Reset and Reintroduce

Good morning/afternoon/evening!

I have been wanting to reintroduce myself back into blogging for the past year, but once my spark sets in, it suddenly dwindles down to a meer dim. Wow, didn’t that sound like it came out of a book? Lol! But all jokes aside, I have been back and fourth with the thought of rekindling my blog or just deleting it all together. It has just been sitting there for a while – with far too many fails of revamping it back up -, but after much deliberation, I found that it was because I wanted to keep a strict schedule with it. Ya know that whole W.I.A.W, Fun Fridays, yadda yadda ya, but that’s very repetitive to me personally. By no means am I bashing anyone that does that, it’s just not for me. I do still get those e-mails from some of my favorite bloggers and checking up on their thoughts, foods, and victories.

I’ve even wanted to try youtubing! I bought a camera, tripod, and an editing software, but it just didn’t feel right to me. I felt like I wasn’t up to the expertise standards and it all just flopped. I want to start making videos so bad, but I just have a back-in-the-mind thought always preventing me. I’m hoping that blogging again will help give me that umph.. or is it oomph?.. to start creating content. For now, I want to start small. I want to reset and start by a reintroduction of myself.

My name is Natalie Marie (last name with be hidden… for now), and I am 19 years old. I go to Grand Canyon University to receive my Bachelors Degree in Elementary and Specials Education. I’ve gone back and forth with Psychology and a fitness centered degree, but ultimately teaching has my heart. The thing that has me already stressing – TWO WEEKS BEFORE I START – is that I have not three… not four… BUT FIVE CLASSES this semester!!!! WUT. I just…. oh lordy lordy lordy. I can’t imagine how much sleep I am going to lose over the next four months. You may be thinking (or not…), “four months? That’s not so bad! Law students and medical students have it far worse!” Yes.. yes.. yes… I have been watching a lot of How To Get Away With Murder, and I see how stressed the eff out they get, but I barely made it through four classes last year. By the way, I am obsessing over How To Get Away With Murder a.t.m.

I live at my boyfriend’s mom’s house out in AZ. She owns a rescue, so there are A LOT of dogs running around and A LOT of barks going on throughout all hours of the day and night. I also have an adorable puppy Crush. I remember it like yesterday when I held him at 6 weeks old and declared he was MINE instantly. You know it’s just one of those instincts you have when holding an animal and being like, “You’re mine now you precious little creature.” Well, that was what it was like with Crush. He looks DRAMATICALLY different than he did four months ago. He actually turns six months old today! Cue the puppy treats and toys! I spoil him so much, but I know he loves it!

I also have two hermit crabs, and two (soon to be three!) tortoises, and they are all my little babies. My hermit crab names are Miso and Roshi. Roshi is far more active whereas Miso just keeps to herself a lot of the time. My tortoises’names are Sheldon and Berry. My newest tortoises that should come this week is named Toby. I live with a lot of boys… good thing make-up keeps my girly side in tact.

I work at PetSmart as a pet care associate/professional dog bather. I am around a lot of animals, but I honestly love it. I would have gone into the animal field with being a vet, but I CANNOT under no circumstance can stand blood. Not even my own! One sight and I get dizzy instantly. I may have my own animal rescue one day, but that will be in the way future!

I’ve covered some basics, but let’s get down the the cookie-cutter traditional questions..

-Favorite animal: Owls

-Favorite color: purple and rose gold!

-Favorite movie: Titanic! (FOREVER AND ALWAYS) – I even have a tattoo of a quote from the movie!

-I do have five tattoos. (One Lion King, one Winnie the Pooh gang tattoo, two quotes, and a bunch of roses)

-I am obsessed with Disney. YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW.

-Favorite song: Closer by the Chainsmokers and Halsey

-I love me some make-up. I may or may not have gone on a lot of make-up sprees a few months ago…

-I am VERY big on skin care. (Current skin care products shown below)

-I love love love love love coffee.

-I have been with my boyfriend for almost two years now. ❤

-I am very into planning, organizing, and making lists.

-I am a big foodie.

-I love to exercise even though I also love to be super freakin’ lazy.

-I have taken three public speaking classes, and only the last one has made me more comfortable talking to people in public.

-I am a natural blonde, but I am rockin’ the red hair now!

-Hazelnut anything is my jam!

