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Getting Into the Holiday Spirit – A Holiday Guide – BeautyMePlease
This Black Friday post comes to you from a fellow Washington resident! Briana reached out to me regarding guest posting, and lo and behold she lives only one hour from me in my new home state! I’m sure you’ll see more collaborating between her and I in the coming years as we can easily work together to come up with ideas. Without further hesitation, I present BeautyMePlease!
As the end of the year approaches faster than ever, every year we still face the same problem: Getting into the holiday vibe. True story! You must be thinking, “alright Bri, Good luck with that”, well GRINCH, I don’t need your input!
Before we get started let me introduce myself, My name is Briana and I am the owner/creator of Beauty me Please! I am a beauty blogger and freelance makeup artist that blog about beauty as long as it is cruelty free & vegan! I also do personal blogs and self care because we all need that reminder to take care of ourselves. If you want to see more of me don’t hesitate to visit me at beautymeplease.com
Coffee up and take a seat because we are getting festive!
1. Smell like a SNACK
Ever here the term “Smelling like a snack? Yeah I have too and I am not too fond of it but it is relevant for this topic. One way to get into the holiday spirit to to bathe in the scents and oh so good beauty products. I am talking candles, shower gels, lotions, hair products and maybe as far as toothpaste. That sounds like a cavity. But it is a start! If your tree is up, spray some pine, need some candles? Hit up Bath N Body works for some sugarcookie or vanilla scented candles to make your house smell like a bakery all day everyday! Something fun and relaxing is taking a bath and using a really good scented bath bomb and then lotion up afterwards. Usually with smells that go well together. Careful not to go overboard though, it happens.
2. Baking and baked goods make the heart whole 
At heart, if there are no sweets of any kind I am a very very sad soul and many others are too. It is literally the unofficial tradition for thanksgiving or Christmas. Sure you have your buffets of food but your holiday will not be complete without some yummy baked goods.
So you can go out an check out and support your local bake shops because usually they have the good stuff. Or checkout Pinterest because there are so many really good and healthy dishes and recipes but the search will be unlimited! Best believe Pinterest has millions of recipes and more more are added everyday and since the holidays are here, you are boundto find the perfect recipe.
3. Facebook events
If you are looking to save money this year because you blew it all on decorations or presents but still want something to do then this is for you. Around this time of year, your town or city have many events happening pertaining to the holiday or celebrations. There are dance events, events for family and children,concerts, special mall parties, whatever it may be you are bound to something really fun and worth the experience. A lot of the events depending on the area will be free and also depending on the area or event in general there are fees but nothing too crazy. Definitely doable. Facebook events are easily accessible in the app and on desktop. Give it a whirl and see what you find.
4. Decorate!
This is the simplest and easiest way to truly get festive and feel one with the spirit! Decorating is like the soul or the door to feeling happy and good spirited with the harsh winter fall and winter weather. It keeps you sain, and you don’t have to leave your house if you don’t want after you make your place a living museum of decorative vibes. And every year you get to spend time in looking for MORE decor to compliment what you already have. It is the truest form of satisfaction.
5. You’re the Grinch
If none of these are tickling you yet, I fear that it is too late for you! YOU GRINCH! Or possibly scrooge? You simply cannot be entertained! Getting festive and feeling the holiday is also wanting to really feel something else other than moping around and feeling unhappy. My advice? Go to that neighborhood where every house and lawn is decked out head-to-toe in decorations. Appreciate all the pretty lights and the effort that goes into that maintenance and dedication it took to get all that out. You know what I am talking about! When you were younger your family would drive around looking at all the homes that were bright and colorful SCREAMING for attention! If that STILL doesn’t get your blood flowing well, Netflix your problems until you feel better.
Well that is all I have for this year guys! I hope you guys enjoyed this read as much as I did but really, all seriousness aside you should really some of these out if you haven’t already, could make a difference, who knows. I’d like to thank Koral, for giving me the opportunity to reach out to you guys and give you some ideas and hopefully a laugh! She is a great person and I love her work as you do too! Thank you for having me, again my name is Briana and I hope you have the BEST Thanksgiving and Christmas and a Happy New year!
Lessons From Anxiety – Marvelously Miranda
It’s Wednesday! And you know what that means – guest blogger number one!
I want to give a big thanks to Miranda for being the first person to get a blog over to me and so quickly.
Check out her story in my previous post and her Lessons From Anxiety.
