Dressing up your Jewelry

I did some major cleaning today, and one of the tasks I wanted to get through was showing off my jewelry in an eclectic way. In the past I just shoved my jewelry in boxes that held a place but didn't show them off. I found some major inspiration here and decided to give it a try. I am extremely happy with the outcome and it makes my desk and jewelry look dressed up!

 This Buddha figure is actually a drink glass I got from Benihana. The arms up was perfect to place my hair ties and bracelets

I got this reindeer a few years back for my birthday and did not quite know what to do with it. I finally realized it is the perfect place to hang my necklaces, watch and flower clips.

My bracelet collection keeps getting bigger and the wine bottles seemed like the perfect place to show them off. To finish off I placed them on a glass tray with my favorite perfumes and Moroccan Oil.

Frustrated

Ladies, how do you pick yourself up when you are feeling so down?

I keep asking this question to myself, how can I feel better about myself?

Lately I've been obsessed, maybe too obsessed about my body. I was on this healthy track...working out, eating healthy and just seeing the weight I didn't need drop. It felt so good! I was healthy, accomplished, felt energized and really liked what I saw in the mirror...

Then I went to Europe. I had the best time of my life. Exploring, eating, exploring, eating, eating, eating and eating. It didn't hit until the very end, but I gained weight, a good amount of weight, 10 pounds to be exact.

While there it didn't matter to me because I wanted to experience everything and not regret trying the cuisine. Coming back was a different story.

I thought I would just get back into my health routine and the weight would fall off in a week. I was wrong. I've been wrong. Don't get me too wrong though, I've been back into my routine of working out, hard, and eating healthy, yet I am not back to where I was when I left for the trip.

I am so frustrated. Frustrated to the point where I feel like giving up.

I am constantly feeling down, wishing I was back to the lighter person I was prior to leaving, and how upset I am I just can't come to terms with my body now.

I keep pushing myself knowing I will eventually lose the weight I gained from Europe but keep asking myself when?


Everyday I try to see it as a new day and keep a positive mind, but dammit I want my old body back!

Just got to keep moving forward...and just for motivation...my it girl. We have similar body frames so I feel like this is a realistic goal.

A Luster (and sometimes a Lover)

Damn you fall. I mean your weather is lovely, your colors are beautiful, but your new wardrobe can get too expensive! Okay, not like I don't have past season fall clothes, but exactly that, past season. Now that I'm really going to have to save and budget wisely that leaves out all the things I want to splurge on.

I lust, oh every single day of my life. And to add insult to injury the new Free People catalog slapped me across my face with beautiful fabrics. All that I think I need, who am I kidding? Of course I need....and will not get unless I win the lottery or someone decides to take me on a shopping spree. Takers?

A few items that are just so delicious!

I'm usually a black and white kind of gal but I'd love to incorporate these soft colors into my wardrobe.

Images courtesy of Free People

Moving Out

It's happening. I'm finally leaving the nest. It's a bit bittersweet. 

Bitter: I'm so close to my family, I'll miss seeing them everyday.
-All the groceries I want, I will now have to budget
-Change is scary when you've been so used to a place for over 20 years

Sweet: Chris and I moving in!
-Having a cool apartment we get to call our home
-Decorating
-Finally leaving the nest by 25! Such an adult I am.

Chris and I are in the process of finding a place. We're pretty sure the location and style, now it's just finding a place that's available and in our price range, and if all goes well, things will be moving very, very soon.

To a new chapter in my life!

