January 2017 Favorites

1. LUSH: Magical Moringa (facial moisturizer), Angels on Bare Skin (Facial Cleanser), American Cream (Hair Conditioner)

Magical Moringa is seriously the best moisturizer I have ever tried! It makes your skin feel velvety soft and matte all day. It is great to use underneath makeup as a primer. I do not have oily or dry skin by the way but I think it would work great for any skin type.
Angels on Bare Skin has black charcoal, mud and black sugar among other things but I really like how it scrubs my skin gently. It is specifically meant for acne prone skin. I have stress induced break outs and this cleanser has really helped keep my skin clearer.

American Cream conditioner smells amazing! The smell is vanilla based and it stays in your hair at least all day if not for a couple days after that. It still lingers after using hot tools on my hair as well. The conditioner also makes my hair shiny, vibrant and soft.

2. Amazon Music

Amazon Music is included with a Prime membership. I didn't want to pay for Spotify Premium or Pandora One but I also don't like being limited to a number of skips nor do I like listening to ads mid workout. I found out that Amazon Music allows me to create playlists, download the music to my phone or computer for offline listening, skip songs all day long and there are no ads. Sold. You can pay for an upgraded version to have access to even more songs, especially new releases. I just haven't felt like it has been necessary to do so.

3. No Tomorrow

It's on Netflix. It is a romantic comedy TV-show and while it's quirky, strange and unrealistic at times, the concept and theme is really cool. The theme- What would you do and how would you live if the world were ending in 8 months?

4. Minimalism- A Documentary About The Important Things

This documentary is also on Netflix. It is not a typical boring documentary(though I personally lie documentaries) and I think it really could be appreciated by anyone. It talks about what is really important in life, what really makes us happy and the idea of living with less material items. It also discusses that young adults (and even older generations) are in search of a different lifestyle than what years ago was thought to be the key to success.

***Hey guys, I also wanted to note, this post is not sponsored in any way. I was not compensated or given anything for free. This is all just my opinion. 

Five things to do to De-Stress

1. Get in touch with nature. Take a walk somewhere quiet. Walking through the woods is relaxing and takes you away form all the noise.

2. Listen to music. Light candles or just lay in the dark. 

3. Go workout. Going to the gym or on a run is a great way to clear your head.

4. Read a book. Curl up in bed with a great book or go to your favorite coffee shop.

5. Keep a journal and write down your thoughts. If you don't have a journal go get one! Writing down your thoughts is a great way to vent without sharing everything with someone.

     Ashley

I Want to be Envious of my Own Life

     It's not that I really envy other people's lives. I take a look at other people, what they have been doing and all the fun pictures they've taken. I also take into account where they are living and how they are living. What is it that I am missing? I've recently asked myself, why do I feel like I am missing out. It's not that I want what they have or care to do things the way they are doing them. I want to look at my life and feel that it is something I could envy. It's really as if I feel I am not fully engaging my full potential. I am not taking the chance to develop the best version of my self. The version that feels happy, free, adventurous, fulfilled.

     Not everyone's life is always as perfect and wonderful as someone else may perceive it to be. You really don't know exactly what is going on in their life. And even so, what if their life is amazing and they love every minute of it? You can't be happy living someone else's life. You have to live your life doing what makes you happy.

     Setting goals is important. Even more important, completing them. I've been wondering what is holding me back. I don't complete the goals I find scary. I've let fear decide things for me. Some days I feel lost, others certain of my path. This is not to say I am unhappy. I feel blessed to have what I have. I have been given so many opportunities and I have amazing people surrounding me. I do truly feel happy, just not always so sure of what I am doing with my life.

     Sometimes I battle with myself. Take the safe certain route, or the crazy scary route? I see so many different versions of me. Am I the only one? For some reason I struggle with accepting I could be variations of each version. I could be a writer, a magazine editor, a musician, a fitness guru, a traveler and what ever else I can think of.

     I think what the struggle for me is, I have been convinced that the only way to be successful is to follow what society deems so. College is a must, a good career follows and you have to be practical and rational with your decisions for your career.

     At this point I find myself writing things that maybe are a little too heavy, I just felt the urge to write this all down and blog it. Maybe someone will read this and get it. Other's may not.

    This February I'm going to do something gutsy. Something I haven't done in a few years. I'm going to perform in front of an audience. There we go, it's written and publicly on the internet. I have to do it. The only way I can become the best version of myself, the one that feels fulfilled is if I do the things that I find to make me successful. I have to do my own thing and stop letting fear rule.

     Anyone who has read this whole thing... you're seriously awesome!
I also challenge you to set a goal, something you're really nervous to do. Complete it this February. Do it!

 Ashley