i saw this tutorial on youtube and figured it was easy enough to try! super cute and only about 4$! i bought the same t-shirt she used, a fruit of the loom shirt with no side seams from wal-mart!
*she doesn't say to do so in the video, but i cut under the arms AND just above the seam at the bottom of the shirt!
well, it's officially DECEMBER! this year seemed to go by slow, but now that it's december, i feel like it's flown by! i can remember each and every moment from this time last year and it feels like only days ago! anyway, december means Christmas! and that means a wishlist items post from me! :D
eeee!! i was so excited saving the pictures and links/websites for the following Christmas list! i adore each one of these items, and i know some of them are far fetched, but i just had to list them here to show some of the amazing products i'm in love with! :) so, without further adieu, my Christmas wishlist for 2011! yay!
also, i'm going to try my best to put these in "most wanted" order, obviously they're all most wanted, but i mean.. i know i can't get everything :) haha..
1. michael kors pave disc necklace in rose gold ..let me just breathe for a minute after looking at this breathtaking piece! GORGE! look how pretty!! i don't own any rose gold jewelry, and this is just a no brainer must have! :) especially for this price! let me tell you this is an EXACT dupe for the sydney evan pave disc necklace which retails at $3,015 ..okay, you pretty much HAVE to get the MK dupe for this at $55, right?! :) - this beauty can be found here -
2. too faced matte eyeshadow collection okay, i know, why do i need more makeup!? well.. i only have one "high end" palette of shadows, and they are all shimmer shadows, so i need some matte ones! i've heard many good things about too faced cosmetics, let alone this particular palette! i'm a neutral eye kinda girl, so this is perfect for my everyday looks! :) AND it's a $76 value for $36! - available at sephora -
3. cortex 4-in-1 cermaic clipless curling iron whew lawd has my curling iron had it! i use it daily and it's about 75 years old! haha! these 'clipless' curling irons, or "curling wands", are all the rage lately! basically, i just like the look they create more than the old fashioned curling irons.. this one comes with four different sized barrels for different sized curls and looks! which is awesome! this is a must have for me! :) hehe! - online at beautychoice -
4. "designer de better" from the new OPI Muppets Collection: Holiday 2011 this is just a gorgeous color! i've seen it raved about all over the beauty blog/youtube community! it's just an original, i don't have anything like it and love the classic color! :) - available at ulta -
5. a game of thrones 4-book boxed set (a song of fire and ice series) really?! i'm embarrassed i don't already have this! as much as i love reading big books and as much as i LOVE the HBO show, it's a wonder i don't own it already! apparently, the boxed set is ridiculously cheap at barnes & noble around $20! enough said :D - here at barnes & noble -
6. dolce and gabbana's 'light blue' yum! i'm a perfume junkie, though i only have 2 bottles of fancy perfume! ha! i've never owned this one, but obviously i'd love to! mixing scents and smelling good is an every day thing for me, i think this one is perfect for my little collection! :) - available at ulta and department stores -
7. laura mercier rose rendezvous face illumiator this is probably one of the most beautiful pieces of makeup that exists.. it's stunning! great brand, great payoff, wears amazingly.. must own for any guru! in case you're not sure what a "face illuminator" is, it's basically a highlight.. you apply the shade with a brush on areas of your face you'd want highlighted, like the top of your cheekbones, right under your eyebrows, inner corner of your eye, down the nose and cupid's bow of your top lip.. highlighting gives your face a natural "glowy" or "dewy" look :) this is a splurge item for me at $42 bucks! - here at sephora -
8. lancome beauty sensation beauty box in 'beautiful bronzes' okay, this is just insane.. lancome = high end, department store makeup brand = expensive! this set is worth over $300 but is being sold with any lancome purchase for $57.50! usually gift sets come with little travel size products or samples, but these are all full sized items! 2 lip glosses, 2 lipsticks, kohl eyeliner, limited edition 2 brush set, mascara (which is a top rated mascara), 3 eye shadows and a full size makeup remover (which also happens to be a top rated product!).. if you know any makeup lovers, this is pretty much the perfect gift set for them, hands down! :D - at macy's and other department stores -
okay.. too much? :) as you can tell, i'm a makeup junkie! i think i ask for these things as gifts because i have a hard time buying makeup myself.. i don't know why, it's just always clothes over makeup, i guess! :D i hope you enjoyed seeing/reading and i hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas full of items from their own wishlists!
