Finding yourself

We are taught as young people to be selfless and put others first. But where do we draw the line? Where is the boarder of selfless and losing ones self? It is a fine line we walk like a tight rope over the unknown. Happiness come from within. Love lies within. And until you are honestly happy with yourself being selfless can cause a bigger crisis. So what does this all mean? Take a little time to be selfish. Do what you need to make you happy. Because you are the only one who you will have to answer to. Find what you need to make you happy because after all soul searching starts on the inside. Be you, be true and never let anything stand in your way.

Secrets to Clear Skin

All skin is different and reacts to the outside world in different ways. But you do have control. I have combination skin. It is very dry, i suffer from eczema, and the cold dry Canadian winters are what cause flare ups. I also have moderate acne and have tried just about everything from bargain brands to expensive solutions for my skin issues. Every woman wants beautiful clear and radiant skin, and until recently it seemed unattainable. 
My new beauty routine, although maybe a little extensive has helped me achieve beautiful clear skin and I don't mind spending a little extra time to maintain this skin.

My Routine take two parts; one session in the morning and one in the evening.

Evening Skin Care:

Before bed i wash my face using Neutrogena's All-in-One Rapid Clear daily scrub.
It removes a days worth of dirt, oil and make-up and scrubs that dry skin clear from my face.

Then I remove any make-up that has been left behind with a gentle eye make-up remover. And follow up with using Clean & Clears toning astringent to create a fresh canvas across my whole face.

Then I take the overnight acne fighting cream from Neutrogena's Rapid Clear complete acne care system and apply the lotion to my entire face. It provides moisture as well as fight and prevents acne.

Morning Routine

In my Morning shower I cleanse my face using the Polishing face wash from Neutrogena's Rapid Clear Complete Acne Therapy system as mentioned earlier to cleanse my face.

After I get out of the shower, i removed access make-up once again and use the Clean and Clear Atringent on my whole face.

Next using the Neutrogena Rapid Clear day lotion from the same kit to spot treat any break outs i do have.

See complete kit below.

Lastly I moisturize my entire face using Neutrogena's Rapid Tone Repair day moisturizer, as over the years I have accumulated dark spots from acne.

My personal favourite for make-up is the new BB Creams, Maybelline makes my personal its light coverage, and easy to use as well as great moisture.

Try these easy tricks to clear, beautiful skin.

Neutrogena Skin Care

Finding your way

Everyone goes through it, that 18 turning 19 first year in post secondary I don't know what I'm doing with my life scare. Its not an easy feat to overcome, BUT you are not the only one going through this. 

I went through it and drastically changed my post secondary path and found something I love. The reason I bring this to you is simply because I have currently watched my nephew struggle through decided where he is headed in the future. 

Sometimes a little discovery brings you to your true calling, here are some things that can truly help when it comes to planning your future.

1. Don't feel like you've failed
2. Research areas that excite you
3. Apply for a job shadow or internship, to see if you really are interested
4. Don't discount college or apprenticeship programs
5. RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH

The most important thing when going through these growing pains is simple, do your research and make a plan for the future. The longer you end up out of school the more discouraged you can be to go back.

Some very helpful websites that can make your future planning that much easier.

Ontario Colleges

Universities of Ontario

Inspire

Inspiration hard to find for most, easier to grasp once you're open to it.

Glass half full or half empty, either way you have to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

We all live busy lifestyles but taking time to positively re-enforce the motives for your actions can easily be cause for inspiration.

Spending time on you, and what you love most.

Find inspiration in the simplest places, and capture them for the dark times where you feel lost.

whether it be music
those 10 serene minutes in the shower
or your love of photography

find inspiration in your daily life

and watch how your outlook on life will change

Love Lies Within

Admit it, we all struggle with it. Body image. Its something that is drilled into our heads when we are young, there is always something about yourself that you hate. Self acceptance and self love is a struggle everyday. It can be difficult to come to a realization that you are beautiful in such a shallow world. Creating a balanced and happy lifestyle will create a happier, healthier you. 

Stop comparing yourself, you are your own person and are the one person you will spend the most time with throughout your life, so love you, unconditionally. It sounds easy enough to say, but isn't so easy to accomplish. Even the most 'perfect' looking woman through your eyes struggle with the same battles you do. And more than half of the women in your life have struggled with an eating disorder in their lifetime. 

I was one of these women. Food became my enemy, but I couldn't allow those closest to me know what I was doing to my body. So when I did have to eat it didn't stay down for long. A lot of people looking from the outside in don't see you, the way you see yourself. The mirror becomes a war zone, and in your head you will never be good enough. I was weak, thin and miserable. I had attained what I had set out to do, but why wasn't I happy? With the help of some great friends I came to the realization that Love Lies Within and living a healthy lifestyle would lead me on a happier path. It took a lot to get there, for me it was a photoshoot I did with my best friend who is studying Photography. She used my body for a figure study. Something I never thought anyone would ask me to do. The photos won many Photography awards and gained compliments from big name photographers. For me, it was finally being able to see myself through the eyes of everyone around me. And it opened my eyes to the true beauty that I held. 

The process of overcoming an eating disorder isn't easy, but in the end it is worth it. What a lot of people don't understand is that once you begin accepting food into your life again, your body holds onto it, not knowing when it may be getting another meal. This creates rapid weight gain, something many people who struggle with eating disorders have been fighting against. However I learned that changing my lifestyle to one that was balanced and healthy, helped me overcome this obstacle.

Every woman is unique, and every body is unique. Treasure what you have been given and treat your body like a temple. Weight is just a number, as long as you are comfortable in your own skin, then you are able to be the truly beautiful person you are.

Need a little push in the right direction, here's part of the workout that kicks my butt and keeps me happy and healthy. Along with eating healthy and living each moment with no regrets.

Warm up
40 jumping jacks
10 push-ups
20 squats
20 crunches
this burns 100 calories and is a great starter

quick work out to keep you in shape
50 jumping jacks
12 push-ups
20 sit-ups
20 bicycles
20 mountain climbers
30 second planks
20 squats

do this in 3 cycles and you're on your way!

words of wisdom told to me by my very close friend, it puts things into perspective


For the World is nothing without eyes, to examine the beauty of bones
                                                                                                         - Stewie James

Finding the "Perfect" me

Perfection, it's something that everyone is striving for. But the true question remains; what is perfection? It is something very different for each and every person. So, if perfection is such a hazy vision, why is it always something we grasp for? So far from attainable we fight day in and day out to obtain this hardly visible goal. But without something to strive for, what do we really live for?

For me, finding balance creates a sense of happiness in which achieving that 'perfect' life doesn't seem quite so out of reach. This is how I came to terms with being not-so-perfect.


The Past is done, the future's still unclear. All we have is the now.
                                                                               -Katie Trotta