I am nearly halfway through my freshman year of college and I think it's been pretty good. It was mostly adjusting to college itself and having to live away from home, but it has been an overall positive learning experience for me. I feel like I can get through the rest of the year; I'm familiar with the campus, I'm involved in at least one organization at the moment, I have a solid few friends, and my classes are changing.
01. My hope for this month is to really keep up with yoga. I actually froze my account after summer and never really got into my normal routine once school started. I mean, I think I get a pass for being a freshman in college, but recently I have felt like my motivation has lacked. I don't know if it's just a phase or a "funk." I just went to yoga this morning, but when I wake up every day, all I want to do is sleep in! I keep pushing myself, though. I know it's good for me and I feel amazing after and very productive with my start to the day.
02. I don't really want my need to go out and buy gifts to make me stressed or be at the forefront of my mind. My neighbors and I do a Christmas party every year now and we have a secret Santa and a white elephant. Basically, we buy a gift for someone in our friend group and then we wrap up some cheap object to pass around the circle as someone reads a story along with it. I am looking forward to all things Christmas, but over the past couple of years, I haven't really thought of the things that matter like being with the people I love.
03. My other goal this month is to make my resume. Uh, Natalie, you're in college! Why do you need one? Well, lil 'ol me is applying to be a resident's assistant for next year and I have yet to have made my resume for it. I think I could be a really good RA. I love helping people and it would be great to have my own room next year in the dorms. The application is due at the end of the month, but it's kinda stressed me out a bit because I have never written one before and I can't remember all that I have done throughout high school that might look good on it! Also, I haven't really done much in college yet to even put on my resume. Any tips or advice on writing resumes would be greatly appreciated!
04. I have all this time on my hands and I really want to go visit some family. I have no idea who, but I know that within these five or so weeks, I should be able to drive and see some people that I haven't seen in a while. Some people take vacations for granted, and while I love to just sit at home with my family, I know that I can also spend quality time with people that I never get to see that much. I know everyone is dying to hear my college experience so far. Isn't that what holiday breaks are for?
05. I want to approach the up and coming year with a better mindset. Every December I always look back on the year (too fast amirite?) and kind of reflect a bit on the things I've done. It can be cringey to think of the bad things that may have happened, but I like to focus on the good and also look forward to the year to come. How can I change the next year to ensure a happier and healthier me? Maybe I need to start making little changes like not worrying about the things I can't control. Or maybe I need to just stop eating snacks at 11 o clock when I watch my binge of Stranger Things. Who knows what the next year will lead!
06. Speaking of Stranger Things , I am obsessed. When I first watched season one, I was like okay this is boring. And then I was hooked after like the third episode because I knew I couldn't leave after the first one. Joe Keery who plays Steve Harrington is actually a DePaul alumni, so that's pretty sweet I guess. Even a better reason to watch and support a fellow blue demon. I am so ready for the next season, yes it was just announced, and I am curious to see how the story continues.
07. I think my final goals is to honestly save my money. After all this Christmas gift shopping for my friends and family and going out with friends, my wallet is gonna start crying at me. I have many babysitting jobs this break and every bit helps so much. The babysitting industry is so real and big right now and I am so lucky I have so many families that trust me with their kids. Ha!
I think that's all my goals for right now. I'm keeping up with my blog posts as much as I can and it's been so nice to just be able to have a lot of time to focus on my writing, as well as, myself and my mental and physical health this break. Also, tune in for some upcoming gift guides! I am really excited to share some of my ideas for those of you who need some inspiration this year. I'm just living my best life I guess. We can only try, right?
It's that cozy time of year again when all I wanna do is cuddle up in my blankets, put on some Stranger Things, and drink some warm hot cocoa. This is probably my favorite season because I get to whip out all of my really warm scented candles. Also, since I'm home for about a month, I am allowed to actually burn candles now since I'm not in a dorm. My mom and I did a big candle shop over the past month and I always love sharing which scents I get with people because sometimes you can always discover new ones you've never heard of before.
I've been introduced to so many different brands of candles that have fed my candle addiction, but to tell you all the truth, Bath and Body Works is like my holy grail when it comes to candles. I don't know what about the ingredients or production of these that make them so great at burning well and filling up the room with an awesome and mostly accurate scent to what they describe.