i just found bailey jane's little pink sweater and put it on her to keep hers warm :) i forgot how precious she looks in it!!
i'm in serious need of a new storage set up for my makeup/beauty products, i'm collecting way too much makeup!
i don't get these commercials marketing tampons that look inconspicuous because apparently it's embarrassing to take a tampon to the bathroom... uh? it's not that big of a problem? i don't need to pay more to have my tampon in a pink WRAPPER...
i'm having the hardest time finding the new revlon lip butter displays! ugh!
i have to wait until february for 'the walking dead' to come back, and APRIL for 'game of thrones'... why can't reeeeeally good shows play year 'round? ..three times a week? surely that's not too much to ask! :)
JIF "natural" peanut butter is dericious!! and better for you! :D
i haven't done a post this month, and i'm not quite sure what to say, so i'll just share a picture of the prettiest orchid ever and a few songs on my "chill" playlist :)
'vienna' by billy joel - a good friend recommended this song to me and i immediately knew why :) it's just for me! i adore billy joel, and love love the lyrics of this song! "...vienna waits for you." would be a good tattoo ;)
'roslyn' by bon iver & st. vincent - i first heard this on one of the twilight movies, "new moon" i think.. i don't know why i like it, it's kind of odd, like the rest of the songs on that soundtrack, but i love it :)
'somewhere over the rainbow' by israel kamakawio'ole - ughhh, such a good version of this song! so happy and warm feeling!
'long way home' by mofro - first heard this at the end of an episode of "deadliest catch", which is a fabulous show! always has good music! there wasn't a video for this song on youtube so i just made one myself :) love this band, love this kind of music, it's just nice!
'no one's gonna love you' by band of horses - i really like the musicality of this song! it's a bit awkward but it works, love it!
'if i could' by jack johnson - is there anything bad to say about jack johnson!? everything he writes, sings and performs is perfection! this song is so sweet and sad at the same time..
'holdin' on' by citizen cope - seriously!? one of my favorite songs by c.cope, without a doubt! this song is insane to me.. i love the slow sensuality of it! it's perfect :)
basically, august was a huge "transition month" for me.. i packed up and moved up here to tennessee at the beginning of the month and have pretty much been "settling in" since then! lol.. some things have been difficult, but overall, i consider this a much needed, positive change for the better :) it's nice being close to my three favorite "two and a half women" (ahhh, clever! :D), mama, brandi and chasity.. and the area i live in is just much much more refreshing than macon, georgia!
the past few weeks have been a little rough, but i'm finally feeling like things are coming together, and i'm looking forward to being okay again :) after running out of my SSRI and thinking i could tough it out until the next refill ended in a complete meltdown, i found a great general practitioner (which i haven't had since age 8), who "re-upped" my prescription for me and also recommended me to a therapist he seems to think pretty highly of, so that's exciting! it'll be nice to have a therapist again. whether you have mental health issues or not, i think having someone on the "outside" to talk to, someone in your life with a professional opinion, clear mind, solid experience with all types of people and complete lack of judgement is beneficial to anyone! it's refreshing to have that time every day/week/month where you can exhale and clear things up, get things out, and solve some problems. needless to say, i'm looking forward to some one on one therapy! lol :)
earlier in august, brandi and i started our little apartment overhaul! we're planning on painting all walls, doors and trim, and i think we made pretty good progress in a small amount of time! so far, the living room, hallway, "office", and my room all have fresh coats of paint on the walls, trim and baseboards. neutral is the way to go, and covering creamy beige trim with fresh stark white makes such a difference! pretty soon, we'll get back to work and start on brandi's room and chasity's room and then the kitchen! we'll be getting fancy "vintage white" cabinets and granite counter tops in the kitchen so i'm super excited about that! (quick side note: i just now realized i still had the tag left on my panties after i've been wearing them all day! wow, katie... also- that 5 for 25$ deal at victoria's secret is too legit; i just realized these were regularly $9.50! what the heck?!) OKAY! back on track... for my room, i went with my ideas from the previous post. i chose "hope chest" for my wall paint color, a dark grayish-brownish-taupe.. although i love the color, it wasn't what i thought it would be once my walls were covered in it! lol.. it's a bit of a "chameleo-color", sometimes it looks brownish gray, but most times it's kind of a seductive deep brownish purple color.. which i also like! it compliments my deep wood furniture and black and white accessories pretty well, if i do say so myself! :D
we're all pretty excited to get the entire apartment done, and i'm excited for brandi and chasity to have their rooms finished and feel as comfortable in them as i do in mine! :) i'll leave you with some pictures of our progress and a few from the experience in chattanooga so far!
