The Pep Talk: Dealing with Stress

I know I just posted a couple days ago, but I really missed writing. It keeps me at peace, and it takes me away from all the mess of the world. I am one with myself. I am okay. I need to get away from the "outside" world. School, friends, life: it all gets to be a bit overwhelming. Yesterday, I had one of the worst breakdowns of my life. I skipped dinner; I didn't do any homework; I didn't take off my make up or wash my face; I only went outside to go to my class; I wallowed in self-hate. Pathetic, right?

This morning, I just laid in bed while my roommate got ready for class. I just laid and thought to myself in jealousy, "How does everyone have such a carefree life while I feel like I'm crumbling into oblivion?" I turned to look at my phone, hoping it would distract me from my thoughts. To my surprise, I got a beautiful trio of text messages from my boyfriend. He gave me, I think, the best and wittiest advice I've ever heard... or read.

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"No matter what others say, chase your dreams, and I will be there with water and a car ride (because we both know neither of us can run for shit)."
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That's when I knew that no matter what the situation is, there will always be someone there to comfort and protect you.
Thank you, Zachary.

So here is my advice to those of you who are inflicted with a heap of stress, anxiety, overwhelming plans, etc: Please remember that you are not alone. There is someone there that will be by your side (physically or emotionally) that wants the best for you and wants you to feel your best. If not, you're still not alone. There are people that are going through the same exact thing. They may not be able to solve your problems, but they can endure them with you.

I was talking to my best friend in the whole wide world on Skype for three hours last night. She was my distraction from the world. She was my rock that I leaned on while I was struggling. She made me watch funny YouTube videos, and we just talked about the random stuff we would normally talk about. One thing that I loved (whether or not it was intentional) was I got close to the camera and she said, "Your eyelashes look good!" I replied, "Just a little mascara and some tears." The second I said something that reminded me of my sadness and dysfunctional day, she sent me another video that made me laugh.
Thank you, Jadyn. 

This morning, I wrote eight "pep talks" for myself. There is no significance to the amount, that's just how many I could think of at the moment. Each one saying something positive that will hopefully get me through the rest of the week.

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"Chin up, Pretty! Everything is going to be OKAY!"

"You're not alone!"

"You are loved {unconditionally}." 

"Show the world what you're made of."

"The only person you need to please is yourself. Period."

"Make the best of what God has placed before you. TTP!"
"Hey, you matter!"
"I'M OKAY!"
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And today, October 22, 2014, I got out of bed; I ate breakfast; I showered; I washed my face; I put on make up; I did my hair; I put on a cute outfit; I sprayed perfume all over myself; and I walked outside and enjoyed my day. I look at those little "pep talks" and remind myself that this is just life, and I need to embark on the journey, no matter how difficult it gets.

I'm ready to embrace it because...

xx Amanda

Twitter & Instagram: @amanda_wymore

Making the Best of a Love-Hate Relationship: Exercise {Part 1}

Good evening, Chums. I'm sure by my lack of blogging, you all can tell I've been very busy recently. It's that special time of the year...midterms. Thankfully, today was my final day of testing. I honestly did not know what to do with myself; I sat in my room for three hours afterwards. I just sat. 

I asked my boyfriend to give me ideas of what I could do to cure my boredom. He told me to rent a bicycle and take a ride on the trail near my school. At first, I thought he was a bit crazy. I'm not one to condone working out because I am awful at keeping up with a  daily work out routine; I just cannot get motivated to run on a treadmill or lift weights for 30 seconds, let alone 30 minutes.

I was so bored, I considered his suggestion. I rented a bike from Nice Ride and began my journey. However, I didn't want to make it a boring ride that only presented a work out, but also a little autumnal photo shoot. It's been ages since I've gone out and just leisurely taken photos. It's my favorite hobby, and I've been severely neglecting my camera. It was an opportunity I couldn't deny.

I couldn't resist turning up the tunes... Do people say that anymore? Oh well. I cranked up Hoodie Allen's new album, "People Keep Talking", and biked my little heart out for a couple hours, taking 2-3 breaks to snap the miraculous and brilliantly displayed colors painted across St. Paul. They screamed, "AUTUMN". Just kidding, I'm not schizophrenic. As I've mentioned in a previous post, Autumn is my favorite time of the year, and the colors are a major part behind my reasoning. I mean, did you see the photos? 

I think getting any opportunity to do gentle exercise is something worth taking a hold of. Working out is a major part of helping your skin look it's best. You are working out all the impurities, dirt, oil, and everything else your skin retains throughout the day out of your body. Also, no matter how intense your work out is, don't forget to drink water! This will also improve the look of your skin, and it helps to cleanse your body of impurities, as well.

What do you like to do for an enjoyable work out? Do you have anymore tips to help me get in a better work out routine? Let me know in the comments!

xx Amanda

Twitter & Instagram: @amanda_wymore

Lost My LUSH Virginity

Oh my goodness! It was my first time in Heaven... I mean LUSH. No matter how many times my mother told me that I was spending too much for my first time, I could not resist picking up a few (several) things that I had heard wonderful things about. I'd love to show you my findings.

*I am in no way intending this post to be a bragging-session. I just wanted to show you all what I got at a cosmetics shop, and I wanted to give you all ideas about products that can benefit your skin.*

But first, a little bit about LUSH...

