Goodbye 2011

2011....you have not been the greatest year in my life. Actually it's been a real struggle for me. After coming off such a high in 2010 working & living in Georgia, coming back home to Oregon not having a job or friends in the same stage of life as me has been extremely difficult. There have been way too many days where I only changed out of pjs right before my parents got home from work just so I wouldn't feel so pathetic, only to put them back on a couple hours later. I worked a temporary job at the local in zoo in Food Services in hopes that I would be able to move into the animal department, but who am I kidding that doesn't happen. I ended up choosing to leave that position because it wasn't what I wanted and I wasn't happy. However I am not happy not working either. My hopes and dreams growing up and through college have been constantly shattered as the years pass. I'm not so sure anymore what life is supposed to hold for me. This year I've complelely struggled with self image and my weight. I lost over 30 pounds while working/living in Georgia only to come back home to Oregon and put it all back on. I feel disgusted and completely sick with myself. If I don't love myself how is it even possible for a man to love me? It's not! 2011 has been rough on me emotionally. I've defanitely gone through some major life crisis'. I am pretty sure that I am depressed and I'm tired of it. Today is the last day of 2011 and it's the worst of all of them. I'm in such a funk and a rut that I don't know how I'm going to be civil when people come over tonight. I'll just have to pull on my big girl panties and try.

This brings me to 2012. I really REALLY hope beyond all hopes of doubt that this year is My year and that this year allows me to start living the life that I want to. I need to get past this depression and realize that my hopes and dreams are just going to have to change or I'm going to have to do something to make them change.

That first step is defanitely going to be working on my self. I need to work on getting off those 30 lbs plus some. I'm dedicating myself to making small goals each week versus making resoultions. I don't stick to resolutions and they are a waste of time for me. I've set a goal this week to work out every single day in some way. Whether it be going for a walk, a dvd, an abs workout, whatever. I'm going to commit to this this week and if I fall one day I'll start over until I get thru seven days of working out and then move onto the next goal.

As well as working on my fitness I need to work on my outer appearance. Because I don't feel good about myself it shows on the outside and I don't take care of myself. I'm going to make an effort to try new makeup and try looking presentable to feel better about myself. Even if I'm not leaving the house, I want to look good. Hopefully by looking better on the outside it will help inner confidence to get out and meet new people.

I am hoping that 2012 will bring me a step towards a career path. I'm going to a conference at the beginning of February and I'm going to try real hard to connect with people to get into a career that I will love. If nothing comes from that I will re-evaluate my career path and see if I need to give up on a childhood dream and find something more realistic.

I realize this is kind of a depressing post but I needed this to evaluate where I am in life right now. If anybody has gone thru years like this, your advice for overcoming is defanitely appreciated. All I know is I need help and change to get out of this funk before I spiral even further into a dragging whole.

Well here's to saying goodbye to 2011 and saying Hello to 2012 and the year of ME!

Love,

Heather

Recent Purchases

Hi Loves,

So I've been a busy little bee with the holiday season here. But I recently bought some great purchases that I wanted to update you all on. So here we go:

1. L'Oreal True Match Foundation

I saw this foundation on one of Kandee Johnson's blogs/youtube videos. I've been looking for a new foundation and so I decided to give it a try. Girls it is so nice. Goes on really smooth and gives great coverage. Unfortunately the color I grabbed is a little too dark for me right now during the winter months so I'm going to get one shade lighter but I don't mind since it's so smooth feeling. You don't even notice it being on. If you're looking for something new, try it out.

2. Revlon Beyond Natural Smoothing Primer

I've seen all these reviews and blogs out there about Primers. I have never tried on before but while at Target I found this gem on clearance (makes me nervous they might close it out, hoping not). It's clear and smells kind of like shampoo. I tried this one out today. It doesn't take much for coverage. Seemed to help make my foundation last longer. I can't say about it minimizing pores because mine just aren't that large. But I am defanitely hooked after just one application. We will see as time progresses.

3. NYC Blushable Creme Stick in Plaza Pink

Found this gem via another youtube/blogger video by Beauty Broadcast. I love summer looks, where you skin just looks dewy and like you just came back from vacation. This blush does the trick. Glides on your cheeks and then blend it in. Gives that perfect back from vacation glow. Check it out!

