NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

I know this is about 1 month late but I wanted to share some of my New Years Resolutions.

1) I want to write more. I want to write on my blog at least 3 times a week. I want to find out more from my childhood and write about those experiences that I don't remember so well so that I have them recorded.

2) I want to run at least 5 miles a week. I know that's week sauce but its a start. I also want to do strength straining twice a week. I have recently come across the genius idea that its dangerous to set goals that have to do with sizes and numbers-its bad for body image. Its better to set fitness goals. I am starting with baby steps here because I really have no desire to run a half marathon or anything.

3) My goal is to use my tax return and get my car paid off by April.

4) I have sisters that live out of state. My goal is to talk to each of my family members once a week.

5) I am LDS and I am planning on attending the temple at least once a month.

6) I want to get out of my comfort zone, and meet new people, and possibly date more. I don't know how this will turn out exactly but its going to happen this year dang it.

7) I've been back at home and my goal is to get back out on my own by the end of the year.

8) I am going to save money. I am trying to put $50 into my Savings Acct and $50 into my Vacation Acct each paycheck. Sometimes its less but I always put some in.

9) I am going to finish Friends and Gilmore Girls on Netflix. Its going to happen.

10) I am going to read at least 1 book a month.

                                    

WEEKLY FAVORITES #30

#1 MAYBELLINE COVERSTICK

I've never tried green concelar before, but i've really loved it for one big reason. First, I don't have a huge acne problem. The most common spot where I use concealer is on my nose, to cover up general blotchiness and redness. As the Ulta website states:

Cancel out redness with this oil based concealer. Green is the opposite color of red, therefore when the colors are used together they cancel each other out. This hypoallergenic formula is waterproof for four hours and will not clog pores.

What more do you need to know! This concealer, in my opinion is ideal for a very natural, fresh look. Not a heavy, picture perfect, model look. 

#2  FRIENDS

FRIENDS IS ON NETFLIX. THIS IS SUCH A GREAT SHOW

Also, Parks and Rec is Back-its been too long old friend. 

#3 SMART ASS

If you love trivia games and games similar to Times Up or Catch Phrase you'll love Smart Ass.

I thought it was super fun. I won't explain the whole game but players get clues that get progressively easier and the goal is to be the one to shout out the right answer first. You have  spaces that move you back on the board and bonus questions as well. 

#4-LADY ANTEBELLUM WHEELS UP TOUR

WITH HUNTER HAYES AND SAM HUNT

Don't know date yet but I am dying of happiness.

#5 LIPS ARE MOVING-MEGHAN TRAINOR

#6 HEARTBEAT SONG-KELLY CLARKSON

Can't wait for a new album

Weekly Favorites #29 Music

This week I thought I'd share some of my favorite music.

I know this came out awhile ago, but I love it. It's catchy, 100% pop, and completely fun.

There are songs I like more than others but there isn't a bad song on the album.

I thought it would be weird not having any country on the album, but it works. Taylor Swift pulls it off. I just bought tickets to see her concert next September.

Favorite Songs: Shake It Off, Wish You Would, Blank Space

This is a really fun album, and these boys can sing. They are totally cute, right? 

I would call this a cross over, where the music is influenced by country and pop.

If you like Rascal Flatts and Hunter Hayes, you will love Dan & Shay

Favorite Songs: 19 You and Me, Stop Drop and Roll, Show You Off.

Now onto some new Christmas Music.

Enought Said. Idina Menzel and Christmas Music. Very Solid Collection.  She does a duet of Baby Its Cold Outside, with Michael Buble. My two favorite singers, together! Its a dream come true

Kelly Clarkson's album came out last year, but it is still one of my favorites.

Her album definitely needs to be in your collection. It is such a good combination of classic Christmas and new Christmas. Plus, Kelly Clarksons voice is just awesome.

My Favorite Songs-its hard to choose: My Favorite Things, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, 4 Carats, Just For Now, Underneath the Tree.

Then, I just discovered this song over Thanksgiving.

Santa Tell Me by Ariana Grande

Weekly Favorites #28

It is officially the Christmas Season and I love this message that reminds us all what 

our focus should be as we celebrate Christmas this year. 

I am loving the Nude Color Eye Shadow Pallet by Maybelline. 

You can use the colors in a pair, you can combine 3 colors, or what I usually like to do, use one quad for one specific look. I love that these are all neutral colors but you still get a variety. 

You have a soft, natural browns, darker, smoky colors, and bright, golden tones as well. From what I've tried, they seem to blend pretty well. Everybody needs this color pallet. 

                                              

I am so glad Netflix finally made Gilmore Girls available to stream because I can finally see what everybody has been talking about. This is a great show. Why did nobody tell me to watch this when it was actually on the air? It is quick, its smart, its funny. My type of show.

