Sunday Morning Coffee: Being Taken Advantage of..

Hi LOVIES!!! :)

Hope you are all swell! My hubs and I have been spending more time together on Sunday mornings, so I haven't been able to really post recently, but now he has church's men's group on Sunday mornings, so I have more time to write! woot!

So today's topic is one that I constantly battle with. Being taken advantage of. Do a lot of you girls go through it? Maybe it's because I'm a people pleaser or because I'm too 'nice' but often, I love to help out wherever I can. I enjoy the chance to serve other people.

But sometimes there are moments when I feel like as much as I want to help, there comes a point where it feels more like being taking advantage of. For example - as much as i LOVE doing hair and makeup and for the most part I'm MORE than happy to help a friend look gorgeous, it gets annoying to have to do people's hair and makeup over and over again. Doing hair and makeup isn't free. there is the labor and time of doing it and I spend lots of good money on buying products.

And I dont even think that the problem is helping people out. It's the fact that people EXPECT me to do things (free of charge). I think that is what gets me the most upset. If someone were to ask me for help for something I do as a job, many times I would say don't even worry about paying me - or if its a big wedding (that I would usually charge like a thousand dollars) I would give them a discount and I wouldn't think anything of it. But if those same people were to ask me expecting that I do it for free, I feel kinda like wait... what??

Or maybe I'm more upset at myself at the fact that I'm too chicken to stand up for myself. Or my inner battle with myself of saying, "well, Jesus would do it, lovingly with a smile." and then I feel like I'm being horrible and selfish for thinking these thoughts of not wanting to serve others.

What do you think? Do you guys get taken advantage of? And when you do - do you say something about it? do something about it? I'd love to hear your thoughts! :)

xoxo

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Sunday Morning Coffee: Fit + Healthy

I had a reality check the other day. I looked at my new Driver's License picture and it was so close and I had a DOUBLE CHIN. a DOUBLE CHIN! And i know that when I was taking the picture, I was trying to make sure it wasn't there... meaning that that double chin is always hanging around!

I am constantly on a journey that goes up and down with fitness. Because Felix and I love to go out with friends and enjoy good food... and our idea of a good time may be having drinks and singing karaoke rather than going for a good hike.. so needless to say, it's hard to remind myself to be healthy.

All excuses aside, I am always telling myself and Felix.. OK. it's time. It's time to get healthy. Two weeks later, whoops. off we go for another huge meal with friends or family. It's a horrible roller coaster of events and it's so annoying!

I've done a couple of new things these past couple weeks and it seems to be working (so far!). Especially because the Holidays are around the corner, I don't want to fall into a deeper hole and not be able to get myself out.  I hope hope hope.. I can keep this up to really make a lifestyle change. Here are the things that have changed:

1. I have a workout buddy. I have a friend who is really trying to get healthy as well - so we have a plan to go to zumba class twice a week. It's a very set schedule that we're trying to stick to. On Sundays, I try and drag felix to go for a brisk walk with me in the mornings. Occasionally if I'm feeling daring I'll do some strength stuff on a wednesday, but that has only happened once. HAHA. (told you when i'm by myself, it doesn't tend to work haha!)

2. I have a journal. I am trying to track everything I eat. It's actually been really helpful because when I don't think I eat much for the whole day, I notice CRAP I ate 4 pieces of chocolate and 20 gummies! You forget the extra stuff you eat!!!

3. I look at the nutrition facts when I'm at the supermarket. I love myself some Trader Joes, but sometimes I end up putting like EVERYTHING in my cart then I realize that I probably shouldn't have afterwards. LOL! Now I try to read the label before I put anything in my cart and if it doesn't meet the criteria, I don't put it in my cart. Fresh is the best. (although it spoils the fastest). I try and get fresh products so thats all I will want to bring during the week for lunch. Also, I ALWAYS have frozen veggies on hand incase I run out of produce! I have frozen broccoli, corn, mixed veggies - they have the best selection of these in trades!

Well those are my little changes that have been working so far. Hopefully I can keep this up. I really don't want the holiday cheer to get me down! After just 2 weeks of working out, I can feel my body getting more energy and strength. I also make sure to write all that down so I dont forget the steps I've made toward a healthier life!!!

Are you guys doing anything to make steps toward a healthier life? I'd love to hear your stories + encouragement! Let's inspire each other! xoxo

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Sunday Evening Coffee: Thankful.

Haha. A little late today. Darn, sorry! I know I usually get these up in the morning, but here's an evening one! :)

Dear StyleHaul, friends + viewers,

When I first started my youtube channel, it was simply because I loved LUSH. I wanted to make fun bath cocktails and share everything LUSH. My mind was quickly opened to this amazing beauty space, where I was able to build a creative space for myself. I began doing hair tutorials (which I've always prided myself in doing hair!) and trying + experimenting with makeup. When I decided to stop showing my face in videos, it was hard to do those same videos, so I began to use models for videos and focus more on nail art - something I would've NEVER thought I would do.

