2014 Calendar

     As the new year is getting closer and closer, I thought it would be helpful to share my calendar organization with you. Between working full time, going to school, & planning my wedding -I have a hard time remembering and keeping track of everything. It takes me a long time to find a planner that I like because it needs to have specific points, including:

• 5"X7" size (so I can fit it in my purse, but it still is big enough to write in)
• @ least a 2 year reference
• Monthly & weekly view
• Tabs on each monthly view
• Both monthly and weekly views need to have space big enough to write in
• Colorful pages
• Durable cover (after all, I will be relying on this for an entire year!)
• Notes area
• Future planning section for the next year

Some things I do not like:

• Each day broken down into hour slots (I am no that strict with planning!)
• Notebook size or the pocket size

     Now, I know that I could just use the calendar in my iPhone but I can remember things better if I physically write them down. At the end of each year, I go through an put everyone's birthday's on the monthly view and also write in the appointments that are already scheduled: like dentist and eye doctor, or a wedding. At the beginning of each month, I get my work schedule and add it to the monthly and weekly views, so I can glance at either. That is also when I carry over birthdays and appointments onto the weekly view. If there is space to write around the outside of the page on the monthly views, I like to write in goals that I want or need to accomplish that month: like getting my car inspected, working out more often, or renewing my CPR certification. Whatever needs to occur in my life must be written down in this little book or it is gone.
     Since I will be starting classes again soon, I will write in school dates and homework assignments. If I need to remember little details, I will write them down on a post-it note & stick it to the date so it is included. That way, even if there is not enough room, I can still remember everything.
There is usually a binder clip to keep the current month marked, but to keep track of which week I am on, I cut the corner of each week that is completed. That way I can quickly flip through.
     Maybe I am a tad OCD, but this system works extremely well for me. Do you do anything crazy with your planner? Let me know!

Winter Wonderland Tag

Winter Wonderland Tag:

I saw a fun winter/Christmas video going around YouTube & I thought I'd make a post.

1. What do you like best about winter?
     I love the snow. Other people complain about the cold & driving in it, but I think it is absolutely beautiful
2. Scarves or beanies?
     Scarves, hands down! I have a million of them. Scarves are so cozy & add comfort to any outfit.

 

 

Here is all of my scarves. The 2 leopard print ones are my most worn.

 

3. What's your favorite holiday movie?
     There are so many good ones: Elf, Christmas Story, Home Alone, It's a Wonderful Life..I could go on & on.
4. Favorite winter nail polish?
     I like to wear red or deep purples but if I feel like it, I will wear summery colors also.
5. Favorite Starbuck holiday drink?
     Peppermint Mocha. I haven't had one yet this year.

I don't usually like creamer but this is a pretty good at-home substitute for Starbucks.

6. What are your top 3 winter essentials?
     Lip balm, a thick hand lotion, & leave in conditioner for my hair. I don't like being dried out.

 

I love this hand lotion. It is thick and extra moisturizing.

7. Name one item on your wish list this year.
     What I really really wanted this year was a clarisonic, & my fiancé got me one!
8. Favorite Christmas song?
     I really like Taylor Swift's Christmas album, but to be completely honest: I get sick of Christmas music really quickly.
9. Are you going Black Friday shopping this year?
     I already went with my mom & my sister. I got a little bit of Christmas shopping done but I didn't see that many great deals this year. I prefer to shop on Boxing Day.
10. Must have winter lip product?
     Burt's Bees: because I don't like chapped lips. I also just got a Bite Beauty Luminous Crème lipstick in the color Fig. It contains a lot of hydration in the form of the antioxidant resveratrol. I usually don't like lipstick but it is comfortable on my lips & beautiful.

 

11. Will you be rocking an ugly Christmas sweater this year?
     Nope. But I did rock out some extra cheesy Christmas scrubs since I worked on Christmas Eve.
12. Have you ever had a white Christmas where you live?
     We usually do. This year we had flurries on Christmas Eve & on Boxing day, but not on Christmas day. It was just super cold!
13. Favorite winter candle scent?
     Marshmallow Fireside from Bath & Body Works. I have a couple of them.
14. How will you be celebrating this holiday?
     Me & my fiancé went to my parents' house for Christmas morning, his parents' for Christmas afternoon, & then exchanged presents & relaxed together on Christmas evening. It was nice, but we were both worn out.