the living room-- super cozy and comfy! makes for good tv/movie nights with brandi and chas! :) the color is totally washed out in the first photo because of the window, but you get the point.. neutral tan! lol
a few from my room-- finishing touches are done with the wall hangings and decor, although i didn't take the time to dress my "bed" up with the fancy coordinating comforter for this photo, lol.. and bailey is looking at me saying, "why are you doing this??" :)
nail painting station! woohoo! i still need to get a matching chair, i'm borrowing this one from the office. also, you can see bailey jane's crate/eating area aaand my new pink tennis shoes!! :D
no room of mine would ever ..ever be complete without a full length mirror and hair/makeup station! (and you notice i have yet to paint the doors in my room! ha!) there's a bailey jane in this picture, too!
miss jane got her first haircut at the new groomer! they did SUCH a good job, i really love that place and i think she does, too! despite the look she's giving me in this picture! haha!
i curled chasity's hair before school this morning.. she loves being a diva! ;) and also likes how much bailey sneezes after i spray her hair down with hairspray! ha!
brandi calls this the "cereal/snack management system", lmao! i was pretty excited, i've always wanted the plastic things to put my cereal in! haha!
the mail lady has been unaware of which apartment to deliver my packages to on account of no clear markings on our door, lol.. she is now well informed :) haha!!
all done!! if you're still here, thanks for reading this super long post! i like the picture updates! maybe i'll start doing that more often? byeeee! :D
well... it's finally time for some good news! :) my sister and i got approved for an apartment in chatt town! it's actually a cozy little old house split into sectioned apartments... moving day is THIS saturday so i've got lots of packing and planning to finish up this week!! i'm super excited! planning new things for new spaces is enough to fill all of my shower thinking time and pillow talk time! haha! :) along with the packing, i've applied and been approved for financial aid, and have applied and been accepted to chatt state! so, if i can get transcripts/immunization records sent fast enough, i may be able to start fall semester at the end of the month! i'm thinking i may go towards a business degree and own my own business ..can't say i've ever been much for working for anyone else.. heh ;)
anyway! i've filled so much of my head with ideas for the new apartment, so i figure i'll share here to get it all out somewhere! your welcome! haha! :D
first! paint color! we're allowed to paint as long as we don't go crazy, so i'm definitely taking the opportunity to find my perfect color! i'm thinking a brownish-grayish-taupe... like this--
and for bedding, i'll have a "full" size futon for my room, so i think i'll just put a comforter over that and toss tons of pillows on it and call it a bed :) i think this aqua-teal color will be gorgeous with the wall color! i have two big black and white zebra throw pillows, a few black throw pillows and some other neutral ones i think will be adorable! this comforter set has already been ordered from target, so hopefully it'll be shipped up to tennessee before i arrive!
desk area.. if you know me, you know my obsession with all things nail polish! i paint my nails once or twice a week, and having a clean area with a bright lamp is a must for me! :) jake and i went to walmart and picked up this simple little "writing table" for under 40 bucks! i'm excited to stack a few books, add a lamp and cute picture frame and set this baby right in front of the double window in my new room!
and of course i couldn't leave out my sweet bailey jane :) she got some new doggie food bowls and a place mat from walmart to match our new style!! i'm also on the hunt for a purple collar and leash for her, but haven't found one i love enough yet, ha... anyway, i thought these bowls were almost as precious as she is!! :)and no, cute yorkie baby does not come with! lol
lastly, i finally ordered a jewelry box from amazon with the last of my birthday gift card from my sister! since i'll be mixing wood furniture with black accents in my room, i figured i might as well go all out eclectic and mix with black and white accents so it'll look purposely done instead of unfortunately mismatched, ha :) for under $20, i'm guessing this is a little on the smaller side, but i've been looking for a white jewelry box all over, and this is the best you can get unless you want to spend $200 on a jewelry armoire ..which isn't quite necessary for me yet! lol
so that's what's been going on so far... hopefully i'll be able to get the painting and setup done pretty quickly so i can post pictures or something! ...on that note, i guess i'll share another idea of mine... again if you know me, you know i'm pretty obsessed with the youtube "beauty community", if you don't know what that is, it's just a bunch of random girls all over the world who film all kinds of videos, tutorials, tips and tricks relating to beauty, hair, makeup and fashion.. a bunch of the girls film "vlog" videos for a second channel and include day to day activities that may be interesting, shopping trips, home projects, etc etc... since i'll be moving away from my boyfriend and very best friends, i thought maybe it would be fun to try to film day to day videos of what's going on in volunteer country! mainly so jake can watch and be updated and see my purty face every day :) haha!! ...but seriously... lol, anyway, if i ever do get that up and rolling, i'll share links on my blog, for sure! let me know if you'd be interested or have any other ideas of how to keep in touch..??
