"The Earth Laughs In Flowers"

"The earth laughs in flowers." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Could it be.. that Spring is closer than we think. Of course, like always, there will probably be one more snow before we're in the clear but still... it's happening!!! 

Spring used to NEVER be my favorite. As a kid I suffered pretty bad allergies and that was the season that would kick start and entire hatred for warmer months. Over the years, I've been able to adapt & get on a medicine routine that helps me avoid those itchy, red eyes. In fact, as I've gotten older I've grown to love Spring. 

Spring is now a sign of rebirth for me. Things are waking back up and coming around to what they once was. I think it's a beautiful thing to watch the world around us bloom. Now, more than ever, I feel like I really relate to that last sentence. After leaving one job and beginning a new one.. I've been able to reflect and think about what direction I want my life to go in. 

In conclusion.. I have fallen in love with Spring and all of the "new" that comes with it. 

Speaking of new.. I wanted to share a few random facts with some of you who may be new. 

- I got married at 18 & have been happily married for 7 years. This year makes 8.

- I have 2 sons. They happen to have 4 legs & curly tails but nonetheless they're my babies.

- I am the biggest introvert. I have a hard time filming myself on Insta or Snapchat because of that. 

- I've suffered depression and anxiety since my early teens. 

- I am in 10 women that have PCOS.

If you want to learn more random facts about me you can check out my Insta stories. I plan to share some more throughout the day. Plus, I will be sharing some cute Pug photos later. The sun was shining down perfectly on the boys today. 

I hope you guys are having a great week so far! I have some fun things planned for the rest of the week so you might not see much from me on here. However, you can always follow along on Instagram or Snapchat. I used to avoid Snapchat but here recently those filters have been life. 

You can follow me here: 

Instagram

Snapchat: chelseaalyson

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What's in my makeup bag?

The topic of makeup has always intimidated me. I have such a love/hate relationship with makeup. I love buying new items but I hate putting them on sometimes. I've tried to teach myself by watching videos but in the end I still apply my makeup like a toddler. Although I suck tremendously, I love playing around and trying new looks. I thought it would be fun to show you guys a few random items that I use on a daily basis. I would eventually like to film a short tutorial for you guys on my daily makeup application. I still have a hard time with getting in front of the camera.. especially on video. 

There's a lot of things that I am working on though and being more vocal about my life is one of those things. Moving back to makeup... here's a few items that I use pretty much every time I apply makeup. I also want to mention that I am a FIRM believer in giving your skin a break. I try to go without makeup a few days in a row to let my skin breathe and rest. 

If you do use makeup on a daily basis then I highly suggest you wash your fact nightly and moisturize. As we get older ladies, our skin tends to get a little more sensitive to things like this. I'm in a constant battle with my pores so I definitely don't want makeup sitting on my face clogging up those pores overnight. 

I will be sharing a few of my favorite skincare items later so you can learn some ways that I keep my face clean and free of breakouts.

No7 Stay Perfect Foundation ($)  ; Master Prime primer + base ($) was purchased from Walgreens ; Too Faced Lip Injection Lip Gloss ($$) ; NYX Matte Lipstick in 'Honeymoon' ($) ; The Laura Geller & Too Faced eyeshadow palettes are both from Christmas bundles so I can't link them ; L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Primer ($) ; Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara ($) ; CoverGirl Perfect Blend Eyeliner ($)

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Journey To Happiness...

Happiness is a funny destination. What components make up the path to happiness? I feel like this is a common question most of us have asked ourselves at some point. I spent a lot of years trying to figure out what path I was supposed to take. I made some mistakes and was set back a few times. However, in the end I've grown into a much stronger woman than I ever used to be. I discover new things about myself all the time. I'm extremely thankful for being able to finally shed some light on the real me. 

Along this journey to happiness I've uncovered new things about myself.. grown closer to my husband & really opened my heart to my own desires. Taking ownership of my own life has never been my strong suit. For someone who always liked to follow the crowd, speaking up and revealing the true intentions of my heart was extremely difficult. 

Let's not forget the anxiety & depression. Making big decisions are usually a huge ordeal for me. Recently, I sat down and talked to Nick about leaving my job at the bank & pursing a slightly different job. There were a bunch of benefits to the new job but some downfalls. I would be giving up my set schedule in an office setting for more retail like hours. I felt speechless about the entire situation. I cried a LOT over this decision but in the end... I chose to leave. I spent a little over 2 years learning something completely new and gaining so much knowledge. I will definitely always be thankful for the opportunity that the job gave me but I am so happy to be on to new adventures. 

I know that leaving that job was a great choice for myself. My mental health has been suffering for a little while and being there was only making it worse. It was very liberating to drive away for the last time. 

