leaving enough time for them to spend with their families, and fearful if they do not keep up that they will lose their jobs. I am not saying that God came down from the Heavens last night and said all this to me, I am saying that when I prayed last night and asked God why this is happening, this is what I felt in my heart. Since we as a nation will not or cannot stop and change our circumstances either by choice or not, He gave us a way to stop and have a Silent Night/A Holy Night. What does that mean? Well, there is not one person in the entire world that is not affected in some way by this pandemic. Either we know someone that has it, we have it, our job is affected, or we are home on shelter in. Everyone has been touched by this. Now that God has our undivided attention, it is time for that Silent Night/Holy Night. Spend time with God, ask Him to forgive your sins (no one is perfect so we are all sinners so no saying that you do good and help the world, therefore, you are free of sin!), spend time talking with your family, playing outside with the kids on the porch or backyard, talk to your neighbors through the social distancing, by phone or the fence. This is the time for a Silent Night/Holy Night.
During these difficult days to come as we shelter in, “Keep the Faith” do not worry or stress for The Lord will provide. Allow His perfect peace to dwell in your hearts.
Remember Psalm 127:1-2
Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. 2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to[a] those he loves.
In this verse what the author was trying to say is that God blesses us while we sleep probably just like He gave Solomon the desires of his heart while he slept. King Solomon could have asked God for riches and power but instead, He asked God for wisdom on how to lead his people and he, therefore, became one of the wisest men because he asked for wisdom instead of riches. So like Solomon let our daily prayer be, Lord please give me wisdom on how to be a good servant to You, how to lead my family during this pandemic, and do what is in Your will. The second prayer is, Lord please give me faith like Noah, because when things look grim and without hope, I want to have a faith that surpasses all doubt despite what I hear, read, and see. And lastly, as women our prayer should be, Lord during these difficult times when we think our beauty is affected because we cannot get our hair and nails done at the salon, or workout at the gym, etc, give us a heart like the Proverbs 31 woman. Help us to rest on the verse in Proverbs 31:30 ” Charm is deception and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Follow Galatians 6:9, ” Let us not become weary in doing good.”
I know that I may not have the popular vote today for blogs and some may choose to unfollow my posts, but that is okay, I am not here for the popular vote, I am here to just say what I felt in my heart. If this blog has blessed you let me and others know by sharing and commenting on it. I greatly appreciate the time you have taken to read this post.
Ms. Lara Spencer Good Morning America Laughs at Prince George
When I was in grammar school I was the only dark-skinned Latina in my Catholic grammar school. My parents worked hard to provide their only daughter with the best education they could. But I didn’t fit in. I had two friends in grammar school that I played with; they were both Cuban but light-skinned, blonde and brunette. Whenever our classmates saw us they called us the black and white tv. “Why tv”? I’m not sure. But it broke all three of our hearts. Thankfully this did not carry through high school or college; I was glad to leave this stigma behind. I managed to graduate college and work in the real world.
In a high-risk hospital, I encountered a professional stigma, nurses against aides and techs. I wanted to do a good job and help my patients. I worked with everyone, but yet, the nurses said, “you are one of us, you should not socialize at lunch/dinner with the techs or aides.” The techs/aides would say “you are a nurse but you are Latina and you need to be with your people and the African American staff.” As for the doctors, well, they were in their own world-but I got along with them, they were too busy for stigmas.
I quickly learned life’s lessons in the business world. I took on jobs where women were in power struggles: some of the older women had no respect for younger women and vise Versa. The level of your position made a difference as to who you socialized with. People forgot we were there to take care of the sick.
And then it happened, I was thrown into the world of Pageantry. What me? I’m the shorts and flip flops girl!
I became a mom of a preemie, gained 50 lbs. due to the stress of a boss who said she hated people, thought there was something wrong with my learning ability, had no respect for people, and thought reading books was a waste of time let alone writing one. I cried daily at my desk as a result of the bullying and stress this woman caused me. Until one day my doctor said “You need to lose weight, lower your blood pressure and change your eating habits or you may find yourself in an early grave. This started a healthy journey for me. I had to live for my son, my husband but most importantly, me. I had to love myself because God loved me and He had a plan for my life.
