Endless Bliss | Happy Lifestyle Blog: inspiration

Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts

Ingrid Nilsen is Gay & I Love Her

Ingrid Nilsen came out in a video on her YouTube channel yesterday, and in spite of the video being nearly 20 minutes long, I watched it several times because I was so moved by her bravery and just the rawness of it all. [Scroll down to the bottom of this post to watch!] When I saw the thumbnail for the video, I honestly thought "What?" because I had no idea, and I think that goes to show that even when you make your life public on the internet, so much of yourself is still hidden.
I've been a viewer of Ingrid's before I even created my own YouTube channel. I love her adorable and bubbly personality and her goofy sayings. She's such an inspiration to, not only me, but also the more than 3 million viewers who are subscribed to her channel.
Even though, I'm not gay, it doesn't mean I can't relate to some of the struggles that Ingrid faced when trying to mask this part of her. She talks about how society put a stamp of disapproval on being gay, thus building the foundation for a metaphorical prison for her. She then continued to build the prison herself while suppressing her true feelings and her true self.
I think a lot of people can relate to trying to hide the parts of themselves that they don't want other people to see. It's like everyone has their own idea of what perfection looks like, and there's always someone who is going to complain. As the saying goes, "You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, but there will always be someone who doesn't like peaches."
It's so incredibly brave and moving that Ingrid wanted to share this part of herself with all of the people who essentially allow her to do what she loves for a living. I appreciated the fact that she spoke to her viewers as if they were in the room with her. She shed light on something that needs to be talked about, especially with the current Supreme Court deliberations on same-sex marriage. The amount of love and respect I have for Ingrid has grown tenfold, and I really hope that a lot of good comes out of her being willing to share her story.
If you haven't watched the video yet, grab a box of tissues and hit play.

What are your thoughts on Ingrid's coming out video?

Becoming Bliss | Creating a Happy File

One of my favorite parts of college was being an orientation leader. Everything about it was so exciting. It's what made me really fall in love with my university, and then I became passionate about sharing that love with all of the new bulldawgs coming to Louisiana Tech. I became really close to fifteen people rather quickly, and they were like my little summer family.
Becoming an orientation leader is what helped bring me out of my shell. While I do have my introverted moments (and many of them), I usually like to be outgoing and just outright weird (#ESFJ). Being an orientation leader brought me so much happiness in the simplest of ways, and one of my favorite ways was with the creation of a happy file. I guess it wasn't technically a happy file per say, at least not at first. I created a happy file on my own with the help of OSL.
Being an OSL was like taking a class. We really had to learn about the university and take tests, and this was all done in a private little classroom. On the wall of the classroom hung paper bags with each of our names on them. We were instructed to write down nice things about one another and put them in the bags. This was done sporadically and randomly and pretty much anytime that you noticed your fellow orientation leaders doing something awesome.
It always amazed me how I was viewed in the eyes of others. I never thought of myself of funny or clever or witty, but all of these notes said otherwise. And what did I do with these notes? I put them in what I now call my happy file. All of the little warm fuzzies that my summer family wrote for me were put into a file, and anytime that I'm feeling down in the dumps, I pull it out and read them.
Since my OSL summer, which was in 2010, I've added to my happy file. In it are cards and notes that say nice things about me, pictures of amazing memories that I love to relive, inspirational quotes and photos and so many other things. Whenever I need a pick-me-up, I pull out my file. Just reading and seeing all of these things instantly pulls me out of my foul mood.
I know everyone has their different processes to pull themselves out of anger or sadness or any other unhappy emotion, but I want to challenge you to create a happy file for yourself. Pull out old greeting cards, print out some fun pictures, get on Pinterest or Etsy and print out or order some inspirational quotes or printables, scour the internet for memes or photos that make you laugh. Anything that makes you smile should go in your happy file. When you're not feeling 100%, take out your happy file and let that help you turn your mood around.
I hope your day is full of happiness!
What things would go in your happy file?
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Becoming Bliss | Stress Less

