My slightly strange new obsession

I love making lists...for EVERYTHING. It makes me feel organized and keeps me on top of things (most of the time). I have two calendars and lots of post it notes on hand at all times. I just love being organized. Everything always has a place and if something has been moved I always know.

Recently I have made a bullet journal and I am loving it! I have seen lots of people that use them for different purposes, but I use mine for lists and planning. I have a list for planning Christmas presents, a list for books I want to collect, plans for a long weekend trip, and basically just a lot of lists! Some people make their bullet journals elaborate and draw fancy banners to make it look really put together, but I am perfectly satisfied with using colorful pen and colored pencils and just making lists with a doodle here and there.

Here are some examples of pages I have made:

Other examples include:
~Short term/long term goals
~Social media passwords
~Seasonal bucket lists
~Things I want to learn
~Things that make me happy

I think this is a great way to keep organized, at least for me it is! There are plenty more examples of prettier pages on Pinterest, but this is how I like mine to look. What type of pages would you put in a bullet journal?

My nail saga

**Not sponsored by Sinful Colors, Walmart, or Target**

Ever since I was a child I picked my nails constantly. It was probably a nervous habit, but regardless my nails have always been short. They never went past the skin at the end of my fingers, and I also never painted my nails. They were not very pretty for most of my life. I got them done occasionally and got acrylic nails which I always ended up taking off myself, and leaving my nails looking even worse than before I got them done.

In the last couple of years I have tried to grow them out on my own, I tried to take Biotin, I tried lots of things to help my nails look prettier. I finally just started painting my nails about every other week. Once they were painted I was less likely to pick at them. I had tried this before, so who knows why it's only started to work after 22 years of picking. Finally my nails look less horrible than they have in the past.

I started by purchasing some cheap nail polish in colors that made me excited to paint them (I found out that a more expensive top coat with cheaper nail polish is better than the alternative). I have kept it up for the most part. Of course sometimes I have had days that I was too busy or just didn't feel like painting them so I opted to keep my chipped polish on, but overall I have been able to keep fresh polish on to prevent picking. Hopefully I can keep it up so my nails can keep getting stronger and healthier.

My favorite cheap brand is Sinful Colors the I found at Walmart and Target! They have awesome colors, they are easy to paint with, and they last (with a good topcoat). What is your favorite nail polish brand?

I am a bookworm at heart

Ever since I was younger (and learned how to read) I have loved reading. It is a magical way for the adventurer to escape for a little while. You can imagine the scenes however you want, and I just love getting cozy and reading a good book.

In fact I have two different book lists. One is books I want to read and the other is a book of classics I want for my collection (yes I collect books). In the future I would love to have either a massive bookshelf or a small library...hehe. I recently staring reading The Fate of the Tearling, which is the last in a trilogy and I love it so far!

The last book I read was 1984, which is a classic and no I did not read it in high school. I loved the dystopian novels I did get to read in high school, so I knew I would like it. I liked the novel a lot! It's definitely one of my favorite classic novels.

The next book I am going to read is A Lion Among Men, the third book in the Wicked series. There are plenty more books I would love to read, but I won't bore you with the rest! What was the last book you enjoyed?

My happily ever after

Many girls dream of their wedding from the time they start watching the princess and fairytale movies. They have their dream dress in mind, their dream venue, dream bouquet, etc. However, wedding planning can become a big headache! If you don't hire a planner then it can be especially difficult because you are doing everything on your own. (I have loved doing everything with my fiance and family).

As most of you know I am engaged and was very exciting to start planning the beginning of my life with my future husband. I decided not to hire a planner because there are many other important things I'd rather do with my budget. When I sat down with my fiance and parents to start planning we didn't know where to start. We had no idea how to make a budget because my parents got married 25 years ago, so things have changed since they were planning. Essentially we went to Google and looked at so many venues until we were blue in the face.

We went on lots of tours in the span of a couple weeks to find out our options of what was available, what prices range we needed to consider, things we might need to rent that the venue would not provide, etc. This was super helpful to create a reasonable budget to guide us when we started to narrow down venues (well kinda...I knew the second I saw the venue that it was the one lol).

We are still in the midst of works out kinks and finalizing everything for the venue, but I am very excited that this chapter of wedding planning is coming to a close! It is not a must for every couple to hire a wedding planner. Sometimes Google, newlywed friends, and your contact person from the venues you visit are enough to help you figure out what is best for you on your big day! :)

**And I accidentally burnt my dinner writing this post..oops lol**

Best online shopping experience EVER!