-I was born in upstate New York, but I have lived in Arizona for a majority of my life.

-I had heart surgery at three years old.

-I am extremely clumsy.

-I only lasted as a vegetarian for two years.

-I want to live a minimalist life, but I have a problem of accumulating a lot of things in a short amount of time.

I can’t really think of any more facts, but if you happen to have any more questions, you can ask my below!

Also, if you wanna keep in touch with me, you can by clicking on the links below! I hope we can become great friends! 😀

 Instagram -> @hunnny.buns

 Twitter -> @Hunnnybuns_

 Snapchat -> @nataliexdarling

 Facebook -> /nataliexdarling

 E-mail -> lovenataliemarie@gmail.com

 Tumblr -> hunnnybuns

February Ipsy & BoxyCharm Review

Good morning/afternoon/evening! ❤

Over the course of the past few months, my love for beauty products have grown exponentially. For years I have watched probably over 1000 make-up tutorials, and my biggest inspiration has always been Michelle Phan. Seeing her grown as both a YouTuber and business women, it has given me that boost to finally venture on beyond mascara and eye liner to a full range of beauty products. I love expressing myself with different looks with different color pallets every day! Beauty products are something I invest in, because it is a major thing that makes me happy.

A few months ago, I learned that I could get boxes each month with beauty products to try out, and eventually buy if I like them that much! I get monthly boxes from Ipsy and BoxyCharm. For Ipsy, it costs $10/month for 4-5 travel/sample size products that match you answers on a survey that you take upon joining as a member. These products can be up to over $50. As for BoxyCharm, you receive 5-6 full size products for $21/month. They are not based on a survey, but the total of all of the products are up to over $100 in value.

I have tested out all of these products, and I want to share my experience and opinion of all them with you!

IPSY PRODUCTS:

1. Jessica Liebeskind Vintage lip gloss
   1. The color is beautiful on this product. Although I was not a big fan of the brush to apply the lip gloss, it did give me a sheen that could not be outmatched. It in a color I would put over a pink lipstick, because it does look a bit tacky on plain lips.
2. Margaret Dabbs London nail filer
   1. I didn’t understand what the product was at first until I looked it up. I found that there are fine crystals that make up the file for a clean cut file. The file did not apply much force, and it did its job. I was very happy with the end result. My nails turned out smooth and had no sharp edges.
3. Trust Fund Beauty nail polish in “I’m Kind of a Big Deal”
   1. When it comes to nail polish, I have a hard time finding a polish that that covers the area with thick coats. This nail polish came out thick, but not in a bad way. It provided a full covered, and there were no streak marks when applying an over coat. Plus, the color is super cute! 😀
4. Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil
   1. I’m still iffy about this product. Although it acts as a good primer, it leaves my hands feeling oily for a few washes. I like to stick to a lotiony primer, because it feels like it applies more coverage. The oil is lightweight, and it does a good job, but I can’t really get past the oiliness.
   2. 

      
5. Naked Cosmetics Mica Pigment
   1. I typically stick to tightly compacted pallet eye shadows, because they lack fallout, but this pigment was beautiful when blended with other eye shadows. As you could guess, this eye shadow is very pigmented. I thought it would be a but much with my fair skin, but it complimented both my blue eyes and red hair. There is a shimmer to it, and the sunlight really captures that. I would highly recommend it!

 

BOXYCHARM PRODUCTS:

1. Spongelle You Have My Heart on a String
   1. This body brush is great at exfoliating the skin! My skin felt a whole lot softer after using it the first time. The downside to it is the smell when it gets wet. It has a similar smell to Nair, and that smell makes me sick. I can get past that, because it is a great exfoliater, and my conditioner can out-smell it any day! 😉
2. Beauty for Real Blush – Glow Stick
   1. My skin is very fair, so both the blush and illuminator showed up very clearly on my cheeks. The blush gave my cheeks a subtle natural rosy look (which I adore), and the illuminator (paired with my BH Cosmestics Carli Bybel highlighter) gave my face a dewy finish. I am all about that glow! 😀
3. Shray Ms. Amazing Facial Mask
   1. The mask was very cold upon putting it on my face, and when I rubbed it in. It was a but painful at first (I’m a baby with the cold), but it started to feel very soothing once I let it settle. After taking off the mask, it left behind a thicker moisture to rub in. I noticed that my face felt softer and cleaner than usual in the morning!
4. Ofra Banana Powder Gadget
   1. I used this powder as a powder foundation instead of an eye shadow. It complimented my foundation and helped oxidize to a more natural shade. The powder actually helped tone down the redness in my face, and there was no oiliness or smearing at the end of the day.
5. Freeze 24/7 Anti-Aging Eye Serum
   1. I’ve only used the serum for the past few days, and I haven’t noticed that much of a difference. My bags haven’t been so badly lately, so I hope that it is helping with that. I don’t have any wrinkles or crows feet from using make-up, but I hope that this serum will help to keep it that way!
6. RealTree for Her
   1. I don’t wear perfume that often, but I do enjoy putting it on before school! It has a sweetier more flowery smell. It is a more intense smell after two sprits, but it is lovely. I would recommend it to perfume enthusiests. 🙂

