It's easy to lose sight of what you want, especially after the freshness of a new year starts fading and you feel like you're back in the same ol' rut you thought you had dug your way out of. And then you hop on social media only to see the people close to you chasing their dreams and accomplishing big goals. Sure, you're happy for them, but you also feel like you'll never quite get to where they're at. Then it becomes a cycle of negative thoughts leading to no action leading to more negative thoughts... Until you're left standing still.

I am so there right now.

Giving up can seem like the best option when you're stuck in a rough place... And that is okay. It's completely fine to take a few days to wallow in whatever it is your feeling. Spend a day in bed with your cat watching Netflix or an afternoon with the radio blaring while you cry in the shower – it's fine!

Eventually, though, take the time to reconnect with what you want out of life. Reassess where you're at and where you want to be, because those places can rapidly change. Make sure that what you want aligns with your highest good – not the highest good of those around you.

I was reading a post over at FemmeHead – check her out if you haven't already – and this quote was exactly what I needed to read: "We have to realize that we’re all just creating our empires in our own, unique way." This is so true. No one has been on our exact path before and no one will follow it exactly like we do. It's all unique to us, our ideas, and our experiences.

Take your time. Reconnect. Remember that your life is for you to live and lead.

Only a few months ago, I made a bold statement by saying Fuck Resolutions. Why wait until a new year to move forward on things you want to make happen? And I still wholeheartedly believe that. But I also believe in the motivation and fresh feeling that comes with a new year. I want to use that new energy to create some positive change in my life –– not resolutions, but seeds of ideas that I want to see grow in 2017. To be honest, I wasn't even going to go that far until I was struck with a bit of divine guidance at the tail end of last year when a certain word grabbed me and wouldn't let me go: courage.

As I said in my first post of 2017, I've begun a bit of a spiritual journey. That started with me making the decision to read the Bible in full by reading a small bit every day. As I worked my way through Genesis –– which, whew, was harder than I expected –– quotes kept jumping out at me. Words about letting go of fear and trusting in a higher power really resonated with me and I realized that what the God (or the Universe, Goddess, Source Power... whatever) was telling me to do was to live courageously. I've spent many years worrying about what I say and what I do, how it will affect others, what others will think of it, whether I am willing to create conflict in order to live my most authentic life... And it has left me a voiceless, anxiety-ridden mess.

This year, I am letting go of those fears and worries and using my newly found courage to plant seeds of intention. Instead of resolutions or goals with a specific outcome, I'm using words, ideas and themes to shape my year. And I'm not planting all of my seeds right now. I want to allow other ideas to form throughout the year –– as well as allow the ideas I have now to fade away if and when they no longer serve me. Here are a few of the ideas I am currently working on for 2017:

Travel. Despite a desperate desire to do so, I've not traveled much in my lifetime. My family wasn't able to take annual vacations until I was a teenager and, even then, they had to be somewhat close to home as my mom has a terrible fear of flying. I have had a severe case of wanderlust ever since I was little but haven't taken action on it. This year, I will –– and, while I'm not picky about location, I am trying to manifest a trip to NYC. Fingers crossed.

Minimalism(ish). I've talked about my minimalist aspirations on here before, so I won't go into too much detail, but I still have such a long way to go in order to live as minimally as I would like. I am still selling and donating things that I no longer need or that don't personally bring me any joy, but I am also still going out and buying new things more often than I should be. I know I'll never be a 'perfect' minimalist –– as if such a thing exists –– but I want to move ahead on this journey this year.

Zero-Waste. This kind of goes hand-in-hand with minimalism but, I believe, is even more difficult. Which is why it is just an intention and not a set goal. In my area, it is extremely hard to live waste-free. Unless you live within city limits, there is no curbside recycling and most of our recycling centers are only open during weekly business hours. And there are only a handful of places that sell items in package-free bulk –– and only food, at that. So, really, any movement forward is a big step and one that I am excited to take.

