We Are Young!

Once again, this post is inspired by Glee. Last night was Sectionals and the other main story was focusing on doing the right thing and enjoying being young. I've been thinking about that lately: how much I enjoy being young. When I was younger, all I could think of was getting to the next grade, graduating, then getting a job. Now, I still don't have all the answers, but I am on my way. But at times, I focus too much on work or just sitting at home than having fun but I've been trying to go out and hang with friends more this year.

I think we all try to grow up too fast. We want to graduate high school so quickly and then college and then be on our own and we realize we missed out on some of the fun parts of just being a kid. So now's your chance. It doesn't matter how old you are, you're still young. You're healthy, you're fun and you have the chance to enjoy your life. Start today!

Guest Post: What I Learned From My Dog

You can learn immensely by merely observing your dog’s general disposition. There are a lot of things about these wonderful creatures that inspire you. Some of them are cited below.
 

1.Touch is important

Touch is important for any relationship to blossom. Hugs and cuddles are a great way to feel warmth, love, care and security in a relationship. This universal fact is applicable with pets as well. Dogs give us unconditional love. Dogs do know that a simple touch can do wonders and make one feel emotionally stable. In lonely times, an assertive and sincere warm touch from a loved one can certainly uplift your mood.

2. Always seize the opportunity to nap

Another thing that you definitely can learn from dogs by observing their behavior is the importance of sleep. We all have become slaves of our respective work and live a hectic life. There is little time left to relax because we do not seize every opportunity that comes our way. Dogs know how to relax better. They find a cozy place and comfortably roll on their backs every now and then to take a breather. Human beings must also keep sleep and relaxing high on priority so that they can work more efficiently without feeling fatigued or bogged down.

3. Be more accepting and don’t feel jealous

Sibling rivalry is a commonplace phenomenon all over the world. Older child often feels jealous and intimidated by newly born baby in the house because of loss of attention. However this is not the case with dogs. Even though you get to spare far less time for your pet when the newly born arrives, your dog does not feel jealous at all and is rather protective of the little one. He becomes the best attendant in the world and is always alert about any signs of restlessness in the baby. He also keeps an eye on all the guests approaching the little one.

4. Invent your own toys

Dogs and kids can be truly inspiring when it comes to ideas of having fun. It is not necessary that you have all the expensive gadgets and fancy toys in order to have fun. With little imagination, you can device interesting and more productive time-pass methods.

5. Don’t let your old age stop you from having fun

With age, your fitness level and physical strength may diminish but that should not stop you from joining in the fun. Old age brings with it a number of ailments like arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, muscular and joint pains, etc. but that should not limit your ability to play. As a matter of fact, it becomes more important to have fun so as to cope up with these conditions more effectively. You should limit strenuous exercises and opt for choices that suit you better. An aged and ailing dog’s behavior in this regard can be truly inspiring. Dogs, unmindful of physical constraints, always do find time and ways to play around a little.

Thus, having a pet is a great learning experience. If you have an open mind, interaction with your pet on a daily basis can surely make you much more evolved as a human being.

About the author: Bethany is a blogger by profession. She loves writing on technology and luxury. Beside this she is fond of gadgets. These days she is busy in writing articles on two varied topics like Noritz Tankless Water Heater and patio umbrellas.

Ditch Your Phone and Live in the Moment

Recently, I went to a concert (City and Colour...they are amazing!) and I was amazed by how obsessed everyone is with their phones.

It was really cool though, just as I was pondering how many people had their phones out during the main band at the concert, the lead singer asks everyone to please put their phones away for just one song. He said that we get so concerned with documenting the memory, with videotaping or taking photos of the concert, that we don't even enjoy it. He expressed just the thought I was thinking and I thought it was really cool of him.

How often do we do this now? We don't enjoy experiences in life because we are so obsessed with documenting it, or texting someone else, or waiting for emails and Facebook notifications. I was amazed how many people were actually sitting there texting, ignoring the friends they came with and even the show they paid money to see!

So this is a reminder to myself and to everyone... be mindful with technology. Remember to share your experiences with real people and enjoy life. It is easy to get sucked into all the different technologies now and to think that is all there is to life. Next time you're out with a friend, put your phone on silent while you eat together. At a concert, take a few photos or videos, but make sure you spend most of the time just be in the moment and enjoy the concert.

What will you do to live in the moment and cherish your relationships and take a break from your cell phone and other technologies?

Reminding you...

 

A reminder that you don't need to be perfect all the time. Be yourself and make mistakes. Everything will work out.

Find Your Joy: Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday Season

It is that time of year again. The holidays. Thanksgiving is now over and Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, etc. are quickly approaching (I celebrate Christmas so I will mostly talk about that, but this can apply to all holidays!) Remember when you were a kid...how magical this time of year was? I remember waking up every day in December, wishing with all my heart that it was Christmas already. I knew that it wasn't, but I secretly hoped I would wake up magically on December 25th with the Christmas tree full of presents and snow falling silently outside. The holidays were so much fun, so exciting, and full of so much love.

Now the older we get, we run around with lists of presents to buy, errands to run, parties to host, cookies to bake, and the list goes on and on. We forget the joy and magic of the season and are stressed out by all those little things that must get done. There have been years when I get in a bad mood and become a Scrooge, just hope for the season to be over quickly, and scoff at all things festive.

So this year, please join me in finding the joy again. With Christmas a month away, use these tips to have a (almost) stress-free season and enjoy December!

1. First of all, take care of yourself! This time of year is also when people get sick more often. We spend more time indoors, get far too stressed out, and this puts a real damper on your immune system. Get plenty of sleep, take your vitamins, eat a healthy diet, exercise, and make time for yourself.

