2022 You Were Good... Bring On 2023!

 Hey, everyone! I felt like I hadn't posted on here in a good minute but I'm gonna share how this year was (maybe some favorite memories/things too?) and the goals I set for this year and I'll share the goals I also planned for next year, too. Let's get this post started!

2022 Goals (let's see what I actually accomplished- I'll share what I didn't do too):

• Read More Books, Less Magazines- I failed horribly at this! 
• Aim to not eat breakfast after 11am- I did good on some days with this, not so much on other days.
• Learn how to properly make scones- tried to attempt this goal and the recipe I ended up using I wanted to try gluten free as well and they came out horrible (dry and not sweet- oh well!).
• Slowly develop a nighttime routine that's manageable- my thoughts here were: "Oh, will do this! Yes, I will." I never did.
• Take more bubble baths (as basic as this sounds- I did accomplish this goal- my favorite form of self-care).
• Take more social media breaks (still stuck to my 1 time staying offline on Sunday but took 2 weeks off in July from being online- best 2 weeks ever- did this goal pretty well).
• Go on more walks (only did 1 walk- but pretty attainable?)
• Be better with my food portions- did not do this well will continue to work on better.
• Take up the habit of journaling- did this twice over this year- easy attainable goal!

Let's just say 2022 was okay on my goals but as for memories- here are some of my faves:

• Turning 30 this year- didn't think I would make it but here we are!
• Seeing Lady GaGa for this first time on her Chromatica ball stadium tour- best early birthday present ever (thanks to my sister!)
• Doing the End Hunger in calvert county culinary program over the summer.

As for things I've learned this year:

• To not let myself be near candles- after my scary accident over the summer.
• To be more patient and just breathe.
• To learn that change is absolutely an okay part of life.

2022 see ya... 2023 let's go! Here's my theme centered around next year which is:

I want to focus more on taking a lot better care of myself- not half doing anything really prioritizing myself better (allowing some treats if I want to...). I don't ever really restrict myself- having treats is a a part of life anyways. The word I am going to use for next year is: peace; the quote for next year is: "make yourself a priority." Last year's quote if not mentioned: "Stay calm and just breathe."- definitely needed to work on that better.

2023 goals:

• Work on my stress / anxiety levels (find easy supplements + activities to keep me sane on a day to day basis).
• Read more books! Maybe make a list of ones I've not read?
• Start doing jigsaw puzzles (been needing a new de-stress activity).
• Go back to therapy again (haven't been in 2-ish years- I found this helpful with my mental health).
• Develop a unwind at night routine (something easy to stick to and yes, this is continued goal of mine- I know it's very basic but I struggle with sleep sometimes because of my anxiety so this is a #1 priority of mine).
• Start doing Pilates again (did this once before at home just using YT videos I've found and this choice of movement I find "easier" on my body than vigorous workouts).
• Go on more walks (seeing a bit of a movement theme? I want to prioritize more movement next year).
• Try to stop having caffeine after 3pm (I find having this later in the day affects with my sleep- thanks, anxiety! So need to prioritize this better! And not just coffee, kombucha and black/green teas, too- want to try to stop having these altogether after 3pm).
• Learn to properly manage my money better (I struggle with saving money and sticking to a budget so I want to prioritize and do better with this in the next year- maybe budgeting?) and this is a personal goal of mine I hope do better at. 

Well, that's a 2022 mini-recap and a intro to 2023 goals + such; I hope you enjoyed the post- see you all next year and have a very happy holiday season!

-Love, Lauren-

Breakup Reflection- 7 years later (will be on 11.6.2022- original date: 11.6.2015)

I've had a lot to reflect on in the past 7 years. I know this wasn't a easy time in my life to overcome and it definitely took it's time (oh, it did!). I was in a terrible time in my life and I didn't know what to do with myself. I definitely was more alone than I should've been. Did I make mistakes I wasn't proud of in that relationship? Absolutely. But I didn't want to be with someone that didn't love me the same. Someone that had bent up anger issues and a temper (which scared me more than anything!). I didn't feel safe then, but now since that time ended I feel safer without that person in my life. He was someone that wasn't good for me to begin with and I definitely felt better without him in my life. To watch shows that made me happy, listen to music that made me feel the same way and to live a life without someone telling me what I cannot do with my life. I definitely am not the same person I was then. I never wanted to revisit that person ever again. She was someone I wish I didn't become but I became someone better than that person before. I like being authentically myself. I just really do! Who I am now is what I've become. That breakup definitely taught me a lot but it teach me one thing- I am happier now than I was then. I have my days of where I reflect, but don't dwell too much to the point of my anxiety spiraling. Getting help within that breakup was definitely needed the most and having a good support system helped too (even if it did lead me to almost taking my own life in 2016- without my parents there I probably wouldn't be talking to you right now). I speak up about my mental health more now than when I was going through it. Your mental health- including mine- is something you shouldn't be ashamed of talking about. I am someone you can talk to about it, a family member, friend, a therapist, etc. If you need help, don't be afraid to ask. Again, I definitely needed more now and then; without help, my life would've been out of control and I wouldn't know where to land- where to feel grounded even. I'm glad to no longer be in a place of distress (even if it does sneak up on me sometimes) and glad to no longer be someone's object of their affections (desires even)- really am glad about this specific statement here. One key note to end this, love yourself like you love your best friend and make sure to give yourself grace when the times are hard (take all the time you need if you begin feeling this way- I find taking social media breaks great sometimes).

