Thoughts on “Girl, Wash Your Face” (Rachel Hollis) // Part 1

Hi all,

I thought I would change up my content to bring you a review on the book, “Girl, Wash Your Face” by Rachel Hollis. I saw the cover of the book, a smiling lifestyle blogger, and immediately thought it would be a book that I would never read. Alas, here we are. A friend and I wanted to start a book club and I got roped into reading this one.

For the record, there are many things that I disliked reading, disagreed with, etc. However, there were certainly some points that really resonated with me that I would like to share in this “Part 1” blog post. A part 2 with all of the nitty gritty things that I really dislike about this book will be coming soon after this one. So here are a few points from the book that struck me and I would love to share with you all:

1. She is constantly emphasizing how we are responsible owners of our own lives, wellbeing, happiness, success, and failure. We should stop blaming our past hurts, our geography, our obstacles, things we feel obligated to do when we really don’t want to, and just work in order to see progress in our lives. No matter if a goal takes a short period of time or a lifetime, we should keep after it and smack down those excuses. (Typical, but always welcome, motivational chat, right?)
2. Remove judgment from your mouth and thoughts. I thought as a Christian author with a lot of influence, this was a great point. So many times, I see church folk really struggling with this one, which made me very grateful this was included in her book. There are so many rewards that come with cheering on others, instead of isolating yourself due to your judgment of others. For one thing, you miss out on creating friends or “your tribe” as she calls it.
3. I appreciate her candid manner that she describes her relationship. She tells the story of how she meets her husband and the rockiness that it experienced in the dating phase. I think that many people have this fairy tale idea of love because people often leave out the messy details of their love story. It was refreshing to have this very genuine chapter of how her husband wasn’t technically the knight in shining armor that women dream of. But hey, that’s okay. We’re all human and we need to have expectations that are full of grace and understanding.
4. She talks about feminism. This was also a great part of the book where I found myself nodding along. She discusses her life of being a mom, wife, and entrepreneur. She doesn’t fit that stay at home mom mold and that’s perfectly okay. She discourages women from making themselves feel small and quiet just to make others feel comfortable.

I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments. My next post will be part 2, featuring all of the negative concepts that I disagree with regarding the book.

August Favorites

Welcome to my blog! Thanks for tuning in. I know the month has just begun, but here are a few of my favorite things so far.

1. Love Island— I recently got Hulu and started watching this reality show. It’s a little bit trash, to be perfectly honest, but a great watch for any reality TV lovers.
2. Mini Bagels— Just a reminder: mini bagels are delish! I haven’t had them in years. I just bought a bag and started eating them toasted, topped with butter and Trader Joe’s everything but the bagel seasoning. Sounds good, right?
3. Watermelon Slush— The summer is almost over. So, quick, grab some watermelon before it’s gone. I love to get cubed watermelon (no seeds) and throw it in a blender, along with water, ice, and sugar. It makes the perfect watermelon slush. The perfect drink to refresh you while you live your life in the sunshine.
4. The Bible Project— If you are a Christian and want to dive deeper into Scripture or are not religious and would like to learn more about analyzing the Bible, this would be a great podcast for you.
5. Hiking— I recently found nice trails in the community that I live in and grabbed a couple of friends for a hike. It was beautiful and had a nice chat with people I love. (10/10 completely worth a couple of mosquito bites).

I hope this list may inspire you! If you have any favorites this month or try anything out on my list, please leave me a comment! Happy August, friends.

Ways to Feel “More Put Together”

I am definitely a homebody. I like being cozy, naps, art, and prefer staying in rather than going out. But when I do go out and work, go to class, or meet with a friend– I want that feeling of having my stuff together. I definitely am a minimalist– I don’t go crazy with caking on the makeup or putting in a ton of effort into my look. But I feel overall more confident and productive when I’m not in my pajamas! Here are a couple of laid back ways to feel like you have it all together.