That Lightbulb Moment

I had an epiphany. It all happened so suddenly, and it put everything into perspective that I've been so nervous about. You see, I am in the final stretch of my undergrad. So exciting, yet so nerve racking. I knew what I kind of, sort of wanted to do, but wasn't 100% sure. I knew I wanted to go to grad school, but for what? I'm a psychology major, but clinical, therapy, research, statistics, experiments, blah, blah, blah never interested me. I hate research, I don't want to diagnose people, and I don't want to be a therapist. I was interested in the social aspect of psychology, mostly relationships, gender issues, sexuality, all the good stuff (to me, anyway). This semester I am taking a "Women in Societies" class, though it's still the beginning we talk about gender issues, the stuff that interest me the most. While my professor doesn't know it, she helped me understand what I want to do with my future. I want to go to grad school to study women and gender studies and eventually teach, at college level, gender studies courses. I guess I always kind of knew, but again wasn't sure until this past Wednesday morning while listening to my professor lecture on the differences of what was considered the beauty standard from years ago to today. I feel accomplished that I know what I want to do and now knowing where I need to go. I've just briefly started researching grad schools (a stress in itself) and will start the whole grueling applying for school process over again. But it's exciting. A whole new fresh start and an exciting path towards my future!

Missing in Action

Oh, life. How it can be so boring and unproductive and then out of nowhere a big 180 of constant moving. I have been MIA. Back to school. Back to work. Back to the busy life. It is finally my last semester of my undergrad (happy and sad at the same time) and I am in a pickle with work. After graduation I want to pick up something that would help with my future career...something in psychology, gender issues, human sexuality, it's quite vague and will probably be hard to jump into but if there is a will there is a way. Now I am just struggling to stay afloat and sane and find those much needed me times...this being one of them. 

My dad has also been home for the week! It's been so amazing and we have been so spoiled with his cooking. We've been spending so much time with him lately because the next time we see him will probably be around the holidays.

...and more pictures of life lately...I like to keep taking pictures because life is worth remembering!

 I was walking back from class and saw this on a car...had to take a picture, HAH!

 My brother Brad who is probably around 10 here (he's 13 now). He has always been so cool!

We've had the coolest skies lately!

Catching Cas red handed drinking pool water

A colorful (and healthy) snack

New safety pin bracelet, I find it quite cool  
Mirror Pic! Actually I took this because I finally got new frames after 4+ years and wanted to get a picture of myself in them.

 My cousin had an art gallery opening at Cal State Fullerton, it was great!

 Many beer labels from The Bruery

 Dad BBQ'ing! 

 Happy!

 Trying to teach dad about Instagram...and had to take a picture of a picture of us

So spoiled! Homemade everything including flour tortillas!!!!!

New ways to creep myself out

Cupcakes again? Oh, my, yes!

Red Bull gives you wings! Found this in the parking structure at school, quite amusing!

Pictures Lately

After Europe I got another phone and have continued taking pictures of what happens in my life. Since my last posts have been about the actual trip I have collected a good amount of photos throughout the last 6 weeks or so of being home (I can't believe I have already been home that long!). So here are pictures lately!

The day after I got back Chris and I went hat shopping and had some fun!

 Brad and I oh so happy!

 Mom drinking a beer...and a big one! This never happens, ever!

 Chocolate covered bananas and a Balboa Bar from Newport Beach

 My bike was out of commission for a long while, finally got a tune up and road that baby all over the place!

 Hiking with my really good friend Britney in L.A. at Runyon Canyon

 Yep! I used the Sprinkles Cupcake ATM Machine and it makes me happy I live so far away from it because I would get fat

 My weakness

 Peanut Butter Banana Sushi! Get: Whole wheat tortilla, tablespoon of peanut butter, one banana, honey and strawberry slices (optional)
Spread PB on tortilla, place banana, roll up and cut into pieces, drizzle honey on top and garnish with strawberries...delicious!

 Cut my hair! It was time for a change

Brad's 13th Birthday at Disneyland!

Channeling my inner-kid with Minnie Mouse ears

 Aren't we so photogenic? I actually really like this picture of us, it's perfectly imperfect

 Deliciously unhealthy dinner...homemade carnitas burrito with homemade enchilada sauce and homemade guacamole! My mouth is watering now...

 ...and back to healthy

New bracelets! Or 'armswag'....they never get old!

 Sunsets

 Love, love, love! Pin-up girls!!

It's waaaaaay too bright without sunglasses, good thing I own way too many pairs

 And Sprinkles did it to me again....dammit!

 Sassy Cassie all sprawled out after a long hot day on my desk