Finding Inspiration

So its been a while.  Lately I’ve been feeling uninspired.  I figured this is a completely normal emotion for a twenty-something-year-old to be feeling.  Sometimes (most of the time) life isn’t always a straight and narrow path.  It can be okay to stray away from the path a little bit and explore other directions.  You have to realize you absolutely can NOT please everyone so you might as well do what makes you happy. Whether this is about school, work, content you post, or anything!  For me,  so much in my life has been changing rapidly.  So much that it is overwhelming.  During this time of our lives it can feel like everybody you grew up with is heading in different directions and it’s easy to question yourself and wonder if what you’re doing is good enough or the “right way”.  Let me tell you right now, there is no “right way”.

If you’re feeling uninspired no matter what it is it’s okay, and maybe even essential, for you to take a break.  Look to see who you surround yourself by.  Do they support you?  If you answered no, let go of the negativity.  Focus on yourself and things you enjoy doing.

As you all know, one of my new(ish) hobbies is of course, blogging!  Lately what has been my rather recent inspiration is knowing of all of the warm weather we will have ahead of us!  It has been a rather brutally cold winter if you ask me, but the second week of Spring is just a few days away so I thought I would share my favorite Spring outfit of last year that I will be wearing again this Spring because who doesn’t love maxi skirts and floppy hats?

 

Top: T.J.Maxx | Skirt: T.JMaxx | Jacket: Thrifted | Hat: Target | Sandals: Target | Sunglasses: Forever 21 | Earrings: Charming Charlies | Necklace: FabFitFun | Bracelets: Local Boutique

 

 

 

 

 

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Simplicity

Simplicity – the quality or condition of being easy to understand or do.

Yep this is the week, Spring break week.  The week where your timeline is flooded with beautiful, tropical places and your wondering where all of these broke college students have the money to go to Cancun.

Being someone who thrives off of the unknown and exploring new places, it can be discouraging when your travel bucket list feels impossible to complete.  It’s so incredibly important not to fixate on the future but to enjoy the now.  While you’re enjoying the now make sure you surround yourself with people you love.  Yes hiking the Grand Canyon is a spectacular experience but hiking the Grand Canyon with people you love. . . even more spectacular.  Whether you are across the country or 20 minutes from your house, there is always beauty in simplicity.

Let’s Get Long & Healthy Hair Together

Ever since I was young, I have always wanted to donate my hair. Since middle school, I would always grow my hair out to elbow length and then chop it to my shoulders but by then my hair would always look gross, stringy, and unhealthy (it didn’t help that I was a swimmer, chlorine ruins your hair).  It wasn’t ’til about two years ago where I have really cared about having long and HEALTHY hair.  I have set a goal for myself to donate my hair by the end of 2018 so I’ve really focused on keeping my hair healthy and focusing on healing any split ends I may have. I’m not sure if this is just a millennial thing, but it seems like long hair is always a trend.  If you aren’t growing your hair out now I’m sure there has been a time in your life where you have attempted.  Here are a few tips and tricks I have learned from trying to grow my hair out over the years that will hopefully leave you with longer and healthier looking hair.

Learn when you should be combing your hair and when you should be brushing your hair.  This sounds obvious but I didn’t realize this until last year.  Do not brush your hair while it’s wet you should only use a comb and I would recommend using a detangling spray (I use kids detangling spray by Aussie) to make your life a little easier.

Start taking Hair Skin and Nails Gummies by Nature’s Bounty.  These pills have done my hair miracles.  If you could use one tip out of all of these it should be by far this one!  They are fairly inexpensive and taste good too!

Wash your hair less.  I usually wash my hair every three days because the more you wash your hair the more fragile your hair becomes which makes it easier for breakage to occur.  I would recommend a dry shampoo if your hair is naturally on the oily side.  I use a dry shampoo from Beyond the Zone (I get mine from Sally’s Beauty Supply).

Use a deep conditioner.  Deep conditioning your hair keeps it moisturized and allows it to become strong by preventing split ends.  I recommend the 3 Minute Miracle by Aussie because you only need 3 minutes to do it and I could tell the difference in my hair after the first use!

