Motivational Monday - Finding Excuses

I have found it extremely hard to remain motivated lately.  I have been so stinkin' busy and on top of that, I am freakin' sick again! WTH?!?  With another busy weekend to bog me down and another busy week ahead with school, I have found myself bummed out with working out and eating right.  However, I am fighting my way back on top and trying to stop myself from making excuses as to why I can't work out or why I am not picking the apple over the pop tart.  I came across this on pinterest (my new addiction) and I think it rings true.

So for today's motivation I am going to motivate myself to remember why certain things in my life are important and find a way to achieve them and stop making excuses as to why I can't.  Great words we can live by right!?  I am choosing to FIND A WAY!

Excusing myself from this post....

Nicole

Boxin' Out & Baggin' Up - My Glam Bag

Most of you know that I am a lover of Birchbox and have been subscribed to their sample service for over a year now. I love trying new beauty products but to be quite honest their past couple of months have been BORING! Don't get me wrong I love being exposed to new brands. Actually if it wasn't for them I wouldn't have found Zoya nail polish and Jouer moisturizing tint both of which I am absolutely in love with.  But, I would love to see some of those "big" brand names in there every once in a while.  Ok, ok, what constitutes as a "big brand name" since all of them are considered "big brand names" right?  Well, yes that is true, but I want to see MAC and Urban Decay in there among others.


Anyway, I was twittering one day last month and came across My Glam Bag. First off, I have never heard of them so when I saw the word Glam and the word Bag I was instantly curious.  I love glam and I love bags so I had to check them out.  Basically, they are the same deal as Birchbox. $10/month gets you a bag stuffed with samples.  So, I signed up to try it out and just got my first shipment last week.  OMG, this bag was AWESOME!  Check out the contents:

1. NYX Roll On Glitter - I love NYX they are inexpensive but still great quality. I use these products all the time!! The Roll On Glitter can be applied to the eyes, face, and body!  On top of the full sized sample, they gave you a coupon code for 30% off more shades at NYX's website.  The cost of these are $4.50 with the 30% off the end up being $3.15 which is awesome!


2. Freeman Facial Mask Sachets - Never heard of Freeman but this bag included a easy-to-use skin-perfecting mask.  Haven't had a chance to use it just yet, but it sounds like I will love it.  Mine came in Goji Berry!  Glammies get 16% off when you go to Freeman's website.  The full trio is just $10 for My Glam Bag girls!  WHAT?!  That is so great!


3. X Out Shine Control - If you have skin problems then X Out is suppose to be the best stuff to stay flawless and shine free.  Sounds good to me! My skin has completely changed since having a child. I went from never having acne in high school (ok, ok, the occasional stress bump would arise) to now having anxiety over my skin!  This is an oil-free moisturizer with a mattifying complex and according to X Out's website, it works just like those other home supply acne medicines where you can choose between a 30- or 60-day supply one time or continuing shipment (actually they are the makers of Proactiv).  A continuing ship for a 30-day supply is $19.95 and Glammies receive a free full-size Shine Control with their purchase of their supply!  Not sure if I am going to end up purchasing the supply. My 10% benzyl peroxide works just fine for me.

4. Premier Dead Sea Cinderella Mask - The fact that you are seeing the words "Dead Sea" is enough to already fall in love with this.  I love anything and everything that involves the salts from the Dead Sea and I always feel the most beautiful after I use them.  However, they are so expensive!  Premier's website values the Cinderella Mask at $149.99!  WOW!  I cannot find myself loving this that much that I would spend that kind of money on it at the moment.  Maybe if I fall in to major money I would buy it and use it more often!

5. NuMe $100 Gift Card - Perhaps this is my most favorite part of the glam bag this month!  $100 dollars for me to spend anyway I want at NuMe's website!  They have professional styling tools, hair extensions,  feather extensions, so many things I don't know what to choose from!  I have been wanting hair extensions so I believe that is most likely what I am going to be spending it on.  Birchbox has never given us a gift card like this!  Last month we got a free iTunes download but that is squash compared to this!  How awesome right?!?

So the question is will I continue this subscription service?  Um, Hell Yeah!  This is so freakin' awesome!  I'm not ready to give up Birchbox just yet, but they definitely need to step up their game if they want my business!

Here is My Glam Bag's website if you want to check it out too!

Baggin' in up and Boxin' it out!

Nicole

Fashion Friday - MAXImum

For a while now I have been dying to get my hands on a Maxi skirt (a loose fitted, to the floor, flowing skirt...who wouldn't love them right?!) but I have been hesitant to purchase b/c well, I have 5'1" and either they are too long and I look like I am being swallowed GINORMOUS amounts of fabric (even worse if it is animal print...then I look like I am being swallowed by an HUGE animal) or the print is too outrageous...even for me (which is hard b/c I love prints!).  Then I find ones I like and then I look at the price tag. OK, I am NOT going to spend over $50 for a maxi skirt that may or may not be able to be used for numerous season.  Then I was out shopping at the GLAMOROUS Wal-Mart with my girlfriend (you know who you are...thank you for the wonderful laugh! my abs appreciated it!) to just shop around for less expensive clothes.  Albeit to my surprise Wal-Mart is coming along with there clothing selection. L.E.I. was like the coolest brand when I was a teen and you couldn't find it at a Wal-Mart back then. You had to go to HECT's (who remembers that place??, haha)

This one from Nic + Zoe will set you back $142! But it is so gorgeous!