 

Overall, I was impressed with all of the products. They had their pros and cons, but I cannot wait to see what I receive next month to review!

 

-Do you try monthly sample boxes?

-What are some of your favorite beauty products?

-Did any of these products capture your interest?

-What is something you did over the weekend?

——————-

 Instagram -> @hunnny.buns

 Twitter -> @Hunnnybuns_

 Snapchat -> @nataliexdarling

 Facebook -> /nataliexdarling

 E-mail -> lovenataliemarie@gmail.com

 Tumblr -> hunnnybuns

Currently . . . Feb. 2016

Good morning/afternoon/evening loves! ❤

I am slowly making my way into blogging again (by slow I mean a tortoise trying to walk through peanut butter slow!). It feels good to write everything out again and connect with the bloggers I used to read every single day! I typed up this post just before I have to head to class while sipping on some hazelnut coffee… mmmm. ❤ Today marks 1 year 4 months with the love of my life which even makes today that much more special. ❤ January was a good month for me, but February is already turning out to be even better!  mI thought I would share some currently’s, and hope to see what you are currently into as well! Without further ado…

 

Currently Reading . . . Mademoiselle Chanel by C.W. Gortner

Currently Listening to . . . We Found Love – Rihanna

Current Non-Guilty Pleasure . . . Napping, napping, and even more napping

Current Nail Color . . . Nude

Currently Drinking . . . Arizona Green Tea Zero

Currently Eating . . . Power Crunch Salted Caramel Energy Bars

Current Obsession . . . Sharp eyeliner wings 😉

Currently Wishing . . . to go back to Disneyland

Currently Needing . . . some cute dresses for the warmer weather

Current Bane of Existence . . . stress overload 😦

Current Indulgence . . . Make-up ❤

Current Procrastination . . . Making more videos…

Current Confession . . . I’m really bad at taking my fish oil pills everyday…

Current Blessing . . . I am getting more hours at work!

Current Excitement . . . I just started my first week of a 90-day challenge to kick start my fitness journey again!

Current Mood . . . Motivated af. 😀

Current Workout . . . Fast paced treadmill walking after lifting weights

Current Link . . . https://www.youtube.com/user/LaurDIY (literally obsessed <3)

Current App . . . Instagram!

 

-What are you currently indulging in?

-What are you currently excited for?

-What is your current blessing?

————————

 Instagram -> @hunnny.buns

 Twitter -> @Hunnnybuns_

 Snapchat -> @nataliexdarling

 Facebook -> /nataliexdarling

 E-mail -> lovenataliemarie@gmail.com

 Tumblr -> hunnnybuns

Dear Past Self,

*Disclaimer: Very personal.*

 

Dear Past Self,

 

I’m sorry for all of the pain I’ve put you through.

 

I’m sorry for the self doubt on your own existence. I’m sorry for the endless regrets and blaming you for everything even when it wasn’t your fault. I’m sorry for making you waste endless hours on tracking, planning, and weighing food. You gave in to so many diet fads and lies. I destroyed you, but now I am repairing you. I sorry for the constant beatings I put upon you with endless hours of exercise. I’m sorry for doing 3+ hours a day and still not being satisfied. I fatigued you, I made your bones brittle, your hair fell out, you were told that you looked like you had cancer. I’m sorry for the late night scars across your wrists and waist. You didn’t deserve the physical pain you thought you deserved. I’m sorry for the lethal thoughts of feeling worthless. You are so much more than you could ever image. I’m sorry for giving into the eating disorders, the starvation, the purging, the binging, the picking apart. I’m sorry for the overwhelming sadness of depression. I’m sorry for all of the questioning, the stress, the pressure, the abusive words, giving into the pressure, etc. I am honestly sorry for everything.

