Why Natural Beauty?

Why natural beauty?

Hi guys! It's been a while. I have had so many changes in my life and I just now feel like I'm getting back into the swing of things. A couple of major changes have been my jobs! And yes, I say jobs. If any of you know me, you know I juggle about 7 different jobs. I worked as an aesthetician for about 5 different Skincare lines & a makeup artist for 1 line. I worked for all those lines in high-end department stores & high-end cosmetic boutiques and would travel all around the region to do facials and makeup for beauty events at the shops. It was fun, I loved educating, I loved my co-workers, it was fun seeing new cities but it was time for a change. I hated leaving home, I love being at home and being able to sleep in my own bed & actually see my husband as much as possible! I hated leaving my dogs, my garden, my regular routine. It's hard to take care of yourself on the road too. Eating is tough, traveling is tough on your body & my body especially doesn't handle travel well for some reason. I knew this was a job I loved & I was lucky to do for a long time. But it's a tough job. It can get stressful, it's hard to be away from home, it's unpredictable, and it's wearing on you. I knew this wouldn't be a job I would do long-term and I knew it was coming to and end soon. So, I decided to check out some different options and I was still scared to death to take a leap of faith and try something new. Even though my job as a freelance aesthetician and makeup artist was unstable & crazy & took me away from home, it's what I've done for 4 years now. I was told numerous times that Skincare & beauty is "what I was meant to do." My passion shines through when I talk and educate people. So why was I leaving again? On paper the job sounded great. Ooohhh travel! Oooohhhh makeup and beauty! Oohhh meeting new people! Yeah, all good. But, it was time to step down. I could tell I was done.

But now! Now I can truly write about brands. Any brand I want to! I don't feel torn or like I'm bound to a certain company. Now I can truly write about what I want to! I can focus on the good, the bad, and the ugly! I can actually write about toxins in Skincare and beauty and not feel like while I'm educating you on this knowledge that I'm also going against brands I represent. So now I have more freedom and can really educate y'all on everything!
One main principle I have on Skincare & beauty is toxins. The United States hasn't updated their FDA requirements for cosmetics since 1938....umm you guys. A LOT has changed since then. And I'm not just talking about changes in our country, think about all the new wacky ingredients and chemicals that we have developed since 1938. I think we might want to look back into these regulations folks. Europe has banned over 1400 ingredients. Guess how many we in the US have band?
11

Yes, 11. Guys. This is serious. And I don't want to hear people tell you that Skincare, body care, makeup, hair care, any type of cosmetics don't absorb into the blood stream. Because they do! If I can't perform a chemical peel on you while you're pregnant-then these products penetrate into the bloodstream, period. I have been approached by certain Skincare brands (that shall remain nameless) to represent them & sell their products. But-I do not believe in their chemically created ingredients to force cells regeneration. I've politely declined and told them I like more natural ingredients and I have been answered back to very condescending responses and talked down to because "it might not be linked to cancers" or it is "most likely not able to penetrate into the blood stream" and the response has been loaded down with a bunch of filler to basically trick you into thinking "wow! They used a lot of technical cosmetic words, they must know what they're talking about" nope! Not going to fool me!

I'm sorry. If there's a possibility that a product can cause cancer-I'm out. I don't care if you think I'm an idiot or not. I love my life, I'm not going to risk it to try some product that will thin out my skin and make me look like glass by the time I'm 35. Yeah, I'll pass.

I know this sounds harsh but it's the way I feel and these are just my personal thoughts on Skincare. There's too much false advertisements out there tricking people into thinking that what they're using is natural or good for them. Aveeno is not natural people. Kiehls is not natural. Aveda products (which are owned by Estée Lauder) aren't so great either folks. It's so deceiving and it's so unfair. They know how to package everything to look clean & pure and market it like it's "all natural." I get it, you don't want to look through ingredients and study harmful names to look for. That's why I'm here! I'm here to help. I love this stuff and there's new information everyday coming out. Hell, I just read about 2 brand new ingredients that companies have made up to basically combine tons of toxic ingredients into one super toxic name. What the heck is going on people????!!??? This is pure craziness that companies are literally making up names of things to hide more toxins behind it! It's time to start studying up on what we put on our bodies, face, skin, hair & nails & I'm here to help you!