I don't know about y'all, but it feels like spring has been taking a toll on me. Between working full-time, keeping up with my blog and the Blogging Elite, filming and editing videos for my YouTube channel, working on a special project, and attempting to have a social life, it's like I don't even know the meaning of the words "free time" anymore. I'm about ready to pull out my hair (and maybe I should because it's been growing a lot lately - hellooooo split ends).
When I have too much on my plate, it's hard for me to let any of it go. I run around like a chicken with it's head cutoff (and I think we all know that's not a pretty sight). Luckily, I've come up with a few ways to help me stress a little less.
WRITE IT ALL DOWN I've always been a very visual person, so if I see a list of all the things that I need to do written down in front of me, I can immediately feel a little more calm. Seeing it all laid out allows me to look at each thing I need to do, prioritize by what's most important and cross things off when I finish them. It gives me a sense of accomplishment because I can actually see my list getting shorter as I finish each task.
GET AWAY Sometimes when it all seems like to much, the best thing for you to do is step away from all of it. Instead of mentally replaying all of the things you need to accomplish in your head, get out and do something that has nothing to do with anything that you need to get down. If you're an athletic person, you could go for a run. If you're a writer, you could go old school with a paper and pen and go to town. If you're a reader, crack open a book (this one is my favorite). You could even just turn on Netflix and enjoy an episode of your favorite show. Giving your brain a break may be exactly what you need to do in order to re-energize and refocus.
BLAST SOME MUSIC Music has such an effect on me. If I'm listening to sad music, I'm instantly put in a sad mood. If I'm listening to dance music, I usually want to get up and dance. If I'm listening to happy music, you bet I'll be smiling by the end of the song. No matter what music you're into, it can really help to put your mind in a better place and really just help you loosen up and let your mind wander elsewhere. If you're anything like me, you'll end up dancing by yourself in your living room. Alternatively, you could go for a drive and blast the music to help clear your head a bit.
TAKE A BUBBLE BATH There's not much I enjoy more than soaking in a steaming hot bubble bath with my tablet next to me with Netflix on and a glass of wine nearby. It really is my own personal paradise. Even if you're like Chandler Bing and don't appreciate the greatness of a good bubble bath, you could also just take a hot shower and give your brain time to rest before you get back to the grind.
CALL SOMEONE UP Sometimes when you have a lot of stuff going on, what you really need is a friend, someone to listen to you and talk you and help you through all of the stress. Sometimes talking it out is the best thing you can do for yourself. Next time you're stressed, dial your best friend or closest relative and let the rant session begin.
BREAK A SWEAT I know when I'm working out or physically exerting myself in any way, I'm usually focused on my body and my breathing, not my endless to-do list. Go for a run, do some yoga, lift some weights, do some push-ups, get out in the sunshine!
LAUGH I am a wholehearted believer in that laughter really is the best medicine. Laughter pulls me out of the foulest of moods. Call up a friend ask them to tell you a funny story. Go on YouTube and watch a series of hilarious videos. Watch your favorite comedy show on Netflix. Whatever you do, just laugh your little heart out.
DRINK SOME WINE This may not be backed by scientific fact, but I know that when I drink a glass of wine (or even take a shot if I'm feeling extra classy), it instantly relaxes me. I think I've mentioned a time or two that my love affair with wine is so real, and just taking a few minutes to enjoy a glass helps take my mind off of the many things I need to get done.
What are your favorite ways to de-stress? Share it in a blog post, and link it up below!

Becoming Bliss | Creating a Happy Playlist.

Even when I'm having the crappiest of days, there's just something about listening to an uplifting song that can pull me right out of it (even if it's just for five minutes). Even though I have no musical abilities whatsoever, music has always been a huge part of my life. Whether I'm on my daily commute to work, putting in my headphones for a workout, or even in the shower, music is almost always playing.
I love Spotify, because 1) a couple years ago, my external hard drive crashed, and I lost almost all my music (and pictures, but that's still a little depressing to talk about), and I didn't feel like going through and re-downloading all of my songs, so I just got a Spotify account. As I mentioned in my What's On My Samsung Galaxy S5 Active video, I have tons of Spotify playlists - some for moods, some for when I'm doing something like working out or going to bed, some are for certain genres of music. I just have lots of playlists, and my most frequently played playlist is my "Happy" playlist.
My "Happy" playlist features of a mix of songs that are either inspirational or make me want to get up and dance or just songs that I'm obsessed with at the moment that instantly put me in a better mood. Like I said before, music helps pull me out of the foulest of moods, which is why I want to encourage you to create a happy playlist of your own.
These are a few songs on my "Happy" playlist:
This Head I Hold by Electric Guest This is one of my favorite songs to get ready to in the morning. The beat is toxic, and I can't help but dance.
Favorite lyrics: See the answer is this / If I wanna be free / I gotta stop playin' round and runnin' from me

