iPhone Diary

Summer is right around the corner! I've been out and about already with Phoenix seriously heating up. We already have hit 99 degrees! I've been spending my days off up at the lake and off adventuring. Las Vegas was a blast of daytime pool parties and club hopping into the night. We celebrated my roommate's 25th birthday. If you visit Vegas make sure to check out Rehab at HardRock! The staff was amazing and got us a cabana and day bed. Hope everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day weekend. Stay Safe!

Positive Polly

I had an amazing day on Monday. Monday? Yes, I actually had an amazing Monday! How is that even possible you ask? Because I chose to have a great Monday. This is not a new concept. Your thoughts have a ridiculous influence on how you feel about everything. Your attitude can effect your entire day.

I had a client come in, she was actually my only client that day (which in itself would normally be awful because that means no money). She practices Kabbalah. I had never heard of this "spirituality" she was talking about, but she gave me a book when she left and I felt really positive after chatting with her. She was talking about how much we influence each other, how our journey is much more important that our destination. How we should love each other and how was should share our happiness with others.

I really hadn't realized that even though I was going through the motions of being "happy", working on myself, and improving my life. I still really wasn't that happy. I've beat myself up. I have not been nice to myself. I mean I know I haven't been the best to others in the past either, but I really have been AWFUL to myself. Everyone needs positive affirmations in their lives and the first place they should start is in your own head. I ended a very long term relationship a couple months ago, which I really don't want to go into crazy detail about, but I don't think I realized how much I lost myself in it. I woke up and realized I had been living my life based completely on what someone else wanted. and it was no one's fault but my own. That is something you allow, not something someone does to you. I didn't know what my hobbies were, I had no idea what kind of food I wanted to make for dinner. I could figure out if I liked techno, country, rap, or reggae. I was lost.

However, I do know that I am so gosh darn grateful for the life I have. It may just be Jupiter in retrograde... haha. but I'm feeling some changes, cha-cha-changessss. cue 90's music. I have a couple of long term friends who have been my cheerleaders, I have a wonderful relationship with my parents, I have made new friends, and I love my job. Even though I have spoken out of turn or have hurt others, I am a lover. I want everyone to be happy. I forgot that You have to be in your own corner first. You can't help, support, appreciate, or love anyone before you completely love yourself. I think loving myself has been something I've struggled with my whole life. I get mad at myself for choices I make or things I say out of anger and I beat myself up over and over and over again about them. I get depressed. I can't do that anymore. The only  thing I have any control over is myself, my emotions. I can't stress out about pleasing everyone if I can't even please myself. I am a good person! I am sacrificing! I love wholly! I am worth it! You should tell yourself these things everyday. Give yourself positive affirmations. You are amazing, You are blessed. You are apart of this great whole loving universe. Give love!

In with the new, out with the old!

So if you follow me on social media, you may already know that I cut off my hair! So it doesn't look like as much hair to most of you. but it was about 6 inches! This was the day I decided to cut it and color it. As you can see, my ends were awful! (Please excuse my funky faces)

Sometimes you really just need to let go of what doesn't suit you any more and find something that does. So I colored my hair about 4 levels darker and took off all the not so happy ends. I haven't had the best luck in getting good pictures of my newer hair, and it's been an adjustment. But one of my good friend's Lauren was in town ( we were the two Lauren's on the block, growing up) and we went out for the drinks and some yummy BJ's pizza. And I did manage to get a couple of pictures. Please excuse my awesome laugh pictures :)

And here's a great picture of how I "part" my hair, and a better idea of the color.

Satisfied Sundays

So I've decided that Sundays will be my blog day (hopefully) that I share with you all the things I am thankful for! Sundays used to be my lazy day to enjoy with family. I wish that was still possible! But now they are more like my "Tuesdays" because I work Saturday through Wednesday. Yes, that means your Monday blues are really my Saturdays! Talk about confusing!

1. I am so happy with my recent room make-over. I am constantly changing my decor around my house, mostly my room. I feel like this change allows me better use of the space and feels more like me :) My desk is now in front of my window, so I get to enjoy the beautiful weather we have been having here! Hello mid 70's oh how I've missed you!

2. Room mate lunch dates & not having to put full make-up on for a day off. Oh how I love being able to shower and just go out! My Friday afternoon (aka my sunday) was filled with thrift shopping and bento boxes from Ra Sushi <3

3. Old school pictures. My cousin tagged me in this picture on Facebook with my other cousin. They both are married now and live in Ohio. This photo had to have been taken somewhere between 1997 and 1999 at lake Erie? Probably the last time I was there. Miss you guys! 