-Sending all the love and light who may need it most-

Lauren, your trusty coffee shop buddy who will listen to all of your problems (no matter if they are good or bad)- I'll listen. 

Things I've Been Loving As of Recently | October 2022

 

Hello, all! It's been a minute since I did a favorites kinda post for you today. I wanted to share everything across the board- music, food, coffee, etc for this post. Let's get into it- I've got a lot to share!

Most importantly- MUSIC- I've had a lot of music I've been into and it was hard to pick songs (if you are a music lover this is very understanding for you): 

abcdefu by Gayle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaFd8ucHLuo

Got to my head by Waters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHcID_3qIps

Obvious by Iann Dior ft. Travis Barker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCyyFYL7jZo

Deja Vu by Avril Lavigne: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLVhZEpDYwA

Ay! by Machine Gun Kelly ft. Lil Wayne: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwowRNLw8Fg

Chapstick by Coin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI9sOc7wbDo

Its a good day to have a good day  by Real Name Nash ft. Sammy Adams: cannot find a link of this unfortunately- but try Spotify out to listen to it

I Love You So by The Walters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwFVSclD_uc

Perfectly Imperfect by MOD SUN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ycpq4Ir__E

10 Things I Hate About You by Leah Kate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2cAyPpQRps

Records by Weezer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdAdYaIePfs

A Little Bit of Love by Weezer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ6z5M3EaPM

I Think I Like You by The Band Camino: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVay3vMZE0s

Daylight by Shinedown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE5qvvhvORQ

Food (most of these you can find at speciality grocery stores/regular grocery stores or online from Thrive Market) :

Fit Joy Grain Free, Vegan, & Gluten Free Sea Salt Pretzels: if you cannot do grains/gluten or are vegan, these mimic regular pretzels pretty well! 

Thrive Market brand Vanilla Coconut Sugar: this is such a fun addition to baking or to your coffee and the vanilla is very subtle, too (which is nice if you don't want a strong vanilla flavor in anything you use it for).

Tattooed Chef Vegan Gluten Free 2 "Cheese" Cauliflower Crust Pizza: This is one pizza that mimics a regular cheese pizza so well and it's on a cauliflower crust which doesn't weigh you down (I personally don't love thick crust pizza so this is perfect for me). 

Tattooed Chef Organic Greens 5 Frozen Veggie Blend: this veggie blend has been one of my favorites to accompany any of my meals- love the combination of veggies that they use in it.

Coffee:

Death Wish Pumpkin Chai Ground Coffee- I normally don't love flavored coffees but this was such a good one to try! Perfectly strong and tastes like a real pumpkin flavor- nothing too artificial tasting (which is always a nice plus).

Good and Gather Organic Peru Cusco Whole Bean Coffee- appreciate the fact it's a whole bean and I can grind it myself and the taste isn't too bad either. 

Body Care / Skin Care: 

Method Daily Zen Body Wash- this scent profile (ie cucumber aloe green tea) makes you feel like you are at the spa: 

Mario Badescu Face Spray in green tea, aloe, and cucumber- light and refreshing is the perfect scent description of this face spray:

 

f.a.e. by Thrive Market Instant Refresh Cleansing Wipes- this product begins as a small pallet and you run it under water and it becomes a facial wipe- how cool is that? Anyways, it cleanses and tones and the scent is very light- so for those with sensitive skin this work wonderful for you- you can find this on Thrive Market. 

Misc. Items:

Brookstone Himalayan Salt Night Light I bought from Marshall's- this has been a nice accompaniment to my bathroom (so I don't have to turn on my overhead lights in my bathroom) and the light is super soft and subtle (which is always nice anyways).

Fairy Lights from Target: so back over the summer I had a scary accident of where my hair caught on fire from a candle I had lit so since that day I am no longer allowed to have candles; now I have these awesome battery operated lights from Target that add such a nice ambiance to my bathroom and it completely changed my opinions about candles, too (I miss them badly even though I don't want to repeat that situation ever again).

Favorite memories so far...

• Seeing Lady GaGa on her Chromatica Ball Tour at Nationals Park in DC- we had a few snags prior to the show (ie the weather being super warm and a program delay we weren't aware of). But overall, the show was great (well what we stayed for since the delay I mentioned already). She played a variety of hits and I would love to see her again! I got the tickets as a surprise as an early 30th Birthday Present (my sister bought these back in March and I had no idea until late July of this year about it- I don't like surprises but this was one of my faves!). 
• Seeing Hamilton at The Kennedy Center with family.
• Graduating from the End Hunger culinary program over this past summer from the culinary program summer session.

Well, that's all for this post- hope you enjoyed reading!