Geronimo by Sheppard I love the beat of this song. It really just makes me want to get up and dance. It also makes me feel like I could do anything and everything is a possibility.
Favorite lyrics: We can make this leap / Through the curtains of the waterfall

Give Me Something by Alex and Sierra I feel like I haven't stopped talking about Alex and Sierra. I mentioned them in my last newsletter and in my March Favorites video. I've tweeted about them, and it's all because of my friend, Nina. She suggested them to me on Spotify, and I've been listening to them every day since.
Favorite lyrics: It can be a lonely world / I want forever times forever

Gold by Owl City This song is so inspirational, and I really want Owl City to make a music video for it. I just loving to the "go-oo-oo-oo-old" in the chorus, as well as the rest of the song.
Favorite lyrics: So write it all and don't forget / You gotta tell us your story / Shout out to the friends back home / Shout out to the hearts you've known / You gave them nothing but the best / And you can tell them your story

Happy (cover) by The Gardiner Sisters It wouldn't be a happy playlist without the song "Happy." I love this acoustic version of the song by the Gardiner Sisters. I love how goofy they are.
Favorite lyrics: I should probably warn you I'll be just fine

To hear all the songs on my "Happy" playlist, you can check it out here. I also want to encourage all of you to create a happy playlist of your own!
What songs are on your happy playlist?

Becoming Bliss | What Makes You Happy?

What makes you happy? Traveling? Going to concerts? Attending weddings? Eating a gourmet meal?
When I think about the things that make (or have made) me happy, I usually go to the big things that happen every once in awhile like taking a road trip or being at the beach in Italy or meeting Jared Padalecki. Thinking about doing all of those things always brings me a little bit of joy, but at the same time, it makes me a little sad because they aren't things that I can just go out and do. In fact, some of the things that have made me super happy may never even happen again. And while living in nostalgia is a wonderful thing to do (because I do it all the time), living in the present can be even better if you focus on the little things that make you happy.
The first post in the Becoming Bliss series was all about enjoying the little things. Go back to that and think about the little things that make you happy. Take out a pen and paper (or open up a new Word document) right now to write down 15-20 things that you can do every month or every week or even every day that bring you joy. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
1// Writing - Doesn't matter if it's a poem, a song, a journal entry or a writing prompt 2// Cooking - Some people find joy in creating delicious cuisine 3// Painting, drawing, pottery, etc. 4// Working out - running, yoga, zumba, weights, cardio, etc. 5// Picnics 6// Drinking wine 7// Netflix binges 8// Talking to a loved one 9// Taking the dog out for a walk or just going for a walk by yourself 10// Discovering something new to do (or eat) in your town 11// Enjoying a hot beverage - coffee, tea, hot cocoa 12// Staying in bed as long as possible 13// Making new friends 14// Giving back/paying it forward
Once you've written down a few small things that make you happy, I want to challenge you to do one of those things every single day, no matter what mood you're in. I don't care if you had a crappy day at work or if you're overwhelmed with school or if you just had the most humongous fight with your significant other. No matter the circumstances, try to do one of the things on your list each day, because doing so will bring some bliss and happiness into your life and your day, even if it's just for a moment. And who knows? It could be the difference between having a crappy day and having an amazing one.
What's something that makes you happy?

9 Things Monica Geller Taught Me About Being a Grown-Up.

I've been trying to figure out who my favorite Friends character is for years. After watching the series from the beginning for the billionth time, I think I've finally chosen: Monica. I love Monica because I feel like she had to overcome so much:
-- She was always teased for being fat when she was younger. She got back at the world by eating less, working out, and looking hot.
-- She was best friends with the prom queen, but it never made her feel inferior. Even though Rachel was always considered the beautiful one, and she got all the guys, all of the attention, and she was well-liked by her peers, Monica never had a foul bone in her body toward her. She was always happy for Rachel in spite of not having any of those things for herself.
-- She wasn't the favorite child. Monica had to live in the shadow of her brother, Ross, for her entire life, but she came out of it being an amazing chef, finding love and holding onto it (one marriage versus Ross's three), and just being happy about the things that she had. Even when her parents lost hope in her getting married (I mean, they took the money they were saving for her wedding and bought a beach house!), she didn't let that stop her from being happy.
Monica is just such an awesome person because she's the misfit that everyone can relate to. She wasn't cool in high school, but in adulthood, she overcame all of the things that were supposed to hold her back. She gets genuinely excited about life, embraces all of her quirks, and loves unconditionally. She has so many lessons for millennials who are making that awkward transition into adulthood.
1 | The real world sucks, but it's also pretty amazing. From the pilot episode, Monica is already teaching us how being an adult works. When Rachel is cut off by her family because she ran out on her wedding, she cuts up her dad's credit cards, and Monica says "Welcome to the real world. It sucks. You're gonna love it." That pretty much sums up life as an adult. It's a wonderful misadventure.