If you are interested, fill this out or leave me a comment with your answers :)

 

OOTD Mint Skinnies

Hello, Friday I had finals and wanted something comfy but still look put together. This is what I wore.

My mint skinny jeans are from Rue21. Black long sleeve blousy shirt from Sam's Club. Vest from Kohls.com. Boots are Steve Madden that I bought at Journeys 2 years ago.

The pic on the left is the J Crew Excursion Puffer Vest in herringbone. I have been stalking this vest for a while & the only thing I could find was to get the original on ebay for $200! However, I searched high and low until I found the one on the right from kohl's. It was only $15!

Since I was going to my finals & had a ton of papers I was still studying and papers to turn in, I grabbed my Vera Bradley Go 'Round tote bag. I love this bag so much. I is perfect to throw everything into, from work to school.

Thank you so much for checking out my outfit of the day.

Pantone Color of 2014: Radiant Orchid

Pantone has officially announced 2014's color of the year as Radiant Orchid. Personally, I love purple, but this is a little too neon for me. I think it is eye catching and will make for eye popping accessories. If you aren't sure where to start with this color, here are some ideas:

 Basically, any color converse are great because they are comfortable shoes that go with everything.

This print is called Floral Nightingale by Vera Bradley. It comes in any of their purses, clutches, wallets, totes, etc. It is a little more subtle because the neon purple isn't the first thing you notice.

If you aren't a purple person and feel intimidated, these little bobby pins are available on Etsy for $10. You can wear them with a simple black outfit or something a little more colorful.

A budget-friendly iPhone 5 case available on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009LXYBFC/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B009LXYBFC&linkCode=as2&tag=lejuta-20

Empties

There are some videos on YouTube that beauty gurus do that are called empties. They are sharing their used up products and reviewing them so their watchers can see if they liked them or not. I really enjoy these videos so I thought I would share my empties with you!

This was a sample that I pulled out of one of my magazines. I really liked it and it came with a coupon, but when I went to buy it I couldn't find it. It was really thick and moisturizing.

I absolutely love this shampoo! I have gone through 4 or 5 of these. I love the way it smells and it makes my hair soft. I decided to buy something different this time just to mix things up.

I did not like this nail & cuticle oil. It was runny and messy, plus it smells like chemicals. I did not see any results and I would not repurchase.

This is my favorite toothpaste of all time.

I really like this Olay face wash. It is cleansing but gentle on my sensitive skin. I have gone through several of these and I like the one with the blue stripe, not the one with the green stripe.

This hairdryer was from Revlon. I bought it less than a year ago and it seemed to work pretty well until one day: I went to turn it on and nothing happened. That was the end of it. :(

I love Bath & Body Works foaming hand soap. I love to use this Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin in the fall.

There was all my trash, I mean empties. Let me know if you have used any of these and if you did  or did not like them. What are some products that you have repurchased time & time again?

OOTD: Chambray Shirt & Leggings

Hey there! Thought I would upload another outfit of the day.

Top: The Chambray button-up is from Old Navy. I got it for 40% on Black Friday, STEAL! White tank is from Target.

Bottom: Victoria's Secret Pink Leggings. They are black with a thin sequin stripe down the outside of each leg.
Shoes: Teal Uggs from Journeys 2 years ago.

Today I had to run my doggie to the vet & had a friend come over for lunch so I wanted something comfortable. I also just let my hair air dry & pulled it back off my face. This was a "Pinterest-inspired" outfit, except I added boots & wore a coat when I left the house because it was in the 30 degree range today.

