Give Yourself Time

One of my recent trips to the Red Mill Inn

Hello lovelies,

I recently went to a meditation with my lovely friend, Alyssa. We had gone to one this past December and ultimately enjoyed what we got out of it.

Our instructor during the hour was an actual medium--neither of us knew this until we were about to leave, and she got a chill. It was strange, at first, but then she began and it all fell into place.

I had to leave early that day, so I did not get a reading. I was barely late for my appointment, thankfully, but my friend told me how much she enjoyed going to the meditation (as did I!).

Since I wasn't able to get a reading, I had been anticipating this upcoming meditation so that she could help me out on some things I have been dealing with. My coworker pretty much set up a date for me and our other coworker, and it's really been bothering me. I was very excited to make plans at first, yet, now that has become anxiety for me these past couple days. Is this what I really want? Do I actually want to try dating right now?

My life has been going excellent! I'm in love with my life. I get to hang out with our wonderful pets and bond with them, I get to see my family on a regular basis, I'm working out and cleaning up my diet, my languages and striving--everything is falling perfectly into place for me. Except for this one planned "hang out" session that I can't get off my mind. I also have so many plans for my blog, that I'm about to explode with all these jumbled thoughts and feelings!

It was about an hour into the readings when the medium came up to me. She complimented me at first, which took me off guard, since she hadn't done that with anyone else in the room.

"You know, you're so young," she told me, and I nodded. "You have a life pretty much ahead of you, which you are just starting...

What I want to tell you, is to give it time. Figure out what you want, and completely know yourself before joining life with someone else."

This wasn't exactly news to me--I had been thinking about whether or not I wanted to go to the movies with this guy for the past week, and I had been driving myself nuts about it! But, that night, something ticked. I changed. I don't know exactly what, but since then, I have never been happier.

During the meditation, there's a part where you can ask a question. I asked, "How can I make everyday feel satisfying? I do everything I enjoy everyday, and yet, I usually go to bed dissatisfied." My answer was this: do everything you love with PASSION.

Since then, I've been working passionately with my languages, my pets and family, focusing more on the present than what could happen later on. And I didn't have a regret. It tickles me to finally acknowledge that I should passionately do all I do during the day, rather than go through the motions. It needs to mean more than that.

I don't know if any of y'all believe in psychics or mediums, but she was right about many things--I also loved watching her interact with everyone else in the room, especially Alyssa!

What do you have to work on right now?

Cheers

Baylee

Getting Fit: My New Year Resolution

Happy New Year from the Jersey Shore!

Hey all,

I have a list of resolutions jumbled in my head that are pumped and ready to be accomplished this year! One of them is getting toned, which I've had as my resolution for about 3+ years now...

Oops.

BUT, this year, I'm not letting myself get away with not reaching this goal I have for myself. I want a nice, toned body--is that too much to ask for? I definitely started 2015 one a high note--when I got home from a NYE party at 1 AM, I brought out my mat and did my first workout of the new year. I'm very proud of myself!

I want to take the "dreaded" before pictures just so that I can really motivate myself to do this.Y'all are my witnesses.

What I have been doing lately is assigning one day per week on one part/section of my body, excluding rest, cardio, and full body days. I weigh about 155 and I'm around 5'10". I'm focusing on eating more fruits and veggies and cutting out sugar from my diet, especially since it's after the holidays!

I'm mainly using Blogilates for my workouts but I'm also participating in the Yoga with Adrienne 30 day challenge and I'm gonna try to do Tone It Up's weekly schedule as well. I'm really excited and already feel the burn from these workouts, and I hope to post an update every other week or so, depending on how chaotic my schedule becomes in the next couple of weeks.

I'm looking to get toned for Summer, but I will make it a year round project. :)

See you soon!

Baylee

**The photos above were the night of January 1st, and I had eaten about four or five hours before. In the morning I have a little more ab definition, but not much.

Why I've Never Dated

Hey all,

I've been thinking. A little too much, I'd admit, but it's a thought that lingers in the back of my mind for most of the day. Something that, I assume, has been put there by my peers and my society.

I'm nineteen years old. I've never dated--my only "relationship" was when I was thirteen, dating a seventeen-year-old, online. And even when we called each other those cute little names, I was petrified of talking to him.