I know I’ve put you through hell and back. I know there are scars that are both internal and external that are constant reminders. I know it’s hard to trust people, but there are people that love you. They love you and all of your imperfections. They want you here.. I want you here. You have a mother and father that loves you ever lastingly. Yes, it wasn’t easy back then through the depression, therapy, and disorders, but they never stopped loving you. They were confused and didn’t know what to do. You have a sister that, even though she can make it seem like your life is hell, is proud of you and does not want to lose you. Relationships with siblings are not always easy, but through all the struggles comes a stronger relationship. You have a boyfriend that makes you feel beautiful. He treats you like an absolute princess and loves all of you, even your imperfections. You have friends that are here for you and accept you. You’re living life like you’ve always wanted to.

 

I cannot express how proud I am of you for fighting like a warrior through an endless amount of battles. There were cuts and bruises given along the way, but you did it. You fought the inner demons, and I know you can do it if they come again. You’ve made an imprint on the lives of so many. You’ve found your aspiration to teach the special needs after college and also those who want to transition into a healthier lifestyle by becoming a personal trainer.

 

You’re happy and you learned to accept yourself. You’ve learned that the number on the scale does not matter and no numbers define you. You don’t weigh your food, and you are conquering the foods you use to fear. You are living a life of balance, and it is making everyone around you happy. You’re healthy and strong. You’re strong physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.

 

I’m not going to promise you that life from here on out is going to be easy, but knowing what you’ve overcome, it’s going to be so much more easier to get through. I cannot even begin to tell you how beautiful you are. There is so much I want to say to you, but just know that I wouldn’t be there person I am today if it wasn’t for you. Thank you.

 

Love,

Your present self.

 

What Have I Been Up Too?

Good morning and happy Monday, everyone! It has been quite some time since I’ve last said that. I know.. I know.. in my last post I said I would be on more, but life got a little hectic. A lot has gone on, and I have been getting the urge to start blogging more again. I guess I needed some time off to, because I felt as if I needed to blog four out of the seven days of the week. Some things have stayed the same, but some things have changed. Hopefully you have a cup of coffee near you (like I do) and let’s catch up. 🙂

1. I got glasses. I am absolutely in love with my glasses. They have such a vintage look to them. I’ve gotten quite a few compliments on them by people I know and random strangers.

2. I have been taking courses online. I personally chose to do this, because I work better on my own schedule. It is far less stressful, and I prefer the one-on-one attention I get whenever needed. The work load is quite big, but I am enjoying my classes, and I enjoy the comfort of being in my own home.

3. I’ve started doing pilates again along with lifting. I began my active lifestyle with pilates. It’s something I know and love. Of course I still love lifting weights, but I also love the creativity with pilates. I’m still working on yoga, but I find pilates more appealing.

4. I have been all about these pancakes lately. I’ve had them quite a few times already, and they are absolutely delicious. I will be posting the recipe tomorrow. 🙂

5. The weather is finally (somewhat) cooling down now, and I have been enjoying walking my dogs in the morning. They were not able to during the warmer months, so they are definitely excited to roam the neighborhood every morning. The only problem is that they are pretty old, so the walks are short and they keep tripping over their own feet. I love to see their excitement as I put on their leashes, though.

6. I’m reaching a point in my life where I am finally achieving balance. I am actually starting to hangout with family, friends, and my boyfriend more. I’m not worried about skipping the gym or about what I am eating. Yes, I am still eating a majority of nutritious foods, but I am not stressing about if I have treats. You guys don’t understand how happy I am to say that. 🙂

7. I’m being more social on Instagram, Snapchat, and Tumblr. If any of you care, my usernames are..

IG: lovenataliemarie

Snapchat: nataliexdarling

Tumblr: creativelyexpressed.tumblr.com

8. I have started driving!

I will start to be more active in the blog world, I promise. I just needed the time away to focus on my life. I’m at a place where I feel I am in control. I’ve missed you all so much, and I want to know what you’ve been up to! Please tell me in the comments below!

Have a fantastic day. ❤

———————–

Connect with me!