Despite having symptoms years earlier, I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder at the age of 20. I am now 24 and I can tell you that I have learned a lot by living with anxiety. I would like to share with you 5 things living with anxiety has taught me in the hopes that they will help you as you strive to be victorious in the battlefield of your mind.
- THE VOICE INSIDE MY MIND, lies. I am sure you know the voice I am talking about….it tells you that you’re worthless, that you are a failure, that you have let everyone down. The voice that’s heard desires to haunt during the night and remind of every little mistake made. That voice that speaks so harshly to me, he is full of lies. Anxiety will make everything bigger than it is. I may read a text and forget to respond for a while. Suddenly, I’m hearing I’m a failure, I’m proving how unworthy of love and devotion I am. I know that this is not true, this is anxiety speaking to me and I just have to remember the voice I hear, lies.
- BOUNDARIES ARE IMPORTANT: If you have anxiety, then you know how easy it can be to worry about everyone around you. Sometimes, we can worry about someone so much, we make ourselves sick (oh dear, ask me how I know…). Unfortunately, there are people in the world who prey on those with anxiety and who like to “befriend” those of us with anxiety because our fear of conflict can be a reason to avoid saying “no” at all cost. One thing I’ve learned is that setting boundaries are important both for my mental health and my overall safety and well-being. Does setting a boundary and sticking to it make me nervous? You bet! but it’s something I have got to do even if it costs me some relationships.
- ANXIETY CAN BE USED AS MOTIVATION:This post is proof. If I didn’t have anxiety myself, I wouldn’t be as motivated to write about my experience and try to help someone else in the same predicament. I try to let anxiety fuel my fire and passion for mental health.
- IF YOU HAVE TO DO THINGS AFRAID, THAT’S OK!: As mentioned above, anxiety can be a good tool to motivate an individual. But, if you’re like me you may decide to allow the anxiety to motivate you to do something and then once you begin the process of doing what it is you’ve set your mind to, you become more anxious and begin to doubt whether or not you’re capable of what you’re trying to accomplish. Sometimes, venturing out of your comfort zone can fill you with fear and dread but that’s ok. If you’re afraid to write, write anyway. If you’re afraid to change careers but have always had a burning desire to do so, then change. You may still feel the fear while you’re working on your goals but that’s ok. You can do whatever it is you desire to do even if you’re afraid.
- IT IS IMPORTANT TO SEEK HELP IF YOU NEED IT: I suffered with anxiety for years before finally seeking help. Waiting to reach out cost me relationships with friends, family, and quality of life. I was so sure that I could overcome anxiety on my own if I just kept exercising, eating right, and spending time doing activities I enjoyed. My biggest regret about getting help is the fact that I did not do it sooner. If you are struggling with anxiety and are desperate for relief, reach out. Talk to a trusted friend, family member, etc…it may be that you need to access your support system more. It may even be that you could benefit from medication (please talk with your doctor before trying any supplement or prescription). If you do find that you need medication (as I do), there is no shame in utilizing it. Anxiety can be difficult to manage but one thing I know is this, overcoming the challenges that come with living with anxiety is possible. You have a talent that you need to show the world so do what you can to overcome the anxiety, ignore the voice in your head that lies to you, and do whatever it is you are motivated to do. Even if you have to do it afraid.
Thanks for reading and head on over to Marvelously Miranda for more!
Bullet Journaling
So awhile back in probably February, after I got a little more comfortable with working in the PNW and my commute to work, I started a bullet journal for my tasks. I use this for both home and work tasks and split it up as evenly as I can.
In here, you’ll see some photos of my original ones, to the middle to now, and to see my progress. (Some items are blurred out due solely for the fact that it’s me venting about BS.) I’ve brought my layout around full circle focusing on the minimal vs expanding it all, and now for July, I’m focusing more on design and flow as well as minimal content. I don’t think the days need to take up one page, but I’m also not sure how I feel that the entire week is only on two pages, with notes and goals. I think maybe 2 days per page and notes for each day or something similar to that. I don’t really use it on the weekends much, it’s more for mapping out the things that need to get done that weekend to keep track. It’s easier since I split up Saturday and Sunday into smaller areas for July, so it makes is neater but I just don’t know how I feel about it just yet until I start using it. Then I’ll know for August and moving forward.
It’s always fun to play around with new layouts each month. When you find things that work or don’t work, that’s always an exciting time. For example: my habit tracker and mood tracker for June that I made. It’s combined into one page this time and I actually used Washi tape for the cupcakes to color in for the moods. It works and it’s pretty creative if I do say so myself. Michaels has TONS of Washi tape now at 3/$1 in the everyday pricing. I must have bought about … 75 already from them. Shhhhh. No one needs to know … Haha.