I've got lots of blogs waiting in the wings here that I've already written giving reviews and info on some of my favorite natural brands! Stay tuned and I'll be sharing these every couple of days!

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All About That Balance

Happy Independence Day weekend everybody!! So this weekend is all about hanging outside, being with friends, grilling, drinking cool crisp cocktails, fireworks, and of course celebrating our great country's birthday & giving thanks and remembering all those who fought for our freedom. To me, I want to eat right and not just blow my healthy habits out the door all in one weekend all the while beating myself up for going crazy. But, it's also a holiday weekend to do all these things I listed above and I don't want to constantly think How clean a food item is, is this bad for me, or does it have gmo's and carbs...blah! Take some time off people!! That's what holidays are for! So that's just what I'll do! Here are a few tips that I follow for holiday weekends and time off!

1-balance! For breakfast I'll have a green juice or a detox juice and some fruit with lots of water. Keep it light and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

2-modify! For a cocktail outside I will lighten up on the sugary options and go for cleaner cocktails that you can make.

This is what I'll be drinking this weekend:

Clean Margarita

1oz good quality tequila
3oz club soda
I like the juice of half a lime, but I like tart! Juice the lime to your taste

3-moderation! I know you hear that word all the time but it really works! Sometimes I just need a bite. If you're one of my friends or Corey all you hear me say when we go out to eat is I just want a bite. It fills that void of desserts or heavier options that weigh you down. A bite will do it! Now I'm not saying only eat a bite of food overall. I'm saying I take a bite of a cupcake, pizza, a burger, whatever. Then, the rest of my meal is more veggie heavy, healthier foods.

4-Have fun! Enjoy your free time and quality time with family and friends. Don't boggle your mind with calorie counting and clean foods lists. Just have some fun. I like to enjoy myself but I also like to remind myself of how I will feel after I binge. I want to make the most of my holiday weekend so sometimes certain foods aren't worth feeling like crap the rest of the day for.

Just be mindful in everything! Be mindful in your time with friends & family. Be mindful for your free time and extra day off if you're lucky enough to have one. Be mindful of the people who do have to work this holiday weekend & be thankful for them. Be thankful for everyone who has risked their all for us to have these celebrations. And just soak up the time you have with friends and family!




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Matcha in the Morning

I'm sure you've heard the word matcha lately. Matcha is seriously having a moment and I'm loving it! It deserves all the attention.

What is matcha you ask? Matcha has been a tradition of the Japanese culture for over a millennium. Matcha has so many benefits, which i will go over soon. Matcha is ground green tea leaves. The leaves are picked young so the leaves are rich & full of nutrients. These leaves are steamed, stemmed, and then ground into a very fine powder. So essentially you are consuming the entire green tea leaf (minus stems and vines of course).

Matcha is high in antioxidants. So it'll help your body fight against free radials, helps with anti-aging, and helps keep your body at the peak of health! Matcha also has very high amounts of EGCg (one of the most powerful catechins) which means it is a fantastic cancer fighter. Studies have shown that matcha has over 100 times more EGCg than any other tea. It's the tea of all teas!

Matcha gives you energy, but also calms you. I don't do well with a lot of caffeine so coffee usually makes me feel jittery and horrible. But, I do need some help perking myself up from time to time and this is where matcha is the perfect option. Matcha gives you energy & alertness but it also keeps you calm all at the same time!

Matcha contains L-Theanine which helps induce relaxation & sharpens your memory! Chinese Daoists & Japanese Zen Buddhist monks drink this amazing tea to help meditate while staying alert & it helps your concentration while giving you energy and endurance. That's why Samurai & my husband drink it, lol. I mean, Corey is close to a Samurai... My husband works outside all day doing landscape & pond installations and coffee is not what he wants to drink outside in the heat of Nashville. It makes him jittery and it's harsh on you. Matcha helps keep his energy and stamina all day while helping him feel calm and relaxed.