I had been going through a lot--my family was having a lot of new conflicts at the time and I felt the need to talk to people. And, I found that some of my best friends were ones who were online. Ones I would never meet (because I've had several talks about stranger-danger, thank you very much!) and would just listen to me, and vise versa.

Now, my friends see it as a "shame". "Oh man, I haven't dated yet, either! Oh, but it's okay! We'll get there someday!"

This sentence. Makes. Me. Cringe. And I know I'm not the only one out there that gets this kind of comment when they ask, "Any boyfriend yet?" No, as a matter of fact, I'm not interested in the time.

Let me draw a picture in your minds. At least, let me attempt to ;)

If you hang out with me, you'll find that I'm very sarcastic. VERY. For some reason, this always comes off as flirting which, I really have no idea why. I'm just being me, and that's a person who's very sarcastic, caring, and friendly. I love to laugh. Life is good.

And I will admit, I am a flirt. I think I like it because I find a way to make others smile. I have just as many hormones as the average late-teenager who has a significant other, just... I don't date.

My days are filled with learning. I practice 5 languages a day (or at least I try to), I get to spend my time with my family and friends, I get to learn more everyday, and I love my life. And I know that relationships are hard work. And I know I don't have time right now to spend with a significant other. It's going to have to wait.

Plus, I'm still scared as hell about dating. And it's not just the butterflies I feel! I can talk to a male (boy or man, mehmeshmeh I'm not going to discuss this tonight) and "flirt" until I know that he "likes" in a way that is pushing towards dating. Nuh uh, mister. Not today. I'm really not ready, and I don't want to set up another person to have them get hurt because I'm not there yet. They should be able to enjoy their life, find someone when they're ready, and have an awesome life. Because that's what I want for the rest of mine--not to be rushed into feeling like I need a significant other and that I need to follow what society tells me is right.

Hell no.

So, that's a pretty rant for ya. ;) but then again, it's what others in the world feel, too. Don't assume that there's something "wrong" with us, because there isn't. We're just not ready yet.

Much love,

LIVE YOUR LIFE! + THE VLOG BEGINS!

Photos from Pinterest

Hey all!

Some great and exciting news--I'm officially on Youtube! (Isn't that strange to say?) I've been working on my videos for the past couple of days and now have three online (one's still being worked on by YT but it's there ;) ) so go check them out! I must say I improve in some way with each video, so I'll be an expert in no time! :)

Something that I keep thinking about is living your life. What does that even mean? Well, a lot of people nowadays are really discontent with how their life is turning out--whether it be relationship problems, dreams taking longer than they thought, etc. etc. I've always gone along the lines of "if I want to do it, then I try it", and this has brought me to awesome things like piloting lessons and roller coaster adventures! It's also made me a more social person because I wanted to become more outgoing.

So, are you unhappy with a part of your life? You know, there's still time to change that. In fact, right as your reading this sentence, you have the ability to change something about you that makes you unhappy. The power is solely in your hands as to how you feel about today.

How does one "live their life", then?

Simple. Stop complaining about what you don't have or what seems to be going wrong around you--pessimistic thoughts lead to "having a bad time" (as South Parkans would say!). Stop looking down at the ground and look up at the sky. Think positively! Think, Today is a beautiful day! Your thoughts on the inside show on the outside.

Put your emotions into your OWN HANDS. THIS IS MY FAVOURITE! If you let other people control your happiness, then you are going to be on the emotional roller coaster of your life. People come and go--they leave irreplaceable memories and hurt feelings at times. If you keep your emotions under your own control, you can always be happy. I'm not kidding. I have constantly tried to put my emotions, my happiness, into other people's hands because I thought they had the best intention for me. I learned an important lesson--people care about themselves the most--they are going to do what they have to in order to stay happy. This is why you should focus on yourself and really build on who you are.

Lastly, take one day at a time. If you worry about tomorrow, then you have the burdens of both today and tomorrow, and that's simply too much to handle at one given moment. Imagine worrying about the next ten years of your life--we cannot hold onto that much pressure or stress and continue to live our lives to the fullest. My advice is to stay in the present--the past has already happened and cannot be changed, and the future is going to take the same amount of time to reach. What really matters is what you do in this very moment! You can do anything you want--go shopping, bake, spend time with those you care about--YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF WHAT YOU DO AT THIS VERY MOMENT! So take that chance, go out there and find out who you really are!