Weleda Body Oils Kit Review

Hello all! I recently picked up the Weleda Body Oil Starter Kit. I have been experimenting with it & have fallen in the love with the simplicity of using oils to moisturize my skin. It is customizable also.
The kit includes 6 travel sizes of body oils, each containing 0.34 fluid oz. That might not sound like very much but the oil is extremely concentrated so you only need to use a little bit. The Lavender Relaxing Body Oil is my top favorite one! I have been adding it to my bath water, which creates a relaxing aroma. Another favorite is the Pomegranate regenerating Body Oil. I add a couple drops to my night cream and it smooths onto my face and neck while smelling fruity. I used the Sea Buckthorn oil on a blemish & it helped it heal much faster than normal. The Wild Rose was wonderful for adding to my lotion and has a light feminine scent. I also added the Birch Cellulite Oil to my body lotion. I have yet to use the Arnica Massage Oil because I do not like its scent. It seems to be stronger that the rest. However, I think liking 5 out of 6 is a pretty good ratio.
The body oil kit claims to be 100% Natural Certified, which I appreciate because I have been trying to go more natural with my skin care. I also like the small glass bottles because they brighten up my medicine cabinet. I am really happy with these & I will buy the full size body oils when I use up the small ones.

OOTD: Leopard Scarf

Happy Halloween! Today was my day off from work, so I ran some errands. I have been trying to look a little nicer, even when I'm just going to the grocery store. Here it is:

Here is my head to toe look. I have on black leggings & a black tee, both from Victoria's Secret Pink. The mint green cardi is from francesca's. Cognac boots are Steve Madden, I bought them from Journey's last fall. & The star of the show: the leopard scarf I just bought from J.C. Penneys.

Here is a closer look: this scarf is super long and lightweight, which makes it comfy. (You can also see my new pink IPhone 5C.)

As you can see, I twisted my bangs back to get them out of my face & pulled my hair up in a pony tail because it's rainy today. My earrings are from Forever 21.

I added some mix & match bracelets to add some sparkle. They are from everywhere & I honestly don't remember how long I've had them or where they came from.

I love wearing boots. They are so comfy & completely waterproof! It was so rainy & cold today, but my feet felt great in these.

Here is the handbag I'm carrying today. I got this pretty brown & pink Coach bag when we were at Myrtle Beach. They have a huge Coach outlet. It is my favorite souvenir! (you can see Moby in the background of this one)

Here is my furry little assistant, Moby. He helps me do absolutely everything!

 That was my outfit today. I love wearing leggings because they are so comfy & look pretty nice. I am loving my new scarf, I have been wanting a leopard print scarf for so long, & I finally found this one & it was only $15. Have a great Halloween & eat lots of candy!

Here are a couple I like from Amazon:

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month!

Hello everyone! As you probably already know: October is Breast Cancer Awareness month! As a nurse, I try my best to promote different monthly awareness'. Please let me know if there is an awareness that you want me to feature. Breast cancer seems to be getting more and more attention in the news lately. However, many women do not realize prevention is the key! Please do a monthly self-breast exam to look for changes/lumps. Here is a "lemon guide" to assist you:

Also, here is a helpful monthly text reminder! It texts you  every month to remind you to do your self-breast exam.

 

Another thing I love is seeing all the pink products in stores. Susan G. Komen takes part in a multitude of product making so that a portion of profit goes back into research. This basically means that you are buying super cute pink products & in addition donating to a great fund!

Please keep Breast Cancer Awareness in mind this month <3 comment-3--="">

DIY: Distressed Denim

Have you ever noticed that distressed denim costs about triple what non-distressed denim does? I understand that the process of distressing is probably a mess during manufacturing and takes much longer. So yesterday I was surfing a women's fashion on Pinterest and thought, "Why can't I do it myself?" About 2 hours later and a little research under my belt, I decided to give it a try. Here was my stab in the dark:

First things first: I gathered up my supplies.

1: Really, really sharp scissors.

2: Small utility knife (You could substitute a disposible razor here but i only have expensive refills & didn't want to waste them.)

3: Nail file

4: Pumice stone (only slightly used previously & honestly, it did not ruin it)

5. Piece of white chalk

Next, I put the jeans on & marked with the chalk where I wanted there to be holes, distressed areas, fraying, etc. Then I laid them out on the floor, as seen here. Now, before you guys go all, "those look like nice jeans to be destroying." I know, I know. But, I seriously never never wear these jeans. They are a little too long and just don't fit perfect so they have been sitting in my closet since Black Friday & I think I ahve worn them once!

Step #3: I rolled up the leg to make the knee area a little more accessible. I took my scissors & simply cut where I had a chalk line. Now, please be careful not to cut clear through the back layer during you intitial cutting. (That's why I rolled up the leg.)