**This post is not sponsored by ThredUp or any mentioned brands. These are just my opinions and me expressing my love for this shop**

Today I was browsing my new favorite online store! I ordered a clean up kit from ThredUp not long ago and cleaned out most of my closet, and today I wanted to browse their clothes to see if I could find anything I liked. For anybody not familiar with this site, it is an online consignment store. They only take clothes that are new or very gently used. Anything that looks worn or that is outdated is given to charity. If you send them clothes that they can sell they will send you cash!

I was happy to find five tops! I recognized most of the brands, so it was easy for me to know what sizes I would need. I did have a promotional code to use because it was my first purchase, but without the code I would have spent around $45! That's an absolute steal considering I got one Banana Republic sweater, one American Eagle sweater, and one Ann Taylor long sleeved t-shirt! I also got one long sleeved t-shirt from Forever 21, and one sweater from a brand I did not recognize.

I'll do a follow up post once I receive my order (next week)! I am beyond excited that I found this site and cannot wait to order more from them!

No Makeup? No Problem!

Many women, especially young women, have probably felt the need to wear makeup because that's what they think they should do to feel confident in public. I am not an exception, When I was younger I felt a lot less confident in myself, and thought that I needed to wear makeup to look pretty.

Now, I am more confident. I wear makeup now because I like it. I love makeup and trying new products. I wear minimal makeup most days, unlike what I used to wear, and it makes me me feel great because I still look like me. I might wear dark lipstick, but to me it's an expression of my personality. However, despite my love of makeup, I also greatly enjoy makeup free days. I believe that a few days with no makeup is good for your skin.

#nomakeupface

This is how I look without makeup and I am proud of it. I try to keep away pimples and sometimes they still pop up, but that's okay, everyone gets them. I don't have perfect eyebrows, skin, or hair, but I still love myself and I love my #nomakeupface. You can use the hashtag to show your natural beauty to the world.

Amazing facial cleanser!

**This post is not sponsored by Garnier SkinActive**

Makeup removal is a big deal because if it's not done well many things can happen, and finding the best makeup remover can be difficult. It took me several years to find the perfect makeup remover for me. I tried countless brands of makeup wipes and cleansers and nothing seemed to be great. I thought I loved different makeup wipes after using them for a short time, but after a while they were the same as the others and did not fully take off my makeup. I know that everyone has seen the advertisements for micellar water, and like me I bet many of you wondered if it worked. It has taken me awhile to get up the courage to try it because it is more expensive than makeup wipes and I honestly questioned its ability to remove my makeup despite the hoopla.

If you have used Garnier SkinActive's Micellar Cleansing Water then you know that it has magic qualities. I have been using it for about three months and it has not failed to disappoint. I do not wear waterproof makeup, but I got the one that was geared toward waterproof makeup just to make sure it would remove my makeup. As you all know makeup wipes typically last less than a month, or at most two months for one package. That's a lot of money when you think about it! Three months later I am still on my first bottle. Yes, you also have to buy cotton pads, but cotton pads are not too expensive. I do not wear a ton of makeup, but when I have worn more than my daily routine it has only taken at most two cotton pads to remove my makeup.

The magical product in all its glory

If you use too much your face may feel the excess after you are finished wiping off your makeup, but it will quickly go away. You do not need to rinse your face. It does not feel oily at all. I love the way it makes my skin feel afterward. I have sensitive skin and this product does not irritate my skin. It is very gentle to skin because you do not have to scrub to remove your makeup, which is different from all the types of makeup wipes I have tried over the years.

I have finally found the perfect product to remove my makeup! It also removes dirt and oil that has accumulated that day; I noticed when I did not wear foundation one day. This product  is also great because it does not break the bank. I genuinely love this product, so if you are struggling to find the perfect makeup remover I recommend this product. Here is the link to the product at Walmart, which is the most convenient store for me to get it from. What beauty products have you been loving? Let me know in the comments!

Comforting and Cozy

**This post is not sponsored by Target or Marshall's or Bath and Body Works**

Being cozy is one of my favorite things. I absolutely love blanket, candles, sweatpants, baggy sweaters, and anything else considered cozy. I love lazy days to watch movies or read and have a cup of coffee or tea. When I began decorating my room I wanted to make it a cozy space where I could blog, read, watch movies/Netflix, or simply relax. I have gotten a couple different things to help me achieve ultimate coziness in my room!

My pretty star fairy lights

My new candle burning on my side table!

Fairy lights have gotten very popular in the last several years, and I love them. Mine came from Target a couple of years ago. I was impatient and did not look to get them on sale anywhere (oops), but I still love them so I have definitely got my moneys worth! I got the star shaped lights because I love the quirky impression that they have. They give off the perfect amount of light when I turn them on at night when I am ready to wind down before bed. Here is a link for the lights that I bought.