What makes living your life sound so complicated are the things that you add on to yourself during the day--stress, hurt feelings, nervousness, etc. Living is a very easy thing once you learn to master it and once you can look past the small parts of the day that were difficult to go through.

An older pastor of mine once told us, "One day my son was having a lot of difficulty getting along with his brother, and so I had to punish him. He was very upset, but later on we went out for ice cream and spent some time together. At the end of the night he told me, 'You know what, Dad? Today was a great day. I was punished, but what matters is that there was something in my day that made me happy."

Just because there's a part of our day that is hurtful or makes us want to quit, that doesn't mean that that day is ruined. Look on the bright side, and be thankful that you were able to smile.

If you want to check out some of my videos:

Start of the roller coaster season!

And if you like cats ;) (this one's for you!)

See you soon!

Brownies--Fully Loaded

I'm a baker.

I can't seem to get enough of baking desserts or making bread, but I was never able to wrap my head around cooking. And I don't think that's so bad. I mean, my mom cooks, and then I make dessert. Done deal.

Come join my photo quest as I make my own "loaded" brownies--filled with marshmallows (my favourite in a brownie!), and half Mr. Goodbars and Krackel candies. My mom recently bought a four-pack brownie mix, which I opted to use this time rather than make my own mix. The brownies were supposed to finish around the 30-minute mark but, with the extra large marshmallows, it took around 50. Either way, it was worth it.

Having today off from school is a wondrous treat--I got to spend time with my almost-one-year kitty Pika, who seems to have an addiction with boxes. I also am starting a c25k plan today--is that bad? My running addiction has picked up this week and I can't seem to find any reason to stop, but why would I? ;) Has anyone tried the c25k app? I read the ones that were supplied in the Google Play store and it seemed like everyone was very content with the application.

Baylee

The Magical World of Lush: Haul

For my sister and I, Lush is a very dear store. We first went to a smaller shop in London, where I was finally able to understand why so many people LOVE Lush! The atmosphere was one thing, but the quality and the ingredients used made the experience a super A++++... if it was graded.

Anywho, a Lush just happened to open around us and, as we haven't been to one in about a year, we decided to go together and see what trouble we could get into. The whole store was booming with music that people twenty feet away could hear, and it was troublesome to try and talk to the salespeople, but nonetheless I have an awesome haul to share with you!

Massage Bars

While I'm still learning as to how to use these (if you can give me a better idea, tell me in the comments!), these are the two that I picked up: Strawberry Feels Forever and From Dusk till Dawn.

I had seen From Dusk till Dawn featured in many Youtube videos and the reviews online seemed to give it a thumbs up, and it smells absolutely lovely. It kind of has this pez-like scent (do they still make those?) but it isn't overpowering. It also doesn't seem to make me sparkle which, surprisingly, Strawberry Feels Forever did.

The Strawberry Feels Forever is, of course, strawberry-scented, and I bought it on impulse. I knew that if I didn't buy it, I'd probably regret it, and it smells perfect! It's not overpowering on the skin (I have a very sensitive smell at times), and seems to give just a hint of scent when worn for a while.

This cute little display is called Bunch of Carrots (Bubble Bar). I'm pretty sure that this one is seasonal and, since I wanted to hit the fifty dollar mark (if you spent more than fifty, you had the opportunity to spin a wheel and get a free prize--who doesn't want that?!), I bought it, even though it was a little overpriced for my liking. Thankfully they don't smell like carrots, but rather "clean"--not strongly perfumed like some of their products. The smell somewhat reminds me of a plain Dove soap bar, which I rather love, but I didn't think this product was anything out of the ordinary.

Bath Bombs

Who goes to Lush and doesn't buy a bath bomb? Not me!--well, at least not this time ;). I have heard brilliant things about the Dragons Egg, which smells heavenly, and the Pink mini bath bomb was too cute to pass over! I was going to buy sexbomb as well, but I couldn't get myself to fancy the smell of it (sorry guys!). Bath bombs are totally fun and popular but, knowing that I can only sit in a bath for about five to ten minutes, I can't bear myself to use it. I saw a tip on Pinterest stating that you can crumple the bomb and place it around a room (placed on something like a bag, of course) and the whole room will smell delicious! I will most likely try this technique rather than using it in a bath and, if it's the best thing in the world, I'll tell you :)

I'm just adding this picture of the Pink bath bomb just because the flowers are so adorable on it, and it has a very nice presentation!