LUSH is a beauty shop that creates fresh, homemade cosmetics. All their products are vegetarian, most are vegan, and the pots are all made from 100% recycled plastic. They use organic ingredients. No animal testing is allowed. Just walking into the store made me feel at peace. The calming and floral fragrances waltzed through my nostrils as I explored the filled shelves. 

LUSH provides many unique products, it is almost overwhelming; and I'm very indecisive when it comes to beauty products and a budget. But I successfully walked out of the store with a load of products that I have used or am ecstatic about using without spending a fortune. Here's what I got...

For the face...

Tea Tree Water Toner

Tea Tree Water is naturally antibacterial and is a great blemish fighter. This works well for  keeping unwanted spots at bay, and works as a toner as well! Why would I not want to try something like this? I love applying it with a spray bottle; there's less chance of infecting the product. I've only used it for a few days now, but I'll keep you posted if it helps with blemishes!

Cupcake Fresh Face Mask

This mask is heavenly. I could stop there, but I won't. It impressed me that it helps with oily skin and teenagers were kept in mind while making the product. I'm hardly a teenager anymore, but I was sold! And the best part, it smells like chocolate. I think they kept ME in mind while making this one.

Mint Julips Lip Scrub

I love applying this in the morning before I walk out the door. Just swipe a layer of this mint chocolate-tasting scrub across your lips, rub your lips together, and lick off. Yes, I said it, lick it all off. What's better than a cosmetic product that you can eat?! NOTHING!

For the body...

Handy Gurugu Hand Cream

This product will definitely come in handy this winter. It's predicted to be a chilly one up here in the good ol' MN. Handy Gurugu is made with rich oils and butters to care for dry, cracked, hard-working hands. At night, I'm really enjoying applying a thick layer of this stuff before bed, and I get to wake up with super soft hands. 

For the bath...

So I bought six bath bombs...

I don't really have a bath at my disposal at the moment...

Dorm problems...

I guess they're nice to look at...

And they smell nice...

Right...?

The Bath Bombs

Sex Bomb Bath Bomb

Dragon's Egg Bath Bomb

Fizzbanger Bath Bomb

Butterball Bath Bomb

Granny Takes A Dip Bath Bomb

Sakura Bath Bomb

xx Amanda

Twitter & Instagram: @amanda_wymore

September 2014 Favorites

     Hello, my lovelies! I'd like to officially welcome you all to the month of October! I hope all is well in your lives. I'm coming down with a bit of a cold (or allergies, who knows) during the change of seasons, but that's not going to stop me from sharing my September Faves with your pretty faces. Let's get started!

Starting with APPAREL...

• Converse: Chuck Taylor High Tops: I'm embarrassed to say that I have had these shoes for an extremely long time and I can guarantee a majority of close friends and family have not seen me wear them. These aren't necessarily accompanied with my normal "style" and I only recently remembered that I owned them. I brought them to college and YOLO'ed it and I've actually loved wearing them with a oversized sweater or crew neck and some leggings. Comfy fall outfits... or white girl weather... whatever works for you.

Now onto BEAUTY...

• Maybelline: Color Whisper Lipstick {Berry Ready}: This rich berry red is a staple for this time of the year. It is a great deep berry color, but it also moisturizes your lips during the chilly months. If you saw my "Autumnal Make Up" post and you think the color is a bit far-fetched, this color is a lot less risky, but it still shows your autumnal spirit!

• L'oréal: Color Riche Nail {After Hours & Haute Couture Red}: I think these colors are to die for during fall and winter! They are dark but they still have a brilliant color when worn. After Hours is a deep blue color and Haute Couture Red is a lovely maroon color; both are shiny and long lasting!

After Hours (left) & Haute Couture Red (right)

• Anatomicals: Not Another Rough Day Please {Vanilla Body Lotion}: "things, alas, can't always run as smoothly as you would like. but no matter how rough your day/week/month/year/lifetime/afterlife turns out to be, your body will always be incredibly smooth, thanks to this lightly fragranced body lotion. sorry, but an asteroid has just gone and smashed into your car." This is literally on the back of the bottle. How could I not buy this?! It does smell pretty good too. 

Then FOOD...

• Luna Bars: Luna Bars will always be a favorite, no matter the time of year. In particular, I'm fond of the S'mores flavor. It makes me think of being around a good ol' campfire when I'm obviously not capable of doing that in a dorm.
• Celestial Herbal Tea: This tea is amazing; there is an incomprehensible amount of flavors, each one is freakin' amazing, and it's cheap. It's a college kid's dream! I am currently loving the Tension Tamer. You know what a relaxing massage therapist's office smells like... that's what it is. It is an herbal tea with a light peppermint-y taste along with a hint of ginger and it's just heaven. Drink it and love it!

And last, but not least, ENTERTAINMENT...

• Fifty Shades of Grey {Trilogy}: Yes, I read it and I'm 100% in love with it. I know it's been publicized as a racy book series including BDSM, which it does, but I think it was way overdone. The books do, in fact, have a plot, and I'm very excited for the movie to premiere on Valentine's Day (2015). If you are of an appropriate age, I would definitely recommend the series.
• How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days: Of course, I'm in love with a chick-flick movie about how a girl and a guy plot against each other (unknowingly) to enhance their job statuses. It's just super cute and if you enjoy the occasional Rom-Com, I'm sure you'd love this flick!

     Those are my September Favorites! I hope you enjoyed. Have you used any of these products? What are some products that you've used in the last month? Let me know in the comments!

xx Amanda

Twitter & Instagram: @amanda_wymore