Lost in my mind

6 Drawer Makeup Orginizer

N2 Makeup Cube

 (bottom drawer - largest drawer)

I've seen many beauty bloggers fold their top lids back behind the organizer and place their perfumes and taller items on top. I really liked the idea and copied it :-)

Melted Liquid Lipstick

Another Story

Buxom Lip Swatches

BeYOUtiful

       Learning to love ourselves is one of the hardest things some of us will ever do. One of the reasons for this is because we know ourselves. We know all our thoughts, mistakes, flaws etc. This is what inspired, "Greater Than Our Hearts",  a chapter in my book, Living As Children of Light & Oaks of Righteousness. Sometimes our own heart holds us back. 

        Other times, however the opinions of other people hold us back. This is a little more challenging because we can't control other people. We can't make them grow, open their eyes, expand their minds. We have no say in what someone else does. So if someone else chooses to live their life putting others down, discriminating and acting like a bully there is nothing we can do. We can only change how we handle the situation. 

        Some easy ways I've learned to conquer negative outside voices is A) make sure they stay outside voice. Clean out your circle of friends even family. If someone does not see how amazing you are make sure they remain an outsider. You don't need purposely hurtful people in your inner circle. B) Know your own worth. Make a list, keep reminders of all your positive attributes and accomplishments. Other people may never see you in a positive light, but how you see yourself can make all the difference. C) Remember who created you. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. God does not make mistakes. You and God are a majority. You may desperately crave people's approval, but remember you are already approved of by God.

       In a world full of circumstances out of our control it's important we know how to care for our own mental and emotional health. Just as David learned to encourage himself, we too must learn to minister to our own hearts and minds. There may not always be someone else there to do it. 

        Know your worth, BeYOUtiful.

X Ambassadors - Renegades

Too Faced Swatches

Too Faced makeup is one of my top two favs. The formula is always on point. 

Dinner 9/9/15

    Yum! Brown rice, steamed HEB broccoli florets & peas, Texas Gulf shrimp and teriyaki sauce. This is one of my favorite dinners. It's easy and low points for Weight Watchers. I cook a large pot of brown rice (that lasts almost all month) with some organic coconut oil because it's good for my hormones, brain and hair :-) The veggies are steamed and a little seasoning added. It's really so so so simple. If you wanted you could add egg whites to give it a Chinese fried rice feel. I personally stay away from eggs and milk as much as possible (food intolerance), if I hadn't had 2 egg whites this past weekend I might have added them :-) I've seen great improvement in my moods and hormones since I eliminated most eggs and milk. We've been drinking almond milk for years, but now I also stay away from most cheese, yogurts etc. 

Leading me now

Acrylic Beauty Cube

I'm really excited about my N2 Makeup Co. beauty cube! I've been reading reviews and searching for what seems like forever. I finally decided this is the one I wanted. N2 Makeup Co. offers different size options. I chose the biggest - 6 drawers. I didn't want to out grow it as I did my last extra mini one. Thankfully my old one wasen't overly girly and my hubby will get to use it for his face washes, hair glue, and beard creams :-). I'll post a blog or video showing you how I organize mine.

Field Report - Home

Zahra lipstick tower

   Seriously, this is my dream lipstick organizer! I've been looking around for a long time and this is the one my favorite makeup artists use. I did my research before purchasing my lipstick tower. I've only found two brands that sell it, and Zahra was by far the best in my opinion - plus it comes in several colors. It also spins smoothly and holds 80 lipsticks. It beats keeping all my lippies in a bag under the sink. Surprisingly, it helps me cycle through items I would have otherwise forgotten about. And the sleek look does not clutter my sink area. It's a little expensive for plastic but it's something I see myself having forever.  HERE is a link to a detailed review by a makeup artist

Mac Lipstick Swatches

      I love having a personal blog for random fun posts like this! Makeup is one of my many interests. I spend lots of time reading makeup blogs, searching lipstick swatches etc. In this post I'd like to share my Mac swatches because I find other people's swatch posts helpful and enjoyable. These posts are great for people researching colors before purchasing them online. :-)  I'll also share a swatch post for Bobbi Brown, Sephora, Anastasia Beverly Hills and Too Faced lipsticks.

S - satin
L- lustre
F - frost
A- amplified
C- cremesheen
M- matte
 

*TIP* Apply a lip primer before applying lipstick. 

This insures your natural lip color doesn't come through. 

I use TOO FACED lip primer.

