Let's reflect...

Yes that is me. Yes that is me looking over my favorite place on Disney property. Can you figure out where it is?

I have been flashing this image that I made some time late last year in my face all week long because... well, I guess I should tell you where I've been. All three of you.

The last three months I have been sucked into a really really really dark place that was full of jealousy and hatred and anxiety and just all sorts of bad bad feelings. I was depressed to the point where I would hardly go to work, I was failing all my classes and I literally did not give a shit if I got out of bed at 3PM.

That is never okay with me.

We do NOT stay in bed until 3PM. EVER.

But I was just in a really dark place and I felt like I was drowning, my life was literally flipped inside out and I didn't know what to do and there was broken glass all over my apartment floors and I was just a big heap of sobbing mess.

So about a week and a half ago I bit the bullet and did something I told myself I wouldn't do, because I'm stronger than that. But there's no sense in asking for help if you really really need it. Right? So for the last few days I've been on this really crazy journey on getting back to who I was, on healing myself mentally, on taking control of my OCD and my taking my life back and for the most part it's been pretty smooth. I did have a few days of extreme depression but I'm okay now and I'm hoping it'll stay steady this way.

I'm taking this month off of everything to just relax. To heal. To get better. Because honestly, in the last ten years since I've struggled with OCD I never actually took the time to just STOP and SLOW DOWN and RELAX. So along with that, I've been reflecting a lot on who I am and what I want from life and where to go from here. 

I've had plenty of idea's of what to do with this blog. I created it as a lifestyle blog that would had followed me into living on my own for the first time ever and that didn't really work out. And now I'm moving into a new place fairly soon and I hope hope hope that I do manage to remember to take this blog on that journey with me into making it my own personal cozy nest. 

Because let's be real. Who wouldn't want to come home to nice cozy nest?

I have started another blog about my journey only because it's open and raw and I decided not to hide anything when it comes to it. You'll be exposed to my demons, my struggles and my crazy bat shit mind. So if you're interested in that sort of stuff, let me know in the comments below or email me and I'll link you over! 

Also, if you have any tips to share when it comes to learning how to relax please also do share those. Relaxing has never really been my thing. Probably why I don't sleep at night. I've started Mindful Meditation (which I'm still convinced I'm doing it wrong) and bits of Yoga to help me sleep but I feel like there should be more I should be doing.

Hello April

[ credit: weheartit.com ]

Whoo! It's finally April! My birthday month!

I actually called out of work today because I've been struck with allergy flu-like symptoms since last Thursday night. Thankfully I'm feeling much better than I did this passed weekend and I can finally feel whatever this is leaving my system! I swear, the east coast gives me the weirdest allergy reactions!

It's also April Fools Day and I don't know about everyone else but I was never really a fan of April Fools. Now that I'm much older, I hate it even more. I just see it as an excuse for people to be assholes and place blame on the fact that "it's April Fools Day" yeah well that punch I threw to your face was no joke! Watch it! But really, it's just dumb in my opinion. All these fake headlines and fake news. I mean come on, you're going to post that you got engaged then end it with April Fools! in the end who really looks like the fool? The person who fell for it or the person who thought it would be entertaining to make a fool of THEMSELVES?

Anyway...

I'm not going to give myself some epic to do list this month  because my head has been in the clouds since this year started and that alone has been frustrating. I like being organized and on top of my stuff. I didn't even realize my own birthday was next week so I wasn't able to make the plans I wanted to. Oh well. Maybe next time. So instead I'm settling for something small. I don't know, after 21 your birthday isn't that big of a deal anymore. Besides, I don't live in Cali anymore so there isn't really anything to do here in Florida and I don't really want to spend my birthday at Disney World. I really wanted to go to Vegas, it's going to be my second year not going for my birthday and that's just depressing.

But here are some things I hope to dabble into this month... no pressure though!

• Finish reading City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
• Review 3 NetGalley titles
• Tidy up my half of the living area mess
• Tidy up desk
• Be happy on my birthday!
• Start buying flowers
• Craft something.... anything
• Try out one new recipe 
• Come up with a better income management plan
• Write "About Me" pages for blogs
• Facebook less
• Blog more

So that's about it folks! I've been major slacking with finishing City of Glass even though I flew through the first two books because OMG Clary is pissing me off so hardcore in this one! So much in fact that I'm looking forward to Simon's chapters! Goodness, she's like gone off into Bella lala land and it's just annoying. 

I better get something to eat and get started on my next class readings.... I hope to come up with more content for this blog, I know it's a lifestyle blog so technically I can write about anything. I'm just being picky! 

What are some things you hope to get done this month?

New Layout!

Looks a little different around here, doesn't it? :)

I got a new layout done by the wonderful Stephanie over at Hopeless Romantics! This is the second time I've worked with her and it's always such a pleasure! She's totally understanding and patient with whatever you're requesting or requesting her to change. 

So if you're looking for a new layout, I totally recommend her! 

Thank you so much again Stephanie!

Now to get started on those Valentines Day posts....

Bonjour Février!

[ made with Rhonna Designs & Studio app ]

Ahh, the beginning of a new month. There's always something refreshing about new beginnings. Is it just me? And there's a lot to look forward to in February --- Valentines Day (who doesn't love seeing pink and red everywhere? There's something that just lifts your mood!), the beginning of Spring, warmer weather, new makeup and fashion launches...