2 | Don't let anyone pick on you. Monica has her quirks, and she'll be the first to admit it. She likes her furniture arranged a certain way. She has 11 different categories for towels. You can't eat in bed. Coasters must be used. The phone pen must remain next to the phone. She embraces all of these things about herself, and you should embrace your quirks too. She's not usually one to put someone down, but when someone judges her pretty harshly, she's quick witted and will turn the situation around in a second. One of my favorite instances of this happening was when she invited her ex-boyfriend, Richard's, son over for Thanksgiving dinner, and her friends were giving her a hard time about it. Instead of caving and giving in to their judgement, she pull a few insults out of her pocket: "Fine! Judge all you want, but married a lesbian, left a man at the alter, fell in love with a gay ice dancer, threw a girl's wooden leg in a fire, and live in a box!"
3 | Don't let anyone interrupt you when you're talking. Monica is always quick to let people know that when she's talking, no one better interrupt. She is a great commander of any room she walks in, and she does not, will not, let anyone steal her thunder. So when you have something important to say, don't let anyone else steal your limelight. If you're anything like Monica, you spent most of your childhood doing that. Don't let that habit sneak into your adult life.

4 | Keep your friends' secrets (until they start to reveal yours). People say that secrets don't make friends, but Monica obviously knows that secrets are the basis of friendship. Monica was a great secret-keeper, because even though she was loud (like, really loud), she wasn't a blabbermouth. That is, until you made her into one. During season six, Monica wasn't sure she was ready to tell her parents she and Chandler were dating because she knew her parents didn't like him. When she found out that it was all Ross's fault, the secrets start flying from the mouths of both Ross and Monica. We found out Ross stole his dad's Playboys and Monica broke a porch swing. So many other fun secrets were revealed, which just goes to show that you should save the ammunition for a time when it will have the biggest impact.
5 | Apologize even when you don't think you're wrong. One of my favorite things about Monica is that she was always the bigger person (in more ways than one at some points in her life). Even when she didn't believe she was at fault for a fight, she hated the feeling of being angry with the people she loved. More often than not, she was willing to put her pride aside and apologize rather than waste all of that extra energy being mad.

6 | Think before you act. Monica was usually a pretty reasonable and thoughtful character. She was chockful of great advice no matter who was asking for it, even sometimes when the advice wasn't being asked of her at all. Even when she wasn't sure the other person could handle the truth or the advice she had to give, she was still so honest. One instance that comes to mind was when Rachel wanted to tell Ross she loved him after he had just married Emily. When she told Monica this, Monica asked her, "Do you have any idea how painful it is to tell someone you love them and not have them say it back?" She was a voice of reason, and while she did have her spontaneous moments (cough cough Chandler), she also liked to spend time to think things through.
7 | Sometimes, you have to put your pride aside. I couldn't write a post about Monica without bringing up the jellyfish incident. Even with two of her best friends in tow, she knew what she had to do. When she couldn't make it happen, she enlisted the help of her friends. Even though the thought of someone peeing on her was absolutely disgusting (especially for a clean freak like Monica), she had to put her pride aside to stop the pain from hurting so much.

8 | It's not about whether you win or lose, but winning is better. Like Monica, I have a pretty competitive spirit. Monica always liked to play it cool like she wasn't crazy competitive, but as soon as the cards were dealt or the ball was snatched, the gloves were off, and she went insane. Even though the lesson says that it's not about winning or losing, Monica made winning look so fun.
9 | It's okay to be a dork. As poised as Monica is, she's still just a fun girl and loves to grab hold of life's little joys and hang on to them. I think the best example of this was when she and Ross were invited to Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve and she and Ross broke out "the routine" from their childhood.

Do you watch Friends? Who's your favorite character?
IMAGE: Albert Domasin

Becoming Bliss | Spend Time With People You Love

This past weekend, my sister was visiting from college, and we were able to meet up and have a lovely brunch together at a local hole-in-the-wall restaurant called Marilynn's Place. What made this brunch extra lovely was that it was just the two of us, uninterrupted. No phone calls, no text messages, no Twitter alerts. It was just us catching up on the craziness that life can sometimes be.