Keep your head up - Ben Howard

Socionics

        I'm new to socionics. I'm not sure what Ell-1Fi means, but I know INFJ from MBTI. The description is pretty accurate.My hubby read the description HERE and his jaw dropped - he thinks it's mostly me. He is shocked at how accurate these personality typing systems are. I've officially won him over. He is an EIE- ENFJ - I agree, it's mostly him. The accuracy of the Ennagram and MBTI  is what won me over many years ago (and now Socionics). I could talk for hours about these things, and now that hubby is excited about them I have a partner in crime! 

          I do wonder why some people can take personality tests and always score the same thing, where others, like me, often score differently. I'm usually an INFP or in INFJ, I've honestly given up trying to figure it out and labeled myself an INFx for now. I'm also wondering if I could be totally off and be a T, not an F. The only way to really know is to invest in a professional system. I think it would be worth it.

Favorite Fall Lipsticks

        Fall is the perfect time to change up your makeup palette and indulge in deep berries, warmer nudes, muted grapes and dark wines. I also play with darker berry eyes shadows and blushes. I personally think it's odd to rock a bright orange flamingo lip when it's freezing outside, BUT to each their own. :-) Do what makes you happy :-D

*TIP* Apply a lip primer before applying lipstick. 

This insures your natural lip color doesn't come through. 

I use TOO FACED lip primer.

Weight lifting and hormones

     

      I think I've gotten a little breakthrough. I've been lifting weights for awhile now, but I've been keeping them pretty light. I read an article a few weeks ago about common weight lifting mistakes for hormone balance. One of those mistakes was using light weights - me! So I upped the poundage and started using 10lb dumb bells instead of 5lbs, soon to increase to15lbs. This has literally changed everything! I went grocery shopping yesterday with no anxiety at all - I was at peace! Thank you, God! Like, not even a second of anxiety rushed through my veins! I didn't even realize this accomplishment until I was heading home because anxiety was so far gone I didn't even think about it. I simply enjoyed myself.

         Literally after doing a session with heavier weights my mood shifts completely. After a week of faithfully lifting weights daily, I actually found myself dancing yesterday when a song came on, and giggling and being silly again. I will forever believe everything is tied to hormones (that's why I get so upset over the forced fluoride in our water which hurts hormone production in many people)! Since reading the article, I've left dumbbells by my desk and I use them daily even while sitting. 

      I've done cardio since elementary school because I've been dieting since then sadly. I started having body image issues as a young child. I remember being in the Brownies and volunteering at a nursing home and an elder lady saying loudly, getting everyone's attention, "Why is that little girl so fat!" and I was so ashamed as everyone turned to stare at me. I couldn't have been more than 4yrs old - so goes the story of my life - I could give countless examples.

      Anyway that's another story for another day, but with all the cardio I've done in my life thus far, my mood has never shifted so dramatically as it has with heavier weight lifting. I'm truly excited to see what happens as I remain committed to weight lifting. No hormone cream, no pill, no anything has had this quick and dramatic of an affect in my life.

Pay Attention

        We've all heard actions speak louder than words. This lesson, as easy as it seems, is not always practiced easily - at least not for me. This season of my life I seem to be ready and willing to simply cut to the chase. I have a lower tolerance for games and hoping people meant something else. Like it's commonly said, people are always showing us who they are - believe them!

        It's usually best to give people the benefit of the doubt, but that does not mean we ignore what their actions are showing us. I remember as a teen watching an interview of Paris Hilton. She said, "I usually tell people what they want to hear and then I do what I want." The concept never occurred to me in that phase of my life. I began considering people's words and actions differently from that point.  I believe this describes most people, though we wouldn't admit it. 

         This also goes for people like me who idealize people. If I'm not careful I will ignore the signs and believe what I want about someone or something. Eventually, the truth is to big to ignore. It would have been better for me to note the signs and give them the weight they deserved. Age and maturity have given me more confidence in my own insight. I'm also learning to value my own time.
     It's important to not give yourself away mentally, emotionally, spiritually - make sure people are invested in you too. I've learned not to doubt what I notice. And I'm learning to put insights in the language of others. I'm excited to see how this plays out in my 30s. Having the ability and boldness to put your foot down and say, "This isn't working for me" is a powerful place to be.

Dreams

       Every morning I get up, get dressed, let my dogs outside and feed them. While they are outside I get my coffee and make my breakfast. After I let the pups in I take my coffee to my office where I sit at my desk check my e-mails and type my dreams. I used to write my dreams in a journal but even the shortest dream can take two pages to write out. I can type the same dream in less than 5min. in Word. I have over 60 full pages of dreams typed, not counting the many years I spent writing them in a journal and online in Myspace blog (Myspace? What's that? lol). 