Matcha also increases metabolism and helps your body burn fat & helps lower your cholesterol. It also detoxifies the body because matcha contains chlorophyll which helps pull out heavy metals and chemicals from the body. On top of all these other benefits, matcha has antibiotic properties, potassium, vitamins, iron, protein, and calcium.

I used to add a teaspoon of matcha to almond or coconut milk & shake it up and drink. That simple! But, I was reading one my favorite bloggers page "Nutrition Stripped" and she had an blog post about a matcha latte. I have kept it on my phone for months never taking the leap to move into the latte realm and wow, I'm so glad I did! Her recipe is on her blog & it's easy & so delicious. Matcha latte mornings are the way to go! I get my matcha from a local tea place here called High Garden but you can order matcha online as well. Just make sure you get a good quality matcha. Here's to your health! I hope you enjoyed & I hope you try it out!

Naturallivingideas.com
Nutritionstripped.com


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The Blogger's Dilemma

Hi all! Here's a quick blog going over what's been happening in my life. I've been so bad keeping up with this (what's new right?). I have the hardest time keeping up with this thing. Plus, I've been going through so much. I've been traveling like crazy, mercury went into retrograde (...yeesh) that makes me question everything in life, I should never blog during that time it would be filled with me ranting about what should I do with my life, and I'm supposed to be a responsible adult & I just can't do it. I don't think that would be a big hit. Another reason for such a long pause is I'm really trying to perfect the subject of my blog. I want to be a serious blogger. I want to really pinpoint a subject and focus on it.

But I can't. I love too much not to share.

So here's the deal. I really want to write about beauty products but, one issue-I work for many different lines so I don't want to piss anyone off. Second-I don't have enough money to buy all this stuff!! I look at some bloggers and I'm like, "Holy crap! That person just spent $300 at Sephora!" Just no. I can't. I don't do that & I'm a makeup artist! I spend my money on food & clothes. So, I will review products, but it's going to take some time folks. Because if I'm trying it out for a blog, I'm using every last drop until I move on to the next item. So hold tight people. There will be beauty reviews, tips & pointers. But it's going to take some time for me to get through certain items.

Another issue-I am not made of money folks. I know. Sad story. With that being said, I have started to research how to better my blog, sharpen my skills. And yes, some of these skills cost nothing. But-some do. And once again, I spend my money on food & clothing. I just can't throw some cash at a fancy website or blog page. I won't have the fancy photo shoots and my pictures won't look fantastic on a regular basis. I do have a couple things up my sleeve though. So better quality pictures will be here, but not all the time so don't get used to it alright? Selfie sticks and blogspot are here to stay, sorry guys.

Sorry, but it's true! I can't afford a photographer all the time so I'll do the best that I can. What I can offer is this-honesty. I've been boggling my mind on what subject to focus on. Do I focus on fitness? Health? Beauty? Food? Inspirational follow your dreams posts? I don't know!

I did some research and started checking out many other blogs and I realized something. I feel more defeated and down after checking out a lot of blogs rather than feelings super pumped about eating clean, new beauty & fashion trends, or working out. I feel like these people are freakin awesome and perfect and I'll never get to that point. I beat myself up because I'm not investing all this money into new makeup and Skincare constantly to amp up my blog posts. I feel bad and discouraged when I want an outfit from someone and then read to see where it's from and it's $600! I realized this is magical and it's wonderful and there are so many people that will spend that money and get these things but I can't. So I've decided to basically write for myself. I'm not going to suggest things that I wouldn't buy myself, I'm not going to show clothing I can't afford, I'm not going to make it look like I spend hours at the gym or make green juices every day. I'm going to be me and hopefully build a group of strong badass women like me to follow this blog and feel good & empowered after reading.

Now I'm not saying that others bloggers make people feel bad. No. I am just saying I have yet to find a blogger that I fit with. I'm going to share life with you. Sharing the Struggles of doing what you love, but also the rewards. Trying affordable, natural products that I love. Sharing with you the inspirations that cross my path & the fears. Basically this is my online diary and I'm ready to inspire and share. And I hope you like it!