I promise, I have a purpose for this letter. Please excuse me for my rambling! HAHA! :) 

Anyway over two years ago, a pretty lil (she's actually not little, she tall, blonde and stunning. i believe i can use the term 'bombshell') lady named Stephanie emailed me to join her network from StyleHaul and I'm so beyond thankful for the opportunity. Because of them, I was able to do things I would've NEVER imagined myself doing. I was opened up to this crazy world of beauty and fashion and it's seriously a trip. I was able to meet cyber people that I thought were only tangible through the youtube screen. I was able to cultivate and grow amazing.. and deep friendships,  have international friends and go to events I would think to only watch on TV.

Just today I went to this awesome simplystylist event where I was able to chat with Lo Bosworth and meet Catt Sadler... and then afterwards do a collab video with my good friend, and amazing youtuber with over 260,000 subscribers - Alba (sunkissalba)... and I got to thinking just how incredibly blessed I've been.

And then I remembered - what I've always had a passion for: for outreach. for giving back. for loving more. for hating less. I remember in High School I would volunteer in soup kitchens, summer programs for underprivileged kids, in the streets to hand out sandwiches, food banks..etc. I did it because I loved it SO much. I loved connecting with people as people, rather than a social status. And I feel like as I grew up, in a world where its about growth, connections, money - I forgot who I am.

Today reminded me just how thankful I am for everything that was given to me. I'm so thankful to Stephanie for believing in me and making that first call. I'm thankful for Stylehaul - Andrea, Lauren, Claire, etc. for continuing to believe in me and for giving me such amazing opportunities to grow myself and my channel.

Today also reminded me how much I've been given. How much I take. How much I don't give. and I'm ready to give back. to love more. to care deeper. Having this social platform is so fun, but it's not as fun if it isn't meaningful.

So this is my letter to you + challenge to myself: to make life more meaningful. to share it with you. to bring beauty from within to your screen.

I hope you'll join me and help me on my journey.

Love you guys. for serio.

PS. Any ideas, suggestions warmly welcomed with big hugs and smooches!

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Sunday Morning Coffee: Relationships

So I've decided that I want to start a new series called Sunday Morning Coffee. Sunday are my days to relax. Felix and I have church around 12:30pm, so we're able to sleep in, enjoy each other's company, have a nice brunch and even get things done around the house. [OK so todays is totally late because I had to do something this morning and didn't get to finish this post til after church! haha :)]

As you all know, I love to just.. chat. So I thought it'd be fun to start a series for me on Sunday mornings to just write my thoughts about topics that are on my heart or ideas that you may have on life.

Today, I shall write to you about relationships. I got an overwhelming and amazing response from my marriage is hard post and wanted to write a sort of.. response to that.

I realized a lot while reading your responses, talking to friends and reflecting on my own thoughts. To me, I used to pride myself (ironically enough) on how selfless and giving I was. When you get married, you realize how ... in fact... selfish you are. In the beginning of our marriage, I used to do things for him because it was fun being a wifey. I would clean dishes, wash and fold his clothes, put them back for him, wipe the kitchen, bathroom, etc. More recently, I began doing those things, not because I was selflessly serving him, but I was thinking of how many times he was NOT doing them. I began doing things to count how many times I was serving him.. and how he sat back and didn't appreciate any of it.

Later did I realize that we serve each other in different ways. Although I may do housework that I dread... like cleaning, putting away clothes, cooking (which I enjoy that one at least), buying everything that we need, etc... I get so engrossed in myself that I forget how much my husband does.

I forget that he drives me everywhere. It sometimes is literally driving miss daisy. Although I drive myself to work and say I could drive places, he ALWAYS offers to take me everywhere - especially when its an inconvenience to him. I forget that he always takes the garbage out. I forget that he will be the one to plan events for us. I forget that he is always happy to give up what he wants to do so I can go shopping. I forget that he always rubs my stomach when its my 'time of the month.' I forget that he puts my desk together, changes the bulbs, closes the windows before I leave and puts the blankets over me when I accidentally fall asleep playing candy crush. I forget that amidst all of my stress and all of his stress, he can make me laugh like a hyena. Then I realize, wow, I don't do much.

I guess my challenge for you is the same challenge I put upon myself. Think outside of yourself. See how much you are blessed. Think about how much God has blessed you and how much He loves you.  This way when you reflect upon your life, you can be in awe and be humbled by how amazing life actually is. Then you can truly and lovingly serve others.

Does this happen to any of you guys? 

P.S. Let me know if there are any topics you'd want me to talk about!! xoxo

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