whew! that was a lot... thank youins for reading! ...gotta get that lingo down ;) hehe!!
i've been inspired by another blogger to share a bit of my faith... so if you're not interested, go ahead and move along :)
sometimes i feel like breaking down, i kind of let myself crumble, as if to my knees, and cry tears of gratitude, of joy and thanks. even though i often feel the cards i've been dealt aren't exactly spades and aces, i have to set myself back and remind myself that there is no 'easy hand'. these are the times when i can most clearly see my many blessings. whether the blessings be greater than my struggles or not, they're still mine. i still have them, deserving or not. i'm not really a fan of the whole "it could always be worse" thing.. because maybe it could be worse, but it can always be better, and you're blessed to have control of one of those paths. i guess i'm just saying it's not always a bad thing to feel some weight on your shoulders, it's okay to struggle, just take the time to slow down and "count your blessings" ..maybe it's not a winning lottery ticket or an answered prayer, maybe it's the simplest of blessings- either way, it's yours, and you haven't been forgotten.
"blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." james 1:12
well it's been exactly one year since i started this blog adventure :) and i guess it'd be pretty cliche and expected to say "and boy, has this been a year of change!" ...in some ways things have changed since june of 2010, some for the better, a lot for the worst. but compared to the changes i'm about to face, this past year has been a dud. i have to say 2011 hasn't treated me very well, but i'm hoping that will soon 'change' (word of the post?) as well.. so far 2011 has been a huge roller coaster of emotions, actions, feelings, everything... just a complete uphill, mostly downhill ride of life. i can't decide if things are looking up, and i want to say they certainly are, but i guess the pessimist in me wants to set my expectations low ..boo, katie! lol in recent (happy) news.. my dad finally proposed and married miss conniegreene! they've been together for a long while, and have really been through a lot, so it's been really nice to see them so happy.. daddy proposed in february and they planned a trip for the beginning of june to palm island in the grenadines. they planned to have a simple wedding on the beautiful beach with just the two of them :) little did we all know, they were planning much more than that! they were set to leave on june fourth, so on friday, june third, family and friends of dad and connie got together at my aunt and uncle's house for a nice poolside engagement party. brandi and chasity came down from tennessee to go to the party with me, and as usual we arrived just shy of too late ;) we mingled for a while, (wondering where connie was, might i add!) before dad stood up to give his little speech.. he stood at the high point of the pool, above the rock waterfall on a little stage of sorts with a microphone and read a letter him and connie had written for the event. he spoke about their relationship, ups and downs, and their journey together with Christ through it all. ending his speech, he thanked us all for being there for them and shared that they had more plans for the evening ..they wanted to share their vows and the experience with all of us! :) i immediately burst into happy tears like a baby. it was one of those times where i just cried, without even knowing why, lol.. i was happy, of course, but i think i was mostly surprised and happily shocked. none of us expected to be a part of their wedding, and it was really special that they decided to let us all in on such an awaited event for them :) ...anyway, "God blessed the broken road" came over the speakers, and connie, following her daughter megan, with her son brandon at her side, began walking down the stairs of the balcony to meet my dad above the rock waterfall in her gorgeous gown! she was a beautiful bride, and i was truly amazed at what i was witnessing! haha! chrisminton, a longtime friend of daddy's, married the two and then came the "congratulations" and "oh my God!'s"! you have no idea how unexpected this was for our entire family. not a soul knew their plan other than mr. chris, connie's good friend who planned the party, and brandon and megan. not even prim and michele knew, and we were at their house! lol... their wedding was just as beautiful as it would have been on a caribbean island, and i can't explain how nice it was to see it all happen :) SO! after arriving back from their honeymoon in paradise, dad moved in with connie and has been working on fixing our house up to be put on the market. so i guess this is time to announce MY upcoming changes.. lol i decided, after a ton of thinking, stressing, crying, and anxiety, to move myself and bailey jane up to tennessee to be with my sister, niece, mom and her side of the family. while i'm extremely excited to get the hell out of macon, i'm also feeling weird about leaving. this city is all i have ever known. i was born and raised here and know every road, highway, interstate and alleyway like the back of my hand.. i look forward to being with great family, enjoying fresh (much less humid) air, and hanging by the pool with chasity and brandi ..but you bet i'm still somewhat afraid. i feel like i'm not sure what to expect, and i guess i'm apprehensive because i have never ..ever put myself in such a position as this. i've always avoided change as much as possible, and crumbled when i've been forced to face it.. but i've always come out of it okay, so i'm just going to have to have a little faith :) of course, i'm not at all excited about leaving jake, my friends and family behind.. but i truly believe i'll be able to be happy in tennesse, albeit missing them like crazy! i feel like i'm at a point where i need this. i need a happier environment, a less stressful environment, in order to pull myself out of my funk.. i'm hoping for a breath of fresh air, and finding a good place to settle myself down before having a family of my own to raise :) anyway.. i'll keep you posted on the move, just wish me luck! :)