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Angels in the workplace

Hi folks! Summer is officially here in Nashville. Wow, it's hot and sunny & beautiful! Im sure my husband who works outside begs to differ. But, summer is here whether you like it or not.

For me, I love summer. I always look back fondly at summer and miss it so much. But during the summer I feel like I dread it. I dread wearing a swimsuit, showing more skin, I beat myself up over not preparing my body during the winter for my "summer body." I feel like I don't take advantage of all the amazing things that are happening during the summer because I'm so hard on myself and beat myself up over aspect of summer and honestly it sucks. I'm so tired of beating myself up over not being prepared for my summer body, then beating myself up for not appreciating the moment and enjoying the summer. Y'all, this has to stop! And I am making a conscious effort to not do this anymore!

In my previous post I wrote about the new direction I'm going with the blog. Yes, of course I'll write about beauty & products I love. Yes, I'll write about fun, natural health tips and products that I'm trying. This is me, this will not go away. But I also want to really start being real with y'all. The perception of what social media gives is this-all day I sit in my house and make Skincare & green juices and me and my talented husband just build amazing pieces of furniture all day. We have a beautiful garden that we maintain and eat all organic healthy foods. But unfortunately that's not the case. And I want to be honest about that. The truth is I am an aesthetician for a few high-end Skincare lines & a makeup artist who never truly knows what her work schedule will be like. To stay busy and be successful in this beauty world you have to keep your schedule free. But keeping your schedule free means not having a crutch of a job to lean on for security. So when you're working, buckle up, hold on & good luck! It's crazy and it's fun & it all usually happens back-to-back. But when you get free time or "days off" you don't get paid. So those times are rarely spent relaxing. Those "days off" usually consist of me doing the budget for the next month in a panic and sweating profusely.

But, in the end, my workload is always busier than I ever expect it to be and it always works out. That's just the beauty of the job. You never know what you're going to get and that's ok. That's life. When I made a regular paycheck and worked regular hours I felt like a robot. Even though I was working in the beauty industry still doing what I was interested in, it wasn't what I loved. The second I quit that job I started really living. I started really feeling things. Some of those things were stress, uncertainty, worry, anxiety, and a couple of arguments with Corey sprouted from money (damn you money). But, the main feelings I felt were excitement, motivation, determination, happiness, freedom, contentment & love. The ladder definitely outweighs the couple of moments of stress for sure. My life is not a roller coaster of emotions. The fear and more negative feelings come and go very rarely. But I just wanted to put it out there that this life I live is not easy as it may seem when you look at my social media or see others' blogs. I just want to be real.

Really, it isn't easy. It isn't easy to blog. It isn't easy to blog because I feel like I'm writing to nobody or I feel like I'm ridiculous because I'm not expert, do I really think people want to hear what I have to say? I don't know...really, I have no clue. But the truth is, I love putting my feelings out there and writing is my best outlet. So even if people don't read this, that's ok. It's my therapy.

One of the best things that has come from taking this journey that I have chosen is the people I have met along the way. Being a freelance makeup artist is amazing. You get to travel and meet people, tons of people. I have people I can call friends all over this region and that makes me so lucky. This group of girls are amazing! Truly, amazing. They took the same risk I took and we share the same passion and love and they are so uplifting and encouraging and that means so much to me. There are moments of doubt and it can be really hard doing this job sometimes. You have to leave home, once again, the instability of the job is hard enough, it's long days and crazy schedules-but then you have these golden moments of talking to these powerful women who are in the same position as you and reaffirming themselves and others that this is the job we are meant for. Wow, it always comes at the right time & it always stays with me. I also get to meet so many people who sit in the makeup chair or lay on the facial bed and I get to talk to them, and make them feel good. But lately I feel like they're giving me more to take away than I'm giving them. Lately I've had customers send me words of encouragement and positivity that I truly needed. It's amazing what those words can do for someone who works in this field.