Instagram -> @lovenataliemarie

Twitter -> @xolovenatalie

Facebook -> /nataliexdarling

E-mail -> lovenataliemarie@gmail.com

Conquered and Proud!

Good morning and happy Monday!

 

Today is the day that my summer vacation ends and a brand new school year begins. It’s a sad thing to say, but I am pretty excited to start a new school year! If you didn’t know, I am the type of person that absolutely LOVES to learn. Although I may not like the cycle of school, I love the knowledge I obtain. There is so much out there yet to be learned! Okay.. I need to tone it down. 😀 To prove to you that I love to learn, I free willingly started reading a psychology textbook and am taking notes. I absolutely love psychology. It’s just so fascinating to me.

 

 

This weekend was a very relaxing one for me. You would think that I would be #turntup for my last weekend, but I ain’t about that life. Yes, I do love going out and having fun, but that doesn’t involve partying, drinking, smoking, etc. I am more of a movies, sleepover, and bowling kinda girl when it comes to hanging out with friends. Who’s with me?! 🙂

 

 

I enjoyed a weekend filled with spending time with friends, hitting PRs in the gym, spending time with family, watching Netflix, reading, preparing for school, and eating a lot of good food. You guys, I conquered a fear food last night! I repeat I CONQUERED A FEAR FOOD LAST NIGHT. You may be wondering, what was this fear food you conquered Natalie? It was a peanut butter and jelly cookie. It was like a pb&j sadwich but with cookies. I’m telling you, these cookies were made with flour, butter, full eggs, sugar, the whole shabang! The jelly wasn’t sugarfree either! It was so good! Ahh, grinning from ear to ear right now. ^_^

 

 

You know what crossed my mind this weekend? On top of wanting to be a specials education teacher and a personal trainer/nutritionist, I want to open up my own restaurant or bakery. I have had so many idea jumble around in my head, but I was thinking that I would want to open it up with a partner. Christina or Amanda, I’m looking at you two. 😉

 

 

I have been craving froyo up the wazoo. This isn’t just a one day craving.. It has been dawning on me for quite some time now. A froyo trip is definitely in order after I finish my first week of school. It’s like a little celebratory treat, ya know? I mean.. I’ll be making the transition from summer to school which is pretty difficult in the beginning. I know you know what I’m talking about!

 

I’ve heard about apple cider vinegar’s health benefits, but I have been a little uneasy about drinking it. My digestion hasn’t been rockstar lately and I have been bloating a lot (after eating pretty much anything), so I’m thinking of mixing some in with tea today. I’m hoping it has a good taste so I can make it a regular thing. Does anyone have any tips to help with digestion?

 

I have been loving the french braid hairstyle a lot lately. Everyday I manage to turn my bun into a french braid. I just find them so easy and cute. It keeps my hair out of my face and adding a bow just makes it a million times more girly and cute. I think I found my staple hairstyle for now.

 

 

This has just been a whole lot of rambles, but I feel like I should catch up with you guys. I’ve finished my coffee and I’m now about to start my classes. I hope everyone has an amazing day and week! ❤

 

-What did you do this weekend?

-Do you love to learn?

-What do you have planned for the week?

-What fun activities did you participate in this summer?

———————

Connect with me!

Instagram -> @myhealthlyjourney

Twitter -> @xolovenatalie

Pinterest -> @xolovenatalie

E-mail -> lovenataliemarie@gmail.com

Letting Go

Hey, everyone! Remember me? I know I have been in and out of the blog world over the course of the past few months, but I did it all for good reasons. Of course I am still reading blogs, but I have been really trying to work on myself. For quite some time I haven’t really felt like myself. You know what I mean? After sounding like a broken disc, I finally did reevaluate ALL aspects of my life: physical being, mentality, spiritual side, emotional being, relationships, my eating habits, and all that good jazz. What I found was that I was subconsciously holding onto aspect of my past that I thought I let go. Over the course of the past few months I finally let go. I’m about to get deep.. I mean real deep.. You ready for this?

