2013 New Years Resolutions - Revisited

Happy Sunday!

I can't believe it's been a month and a half since I've last blogged. 

I'd like to give you a great big excuse for it - but I don't have one - I've just been very busy. 

I've been doing New Years resolutions on my blog for 2 years now, and I intend on continuing. 

Today I wanted to take some time and revisit my New Years resolutions and see how I did, and unfortunately I did not accomplish as much as I wanted to.

• My number one New Years Resolution is to be more positive. I think it's so easy for everyone to think negatively first, and I know for me that is especially true. I want to change that this year. I want to be a more positive person. I noticed the last few days that with my changed attitude of being positive I am more happy about things. Instead of complaining about something I'm learning to say, "It is what it is.". And I think that statement is so crucial. It's crucial to let things be the way they are, unless of course you can change it. If something isn't going your way or something is bothering you, I find it easier to let it go and say, "It is what it is." For example, at work I get real aggravated with things I know I can't change, like some of the managers, I can't change them, nor can I change what is happening, I just let it go. I don't try to work myself up about it anymore, it's not worth it to me anymore, and it's not healthy. I know I have my moments, but I truly am trying to think more positively. I also noticed since I'm trying to think more positive I appreciate all the good things happening around me, that I would otherwise wouldn't have noticed. Like today for instance I had the opportunity to have lunch with friends. Something I would otherwise take for granted, I am happy that happened. 

I think I started out strong with this resolution, but it fell flat on it's face. I want to say the number one reason for this is my job. At first it was not being able to get a job after college (2 months it took my to find a job). At first I loved my job, but things happened that I do not want to discuss that made me dislike my job in August. I am still there, but intend on leaving once the fiance finishes school. I'm learning to like my job again, but it's hard. Let's just say the CEO is not the nicest person. Haha. I also found it hard to be more positive because I have not been able to do things that I truly love. Like blogging! I am finding it very hard to juggle having a full time job and having an hour commute every day. How do people do it? Basically work is taking over my life and I guess I can say I'm not happy. Work has gotten between a lot of things I like to do and even my fiance and I's relationship. Which is a big no-no for me. It's gotten between my family and I. I can't be home when I want to because I live so far away. I'm finding holidays to be really hard on me as well. I am use to being home for the holidays and that is nearly impossible. I will say I've been off of work since Christmas Eve but it's still not the same. I miss my family and friends so much. So one of my goals is to find a job back at home. Another thing I find difficult about my job is that I like to have a lifestyle-job, not a career-job. What I mean by that is that I want to go to work 8-5 and still be able to do things I want, or take off time when I want, which doesn't happen. At this job I don't take lunches, so I'm working 45 hour weeks on top of my 5 hour commute. I wanted a job where I can go in 8-5 and not worry about things I need to finish after work. I think my number one problem with this job is I started on top too quickly.

• My second resolution is to get help with my anxiety. I have such bad anxiety, and I have been noticing it getting worse. My mom has anxiety as well and I can tell I'm acting like her in some ways. I get real bad anxiety when I'm around a lot of people. I also notice I get real anxious when people are real loud around me or a lot is happening around me. I have real bad anxiety when I'm just sitting in class. It was so bad to the point this past year I wanted to quit school. I'm not sure how I plan on fixing this, I do not want a prescription for it. I'm going to purchase some self help books for myself to read. I'm hoping when I read the books it gives me a better understanding why I have the anxiety I do, and possibly a way for me to cope with it. I honestly do not want to get in depth about my anxiety, but since it is a resolution of mine, I wanted to share.

I did absolutely nothing to fix my anxiety. I think the whole reason is because I'm no longer in school and I'm no longer put into situations I would get anxiety from. So this is a big fat NO. 

• Blogging! My blogging habits will change this year and so might my address to the blog. I'm hoping by the end of year 2013 I will have my own domain. I will also start a brand new YouTube channel and get rid of my old one. Topics in my blog will go back to their original ways. I have gotten lazy with posts and it's time to kick it up a notch. I have a new camera that I got for Christmas that is a DSLR camera. I will have better quality photos and better quality videos. I will no longer be discussing personal things in my blogs, because like I said before, I noticed I had less readers, and what's important to me is what you enjoy reading! :D

Haha. I sold my DSLR because I was too lazy to figure out how to use the damn thing. Haha. I did however get a new camera, but I'm still learning how to use it. It's Samsung camera that has DSLR capabilities but in such a smaller package. I did not get my domain up and running, but I do have one. Again, laziness and no time contribute to this. I no longer blog about personal things, so I did accomplish this! I believe this is as personal as it's going to get! 