The first two are more for your kitchen, but heck I love the fresh smell of these in the bedroom as well. They're great for pretty much any time of year, too. I have this Tea and Lemon candle which is so refreshingly citrusy. I also have this Bergamot Mint candle which is probably my favorite scent so far. Bergamot is a mix of citrus and I have just recently been introduced to it. I love how bergamot is very fruity and is more of a lime smell. Also, the packaging is uber cute.
Sweater Weather is probably my favorite candle that Bath and Body Works has made. It honestly smells like a crisp fall day at an apple orchard or something. It's very woodsy and has hints of berry and sage. This is one I like to light before I get all comfy beneath my covers.
This next one is called Sunlit Cedar and is probably like many Christmas tree candles. It's another very woodsy and has a little hint of mint. It reminds me of a time when my mom would host a candle buying party and she would invite all of her friends and our neighbors to come in and buy holiday themed candles while Michael Buble was playing in the background and all of our Christmas decorations were up. It's funny how one familiar smell can take you back so many years.
Of course, we needed something a bit more sweet to balance all of the wood-like smells out. We chose Marshmallow Fireside as a classic sweet fragrance. It has hints of amber, woods, marshmallow, and vanilla. It makes me want to have bonfires all the time! I also love the knitted detail on the lid of a couple of these candles. It reminds me of a cable knit or some type of crocheted sweater. What do burning candles remind you of during this season?
Over the course of my makeup experience, covering up acne, scars, and other imperfections have been one of the subconscious steps in my makeup routine. Concealing and correcting my imperfections has been something that I continuously do whenever I put makeup on. Even if I don't put full coverage foundation on, I like to use concealer anyway to ensure that my face is at least presentable and even. These products have been lifesavers when it comes to unwanted breakouts and really late nights.
I have a couple concealers and correctors, that are all pretty much dupes for eachother, but I thought I would share the ones I feel have been really nice on my skin lately. I have been loving the Bobbi Brown Face Corrector to help neutralize my dark circles and odd pigmentation that I have due to scarring on my skin. It is very creamy and is buildable as you want it to be. I think a small amount can really make a difference. Along with the corrector, I have used the Stila Stay All Day Concealer on top of it where I feel like I need more coverage and assistance.
I recently found a more inexpensive dupe for both the concealer and corrector, which is the Almay Smart Shade CC Concealer + Brightener. This is a great duo for traveling and has the same consistency and coverage as both the corrector and concealer. It is a great option for someone who doesn't want to spend so much on face products, especially as little as these ones are. I always have concealer, if not corrector, on hand with me when I feel like my face needs a little help sometimes on bad skin days.
It's the holiday season and everyone is getting ready to go home, eat some pumpkin pie, and get all cozy by the fire because I know and am and will. This time of year brings joys and while it may get a bit hectic and crazy with travel, shopping, and making sure the holidays turn out the way you want them to be, we can sometimes forget about the most important things to be grateful for.
I thought this would be a perfect post to write about because I have fallen behind on remembering the things that do actually matter. Sometimes my vision is blurred by small things that won't effect my future self and so I thought that a list would help me realize that.
01. My Friends and Family
Okay, I know this might be a cliched thing to be thankful for, but who isn't? I know that sometimes our family can get on our bad sides and we pull some strings every now and then, but I am truly grateful for everyone who has supported me and helped me with my transition into college. It has been tough at times, but I always know that I can count on them when I need them. Even the people I have met at college, I am so glad that I have gotten to know some really great people here.
02. The Opportunities I've Been Given
Sometimes I look over the opportunities that I am faced with and don't really think twice about how amazing it is to be where I am and achieving the things I want to achieve. I tend to overlook the things that I am given and know that little or big obstacles will be surpassed.
03. Public Transportation
A funnier thing to be thankful for, but man am I so reliant on public transportation in Chicago. I've taken the bus throughout high school, but now I rely on trains to get me to and from places so much. I just thought I would write about this because not only does it help the environment, but I think a lot of people don't appreciate how efficient and convenient it is.
04. Exercise
I am so glad that I can be motivated and keep my motivation to get my body moving. I think what really gets me through my anxiety and stress is simply doing things that distract me like working out. It has been a very positive way of mental and physical therapy for me and I am so thankful that I get to join fitness clubs and gyms. Not many people are available to these awesome facilities.