Favorite meal of the day with sister #sisterdate #brunch pic.twitter.com/NCgvFy8fWk
— Tiffany Khyla (@tiffanykhyla) March 15, 2015

I think it's so important to take time out of your busy schedule to really spend time with the people you love. Getting an unexpected text message from an old friend is great, but really taking the time to meet up with them and really catch up means so much more. Even if you can't physically be together, you can schedule a FaceTime or Skype date so the two of you can catch up and spend some time together, but not together.

The sad reality is that none of us are going to be around forever, and you don't want to wait after a tragedy and wish that you had just spent more time with this person or made him/her a priority. It's so easy to get bogged down in our day-to-day lives, going through the motions and claiming that we're tired and just don't have time. Even a thirty minute chat at a coffee house is better than nothing. There are so many ways for you to get more involved in the lives of your loved ones or even acquaintances that you used to be much closer to:

-- Use your lunch break to catch up with an old friend. You're going to eat lunch anyway; you may as well use it as a time to spend with someone you haven't seen in awhile.

-- Meet up with someone for drinks after work. Take advantage of happy hour drink and appetizer prices. Share some appetizers and dish on the latest happenings in your lives.

Happy hour #appletini 🍸

A photo posted by Tiffany Khyla White (@tiffanykhyla) on Feb 20, 2015 at 5:01pm PST

-- See a matinee showing of a movie with your family. Even if you don't want to dish out a bunch of cash, you can still catch up on the latest movie with a discounted matinee showing. Share some popcorn and spend a little extra time together after the movie discussing what you did or didn't like about it.

-- Throw a themed party. This is a great way to get together with several different people you haven't seen in awhile. I'm a huge fan of themed parties. Even if a holiday isn't coming up, you can still set a theme such as a craft party, a party centered around a movie or book you love, a Minute to Win It party or a wine tasting party. The possibilities are endless.

-- Have a game night. Let your competitive side show and play a few games with some friends. It's a great ice-breaker for those that may need it in case there's a little awkwardness there from having not spoken in such a long time.

As you get older, your group of loyal friends starts to diminish, but don't let it diminish to nothing. Spend time with the people who love you unconditionally and with the people you love just as much. Make an effort to have those people in your life regularly, not just in your news feed updates. Put down the phone and really focus on being present.

What are your favorite things to do with the people you love?

9 Things My Dogs Have Taught Me.

Molly and Farah

1// GREET EVERYONE LIKE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THEM IN YEARS I love coming home to my dogs, because it doesn't matter if I stepped outside for 10 minutes or I've been out of town for two weeks, they always greet me like they haven't seen me in a million years. That's definitely a personality trait that I'd like to adapt.
2// NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO NAP If there was an Olympic sport for dogs that was all about napping, my dogs would take the gold. Actually, Molly would take the gold and Farah would take silver because she's always so alert. I think we all regret complaining about kindergarten nap time. I used to take naps all the time in college, but now I can't remember the last time I took one. Naps are great rejuvenators and motivators.

Sleepyhead.

A photo posted by Tiffany Khyla White (@tiffanykhyla) on Aug 3, 2014 at 6:07pm PDT

3// FORGIVE AND FORGET When my dogs do something wrong, I unfortunately have to punish them. Even though it breaks my heart, I love knowing that in 30 seconds they'll forget about it and start loving on me. While 30 seconds may be a stretch for people to forgive and forget, it's a good practice to calm down, think rationally, and just let things go. Holding anger in your heart gets pretty exhausting.
4// ALWAYS STAY LOYAL TO THOSE WHO ARE THERE FOR YOU Friends come and go, but dogs will always be there for you. Why not adopt this practice and be loyal to your friends? Stand up for them when people are saying horrible things. Be there for them when they need you most. Just be a friend.

Day 39: I'm sure gonna miss this sweet puppy of mine #100happydays

A photo posted by Tiffany Khyla White (@tiffanykhyla) on Jun 21, 2014 at 10:20am PDT

5// THERE'S NEVER A BAD TIME TO BE SILLY Laughter is the best medicine, and my dogs never fail to make me laugh. Whether it's them jumping around because they're excited about who knows what or they're rolling around on the floor or the bed for a reason no one knows or making noises in their sleep, my dogs always seem to keep me laughing. Take a lesson from my pups and never be afraid to be silly and free.
6// ALWAYS STAND UP FOR YOURSELF When Farah is doing something that Molly doesn't like, she doesn't hesitate to let her know, even though she's smaller. Molly is always so great at standing up for herself, and Farah never allows another dog to get more attention than she does. If you're really passionate about something, don't be afraid to speak your mind and stand up for yourself.