And with every new month I do that thing to myself... where I make a list of goals I may or may not accomplish but it's okay! There is nothing wrong with wanting to work towards something.

• Get back into the habit of sleeping & waking up at a specific time
• Discover 2 new products
• Attempt to make homework the first priority of the week
• Come up with Valentines Day posts and videos
• Tidy the living area
• Make a lightbox
• Build that dresser
• Read more!
• Learn how to knit
• Fix up "About Me" pages
• Make homemade Gum Drops
• Stay focused

That's not too bad... I think I can live with this list. I really need to start sleeping early again and forcing myself to wake up at a certain time instead of constantly hitting the snooze button. I always start my day off late and honestly, it irritates me. 

→ I want to discover at least 2 new products this month mostly because I don't have a January favorites to film since I didn't really discover much. While I have a few products to talk about, I don't have enough to make it worth making a video for and that kinda sucks. 

→ I want to tidy our living area because it's been a mess since... we moved here and it keeps getting worse! We have no storage space at all in our tiny apartment but that doesn't mean that clutter can just build anywhere. I need to get more storage boxes from Target if anything and just start throwing things in a box or away if I really have no use for them. 

→ With that, I also want to tidy it so I can have a place for my light box! Right now I'm just using a desk with left over pretty Christmas garland bunched up and while that's fine, it doesn't give me a big enough range to shoot. 

→ I reallyyyy want to learn how to knit those beanies I love so much. I think that'll be fun! I need to fix up my "About Me" pages for all my blogs. I have one blog where I haven't updated it since 2010. Yeah. Crazy right? So I need to fix that. I kind of feel like your about me page is sort of like a resume. For your blog. 

→ I came across this recipe for homemade Gum Drops. I've never had Gum Drops. But I love homemade confections. And anything rolled in powered sugar so... why not?

→  I lost my focus a bit towards the end of last month because hubby got the flu and I spent a ton of time waiting for it to hit me (which it never did, thank goodness) and I think that in itself caused me to waste a lot of time so this month --- stay focused!

What are some of your goals for this month?

Hello, December

[ credit unknown ]

It is officially the last month of 2013 and just like every December, I can't believe the year went by so quickly! I'm finally on an academic break for a little while and I'll be on another one during Christmas so I'm trying to enjoy this downtime while I can! I got my second A in a row with the class I just finished and I'm so happy, seriously! I wasn't expecting to get another A! Hard work and sacrificing fun things do pay off --- I guess.

Even though it's December, here in Orlando it's still in the 80's. It's cooler but not really cold yet. I've been attempting Vlogmas and I think I'll be posting them on the lifestyle channel instead of the "vlog" channel like I had planned. I'm going to just mash up day 1-7 because they were short vlogs anyway... I'm still trying to get in the habit of actually pointing the camera at me while talking. 

I know I've been seriously slacking on the blog posts here, and I'm hoping since I have so much time off this month that I'll be able to catch up on things! I want 2014 to be as productive and as successful as it can be! And I've already made a resolutions draft. I couldn't help it!

But as for December, here are some things I hope to accomplish before 2013 is over ---

• Read 3-5 books (mostly big 2013 releases and holiday books)
• Get on the ball of posting a lifestyle video twice a week
• Donate $1 to the jar for every mile ran (borrowed this idea from a friend)
• Figure out a budget system for 2014
• Tidy the apartment
• Make homemade Gumdrops
• Make homemade Pillow Mints
• Do a whole lot of 2014 prepping!

What are some things you guys are planning on doing this month to see 2013 off? And what are some things you're planning on doing in 2014?

Happy 4th of July!

 

Happy Fourth of July!!!

I hope it's spent with family, good food and good times!

 

My brother is going to be making a feast back home in California while I'm here in Florida about to go to work where I'll have Lunchables for lunch and I won't even be off in time to see fireworks *sigh*. The downside to working in a theme park --- you never get in on the fun! I'm just hoping it doesn't rain today like it has been storming all week.

Oh well, there's always next year!

Hello!

I know, wtfffffff right? Another blog? I know I have lots of personal blogs and lots of nitch blogs but I just wanted a blog blog. If that makes sense. I've been thinking about making a lifestyle blog for awhile now and while I know my personal blogs could be a lifestyle blog... I don't feel like it fits. If that makes any sense. I want a place where I can mention products and food and things without feeling like I have to write a full blown detailed review after. 

I mean I might write reviews here but nothing in depth and extensive like you can find on my other blogs. I don't promise to update every day but I will try to update frequently. 

I wish I had started this blog earlier, before my new adventure so I could had talked about some of the things here, at home. Like about my kittens or just random little things about home and the "usual" things we do.

Oh also I wanted a place where I could casually mention (or rant) about my marriage and my gamer husband. And all his games. Which by the way today is our 9 year dating anniversary :D sort of blows my mind!

So yes, welcome to { f a i r y t a l e . l i f e s t y l e } where I'll talk (mostly ramble) about food, products, makeup, more food, entertainment, and life in general. I do hope you enjoy it here and I do hope you subscribe and leave comments!