After giving birth, your body is never really the same. Your hips may have widened and you have marks that you never thought you'd have until your tummy grows bigger to occupy a little human. I still have evidence of carrying my son in my tummy. No, it's not the scar below my belly button, that scar is from a key hole surgery back in 2011 when I got my appendix removed but underneath the scar are little white stretch marks, not really visible until you like stare at them but I love them, they are a reminder of the time I had the opportunity to bring a child into this world. This photo was taken a month after giving birth to an 8 pound baby, my son. I remember after I gave birth and showered, I looked at the excess skin that hung because my stomach had deflated. I felt a little sad inside seeing my stomach in that situation but it didn't bother me because the child that lived in there mattered to me most. When I got discharged, my mom encouraged me to use a back support strap which tied around my tummy to push all my insides back to where they were supposed to be. I guess that helped with not having any excess skin hang, along with the exercises. CONFIDENCE. It's the main key to getting through issues such as body changes. If you don't like the way things are, then change them and if you can't, well change your thinking.

- CJM

I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts - LION KING

I remember when someone once called me a "Coconut" in an attempt to throw the racial card at me hoping that I would retaliate but I don't respond to ignorance. If only I could send this person this picture of me, a 'coconut' sipping on a coconut in the land where coconuts grow haha. But I'm writing about knowing which battles to fight.

There's no doubt that the world is filled with all types of people. Though we wish for this world to only consist of good, kindhearted people, in reality it's far from that. But even when you come across people who tend to stir the pot, you need to know where to invest your energy and where it isn't necessary. I've come across people who tend to make other people's problems, theirs. I've watched them wither away in despair, handling something beyond their control. In this case, it was already a losing battle because it wasn't their fight. They've already lost themselves trying to fix someone else's problem. I've also come across people who tend to fight but in the end, it could've been resolved if they had approached the matter in a different way. In both scenarios, if they had known which battles to fight and know when to do so, they probably would've saved themselves, the heartache, the anger etc. I'm not saying in anyway, that we can't help people but we must know when to back down or find another way, when it's affecting us and our mentality or when to simply ignore stupidity (just like I did with the coconut guy)

Everyone has a problem but in some cases, those problems cannot be solved by others but by the one who owns the problem. Not everyone will approach you in a daisy dainty way, so it would be a good idea to learn the art of blocking out ignorance. How you respond says alot about you. Invest your energy on building a better you and the environment around you and not losing yourself to others or even to yourself.


- Corina Jane

Paint me in.

Pink. My favourite colour (you can probably tell when I dyed my hair pink) The colour PINK not only represents love but also romance and charm. But the colour of my hair or what my favourite colour is not what this blog is about entirely.

Did you know that if you look at the world as your canvas, you can basically paint it in any colour or design you want? Not literally but in a figurative way, you can. I don't necessarily have to write blogs but I enjoy letting the world get a glimpse of my world. Since I started writing again, it's actually inspired me more on this project I'm working on. With each post, you will get to know me a little more. Having "Blogger" under my belt may not seem much but it actually adds more to my life timeline. I can say that I decided to start an Online Blog writing about all sorts of things that matter to me and though I haven't monetised this yet, it still something I'm 'doing' instead of wondering what to do. I've already started adding more to my canvas even if it's as small as 'writing'.

How you approach life, is how life will react to you. So once you start looking at life as a blank canvas awaiting for your hand in creating the best art you can, you will then start to see all the colours in your palette waiting to be used. The best part? Just like art, you are bound to make errors but that's just it - ART IS MESSY and life can be messy too but with both you can still create a priceless piece of art with each stroke and each colour and it all tells a story. YOUR STORY.

Life is your BLANK CANVAS, what masterpiece will you create?


- Corina Jane

I did it, you can too.

I live for this boy.  Our journey is something that drives me everyday and so I dedicate this post to the SINGLE MOTHERS.  

I've been there in your position and I was raised by a single mother myself, so believe me when I say that I know first hand, as the child of a single mother and as a single mother (before I got married). No one wants to be a single mama but in some circumstances, you have no choice but to be one. And that's when you find the strength in you that was buried underneath the surface. Nothing will seem more important than doing what is necessary for the little human that sees the world in you. You will throw away anything that doesn't serve you purpose because on the top of your priority list is your child. You will have days of tears. Yes. And it can be hard. Yes. But try to focus less on the problems and more on enjoying the days you have together with your child. Don't let them see or feel your sadness. My mother did a good job not letting us see but I thank her for that because I know that if I had been exposed to that at a very young age, mentally I would be scarred and it will affect me as I grew up. Remember that a strong woman is built. I always have people asking me how I became so strong? I'm thinking: "Have you met my mother?" haha. But yes, a strong woman is built. This happens over time by the challenges she faces and overcome, by the sacrifices she has made and will make, by the unconditional love that she has for her family and her dedication in her duty as a mother. She is YOU. You are a STRONG WOMAN. With or without a partner, you need to know this.

The world is a better place because of mothers in general but SINGLE MOTHERS, you have shown the world the extent of a mother's love to take upon yourselves, roles of both a mother and father. My mother has done this, I have done this and so have you too. Each challenge strengthens a person but this experience will not only strengthen you but build you as one of the strongest women in the world. Be proud of this opportunity. Never look at what you are missing but look at what you are fulfilling.