so i've been horribly depressed, stressed and anxious lately =/ but! my birthday is coming up next month, and i figured it would be more fun to post a wish list than to whine about everything, lol.. even when i don't have money (which is usually the norm), i still like to check tons of clothing stores and different websites online just to see "what's new" ..i guess that just makes fashion a passion of mine :) ha! mind you, this is in no way a list of things i want people to get for me at all, i don't expect that, i just like to share things i'm loving.. so here goes! :)
1. ADORE this bedding set from target! and i've been in pretty dire need of a new one for a while now! lol.. i have some black and white zebra pillows that have been sitting in my closet for forever.. i think they'd be cute with this set and some black satin sheets :) ...i'm also thinking about making the switch to satin sheets/pillow cases, ha! much better for your hair and skin! lol anyway, i love the pleating detail and little buttons! the dusty violet color is cute, too! violet comforter set from target
2. omg!! this has to be THE cutest dress i've seen in a while!! ahhh!! if you know me, you know dresses are just about all i wear in warm weather.. and warm weather it is! this would be so cute with a pale yellow cropped cardigan or something :) floral dress from windsor
3. it's been said that every girl needs a pair of nude pumps, and i couldn't agree more! preferably nude hidden platform stiletto pumps ;) hahaa! i love these to death! they go with just about anything and make every one's legs look long and sleek! nude pumps from urbanog
4. i'm pretty much OBSESSED with this blue/lilac color! it's so flattering and spring/summer appropriate! i also really like the off-the-shoulder style shirts! they're my favorite comfy shirts that can also be dressed up easily! tunic from victoria's secret
5. i know it's summer, but i think light weight cardigans are essential year-round! i love the length of this one! it'd be cute over a patterned dress or skirt on a windy day or cool night, aww :) and i really like 'oatmeal' colored anything! i guess i'm a neutral kind of person, my favorite wardrobe colors are all boring colors like taupe, gray and cream! lol cardigan from aerie
6. ..pretty sure i NEED these tan ruffly flats! perfect with the above mentioned sweater/dress combo! :) they are simply adorable, 'nuff said! flats from charlotte russe
7. could i possibly have a wish list without nail polish?? i think not! recently, i've discovered a new love for pink polish.. however, i don't seem to be satisfied with any of my pink colors! boo! so i've done some research, and decided i'd pretty much love the following pink colors! and this pale blue is awesome! i have a 'tiffany blue' that i love so much, so i think this would be a hit, too! :) ha! from left- 'borrowed and blue', 'knockout pout', 'need a vacation', and 'haute as hello' all from essie! essie polish from ulta
8. holy bananas! i have been DYING for this palette for over a year! this thing is impossible to get your hands on, and a must have for every beauty freak like myself! :) urban decay made a limited quantity to begin with when this 'naked' palette was released and the demand for it was so high, it was sold out in weeks! they've decided to make more and they're finally back in stores! eeee!!! these colors are perfect, every eye shadow color you need for every look! love them! edit: i have the best boyfriend ever and this palette is finally mine!!! :D
9. an epilator.. yeah, i said it. you don't know what that is? i didn't either... it's this super scary looking 'shaving' device! seriously! it's got a ton of tiny tweezers that pluck the hair and apparently leave your legs smooth for pretty much forever... sound painful? yeah, doesn't bother me! lol.. anything to keep from shaving every day during the summer! ugh! i have no idea how it works, but i've read/watched reviews and it's all the rage! haha! :) epilator from sally's
10. splurge- this BEAUTIFUL ring!! i'm in love with it!! 3.5 carat cushion cut green amethyst, with pink topaz and diamond accents set in white gold! gorgeous! :D i'm beyond excited that i actually AM getting this ring for my birthday from my sweet jake!! it'll be an early birthday present.. maybe i'll post pictures when i get it soon! yay! :)
okay i "stumbled upon" this list, and it's really long, but hopefully it's worth it to you :) ..but before i get to that, you should know what 'stumble upon' is.. www.stumbleupon.com - you can pick interests (fashion, photography, humor, dogs, religion, food, health, ANYTHING) and hit this little "stumble" button at the top of your browser and it'll take you to random websites from alllll over the interwebs that have to do with your interests. you can either check out the websites, or hit "stumble" over and over like i do and sample them all :) it's awesome for when you're bored! good times!