This job has led me to some of the best people I have ever met. These people are good people. They have amazing hearts & that same free spirit I have that I cherish in others. They encourage me, they listen to my worries, and they lift me up even if they don't realize it. We get together and share our fears, worries, and dreams and we encourage one another that we're not crazy and just keep on going! It's important to find that support group. The ones that get what you do, support what you do, inspire you, and encourage you. Be that person for someone else. Find friends in your field and be there for one another. I'm so lucky I have found mine.


This is one of the subjects that I will focus on in my blog. This won't just be a facade of my life is perfect and I just travel freely and do makeup & have fun. It'll show the struggle and doubts that we all have. But the main truth is, do what you love. When you do that all things fall into place and everything works out every time. You get to meet amazing people who share those same interests and they will lift you up and change your life.

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Salt Cave Adventures

So, here I go once again. I just wrote out a whole blog about going to a Himalayan salt cave this weekend and poof! It got deleted. So here I go again. I really thought that first draft was really good too. Very education, descriptive & charming all wrapped up in one little blog. So...take 2. Let's hope this one is close to the first...yeesh.

Ok. Here we go.

Hi guys! Happy Monday! (Seriously, already starting out as a Monday for sure!) ok, so this weekend me, my aunt & my mom went to a Himalayan salt cave. I have been interested in the benefits of Himalayan salt for a while. I transitioned my regular salt to pink Himalayan salt and I have a few votive salt candles for my home. There are so many health benefits in this beautiful, pink crystal.

Himalayan salt is a pure, untouched salt that is millions of years old. It is free of toxins & pollutants unlike our traditional sea salt we use. Himalayan salt has been maturing for over 250 million years under tectonic pressure which has led it to be free of toxins and impurities. Besides being pure, Himalayan salt also provides numerous health benefits. Himalayan salt has 84 natural minerals and elements found in the human body which is beneficial for our bodies to be at the peak of our health. The unique cell structure of Himalayan salt is tiny & easy for our bodies to absorb its vibrational energy. Eastern European countries have used Himalayan salt caves to treat people for over 30 years. We are just learning about this in the US.

Consuming Pink Himalayan sea salt is one way to take advantage of its healing properties. It's a very easy switch over from your traditional table salt to pink Himalayan salt. It taste the same & it's prettier! (Not a real benefit there, purely aesthetic) one thing though, when baking I would advise to use the exact salt they suggest, I wouldn't switch to Himalayan salt there because baking is a finicky thing! But for everything else, Himalayan salt does the trick! Health benefits consuming the salt are-

-controls water levels in the body -helps with sinus problems
-stabilizes ph balance in cells & brain -reduces cramps
-encourages blood sugar health -increases bone strength
-aids in reducing aging -healthy libido
-vascular health -circulator support
-promotes kidney & gallbladder health

Like I said, I have been using Himalayan salt in & on my food for a while now and the transition was easy! I also have been adding some Himalayan salt crystal votives to our home. I have been studying Himalayan salt for a while and when we heard that we had a Himalayan salt cave near us in Nashville, my aunt, mom & I were ready to go check it out! I was so curious what it was all about! I had imagined us getting there and having to crawl down to this underground, giant cave and just be hanging out in there but I was definitely wrong!

Our drive to the cave was surprisingly easy! Not as far as I expected and it wasn't out in this desolate location. It's right off Nolensville road people! So our journey began walking into their beautifully smelling entry way. It smelled fresh & light like a day spa would smell like. We were greeted by the sweet girls working the front desk & they gave us a rundown of what to expect and what we need to do. I did a little research on their website before heading over there and the website said to dress comfortable and it could be cold for some. I wore my lululemon wunder unders, a tank top & a kimono. As you walk in the girls hand you paper slippers to cover your feet, and you have the option to grab noise canceling headphones that play calming music, a blanket (which I opted out of & I was completely comfortable in what I was wearing & didn't need a blanket) & an eye mask which I didn't use. The dim glow of the room and the headphones streaming zen music was all I needed to relax.