Anyway, I digress, back to the Maxi Skirt! Well I found one and it was gorgeous and light weight and inexpensive. A whooping $14! That's right $14! I couldn't believe it. It was super cute and inexpensive and I could wear it this fall too if I wanted to.  

So, of course I purchased the lovely skirt but the girlfriend (mentioned above) and I also discussed the fact that she also doesn't buy them b/c of her height...she is tall (not gigantore tall, but tall enough nonetheless...hey I am so short everyone is pretty much a giant next to me).  So then that got me thinking, and made me decide to post about maxi-skirts.  The models down the runway are as tall, if not taller then my friend, and yet their skirts ALWAYS flow to the floor.  So here is a little message to the designers of the free feeling maxi skirt:

This Rachel Zoe $642! Oh but I love it  so!

Dear Designers: 

Your models are tall, and most women are at least 5'5"-5'7" why do you design your clothes for your models one way and then completely change them up for us people that are going to actually buy your clothes?  Please start making all your clothes, like you do for jeans, Short, Regular, & Tall.  Then we all can be happy! =)

Sincerely,

Me

Oh wouldn't that be the life...everything sized just like jeans!  One can hope right?

Anyway, here is to a comfy evening freely flowing to the MAXImum!

Nicole

Missing Blogger --FOUND!

Okay so I went MIA for a week...Sorry about that! Between everything going on with the car, work, and school, I just kind of lost track.  Plus, it was Bird's birthday and I needed to plan that also (post soon to come about the theme and stuff...[super excited!]  But, I am back and ready to get moving on this.  I have a whole lot of posts coming soon including: an update on Weight Not, b/c people still ask me about it, and update on my Jillian Michael's 30 day shred, an awesome society I am a part of, new themes for more days of the week, and much, much more! I have so many ideas I just need to sit down and organize....maybe I will do a post on organizations as well!

Fashion Friday is today& I will have a post up & ready for ya!

Overwhelmed & Motivated to move on!

Nicole

Motivational Monday-Patience

Another installment of Motivational Monday is here and remember last week?  If not, read about it here!  My week was horrible, but I waited and my prayers were answered AND good things really do come to those who wait.  Well, turns out our car is still under warranty [thanks to me buying the extended warranty] which is a good thing too b/c they had to replace the entire engine!  In case you're wondering how much something like that costs an average person in the DC Metro Area....UMMM, try $6,000!!!  Our TV is working again, and we haven't caught any more mice (thank the lord, b/c I was having nightmares about those creepy crawly things!).  Things are definitely going my way.  All because I waited. I knew it would come.  That is why this weeks motivation is to remind us all about patience.  **Enter now a quote by George Savile**

"A man who is a master of patience is master of everything else"

So now, I guess you can call me master?!  Not really but, this is true. I will continue to master my patience, who knows, it may extend to my family and we can all be master's of everything in our lives. [chuckle, chuckle, yeah...]  My rough weekend made me really appreciate what I have and put me in to perspective about how I handle things that "surprise" me.  Now, I have another chocked full week of school work, work work, home work, and about a million other things too.  So, this week I am going to practice mastering my new found ability to be patient.  I know I will be able to do it!

Patiently mastering!

Nicole

Fashion Friday-It's FASHION WEEK

Happy Fashion Friday Blog World!  My week has become a gazillion times better 1) because we had a ton of great news about everything that happened over the weekend. If you missed Motivational Monday's post then go check out the horrible weekend I had! and 2) because it is FASHION WEEK!  I wait every season for this week to come and I enjoy it so much I sit and watch the Live Runway on YouTube over and over again! Some of my favorite designers are BCBG, Nicole Miller, Charlotte Ronson, and Nicholas K.  OMG I love, love, love them!

Source: http://www.zimbio.com 

So for this week's Fashion Friday I am going to review what I loved on the Runway Yesterday (since I am posting this befroe Nicole Miller's & Charlotte Ronson hit the runway).  So yesterday's MB Fashion Week, Live from the Runway included Nicholas K, BCBG Max Azria, Richard Chai, and Tadashi Shoji.

Nicholas K never seizes to amaze me!  I have always loved their ability to be a little edgy and girly at the same time.  The duo gave us a little gothic with a whole lotta layers and country flare.  This is one of my favorites that came down the runway. It was one of the pieces that incorporated color! I must have color in my life!

Richard Chai had a good line too -- Lot's of neutral, structured, heavy wool separates (much like me I guess) -- I would totally wear some of this work work. Especially this little number:

Source: http://www.stylelist.com

I really want this! I think it is so cute.  

OH! And don't you just love these accessories from Max Azria??  I must find a way to get a hold of these shoes & bag!

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Anyway here is my update for Fashion Friday! I promise to start getting more posts up here more often as well!  I have lots lined up!  