1. Take a morning shower. Yes, showers the night before do save a lot of time in the mornings and allow for more sleep. Also, dry shampoo is a huge trend right now. But, I’ve come to realize there’s nothing fresher than a morning shower! I’m absolutely not a morning person, but morning showers definitely wake me up and are a good starting point to a consistent morning routine. 
2. Set out an outfit the night before. Okay, my roommate in college used to this in preparation for an entire week. But, picking out an outfit the night before will definitely save a lot of time and stress in the morning. Plus, you won’t have to be scrambling to find that “one black shirt you bought two months ago” or “those ankle socks that don’t show with those shoes” and end up feeling frustrated, while wearing a different (possibly less appealing) look than you had envisioned. 
3. Accessorize. Like I said, I am very minimalistic. I’m content with wearing my favorite denim jeans with a neutral colored top. But I’ve learned that wearing a watch, necklace, rings, earrings, nice purse really increases my confidence and polishes my look. Men, you don’t have to feel excluded here. You can also accessorize with a hat, sunglasses, watch, ring, satchel / backpack, tie clip, and the list goes on. 
4. Have a planner / notebook. I feel that when I carry a notebook around (or even leave one in my car at all times), I feel much more less stressed. When I think of something, I can immediately jot it down whether it be plans, grocery lists, random ideas that pop into my head, or someone’s contact information. 

I hope this list was beneficial! Please leave feedback or comments of what you put into practice to feel “more put together.” Also, I’m happy to make a part two if anyone is interested in seeing an extended list! Have a great week.

April Favorites

Hi all! I hope you have been enjoying an excellent spring. Let’s dive right into my April favorites.

1. Plants: As of late, I’ve been very interested in propagating plants, growing seeds, purchasing new house plants, and researching other plants / how to better care for the ones I currently own! I’m not someone who naturally has a green thumb. But I’m trying my best to learn and develop the skills I need. So far, I’ve learned that propagating lilac branches in water is not effective at all; they quickly begin to get icky and droop. (If anyone has any tips on how to successfully propagate branches in water, please fill me in). However, the propagated branches in soil have had a higher success rate. I’ve also started growing seeds in an empty egg carton. I’ve also planted two seeds in actual eggshells. The seedlings have all mostly sprouted and I’m excited to see them grow even more!
2. Bible Journals: This is actually something I don’t have quite yet. But I recently saw very cool Bible journals at a bookstore. Each journal is labelled as a different book of the Bible, with scripture on one side and lines to journal on the other. I believe the back of the journal mentioned it was created by Crossway, in case anyone wants to check this out. I’m thinking about starting either with Proverbs or Hebrews. I also thought they would be a great gift for someone!
3. Baking: I have been baking a lot recently. I honestly love baking more than eating sweets. (I prefer savory foods). But a lot of family has been around lately, so dessert going to waste has not been a problem. Yes, baking (especially from scratch) is extremely time consuming. However, I’ve learned it can be calming, fun, creative, satisfying, and it’s just a solid skill to have! Find a recipe and go for it.
4. Donating Your Things: Spring is the season for cleaning! Even though it may seem like a huge drag to clean / get rid of things, it’s insanely freeing. I feel like I’m constantly surrounded by clutter. One day, I just spent the remainder of free time I had to clean and get rid of junk that I never use. It felt great to make a donation, but even greater when I had less clutter and more airy space.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this list. Enjoy the rest of this month. Let me know in the comments if you currently love something on this list or are inspired to try it out!

August Favorites

I am back and just in time to share some August favorites!

1. Bodysuits: Okay, ladies. I was super weirded out by bodysuits at first. But after wearing one, they are simply the best! I love wearing high waisted jeans or patterned dress pants with a bodysuit. Instead of trying to keep a shirt neatly tucked in all day, you can throw on a bodysuit and have it fall perfectly every minute of the day.
2. Target Notebooks / Journals: I am a giant fan of the journal notebooks that can be found in the stationary aisle at Target. More specifically, I always buy the Greenroom brand. I typically buy the non-spiral notebooks. They lay flat, super cheap, and they’re great quality. I highly recommend you check those out if you go through journals super quickly like me!
3. Hawaiian Sweet Rolls: Please don’t judge me. But lately, I’ve been making turkey and asiago cheese on King’s Hawaiian Sweet Rolls. They’re probably terrible for you, but it tastes oh so good. You can literally find them at Walmart or any grocery store. It’s such an easy little snack or lunch!
4. Telling people “hello”: I have been working in a very people-oriented job for the past few months. I’m definitely not a people person whatsoever, but I have begun initiating conversation. I am now the first person to say hello and to ask how someone’s day is. It’s amazing how much this opens up.