• I'm not sure if this is a goal but some of the things I have in store for 2013 are pretty exciting. And if I type them up on here I am going to be held accountable! My fiance and I are applying for our passports. Why? Well for our 10 year anniversary we plan on going to a resort. Also, our anniversary is coming up in a few short days and we're going away to Philadelphia to get away for a night. We are going to try to make it to Love park, because what other time is appropriate then our 10 year anniversary?! As my graduation gift from my parents I'm going on a cruise. So I am excited to go to new places and try new things. I always think it's important to try new things and experience new places!

The fiance and I celebrated our anniversary in Philadelphia and we did get to go to Love Park. Not once, not twice but three times! Unfortunately we did not go away on our anniversary to a resort because of my new job and because of his work load with school. We did however go on a cruise! Our first one, and I want to go back!! Also, we did go on vacation with friends to LBI. So this resolution was met!! :)

• If, a BIG IF, if I get a job, a real job, I want to update my apartment. Right now our lease is up for this May, but I'm applying to jobs where I went to college so if I get a job, I want to make our apartment, more our own! I want to decorate it pretty and make it nice.

I did get a job, a real job.. hehe. We are still at the same apartment and have done some renovating. We re-did our bathroom, we re-did our kitchen floor. I got a new desk with much more room. We got more appliances we needed. Recently we just got a bigger TV. So we are slowly getting there.

• Declutter my life! This is a big one. I have SO much stuff, it's disgusting. I don't need half the stuff I have so it's time to get rid of it. I want to go through every single part of my room while I am home and get rid of stuff. I'm either going to give it away or sell it. I'm sorry, but I can't remember the last time I used some of the stuff I have. I need to get together a plan and just go day by day and get rid of things.

This is another big fail. I think because I make a lot more money now I'm buying more things. So I'm just getting more clutter but taking it back to my parents house in storage. So I still have a lot of de-cluttering to do. 

• My new years resolution like everyone else is to lose weight. I don't need to lose much weight since I lost 20 pounds last year, but I want to lose more. I want to lose more because of our anniversary trip coming up, along with the cruise, and a possible vacation with friends. So it's time to buckle down and maybe lose another 15 pounds. But I haven't set a date about when I want to start.

Again, another big fail. I gained back those 20 pounds when I wasn't working for 2 months, well not all of it. But maybe 10-15 pounds of it. I hate even looking at my pictures. And another reason I don't do any OOTD's. It just disgusts me because I work so hard and then pig out like it's no body's business. It really makes me upset. So this is going to be my number one goal when I sit down and make resolutions.


One thing I did do this year because of my new job is set aside money! I've been trying really hard to be better at it, and I was finally able to do it with this new job, so this job does have its perks. Haha.

Anyway, I will be doing a 2014 New Years Resolutions, so look forward to that. :)

Have a great night! 

Ciate Mini Mani Month Preview

Happy Wednesday!

Currently blogging from my phone because I haven't had a chance to go on my laptop...

Anyway, I finally got the Ciate Mini Mani Month and wanted to share a few photos. I will do a more in depth review later this week. 

Sneak preview of day 1. 

Have a great night! 

Essie: Toggle to the Top NOTD & Review

Happy Tuesday!

I'm doing something a little different today because I just feel the need to. 

I picked up Essie's new 2013 Winter Collection nail polish in Toggle to the Top. In the bottle it looks like this gorgeous red color with glitter top. And originally I thought it was a top coat but when I applied it, it's color and glitter in one! Which is amazing because, well, less steps and less drying time. 

Anyway, here's a picture of it I found online because I didn't take a picture of it. 

 

 

 

  Here's what it looks like on, day 1. It's more of a black/reddish color with red glitter.
I was seriously contemplating all day if I liked it, actually I still am. I don't feel like this is a Christmas color, I feel like it's more of a Halloween color. I don't know what do you think?

 

Anyway, and here's day two. I am so angry. I did the dishes the day before I painted my nails, I work in an office, I feel like there's no reason for it to chip so quickly. And I did use a top coat! I'm highly disappointed in this nail polish, and usually I love Essie nail polish. I'm thinking because the glitter mixed in with the color made it easier for it to peel.