Most of my close friends knew I was never a public speaker nor did I desire to share my testimony publicly. I was actually very shy. I used to sing as a child and through my teens until one day someone said to me, “you look silly singing in the church choir.” I allowed someone’s criticism to ruin my privilege to serve the Lord through worship. I hid behind dance because I could express myself and not use my voice to speak to others about Jesus and what He did in my life.
He took control of my life. I went through trial after trial until one day He inspired me to write my testimony in my very first book, titled A Story of Faith. I thought that was sufficient, but it wasn’t. He continued to give me test after test and each one became a testimony. He gave me divine appointments to speak to women who were going through difficult situations. I started to seek the Lord’s guidance, asking Him to fill my mouth with the right words to empower young and older women.
I thought to myself never will I lose 50 lbs! But through eating properly, training with a trainer, and God’s motivation, someone noticed. An acquaintance said, “You know if you get involved in a pageant you can reach a diverse audience that will learn about your charity and help you spread the word about the Gift of Life.” I thought, “No one cares about pageants” (I certainly didn’t) until I tested out the theory.
I emailed a hotel the year prior to becoming a pageant queen asking for a donation to the Gift of Life and received a reply, “we don’t have any donations at this time, but try again next year”. So the next year I sent an email, copying the same email, but signing my name as Mrs. Windermere. This was the start of a shift in favor of people. This time around, I not only received approval for a donation, but the donation was more than I expected; a weekend getaway package to auction off at our Gala. The pageantry gave me (“just Rosie Moore”) celebrity status almost overnight.
My first ever competition was an eye-opener. I felt alone amongst women who were beautiful, wealthy and eager to push any competitor out of their way. I once again experienced exclusion because of my skin color and heritage as a Latina. I was done with pageantry, one time was enough for me.
Someone
in the audience noticed me at the pageant with all the bad experience. She saw something beyond my heritage; she saw
that I had a platform plus a genuine love of people. She convinced me to try again so I prepared
for a year and qualified to be Mrs. Windermere International.
This time things were different. My peers voted me Mrs. Congeniality and I received the Community Service Award. The following year, I went on to represent Mrs. Michigan International of which I had the opportunity to not only crown my successor but to share my testimony regarding the Gift of Life.
Today, I am the reigning “Mrs. Southern States International I have the ability to share my testimony, the Gift of Life and my faith in Jesus! What I learned is that there is only one winner in the eyes of man. But, in the eyes of God, we are all winners.
It’s easy for us to fall into the same treatment we receive from others and although it hurts and we want to hurt others with the same measure, we must resist hurting others with criticism because of our own wounds. We will have a great reward as long as we believe God has us in His hands.
This is why it pains me to hear on national television a grow woman Good Morning America” host Lara Spencer, bullying a 6-year-old boy and eliciting laughter from the audience and co-hosts because he is taking ballet. What is so funny about that? Would she have had the same sarcastic remark had it been a little girl? Prince George will be able to make that decision as an adult for himself one day when he decides what his career path should be. As a dancer who has taken ballet and danced in ballet productions, I know the importance of this being the foundation for any style of dance. I encourage Lara Spencer to google famous ballet dancers and what they have brought to the world of entertainment, Mikhail Baryshnikov is one that comes to mind. Ballet is the foundation of any style of dance, a dancer is recognized by his or her training in ballet because the way that they carry their posture stands out. Football players take ballet not only to help them be flexible in their sport but ballet improves their focus by helping them concentrate on precise movements needed in football. Ballet has been proven to boost the concentration, improve memory, and helps people to understand music and rhythm which ultimately can improve body awareness and physical control. If you have a tendency to be clumsy, ballet training can help improve that. Not everyone who takes ballet or any style of dance will become a world-famous dancer, but the opportunity to allow someone to express themselves through dance does wonder. That is why in a major study it has been proven that when you stimulate your mind by dancing, it can increase cognitive ability, therefore, decreasing the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s or dementia.
So to Ms. Lara Spencer of Good Morning America, choose your words wisely the next time that you are sharing news or a story because your words are a double edge sword that can be hurtful to someone who is listening. I used to like watching Good Morning America and hearing the stories that were shared, but now I am appalled that Good Morning America would allow this type of bullying of a child to take place on national television.