Fashion, Fabrics, & Fridays!

Nicole

Motivational Monday-I'm Waiting

Hello blog world!  Today is a much needed post b/c I have had one hell of a weekend.  Let me bring you back to Wednesday of last week.  My husband calls to let me know there is something wrong with our 3 y/o Toyota Corolla.  The VSC, No Traction, and Check Engine lights are all on. I told him that he must go get the breaks done, something he has been putting off for at least a month now!  This was late in the afternoon (almost closing for most mechanics) so I told him to take it to the Mr. Tire that is up the street.  Enters now the sleazy mechanic at Mr. Tire.  He proceeds to tell my husband that it will cost him $113 for him to check out the lights plus the cost of break replacement.  UMMM I don't think so buddy.  My husband nixes that idea and heads straight over to our trusted local mechanic, five minutes before closing.  He tells my husband he doesn't think it is anything big and gave him the it's probably a sensor thing (note: he explained it to my husband but I have no idea what the hell he is talking about) and he should be alright to drive it until Friday evening and then he can drop it off and he will fix it for him...That consult to tell us what he "thinks" it is cost us NOTHING! That's right nothing, a good 'ol boy mechanic. This why I trust him. He would NEVER charge us a damn thing just to give us a quick consult and he doesn't charge us unless he has to do something to it!

Ok fast forward to Friday 2:00 PM, I get another call from my husband. "Honey, the car is dying on me. I am in D.C. I don't know if I will make it." I tell him to take it straight over to the place we bought it (b/c we get a free rental, the only time we don't take our cars to them is when we are home b/c this place is a hike from our home).  Luckily the car made it there, he got his rental, said his good-byes and talk with you soon about our POS car that is 3 years young and shouldn't be having these types of problems with it.

Saturday morning the mechanic gives us a call.  Head gasket blown, antifreeze leaking everywhere, they have to tear the car apart, we are looking at $1,100 just to start.  Imagine this - I loose it. Yep full fledged meltdown, hysterical.  My daughters birthday is in two weeks, and this very same week last year my husbands old expedition broke down on us and cost us $2,000 (we [the expedition and us] finally parted ways that June...) and we had to cancel celebrations b/c we couldn't afford it!  Needless to say I am extremely upset.  We still haven't got the car back.

If that wasn't enough to deal with that same afternoon, our big screen TV blew. Yup, that's right a day before the Superbowl and a tech couldn't get out here until today! I had planned on providing you with my Superbowl blog post about what we did, who we rooted for, what I made for apps, but I have been depressed all weekend long with the past 72 hours of events I couldn't bring myself to do it.

Source: http://www.roflcat.com/Good-Things-Come-To-Those-Who-Wait

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE! Yep, there's more. The icing on the cake is that we found that there is a mouse running around in our house somewhere.  I have been told that this is normal b/c it is cold out. I am a clean freak and I just don't understand how it is possible!

So anyway after this weekends whole ordeal I really am feeling unmotivated. Luckily, I have this post to re-motivate me to carry on and be strong. So this weeks motivational quote is:

"Good things come to those who wait" 

So, I am waiting as patiently as possible waiting for the good things to happen.  It can't get any worse right?!

Nicole

Fashion Friday

Keeping up with the themes during the week makes me continue to keep this blog afloat. Even with the small amount of followers I have. =) I love every one of you!  Enter our Friday theme!

Every Friday will be "Fashion Friday."  It will be the day during the week where I dedicate one day solely to fashion, whether it be accessories, clothes or and outfit of the day!  I may even throw in my nail decor for the week or a hair style I am wearing!

You know, it's funny the better you begin to feel about life in general the more interested you become in fashion and accessories...well, for me any way! So for this Fashion Friday I am going to show you what I wore to work.

Now, most offices are casual on Friday's but mine you can never really tell, so I try to remain business like all week long. Plus, I have no other reason to dress up other than work so I might as well enjoy it right?  Because the moment the weekend comes, I am in sweats, t-shirts, and soft and cozy bedroom socks all the way (given that I am not stepping out of the house!)

I don't have many clothes because I have gone on a Clothes Shopping Strike until I tone myself up! So, I need to get creative with my outfits to make them look better then what they are and not make it look like I wear the same freakin' thing every week!

Let's get to it, shall we?  Today I am wearing a scarfed red dress (a couple of years old that I bought from Dressbarn when I was so obsessed with them).  I cinched it above the waist with a large black belt, and added a red, black, and white (w/some sparkles!) scarf. I threw on some black tights that have a ribbed design on them with my favorite knee high black stiletto boots. I accessorized further with my large black flower ring and my gold Mickey Mouse watch (I have a collection of Disney/Mickey watches), and lastly my gold L.O.V.E. earrings!  For my hair I straightened it and bumped it at the crown and gave myself a braided head band.

Of course I am wearing red because today we are recognizing heart disease for women which kills more women then all cancers combined according to GoRedForWomen.org.  Go to their website to learn more about it.  We need to all stick together and fight this horrible disease!

I love figuring out new ways to wear old clothes!  Share with me what you like to do with your old clothes too!