4. Vaseline Cocoa Butter Vitalizing Gel Body Oil with Brazilian Nut and Almond Oils

I don't know about you girls but my skin during the fall/winter months gets so dry. So dry to the point where it hurts. I've pretty much tried everything to make it not so dry and crackly. Well enter this beauty. After the shower, take a little bit and rub it into your body (doesn't take much at all). It smells delicious (like on a tropical vacation) and it gives your skin a beautiful glow and helps moisturize. I love it.

5. EOS Lipbalms

While in Walgreens today I came across this lovely giftpack. I've never tried the EOS lipbalms but heard so much about it that I wanted to try them and what better than a three pack. Comes with Sweet Mint, Strawberry Sorbet, and Passion Fruit. They all smell delicious. I've been using the Sweet Mint all day and love it. Gives a little tingle when you put it on, which I love. Run out and grab this quick girls.

Well that's all I've found lately. Although tomorrow my Sephora order is supposed to arrive (woohoo). Hope the holiday season is going fabulous!

Happy Holidays,

Heather

Fabulous Giveaway

Hi All!
One of my new favorite bloggers is Miss Lindsey over at Keep It Classy Alabama. She is hosting the most fabulous giveaway for a gorgeour Marley Lilly monogrammed scarf. You can't go wrong with scarfs and monogramming this time of year. Go check out her fabulous blog! You'll fall in love :)

Have a wonderful day,
Heather

2 Months to Christmas

This morning I woke up and realized that it's only 2 months until Christmas! Can you believe how fast this year has gone by. Now I love Christmas time. It's my favorite time of the year. The lights, the decorations, the warmth and happiness. I just love all of it. Today I was listening to clips from Michael Buble's new CD...

On first listen, it sounds like its a great CD. So as I was thinking about Christmas today I started to think about gifts. Now really the only people I have to buy gifts for currently are my parents. They already have everything. So I have no idea what to get for them this year. What kinds of things are on your lists to buy your parents? Maybe I can find some ideas. Well off to dinner. Have a good evening everyone! 

Sports! Sports! Sports!

Sports! Sports! Sports!
So this topic has a little bit of irony to it. I'm from Oregon, we don't have major league sports (well except now we have the Timbers for soccer). I played softball when I was younger for 9 years, starting in t-ball and working my way up. Although once I hit high school I switched to dance team. There is where I lost my interest in sports for the most part. I didn't have a team that I routed for or anything. While in college, my boyfriend then was the student athletic trainer. He always asked me to come to his games he was working and I never really had interest in going. I went to a few, being a good girlfriend, but defanitely should've gone to more to be an even better girlfriend. Well the irony in the story is that now that we are no longer together (haven't been for 4 years) I am absolutely in love with Sports. Love me some football and baseball. I can't get enough and want to watch it all the time when it's on tv. I just find it hysterical. Now because we don't have sports teams, I get the leisure of picking the teams that I route for. My teams are Alabama (RollTide) and I love the Texas Rangers. So excited they are in the World Series and hoping that they win. It's on my tv everynight :) What got all y'all excited about sports? And what are your teams? How do you celebrate your teams? I would love to go to a game someday. Defanitely on my bucket list.
That's all for tonight! LET's GO RANGERS!!!!

ABC's of me.

Saw this fun little thing over on Michelle's blog Southern Ambition. Thought I'd follow her lead tell you my ABC's. If you want to, leave a comment with a link to your blog and your ABC's for a little fun. :)

