LOVE – Flair Miami

By Vannia Enriquez September 18, 2015 in All, Fashion, Fun, News

PRACTICAL MARRIAGE ADVICE

Just a few weeks ago on September 6, Miguel and I had the privilege of celebrating our seven year anniversary.

To celebrate and enjoy our last days of summer, we booked a last minute weekend getaway to New Smyrna Beach. The change of scenery helped us reflect on our personal journey and on marriage — our adventure of love.

However, with hurricane season upon us our getaway was delayed a week due to Tropical Storm Erika. If you are a Floridian, you know all too well how we prepare for storms around here. Sometimes, we rush to the stores and raid the canned goods, water and battery isles — while other times we just kick-back and bring out the board games as we wait for the storm to pass through. Let me tell you from experience, being prepared for a storm before it hits is always the wiser choice.

But in our day-to-day, how do we prepare for the storms of life? Because one of the things that what we’ve learned while being married is that every marriage is an adventure in adversity.

What exactly am I talking about? Well, a few weeks back, Miguel and I attended Christ Journey Church as we normally do. Actually, it was just a couple of weeks before our anniversary that we heard this life-changing sermon on marriage. In this message, Pastor Bill White shared some of the most practical marriage advice we’ve heard in a while. It was note worthy, applicable and definitely worth sharing. The message was so helpful that I had to ask our pastor if I could share it with you. Here’s what I learned…

See in Ecclesiastes 4:12 it says “A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” In the past I’ve heard teachers refer to that cord/strand as you, God and your significant other. And if you kept God at the center, that strand would withstand adversity. Though that concept still remains, our pastor dove a little deeper by also teaching about the three different types of love that can be found in Scriptures. Philia love – a friendly brotherly love. Eros love – an erotic love with physical desire and longing. And Agape love – an unconditional, abounding love. The combination of those three creating a storm-ready “not easily broken” marriage.

Marriage is a commitment of love and a promise to persevere even when times get hard — because as we know, hard times will come. In fact according to NY best-selling authors Dr. Les and Leslie Parrot, the average couple has 312 fights a year. (312?!? Yikes.) These fights can come from unspoken expectations (including money, sex, power), lack of communication, external circumstances (job loss, in-laws, kids) or past influences and/or experiences.

So what makes a strong marriage?

A strong marriage creates an emotionally safe environment. Philia love.
It offers the safety of emotional friendship. It is a place where you feel loved, heard and are never judged.
A strong marriage is volitional and secure. Agape love.
It consists of a strong willful commitment to make it work and make it fun. One feels safe knowing that your spouse is in it for the long haul.
A strong marriage is physically sensual. Eros love.
It is a love that says I am all in with all of me. You desire each other and are generous to one another sexually.

His Look:
FLAIR MIAMI tee
UNIQLO shorts
NIKE sneakers

Her Look:
FLAIR MIAMI tank
ZARA pants
LEVIS sneakers

Images by: Yukiko Golfari • Akemi Photographic Design

Simply knowing all these things may help your marriage, but true change really comes down to action. So what can you do to better your marriage? Here are a few practical steps to help you cover the basics:

Tend to your relationship with God. Because He is the source of unconditional love and forgiveness.
Make time every day to connect with your spouse. Look and listen to each other and share an emotional connection. (Miguel and I call it our happy and crappy time. It is a time where we share the crappy and happy part of our days.)
Make time every week to be together. Set a date-night and make it a priority. Not sure what to do? Make a list of favorite things to do (go on a bike-ride, take a walk, go to the movies). We’re foodies so we recently started a must-try restaurant list.
Give each other a token of love every month. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Think flowers, a card, chocolates, a hand-written love letter, anything. And don’t wait for an anniversary!
Have a change of scenery or plan a getaway every quarter. It is not only refreshing, but in some circumstances it can allow you to talk and focus on things you otherwise wouldn’t have time for.
Be generous to each other sexually. Don’t neglect your physical relationship. Enjoy each other and love each other fully!

No marriage is perfect and our relationship is definitely not the exception. Through this post I am by no means trying to portray a perfect marriage. In fact, everything that I’ve just shared with you, Miguel and I are learning to put into practice ourselves.

In fact, if you personally know us, you also know that we’ve had a fair share of ups-and-downs, because again — no marriage is perfect. (If anybody tells you otherwise, find new friends. Ha!) The positive side to it all is that good habits build a healthy marriage. With time and by God’s grace we learn that in order for a marriage to withstand adversity we must first surrender it to God and then do everything we can to tend to it with our time, energy, money and full devotion.

Are you in a storm right now? Don’t quit. Fight for love. Because a wise friend once said, “Sometimes setbacks can be setups to something even greater!”

PS: Still have questions? Feel free to let me know if I can be of any help to you in this topic. I love praying for my married friends and I get so excited to see God’s hand in every circumstance — good and bad.

PSS: If you and your significant other want to have matching three-o-fab tees like us. (305 /30fab get it?) Use the code FLAIRBESTIES at checkout and get a 20% off discount!

By Vannia Enriquez February 13, 2015 in All, Fashion, News

LEARNING TO LOVE

Regardless of how long I’ve known him, or how many years we’ve been together — my heart melts at the thought of calling him my beloved..

I believe this is our 8th year celebrating Valentine’s Day as a couple, we’ve been married for 6 years and dated for 2. Yet, every passing day, I still feel like I am learning to love him in a brand new way.

Choosing to love isn’t always easy. In fact, our natural tendency is to be proud and selfish…

However, learning to love – beyond just words – has been a fun journey. There are probably hundreds of learned habits that have helped our relationship be where it is today, and there are likely thousands of others we still need to learn.