05. My New Pupper
Cooper, my new puppy Golden Retriever, recently joined our family after my old dog passed away. It was hard going through the loss of a furry friend, but having a little energetic fuzz ball around has really helped my family and I cope and get back into our normal routine. He has brought a different light to my home and I'm happy that he's with us (not chewing up all my shoes, though haha).
06. My Ambitious Drive
I have no explanation for how I have been able to post twice a week in the past four years and my only thought is that I am just simply ambitious. I've set goals for myself, with many other things in my life, and I want to continue to strive for them. I am grateful for my sense of drive and persistence when it comes to keeping my morals and goals in the forefront whenever I do things.
07. This Blog
I never thought that this blog would have ever been a thing if I wasn't bored that one summer afternoon four years ago. I am so thankful for everyone who has supported me and has continued to read and enjoy my posts. It means so much to me and I have blossomed into a very great and insightful writer and reader because of it.
08. My Compassion
I don't know if being thankful for certain personality traits is a thing, but I'm just going to include it anyway. I know that out of all the bad things that might have happened this year, my compassion towards others has not stopped. I was recently complimented for it and my "good heartedness." Sometimes when you face problems with kindness and compassion, good things are bound to happen.
09. New Days
When I know that I will wakeup every morning, healthy and alive (most days), I can pretty much make the most of the day and go ahead knowing that there will always be new days. Instead of dwelling on the past, I tend to think more about the present and what I can do to overcome issues and struggles that I might face. There's nothing more reassuring than knowing that tomorrow is a brand new day to tackle.
10. Writing
I have a lot of gratitude knowing that my writing and other's writing can be a way for me to express myself and enlighten me. Over the years, writing has been my passion and has also connected me with so many people. It's something that I will always cherish from years on.
This is only a list of ten things I am grateful for, yet there are so many other things I have in mind. It could go on and on and on. It's important to have gratitude lists so that we don't forget about the most important things in our lives. I hope everyone has a very nice holiday season and I will be back next week (since Thanksgiving is on Thursday) with more! What's on your gratitude list this Thanksgiving?
I feel like I haven't really done a fun fashion post in a while, and I have accumulated some pretty great threads this season. As I have been living in the city for the past three months and have embraced all that is street style. My idea of street style is very casual and relaxed, yet trendy and sporty at the same time. As a college student, I have to be honest, what I think about my looks hasn't really been given as much thought as I did in high school, mainly because I'm not in classes for eight hours a day and can literally just get back in bed (which I don't normally do) whenever I want after.
I have really been inspired by Gigi Hadid and Lucy Hale because their laid-back fashion resonates with me so much. I don't think fashion has to be so luxurious or even formal to be considered stylish and trendy. I love pops of color and different textures; this outfit is probably my go-to city and college wear because it is so comfortable to wear and travel in.
The first component or piece of this outfit is the very vibrant, mustard sweater. I saw this Zara Sweater from a mile away. At first, I was like "I have too many mustard sweaters," but then I found myself going back to it everytime I went back to the mall and I just couldn't resist. I've worn it so much and think it's the perfect sweater for this time of year. It almost looks cropped, which I love because it looks so nice with high waisted jeans and trousers.
I paired this sweater with more of an edgier leather jacket that I bought from H&M a couple years ago. I couldn't actually find it on the website because I think I bought it on sale, but they have many other ones similar to it. I feel like a leather jacket can add so much to an outfit as casual and laid back as this one is.
My extremely comfortable Adidas joggers are probably my biggest staple clothing item this season. I think these pants are so trendy and many people are wearing jogger sweats as an everyday and normal clothing piece. Especially in the city, I'm seeing many women and men wearing them all over. The black and white contrast of these with the three stripes on the sides are very modern and simple. I love them paired with this look. It's so comfy!
The newest addition to my shoe collection is these Adidas Superstars. I call them my "cloud shoes" because I literally feel like I'm walking on clouds. I love that these shoes can be so versatile and paired with pretty much anything. They're the perfect commuter shoes and are actually more comfortable to walk in than my Nike sneakers are.
Fall is all about being cozy and comfortable because it's getting more towards the holidays and finals week is this week, so comfort is key. I am all for making an outfit look put together, while also keeping flexibility and movement throughout. This Thanksgiving week, I think I am going to take a break from the blog and spend time with my puppy and family, but will be back for many new Christmas and December themed posts shortly, so stay tuned! What are your plans for the holidays?
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📷: Ashley Brokaw Instagram: @ashley_brokaw
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