Hoping you all have some time to reflect on all the things that went really well this week. Always count your blessing and focus on the positives!

xo- Liz

Life Changes

In my last post I was talking about what a really rough time I had this past year and when I say rough I mean I was not okay. I don't want to dwell on on all of the negatives but way more of the positives! To say the least though, I needed a life make over! I woke up one morning and decided that I wasn't going to be defeated and I wasn't going to be unhappy anymore.

1. I took a look at what I was eating and realized how much it was hurting me instead of helping me.
I have been a vegetarian since 2002 but was not doing it any justice. My busy schedule equaled out to a sugary coffee every morning at Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts. A quick healthish lunch like Subway or Pei Wei, or nothing at all! And dinner was even worse, usually a frozen unhealthy meal. Now I am eating fresh healthy well rounded meals. I will post some examples soon.

2. I'm working out! I used to be so finicky about doing any kind of exercise at all. I now have a trainer who pushes me and encourages me. He is amazing! Feel like giving up? Get a trainer. Don't know where to start? Get a trainer. Feel like your workouts are going nowhere? Get a trainer. Moral of the story. Get a Trainer! They make a huge difference!

3. I'm finishing school! Finally? Yes! I feel like I've been in school for 10 years. I have been working on and off for the past 5 years to finish my associates and hopefully, I will be done by the end of this year!

4. I meditate everyday. I'm taking the time to reflect on my feelings, my life, and my body. It does wonders for my attitude and has created an insane amount of balance in my life.

Just when you think you don't have the strength or the motivation to keep going...do it anyway. Pick yourself up, change what you don't like, and learn to love yourself!

xoxo - Liz <3

Not so Green thumb....

Good morning ya'll! Happy Saturday! Most of you are just beginning to enjoy your first day of the weekend, while mine ended yesterday. As you read this I will be at boot camp, and then off to a full day of making people beautiful. My favorite thing!

Yesterday I was a busy bee and started my garden. I had been contemplating starting a garden for about 3 years now. However, in Arizona our ground is really hard to dig into (and unforgiving/drying on our plants). You are really only able to plant 6 weeks out of the year, once in the spring and once in the fall.

So my solution was a pallet garden. I found a lonely abandoned pallet in a business park near my house. I got lucky as it was labeled "HT-" (heat treated) so there are no yucky chemicals. I purchased my little plants from Whole Food for a smoking deal of $1.99 each, the mulch was $3.60 a bag (I used 1 & 1/2), and the Weed blocker was the most expensive thing at $6 at Home Depot. So I am now the proud owner of a gorgeous little garden for under $20!

Pallet Garden Steps In Pictures

Supplies!

Heat Treated Pallet

Weed Blocker/Ground Covering

Dirt/Mulch/Organic Growing Material

Staple Gun

Plants

& Of course, Your Muscles!

 1. Staple your weed blocker/ground cover to the back side of the pallet. This would be the side that has the least openings. My "back side" had only  two openings. So my front has 4 :)

 3. Get your muscles out and fill it in with your growing dirt!

4. Plant your green babies! 

And of course having a helper always make it more fun. Here's my helper...

Meet Sadie! She's a little old and only has one eye, but she gives lots of kisses and likes to nose around in the dirt too. 

Do you garden? Have you thought about growing any vegetables or herbs for your family? What's your favorite thing to grow?

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend! Please send me some positive vibes for work tomorrow, I was out sick two days last week and have some making up to do.

As Always, 

Liz

I'm Back!

So it's been months since I have posted anything. The past couple of months have not been easy. What I thought was the end of a rough patch, was really just the beginning of a huge mountain. I wanted to start this blog on a good foot and get you guys excited too. A lot has changed for the better and I'm excited I get to share it all with you!

My last post was May 17th, so he's what's happened since then....

• Aiden Michael arrived! June 10th. (excuse how gross/stressed I look. I just had gotten off a 13 hour shift) 
• He is now 3 months old and is wearing 6 months clothing!!

don't you love his hand dimples *swoon*

• I have two awesome room mates now!
• I finally quit my job!! And I am now a full-time hair stylist. My dream job.
• In August, I got to visit my mom in Portland with my some of my other family members.

Just a few things that have been going on in my life! How are things going for you?