 

Physically I let go of… objects from the past that no longer need to be in my life (old gifts from past relationships), the notebooks/letters/notes from the time period during my depression, deleting contact with the people I don’t talk to anymore, photos with people from past relations with people that only brought me down, sad songs, and old clothes. I never thought that letting go of all of this stuff would just release this huge weight off of my shoulders. Once I burned and threw out the past, I smiled. It was hard for me to do, and I had second thoughts, but what was the point of holding onto the past when it would possibly hold me back from moving forward in the future. Not seeing and knowing that I got rid of the bad felt good. Do yourself a favor and do the same. I know it may be hard, but what’s the point of holding on at this point?

 

 

Mentally I let go of… the perception that I had to look and act a certain away, counting calories, holding onto feelings of the past, hurting over broken relationships, the negativity that was in my lift, thinking I have to be strong all of the time, the barrier that kept the tears in, the idea that I wasn’t good enough, the idea that I wasn’t strong enough, the idea that I wasn’t worthy of what I am. For so long I talked down upon myself, because I thought that all I did was mess up. I gave up on everything I couldn’t do right the first time. I was so weak. This was probably one of the hardest to do. I’ve set up so many walls in my life. It was hard breaking them down. It wasn’t a one day ordeal.. it took several months. I did this with the help of positive self talk, watching videos online of positive messages, reading, and talking to people. The chains finally feel broken. I finally feel free in my mind.

 

Spiritually I let go of… the barrier that was holding me back from God. Yes, I believe in God. I will admit it.. for so long I blamed God for all I couldn’t do. I know.. I know.. I feel ashamed for that. After praying and asking for forgiveness, I feel his love. I have put faith into him to take control. I’ve humbled myself to admit that I needed help.. I needed help in the process of cleansing the negativity and removing the boulders from the shoulders. I can’t even begin to describe how happy I have been since this all started.

 

Emotionally I let go of… all the negativity that was surrounding my life, the feeling of being worthless, the lingering eating disorder thoughts, the lingering thoughts of depression, my feelings from past relationships, feeling alone, feeling like I wasn’t strong enough, and basically anything that was just bringing me down. Like letting go of the mental aspects, this was hard for me to do. It was a day to day reoccurrence I saw on social media, television, and letting myself think of these feelings. Working with letting go of the others helped aid in this process. Will they be gone completely? I doubt it, but I will do everything I can to keep these feelings away.

 

I can’t even begin to describe how free and happy I feel. I have definitely been feeling like myself again. I actually even feel better than I did before. It really is amazing how much a cleanse can be for you. I have realized so much about myself over the course of the past few months. I am not afraid to feel my feelings. I’m not afraid to praise myself. I am not afraid to be confident. I’m not afraid to hold back. Of course I am humbling myself every day. I know I am not perfect. I’m just going to be the best person that I can be.

 

 

I will be back on the blog world more often now. I needed time for myself. We all do.

 

-Have you ever done a personal cleanse?

-What makes you happy?

-What makes you feel empowered?

-Your thoughts. 🙂

———————–

Connect with me!

Instagram -> @myhealthlyjourney

Twitter -> @xolovenatalie

Pinterest -> @xolovenatalie

E-mail -> lovenataliemarie@gmail.com

My Own Personal Color

Question: If you had your own personal color what would be your color and why?

 

If I had to have my own custom color, I would have to say that mine would be an electric baby blue color.

 

 

When I first thought of what my color would be, I thought of an electric/vibrant yellow at first, because I am an all around optimistic person with a sun-shiney (That should be a word) personality. It sounded perfect at first, but then I remembered that there is that aspect in me that is very calm and sympathetic. I have that fire in me (cue the yellow), but I also have calmness to me; I have that ying-yang personality. 😀

 

When I met someone for the first time, they told me that I have a blue aurora around me. I was confused at first, so out of curiosity I asked “Why blue?” They smiled at first and proceeded to tell me that blue was the color of a kindhearted soul. In their words they told me that I was someone who loves to help people (true), I am a listener who people go to when they need someone to confide to (true), I have a passion for learning and teaching (true), I have that fire inside me that is powerful (true), I am calm and very comfortable to be around (true), I have a thirst for knowledge on what I can do to improve myself (true), and that I am a genuinely happy person (true). I sat in shock as they just described my personality. I have never met that person before and they described me spot on.