Spirituality. Again, I've covered this in a previous blog post, but it's more than just sitting down every night to read the Bible. I want to learn about other religions and ways of thinking as well as be spiritually nourished in a physical way. Yoga and meditation will be a big part of that, as will talking to others about their faith and reading books on different philosophies.

Voice. This intention is the Big One. It is the one that will help support all of the others. Finding my voice and using it is something I haven't done nearly enough in the last four or five years for a multitude of reasons –– mainly that I was afraid to. This year my focus is going to be on letting people know who I am by using my voice and speaking up about my opinions and beliefs.

Do you do resolutions or are you a little more free with how you plan your year? What would you like to see happen in 2017?

The last time I posted about my Soul Goals was in October, which is when things started feeling a bit crazy for me. My routine had gone by the wayside –– I wasn't eating right or working out regularly, I hadn't meditated in months and I was just feeling stressed out. Instead of working to fix that, I just let myself sink deeper and deeper into negative emotions and energies. That might sound like an awful thing to do and I certainly didn't do it intentionally, but it ended up being one of the best things that had happened to me in a long while.

Sometimes you have to let yourself feel what you're feeling and not fight it. I hate the saying everything happens for a reason because people usually only say it when something bad happens –– but guess what? Every once in a while, things do happen for reasons you aren't yet aware of. And that is what happened to me. Those few months of wallowing, though miserable, were like a chrysalis for me. I did a lot of thinking, feeling and reevaluating, and reemerged with a new mindset and perspective.

It is with this new mindset and perspective that I am launching headfirst into some new Soul Goals for 2017. If you're new to my Soul Goals, they are three goals that I set each month that I hope will influence my life in a positive way –– either physically, emotionally or spiritually. I would usually recap my previous goals and let you know how I did, but I'm sure you already know how those went. Besides, a new year is a new start so I'm going to start fresh with my Soul Goals.

1. Only publish content I am excited to share. This kind of goes hand-in-hand with my last two posts. I don't want to go back to inauthentic, overly scheduled, stale content that I only publish because it was on my content calendar that a post needed to go out that day. I want everything I share to have a purpose or an intention, to be something I am proud to put out into the world. Whether that is one post per week or five –– or even zero –– I think it will be more beneficial for all of us to only put out into the world what makes us feel good.

2. Keep up with bullet journaling. Last year, I attempted bullet journaling and I didn't make it very far –– no, seriously, I only made it through one week before I gave up and decided to-do lists were the way to go. I was stuck in a cycle of comparison, believing that my bullet journal could only be successful if it looked like the ones on Instagram and Pinterest. But when FemmeHead posted a video on her bullet journal, I realized how silly I had been. A bullet journal doesn't have to be perfect or look a certain way. If you create a weekly layout that doesn't work for you, fine! You can try a different one the next week... And the next one, and the next one, until you find what works for you. Right now, I am obsessed with my bullet journal and I'm hoping the lovin' lasts all month.

3. Find a daily routine that works for me. As I said, towards the end of 2016 I found that a lot of the habits and routines that I found enriching had disappeared from my days and nights. It messed with my sleep schedule, my health and just my overall happiness. So I am wanting to get some sort of routine in my life again and this month I want to focus on finding what works. Currently, that involves daily meditation and spiritual study, as well as reading and journaling. I wanted to incorporate oil pulling, but that may have to work it's way in next month.

If you've been anywhere near the blogger or entrepreneur sections of the internet in the last few years, I'm sure you've noticed the major emphasis on doing the hustle –– and, no, I'm not talking about the super hot dance craze from the 70s. Being all about your brand all the time is where it was at, and if you weren't doing it that way you were doing it wrong. Post daily; make sure your Instagram has a theme; stay connected on your social media; have a workflow schedule that you stick to without fail... Add two tablespoons of sugar and an egg white and mix until frothy. Let's be real: 2016 was awful for a lot of us... Was the constant hustle a way to keep ourselves busy and distracted?

Maybe that's a little too heavy of a theory. We're all just trying to get to where we want to be in life. But sometimes it seemed like the constant call to be at the top of our game was actually keeping us from where we wanted to be. Some of us were so busy hustling that we forgot to stop and actually enjoy the moment.