As I steadily continue my spread over the month, the first week is gone and done already and you can see my updates below as well. Not much went on and not much will go on until the end of the month and August. I also don’t plan on bringing it with me when I go to San Fransisco for work in August so that will be a little bare sadly. It’s not a necessity for then and I’ll be at a conference anyway. #ihateflying
FYI, I’ve started this blog back in July because I thought I’d be posting it sooner, turns out I wasn’t. I’m back from San Fran now and can show you what I’ve done for August! I’m excited. It’s a simple smooth layout that I came up with to keep everything plain and to the point.
The photos are a bit out of order but it’s okay, I’m sure you get the idea of them!
Hope you enjoyed them, and sorry for not catching up with blogging recently. I’ve been overwhelmed with other life things (another blog coming soon) and living out here in the PNW.
Much love,
Koral
Liebster Awards!
I was nominated many eons ago by Debs The Ninja on her blog. I’m super grateful, and never realized what it was until I read more up on it not too long ago (meaning like 3 months ago now, but still this was from back years ago… lol.) Since this is so old, I’m going to still answer the questions I was given by Debs, but I’m hoping this will translate into the 2018 version. The rules are simple and not hard to follow!
These are the rules:
Thank the nominator and post a link to his/her blog
Display the award on your blog
Answer the questions provided by the nominator
Include some random facts about yourself
Nominate 5-11 blogs which have less than 1000 followers
Prepare more questions
The questions given to me go as follows:
If you could visit any five countries in the world with no time or money constraints, where would you go and why?
Wow, any 5? I’m not honestly sure. I know one would have to be Hungary because I’m Hungarian and Budapest is gorgeous in photos I see on the web. I know someone who lives there, and she’s a fellow Etsy seller (you can check out her stuff here!) My next would have to be Iceland. I’ve always wanted to head there and see the hot springs and mountains that I see so many photos of online and on Instagram. I was thinking possibly a honeymoon destination…. but I’d need to get the fiance on board first to go there, haha. Third would have to be Finland. My mom went some many years ago, and said it was gorgeous. Not to mention that the fact so much amazing music comes out of there… mainly Poets of the Fall which happens to be my favorite band. I have never seen them because they don’t have a presence over here in the states, sadly. But one day I hope to see them live. Also, northern lights, DUH! My last two would have to be Japan and Scotland. No real reason except that photos that I’ve seen are amazing. As someone who has an interest in photography and different food sometimes, I’d say it would be well worth it for me to explore more options. A lot of other countries are over played.. and make them more crowded. I’d like to go off the beaten path a bit and stay in locations that aren’t popular at these.
What inspires or motivates you?
Before my fiance… not much motivated me. I was in a crappy hole from break up after break up and didn’t want to do anything or be with anyone. Now, I like to think we inspire each other with ideas and we mesh well, making us both better people. I love nature and the organic shapes of flowers, leaves, and trees. In order to be surrounded by inspiration and find new inspiration, I think it’s important to get out of your office every day to take a short walk or find a new hiking path. I want to start to do this more, since the weather is starting to get amazing here in WA.
How would you describe yourself in ten words?
- Outgoing 2. Loving 3. Crazy 4. Wine-Drinker 5. Passionate 6. Short-Tempered 7. Motivational 8. Understanding 9. SocialButterfly 10. Weird
What is the craziest or awesomest thing you’ve ever done?
Packed up and moved to the West Coast. No, seriously. I was living in PA and previously NJ, and was like you know what, I need a change. So I found a job out here and well, here I am! I decided that I wasn’t getting any younger and if I wanted to do something I had to do it. And thankfully my fiance came with me (LOL) or he’d be pretty sad back there without me.
What is your spirit animal and why?
The Wolf: A power animal symbolic of freedom
The power of the wolf brings forth instinct, intelligence, appetite for freedom, and awareness of the importance of social connections. This animal can also symbolize fear of being threatened and lack of trust. When the wolf shows up in your life, pay attention to what your intuition is telling you. Wolf power or spirit animals point to an appetite for freedom and living life powerfully, guided by instincts. When a wolf manifests its presence as a guide in your life, it could be a call to live your life more freely, to bring the intensity of passion in your everyday endeavors. Wolves are wild animals that are not easily domesticated and when they appear as spirit guides, they could be an invitation to look at what supports your authentic self and the true expression of yourself. The wolf totem is a reminder to keep your spirit alive and trust your instincts to find the way that will best suit you. (Excerpt taken from here.)