As you shuffle in the room in your paper shoes you are drawn in by calm music & the beautiful glow of the salt. You walk into the room and it's dark, calming, and very inviting. Before you know it piles of this coarse, multifaceted pink salt crystals are under your feet. So much it looks like rough, pink sand all over the floor. It really felt good on my big 'ol feet. I would have loved to have just walked around on those crystals the whole time, but I also would have been the most hated & annoying patron to ever go into the cave. So, the zero gravity chair would have to do. As you walk in the music encircles you & you slip into these chairs and just lay back. Literally, lay back. I have never been in a zero gravity chair and you truly lay back in those babies. I love them now! So as you relax back in your chair, you & around 10 other people get comfortable. You throw on your headphones and just chill under the twinkle lights and the rose glow of the pink salt. Once the lights dim & you're listening to the calming tunes, it's like you're the only one in the cave.




There are so many benefits to going into a salt cave which I will list in a bit. But also, there's benefits in relaxation & meditation. It's so good for you to just take some time out for yourself & by yourself. So why not do it in a room filled with the amazing Himalayan salt? I'm in! The temperature & humidity controlled (at around 71 degrees) salt cave is made to simulate the salt caves in Ukraine. It is so beautiful in the cave. It is literally covered in Himalayan salt, it's on the walls, the ceilings & of course that awesome sand on the floor. There is over 12 thousand pounds on Himalayan salt in the cave! There is a Halo generator that breaks down the salt into fine particles that is pumped into the air while you lay back and breathe in the benefits. The entire cave is a hypo-bacterial & allergen free environment. Your sinus & respiratory tract will absorb moisture from the salt & will clean & clear mucus & kill bacteria. I kept my makeup minimal as the salt caves offer skin healing benefits as well. Here's a list of other benefits of a Himalayan salt cave-

-acne -circulatory issues
-ADHD -depression
-allergies -ear infections
-arthritis -emphysema
-asthma -fatigue
-bronchial/sinus issues -nervousness
-bronchitis -sinusitis
-COPD -poor concentration
-cystic fibrosis -eczema & psoriasis
-sleep disorders -smokers cough
-stress/anxiety -weakened immune system

It was amazing what a 45 minute session can do for you. After the session you lift up out of your chair and just float right out the door. When you first get to the cave you & the other guests are just kind of hanging out & minding your own business. But who knew after hanging out in a cave together for 45 minutes would make such a difference. When we all got out everyone was quite chatty with one another. Most people we were with purchased a groupon deal for the cave and you could tell it was their first session at the cave, as it was ours. But after the first session most people either bought a package deal for more visits, that's what we did, or they bought some Himalayan salt goodies to prolong their experience at home.


If you want to take these benefits home with you I would suggest to buy a Himalayan salt lamp or votive. These lamps and votives generate negative ions which naturally come from lightning storms, waterfalls, the ocean, rainstorms & sunlight. This is why most people feel refreshed & renewed when they experience these natural occurrences.

Positive ions are created from microwaves, television, & electronics which aggravate allergies, sleep trouble & stress. Negative ions cancel out the positive ions which in turn cleanse the air. These salt lamps are hygroscopic which means the salt attracts water to the surface and the heat evaporates it which produces negative ions in your environment with the lamp. Airborne mold, bacteria & allergens can all be absorbed into the lamp and neutralized by negative ions. Among all the other benefits you've already read about in this blog here are a few more you get from the lamp-

-cleanse & deodorize the air -better sleep
-reduce allergy & asthma symptoms -improve mood & concentration
-ease cough -treat seasonal affect disorder
-increase energy levels -reduce static electricity in the air
-neutralize electromagnetic radiation

I hope you enjoyed reading all the benefits this beautiful pink crystal can give you & I hope you treat yourself with either going to a salt cave or bringing a little salt cave to your home with a lamp or votive. Remember, it is very important to buy a real pink salt crystal from the Himalayas. There are many fake ones that are just generic salt crystals not real Himalayan pink salt. I have seen many at discount stores and I'm a little weary of those. In this case, pay a little more & get a good quality lamp or votive. If you're in Nashville, check out Pony Show. She has quality salt lamps & votives. Do your research & get a good one! Happy Monday!