right... so i love lists for some reason(??), some of my stumble upon interests are psychology, psychiatry, sociology, people, life, whatever i don't know! so i always get these lists and articles about life and living and being happy/successful/etc etc... this list is super long, but it's pretty worth it :) it's 100 little ways to "uncomplicate your life" ..no, it's not some checklist or race to complete all of them and be 100% the shizz at living life, but i found it interesting and refreshing, maybe you will, too :)
1. Don’t try to read other people’s minds 2.Get up 30 minutes earlier so that you don’t rush/get a ticket while driving too fast/have to explain why you’re late/get fired 3. Get 8 hours of sleep per night so that you think more clearly 4. Stick to your budget 5. Start saving and investing every week, no matter how little you can spare 6. Balance your checkbook 7. Don’t try to be friends with everyone. Cultivate closer relationships with fewer people. 8. Don’t try to do business with everyone. Identify your target client and take very good care of them. 9. Before getting angry, ask yourself if it will really matter in 20 years 10. Focus on being a good person, not on pleasing others 11. Stay home this Saturday, and finish off that nagging chore that you need to finish 12. Kiss and make up 13. Make a weekly menu, and shop for only those items at the market 14. Ask your grandparents the best way to uncomplicate life, and try it for a month 15. Fill up your gas tank when it’s half full 16. Don’t drink alcohol when you’re tired, sad or mad 17. Pay your bills on time 18. Get an annual physical examination 19. Say “I love you” to your significant other and to your children. Studies show that more marriages last, and fewer kids use drugs, when these words are spoken every day. 20. For just one day, imagine everyone’s intentions are good because most people’s are 21. Give away clothes that haven’t been worn in two years 22. Throw out clothes that are in disrepair, and can’t be mended 23. When you have a conflict with someone, talk it out. Don’t let it turn into more than it is. 24. Know what your priorities are in life, and act as if they are your priorities 25. Tell the truth 26. Don’t cheat 27. Don’t steal 28. If you’re holding on to a ridiculous grudge, let it go 29. Clean your house weekly, so that it doesn’t become too large a chore 30. Do your best at work, or at school 31. Don’t eat when you aren’t hungry 32. Eat when you are hungry 33. Be yourself 34. Say no unapologetically 35. Cook simple meals 36. Don’t try to keep up with the Joneses 37. Pay off your car before buying a new one 38. Organize your desk at the office 39. Change your smoke alarm batteries when the clocks spring forward, and again when it falls back 40. Organize your important paperwork 41. Take only half the clothes that you planned to take with you on holiday 42. Help your children with their homework every night, and have an open dialogue with their teachers 43. Have white sheets and white towels in children’s rooms/bathrooms, because they’re easily bleached 44. Spend your time with nice people 45. Avoid drama 46. Don’t text or talk on the phone while driving 47. Turn off the television/video games/computer; they’re time consumers 48. Don’t engage in office politics 49. Refuse to gossip, or talk behind other people’s backs 50. Do the dishes right after dinner 51. Never go to sleep angry 52. Ask nicely for what you need and want 53. Walk 10,000 steps per day to help your heart 54. Do 20 push-ups before speaking in anger 55. Leave work at work 56. Don’t befriend anyone that isn’t trustworthy 57. Don’t envy others 58. Have your oil changed 59. Take vitamin C BEFORE you catch a cold 60. Don’t work more than 8 hours per day 61. Weed your garden weekly 62. Wash your car weekly 63. Have a spring cleaning month every year, and do one room at a time 64. You don’t need to be best friends with work colleagues, but build respectful partnerships 65. Don’t drink and drive 66. Don’t look for reasons to be angry or sad, look for reasons to be happy. You’ll always be able to find plenty of each. 67. Be friendly with your neighbors 68. Return emails and phone messages promptly 69. Schedule in free time 70. Don’t procrastinate 71. Do what you say you’ll do, when you say you’ll do it 72. Be more flexible when you’re able to be 73. Forgive and forget. End of story. 