January 2019

Wanderlust Series: Future Travels

“Not all who wander are lost.” -J.R.R Tolkien

I would go as far as to say that travel is my love language. I love exploring new and old places. After every trip, I am like where to next? I try and write down a list of places that I would like to venture off to. Now, I may not be able to make it to every destination but I like to at least have some goals in mind so that way I can look at all of the things that I need to do to plan and then just pick one off of my list. Some are already planned out, and then there are others that are more of a bucket list

Travel Plans 2019:

1. Washington DC

This will be a return trip but in March I will be back in DC. I am so excited because this will be a trip with just Colin and I. Colin isn’t really one for cities but we are in for a fun time.

2. Harper’s Ferry & Anietam Battlefield:

My birthday trip this year will be the same as last year. Colin and I love going to battlefields. I am really looking forward to this trip because this is a favorite spot of ours.

3. Gettysburg:

If you have been around for awhile Gettysburg is one of those places that Colin and I visit on a daily basis so it really is no surprise that we will be making this a day trip.

4. Williamsburg:

This is another trip that is a regular yearly trip. It is not only yearly but it is one of our most anticipated trips. Mainly because this is a vacation not just a day trip.

5. New York City:

This is one of those trips that I hope to make this year. I love New York City and I always have fun plus the atmosphere of the city is just something that I really enjoy experiencing.

6. Jim Thorpe:

This cute town in PA has a lot of history and it is so cute. This will be an all new adventure that I am really, really looking forward to.

7. The Beach:

Not sure which beach yet, but last year I missed out on going. This year, I am definitely going.

8. Franklin:

Another repeat, but probably one of my favorite trips that I go on. It is one that I have made with family since Colin has to work. Seriously one of the cutest little towns and one day would love to move there someday.

So that is my list of travel hopes for this year. I am really looking forward to trying to blog more of my trips as well as include some of my favorite places that I like to go, do and eat. Where are some of your favorite places to travel to? Leave me a comment!

-B

January 25, 2019January 24, 2019

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Part 2

Finally I am getting around to posting part 2 of the habits that I have been trying to add into my daily routine. Part two is more so directed to skin care and health. With that being said I wanted to make sure the products that I do share are the ones that I have been using all month and were products that I use. So without any more of my blabbering on, let’s chat!

Skin Care:

Now this is one topic that has been a struggle because for the last couple of years I have just hated my skin. It was dry, breaking out.. and I just felt so grossed out by it. No amount of makeup could really hide the problems and sometimes it just made things worse. So I have spent awhile trying to nail down a routine that works for me A routine that was simple and effective. I feel like I have finally nailed it down to what is working and I have seen a huge improvement in my skin. I am going to break this down by what I do in the morning and what I do in the evening. What is even better is that most of the products that I used are actually from the drugstore, Target and Walmart.

Morning:

I only wash my face with a cleanser if I feel I need it. I found one of my problems was that I was over cleansing. So I have been using Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Cleanser as it is gentle on my skin. If I don’t need to really wash my face, I just rinse my face off. Then I use the Shea Moisture Peace Rose Oil Complex Sensitive Skin Rosewater Toner. I know that sounds like a mouthful but I love this stuff, it smells good and it feels so good on my skin. Both of these items I got at my local Walmart.

Now for what is probably my favorite part of my morning routine. I put on Pacifica Super Flower Rapid Response Face Oil Rose and Blue Tansy and then I use a jade roller. If you do not use a jade roller, I highly recommend it. You really need to read up on it yourself, but jade rolling is really good for massaging the face and drains the lymph nodes and helps with depuffing, relieves sinus pressure… just to name a few of the things that I have seen in myself so far. How I use it, is in the morning while I make my cup of coffee, I will stick the jade roller in in the freezer for a few minuets to get cold. Jade naturally is a cold stone anyway, but I have found that the extra chill has really helped with depuffing my face in the morning. Then after I rub the face oil in a little, I go in with the jade roller. If your interested to know more about jade rolling, I would be happy to do another blog post just dedicated to jade rolling.

That is literally all that I have been doing in the mornings.

Evening:

Easily the most I do to my skin for skin care is in the evening. I wash, exfoliate, tone again, and moisturize, not to mention when I do a face mask 2 a week.

If I have had makeup on, I remove it with some makeup wipes that I found at Target… I think they are Up and Up brand. Then to remove the rest of my makeup that is left, I like to use Soap and Glory’s 3-1 Vitamin C Facial Wash. This stuff really gets the rest of my makeup off. I use an exfoliate by Burt’s Bees their Deep Pore Scrub. I use this 2-3 times a week depending. Then I go in with the same Aveeno cleanser listed above. Then if I am doing a face mask I will pop one on and wait a few minuets and hop in the shower to allow for the steam to open up my pore to allow all that good stuff into my skin. Then I spritz on the same toner and then I use Neutrogena Hydro Boost gel cream and we call it a night.

