Moisturize for Tomorrow

As a girly girl, who is very much into make-up and taking care of myself, my number one rule is to moisturize my skin everyday!  (No, this not a make-up blog)  I moisturize for one main reason, because I want to take care of my skin now so that as I age, it will look healthier. Basically I am caring for my skin now, so that later I can reap the benefits. 

In life we often do not see past "the now," instead we focus all of our time and energy on present things.  We "moisturize" today so that we look good now, but we forget that every action we take today will have consequences later on.  So what are you doing today to benefit or harm you later on?  It is a simple question, but stopping to think about the answer will help re-focus your day. 

We spend so much time planning, thinking of things we want to do, and we end up wasting that time.  Procrastination, laziness, doubt, and even sometimes fear will stop us in our tracks and then we never accomplish things.  There is a saying, “don’t leave for tomorrow what you can do today!”  Don’t leave the “moisturizing” for tomorrow, but rather get the ball rolling today.  The way you spend your day will directly correlate with consequences later on.  I have pretty much always been the type of person who thinks before speaking or doing anything.  There have been many times that I've wasted time, money, and energy on things & people who brought on negative consequences later on.  And most of the times that I've invested on the wrong decisions, were times in which I reaped benefits right then and there.  Those benefits were short-lived and temporary.

Just as moisturizing daily will help my skin in the long run, there are things you could be doing now to bring prosperity into your life later on.  One of these things that you do now is to remember to sow seeds of kindness with those around you.  Allow your intentions to be genuine…do things for the right reasons.  Make time for yourself and for those things that will help you later on.  I love this saying: “Good things come to those who wait, but the best things come to those who DO.”  Stop waiting for an opportunity and definitely stop waiting for other people to help or do things for you. 

Today not only am I moisturizing, but I am also doing things to build the future I want.  Is your “moisturizing” today helping you later on?

Finding Encouragement

Hey Bloggers!  It has been a little while since I last wrote a post due to so many changes going on in my life.  There are moments when I have no will to update my blog, mainly because sometimes I feel defeated and I have no encouragement to do so. So many of us lack the energy to do the things we want to do and we constantly say that we do not have any encouragement or motivation.  First we have to truly comprehend what it is to be encouraged and by definition it is "the action of giving support to someone."  One of the best ways to motivate yourself into reaching a goal is to encourage someone else that needs help in the same area you do.  For example, if you have a fitness goal, reach out to a friend who is struggling with this area and speak positive words into their life.  By propelling someone else, you are moving forward in your own progress.  
Another great way to help yourself move forward with your goals is to encourage yourself!  What do I mean with encourage yourself?  Become your own cheerleader and constantly remind yourself that you can do anything you set your mind on.  Now, if those tricks do not help, then it is time to analyze what are the factors holding you back from being encouraged.  This week I challenged my husband & myself to write down exactly what each one is doing throughout the day.  As the time hits the hour, i.e 1:00 p.m., we have to write down what we are doing.  This will show us what we spend our time doing.  You see, when you truly want to reach a goal you have to make it be a part of your life.  Whatever you spend your time doing will reflect the things that you really want.  
Remember to be wise with the surroundings in your life.  Don't expect different results in your life if you are constantly surrounded by the wrong people, choices, and habits. No one will do the work for you when it comes to reaching your goal, but only you will reap the rewards of the work you put into it. 
Liberate yourself from doubt, fear, worries and encourage your life with hope, success, and strength! 

"For nothing will be impossible with God" -Luke 1: 37

"Instead of giving myself reasons why I can't, 

I give myself reasons why I CAN" Unknown

XO

"Heaven Couldn't Wait for You"

This week's blog is special for so many reasons, but mainly because it is dedicated to a true angel.  This is never easy to write about, but out of sadness I chose to remember so many wonderful memories.  There is a song that really hit home with me in a new album that I am obsessed with and the song is titled "Heaven."  The song says: "heaven couldn't wait for you...so go on, go home."  Today is someones birthday and I want to celebrate by remembering happy moments and by remembering a friendship that was not long, but it was of much quality.  

I am a true believer that everything happens for a reason and that God places people in our lives to either stay there, teach us a lesson, or so we may be a blessing to them. There is no doubt in my mind that God placed this special person in my life to stay there forever.  I have never met such a beautiful, loving soul and today I want to share a few                                            things that this special person taught me.  

*She taught me to always stand firm in my believes and to constantly be learning more about those beliefs. 
*She taught me to always approach every situation with love & understanding. 
*She taught me that it was okay to not be perfect, that it is okay to cry, and that you just have to pick yourself back up and keep going. 

This special person taught me many things and she did so through her actions.  She is one of my very best friends and I knew she could be one of my best friends because she always let God guide her.  It is rare to find people who are so true and beautiful from the inside out.  So on this special day and everyday, I challenge myself to live each day the way she did: with a smile on her face and God in her heart.  I would also like challenge YOU: embrace this day and teach those around you with your actions, rather than your words; be a blessing to someone on this day. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRMS!!  Love and miss you everyday
 

Believe it for Yourself!