2. Make a to-do list. You'll get frazzled and stressed out simply trying to remember all the things you have to do or trying to get them done in one day. Make a list of all the things you need to get accomplished and set "due dates" for each one. Then you can determine which tasks need to get done first and get things done right.

3. Set aside time for joyful activities with your friends and family. Don't just get together at holiday parties or for holiday dinner. Walk around the nearest downtown to see the lights, go for a carriage ride, make some dates for hot chocolate and a holiday movie, etc. Remember the joy of being a kid excited for Christmas!

What are your tips for a fun and stress-free holiday season?

The Muppets are a Hit!

I mentioned not too long ago that I was so excited to see The Muppets back in theaters! I remember as a kid, waiting up for The Muppet Show, anxiously awaiting my favorite characters and the catchy tunes. Add one of my favorite actors, Jason Segel to the mix and I was just like a kid again.

My boyfriend graciously agreed (well lost a bet and had to take me, but I think he would anyway... hehe...) to take me to see the movie even though it is not his favorite type of movie to see.

I definitely loved it! Between the song and dance numbers, the silly jokes (some more for the adult crowd), the celebrities, all of the muppets, and my nostalgia... it was a perfect mix of funny and sweet.

My only complaint was it didn't feature much of my two favorite Muppets, Rizzo and Pepe! Even if you've never seen The Muppets in a televsion show or movie, I think you'd still be caught up in the happiness of it all.

Because after all... The Muppets bring the third best thing in life: laughter. :)


What do you think? Will you see it? I am hoping to go buy The Muppet Show on DVD now!

Mahna Mahna ;)

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Enjoy your holiday and don't eat TOO much! ;) Tell me, what are your plans for Thanksgiving?

More of my Favorite (Lush) Things!

If you're no stranger to me or my blog, you will know how much I am obsessed with Lush products recently. I love that most of their products are totally natural and fun and love to try new products! Here are some of the ones I've tried lately:

Angels on Bare Skin:

This is a cleanser that is very different from anything I've tried to wash my face. It has become one of my favorite Lush products! All you do is pick out a piece and roll it up in your hand (you don't need much). Then get it really wet and rub it out in your hands and then all over your face. My face has been really clear and super soft since I've been using it.



Tea Tree Water Toner:

I usually use this after I wash my face and before I moisturize. It feels really refreshing and I think this would be amazing in the summer to fresh up your skin! I'm not sure how well it really works, but it feels nice and I haven't' really had any acne.

Skin Drink Moisturizer:

My skin gets really, really dry in the winter so I thought I would try their most heavy duty moisturizer. Right now I usually only use it at night because it appears a little greasy when you put it on, but it has really worked for me so far! My skin hasn't been dry yet, but really soft and nice.

Each Peach (Two's A Pair) Massage Bar:

Now the name is misleading, I almost didn't smell it because I don't like the smell of peaches but it has an amazing citrusy smell! I am in love with how this smells. All you do is warm it up in your hands and rub it on your body for a nice lotion. It doesn't feel as moisturizing as other lotions, but the smells really stays on.

Snow Globe Soap (Christmas special):

This smells amazing - very citrusy much like the massage bar above! I love using this in the morning to wake up in the shower. Their soap is great, lasts long, smells great. I am just sad they don't sell this year round!

So tell me, what are your favorite Lush products if you've tried any? Do you want to try any of these?

The Yoga Journey Continues….And Heats Up

Last time, I shared with you my new yoga journey and how I am trying to make yoga a habit in my life. Last week I hit a bit of a speed bump and didn’t go for a week. My friend Lauren, who I have been going with, started a new job, so we could no longer go during the day and had to reschedule when we go. It started to seem like a bit of a hassle. But finally this week, we scheduled a time to go and stuck with it. Unfortunately, all the night classes at the studio we’ve been going to are either Intermediate or Advanced. Yikes.

We headed to the studio at 7 p.m., feeling as if it were much later (thanks Daylight Savings!) and were nervous about our first Intermediate class. At times, I struggle with Beginner still! How was I supposed to handle a harder class? We now know the teacher decently well and she assured us that it was harder, but if we were struggling we could go into child’s pose.

Little did we know, they turn up the heat a little more in harder classes along with more movements and harder poses. In the first 20 minutes, I was already dripping with sweat and slipping and sliding all over my mat during Downward Dog. My head was buzzing with annoying thoughts designed to disrupt my yoga flow:

“I don’t think I’ve sweat this much EVER!”

“I’m supposed to do THAT?”

“It smells like my boyfriend’s dirty hockey gear in here… yuck. And I’m supposed to breathe deeply in and out?”

At times, when moving from the floor to sitting or standing, I got really dizzy and felt like I was going to pass out and almost left the room, but I am glad I stuck it out.

Even with all the distractions in my head, I went with the flow and enjoyed most of the class. I realize that my favorite parts of yoga are when you are given a set of movements and poses and are able to do them on your own flow. I can challenge myself as little or as much as I want, I can go as slow or a bit faster if I desire and everyone is at their own pace and not paying attention to anyone else. I definitely felt like I got a better workout and even though I couldn’t do some of the poses very well, if at all, I tried and focused more on the ones I could do well.

For now, I think I will stick to the Beginner classes for the most part. When I feel the need for a really good workout or get to the point where I need more of a challenge…back to sweating I go! On another note, I got another Groupon for a new studio…If I use all the classes it will only be $1 per class! Awesome! I got one of my other friends to buy it too, so I have another yoga buddy.

If anyone is interested in starting up yoga, try our 21 Day Yoga Challenge. It is a great start that you can do at home for free!

Until next time,
Lauren

See my original article on ASKinyourface.com.

I am not a girl that can ever be defined...

Today I am just sharing one of my favorite songs right now! Enjoy! I might take a little break from blogging, but keep looking out for new posts soon. xoxo