March Additives (part 1)

Hello, last month I wrote a post called “February Fasts” with a few things I decided to give up that month in order to pursue a healthier life. This month, I decided to share some things that I want to ADD more of in my life.

1. Books: Thanks to Netflix, ABC’s The Bachelor, Facebook, and all of the other entertainment I can access on every device, I have lost my love for reading. In my personal life, a large amount of tragic things are currently occurring with my family and their health. Books seem like a way to spend time recharging, while opening my mind and gaining some good perspective. If you need me, I’ll be in a book shop. Does anyone have any book suggestions?
2. Water: I want to drink more water. I’m usually dehydrated which affects me so much. Having a substantial amount of water in your body helps in every aspect and your skin will begin to GLOW as proof. I recently bought a Nalgene water bottle. I LOVE IT. Not only do I use it when I’m on the go, but I also use it in bed; it’s great to grab when I get thirsty in the middle of the night. It also has measurements on the bottle, so I am able to keep track of how much water I drink throughout the day.
3. Decaf: Speaking of beverages, I have always been a lover of coffee– but due to my small frame, I get shaky and feel a huge impact. I am trying to cut back and drink decaf if I really must have a cup. P.S.- Caffeine is the worst if you already have any level of anxiety.
4. Photography: Photography is my first love. Sometimes I drift in and out of shooting a lot. I would like to go into photography as more of a profession, so I hope to photograph more this month.
5. Laundry: To be honest, I have a hard time keeping up with laundry. It’s one of my least favorite things to do. So I let my laundry pile up on my bedroom floor. This may seem lame, but I simply want to keep my laundry in the wash or in my closet– not on my floor! Anyone with me?
6. Purchasing Permanent Items: I spend a lot of my money on going out to eat and food. Obviously this isn’t a great investment of my money because of how temporary food is. This month, I hope to spend less on food, in order to be able to spend more on items that I can have for a longer segment of time. For instance, this month, instead of buying sushi for $10–  I bought a water bottle for $10 which is a much better investment.

That’s it for now. Let me know what your March additives are. Leave me a comment and a follow!

10 Bath Tips (Everything you need to know)

Hello all! I have recently been OBSESSED with all things bath.

I have begun working at a coffee shop. At the end of the workday, I reek of coffee, feel stressed from serving so many customers, and my muscles are tired from being on my feet all day (so glamorous, I know). A warm bath is the perfect solution to all of my coffee-smelling, feet-aching needs. I always feel like I smell 800x better after a bath compared to just taking a shower because you’re SOAKING in wonderful smelling elements! Here are some ideas that you can try out!

1. EPSOM SALT: Epsom salt is great for helping SORE MUSCLES. If you are tired from being on your feet all day or from a hard workout, try this! As you run hot water in your bath, pour two cups or so of epsom salt.  Although a warm (not hot) bath is better for your skin– Make sure to run the water HOT while you do this, so the salt will be able to dissolve. Dissolved epsom salt is able to more easily be absorbed by your skin. Soak for about 15 minutes (so it can effectively be absorbed).
2. WARM WATER: Like I will mention throughout this post, it’s important to add components like salt, etc. with HOT water in order for things to dissolve. But make sure that you let it cool down to a comfortable, WARM temp. before you step in to soak. Hot water dries out your skin.
3. COCONUT OIL: If you have super dry/itchy skin, you can add a tablespoon or less of coconut oil to your bath. This will really hydrate your skin and make it soft. If you have long hair, make sure to put it up in a bun– otherwise, you’ll have super greasy hair!
4. OATS: Occasionally, I like to put oats in my tub. Oats will help soothe your dry skin. Grind some oats in a coffee bean grinder (or whatever have); the particles should be small enough to dissolve. Put a generous amount in your bath and let it dissolve. You may want to add a couple drops of lavender essential oil (or the scent of your choice) if you don’t like the smell of oat/oatmeal.
5. MILK AND HONEY: I sometimes will go for a milk and honey bath. I just put a tablespoon of honey and a 1 1/4 cup of milk in hot water and let it settle. The water feels super silky. It has a very subtlety sweet scent.
6. BAKING SODA: You can always add up to 1/2 or 1 cup of baking soda to any bath. It will help itchy skin, among other benefits.
7. BATH BOMB: Obviously, you can forego all of these individual, natural ingredients and just purchase a bath bomb. They look pretty, but they usually smell AMAZING. So if you work in a restaurant like me, one of these will have you smelling heavenly in no time. Pro Tip: You can purchase cheap ones at Walgreens or Amazon. If you do purchase a more expensive one at Lush, you can always break it in half to make it last longer if money is tight.
8. YOU MIGHT FEEL WEAK: After a bath, sometimes I feel lightheaded, almost like passing out. Granted, this doesn’t occur every time– but isn’t rare. It is potentially because of your blood pressure from going from very warm water to the cold air. Also it could be going from the stress of daily life to a very zen state of being in a bath, back to a stressful situation. As you are finishing up a bath, you may want to– take a couple deep breaths, drink a glass of water, or sit in your tub while the water is still draining (so the temp. difference isn’t as dramatic).
9. ZEN MOOD: Light a candle, put a couple drops of essential oil (lavender is my favorite), put on soft music or a Netflix show. RELAX. Enjoy!
10. RINSE OFF: If I do bathe in oats, milk, or a bath bomb, I typically rinse off with a quick shower afterwards. I don’t want any residue on my body. I also usually take the time to wash my hair– it seems easier in the shower.