A. AREA CODE: 503

B. BED SIZE: twin (I have always had a twin and am definitely needing a bigger bed, just won’t fit in my room. Once I move out though, big bed is on order)
C. CHORE YOU HATE: dishes. Absolutely hate them.
D. DOG'S NAME: Don’t have a dog
E. ESSENTIAL "START THE DAY!" ITEM: My Diet Coke. Can’t live without it currently
F. FAVORITE COLOR: pink and tiffany blue
G. GOLD OR SILVER: White Gold and Platinum J but silver will work
H. HEIGHT: 5'5
I: INSTRUMENTS YOU PLAY: nothing now but used to play the flute
J. JOB: currently working at the zoo in food services (looking for job in career field but economy sucks)
K. KIDS: none until I find mr right and we are married
L. LIVING ARRANGEMENTS: living at home with the parental currently. Helps save on rent money.
M. MOM'S NAME: Dawn
N. NICKNAME: “Heath” is what most my family calls me.  
O. OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL STAY: Never had one.
P. PET PEEVE: Rude for no reason people
Q. QUOTE FROM A MOVIE: “Take me to bed or lose me forever” –Top Gun. My favorite movie of all time. Not my favorite quote but I totally am going to say this to my man someday lol
R. RIGHTY OR LEFTY?: Righty
S. SIBLINGS: Just me. No siblings but tons of cousins on both sides
T. TIME YOU WAKE UP: depends on what time I’m working and whether I am going to the gym before or after work.
U. UNDERWEAR: What about them? Pretty ones…
V. VEGGIE YOU DISLIKE: I’m not a huge fan of brussel sprouts
W. WAYS/REASONS YOU ARE LATE: I hate being late. I’m always 15 minutes early. The only time I’ve been late was due to car troubles.
X. XRAYS YOU'VE HAD: I’ve had my left foot x-rayed in Florida when my foot was ran over with an electrical wheel chair at Epcot. Broke all the bones on the top of my foot. Hobbled along on crutches the rest of the trip.
Y. YUMMY FOOD YOU MAKE: I love baking. Most of the things I bake come out the best versus my cooking
Z. ZOO ANIMALS YOU LIKE: Love them all. I want to work with animals for my career (or kids, still trying to figure that one out).

Have a goodnight!

I'm back

Long time no blog...I know. I kinda fell off the bandwagon for a while. Life has been pretty crazy with work and events. And then just my pure laziness. Ha. I've become completely addicted to Pinterest as well which has kept me more involved there versus blogging. But I'm making an effort to be back to it.

I've been struggling lately with motivation. I'm currently quite lost with myself. I've been out of college for over 2 years now and only worked a job for 6 months that I actually truely loved. I'm currently working at our local zoo but not in the department I would like and I'm tired of driving there (at least 40 minutes a day if not more to get there). I need something new but I don't know what I would like to do. There are so many jobs that fellow bloggers do out there that I think would be so fun but I have no idea how I would get started in them. I love travelling so I think it would be awesome to be in the travel industry. I love children so it would be great to work with children. I love animals, I love fashion, I love people. I just have no idea what I want to do with my life as far as a career goes.

I always thought that I would be a dolphin trainer growing up. However as I got older and wiser I learned this really wasn't going to be feasible for me and I've been quite lost ever since. I'm almost 27 and I still have no idea what to do with my life. For all you bloggies out there, how have you decided what career path to choose? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I've also decided that I am utterly and completely in love with the south and wish I grew up there. The standards and morals of the south are just so great I wish I would've had the pleasure of having that instilled in me as I grew up. I may not have been born there but I'm hoping to move there someday in the future and raise my children (someday) there.

Well I've decided that it's time to start living life a little more as well. I've seen several blogs with lists of things they would like to do in life. I love me some lists. Ha. I will be 27 in February but I decided that was only a few short months to finish a list so I've developed a 28 before 28 list. Hopefully I can complete these things before more 28th birthday. I may end up even adding more since I love lists so much. Here's the list...

1. Find a job that makes me happy
2. Move out of my parents house
3. Get a new car
4. Get rid of unworn/unwanted clothes, shoes, accessories, and stuff
5. Buy tall boots that actually fit my calves (i danced so I have large calve muscles)
6. Train for a 5K
7. Run a 5K race...a Disney one would be fun :)
8. Lose the dreadful Muffin top
9. Go on some dates
10. Give up Diet Coke
11. Have a girls getaway weekend
12. Do 28 DIY crafts from Pinterest 
13. Floss every day for at least a month (i'm really bad about flossing)
14. Do 15 situps every night for at least a month
15. Read the bible and do a study
16. Send "Just Because" cards to 5 friends
17. Become more southernly (that's a whole other list)
18. Dress more grown up/ladylike/professional/attractive
19. Put more time into makeup and Hair/myself
20. Become a wine drinker
21. Go wine tasting
22. Understand football
23. Ride a horse
24. Go back to the south: visit or move
25. Own more jewelry and wear it
26. Organize my life better
27. Enjoy where I live by exploring it
28. Read 10 books

Well there you go. I will do monthly check-ups to update y'all (picked that up when i lived in Georgia) on the status of my list. Here's my welcome back to blogging. Hopefully I can stay up with it and give this thing a pretty makeover :).

That's all for now Lovelies,
Heather