Serenitysaltcavetn.com
Wellnessmama.com
Globalhealingcenter.com
Naturallivingideas.com


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Leap Day!

Hi guys! Happy leap day! I guess that's what you say on this special day right? I have no idea. All I know is today has been awesome already! Woke up to beautiful weather, sweet pups, my cute, handsome husband, and a crazy positive, determined attitude! This year has been great so far. Been keeping really busy traveling for Skincare and makeup brands, been traveling a lot! Basically 4 weeks straight of travel, and then I had a little break traveling last week but worked in Nashville for beauty events all last week and this week I finish off my travel marathon going to Birmingham for a couple days, and then I'm off from travel for the rest of the month!!!!! Wooooooo!!! I will say, I have been so grateful for all my travel and experiences I get with this job.

What's funny is, all I have done the past few years is complain about it. I love what I do, I just hate to travel so much. But I figured out my problem. It's not the travel, it's that I push myself too far and never give myself any time to breathe. I work a part time job in Nashville while I'm not traveling and then take days off from the part time job to travel for my "real" job and then I end up having no days off, exhausted, and burned out. So, after realizing that I constantly am working and I'm not taking advantage of these awesome opportunities I receive, I decided no filler jobs! I need free time to myself! I need to devote time to myself doing what I love and what recharges me, like yoga, hikes, hanging out with girlfriends, sweating it out whether it be cardio dance, Pound fitness, or biking, drawing, brainstorming ideas, creating whether it be painting, making something or creating something with Corey, and just hanging out with my family. I fill my schedule so tight I don't even have free time to study up on my beauty brands I work for and then I feel I'm uninspired and I don't feel 100% confident in what I'm doing.

I was not going to do that this year. My #1 goal this year was to stop working so much!! Now I devote all my time to my brands I represent and I help out a couple friends at their shops that they own. It still gives me time for me, and I love working at both these places. It's one day a week and it gives me stability to stay calm about my schedule but it still doesn't overwhelm me. I am so thankful for the grounding of these one day a week jobs, but I also am so grateful for the freedom of my real job. I get to basically choose my schedule and I don't have to work all the time. It can get a little scary and I have my moments of freaking out, but the truth is, it works. This job provides everything I need and I have to stop telling myself I need to do more. I don't have to work 5 days a week and have that stable 9-5 shift to "have a job." I do have a job! It's not what most people do, but it works for me and I'm so grateful for that. It always provides and I'm always staying busy which is good.

Now I actually have time to do what I want. This year was the year for that. I had this feeling last year that 2016 was going to be awesome and so far it's been great. My husband was off for the winter which was so great. For 2015 being so busy, I felt like we really didn't get to see much of each other and we really got to hang out and spend quality time together while he was off. I traveled quite a bit & he came along too!! We had a great time and I really enjoyed having him along for the ride! We got to go to towns we had never even heard of and got to see some awesome sites. We took advantage of the journey and stopped and checked out anything & everything that caught our attention while on the way to our destination.




state park we checked out along our way to Jackson, Mississippi

I think these trips with my husband really reflect how I want to live my life. Take advantage of all the opportunities given. Just like my job. I never really grasped how luck I was to be able to go to all these different cities and get to check out the yummy food, sites, and people. I would just show up & do facials or makeup & go. Having Corey with me really got me to stop & smell the roses. Enjoy all the beautiful sites & sounds of the trip and not just focus on point A to Z. Stop and check out every freakin letter as you go along!




state park stop along the way

I think Corey even enjoyed taking advantage of the opportunity he was given. He loves Civil War history so he went to battlefields while i worked. he checked out historic buildings and homes, all by himself! He said he did numerous tours with just himself and the tour guide. Sometimes it's nice to just be by yourself and have these moments alone. (It's the only child in me, I can't help it!) I studied the sites to go see, asked locals about the best places to eat and man, we had a good time!

