Product Empties – May 2015

I am so excited to have my FIRST YouTube Video! Please let me know your thoughts. 🙂 (Besides the terrible thumbnail…)

 

 

Back to the Blogosphere

Almost one year has since my last post, and man have things changed around here! In short, I got promoted and went from working less than 30 hours a week to close to 60. The same week of my promotion I went out on my first date with Beau, who has since become my fabulous boyfriend. I went from many hours of free time each week to exercise, cook and eat healthy meals and spend time with friends to barely have the time (and energy) to get to know my new guy.

In these past 11 months I have learned (or maybe relearn) 2 very important things about myself:

1. No matter what amazing things may be happening in my life, even things I have wanted for years, I will not be happy if I don’t take time for my friends, eat well, and exercise. It didn’t hit me how off-balance my life was until I went to a Christmas party in December and I realized it had been over six months since I had seen my friends. During the first months of my new position, I was usually tired and no amount of caffeine could help with that. My love handles that I fought so hard to loose were coming back. I had lost all balance in my life.

2. Blogging is a must. Blogging is one of my favorite hobbies, one of my favorite things I have. It has connected me to new friends, new interests (vlogging) and reunited me with old favorites (beauty stuff).

So, here I am!

So happy to be back.

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Things I like this week (vol 17).

She kills me.

1. A few weeks ago, Tahn and I met my friend and her two Labradors at the lagoon and let the dogs swim. Tahn found the only mud on the beach and decided to roll in it right before we left. She refused to go back into the lagoon afterwards, forcing me to take a very muddy dog home. I still have mud in my car. Let’s just say we haven’t been back to the lagoon since.
2. I read The Glass Castle a few years ago and I can definitely say it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read. When I saw this New York Times article about the author, I was so interested to learn about her and her mother today.
3. I’ve found myself sitting at my computer most nights watching YouTube Beauty Vlogs. I also watch them with a gigantic bowl of homemade popcorn and it makes me so excited. I’ve found many new beauty products I want to try, and learned of some to stay away from. Part of me wants to get my own video camera and make my own YouTube Vlog channel. You down?
4. A few weekends ago, I went to Arizona to watch my cousin marry the love of her life. I originally couldn’t make it for a few reasons, so getting to go was really exciting. Highlights of the trip? Dancing with Buddy, the only child (only two-and-half-year old child) on the dance floor. That kid has moves. It was one of my favorite memories of my life.
5. Also at the wedding? My cousin, aka the little brother my sister and I never had but always wanted. He lived in CA last year and my sister and I got in the habit of seeing him almost every month. When he moved back east last fall, it was a sad day. It had been almost a year since my sister and I saw him so it was thethreebuddies reunited once again. The weekend was way too short and I keep trying to get him to move back to CA. One more thing I love about my cousin? He loves Tahn and made a point to tell many family members about how wonderful she is. Brownie points to anyone who loves my dog and gushes about her.
   

   I may or may not have screamed when I saw THIS GUY.

   

   Me, my mom, and my sister.

   

   Yes, I’m very pale & she’s very tan. Yes, we have the same parents. Nope, I don’t tan.

6. I saw this video on NPR, and I have to say, the innocence and logic of this toddler was powerful and profound.
7. Thanks to theSkimm, I found this little nugget of a video. At first I thought it was a SNL skit, but soon learned this lady is serious. I spent Thursday morning of last week watching it with my roommate and we couldn’t stop laughing. But, the woman is skinny as a rail, so the joke is on us, I guess.
8. From all my beauty blogs and Vlogs I read, I learned about Maybelline Color Tattoos. They go on smooth, and stay all day without creasing. The good news is that I AM IN LOVE. The bad news is that I will be buying every. single. color. Goodbye, money.

Happy Thursday!! xxxxoo

Things I like this week (vol 16).

Love San Diego. Best decision ever.