Rarely use heat on your hair.  If you’re anything like me, you went though a period of time when you straightened your hair almost everyday.  I would highly recommend keeping it to a minimum because your hair becomes so much more healthy when you stop.  If you still really want to use heat I would advice using a heat protectant.  I use Marrakesh Oil because it protects your hair but also keeps it looking shiny and feeling incredibly soft.

Get haircuts more frequently.  When I was younger, I never wanted to get my haircut so I would end up only going every 6 months and by that point my hair was so damaged I would need at least 3 inches cut off for it to be even somewhat healthy.  Now I go every 3 months and just get about half of an inch cut off.  It prevents split ends and allows me to grow my hair out faster and healthier.

I was looking through old photos the other day and realized how damaged my hair looks compared to now and it inspired me to write this post! I hope you found it helpful!

 

Advice I’d Give to my Younger Self

So I was going to title this blog post “Advice I’d Give my High School Self” but as a 21 year old girl I realized I didn’t learn all these lessons in high school.  I was always a late bloomer and that’s my first piece of advice.

It’s okay to grow up slow, in fact, I highly recommend it! Innocence is something you’ll never get back.  The people that surround you may be getting involved in other activities that you may not feel comfortable in and that leads us to our next piece of advice.

It’s okay to say no.  Saying “no” doesn’t make you “less cool”.  Go with your gut instinct…always.

Your mom knows best.  Truly listen to her advice because I guarantee you she can read everybody.  My mom knew who my real friends and who the fake ones were going to be the minute she met them.  Realize you may absolutely hate some of the advice she gives and may think it’s complete nonsense but keep in mind she was your age once and she only wants the best for you, so why would she steer you in the wrong direction!

Enjoy your sport and do it for as long as possible.  I was a competitive swimmer for about 8 years and quit when I was 16.  It was something I was so passionate about and I had done it for so long that I burned out.  I highly recommend pushing through it and continuing it in college if you have the opportunity.  Your enthusiasm for the sport will never die and you will realize you will never bond with anyone the same way you bond with your teammates.

Stand up for yourself. When something isn’t right, say something.  Do not let anybody walk all over you. It can be intimidating standing up for something you believe in but it’s necessary and will only help you grow as a person.

Go to as many school functions as possible.  You won’t realize this in the moment because the way your life is in high school feels like it will always be that way, but 4 years goes by in a blink of an eye. This will be the last time you see 95% of your graduating class so take it all in.

It’s okay to make mistakes and have fun!  You aren’t quite an adult and there will never be another time in your life after you graduate high school where you will have this few amount of responsibilities but be sure that these mistakes don’t have the potential to ultimately destroy your life before it actually starts.

Your friend group will change.  Stick around people who bring you complete joy and happiness.  Your friend group is bound to change but through out the years you will meet new friends and it’s great to expand but don’t forget about the people who have stuck by your side since day one.

Leave your eyebrows alone!!!  If you were anything like me and you plucked your eyebrows everyday… stop!

When you’re finally 18 and think you can do whatever you want… you thought wrong.  Yes, “legally” you’re an adult but if you live with parents like mine, they will be quick to tell you “my house, my rules”.  Don’t try to fight them on it.  Trust me when I say your life will be a lot more smooth sailing if you just accept the rules.

Become great at communicating.  After high school, you will realize keeping up with friends takes work.  You all will go in different directions and may even live in different parts of the world but if you want to keep the friendship going you must make an effort.. it’s very easy to lose touch.

Love your body because it’s probably the smallest you’ll ever be.  The Freshman 15 is real.

Parties look more fun on snapchat.  You probably aren’t missing out on much.

Spend money on experiences instead of materialistic items.  I really wish I would have started doing this years ago but I have only been doing it for about a year.  I use to spend a lot of money on clothes but now I like to spend it on road trips with friends, concerts, and traveling!  Build memories, materialistic items will come and go!

You probably didn’t find “the one” at 19.  Obviously this can happen but the chances of it are very slim.  Enjoy going on dates, meeting new people, and having fun.

Overall, make the best of every moment, be with the people that make you the most happy, and strive to better yourself everyday.