Hope you enjoyed this list. Feel free to comment if you had the opportunity to try any of these tips out or if you have tips of your own!

 

How to Handle Stress

Have you ever been currently overwhelmed with stress? Unfortunately, life happens and it can definitely take a toll on our bodies: physically, emotionally, and socially. A lot of serious things have unfortunately been happening in my family’s lives and my personal life, as well. It’s easy to panic and neglect taking care of yourself; it’s important to remember that your wellbeing is important! I have several ideas of how to help. I have tried to be as practical as possible. Please let me know your personal tips if you have any, too!

1. Tell someone. -This may seem cliche. But honestly, it is critical not to keep things bottled inside. You will completely exhaust your body by continually being anxious. Let it out. Tell a friend. Tell a brother. Tell a mom. Tell a counselor. Tell a stranger (well, I don’t know about that one). But seriously, just speak your feelings out loud.
2. Eat something healthy. – Not only eat healthy, but just try to maintain your physical body as much as possible. Talk a walk, eat a well balanced meal, don’t drink too much caffeine, get enough rest, drink a lot of water. When we are stressed, we often forget to eat (or eat too much/stress – eat). We stay up all hours of the night (or sleep in until 2pm). We are often too tired to get up out of bed (because anxiety takes a ton of energy). By not taking care of our bodies, we are prone to feel even worse. If you at least try to eat well, exercise, and drink enough water– that will help prevent your anxiety from getting to critical points.
3. Breathe. – When you feel your muscles tensing and your breathing feels more shallow, just take a deep breath. This will help relax your muscles a little and give a little more calm to your situation.
4. Watch a TV show. -Okay, I know that people often say that watching TV is just an escape for your problem, instead you should just face them. But sometimes I think problems are not things you can always fix. For instance, stress about the death of a family member or someone who is critically ill. Although you should definitely face reality, sometimes you do just need to take an hour out of your week and watch something lighthearted. Give yourself a break.
5. Journal/Sketch. – Try getting something onto a page. It could be your thoughts and feelings or something completely unrelated. Just give yourself an opportunity for an outlet.
6. Take a bath. -Take a warm bath with lavender essential oil and epsom salt. The salt will help relax your tense muscles. Light a candle if you would like. Also, nothing wrong with being super clean, am I right?
7. Pray. – Faith and a relationship with God are a big part of my life. Praying and reading my Bible help alleviate my anxiety by putting trust in God.
8. Cry.– Honestly, it’s okay to cry. It’s okay to let things out when you need. Take care of yourself, friend.
9. Take time to be thankful. – Yes, I know it is incredibly difficult to find things that you are thankful for when things look so dim. But just do it. Think of one or two (or more for extra credit) things that are in your life that you are extremely grateful for.
10. It will be okay. – Even though your situation looks like the end of the world. Let me reassure you. It will be okay. This storm will pass. Life may or may not look different after. But just know, that you are going to be just fine. Hold tight.

INTP: Career Advice?

HELLO! So, I am a very typical INTP who has been racking her brain and panicking because I don’t know what I want to do in life and I feel so behind compared to my peers. Below, I wrote a rather long explanation of my life (sorry, it’s 12 AM and this is what happens). If you are an INTP or any person who breathes, really, and would like to contribute your wisdom– I would really appreciate it! Thanks in advance for your kindness and time you took to read through!