   

What do you guys think? Has this happened to you and any of your Essie nail polishes? This is the only one it's happened to me on.

Anyway, it's petty and stupid and not a big deal, but thought I'd rant a little. Haha.

Have a great night! 

The SHOPAHOLIC Tag

Happy Sunday Funday! :)

I'm following Danielle's lead on this one, over at Schnelle.

I saw her do a post on it, so I'm copying. :)

THE QUESTIONS:

 1. Would you consider yourself a shopaholic?  Yes! I find reasons to shop! I would have to say it definitely calmed down when I went away to college and didn't have a job, but now that I make more money than I ever have before (so thankful!) I find myself shopping more, but have the same thought process as when I was in college. "Do I really need this? Do I have something similiar? It definitely stops me from buying things I might impulse buy on.

2. How would you classify your style? I'm not entirely sure! I guess I would say girly, a little trendy, but also classic. I like to buy key pieces that I could keep for a long time, with some trendy pieces within, like statement necklaces. I don't really like to buy too many trendy pieces because I find myself getting rid of it within a year. Some clothing should be an investment like dress pants, dress shirts (something you find yourself wearing all the time), while other things (crop tops) you should buy to a minimum. It's a waste of money!

3. What store can you not leave without buying at least one thing? Forever 21, Ulta, Bath & Body Works or Sephora. I'll be in my 30's and shopping at Forever 21. It's one of those stores you don't feel like you're wasting your money. It's a place you can buy trendy and classic pieces for super affordable prices. Although, as I'm getting older (27! Ek!) I'm finding that I don't like much in there. But when I do, I do buy quite a bit! :)



4. Where do you find the best deals? eBay.com! This is somewhere I'll look for trendy necklaces (my 3 bubble necklaces only cost me $15 TOTAL). I also look on their for scarves, I find that stores really mark them up. I will only buy a scarf if it's under $10, considering I get  alot of my scarves on eBay.com for $5.00! As for clothes JCPenney use to be my go-too. They mark their clothes down SO cheap!






5. What designer are you willing to splurge for? Michael Kors and Juicy Couture.

6. Do you have a "go to" shopping outfit? Something comfortable! Leggings and a hoodie with flats or jeans with a cute sweater, in the summer it was just shorts and a t-shirt. If you're trying things on, it's a pain to have to unbutton a blouse, keep it simple to where you can pull it off!




7. What is your guilty pleasure? (Aside from make up) Ahhhh I was totally going to say make up! Can I say nail polish??? The fiance just ordered the Ciate Mini Mani Month for me, and I can not wait to get it. Sometime this week!

8. What is one staple clothing piece you cannot live without? Yoga pants. SO stinking comfortable!




9. What is a trend you hope never goes out of style? Leggings and big shirts/hoodies! Oh! Polka dots, I love them. Oh! Printed sweat shirts. I can't get enough.




10. What trend did you love that passed way to quickly? Baby doll tops. Does anyone remember them? I had SO many, they were great with skinny jeans. :(





11. Who is your fashion icon? I don't really have any, I love reading other blogs for outfit inspiration, along with Pinterest.

Have a great Sunday! 

New Scarves & Stationary

Happy Thursday! 

It's almost the weekend, what is everyone's plans?

Mine is to do some shopping. Shopping for myself and shopping for Christmas! 

I started making a Christmas list for people I buy for. :)

I was even listening to Christmas music on my way to work. 

I'm super excited because I'm going to be off of work from Christmas Eve until Sunday! Almost a full week off from work. I'm so excited to go home and spend time with friends and family. :)

Anyway, I have a bunch of scarves that I purchased at a local farmers market and some fun stationary. 

 

Most of the scarves were $5 or less. Scarves are perfect for fall. And don't you just love the little owls on the one scarf?!?! SO cute. :)

And just some post it's and little notebooks for myself to write down ideas and To-Do Lists. 

Have a great night. 

Fall Bath & Body Works Haul

Happy Tuesday!

I have SO many things to blog about and I'm having a hard time finding the time to take pictures and come up with the posts. Work is taking over my life, seriously. 

Anyway, today I have a fall Bath & Body Works Haul to share. 