GALentine’s Inspiration

I know not everyone is a fan of Valentine’s Day because some people may think it is a commercial holiday or just another way for couples to rub their relationship in your face, but who says Valentine’s Day is only for couples?  This year think about everyone you care for in your life and celebrate it!  Incase you didn’t know, Galentine’s Day is basically an official holiday thanks to a fictional character named Leslie Knope from the television show Parks and Recreation.  The holiday is exactly what it sounds like, spending time with your girl friends!  Leslie celebrated Galentine’s Day on February 13th but you can celebrate it any day you want!

There are plenty of ways to celebrate Galentine’s Day from having a spa day or getting all dressed up and going out with your girls.  You don’t need a man to get all dressed up for, besides, getting dressed up with your girls can be more fun because they appreciate your outfit and your winged eyeliner.

This year my friends and I celebrated Galentine’s Day with some special treats and good laughs!  In the pictures are some perfect snack ideas for you and your friends!  We took popcorn and pretzels and melted white chocolate and added food coloring to create a festive snack!  The mason jars are filled with Hawaiian Fruit Punch and have colorful heart detailed straws in them.  Pictured in the white container are red m&m’s to go with our theme.  All the decor was from the dollar section at Target because you know your girl is on a budget.

I hope this inspires you to appreciate all the love in your life!  Happy (almost) Galentine’s Day!

Let’s Get Valentine’s Day Ready

Unless you live under a rock, then you’re aware Valentine’s Day is right around the corner.  Whether you are looking forward to it or dreading it, I have the perfect outfit for you!  Of course everything is reasonably priced because you know your girl doesn’t like to spend a lot of money.  The best thing is you can make two looks out of one staple clothing item, in this case it’s a t-shirt dress!

Look #1: dress: Boohoo | cardigan: Target | booties:  Payless

This look is perfect for a date night.  To dress this look up a tad more and make it even more Valentines Day appropriate I decided to go with a red lip.  To give this outfit a “romantic” touch I took a few strands of hair and bobby pinned it out of my face and I chose to go with some pearl earrings.

Look #2: Shirt (dress in above picture): Boohoo | cardigan: Target | Jeans: T.J. Maxx | booties: Payless

If you’re anything like me and feel most comfortable in a pair of ripped up jeans and a t-shirt, then this look is for you. This outfit is for my single ladies or for my comfy, cute, casual ladies!  I took the same dress I was wearing in look #1, tied it up and made it into a t-shirt, and threw on a pair of jeans.  To make this look even more casual I switched out the pearl earrings for a pair of hoops (my favorite), swapped the red lipstick for some good ol’ ChapStick, and took the bobby pins out of my hair and left my hair down for a more relaxed vibe.

If these looks aren’t for you, try going for an outfit with neutral tones and adding either a red lip or go all out with accessories!  The next time you are looking through your closet, try and see if you can style pieces differently than you usually do.  You may be surprised how many different looks you can create!

Regardless if you have a hot date for Valentine’s or just staying in and watching movies with your pet, I hope it’s a great one!

Ballin’ On a Budget: Room Decor

Whether you are a broke college student, just moving out on your own, or just trying to be fashionable on a budget.. I got you!  We all want our living space to express our unique individual selves but sometimes that can be on the pricey side.  I think the bedroom is perhaps the most important room in the house, but often times is neglected because of the thinking that nobody usually goes in there but you, however, this is your own personal place of rest and relaxation where you should be able to stay and become refreshed after a good nights rest.  Whether you are just revamping a bedroom or your entire apartment/ house here are just a few ideas to make your living space more distinctive to your own personal style.

Create your own artwork.  This is my absolute favorite type of decor because no one will have anything like it, it allows you to express yourself, and it’s cheap!  I usually buy my canvases at Walmart for just a couple of dollars.  You don’t need to be an artist to create your own artwork!  If it’s not for you you can always buy a stencil that suites your style!

Decorative shelves.  This can add some nice dimension to any room and allows you to fill it with whatever you see fit.  If you don’t know what to do with your nick nacks this is a great spot for them and a great way to display them.