Then I cut a small hole in the back left pocket. To make it look frayed like this, I simply rubbed the pumice stone back and forth on the cut area after I had made a clean cut with the scissors. (I did this on the cut out knee as well)

Another way to add to the distressed look without actually cutting a hole: I simply used the utility knife to "shave" the top layer of denim. This makes it look thin & faded, but there is no visible hole. i did this right below the knee on the side opposite from the holey knee.

I noticed that they were still looking pretty fresh & I wanted them to look worn in. I held each belt loop and cut along the hem. I did not cut through the hem, I just snipped off the thin strip of fabric on the outside of the hem and then rubbed it with the pumice stone. the results are in the following pic:

I continued this method on all the beltloops, the top of the front and back pockets, and the inside hem of the legs:

That's it! I am going to give them a wash before I wear them, so that the frayed areas become a bit more frayed. I will give you a little OOTD when I wear them to a concert this weekend!

A little side note: This is pretty messy. There were little shreds of denim all over my room & I ahd to run the vacuum! Haha, but it turned out really great for a first time try!

TAG: I heart spring!

As I was browsing YouTube, I noticed a new tag & thought, "what better way to get back into blogging?" So here is the I heart spring tag, originally made by missglamorazzi.

1. Favorite spring nail polish? I can honestly say that I have been painting my nails! I officially stopped biting my nails about a month ago, which I have struggled with since I was a tiny child. So...I have been putting on the polish! My fave right now is Shall We Dance by Sally Hansen. It is a nice light color that makes your nails look clean.

    
2. What is your must-have lip color this spring? My must have lip product is pretty boring right now: I have been obsessed with the original Burt's Bees. My lips get so dry and chapped this time of year and it really softens and heals them. I have also been using a lip scrub/balm duo from Victoria's Secret about once a week. It makes my lips feel supple and full.

3. Show us your favorite spring dress! Hahahaha...it must be great to wear dresses this time of year! It was 36 degrees here this morning and the wind was gusting so hard our power kept blinking, plus my car kept getting blown around on the interstate. I generally try to wear warmer clothing items when it's that cold.

4. What's your favorite flower? My favorite flower is a purple orchid. I don't like a lot of flowers bc I have crazy allergies, but my mom is a fabulous gardener. She has a huge clematis vine that will burst with flowers in a couple months & I always look forward to that.

5. Favorite spring scarf/accessory? I wore a zebra striped scarf the other day and a peachy colored one a couple weeks ago, I like scarves this time of year because they look fun but keep me warm.

6. What spring trend(s) are you most excited about this year? (Makeup, fashion or both!) hmm..I have to say that I am really enjoying the color mint. It is literally everywhere! I have been considering getting the mint colored vans..or maybe a nice mint cardi..or maybe even both!

 

Aren't these cute?

       
7. Favorite spring candle? Lately i have been on a huge "No Buy." Meaning, I cannot buy more of something before I use up most of what I have. So I am finishing up odds & ends of leftover candles. Yesterday I burnt a Peppermint Mocha one from B&BW and this evening I burnt a Sugar Cookie one from WalMart.

8. Favorite body spray/perfume for spring? I really like the same scents year-round. I need to establish more of a rotation. I have been loving Be Enchanted from B&BW and also a long time favorite: Pink Warm & Cozy from Victoria's Secret Pink.

9. What is spring like where you live? I live in WV, and springtime is cold and wet. This morning it was 36 & super windy. It usually pours the rain/sleet down. We don't get to experience warm weather til about May/June.

10. What's your favorite thing about spring? I love the anticipation of knowing that warm weather is right around the corner!

11. Are you a spring cleaner? Yes & No. I am an OCD, neat freak at all times of the year. I cannot stand clutter or dirt. However, I go through little "episodes" of cleaning out/going through/reorganizing everything. It usually happens late @ night when I cannot sleep! Weird, right?

12. Any plans for spring break or an upcoming vacation? I plan on going to my cousin's wedding in May, but it is just about 30 min away. This weekend I am going to a Luke Bryan concert! & my huge summer trip isn't until September: I am going to the beach with my fiance & our group of friends! I cannot wait!

So there it is, my version of I heart spring.

PS: So sorry for being MIA. I have been extremely busy, plus I haven't felt up to par. So excited to be back :)