7// NEVER HESITATE TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS The great thing about dogs is that they never hesitate to run up to anyone (or anything) and greet them like they're already best friends. Take a lesson from my dogs and take the time to meet new people and make a new friend.
8// PERSISTENCE WILL LEAD TO GREAT REWARDS Whether it's a pathetic face or endless begging, my dogs always seem to get what they want. One of my dogs' favorite treats are Blue Bones Natural Dental Chews from Chewy.com. What I love about these treats are that they're not only delicious for the pups, they also help keep their teeth healthy and their breath fresh. Molly seems to inhale the treats as soon as I give them to her, but Farah likes to take her time with each bite.

It really just goes to show that if you keep at it, you can get what you want. Dreams do come true (especially if your dream is getting a ~~treat~~ cupcake).
9// LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY No matter what happens, my dogs always love me. It doesn't matter if I'm mad at them or disappointed in something they've done, they always seem to know exactly what to do to make me cuddle them and give them kisses. This is a lesson that everyone should learn. Love is better than hate, judgement, fear, sadness, everything.
Disclaimer: I received two complimentary bags of Natural Dental Chews from Chewy.com for review. All opinions are 100% mine.
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This giveaway is hosted by Elora from Out My Front Door and Robin the designer behind Northern Lights Bridal and co-hosted by Raewyn of Be a Warrior Queen, Nina from The Grand Adventures of Me, Cassandra from Cassandra M's Place, Kerry from Kerry's Habitat, Natalie from Natalie Patalie, and Tiffany from Endless Bliss. We are so excited about this giveaway for a 'I am Loki' Loki Pendant Necklace. The giveaway runs through March 20th!

You can check out Robin's Etsy shop here. You can also check out Elora's review of her work.
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Becoming Bliss | Enjoy the Little Things

Exciting news, y'all! I'm starting a new series called Becoming Bliss where I'm going to be sharing ways for you to bring a little more bliss into your life! I'm so excited about this new series, and I hope y'all keep coming back to get a little more inspiration each week.
Today, I want to talk about enjoying the little things. I feel like everyone has seen the quote "Enjoy the little things," but sometimes, that can be easier said than done. When you're living your life from day-to-day, you're not thinking about how the little things impact you. If you're like me, you may catch yourself living life in auto-mode. You're not living in that moment, instead you're thinking about what you need to pick up at the grocery store when you get off work or whether your favorite TV show is set to record. You're not living in the moment.
My advice is to slow down. Take time to really live your life. Stop thinking about the future for just a little bit and live in the right now. Enjoy the present now instead of reminiscing about it in the future. Take time to really taste that glass of wine. Take advantage of a ten-minute cuddle session with your significant other before you both fall asleep. Enjoy a short walk around the block with your dog. The little things add up to big things; and the little things are what make you grateful for what you have. Don't take advantage of little things you have and don't let those moments pass you by, because some of those things are what others only wish they could have.
Here are a few little things that I enjoy: - Slipping into my pajamas after a long day at work - The wagging tails of my dogs when I get home - A cold glass of sweet wine - Hugs - Themed parties - Kissing Jon goodnight before he goes to bed - A compliment on my hair, whether I think it looks good or not - Reading a book under the lamplight before I go to bed - Connecting with someone through my blog or YouTube channel - Getting something in the mail (especially when it's unexpected) - When someone tells me they're proud of me - Being compared to someone I admire - Breaking out into song - A phone call from someone I haven't spoken to in awhile - Hitting 'publish' on a blog post that I'm really proud of - Game nights - Blowing on a dandelion and watching all of the seeds fly away - Pillow fights with Jon - Hearing a song that sparks a wonderful memory - Spontaneous dance parties - Sifting my feet through sand - Brunch - Long showers with music
What are some of the little things that you enjoy in life?