Get creative with your candid snapshots laying around.  There is so much you can do with your own personal photos.  Whether you want to print them off of your phone or break out your polaroid camera either one works.  Simply line up your photos and tape them in a grid or take some twine or lights and use mini clothespins to hang the photos to make personalized wall art.

This is also a great way to decorate a small space.  This was from my old college dorm room where space was very limited.

You can never have too many plants.  If you ever feel like your home is missing something you can’t go wrong with a nice house plant to make your place feel even more like home.  If you are like me and have horrible luck with keeping plants alive,  you could always get a fake plant to freshen up your living space!

Make Ikea and T.J. Maxx your best friend.  Both stores are great and always have what I’m looking for with prices I’m looking for.  I would recommend Ikea for furniture and T.J Maxx for budget friendly decor.

If you try out any of these ideas feel free to leave a comment and let me know!

 

Big Sister Advice: Break-Ups

Happy February everyone!  I hope your New Year Resolutions are already off to a great start!  Today I wanted to write about something more personal and something that I went through somewhat recently.  Yep, thats’s right let’s talk about break ups!  Wether it’s  your first time going through a break up or your fifth time, it never gets any easier.  Well, at least that’s what I’m told although I’ve only been through one.  Unless you marry the first person you ever dated then most people go through heart break.  It only makes you stronger.

As usual, the relationship starts off great.. I mean a scene out of a Nicholas Sparks movie great.  Fast forward until you feel the two of you growing further and further apart and overall you are starting to feel like you’re deteriorating and you know in your heart the relationship that you spent so much time trying to perfect, is coming to an end.  Even after you’ve planned out your entire future together (I mean baby names and all), shared countless “I love you’s”, and shared meaningful conversations you couldn’t imagine ever telling anybody, it’s time to end it after 3 years of friendship and 2 years of dating (well officially a year and a half plus 6 months “talking/dating”).

So the both of us shared heart felt good byes as we tried to distance ourselves from one another but that didn’t work out so well.  We continued hanging out while trying to be friends but also still being in denial that we had broken up and continued to do this for 4 months.  That is exactly where we went wrong.  Let me tell you, when you go through a break up the best thing to do is distance yourself from one another. When you are still invested into someone while trying to talk to other people it just doesn’t work and someone will always end up getting hurt and will leave you disappointed.

Even after the two of you agreed to be friends and stay in each others lives it’s okay if that doesn’t happen.  You may be confused when you’ve gone months with out talking and they’ve unfollowed / unfriended you on all social media.  It can hurt when you genuinely thought you would always have this person in your life wether you were just friends or not but it’s also important to realize sometimes this can be a coping method and you shouldn’t be offended and if it’s not and they genuinely no longer what you in their life then by all means let them walk right out because you don’t need any negativity.   Here are a few tips I would recommend while going through a break up:

Distance yourself right away.   In my opinion, this is the most important piece of advice.  Take time to grieve the ending of your relationship and get used to not talking to them everyday.  During this phase it’s important to focus on yourself.

Remove painful memories.   It’s time to take down all the photos hanging in your room.  I would recommend saving them.. the memories may be painful now but eventually you will be able to look back on them happily.

Acknowledge where things went wrong.  It’s important to realize it takes two people to make a relationship go wrong and it isn’t one particular persons fault.  This can be beneficial when you get into another relationship with somebody else to insure mistakes are not repeated.  Don’t stay angry at the other person for the way things ended.  Instead, take your frustration out on something positive.  In my case it was working out.

Focus on improving yourself.  Now that you’re newly single focus on bettering you, after all, you probably have a lot more time on your hands.  Wether you want to pick up a new hobby or you want to target a new goal.. go for it!

Keep busy and surround yourself with people who truly care about you.  In a relationship it’s easy to get caught up in it and focus all your time on this person but it’s crucial to not forget about your friends who only want the best for you. Spend time with them, have a girls day, and just keep being productive.  Focus on strengthening your friendships and in the future, when you get into another relationship, continue to strengthen your relationship with your friends.  After all, their the ones who have to hear about your break up over and over again.