 

From the time I started helping blind children, I knew I had a passion for helping others. I went in every week excited to help the kids work on a new rt project, teach them methods on how to cook, get them participating in physical activities, teaching them new technological advancements, and being the ear they needed in counseling. I was excited to see the kids and the feeling for them in mutual. I have grown a bond with them. They not only taught me patience, they also gave me the ability to learn new strengths within myself. Along the lines of teaching, I aspire to be a health coach and a personal trainer. A few years ago I discovered my love for fitness and nutrition. Seriously, I can go on and on about those subjects. I want to be someone who helps change lives for the better in people. I want people to know and see what their bodies are capable of. I want to help people reach their goals. I want people to achieve greatness.

 

The first impression people tell me is that I am a very calm girl. I’m the type of person who is shy, but I will spark a conversation. I will want to get to know you to where it’s not too personal, but I know enough for the start of a friendship. I have the tendency to smile a lot and widdle my thumbs. It’s always been a habit. Some call it cute. Some call it shy. I call it being myself. When I get to know you more I will start to show more sides of me (being artistic, how I think, what’s on my mind, what I love, etc). I am who I am, no matter what. I do what makes me happy. I’m not afraid to be myself.

 

I just thought of this.. Another reason why I chose blue was because of fire. I remember learning that blue fire is much more hotter than a yellow flame. That hotter flame symbolizes how strong my passions are. I am a very passionate person, trust and believe. Once I have my heart set on something, I go for it. I do all that I can. I guess you can call me dedicated, right? 😉 I am a little fire ball of passion!

 

Blue is my aurora.. It’s my energy that surrounds me. If I could give my own nail polish name it would be Blossoming Discovery.

 

*If you are a look for some new and exciting nail polishes, go on over to check out Julep. There is a wide selection beautiful nail polish colors for any outfit or mood! . I have my eye on a few of their colors. 🙂 *

 

-What would your color be?

-What are you passionate about?

-What’s your favorite nail polish color?

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Connect with me!

Instagram -> @myhealthlyjourney

Twitter -> @xolovenatalie

Pinterest -> @xolovenatalie

E-mail -> lovenataliemarie@gmail.com

There Are Some Things I Need To Get Off Of My Chest

*DISCLAIMER: This post is going to be a more personal post.

 

If you have been reading my blog for some time now you know that I am a person who sees the optimism in every situation. I don’t like to look at the negative of anything, because who wants to do that? It’s just a downer. It’s not always easy though. As much as we all want too, we can’t always be happy 100% of the time. I’m all about being raw and real here.

 

1. Lately, I have been feeling like my mind is slipping back into my old ways. You know the ways of the eating disorder? Yes.. I know this is bound to happen and that I have to stay strong, but it’s hard. “Be a warrior. Persevere. You’re better than that!” I have heard that oh so many times whenever I bring up this topic to a friend. It’s hard to take that advice sometimes when the ones I have been confiding too have not faced an eating disorder. I have started counting macros again, because I have gained weight and it scared me. I took one look in the mirror and I was not happy. Yes, I am training hard in the gym, but you need to keep in mind that I had (and maybe still have..) body dysmorphia. If you don’t know what that is, it is a body image disorder that has to do with seeing myself differently than other people.. in a not so flattering way.

 

I’m not happy counting macros, but I’m also afraid of gaining weight. Yes, I admit it. Before you think “She needs to work on her self confidence,” I want you to know that is what I do every day. I do love myself (although it may not seem like it). I am grateful and thankful for all that I can do. I just have a tainted mindset that I am working on.

You’re probably thinking.. why is she talking about this? Well, I am going on vacation tomorrow and I am nervous about not tracking. I’m nervous about eating too much or too little. I’m nervous I will binge. I am nervous I will feel guilt. I’m just being raw and real with you all here. I know I need to enjoy this vacation, and I will, I just.. I guess I need advice? Or something..?

 

2. This may sound like a huge contradiction, but i am an advocate of loving yourself regardless. Lately, I have been seeing a lot of bashing on Instagram. I have seen accounts promoting anorexia and telling recovering girls to eat less, I have seen pictures and comments being made about other people, I have seen the nasty side of people. I know… I know… everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but the comments I have seen have disgusted me. I’ve seen bashing on “clean eating,” IIFYM (macros), intuitive eating, vegans, vegetarians, gluten free, training methods, bikini competitors,  meal plans, progress photos, etc. I’m actually surprised how outrageous it gets sometimes. People are failing to realize that everyone is different. Not everyone will like the same things as maybe you do. I know people who choose to do pilates and yoga over lifting. I know people who would choose to do cardio instead of lift. Not everyone enjoys lifting. Not everyone enjoys counting macros. Not everyone enjoys meal plans or exercise plans. There are benefits to everything out there in the fitness and nutrition world. Some things work better than other things for people.