I'm happy to see that 2017 is bringing about a little change on that front. Many of my favorite bloggers and vloggers are taking a step back from the constant hustle this year, posting what they want to post when they want to post it. For a web-o-sphere that has talked so much about authenticity lately, this is the first time I feel like I'm really seeing signs of it. And it is so, so refreshing. Part of why I follow others –– their blogs, their YouTube channels, their business pages –– is because I feel a connection to them, to their aura or their spirit or whatever. Last year, it totally felt like 90% of the people I was following were the same person. Everything was bright white with marble and rose gold... And don't get me wrong, I love a bright white background and some rose gold as much as the next girl, but c'mon!

A few months ago, a friend of mine posted about how much happier she was now that she didn't focus so much on being busy. I was still in that hustle mindset and commented about how I was all about productivity over being busy. Her response was not a positive one and several of her friends agreed –– different word, same connotation. At the time, I was super offended. I mean, I'm a business owner! Productivity is good!

And it can be. But not when it is forced and scheduled and made to fit someone else's ideas.

Here's to 2017. May we all walk our own paths and focus on quality over quantity, authenticity over popularity, and chilling over hustling.

Halloween is here!

Since I was a little girl, I have loved horror movies. Horror movies never really scared me when I was younger; in fact, the first film I remember watching was Child's Play and I immediately wanted a Good Guy doll after. (That may have been because, as a child, I looked quite a bit like an evil doll myself.) Luckily my parents knew that I could handle these types of movies and never banned me from watching them, so I amassed lifelong favorites that I want to share with you in honor on this, the most spooky of holidays.

1. Halloween. Every Halloween, my mom and I order a pizza so that after we hand out candy to the trick-or-treaters we can settle in and watch Halloween. It's one of my favorite family traditions and I look forward to it every year. That might make me a little biased, but the movie is called Halloween, after all. There is something about the blank white mask, the stony silence, and simple melody that makes Michael Myers one of the most frightening––and classic––horror movie villains of all time.

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2. Child's Play. Again, I might be a little biased on this one but think about it. It would be terrifying to have a small, friendly-looking children's toy with the strength of a fully grown man terrorizing your family. It wouldn't just be dealing with the doll itself, it would be dealing with the disbelief and ridicule if you ever told anyone. Okay, maybe I'm getting a little too deep here. Either way, it's a fun movie to watch and should be a requirement for any child of the 80s or 90s.

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3. Scream. This is another movie that should be required viewing for any child of the 90s. The first ten minutes set the pace for this movie with a totally surprising death and the parody element was just subtle enough to make it genius. The sequels aren't bad either––a rarity when it comes to horror movies.

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4. The Conjuring. I'm not a huge fan of most recent horror flicks. They try too hard to scare with gore and surprises and lack the thrilling tension that really makes a horror movie fun. Not The Conjuring. This film does a masterful job of building tension that leaves you on the edge of your seat––with a jump scare or two to really get your blood pumping. The sequel was, surprisingly, even better than the original.

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5. Carrie. If you don't watch at least one Stephen King movie on Halloween, is it really Halloween? Carrie is my personal favorite, but Pet Sematary is also a fine option.

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6. The Craft. There are some people who wouldn't consider this a horror movie but the last ten minutes absolutely terrified me when I first watched it. Despite being totally creeped out, I wanted to be a part of this girl gang of witches... Or dress like them, at least.

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7. The Exorcist. This movie isn't quite as scary now as it was when it was first released, thanks in part to the pea soup revelation and edited showings on TNT. But then this movie came out, it was a big deal. Many parents forbid their children from seeing it and adults were rushed out of theaters after fainting or becoming physically ill. There were rumors of actual possessions being caused by the movie and, behind-the-scenes, many say the cast and crew of the movie were cursed themselves. It's a classic for a reason, y'all.