Now I can not go without talking about vitamins for a second. I started using Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides. I am going to do a whole post separate talking about collagen peptides because this is one of those things that has changed my skin but I really want to dedicate a whole post to it talking about the benefits and how I have seen a change in myself since using it. I also have been trying out Care/Of vitamins for a few supplements that I have been taking along with my multi-vitamins. I will do more posts on this topic as well later on, but taking care of our health is essential to taking care of ourselves on the outside. Making sure that our bodies have the nutrients that it needs.

What are some of your favorite products let me know in the comments!

-B

January 24, 2019January 22, 2019

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How I am since you have been gone:5 years

Well Uncle Ozzie, it has been 5 years since you have left this world. In some ways I catch myself when I think about going to family gatherings and you are no longer there. Sometimes I wish I said more, saw you more….but even if I did everything I wish I had done I still would have found more that I wish I had done.

Pictures that nobody takes because that was your thing. We have all changed within the last 5 years. I hope that your proud of me.

I hate thinking about the hours that led up to saying good-bye.

The drive to the hospital, pulling up and seeing my grandmother waiting by the door.

The numbness I felt walking through the halls. Praying that a miracle would happen and that I didn’t have to say goodbye. I have always hated good-byes…it feels so final. Seeing you lying in that hospital bed and knowing that the man laying there wasn’t really you.

The only thing I could think to say as my last words to you, was that I loved you. I am glad that in the shock and numbness that I had even clarity to say those words.

5 years today. Has it really been 5 years?

You always thought to take the pictures, always wrote LOVE ME in our cards. The train gardens, and driving around to look at Christmas lights. Bear hugs and the threats of the tickle monster. To you squeezing my hand right before I walked down the aisle. Memories that I will take with me. Keep with me forever.

I am so thankful that I had you in my life, for the 22 years I had you in it.

I miss you.

–

January 23, 2019January 9, 2019

brandyrstrong1 Comment

Habits To Bring Into 2019

Happy New Year! I can not believe that it is 2019. With that being said however, it does seem that everyone is ready for a new year. If you have read my post on Monday about how I picked the word purpose for the year 2019. With the goal in mind to live 2019 intentionally. You can read Monday’s post here My Word For The New Year.

To kick off the new year, I am going to start some new habits and start some routines. They say it takes about 30 days to form a new habit. So I already got a jump start on the two that I am starting now. I am going to break this down into two posts so that way we can focus on each thing. Habits and routines are good for the three main areas of our lives:

Spiritually
Physically
Mentally

Habit one that I am going to be getting into today cover Spiritual and Mental health. Journaling.

These are the two main journals that I am working through this year. I will link the two here and where you can find them. So let’s chat about journaling.

I have been using journals off and on since I was 12. I will be 28 this year in March so I will let you wonderful people do the math. I have always loved using my words on paper to communicate and sort through my feelings. Journaling is a safe place.

The journal on the left is a journal from a set of three from the Hearth and Hand With Magnolia collection at Target. I got them for Christmas from Colin (my husband) and I have already started using Volume 1. They are numbered in volumes and they are so pretty. You can find them here Hearth and Hand Hardcover Journals.

I have been using this journal at the end of the day. I make a hot tea, light a candle, pick out a pretty pen and put on some relaxing music and journal until I feel relaxed and ready to start the part of my night routine where I am about to turn in for the night. It has been come one of my favorite parts of my evening. Bonus, I also sleep so much better because I don’t have so much going on in the way of running thoughts.

For the journal on the right…

This is a prayer journal. I started it on the 1st. I had it preordered and I believe it had come in October… I think.. anyway I love how it is broken down into sections. Plus it has space for verses your memorizing for the month, and blank slots to really customize your monthly prayer list. Plus, how pretty is this Dust Rose color? I am still hoping they will do a Eggplant Purple one year! You can find this journal for the new year 2019 Yearly Prayer Journal.

So I have been using this in the morning, with my cup of coffee and right before I start reading my Bible. I find that taking some time to pray before I read helps me to focus on what I am reading. Before I committed to getting the yearly one, I tried out the 6 month prayer journal. I will link it here 6 month compose prayer journal.

I will show you what mine looked like last year:

Processed with VSCO with s3 preset — I love how each year the journals are different!!!!

They are pretty and I just love these journals! it makes my prayer time feel more intentional.

So there is part one of habits I am putting into the practice in the new year. For those of you who journal, I am doing monthly journaling prompts. I have the one I am using for January pinned on Pinterest here.

That way you can join me! What are some habits that you are trying to make happen in the new year?

January 1, 2019December 31, 2018

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