3. Do you ever go through those time periods where you just feel lonely? I have. I realize I have family and friends that are always surrounding me, but I just have this feeling inside of myself. I have confided into God, but I think it’s something I am missing as a person. I am happy the majority of the time. I’m still trying to discover what it is. Maybe it’s a hidden passion? Maybe it’s something I need to let go of. Maybe it’s something I need in my life. I don’t know.. I’m sure you get what I am talking about if you have felt this way. Any tips you care to share if you have?

I know this wasn’t a typical post of mine, but it’s what I wanted to get off my chest. It felt good to type this out. Maybe I can connect with some of you that has every felt like this or thought like this. Who knows? Any who, I need to pack still, so I will end this here.

 

I hope you have an amazing day and just wait for an epic food post tomorrow. ❤

 

-Any advice you care to share?

-Have you been facing any internal struggles lately?

-What are your thoughts on any of the topics above?

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Connect with me!

Instagram -> @myhealthlyjourney

Twitter -> @xolovenatalie

Pinterest -> @xolovenatalie

E-mail -> lovenataliemarie@gmail.com

Let’s Catch Up Over A Cup of Coffee, Shall We?

Good morning, sunshine!

I know that lately I have been pretty scarce on the blog world. Don’t think I forgot about you guys, because I haven’t! I pinky promise! I have just had a lot on my plate as of recently. Some good.. Some bad.. So I thought that we start fresh with a new week and catch up over a cup of coffee.

First off.. I don’t know if you have seen from my other post, but I am going to North Carolina in t-minus 9 days! I’m pretty dang excited about it. I mean, who wouldn’t?! I’m ready to finally travel again and go to the beach! I’ll be going to Raleigh with my mom, and we will be staying in this fancy (I must put the emphasis on fancy) hotel. It has indoor pools, hot tubs, restaurants, dining halls, conference rooms, a gym, a spa, and so many floors. My jaw dropped when I saw the pictures. It’s safe to say that I will be having a fantastic 5 days!

Second.. I finally tried Thai food for my first time! I chose to go with Pad Thai because it sounded the most appealing to me. You guys, it was love at first bite. The flavor! The spices! The amazingness! It was all too good. If you haven’t had Thai food, you really should go get some! You won’t regret it! Do you like Thai food? What do you like to get? 🙂

Thirdly.. I’m addicted to watching Supernatural on Netflix. It’s all I have on during the day when I am at home. It’s just so good! Please tell me I have some other fans out there with me as well?!

Fourthly.. I’ve been trying out a new split at the gym. I train four days, rest on the fifth, and then repeat. The first day is quads/glutes. BRING ON THE SQUATS. The second day is shoulders/back. The third day is hamstrings/glutes. The fourth day is Chest/arms. I really feel the soreness with this split. I have been hitting PRs (personal records) every week. I don’t bump up the weight drastically. Slow and steady wins the race. I have also been on the arc trainer afterwards, because I still have energy left in me. Oh, did I mention I bike to the gym and back? With all this work I do eat all the food! 😀

Fifthly.. when Amanda mentioned playing Farmville 2 on her iPad, I decided to give it a whirl. Amanda.. you got me hooked.

 

Sixth.. Arizona has been getting up into the 100s lately.. I am sweating all.the.time. Even when having breakfast! Hence another reason why I am excited to go to North Carolina.

 

Seventh.. I saw the new Transformers movie. I have to say that it was good! It dragged on a bit (2 hours 45 minutes..), but the movie caught my attention. Note to self, don’t watch an almost 3 hour movie at 11:45 pm. O.o

-P.S. Matt Damon is my favorite actor.

Eighth.. I am out of coffee. I will be more active in the blog world from now on. I have a delicious recipe coming your way tomorrow. 😉

 

I hope you have an amazing day! ❤

 

-What would you tell me over coffee?

-What have you been up too?

-What are you looking forward to?

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Connect with me!

Instagram -> @myhealthlyjourney

Twitter -> @xolovenatalie

Pinterest -> @xolovenatalie

E-mail -> lovenataliemarie@gmail.com