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Background: I just graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. I honestly haven’t had the opportunity or bluntly, the motivation, to find a job. I’m realizing that this field might not be for me. It’s not exactly meaningful or intellectually challenging/interesting in the way that I would like. I’m currently looking at going back to school to pursue a different type of career. I’m working at a coffee shop now and substitute teaching at the moment, while I re-evaluate my life.

About Me: I am an INTP. I really enjoy work with a high level of analysis, autonomy, and intellectual challenge. In school, I was an overachiever. I would like a career that enables me to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle, financially. I am currently a part-time photographer and appreciate creative projects, as well. I enjoy deep talks (probably because of all of the analysis), philosophy, and researching knowledge. I think seeing the transition from abstract thoughts into something concrete is exciting.

Things I Have Considered: 

Law, Psychology, Doctor, Engineer, Graphic Design, Professional Photographer

Why I Am Reluctant to Pursue the Above Areas:

-I possibly could dislike the public speaking (speaking in public is torturous for me) or competition (I have heard jobs are extremely scarce). (Lawyer)

-I’m unsure if I would be tired of 10 years of medical studies and/or if I would like the long hours and amount of doctor-patient interaction. (Doctor)

-Although I have heard great things about the amount of science + creativity that is woven through, I’m not very hands-on or mechanical. I’m very conceptual. (Engineering)

-Not sure if there’s a super promising future, position or income-wise/ very saturated field (psychologist, graphic design, photographer)

*If any of these statements are complete myths or can be countered in some way, please do! I appreciate all of the insight.

Final Notes: I’m not really interested in any super tech-savvy careers such as becoming a web developer or IT. Also, it would be a huge plus if the career could be pursued internationally somehow. I aspire to help people cross-culturally one day.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING. PLEASE COMMENT ANY INSIGHT OR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. YOU ARE GREAT.

February Fast Part II (RESULTS)

Happy March 1, all! I hope you had a wonderfully productive February! My last post included five things I chose to try fasting. The five things were: social media, coffeeshop coffee, credit/debit cards, texting, sleeping in. If you guys missed that post and are currently confused, check it out before diving into this post!

So, let me tell you how it went for me!

1. SOCIAL MEDIA (Instagram, FB, Pinterest, everything else): This specific social media elimination was halfway successful. However, I will be honest and say that I still did end up scrolling through my feed at times. But this month of February, I chose to begin working full time with various jobs in an effort to be as productive as possible. Social media ended up not being a day-consumer and started to simply be a couple of minutes of reward/rewinding from a hard day at work. Obviously, I would like to even be able to eliminate that small time, but I am very happy in the progress that I’ve made. (Even small progress is still growth!)
2. STARBUCKS COFFEE: Okay, this might be my most successful fast category of February. I did not spend one dime on coffeeshop coffee! This is a HUGE achievement, coming from a gal who used to hit up a coffee shop at a bare minimum of three times a week (about $60 a month, yikes). I did get one Starbucks drink, simply because I had a leftover gift card, given to me at Christmas. But for the rest of the time, I made coffee at home! I also bought a Tazo Chai Concentrate at Walmart. It is the exact concentrate used at Starbucks. However, I bought a carton that lasted me a couple of weeks for $4; SOOO much better than buying a single chai latte for $4, am I right!? It tastes just as good at home!
3. USING YOUR DEBIT/CREDIT CARDS: This month, I was pretty successful at only using cash! Although, I could have been better at keeping track of the precise amount that I spent. But I’m still happy that all of the money in my accounts are not rapidly decreasing and I know I can count on that for savings.
4.  TEXTING: Yes, I still text quite a bit. I have close friends who live cities away, even countries away. So I definitely want to still maintain those relationships. However, I have been meeting up with a couple of friends more. It definitely is refreshing. Community is key; it keeps you sane, despite all of the crazy things happening in life.
5. SLEEPING IN: Okay, this is the one fast that I pretty much FAILED MISERABLY AT. One February day, I rolled out of bed 20 minutes before I needed to leave for work. AH, NOT GOOD! This is something I need to continue working on, for sure. I’m confident that I will feel a million times better once I improve in this area!

Thanks for following along with my journey! I would love to hear if you have comments from trying out these fasts for yourself or any general thoughts.