Do you remember your dreams? If so, what was your weirdest dream?
Sometimes I do. That’s something I’ve always wanted to keep track of at least for a little while. I haven’t been dreaming lately though, since moving to Washington. Which I find a little odd. Back in PA I was always dreaming and I’ve had a few strange ones, but none that I can remember vividly to be honest. I’d like to keep a dream journal by my bed to start tracking those, if I ever have another dream.
What is your favorite band/song/genre of music?
I like to say I don’t have a favorite band or genre at all. I listen to anything from Pop to Rock to Death Metal to Opera so I don’t think I can give myself a category specifically. I feel like there are a lot of people like this in today’s day and age, along with this being perfectly normal.
How would you describe a perfect day?
If you want to check out my previous blog I wrote about this you can – it’s too long to write in here!
Do you prefer cold weather or hot weather?
Cold! Well, sometimes. You can always put on more layers to get warm, but you can’t take off anymore layers without going past naked. At least, that’s how I view it… I’m not sure how the rest of you do. I’d much rather pile on the blankets to be comfortable than dripping sweat when you need electricity for a fan or something to help that out.
What are you most afraid of?
Existential Anxiety: According to existential theorists, a universal fear of the limits and responsibilities of one’s existence.
What do you love more than anything else and why?
- Learning. Learning is not necessarily about knowledge per se but it is also about developing the ability to think critically, about using one’s imagination and many more things. Ghandi once declared that “the future depends on what we do in the present.” If we are to have a future, we need to evolve.
- Nature. “We need the tonic of wildness…At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of nature.” ― Henry David Thoreau
Need I say more?
Nominated Blogs:
- Delux Does Life
- Discovering Life with Appie
- Sweet Lemons
- Anna Merissa
- Bay Area Beauty Blogger
- 4 Little Fergusons
- Butterfly Samurai
- A Guy’s Guide to Wedding Planning
Here are my new questions to answer:
- What is your favorite quote?
- If you could go anywhere in the world for 3 months, where would you go and why?
- What are some things you’re passionate about and why?
- That’s the weirdest thing you’ve done so far?
- Do you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert?
- What makes you feel accomplished?
- If you are in a bad mood, do you prefer to be left alone or have someone to cheer you up?
- Do you believe in second chances?
- What’s on your bucket list this year?
- What’s your biggest regret in life?
Random Facts
- I’ve been to 26 states so far and hoping to do all 50 before 35.
- I have 21 tattoos.
- I’ve had my blog for 7+ years.
- If I go to a brewery, and they don’t have a pretzel and beer cheese sauce, they are immediately judged. It’s my go to.
- I drink wine like water sometimes.
- I’ve lived on both coasts now, and the weather on the West Coast is so far the winner even though I’ve only been here for 5 months.
- I hate flying.
- I work for the government.
- I’m marrying my best friend – someone who’s tried to get me for 4 years.
- I procrastinate everything in life … Except work most times.
I’d Like a Drink
Sunday evening and I’ve spent about an hour and a half in the bath enjoying my “me” time making some designs. I remember today was Victor Hugo day and I chose something from Les Misérables because it’s my favorite movie.
I’d like to watch it sometime here soon. I haven’t in about a year and a half, and that’s something I’d like to do usually once every few months. I’ve done it every year now for quite some time.
We’ve been working on wedding stuff and it’s stressing me out, so I came up with this one for today! Enjoy.