So, do you go to Lush often? Have you tried making any dupes of your own? I noticed that a lot of products were a bit pricey, and I probably will try making my own copies, but I felt like treating myself, and I strongly believe that every woman needs some pampering! Plus, does anyone else enjoy the fact that they show who made the product, with a sticker of their face? So cute!

Baylee

Eating to Nourish the Body: Controlling your Intake

As with most of my experiences, I tend to "discover" a new idea through church that doesn't apply to just my religious background but to other parts of my life.

As my religious readers may know, yesterday was Communion, where the congregation eats the "body of Christ" and drinks the "blood of Christ". It's every first Sunday of the month and the reason for this event is to remember (and celebrate) what Christ has done for us. I attended a baptism for one of my newest cousins (yay Adley!), and the pastor at her church said "today, we will eat this bread for the nourishment of our bodies". Not once have I heard a pastor say this, nor have I heard such a simple statement have such a great idea behind it.

I know, I know--what the heck is so important about this? Well, many of us overeat--whether it be because we just like to stay in the kitchen for most of the day, or we like to eat, etc. etc. I, for one, LOVE food. I can't get enough of it. For the past couple of months I've noticed that I'm taking less time out of my language and pilot learning so that I can mindlessly eat whatever I want. The outcome? I feel guilty for not putting enough effort and passion into the things I love, and for letting this overeating get to me. To be in control of your body is to be in control of what you do. It's as simple as that.

So, how do we stop overeating? One of the best things is to avoid food. Yes, it doesn't sound like fun, but you'll be able to focus on tasks that have to get done. If I indulge at the supermarket and buy that box of OREOS, you can be sure that they are staying in the back of my cabinet where I won't see it. Start drinking tea and water while doing other tasks, because we sometimes mix up "thirsty" with "hungry".

If you're hungry, and you've already eaten a meal, then go a snack such as fruit or nuts. After lunch, I tend to prowl the kitchen cabinets for something that "looks good". Instead, I will force myself to stop looking, to think about what delicious fruits we have, and eat an apple. Fruits and nuts can be such a filler! Usually after an apple or banana I'll feel full, and thus I won't have the desire to stay in the kitchen any longer. Even better, buy only healthy foods. This way you won't have the temptation at home, staring at you right in the face.

If you're more adventurous and love to stay active, workout instead of walking through the kitchen. I'd recommend working out after an hour of eating a meal, just so that you don't feel weighed down or sluggish. If you've already done your workout for the day (kudos to you!), then go for a walk. Find a Pinterest challenge if you want to watch your fave TV show (or during the commercials!). Anything! As long as you're moving, you'll begin to remember your goals and why you don't want that chocolate hiding above your fridge.

Eat these!

So, now that we have ways to stop our overeating tendencies, how do we eat to nourish our bodies?

It's rather simple--eat clean. Those two words sound easy until you begin your journey to cleaning up your diet and eating things that will make your body feel like a 10 ALL DAY LONG. What does clean eating include? Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, meat. Not only does nourishing your body make you feel better, but it also helps you to tone yourself (with some working out). The 80/20 rule if a life saver for me, which is where you eat 80% healthy foods (such as the ones listed above) while the 20% can be the not-so-good-for-you food. Keep in mind though, that 20% should NOT include fried chicken legs at KFC. Make sure that you AVOID TEMPTATION AT ALL COSTS, and speed up (but surely not over the limit ;) ) once you see these fast food places because we do NOT want you stopping there!

Lastly, eat in 5-6 small portions a day. This way, you won't face any energy plummets because you haven't eaten for six hours. Always carry small snacks such as nuts with you so that you also don't feel the need to buy junk food on the go.

I hope that this helps you to understand that eating to nourish the body is NOT mindless eating--nourishment comes from giving your body the vitamins and nutrients it needs to power through the day with good-for-you energy!

Baylee