Go out and meet new people.  You’re single now, go have fun!  No one says you need to jump into a relationship but I would recommend going on dates and meeting new people but do beware of rebound relationships.  Do not get into a new relationship when you still have feeling for an ex.  A new relationship may seem exciting but masking negative emotions is never a good idea.

Continue self love.  Go on to better yourself and use your break up as motivation.

Even after you have gone through all those steps to get over a breakup it’s still normal to think about the other person even months after the break up.  Wether a song the two of you would always sing together came on the radio, or you drove passed that restaurant the two of you would always eat at, or you saw one of his family member in the local Walmart it’s normal for them to cross your mind.  After all, you shared a lot of memories with this person.  Sometimes it’s not the person you miss it’s the memories the two of you shared and in my case the rest of his family.  When you are really close to your exes family you are no longer trying to grieve just the relationship between you and him but also your entire relationship with his family.

If the two of you are meant to be I have full confidence that God will make sure the both of your lives cross paths again, however,  I would be cautious of getting back together with an ex because it seems awfully similar to reading a book.  It doesn’t matter how many times you read it, the ending will always be the same.

 

 

Let’s Give Back

The other day I was walking in my local downtown area where a grabbed some coffee and stayed for a while to work on a blog post.  When I left the coffee shop to walk back to my car I witnessed something that completely changed my perspective.  I noticed about thirty homeless people from ages ranging from about fifteen to seventy.  Now I obviously realized there are people who are less fortunate but I never realized there were so many in the local area.  I over heard a young boy say to another boy “wow she’s beautiful” and his friend responded “you don’t have anything,  how would you get her?”  This response honestly killed me.  I was so saddened to hear that conversation because they truly thought I was above them when in reality I haven’t earned anything I’ve been given, I’ve just been truly blessed.  As I had my laptop in my Kate Spade purse and my iPhone in my hand while opening up my car door I just started crying… hysterically crying.  Whenever I’m crying hysterically I always call my mom, so that exactly what I did.  As she spoke calmly to me we came up with an idea.

The minute I got home my mom and I went to the grocery store and the dollar tree.  We collected items to put in a bag to pass out to the homeless.  We call them blessing bags.  We filled each one with a water, sandwich, chips, apple sauce, cookies, socks, and gloves. (As seen below)

The next morning my mom and I went back to the exact place where I had seen a group of homeless people the night before but they were not there.  We called a local church and donated it to them instead where they were going to pass it out to them later in the day. I obviously know this isn’t going to “change the world” however it is a start.  The night before while I was walking by them I noticed everyone was trying not to look and didn’t even want to walk by and that is exactly the problem.  People feel bad for about five minutes and then the thought completely leaves their mind.  It is time to hold on to that feeling and give back.  Wether you can donate money or time either one is great!

I’ve been volunteering through different non-profit organizations for years now and often people get judged for talking about their volunteer experiences.  It is important to talk about this to spread awareness and to bring realization to the issue.  I hope this inspires you to do all that you can!

 

 

 

Let’s Reverse

Hi Friends!!

I am super excited about this blog post because it is in fact my first “real” blog post!  I absolutely adore the fact that I have my own little space on the internet to talk about all my thoughts, goals, and experiences.

I’m sure every single one of you reading this has a bucket list.  Bucket lists can be rather intimidating and make you feel overwhelmed and stressed.  Instead, let’s take a look back on our accomplishments… a reverse bucket list if you will.  Looking back on things we have accomplished can make us feel more encouraged to conquer our current goals and what’s better than conquering our goals early into the year?

Here is a list of items off of my reverse bucket list:

1. Traveled (flown) by myself
2. Hiked the Grande Canyon
3. Started a blog
4. Got accepted into college
5. Learned to ski
6. Started painting again
7. Got a tattoo
8. volunteered for a non-profit organization
9. Flew in a helicopter
10. Fell in love (.. and fell out of it)
11. Visited Las Vegas
12. Got a puppy
13. visited Disney World
14. Visited New York City during the Christmas season
15.  Went bungee jumping
16. Went white water rafting
17. Walked in the Relay for Life
18. Attended a Steeler’s game

Take care, smile profusely, and talk to you soon!