My advice to anyone that has anxiety / depression when it comes to making huge decisions... take it 1 hour at a time. Sit down and write your pros/cons. I talked about both jobs out loud to a family member and that helped me verbally analyze both jobs. In the end, I had to have a good cry with my husband before I felt 100% comfortable with my decision. I was so worried about what everyone would say or think about me leaving that I had worked myself into a full blown panic attack. Sitting down with Nick and really laying out my feelings helped me tremendously. 

I encourage everyone to take a look at your life and really consider if you're happy or not. If you're not 100% happy then change that! I'm making every effort to achieve my happiness. It doesn't matter if you're making BIG moves or small moves.. you're still taking control of your life. You matter. Your happiness is the only thing that matters. Take control and don't look back. 

Here's to a great week everyone! I have some fun things planned to share later this week. 

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"Alexa, tell me a joke"

"Alexa, tell me a joke..."

"What do you call a potato wearing glasses?" 

"A specTATER."

I thought really long and hard about getting an Alexa. I love shopping on Amazon and constantly stream movies but I just wasn't a huge fan of giving something access to my house. The progression of technology can be a little abrasive sometimes. I am all for advancing and learning new things but the more it goes on, the more invasive it becomes. 

Getting an Alexa was a huge step for me. I will have to say that having her around has been kind of great. I get to hear music whenever I am tidying up or writing a blog post, like now ;). She tells me funny jokes like the one above & she even tells me the weather forecast. It's pretty nice having something around to answer silly questions. I haven't actually used my Alexa to re-order Amazon items or anything like that... but so far, I am impressed. 10/10 would recommend getting if you're someone who likes to have music in the background or a podcast playing. This is also perfect for the busy morning commuter. Listening to the news while getting ready is a nice way to start the morning. I love being informed so this was a perfect feature for me to utilize. 

If you currently have an Alexa or Amazon product of any kind.. please share ways that you use yours and get your moneys worth out of the item. I plan on getting more familiar with mine so I'm sure you'll be seeing me post from time to time. 

{ Amazon Echo 2nd Gen }

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Love Beauty and Planet

I love sharing new products that I find because I'm always so hesitant to buy something before reading a review. I also love pure honesty when it comes to purchasing skincare related items. I've, unfortunately, not read my reviews and purchased mainstream products to only later realize how terrible the product was. I can promise you that anything I say about a product will be 100% authentic just like most of the products I use. 

Today, I am sharing my newest favorite body lotion. Love Beauty and Planet is an amazing brand that is all natural with no added items that you can't pronounce. Shoot, even their bottle is made from 100% recycled plastic! 

I think what I would like to do is share a small product review over on Instagram stories later this week. I plan to purchase a few more items from their line so those will be included in the review. So far, this lotion is so awesome that I purchased a little on-the-go container to put in my purse. The smell and hydration together make this well worth the money. Speaking of price.. you can get a bottle at your local Walmart for around $8 and some change. Some of the items that I'll be reviewing later this week will be another body lotion and their shampoo / conditioner line. There might be a few additional things added to that list but time will tell. 

Have you tried any of the Love Beauty and Planet products?  If so, what has been your favorite or least favorite item? 

Here'a an Amazon link to the exact body lotion I have.... the only downfall with Amazon is that this will be an ad on item. All that means is that you need to purchase at least $25 or more in order to order this product. If you're like me then this shouldn't be a hard task. I recently spent $50 just by browsing the site for a few minutes. Amazon really knows what they're doing. 

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Dealing With Depression

This is such a sensitive topic. I chose to keep my depression and daily struggles a secret to society every since it began. I shared my difficulties with some family members and a couple of close friends. Depression isn't something to boast about or flaunt around. I've kept my emotions tucked away in fear of rejection. To be honest though... keeping everything in was damaging my mental health even more. Last year & now this year has been a season of growth for me. I've always been one to generally follow the crowd and do everything I can to fit in. 

2018 taught me a lot about myself.

As 2019 continues to pass by..I find myself meeting new milestones that I didn't think possible. My ultimate dream is to be able to just be there for anyone who feels like they have no one. Sometimes it's hard to reach out to direct family and friends because you might feel vulnerable. The good news is... that is 100% OKAY. There are people out there that are trained professionals or just people like myself, that has been through what you're dealing with, that understands. 

Depression and anxiety are my foes. I fight them both on a daily basis. Not every day is bad but not every day is good either. I try to wake up with a thankful mind but it's not always easy. My biggest downfall is that I wear my heart on my sleeve and I do a LOT for the people I care about. If I don't get back what I'm putting out then I sometimes feel like a failure. Honestly, I know that sounds selfish but if I go out of my way to do something for you then appreciation would be nice. 

I am working on me.