My new candles!

I also love to candles! I love the cozy vibes of a burning candle. Recently I have acquired two candles with lovely scents. One candle I got from Bath and Body Works and it is called #Easter. This candle has a very sweet, vanilla scent. I have the smallest size of this candle. I think unfortunately it only sells around Easter, but I am sure that there is another candle there that has a similar scent. The other candle I got from Marshall's and is a good size candle. The brand is called Illume and the scent is called Mediterranean. It smells very fresh and has a light scent. I loved the packaging of this candle, which is one of the main reasons why I bought it. I can typically find great, cheap candles at Marshall's!

I cannot give a link for the candles because the Easter candle is discontinued for this year, but anything that smells like vanilla or a cupcake would be a close resemblance to this candle. The one from Marshall's cannot be linked because the website is not for online shopping since items can be sold out within minutes. However, if you are looking for amazing candles I recommend Marshall's, Walmart even has good cheap candles, and Bath and Body Works if the candles are on sale. What are some things that make you feel cozy? Let me know in the comments!

New home decor!

**Note: I am not sponsored by Target, Home Goods, or Marshall's**

Have I ever expressed my love for Target? This magical store always has every thing I am looking for. They have great beauty products, clothes that are reasonably priced, and an amazing home ware selection! I love strolling through the aisles looking for decor inspiration for now and for the future. Another homey store that I love is called Home Goods. If you are a fellow Marshall's or TJ Maxx lover, then you probably know what Home Goods is. This store has anything and everything for your home! I love shopping here for little things like picture frames or perusing the furniture and thinking about my future house. Recently I shopped at both of these stores and found amazing things that I wanted to share with you guys because home decor is fun to shop for! These stores are also very reasonably priced, so that's also a plus!

The fake plant is from Target and the sign was a gift

I found this fake plant at Target and knew it would make the perfect addition to my room. I love greenery and flowers, but I did not want the responsibility of keeping a plant alive for as long as I could. Also, real plants and flowers die eventually and need replacing. This was my way to remedy the lack of greenness in my room. I love this little plant!

This basket is from Home Goods

This is the new laundry basket I got from Home Goods, and I love it. It holds a lot of laundry, which is perfect when you get very busy. Unfortunately I cannot give a link because Home Goods is a different kind of store. The company that owns the store do not provide online shopping because things in the store can be gone in a matter of moments and will never be in stock again. However, I am glad I found this basket. I loved it from the moment I saw the copper handles!

New coasters!

I got these coasters from Marshall's! I love them because they are gold and perfect for when I am in my room on my day off for hours blogging. I will probably use these for years to come. I love buying these little things for my room that I will use for years (man, I feel like a real adult haha).

What are some of your favorite places to find new home decor? Let me know in the comments!

A few ways I relieve stress

Stress is something that everyone has to deal with, and students often feel a lot of stress during the school year. Dealing with stress is important and everyone deals with stress differently. These are just a few ways I handle stress. Typically when I get stressed it is because I need to be creative and the other proportion of my stress comes from procrastination (oops).

The book I use and my coloring utensils

The first page I completed

One thing I love doing that helps me relieve stress is adult coloring books! These are magical and I am a kid at heart so these are the perfect stress relief. I have a Harry Potter coloring book and while sometimes I am not a fan of all the details, I enjoy adding to my master pieces every once in a while.

A sample of my calligraphy

Another thing I love doing when I am stressed is write (surprise, surprise). Writing is very relaxing and I don't always write blog posts, sometimes I write short stories or poetry. I also love caligraphy. I just love writing; it's a great stress relief for me.

This is one of my favourite Lush bath bombs called sex bomb!

I also love to take baths! Bubble bath, using a bath bomb, bath salts, really any bath product. A book or Netflix on hand is also perfect. A bath at the end of a stressful day is the absolute best thing in the world. It's easy to forget your worries in a warm bubbly bath.

Selfie curtesy of my junior year of college (I used it because I'm in the car).

Singing is one of the best stress reliefs that I use. I love driving around and singing at the top of my lungs, or singing loudly in the shower. There is no better feeling than singing your favorite song at the top of your lungs!

Not only do these things help me relieve stress, but they are also some of my favorite things to do. What are some of your favorite things to do for stress relief? Let me know in the comments!

Be a GIRLBOSS!

**This post is not sponsored by Netflix** Disclaimer: this show is only for people who are at least in high school (basically not appropriate for children).

I love to watch Netflix as much as the next person, and sometimes I hit a lull betweens shows where it seems like I have watched everything! However, I always find something new and I recently found a show that I absolutely love. I knew less than ten minutes into the show that I would love it.