We are in the middle of the second week in this New Year and I hope that it has been blessed & happy.  I have been making many changes and striving for better things; it is never easy, but it is not impossible.  In my last blog, which you can read here: http://tourthroughmyjourney.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-best-way-to-start-2014.html-I discussed my thoughts on our resolutions.  For this blog I wanted to share with you a very practical way of helping you move forward with all of the goals and desires you have for 2014.  Now, the reason I share this with you is because I have done it in the past and it has worked wonders for my self-esteem, my thinking, and my life all together.  

As you can see in the image to the left, there is my vision board for 2014!  I have not fully finished it because I do not want to rush this, instead I want to add things that I truly want to accomplish.  Sometimes it is hard to accomplish our goals because our doubt rises due to the fact that we cannot tangibly see our results right away.  A vision board eliminates that and allows us to see what we expect out our resolutions.  Personally, I am a visual learner and a vision board motivates me to truly know that I                                               deserve these things that I strive for. 

Setting up a vision board is very easy and does not require much time at all.  Find some magazines and use what you have around the house.  To start off, think of 5 resolutions you may have for 2014 and find inspirational quotes or pictures pertaining to those goals. Maybe it is a vacation, a new job, going back to school, improving relationships, etc.  Once you have your quotes and pictures, find a space in your home where you will see your board everyday.  I used a cork board and placed it next to my bed so I  see it when I wake up and before going to bed.  Have fun setting up your board and remember that the sky is the limit.  You can decorate your board and add your wildest, biggest dreams to it! 


Finally, I want to share the secret of the board: "Believe It, Receive It, Give Thanks! "(as it says on my board) 

God wants to bless YOU with the desires of your heart, but understand that YOU must do the work.  Believing is so powerful and whatever you spend your time thinking about is what you attract to yourself.  Your thoughts are more powerful than you think; so remember to think POSITIVE.  Constantly continue to remind your mind that there is no room for negativity in your life.  I invite you to create a vision board for 2014 and allow it to work to help you be the best you can be! 

Please share any comments, thoughts, or questions you may have and may all your dreams and goals come to fruition! XO

The Best Way to Start 2014

Happy 2014 Bloggers!!  Time sure flies and we are now in a new year with a fresh start.  2013 was a trying year for me and I am happy to have a fresh start.  I know that many people have resolutions planned for this new beginning and sometimes it is exhausting trying to keep up with all of the goals we set out to make.  As I reflected on 2013, I remembered all of the resolutions I made last year and how I failed in certain areas.  The pressure of what I wanted to accomplish got to me and I wanted to give up.  This year my resolution is simple: always be thankful.  It is much easier to be thankful about where you are in your life right now, instead on dwelling on the things you want or how you wish your life would be.  Whatever you have proposed to do in this New Year, start by giving thanks for wanting to accomplish something and know that the more thankful you are, the more prone you are to taking baby steps to get where you want to be.  

This year I propose to leave worry, stress, sadness, and fear behind and be thankful for all your blessings. Every time that you feel like giving up, take a notepad and make a list of all the things/people you are thankful for.  Another very important thing to keep in mind at all times is to not act on your emotions, but rather re-focus before taking your baby steps to fulfill your goals.  It is easy to let your struggle dictate your mood and that in-turn mandates your actions.  Realize that you are so blessed and God wants to bless you even more.  Also know that no one can rob you of your success, unless you allow them.  Surround your life with positive things: positive people, positive books, positive experiences, and never do anything that does not make you happy.  My dad always taught me to give with all my heart, or to not give at all and my mom always taught me that I never had to do something I do not want to do.  So in 2014 I will try my best to always give and help with a full-happy heart and to always do what makes me happy.  

Wishing YOU a prosperous, happy, and healthy New Year!  And remember to always give thanks to the Boss above!  XO

Remember the "Merry"?

The December air has finally rolled-in...another year is about to wrap-up and so come the days of shopping, card writing, and family visits.  The other day I was remembering past Decembers and how I was running around like a chicken with no head.  My relfection led me to recognize that each year I need to be reminded of what the Christmas season truly is.  Christmas has a different meaning for everyone and it comes along with different preparations for everyone.  As a society we have set a standard that Christmas comes along with gifts and decorating and spending loads of cash.  Today I invite you to take a look at your own traditions, at your reason for the season and remind yourself of what this time truly means.