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I could have made a list of twenty or more movies to recommend for the Halloween season––especially if I added in family films like Hocus Pocus and Halloweentown. And, really, these movies are great no matter what time of year it is. So pop some popcorn, fire up that Netflix account and have a happy Halloween!
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Wait, a review?! It seems like I haven't sat down to write a review in ages, but when I received the Flawless VoxBox from Influenster in the mail last week... Well, you know the rest. This year has been all about aligning who I am with who I want to be, which means living in a way that is more grounded in spirituality, health, and eco-consciousness. This VoxBox, I think, matches up with that flawlessly.

First off, it came in this gorgeous turquoise box that can be recycled or reused very easily. I am currently in the middle renovating my bedroom so I will probably use it to store some of my smaller items while I move things around. But the real star of this box isn't the box itself, of course. It's what is inside! And, let me tell you, this is probably my favorite of all the VoxBoxes I've received. The first thing I saw when I opened the box was a full-sized bag of Dr. Teal's Pure Epsom Salt Soaking Solution with Eucalyptus and Spearmint. I'm more of a shower girl, but I may have to light some candles and take a bath to try this stuff out. It promises to not only relax the mind but sooth aches and pains, which I totally need both of right now.

The box also contained a travel-sized package of Simple's Skincare Cleansing Facial Wipes. I usually use Clinique's Take the Day Off cleansing balm to remove my makeup––I'll be switching to coconut oil soon––but when I'm feeling lazy I would grab the Equate (Wal-Mart) brand wipes to quickly clean my face. The fragrance is strong in those wipes, though, and would trigger my rosacea. Not good. Simple's wipes didn't irritate my skin at all. It removed makeup better than the cheap wipes and maybe even removed it better than my cleansing balm, all without harsh fragrances or redness. They also threw in a sample of their micellar water and, if it is as good as their wipes, I'm sure I'll love it.

The next goody in the box was a SinfulColors Trend Matters nail polish in Miss Klaws. As if the Klaws didn't give it away, this was from the Kylie Kollection. But if you don't like the Kardashian-Jenner bunch, don't let that deter you from buying! This matte polish was opaque after only one layer and it lasted for days, even longer than some of my high-end polishes. And it's only $2.99! SinfulColors has definitely stepped up their game.

The other makeup item in the box was the CoverGirl So Lashy! by blastPRO mascara. CoverGirl tests on animals so I did not use this mascara. I did open it up to look at the wand and it is definitely unique. It is flattened out, with short bristles along the flat plane, longer bristles on the outer edges, and a spiked ball at the tip. While the wand is unique, it looks a little difficult to use––almost like it is trying to be new and trendy more than good quality.

On the food end of things, I was sent some Yogi tea and Harvest Snaps green pea crisps. I haven't tried the Harvest Snaps yet, but I have already gone out and bought a box of the Yogi tea on my own. Yes, it was that good. Each blend has different benefits, such as stress-reducing, skin-clearing, or detoxifying. It tastes fantastic and every bag is tagged with a piece of advice or wise saying. No matter what blend you get, it will certainly help you relax. And you can compost the tea bags!

All of these products were sent to me for free by Influenster for reviewing purposes. If you're interested in becoming an Influenster––and I totally recommend it––it would be super cool if you signed up using my referral link right here.

Until next time!
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I am big on aspirational goal setting. Whether I truly feel like I'll accomplish the goal or not, setting the intention always helps me feel like I'm moving forward. That is why I always set goals for myself when a new year rolls around and why, since we only have a couple of months left in 2016, I've been 'saving' my goals for the new year.

There have been so many ideas floating around in my head of things I want to accomplish: taking an archery course, becoming more fluent in french, travelling, and learning how to box are just a few. I've been saving them for the new year, feeling my excitement grow as I think about how awesome 2017 will be as I strive towards them. And then, in a moment of striking clarity, I realized how silly that was! These are things that I want to do, that I am excited about doing. Why should I wait for some abstract time or day to begin doing stuff that makes me happy?