- Corina Jane

Can you VICKS me? Down with the FLU - Ah-choo! Bless you.

I don't know about you? But sometimes I get the flu and it'll be in the middle of Summer and now I actually do have it in the appropriate season (since we're approaching Winter) and well... it sucks haha! But this morning, I woke up with no voice (my husband probably loves it because I'm not asking a gazillion of questions haha kidding!) and the last couple of days I was burning up (no, my roof wasn't on fire haha but my temperature was)

But other than that, I can still find things to be grateful for. Even though I'm over the runny nose, I'm still grateful I can smell. Even though I'm over the coughs, I'm still grateful for my respiratory system. Even though I'm over the body aches, I'm still grateful I actually have a 'body' and though I'm over the fevers, I'm still grateful to be alive. There is always something to be grateful for even when your situation isn't very ideal like being sick but I'm also thankful for a wonderful husband who attends to my every need and a son that prays for your wellbeing. I'm truly blessed.

But not only can we be physically sick, you can also be spiritually sick too. Something, I know too well because I've been there but where I am now, I can honestly say, I'm in a better position than I was before. Back then, I only attended church once in a year and though my Faith was there, I did get led away and made some bad choices which led me onto a different path (nothing too drastic). Looking at that experience, my soul was in desperate need of something. It wasn't until I became a mother that my choices started to change and so did my mindset, I wanted to get myself back on track spiritually. I got married and step by step started that work towards being spiritually healed and like what medicine is to physical sickness, living the gospel of Jesus Christ is to spiritual sickness. In no way am I saying that I am perfect but I have definitely learned.


- Corina Jane

You're my handcuffs and I'm your prisoner.

What an odd title for a blog?
"You're my handcuffs and I'm your prisoner."

Look at my shirt. Can you see the stripes? Do you know that stripes were once used for prisoners?

Well there's one thing you can be sure of and it's that I'm not a criminal but I'm more so aiming at how we can be prisoners in our own selves and in our own minds. The handcuffs represents 'our thoughts'. Because our thoughts are what keeps us captive. Those negative thoughts. Negative thinking is what causes us to look for what is wrong to protect ourselves against danger. It is quite a dangerous strategy because it can lead us into depression. The longer we think this way, eventually it will become our reality. How do we overcome this way of thinking? Here are some ways: 

• Be grateful - Instead of looking at what you don't have or haven't accomplished yet, look at what you have right here and right now. 
• Talk to someone - Being alone is probably not the best way to be when you are constantly thinking negative. Sometimes it does help to talk to someone, get a fresh perspective. 
• Think of the positive - It may seem too far fetch when you're in a different headspace but thinking positive, will help lesson the blow of what is going on. 
• You can't control everything - Whether you are willing to accept it or not, there are things that will happen in life that's out of your control that you can't stop but it's not the end of the world, there's always a way to deal, a way that won't lead you in a downward spiral. 
• Breathing - Take a moment to calm down. Let your mind settle. Take a couple of minutes to focus on breathing. 
• Be YOU - Learn to love you and embrace the delightful person you are. The more you see just how wonderful it is to know YOU and love YOU, the more you see that you have created a barrier in your mind to block out the negative thoughts about yourself.

Our thoughts are what controls us. If we start thinking less of ourselves, we will in reality, see ourselves worthless. If we replace those thoughts with praise and gratitude, we will begin to see ourselves and others in a different light. If we start our morning thinking about our problems, then we have already set the mood for the rest of the day.

So will you remain a prisoner?


- Corina Jane 

A bendable BODY. A bendable MIND.

Flexibility.  We usually know flexibility in a dancer, a gymnast, sports player etc but have you ever heard of your mind being flexible too? I came across this definition of Flexibility:

"Flexibility is the ability to adapt, to be willing to change, to be open, to bend and to respond with sensitivity."

We mainly focus on our bodies being flexible but so should our minds. When we are born, we are basically a blank canvas with an empty mind. We are taught and we learn things and go the way society leads. But as we grow up, we may still have that way of living and become so accustom to that, that we may look at everyone else who dresses, lives and makes choices that are different to what we think or do and in our minds, we have convinced ourselves that we're right and they're wrong. Try being accepting through differences. Having a flexible mind also allows you to take whatever negative situation you are in and look at it from a different perspective, a more open and positive perspective and instead of reacting to the situation in a downward light, you allow this to change you help you grow.

If you don't like what you are doing:

• Try something new? 
• Switch up your schedule? 
• Explore other talents you may have? 
• Do something you never pictured yourself doing?
• How about finding a new hobby? 
• Write a book?

Things you can do:

• Stay away from expectations. 
• Free yourself from thoughts of how things are supposed to be and enjoy just being alive. 
• Keep in your mind, that things don't always go to plan. 
• Don't be afraid to do something different. 
• Be accepting of others who do things differently in your eyes.   
• Let your mind be open. 

It doesn't matter if you're working on that summer body? or comfortable in your own skin? not only does your physical self need taking care of but so does your mind.

- Corina Jane