Are you in love? Here are three ways to see if you too are learning to love…

Love becomes a choice and a call to action. The thrill of a first kiss, butterflies in your stomach – these are all very raw and real emotions in the early stages of a relationship. But as time passes, these “googly” feelings start to fade and real day-to-day life settles in. It is then that love becomes a choice, moving beyond just a phrase you say. True love becomes something you act on – even when you don’t “feel” like it. You can’t promise the feeling will be there each day, but you can promise to choose and act with love.
We comes before me. To love is to serve. In today’s culture, I realize the word itself can have a negative connotation, but it doesn’t have to. Serving the one you love means it is no longer just about you, but rather about us. By it’s very nature, love is a gift that puts into focus the unity of the relationship before the individual, placing the other person’s needs far above your own.
Love is costly. That doesn’t mean spending money on dinners, gifts and flowers. Relationships reveal facts about our character and identity – these highlight the areas where we fall short. A deep rooted relationship uses the hardships and conflicts to create new unique bonds that mend future hurdles. Unfortunately, we can’t have it both ways: Being the captain of your domain while trying to fulfill the longings of love, it’s just not going to happen. A meaningful relationship demands 100% commitment, it allows an individual to lose their personal desires in favor of true unity with the one you love.

So, while you’re on this journey, enjoy the little things. Celebrate one another, choose your battles and never stop dating.

What have you learned about love and relationships? Feel free to chime in and let me know… May your Valentine’s Day be filled with joy, love and near to the ones you cherish.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

“Two parts of a loving whole
Two hearts and a single soul”

Like my necklace? You too, can get access to unlimited designer jewelry.
Try your first Rocksbox subscription for free, use promo code: vanniaxoxo.

FOREVER 21 sweater
ZARA skirt
ZARA shoes
necklace c/o ROCKSBOX

TJ MAXX shirt
GAP jeans
TOMS shoes

Images: Then-Gea Photography

SHOP A SIMILAR LOOK:

By Vannia Enriquez August 12, 2013 in All, Fun

TIARAS THE BALL EVENT

Last week, I volunteered at a Summer camp called Camp Wake. I spent an entire week with middle and high-school students. During my time there, I was reminded how important it is to invest in the lives of teens. While most of our time at camp was spent making up cheers, having fun and competing. We also got to hear a camp speaker, and after every talk one of our girls approached a leader to share and pray about a dark situation they were facing. These teenage girls were dealing with suicide attempts, death threats, emotional and even physical abuse. I was reminded how broken our world is, but I was also reminded of how BIG my GOD is. Though at first, I was saddened by each situation… I was also quickly reminded that God has a plan for each of them, and that this darkness would be no more. So today, I’d like to share with you about how someone else’s brokenness became a dream and a bright new future called TIARAS.

What is Tiaras? Share with us the vision and the dream?

Tiaras exists to Re-Write the statistics, one teenage girl at a time. The mission of Tiaras is to paint a picture of God’s perfect love to every teenage girl we encounter and Re-Writing the statistics of teen pregnancy, promiscuity and suicide. Through a revealing and relevant message based on 1 Corinthians 13, our mission is to let every teen girl know their completion comes from God alone and that they are Daughters of a King!

How did this dream come into fruition?

I, Lily Garcia, was speaking at a young woman’s conference in Ft.Lauderdale last year about our self worth & the way God sees us. I had themed the night as “Princess Night” bringing crowns with me and pink royal touches not realizing God was about to birth a stirring within me called, TIARAS.

I’ve always felt drawn to younger women in this journey we call life. I grew up as not only a fatherless girl, but at age 19 learned I was the result of a violent act. My mom was date raped at age 21 and against all odds kept me. This truth marked my entire 20’s, I felt like I was an accident and I wasn’t supposed to be here. I went on to accept an unhealthy love story and gave myself to this relationship for over 10 years. Coming out of that unhealthy relationship awakened something in me to teach young girls & women, reminding them that they are beautifully and wonderfully made. That they have purpose and are God’s masterpiece, and that the love God intended for us to receive is defined clearly in 1 Corinthians 13.

The night I spoke, a mother of one of the college students attending the conference held my hand at the end of evening and said “I wish someone would have told me at a young age what you just told our daughters”. She wept. Confessed she was a statistic. Getting pregnant at 14 and having been in numerous abusive relationships, she had 5 children fathered by 5 different men. Her tears marked me and I asked God to help me find a way to create a pink box movement that will begin in America, but spread all over the world crowning girls from the US to Columbia, to Thailand and even huts in Africa, awakening the hearts of teen girls to the way God sees them!

How can our community help?

Our ball events are completely sponsor and volunteer driven, and they are completely free to all girls. You can either sponsor a TiarasGirl that evening by donating $10 on www.thelegacyministries.com. This pays for her crown, the experience, and her Devotional on “Shining Like Royalty” written by TIARAS; or by donating dresses of all styles and sizes. We provide a Dress Boutique at the events so that underprivileged girls could select a free dress and come in all her splendor. (Miami donations can be dropped off this week at Christ Journey Church, from 9-5pm, email Vannia for more info.)

Who is it geared toward, and how can we be a part of it?

We gear our Ball events towards pre-teen, teens and young college girls. US statistics say that the average girl is giving away her purity at age 14. The US also leads the world with the highest rate of teen pregnancy, and the 3rd highest cause of death among our teens today is suicide. Therefore, our desire is to get to them as early as we can. How can you be a part of it? Bring your teen to the next event. Or volunteer at an upcoming ball, register at www.thelegacyministries.com as there are volunteer opportunities before, during and after the ball events. We also partner with volunteers in the Arts for all the artistic elements during the Ball experience, actors, photographers, dancers, and lay people wanting to make a difference. (*all volunteers subject to a background check)

Interested in volunteering or donating a lightly used dress? Email us today. We’d love to hear from you, let’s change the world, one girl at a time!