xoxoxo
Koral Dawn
Algebra Applies to the Clouds
“Algebra applies to the clouds, the radiance of the star benefits the rose–no thinker would dare to say that the perfume of the hawthorn is useless to the constellations. Who could ever calculate the path of a molecule? How do we know that the creations of worlds are not determined by falling grains of sand? Who can understand the reciprocal ebb and flow of the infinitely great and the infinitely small, the echoing of causes in the abyss of being and the avalanches of creation? A mite has value; the small is great, the great is small. All is balanced in necessity; frightening vision for the mind. There are marvelous relations between beings and things, in this inexhaustible whole, from sun to grub, there is no scorn, each needs the other. Light does not carry terrestrial perfumes into the azure depths without knowing what it does with them; night distributes the stellar essence to the sleeping plants. Every bird that flies has the thread of the infinite in its claw. Germination includes the hatching of a meteor and the tap of a swallow’s beak breaking the egg, and it guides the birth of the earthworm, and the advent of Socrates. Where the telescope ends, the microscope begins. Which of the two has a greater view? Choose. A bit of mold is a pleiad of flowers; a nebula is an anthill of stars. The same promiscuity, and still more wonderful, between the things of the intellect and material things. Elements and principles are mingled, combined, espoused, multiplied one by another, to the point that the material world, and the moral world are brought into the same light. Phenomena are perpetually folded back on themselves. In the vast cosmic changes, universal life comes and goes in unknown quantities, rolling everything up in the invisible mystery of the emanations, using everything, losing no dream from any single sleep, sowing a microscopic animal here, crumbling a star there, oscillating and gyrating, making a force of light, and an element of thought, disseminated and indivisible dissolving all, that geometric point, the self; reducing everything to the soul-atom; making everything blossom into God; entangling from the highest to the lowest, all activities in the obscurity of a dizzying mechanism, linking the flight of an insect to the movement of the earth, subordinating–who knows, if only by the identity of the law–the evolutions of the comet in the firmament to the circling of the protozoa in the drop of water. A machine made of mind. Enormous gearing, whose first motor is the gnat, and whose last is the zodiac.”
― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
I recently found this quote from Les Misérables and I forgot how incredibly amazing of a writer Victor Hugo really was. Knowing the story in and out and seeing it on Broadway more than enough times to count on two hands .. I love this. I’m not sure where my book went but I really want to get my hands on it again. I’m hoping I still have it .. somewhere really. If not I’ll find another and buy it online.
Anyway, today (Saturday) was fun. We went down to Centralia, WA. It’s nothing like Centralia, PA but it was a cute little town with a lot of antique shops and (best of all) frozen yogurt! A few bars and taverns and food places places in between and a breakfast place even right attached to the one antique mall. (Which actually turned out to be a hotel as well so that’s pretty cool also.)
I hate being lazy though. I waste my weekends and never get anything done and want to be more productive if I can. I have no ambition so I feel what he’s going through with not having a job. But still. We have things to get done and things we want to do and keep talking about doing but we just don’t do them. Then I’m mad/upset they’re not done. I really need some motivation in order to be domestic. And it sucksssss.
Any advice? Haha
xoxoxo
Koral Dawn
One Quote to Rule Them All
Victor Hugo (Les Misérables) is one of my favorite writers – I quote him often. Sometimes, I make graphics with his quotes I grow fond of more and more. Once a week I’ll be posting a new Victor Hugo quote for you that I make.
xoxoxo
Koral Dawn
Off to New Heights
About 2 weeks ago we had a pretty epic drive towards Mount Rainier. We didn’t hit it, but we got so close we couldn’t even see it anymore. It was a good winding drive from our home in Lacey, back roads meant for race cars and going fast .. as long as there’s not a motorcyclist in your way going half the actual speed limit and doesn’t know how to bike. Yes, we came across this as we turned around from the actual mountain to head to the lookout not far back towards home to take these shots. He was quite possibly the worst bike rider I’ve ever been behind, however, at least he was careful with the twisting turning roads.
Anyway, you can see a bit of history with the first photo and amount Rainier. Definitely excited to call this place home once we actually get more settled, he has a job, and we can do way more that we want to. I’d like to buy a house within the next two years. By then we’ll be married and his credit score will be on its way up up up and for he better. Mines pretty decent right now, and I’m pretty excited for it. I hope it can stay that way and keep going up.
The second photo is of the Hasselblad camera I actually grew quite fond of quickly. Seems though it was dirty and needs some cleaning in which we tried to do ourselves, but turns out the person before us had it taken apart and never put it back together correctly and we need to send it out for cleaning, fixing and new screws. There’s others like it that he has I can use, but this was my favorite.
Enjoy the photos and gaze upon the beauty that is Rainier. I can’t wait for summer to go into the park! 🗻❤️🌷
xoxox
Koral Dawn
C’mon Baby Light My Fire
I’ve been a little off the game lately with the move and haven’t been creating as much art as i should be. Here are a few Spark posts I’ve done since December/Christmas time. I was recently granted a Spark VIP pass to have access to Beta stuff and other features so that’s pretty cool! In other news – my BFF and love is coming to see me at the end of April and I hope I hope I hope that the weather holds up for us to have some fun and explore the area. I’m hoping for nice weather and sunshine so she can see the mountain.
Enjoy some photos I did and let me know what you think!
xoxo
Koral Dawn
Virtually Yours, Koral Dawn 