I love going to Bath & Body Works around the holidays, they seriously have the best things. I believe they just got their Christmas collection in. Which I need to go check out! I'm running out of Winter Candy Apple!

Let's just say I have a slight obsession with the scent Pumpkin Cupcake. I'm so truly happy that they came back with the scent!

 

Both of the wallflowers are already gone, one of the antibacterials are gone, and the candle is currently burning. Everything in our apartment smells like Pumpkin Cupcake, and I'm ok with that! :)

Have a great night! 

Ipsy Glam Bag October 2013 Review

Happy Thursday!

I am one of those bloggers that got suckered into one of the beauty boxes. 

I couldn't help it! I saw so many good YouTube videos on them. 

I'm not sure how any of the other beauty box subscriptions work, but the Ispy Glam Bag you're able to sign up without a fee, no cancellation fee(can cancel at any time) and it's only $10.00 a month. 

I was on the wait list for 2 months, up until last month and I'm loving the last two glam bags.

I like it because it's products I would never think to try because I didn't wait to pay full price for a full sized item that I may or may not like. 

Anyway, here is this month's glam bag. 

 

This is the Style Sexy Hair Spray Clay. 

I have not had a chance to use this but watched some YouTube videos on it. I thought clay was a weird name for a hair product. But it's like hair spray but without the glossiness of it, it's more of a matte hair spray. I'm going to try it when I curl my hair to see how it works. 

 

 

I was SO excited when I saw the pretty Zoya nail polish box. I don't own any Zoya nail polish!! 

The color is in Giovanni. It's a pretty teal/green color. It's nice for fall and it's also the exact color for the Philadelphia Eagles!! <3

 

 

Coastal Scents medium brush. I've used a few of Coastal Scents brushes and I love them, so it's always nice to have another! They pick up eyeshadow color really well. 

 

I used this lip pencil the other day, it's such a pretty pink color. I topped it off with a clear lip gloss, and even got a compliment from the fiance!

 

 

And last but not least is this pretty blue mineral eyeshadow. The color is extremely pigmented and I used it as a eyeliner. Pop of color on my eyes. :)

 

 

Do you have a beauty box subscription? 

If so, which one? 

Target & TJMaxx Haul

Happy Monday!

I had a three day weekend with the fiance where we went to Philadelphia. 

We did a bunch of site seeing, shopping and went Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary.

I have a bunch of pictures to share, hopefully later this week.

So more on my fun weekend another time. 

For today, I have a haul from Target and TJMaxx. 

I'm sure you have seen this vest everywhere in the blogging world. Ever since I first laid eyes on it, I needed to have it. I love the look of the tweed and the huge hood. Not to mention the hood is removable. 

 

I purposely went to TJMaxx this past week because I was looking for my favorite Vanilla Extract. They always get it in around the holidays so I decided to stop in a take a peak. It's my absolute favorite to bake cookies in for Christmas... and since that is coming soon why not?

 

 Picked up some beauty related items as well...

   

I've been using the Maybelline BB liquid foundation and I absolutely love it. I've been using a powder foundation for as long as I can remember, I don't even know HOW to apply liquid foundation. I heard a lot of good things about the beauty blender, this is similiar so I thought I'd give it a try. I need to know how to use it though, and how do you clean it?

I also picked up this yummy Pumpkin Spice Latte body lotion. Smells AH-MAZING! I almost wish they had a bigger bottle. 

   

TJMaxx also had this Elizabeth Arden makeup sponge. I thought this could work around my nose and eyes??

   

Anyway, do you use liquid foundation and if you do, how do YOU apply it? Need some tips! 

Have a great night. 

Ross Haul - Shirts & Makeup

Happy Tuesday!

Yesterday was my birthday - 27 years old - eek! 

Nothing special happened on my birthday, I just worked and the fiance took me for dinner and we did some shopping. But this upcoming weekend we going away for a 3 day weekend, which I am super excited about. 

Since my dad & I's birthday falls around the same time (his the 8th, mine the 14th) we did a combine birthday celebration this past weekend. 

Living away from your family makes holidays/birthdays hard for me. I wish I was around them all the time, so it's times like this weekend that I truly appreciate. :) 

SO if you live near your family don't take it/them for granted!! 

Anyway, two weekends ago I went to Ross and picked up some things. 

Stripped top $5.99 and heart cardigan $16.99.