1. TheSkimm. I. AM. OBSESSED. It’s funny, informative, and my one of the best parts of my day. I wake up excited to read it and cry a little on Saturday and Sunday when they take the days off.
2. Nicole’s post to Do Whatever You Fucking Want. Hell yeah.
3. Maskcara’s makeup recommendations. I’ve been using L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara for months (I randomly chose it one day) and it’s the best mascara I’ve ever used. I started using her recommendation for a lip liner (yes, it’s sold as an eyeliner, but you use it as a lip liner). I’ve gotten many compliments every time I’ve used it. I’ve very fair so I have to be careful with it, but it’s fabulous.
4. Noosa yogurt. When I started antibiotics to rid myself of my sinus infection, I ate yogurt everyday to make sure the good bacteria stayed alive and well. My roommate has been eating this brand for months, so I decided to try it. I love it. The downside? It’s pretty pricey. (My fav is the raspberry. Oh my YUM).
5. Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin. It makes the most perfect bun that stays. I saw this product months ago and thought it was a big joke, but after seeing Maskcara use it successfully I decided to try it. (I found that inserting the spin pin horizontally works better for my hair. Also, like Maskcara, it works best on dirty hair).
6. Hollywood Housewife’s very brave, honest and heartfelt post on anxiety. My favorite part: “(Anxiety is) like allergies. You can manage it, but it’s still something that is there. Okay, it’s not really much like allergies. But it’s something I have no control over. And like depression, or PPD, or any other number of mental health issues, severe anxiety is not something you can talk yourself out of. One can’t simply ‘calm down.’ Deep breaths are not the answer.” I wanted to stand up and cheer.
7. I took Jessica’s recommendation and tried Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer. I love it. It really brightens my face, and covers dark circles.
8. Jess Lively’s free May wallpaper. It’s brighten my desktop and makes me smile every time I see it.

Happy Tuesday! xxoo

Things I like this week (vol 15).

Follow me on Instagram: BrittanyandTahn

It’s been a rough week. Not only did our country experience some hefty tragedies, we remembered heartaches from the past. (Oklahoma City Bombing {18 years}, and Columbine {14 years}).

How about we focus on the good? On to things I like:

1. Maskcara blog: I’ve never been into beauty blogs before, but I just discovered this blog and I love it! Cara’s the inspiration for my pretty iPhone apps. So Fancy! I can’t wait to try her 4 minute makeup.
2. How not to say the wrong thing. (This has been all over the internet, and it’s a GREAT theory. I first learned of it from SP&A).
3. BB Cream vs. Tinted Moisturizer: I recently started using BB cream and I have to say, I LOVE IT. I use Garnier Skin Renewal in Fair.
4. Dove’s Real Beauty Sketches: If you haven’t watched this, it’s worth 3 minutes.
5. Neon Heels.
6. My friends! I’ve been a hot mess home sick with a cold/sinus infection and my friends have been there with medicine, food, and calls of support. LOVE THEM. (It wasn’t as bad as Strep 2011 was. New city, new friends, same support. How lucky can a girl be?)
7. Tiny Houses. Obsessed. Question: where can I build one?

Happy Monday!

xxoo

Things I like this week (vol 14).

(Image via Rosie Molinary)

1. This NY Times article has been posted many times, but is worth posting again. I’ll try anything where relaxation = more productivity
2. I love baking soda as a cleaner. I use it all over my apartment. It’s safe, non toxic and cheap!
3. This other NY Times article was written by a 17-year-old. (I wish I wrote like that when I was 17. Okay fine. I wish I write like that now!)
4. Tips to bring relaxation into your life from Teacher Goes Back to School. (Again, the more relaxation, the better!)
5. I’m all about changing the way I talk to myself. So, it feel like Nicole’s Change Your Story, Change Your Life was written just for me. (It was, wasn’t it?)

Happy Monday 🙂

28 things I learned in my 28th year

Today I am 28 years old. 🙂 Here are 28 things I learned in this past year.

1. I love going to plays. I saw two plays (Good People and The Brother’s Size) this year, and I was moved to tears by both. I can’t wait to see the next one!
2. I enjoy TV shows that have one word titles; “Revenge”, “Deception”, “Nashville”, “Survivor”, “Scandal”, “Chicago Fire”… oh wait. Never mind.
3. You can teach an old dog new tricks.
   