Girlboss is a Netflix Original show and the first season just came out on April 21, and I finished the entire first season in two days! This show is so funny and awesome! It is about a girl who hates working for other people and starts her own company! It so empowering and it is based on the book #Girlboss.

I have read the book as well and it was such a good book. I loved it! It was basically her advice for life and how to be a Girlboss. Not only does she give advice, but she has other Girlbosses put their two sense in as well. This was a quick and amazing read. *Caution: she does use swear words, so if you don't care for that don't read the book!*

This show depicts highs a lows of success because there will be times of triumph and hardships on the way to success. I do not want to give too much away, but it really is an amazing show and I encourage all women to watch it (and read the book) because it will encourage you to get out and make things happen. I cannot wait for season 2!

Sophia's story, ideas, and mindset are very empowering and are a good reminder that with hard work and serious determination anything is possible, It is also a great reminder that there will be a lot of times when you fail, but you should not let that discourage you. Let your set backs make you stronger. Go out there and be a Girlboss; make things happen!

Now I am back to square one and try to find a new show to watch...any suggestions? Leave them in the comments!

Small closet organization

Not long ago, I posted this about getting my room organized, and my closet was the biggest task out of my whole room because of all the extra stuff from my desk, things I was storing for the future, and other miscellaneous items that do not traditionally go in a closet.

This is wonderland

This is my wonderful closet that I now love. After getting everything was organized I felt so relieved because I was nervous about getting everything to fit, but after living in dorm rooms for four years I think I am a master organizer.

Shelves from old crates to make more space!

These crate shelves were already in the closet, so I took them apart and used them for extra shelving so I did not waste any space. This is all the stuff that used to be in the shelves near my desk when I had a separate bookshelf. The two black boxes also house all my random accessories like gloves, pantyhose, etc.

My hat hooks 

These hooks that were already in the closet were the perfect places for my baseball hats.

More additional shelves, bathing suits in a drawer divider in
the corner, plus folded sweaters to add room to hang things up.

There were more of those crates that I took a apart for shoe storage and I folded my sweaters instead of hanging them up to save space. It's kind of hard to see, but on the bottom shelf to the right I put my bikinis in a drawer divider just to keep the separate and organized.

Bath bomb basket and a crate for scarves

I decided to keep my scarves in this super cute crate because it was really the only place they could go and the bathbombs couldn't go in the bathroom so I just stuck the basket on this shelf as well. Not my closet smells awesome!

Crates for shoes and bags and drawers for more space

These crates were perfect for more shoes and purses/small bags. The decorative drawers are perfect under the stuff that is hanging up for extra bits that are folded like leggings and other cozy clothes.

Random things on the top shelf

The top shelf I left for random things like games, scrapbooks, and other things to store because it's hard for me to reach so it wouldn't be a good place to put things I use often.

Shelves on the right for tshirts, sweatshirts, pants,
shorts, and fuzzy pants

The shelves on the right were the perfect place for tshirts, tank tops, jeans, shorts, sweatshirts, and fuzzy lounge pants.

All the shelving in perfect for folded things to save space on hanging things up since I was low on space. I saved the hanging rod for things that definitely needed to be hung up. Drawers under the stuff hanging up I had in college and were perfect since I was low on drawer space, and they were cheap too! Hope this helps anyone about to start college, or is moving. If you don't fit those categories I hope you enjoyed this post! What are things you use to stay organized? Do you like crates, shelves, drawers, dividers, etc.? Let me know in the comments!

Sugar scrubs are important

**Note: This post is not sponsored by Bath and Body Works**

Exfoliation is an important part of my beauty routine and, honestly, I am not the best at keeping up with it. I have sensitive skin, so every time I shave it is imperative that I exfoliate or I will get razor bumps. It's not really razor burn because it doesn't burn; they are just bumps. Sometimes I also get ingrown hairs, which are not fun at all. Exfoliating is a way to prevent these things from happening, and it makes my skin feel super soft.

My current sugar scrub!

This is the scrub that I am using. This was part of the Oahu range from Bath and Body Works from this summer. The scent is called coconut sunset, but it is not a super strong coconut scent. It does smell tropical, and the scent is lovely; it is not at all overpowering. The scrub mostly takes away ingrown hairs and razor bumps and it makes my legs feel very soft.

I also like making homemade sugar scrubs because you can customize the smell. I have made a cinnamon one and a peppermint one and everyone that I gave them too seemed to like them (I didn't hear otherwise). I might make a post with a recipe soon. It is very easy (and cheap) to make and you can find cheap jars to put them in!

Do you have a favorite scrub you use? Let me know in the comments.