I think this is a rut we all fall into occasionally. Even though we may tell ourselves to live each day as though it is our last, we put things off and make excuses. We tell ourselves that we don't have the time, we don't have the money, we don't have the support... And, sometimes, that is true. But if we don't have the time, money or support now, will it magically appear in our lives on January 1st? Doubtful.

The thing about setting goals and striving to accomplish them is that it doesn't have to be done all at once. Start small. For me, that means browsing the web for local archery and boxing classes and practicing French every day. It means setting aside some money for those purposes when and where I can. And it means being flexible. You may eventually decide that the goal you set no longer serves you or that it is becoming stressful. If you find yourself in that position, reassess what you want and need and rework your goals accordingly. There is no shame in not accomplishing your goals––sometimes you learn more that way.

I can't believe it is already autumn. By the time summer is over, I'm ready for the crisp, cool air of fall––until it hits. Then I'm begging for a few more days of summer. It has been pretty nice wearing my baggy sweaters and motorcycle boots, though, and my coffee habit has definitely tripled since it cooled down. This year has absolutely flown by––we're basically in the home stretch now and, so far, this year hasn't been too bad. Now, to set some goals that will keep the trend continuing.

What are Soul Goals?

I sit down at the beginning of each month–– or, at least, I try to–– and write out three goals that I have for the month ahead that I think will enrich my life and make me a better, happier person. Interested in coming up with your own Soul Goals? They can be simple or crazy ambitious goals. The important part is assessing what needs to change in your own life and figuring out what direction you want to go in. We're just taking it month by month, day by day, minute by minute here.

My Previous Soul Goals Recap

My first goal was to drink 120 oz. of water every day, which I did for a good part of the month. As the weather got cooler, though, my nightly waters turned into nightly coffees and I wasn't hitting my goal. I did hit my next goal of reading three books: Women Who Run With the Wolves; Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.; and Bad Feminist. If I keep this up, I have a shot of reaching my annual reading goal of 26 books. My final goal was to sell some stuff, which I didn't do a lot of. I did sell my television, though, which was kind of a big deal for me. It made me a decent amount of money, but the bigger victory was ridding myself of something I didn't need. My room feels so much calmer now that the television is gone. Sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference.

My Soul Goals for October

1. Get rid of old items that no longer serve me. This one kind of goes hand-in-hand with last month's goal of selling stuff. I want to continue on that journey by selling what can be sold, donating what can't, and getting rid of the rest. I'm twenty-seven... How have I accumulated so much stuff? It's time to start taking a more mindful approach to what I bring into my life.

2. Experience more locally. I'll admit, I can be kind of a hermit. It's not that I don't enjoy local events, I just don't enjoy big crowds and (usually) rude people. It's overwhelming, so I tend to avoid those kinds of things. My dad just retired, though, and he's trying to reacclimate to society. Part of that is enjoying what my city has to offer and I'm going to try to help him out. In fact, I think I'm going to a car show this weekend. That should be interesting.

3. Master a regular sleep schedule. I've tried before, and I've failed, but now that iOS 10 has added a Bedtime feature I'm hoping I can start falling asleep and waking up at a decent time. Working from home, my sleep schedule can be a little erratic. When I wake up later than I feel I should, it makes me feel like I've wasted the day and I feel less productive. I may add in a short meditation, too, in order to really start my day on the right foot.

If I actually accomplish my second goal, I will be sure to feature some of my outings on the blog.

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Spotify is my best friend.

I used to (totally legally) download every single song I wanted to listen to––and I had dial-up for most of my internet years, so you can imagine what a pain in the ass that was. I have high-speed internet now (thank god) and a Spotify subscription. Both of those things have widened my musical tastes substantially. That is why I like sharing some of my music finds with you on here: because I think broadening our musical horizons is important.

Fall is starting which means it's time for a new Music I've Been Loving playlist. That will be crafted as the next few months roll on but, obviously, I'm not leaving you high and dry. That would make this post incredibly frustrating, wouldn't it? Nope, it's time that I share my summer playlist with you. Even though I'm starting to phase it out, I still listen to these songs on the regular.

Open up your Spotify app and enjoy.