74. Break the consumerism habit…put a three month moratorium in place on buying anything not deemed a necessity 75. Start your diet on September 1, rather than January 1, so that you won’t also have holiday pounds to lose 76. Take care of any health issues or concerns 77. Have your tires rotated 78. Have your brakes checked 79. Have your eyes checked 80. Don’t let your imagination run away with you 81. Let go of perfection in others 82. Let go of perfection in yourself 83. Don’t try to help those that refuse to help themselves 84. Find a way to reduce your commute to work 85. Have an allotted amount of worry time per day/week, that you strictly abide by 86. Drink more water 87. Eat more salmon 88. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill 89. Wear your hair in a classic, easy to care for style 90. Finish what you start 91. Wear classic clothes and shoes that never go out of style 92. Create a daily routine 93. Have a 1, 5, 10 and 20 year plan for your financial and life goals 94. Slow down 95. Eat out less often 96. When you ask your husband which outfit looks best, thank him for his answer and wear the one he liked rather than focusing on why he didn’t like the other one 97. Allow your children to grow up 98. Clean out your garage, and donate anything that hasn’t been used in the past year 99. Stretch every day 100. If a relationship is over, let it go
yeah, it's colorful, haha... i wanted to emphasize the green ones for myself :) our lives can get extremely complicated, stressful, unhappy and even agonizing. i think it's important to keep at least some things in check, to keep some things simple and easy. most importantly, i think it's a must to have some kind of faith and some kind of trust that things are all happening to you and around you for a reason. don't try to nitpick everything, or find the 'reason' for everything, but instead see the good in what you can, and when you can't, just let go and have faith. here's a few i think i'd add to the list :) --
101. breathe. 102. spend time everyday dreaming about the future. 103. watch silly/stupid/funny movies. 104. soak up some sun. 105. pray. be thankful. ask for forgiveness. 106. tell someone a story. 107. wear a pair of cute heels, if you're a woman, of course ;) 108. read a good book. 109. take a nap. 110. set a few small goals for yourself every day, and pat yourself on the back when you accomplish them.
i feel defeated and completely lost. not lost like i don't know where i'm going, but lost like i have no idea where i am, how i've gotten here, and i have no idea how to get out. it's horrifying. difficult. exhausting. painful. intense. it's a nightmare. my worst nightmare.
more than anything i need courage, strength, faith and confidence. and i feel like those are the things that are the most out of my reach. you have no idea how impossible it can be to face a fear. a stupid, tiny, completely irrational, intense, crippling, terrifying fear. i pray and wish with all of my might that i can have the strength to feel the fear and do it anyway, but it's like i hit a brick wall and literally cannot move past it. my entire life is put on hold, stopped. it is ruling me and controlling me, and i can't overcome it.
"for God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." II timothy 1:7
well, as my first (and let's be honest, possibly my only) post for april, why not throw together a springtime wish list, just for the fun of it! :D i have to admit, i'd do a lot more favorites/wish list posts if i felt like anyone would really appreciate my adoration for current fashion and accessories, haha! anyway, a few weeks ago, the lovely/yucky maconga decided to give us all a preview of a beautiful spring! ..the sun and 70 degrees got me all kinds of excited for floral print dresses, espadrille wedges and over sized sunglasses, and then the weather turned right back to cold mush! so here's hoping springtime will come back soon and welcome lots of sandals and sundresses! ;)
1- some sort of cutesy straw hat.. i know, i know.. i have no idea with what or where i would ever wear one, but maybe i'd be gutsy enough to pair it with a casual dress and wear it out one day, ha! they're just too cute! these are both from charlotte russe for around 12 bucks..