I mean how often are we going to go to Little Rock, Arkansas? I mean, honestly? It's not on my top vacation destinations. But now going there, we will definitely go back. We had the best fried catfish there and the best cheese dip! I am not kidding! Dizzy Gypsy has the best cheese dip! I will never be the same. I need that cheese dip on a weekly basis! There is tons of hiking and beautiful sites that Arkansas still has to offer. We got to knock off a lot on our sites list for Arkansas, took back roads and more scenic routes. But now we know, it's an easy trip to get there and we can do an easy weekend hiking trip.


We stopped in Memphis on our way to Little Rock and just checked out some of the sites. We swung by Sun Studios which we wanted to just check out and we ended up taking the tour, and it changed our life! I love Elvis, sure, why not? But the main man that I love is good of Johnny Cash. To know he sang and recorded there just moved me and Corey to our core. It's a major historic site we are so glad we checked out.


the same microphone all the greats used while recording at Sun in the same spot & studio at Sun Records

Arkansas is so flat! It's so beautiful! There's tons of open lands and trees and it's not covered in buildings and house after house. It's kind of nice to go somewhere and realize there is still untouched land that hasn't been taken over by us humans. Corey even received a little inspiration while doing touristy things while I worked. He got the check out the numerous museums they had in Little Rock and he's actually branched out to even more types of woodworking that I will share soon!


the mighty Mississippi on a cloudy drive

Mississippi is gorgeous! I love it! The people are sweet & caring, the sites are so pretty. We rode on the Natchez Trace to get to certain towns and it was just beautiful. It's so nice to just see land every once in a while. All the little towns we stayed in were beautiful & sweet. Even the bigger towns in Mississippi were still delightful and not so crazy like a big city. There was very little to no traffic which is just amazing! It's nice to almost "unplug" from what Nashville is turning in to. I love this city that I was born in but man, it's getting big and it's a little bit of an adjustment. So leaving this city to go to small towns I never would have thought about visiting was so refreshing. That is the best way to describe my last month & a half-refreshing & recharging.


on the Natchez Trace



view from the Natchez Trace


Natchez Trace


every couple of miles the view of the Natchez Trace was slightly different from the last mile, it was beautiful

While in Jackson, Mississippi we decided to really take advantage of the trip and stay at the most adorable bed & breakfast on our way home to Nashville. Once again, Corey is a huge Civil War history guy so we stayed in Corinth, Mississippi. Like I said, we went places we had never even heard of. This was one of them! But, it was the most beautiful towns! Literally everyone knew each other! You could walk around the entire town and we stayed right in the "downtown" of Corinth. It was so sweet! You just walked around the town and saw the locals walking from their house to go get dinner at the local restaurant down the road. It was just so different and refreshing. I was so inspired being "unplugged" from our normal routine.


sweet church in Corinth while walking around the town

Some of the best memories of my life will be from these trips. Hanging out with Corey in new towns, trying to figure out where we are going. Taking a risk on local restaurants and meeting new people. Checking out sites off the interstate and going through some major back roads! Listening to music in the car and just talking the whole way. Chilling out in our hotel room reading in bed, we never do that! Walking through downtown Little Rock and checking out new restaurants & bars. Leaving your room late at night to go try the "best cheese dip" at the restaurant 2 blocks from your hotel. Yes, we did get dressed and go back out to eat cheese dip at 9:30 at night. It was the best cheese dip and you'll constantly hear about it from now on! These memories are just so warming to me and I'm so thankful.


our view from our hotel in Little Rock. The Arkansas River was decked out for Valentine's Day

I think these trips have set the precedent for the rest of the year. I need to stop and smell the roses. Really need to be mindful of all the opportunities I am given. Take advantage of everything I have, from my job, to my friends, my awesome husband, my body & utilize it to its fullest, this life! I need to enjoy the free times in between work trips. Take this time to do stuff around the house, hang out with friends, take time for me!! Just like leap day, it's an extra day to just take life by the horns and love the hell out of it!!


some random stop in TN along the way to Little Rock
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