   Tahn, at her first (second  time around) Puppy Class

4. I hate living in a messy bedroom and a messy house. (Also: I hate all the clutter and stuff I have. I am in the process of getting rid of many things. DVDs and old Coach purses, anyone?)
5. I like driving with my windows down.
6. I need to do yoga weekly. With or without a studio.
7. I shouldn’t wait until I make more money to start saving money. I am learning to make better (small) financial choices daily.
8. I did find an exercise that I love.
9. Meditation only helps with stress if you practice it daily. Meditation doesn’t help when you’re remarkably stressed or upset.
10. Being honest and telling the truth continues to be the best and most challenging decision I’ve ever made in my life.
11. Eating well daily and consistently keeping active will help you lose (and keep off) weight.
12. I like thriller novels. (Just like my grandma).
13. Being single is really fantastic. I have embraced my singleness this year (after the dramatic failure of an attempted relationship) and I am much, much happier single.
14. I was born a leader. And I become a better leader everyday.
15. Making time for myself has a paramount affect on my happiness spectrum.
16. I actually do like going out. As a self-proclaimed home-body, I have found friends whom like doing what I like to do – happy hours!  (and other things). I love it.
17. Acts of kindness from strangers are some of the best experiences you’ll ever have.
18. While making friends can be challenging, once you find them, they bless your life in more ways then you could ever imagine.
19. San Diego is one of the best places to live. (My sister was right).
20. Doing the right thing and treating others with respect doesn’t guarantee that you won’t have conflict in your life. In fact, there is no protection at all. Sometimes, you do the right thing and get burned. Don’t be deferred. Do the right thing.
21. Although I value the opinions of those who I care most about, their opinions are just that – opinions. I am the person who has to live with my daily choices and life. My opinion is the only one that matters.
22. Having a nephew is great. Having a niece and a nephew is really fantastic.
23. Tahn LOVES a routine.
24. The difference a year makes. I am in such a better place then I was a year ago. And a year before that. Aging is awesome!
25. I need to learn how to speak slower. For real.
26. Non-judging is key to my happiness.
27. Kitchen appliances, although they take up space, can be very useful for healthy cooking. (A food processor and blender are on the top of the list, not far down is a rice cooker). (Also: I am my father’s child).
28. My mom and dad really, truly love me with all of their hearts. (It’s not that I didn’t know this, but this year I was overwhelmed by their love for me on many occasions. I went home a few weeks before Thanksgiving and the one thing I took away from that weekend was that my parents just love me. It is one of the best feelings in the world).
    

    My mom and me.

    

    My dad and me. (Hey Dad, we need to take a more updated picture. This is from 2009).

Things I Like This Week (vol 13).

1. Although I enjoy myself a glass of green juice and am a budding vegan, I’ve never been a die hard Kris Carr fan. But her post on her Celebrating a Decade of Thriving with Cancer really moved me.
2. I’ve recently started reading some of Danielle La Porte’s writings and this one on being drama free.  And after months of all the drama, that is exactly what I needed.
3. I’ve started liking Zen Habits less and less, but this recent advice to his kids was very beautiful.
4. And lastly, from Rosie Molinary, Don’t Engage Crazy. (I am totally stealing this rule).

(Photo via Rosie Molinary)

Things I like this week (vol 12).

I home sick with a stupid cold this week, but I did find a few things I like, for your viewing pleasure.

1.  These tacos. I made them Friday night (pre-cold) and I am still enjoying them (during cold).
2. This video from Smacksy. So cute.
3. This Super Bowl commercial. I’m sure you’re not surprised. Can I have a horse? How about that cute cowboy? That’s the kind of  man with a white truck that I need to meet…
4. This post. I think every woman needs to believe Elizabeth’s truth.
5. And, finally, this post.

Happy Monday

white trucks, cleaning out closets, and consequences to everything

White pick-up trucks have a visceral affect on me.

White, Ford Ranger, pick-up trucks, specifically.

Previously, the affect was joy-filling excitement.

Currently, the affect is gut-wrenching painful.

The white truck knocks that box of sorrow off the shelf I so neatly tucked away a few weeks ago and throws its wide open, spilling it’s contents everywhere.

I stand there looking at the contents of the box, saying, “You again? Really!?”

But that’s the way it goes I guess. That’s the thing about things. Sometimes when you think you’re over something, (or maybe desperately trying to be over it) certain triggers pull you right back and make you dealwithitnow.

Consequently, this is what I will do.

______

This past weekend, Tahn and I traveled home to the Bay Area to see Buddy and my newest love, Lily (my brand new niece. And no, Lily’s not her real name).

On this trip home, I decided to clean out the closet of the my previous bedroom at my Dad’s house. The closet that hadn’t been touched close to the 10 years since I lived there.

Hello dust.

Hello old memories.

Hello junk.

Hello whydidIeverkeepthis?

It was overall good, cathartic and slightly odd. I threw away/gave away/ recycled most of everything save a few boxes of photos and cards from my grandma. And of course, a Justin Timberlake doll.

Old habits.

______

During our stay home, Tahn happily found herself at her grandpa’s. Like old times, he had her water bowl and bed out for her to feel right at home.

Over the weekend, my dad would occasionally leave Tahn alone.

Yesterday, after I returned home, my dad called to tell me a story.

My dad is in the process of putting new doors on his kitchen cabinets. Therefor, his cabinets and all such contents are exposed and open.

On Tuesday, he found a Brillo pad (which is usually kept under the kitchen sink) in the cabinet under the stove.

When he told me this story, he indicated this was a sign of protest by Tahn; she did not appreciate being left alone.

My response?

There are always consequences for your behavior.

😉

______

What are your current triggers? (Positive or Negative)

Do you have any plans for Spring Cleaning?