2- dresses, dresses, dresses! oh my goodness the floral dresses this year! flowers, silk accents, ruffles and chiffon! how precious! i'm loving the idea of pairing them with a waist cinching belt and cute cardigans! eeee! :) forever 21 is always on top of the trends and they're so affordable it's ridiculous.. we neeeeeed one here in town!! these four are from f21.com
3- nude strappy wedges! holy banana sandwich! i am in LOVE with these wedges from target! they're from the dolce vita for target line and are less than $30! dolce vita shoes are wayyy pricey, so i love that designers like them and cynthia vincent make lines with target for cheap! i feel like nude shoes are really starting to jump on the scene.. i love the ankle buckles on these, they'd be so cute with a cute top and some rolled up skinny jeans! ahhhh!
4- destroyed skinnies... ever since my hollister destroyed "cali flares" totally self destructed in the ass region (aka- ripped right up under the butt when my sister put her ghetto booty in them! ha!), i've been wanting a good new pair of old jeans.. ha! i know, "why would you buy such messed up jeans?!" ..well, just because i like the way they look! and you can't make holes look that good with some scissors and sand paper! haha! anyway, i've always hated skinny jeans.. because they are meant for "skinny" people, hence the name, which is often confused with jeans that make you look skinny (that's a big NAH AH!).. anyway, they look best on those tall slim girls with twig legs, but they are comfortable, and i like cuffing the bottoms for a simple cropped look :) ..and like i said before, these jeans from wet seal would look cute with those strappy wedges to dress down a nice top! :D
5- brown high waist belt look how cute with the little floral cutouts! i'm a sucker for any light brown/cognac colored accessory! by now, i think every girl should own at least one high waisted belt to cinch those tunics and flowy dresses! this one from charlotte russe is just under 10 dolla!
6- little bow jewelry! ahhh the bows! i love anything with cute little bows! earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets.. adorable! these few are from charlotte russe and forever 21 ..where else?! :)
7- leather flip flops! i wear flip flops all year 'round.. and sometimes you just need more than your standard rubber old navy havaiana knock offs! american eagle always has the best leather flip flop selection! love them!
8- spring nail polish! you know i had to put nail polish! :D i'm loving the spring 2011 "french affair" collection by essie! i love the nudes, light pinks and the sky blue! omg! essie makes the best polishes ever! i'm so glad ulta came along so i could find this brand!
aright, aright.. i could probably go on! but i'll be done for now! hopefully you enjoyed my fashion blabbery and excitement and maybe now you look forward to spring that much more! :)
sometimes, you get a chance to find someone who just gets you. you find someone who knows all the right things to say and just what to do. someone who knows when and how you hurt, and what you need to hear to make everything better. someone who loves seeing you laugh, and knows exactly how to make it happen. someone who knows how to hold you when you're happy, and when you're sad. someone who knows just when to turn to you and smile at dinner. or when to lean over to kiss you randomly while the movie is playing. someone who knows exactly how to hold your hand in his, and how to kiss you just right. someone who must know just how much you love his sweet touches. someone who knows when you need to be squeezed tight. and when you need to hear "i've got you" whispered into your ear. someone who knows when you need a listening ear to talk to, a shoulder to cry on, or a friend to laugh with. someone who is the absolute best at being all three. sometimes you find this someone. you find that being in their arms is nothing like you've ever known. you find that their smile is incomparable to anyone else, and their laugh is the best you've ever heard. you find someone who thinks all the same things of you, and just how to show you they care. sometimes they may not even know they can do all of these things. sometimes they are this way because that's just how they were meant to be. for you. :)
i almost managed to make it through february without a single post! oh noes! ha.. :)
to say the absolute least, a lot has been going on lately... i've had just about every possible emotion running through my head at all times, and i can't seem to hold on to any of the good, positive feelings. welcome to depression. i've been struggling a lot with my anxiety for the past month or so, and it's pretty much consumed me. i get lost in thoughts and worries about the past, the now, and the future. what am i doing? what do i want? am i doing the right thing? it's been pretty much impossible to shut my wondering mind up and relax- enter sleep. lots of it. which means dreams. lots of crazy dreams! which i do love.. recently, i have had a few violent dreams, which basically shows that i'm struggling with control and power in my waking life. ding ding ding! enter faith. lots of it. haha :) i have to know, trust and believe that 'this, too, shall pass', so i suppose that's the main thing i've been working on... i'll have to update soon when i have something more up beat to write about.. :) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