7 Ways to Fight the Winter Blues.

Louisiana has somehow managed to (for the most part) skip winter until yesterday. It started sleeting, and the roads were horrible, and I understand that people in the north have to deal with snow and all that madness, but down south, we really don't know what to do about it. We don't expect sleet or icy roads, and when there's even a hint of it, everything pretty much shuts down.
The icy weather has me in a bit of a funk because I feel like I should be out in the world doing things. I'm due for a phone upgrade, and I wanted to go get a new phone after work yesterday. Speaking of work, I'm working on a project, and that's been put to a bit of a halt since the sales team was sent home yesterday. I've been wanting to go shopping, and I'm never in the mood to go shopping, so I'm sure the feeling will pass. I'm also sure my bank account will be happy.
I say all that to say I need to pull myself out of it. I think two paragraphs of complaining will do. This is Endless Bliss after all. One of my favorite quotes ever is this one by Marilyn Monroe:

Here are a few ways for you to wash (or defrost) away the winter blues:
// WRITE IT OUT What's bothering you (aside from the gross weather)? Whatever it is, get it down on paper. If you keep a journal, write it all down there. If you don't keep a journal, get out your laptop and start a Word document or get out a blank sheet of paper and let your frustrations flow out of you. You don't even have to keep the paper. You can ceremoniously delete it off of your hard drive or burn it or shred it and let the pieces fly through the wind. Whichever method you choose, writing it all out can help you feel better.
// GET LOST IN A BOOK This is my favorite thing to do when I'm feeling blue, because getting lost in a good book is the best temporary escape from reality. Whether you choose a new book, a classic, or your faithful old favorite, take out your most comfy blanket and let yourself get lost in a book and escape from your troubles.
// TALK TO A FRIEND Sometimes, all we need is a good rant session. Call up your best friend or your closest sibling or your significant other or your dog and just talk it out. When I'm frustrated about something, I like to warn the person that I'm not looking for a solution; I just want to express myself. Who in your life is a good listener? Get together with them and just talk it out. You'll feel much better.
// INDULGE IN SOME COMFORT FOOD I love to let my woes disappear with some sushi, Chinese food, or Ghirardelli milk chocolate sea salt and almond squares. Even if you're on a diet, change your cheat day if you have to. Sometimes, a little comfort food will go a long way and help you feel better.
// HAVE A DRINK My drink of choice is a nice glass of bubbly moscato. Allow yourself to indulge in your drink of choice, whether it's hot cocoa, a fruit smoothie, vodka soda, or a reliable cup of Joe. Let the drink flow through you and feel your winter blues melt away.
// HAVE A NETFLIX MARATHON ...or just a movie/TV show marathon in general. Get lost in your favorite TV show or watch all eight Harry Potter movies back-to-back. Watch a string of comedy movies or your favorite FRIENDS episodes (that's what I'm currently doing). Watching TV is a great way to distract yourself from the frightful weather.
// SHAKE IT OFF In true Taylor Swift fashion, shake your troubles away. Blast your favorite tunes, dance around the room, sing at the top of your lungs, and just forget about it.

What are your favorite ways to fight the winter blues?

In 2015, I Will...

The other day, I was on Twitter, and I saw this tweet about how in 2015, 2030 will be as far away as the year 2000. Isn't that so scary to think about? In my mind, it feels like the 2000's just started. It's hard for me to fathom that I was born in a completely different millennium.
Anyway, as I've already shared, 2014 was an amazing year for me. I'm looking forward to an even more awesome 2015! While I don't make resolutions (because there's no way that I'm going eat cleaner or drink less wine), I do like to set some goals for myself, and I try to make sure they're goals that I'll actually keep and ones that I can cross off of a list. Nothing's more frustrating than having a goal like be more kind to people or feel better about myself, because how do you measure that? To me, a goal is something that has an end date, and because I'm an overachiever, I like my goals to be things that I don't have to question whether I actually accomplished them or not.
These are a few of the goals I've set for myself in 2015:

Travel internationally at least once. // I have plenty of trips planned for 2015 - a trip to Houston for Supernatural Con with Jon, a trip to Chicago to reunite with my college roommates and see Taylor Swift, and potentially going to South Carolina - but all of those trips are within the United States. After traveling to Europe with my sister this past summer, I realized that I want to explore more of this vast and beautiful world, so of course I want to leave the country at least once next year.
Take the next steps for publishing my book. // By next steps, I mean, find a few beta readers to give me feedback about my book and make any suggested changes that I agree with and also decide on how I would like to publish my book. I've been looking at several different options for publishing, and I'm not sure which option appeals to me most. Even if I don't get my book published next year, I still want to make sure I'm working toward that goal.
Do some freelance writing jobs. // Writing is one of my biggest passions, and I would love to start building my portfolio and try to figure out how I would fit into the world of writing.
Work out at least four times a week. // I've actually been really good about this for the past few weeks. I found this awesome channel on YouTube called XHIT, and they have great exercises that only take a few minutes, but you do so much in those few minutes. I've had days of sore legs and sore abs just from a ten-minute workout. Plus the trainers are so fun, and all of the workouts are super easy to do.
De-Clutter. // I have way too much stuff, and I'm currently working on going through every room in my house and getting rid of the things that I don't need or use. It's crazy how many things I have that I haven't even looked at in years, and I just move them from place to place.
Learn to use my fancy camera. // I'm obsessed with the camera Jon bought me for my birthday, but I would love to get off using it in Auto mode and learning how to use it to its full potential.

Create a blog group. // I'm letting the cat out of the bag a little prematurely with this one. My friend, Nina, and I have been putting together a blog group since November. We're almost through in the planning stages, and I'm super excited to launch and share all of our awesome ideas with the blog world. The group is called The Blogging Elite, and you can find a little more information about it here. The link in the page will take you to nothing because it's still a secret group, but soon, it will open up, and if you're wanting to join an awesome blog group, you should definitely join us!
Create a media kit. // This past year has been a great year for me as far as blogging for profit goes. I still can't believe that I actually have to file for taxes for my blog this year. As amazing as this year was, I would love to see my blog grow more on the business side of things, and having a media kit would definitely help improve how I look to brands.
Attend a blog conference or meet-up. // Ever since Blogcation was cancelled, I've been on the look-out for a blog conference to attend. I've also been on the hunt for bloggers closer to home. I would love to organize a blogger meet-up, but I don't know of my bloggers in my area. Luckily, Dallas is only a 3-hour drive away, so I may pop on over there to meet-up with a few bloggers.
Get blog business cards. // I've been wanting to get business cards for my blog for so long, but I just keep talking about it and not actually doing it.
Utilize my blog planner. // I used to be really good about using a planner, but for some reason, when I started blogging, I stopped using one. My sister bought me a planner for Christmas, and I really want to use it to get more organized with my posts.

Create a budget (and stick to it). // Pinterest has been a saving grace lately when it comes to budgeting. I've been looking at so many printables and tips on how to manage money. I've created budgets in the past, but I've never really stuck to them. I'm hoping to change that in 2015.
Create a joint savings account with Jon. // We've been talking about doing this for a few months now, but we just haven't gone to the bank to do it. We want to create a savings account that we each contribute to each month, and we're not going to touch it. We don't really have a fallback as far as money is concerned, so having a savings account that will be there for emergencies would put both of our minds at ease.
Pay off one of my credit cards. // I've had a credit card for a really long time, and this past year, I got another one. I really want to work on paying off my first credit card, but still keeping it open and using it for smaller purchases to continue to build my credit score.
Get a second job. // This one is iffy for me. I've been toying with the idea of getting a second job at a bookstore or one of the local libraries to earn some extra cash by working on the weekends or a few nights a week. It wouldn't be a ton of money, but all of the money would be put away to use for paying off debts and planning for future vacations.
What are some of your goals for 2015?

I Deserve to Feel Beautiful.

Some days are easier than others. Some days, you may not feel like trying. Sometimes, you may feel like it's easier to just give up, but something that you should always remember is that you're worth it. No matter who you are, you deserve to be alive. You deserve to love your life. You deserve to be happy.
I recently saw this music video by Cimorelli, and I was just so inspired that I had to share it.

The message of this video and song is so beautiful. No matter who you are, you have fears, some of which you may not share with anyone else. Sometimes those fears may take over you and make you feel overwhelmed, but you have to remember that, no matter what, you're someone worth living for.
There will never be anyone that knows every little thing about you, and that's the same for others. You have to remember that you're not defined by just one thing. You're not your skin color, your sexuality, your religion, your intelligence, your past, your mistakes, your weight. You're you, and you deserve everything you've ever wanted, which is why I want to challenge you share the things that you deserve.

to feel beautiful. to be loved. to be happy. to be proud of my accomplishments. to not be ashamed of my past. to not be defined by my past. to not be afraid to question the things I don't understand. to have opinions that differ from yours. to feel passion. to be safe. to learn from my own mistakes. to share my life's journey. honesty. to be alive. to be me.
So tell me, what do you deserve?
P.S. What to be a part of my birthday giveaway? Click here!

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