And in my opinion the relationships and stories and plot seem real, and actually believable. 

Guess how I usually spend my lunch hour these days?

My new weekly podcast 

Serial is a new podcast from the creators of This American Life, hosted by Sarah Koenig. Serial will follow one story - a true story - over the course of a whole season. ( I believe a season will be 12 episodes, but I'm not 100% sure.)  This is the first season and the story has been so interesting so far.

Here is a description from ABC. 

"Millions of listeners are anxiously awaiting the next installment of Serial, that tells the story of Adnan Syed, a Woodlawn High School student who was found guilty in 2000 of murdering his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee. The podcast is the brainchild of longtime radio producer and former Baltimore Sun reporter Sarah Koenig, who spent more than a year digging into Syed's case and reporting her findings in almost real-time in hour-long segments released online every Thursday (with the exception of Thanksgiving).

Nine episodes in, the podcast has attracted more than 1.5 million listeners per episode worldwide and turned Syed into something of a household name,  inspiring a dedicated fan base, re-cap blogs and even spin-off podcasts, not to mention heated debates around countless water coolers and dinner tables about Syed's guilt or innocence."

I am always excited for my drive to work so I can listen to the story and catch up on the latest episode. Everybody should be listening!

Hair Inspiration

Last month, I broke down and colored my hair for the first time. I don't know what really possessed  me to do it, but what can you do. While I was looking at some color ideas, I've discovered my hair muse. Ashley Green. Not only can she rock any color of hair, but she is a good hair "model" for me because we have similar coloring with our lighter skin.  Check these out. 

Dark/Chocolate Brown

Brown with blond highlights

Honey/Blond

Auburn

I finally decided on this color job. I wanted a rich brown, slightly lighter than my natural color with red/mahogany highlights. It was subtle enough for me and just a fun change. I liked it so much that I am doing the same color this week when I get my hair done again. 

What do you think?

Book Club-Catch Me If You Can

I stole every nickel and blew it on fine threads, luxurious lodgings, fantastic foxes and other sensual goodies. I partied in every capital in Europe and basked on all the world's most famous beaches'. Frank W Abagnale, alias Frank Williams, Robert Conrad, Frank Adams and Ringo Monjo, was one of the most daring con men, forgers, imposters and escape artists in history. In his brief but notorious career, Abagnale donned a pilot's uniform and co-piloted a Pan Am jet, masqueraded as a member of hospital management, practiced law without a licence, passed himself off as a college sociology professor, and cashed over $2.5 million in forged checks all before he was twenty-one. Known by the police of twenty-six foreign countries and all fifty states as 'The Skywayman', Abagnale lived a sumptuous life on the run - until the law caught up with him. Now recognized as the nation's leading authority on financial foul play, Abagnale is a charming rogue whose hilarious, stranger-than-fiction international escapades and ingenious escapes - including one from an airoplane - make CATCH ME IF YOU CAN an irresistable tale of deceit.

This summary really just says it all. I really loved this.  I don't really know what else to say. If I had to pick one word to describe this book it was be INTERESTING.
I was most intrigued by the ups and downs in this story. There were times when you really felt the fear and desperation that Frank Abagnale felt. There were times when I got the sense that Frank Abagnale took on a challenge simply just to see what he could get away with. There were times of surprising introspection such as when Frank realized the first time he scammed a single individual, not a bank or company that had insurance to compensate them. There is no denying that Frank Abagnale is a brilliant person to have pulled off so many elaborate schemes. 

This story is just so incredible, almost unfathomable until you realized it actually happened. You just can't make this stuff up. What other real experience can you think of that has inspired a best selling book, movie, broadway play, and tv show?
I found this video last year with the real Frank Abagnale sharing his story.

Sunday Social 9.14.14

1. Favorite scent

Perfume, I think my favorite is still Touch of Pink by La Coste

For Lotions I love citrus. I had a pink grapefruit lotion that was to die for.

2. Favorite food

Obviously I love chocolate and sweet potato fries.

But my favorite at the moment would be Tacos. There is a small place close to where i live that make the best tacos. I tried the steak tacos and fried cod tacos. Both are delicious. 

3. Favorite sound

I love the cello. 

I am just entranced whenever I hear this Bach Prelude

4. Favorite picture currently on your phone

It's hard to choose. 

I love this picture of my cousin and I

I also love that was able to get this one of my grandparents together. This was on
my Grandma's 89th birthday

5. Best memory of the year so far

Our yearly family reunion

If you want to see pictures I posted about it here

Or the Hunter Hayes Concert I went to in April