Personally, Christmas is a blessing in that my family & I celebrate the birth of baby Jesus.  It is important because all of my blessings are God-given and Christmas is a time to acknowledge and give thanks for my life.   Of course every stress from this season's running around supresses my joyous thanking, so this year I came up with a little "trick" to constantly remind myself that Christmas is about celebrating my relationship with God, my family, friends, and even the obstacles I faced this year.  I have my "constant" reminder which is a cross I carry in my wallet.  When I am feeling stressed, sad, frustrated, or just not-so-jolly, I take the cross out of my wallet and I allow it to remind me of all the good in my life.  Having a constant this season will help to constantly remind you of what Christmas is truly about and it will shift your thinking into positive thoughts, which will in turn help you overcome the difficulties of this season.  Give it a try!  How about you go shopping when the mall is super crowded and when you begin to feel frustration rising up, take a look at your constant and allow it to help you calm down.  Your constant can be a cross, a piece of Christmas jewlery, a small ornament, a picture of your family, etc.  Do not allow negativity to come in between the many blessings that God has set out for you.  Look for the blessings in everything you do. 

Wishing that each of you can always have the MERRY in Christmas and that your focus point may always be in God and the millions of blessings He has showered us with. 

Merry Christmas bloggers!  Xo

"An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:9-14

MY Skin Care 101

Beauty, beauty, beauty!  One of my favorite subjects.  The big key to beauty is not in what brand of makeup you use, but rather in how you treat the foundation that is your skin.  No one has perfect skin due to the fact that our skin is always exposed to elements, chemicals, and even bacteria!  Many people have asked me how I care for my skin & what products I use.  I've had a long love-affair with my skin & through time I've learned my Ph, allergies, and what works best for me.  In this blog I will talk about my daily skin regimen right now (winter skin) and how I avoid break-outs, how I treat breakouts, and other small tips.  

WINTER SKIN
As the seasons change, so does our skin and so should our skin care.  As chilly days pour in, the skin usually becomes dry, loses moisture, lips become chapped, and our normal moisturizer will not suffice.  If you live in a warmer place that does not experience that many chilly days, you must still pay close attention to moisturizing and cleansing.  

Daily skin care routine: *Wash face (morning & night).  For winter, use a wash that is gentle on your skin, yet removes impurities & make-up residue. One of my favorites is the rose wash from Fresh as it is gentle enough for my skin & it cleanses really well.  Ladies, if you have a Clarisonic (awesome facial cleanser), use it once a week only during the winter & if you don't have one, look into it!  *Toning: I tend to stay away from toners, as they dry my skin, but if you enjoy this step, make sure the toner is not alcohol based. Alcohol tends to dry your skin & then you will have to moisturize more & more. *Moisturize (day & night): Use a heavy moisturizer that is cream based. Now if you have really dry skin, then consider using a moisturizer that is more of a balm, such as Vaseline like products.  Moisturize your face, under eyes, lips, and the rest of your body.  Pay attention to what needs a little more moisturizing.  Remember to use an eye treatment for under your eyes, as your skin is thin in this area.  Pure argan oil is an excellent moisturizer, as well as nourishment for your skin.  *If I wear makeup: Before applying foundation, I always wash my face & moisturize.  I moisturize my skin, under my eyes, and my lips.  During the winter, I stay away from foundations that dry up my skin and I make sure I use a super hydrating primer.  Remember that as the seasons change, your skin tone either gets darker or lighter & so you should change your foundation accordingly.  TIP: Make sure you do not apply old, expired foundation to your skin! This helps to prevent drying, breakouts & so many unwanted skin issues.  
When removing my make-up, I first use hydrating make-up remover wipes, then I wash my face & finally I use small round cotton pads to remove any excess eye make-up.  *Masks: During the winter I like to do "oat-based" (the Aveeno ones are great) masks, as they are gentle on my skin.  I only do masks once a month during the winter.  *Sun-protection: Just because it is chillier outside does not mean the sun is not there.  Sun-screen is so important during every season.  Usually my foundation contains SPF, but your moisturizer should also have it.  If you find that your moisturizer is lacking SPF, mix a little bit of sunscreen with your cream based moisturizer & that will work great.  *Tools: If you use brushes (as I do), make sure to constantly wash them, especially your foundation, concealer, and eye brushes.  There is definitely bacteria on your brushes & you do not want to
re-deposit it on your face.  Now, if you use your fingers to blend your make-up in, then make sure you wash your hands before you do so.  *Break-outs: A simple rule is that if you treat your skin well, then you are helping to prevent breakouts.  I tend to breakout on my forehead due to the foods I eat, if I don't cleanse my skin, etc.  The one thing I never ever do is cover-up my blemishes.  During the winter I treat breakouts using warm tea bags.  I skip make-up when I break out & if I must wear makeup then I use a BB (or CC) cream that is light but has coverage.  

This is what works best for me.  I recommend that you pay close attention to your skin & listen for what it needs. Also, before buying any skin care products, read their reviews & inform yourself before wasting money. There are many great drug-store products, but if they do not work for you, then go for what works best.  A little research goes a long way. 



Healthy skin is beautiful skin....take care of the foundation first! Xo