I plan to start a journal for when I'm feeling anxious or a little extra down that day. I would also really like to start yoga/meditating.. but I'm still looking into that one. On that note, if you have any tips or tricks to settling the anxious feelings or even dealing with depression.. LET ME KNOW! Knowledge is power and the more we're vocal on social media .. the more we're helping everyone just like us that could be reading this. I love being able to open up and be so raw & real about my life. 

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Pugs & Kisses

Valentine's is quiet literally right around the corner and I can't wait to celebrate this weekend with my honey. We're taking a short little weekend trip to Gatlinburg all thanks to my parents for booking us a 1 night stay somewhere. I truly have the most selfless parents. 

Valentine's has always been a very sentimental holiday for Nick and I since that was our first official date together. He also was accidentally forced to basically meet everyone in my family. We've always celebrated each year by going somewhere close to home or treating ourselves to a nice night out. I always get super excited when the end of January rolls around and try to start planning something nice for V-Day. This year, with the help of my parents, we're going to the mountains to spend some time away. My sister and brother in law will also be going so it'll be nice to have a weekend just hanging out with them. 

I was able to grab some sweet photos of my boys the other day... despite my fur babies not wanting to cooperate very well. They literally had slept the entire day and was so upset that I ruined their nap time. 

What are some ways you like to celebrate for Valentine's Day? 

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Soap & Glory

If you follow me on Instagram then you've already seen my recent Soap & Glory review. I wanted to make sure everyone got a chance to read about them because they're truly a great brand. I haven't purchased one thing that I hate. Since Nick works at Walgreens I get a pretty good discount on their line so I try to pick something up every chance I get.

I have struggled with puffy eyes my entire life. I've also tried about everything on the market besides cosmetic work to make them disappear. I recently tried the puffy eye attack patches from Soap & Glory and was not disappointed. I will say that my eyes were noticeably less puffy for most of the day. Ultimately, I would purchase these again to have for vacation or a quick fix. 

I highly recommend these if you're needing a quick fix to your puffy eyes! 

What are some things that you've tried for puffy eyes that you love? I definitely still need something to help me! 

{ Soap & Glory Puffy Eye Attack }

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Recent Apps I've Been Using

Knowledge is power. I believe that sharing your successes can help others around you reach their goals as well. While finding the best picture editing app may not be considered a "success" to some, I was more than excited when I found a few apps that really work for me.

Constantly feeling the need to create.. I started searching for the best apps that would allow me to be creative while I'm on the go. There's truly nothing I love more than being able to share amazing content the moment it happens! 

I examined all of the apps I use to create and decided to share some of my favorite ones with ya'll. If you use any of these apps then I would LOVE to hear some feedback from you. Tell me things you liked and didn't like. Also, if anyone has some awesome apps to share please do. 

Lightroom CC is pretty much my new best friend. Before I discovered presets and how the heck they work I relied on other apps to help with the editing process while I was on the go. I'll be honest, Lightroom scared me when I first looked at it. I don't LOVE the interface of this app but it really is the easiest thing to use for sharp, clear images. Another app I rely on is Snapseed. Snapseed is such an easy app to navigate & is perfect for small editing touches. Hype Type is a great app if you enjoy adding music or text to your videos. You can also add music and text to pictures as well. The only complaint I have is that some songs will not let me use them when they're downloaded on my phone. Maybe someone who uses the app can share some insights on that. 

These are honestly just the standard apps that most of us use each day. I find myself using Facebook and Snapchat less and less but I do still have them. If you really want to keep up with me on a social platform then I would say Instagram will be your best option. 

Hello 2019! I absolutely LOVE the WalMart grocery pickup option. I am constantly busy because I work an 8-5 job on top of chasing 2 crazy pugs and trying to maintain a normal life outside of work. This option really allows me to plan ahead and helps me stay consistent with cooking during the week. I find myself adding things to my cart on the app all the time. 

The Calm app is such a life saver if you have anxiety and/or depression. There are multiple options to chose from just depending on what you're looking to achieve. A few of my favorite options are: Reduce Anxiety, Build Self Esteem, Learn to Meditate (currently my fav) & the list goes on. I highly recommend this app to anyone needing help realigning your goals. 

To wrap it up, what kind of iPhone user would I be if I didn't take advantage of the pre-installed apps. I used to hate listening to talk radio or even listening to audio books. As I've gotten older I realize that you can learn a LOT from listening to "talk radio". I don't have a lot of free time to listen to Podcasts but when I do I wanted to share a few of my favorite ones.... 

- My Favorite Murder (STAY SEXY, DON'T GET MURDERED)

- Resting Witch Face

- The Last Podcast On The Left

I will say that these particular podcasts do not censor their language so definitely don't listen around smaller kids. However, I love murder/mystery and My Favorite Murder is such a fun podcasts to listen to. 

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