        Dreams are very telling and I take them very seriously. I find wisdom and revelation in them daily. At the bare minimum dreams help release unhealthy feelings, ideas and stress that collect throughout our daily lives. These types of dreams are very helpful and healing as well. I'm a firm believer that we are spiritual beings with a momentary human experience. As our spiritual selves learn to manage and coexist with our human selves we start experiencing our best life. 

My foot update!

     While updating this blog I read a few of my "foot injury" posts from 2012. I want to give a quick update. My foot still hurts! It will most likely be this way for the rest of my life - I've accepted that. I will never buy Reebok shoes again! If you don't know, Reebok had a line of workout shoes called "Easy Tone" which had toning balls at the bottom. There was a lawsuit because people were getting injured because instead of rocking the foot forward like a rocking chair, people's feet, legs and hips were rolling left to right - as did my foot. I don't know what happened with the lawsuit (I think I was to late to join in?). All I know is they gave me my $60 back for the stupid shoes. Not much for a life long injury.
     When the weather changes my foot begins to hurt, if I do lunges my foot begins to hurt, if I wear high heels my foot begins to hurt. There is nothing I can do about it. Just last week I had to skip four or fives days worth of workouts because my foot felt like a knife was stabbing the injured spot.
     Most days I'm okay, but it will never be the same. If I sit wrong my foot hurts, if something puts to much pressure on it then it hurts again. Honestly, I'm a silent sufferer and my family doesn't hear much about it unless they ask. It's become part of my normal life and I don't think much of it. Anyway, for memory sake, that's the update. :-)

Happy 31st Birthday!!!!

Happy Birthday to me (7/25/84)! I truly hate when people ask me how old I am. I know I just posted it, but something about saying it out loud sends bolts of anxiety and fear through me. It seems unreal that I'm in my 30's. I know people say, "It's just a number", but it still makes me feel scared. CAN LIFE PLEASE SLOW DOWN, GEEZ! :-)

     Is there ever a time in life when you sit back, breath and just feel okay? When you're in your 20's you have the pressure of moving out, getting a solid job, getting married etc. When your married people start pressuring you about buying a house, having kids etc. In every season people expect you to be one season ahead. If you listen to these voices you will always feel wrong, you will always feel pressured and unhappy. I've learned to tune those voices out and just BE. But that doesn't mean I still don't wrestle with the pressure at times.

      I'm a firm believer in trusting the timing of our lives and allowing people to truly embrace where they are without pressure to be somewhere else. At the right time everything comes together as it should. And when it all comes together I always look back with disappointment and think, "Why didn't I just enjoy that season. Look, everything worked out!" Now, in my 30's I've noticed that I'm more trusting in the timing of my life. 

      Since the age of 21 till now I've gotten married, bought a house, became a mom to three fur-babies, worked in ministry, gone through countless personal/spiritual development classes, written, designed and published four books with many more on the way. Who knows what will unfold by the time I'm 41, but I'm excited to find out. God has been faithful - I wont start doubting now!
        Everyone's journey is different. Finally in this season of my life I'm coming into my own - not comparing myself or allowing others to compare me to anything or anyone else. I'm learning to follow peace in all things. I'm learning to find rest within myself.
        I foresee myself growing by leaps and bounds during my 30s. Marriage is a challenging situation many find themselves in lol. It stretches us in ways nothing else will. It causes us to flare up and shrink back all at the same time and teaches us about sacrifice, unconditional love, it holds a mirror up for us to see ourselves  - good and bad. It's wonderful and painful all at the same time.
          I'm so thankful that my hubby and I are committed to growing together as a couple and individually. It's not an easy road, but it is fulfilling and fruitful. I look forward to our lives going from glory to glory and victory to victory.

Halloween 2013 and 2014

    My hubby is a silly man and loves making people laugh. He denies it, but he is an entertainer at heart. I thought I'd share a few of his past Halloween costumes. His job encourages people to dress up for different events and my hubby is always enthusiastically on board. We are also Johnny Depp fans, go figure! 

(Jack Sparrow 2014)

 (Jack Sparrow)

  (Mad Hatter 2013)

(Mad Hatter)

Salmon patties

Hubby and I have been trying to eat carb free as much as possible and these Salmon patties have been a weekly favorite. I love them because they are so easy to make. Plus, there is always left overs for hubby's lunch. 

Recipe:

3 cans of salmon

4 egg whites (I give the yolks to my dogs)

1 cup of Italian bread crumbs

1/4 cup diced onion and red pepper

seasoning to taste

Directions:

Add all ingredients

knead until everything sticks

form into patties

cook in coconut oil until golden brown on both sides

serve