 

I have a slight obsession with eyeliners. I love different color eye liners and when you're adding glitter to them it's a whole different ball game. 

The LA Splash liquid glitter liners were $5.99 and the e.l.f. liners were $2.99. The e.l.f. liners are great because there is a pencil shopping attached right to the pencil!

   

Some of these glitter colors are amazing.. ok, all of them are! Look at the one to your left next to the black, it has dark grey glitter, silver, and some blue to it. It's a perfect topper to black eye liner. Oh and check out that teal color, it's the perfect summer color, and not to mention the gold one, it's perfect for right now. I can imagine it with a neutral eye shadow colors and then the pop of glitter. I need to try it out!

   

You know, I have to say I was a little worried about the e.l.f. eye liners. I thought that because they're so cheap they wouldn't glide on smoothly and you'll end up stretching your skin out more than you should just to get a good color pay off. 

I was completely wrong. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy these went on my hand and the color pay off. Not to mention the colors are perfect for the fall.. purple, grey, gold! Also, just a side note, when I tried washing the swatches off of my hand, it was really really hard to get it off, so the eye liners wouldn't easily rub off. Another PLUS!

   

Anyway, check out your local Ross, they have some real cute things in right now. I believe they're getting things in for the holidays so they're stocked up nicely.

Have a great night!

Fall Nails 2013

Happy Monday!

I finally had a nice relaxing weekend. I feel like the whole summer I've been on the go, go, go! It was nice to just be able to sleep in and relax. The Fiance worked Saturday so I did some decorating for Fall/Halloween. 

I can't believe it's already here! I hauled all of my decorations from home to the apartment and got to work Saturday. :)

It felt good to finally have time to do it though. Do you ever get that way? Feel like there is no time for anything besides work? I feel like I've gotten into such a rut with things I like to do (including blogging) because I feel like there's not enough time to do it. 

When I graduated college I never thought my life would be consumed with work, but it is, and I'm always so tired. The last thing I want to do when I get home is take pictures of things. 

I tried making plans for the week of things I want to do, even though it started out great, I found myself drifting from my plans because I was so tired. Does anyone else feel this way about work? It could be that I work 9 hours a day without a lunch and I commute a hour each day. Work takes up such a big part of my day, it makes me angry. 

I don't really know where I'm going with this, other than the fact I'm in such a rut. I wanted a life-style job. Where I still had my personal life, but work has become my life. 40 hour work weeks don't exist for me, 45+ is my work life. It's disgusting. 

Anyway, enough of my ranting, I finally got to decorate, I finally got to do something I wanted to do, and was motivated to do it. I'm not entirely happy with how it looks but it's a start and it looks more like fall in my apartment than not!

Yesterday I picked up some good deals at Big Lots when they had their Friends and Family Sale. They had all kinds of nail polishes and for cheap! 

Here's a look I came up with last night. 

Essie nail base in Penny Talk

 

 

Via Instagram(vzaleski)

   

I picked up these Sally Hansen Gem Crush nail polishes for $3.00 - 20% off! I used the gold over top the Essie Penny Talk.

   

Someone liked my instagram photo and I creeped on their instagram. Does anyone else do this?!?! I found this adorable nail design in Penguins that I thought would be simple to do. Maybe for the winter I will try out this look! 

   

Anyway, do you have any tips for me and how to balance my personal life with work life? I need some advice!

Have a great night. :)

Philadelphia Eagles Nails

Happy HUMP Day!

I can't help but think of that Geico commercial, it makes me laugh all the time. :)

If you follow me on Instagram(vzaleski) you probably already saw this, but here are my nails I supported to the Philadelphia Eagles game. 

 

I may have overdone my Eagles apparel, but WHO CARES?! I was in the 13th row back with a very good possibility of being on TV! (Even though I didn't make it on TV)

Anyway, have a great night. 

Statement Necklaces Under $10

Happy Tuesday!

It's been a while, but life just gets ahead of you. 

I went to the beach for the last time this year, we went to the Philadelphia Eagles opening home game, and right now I'm going through an audit. So to say life has been hectic, is an understatement.

Anyway, today I wanted to share 3 statement necklaces you can purchase for less than $10, less than $8.00 to be accurate! All of these were purchased on eBay.com and I will list the eBay seller's name so you can search for the items. 

I have a turquoise, white and now red bubble necklace. But every time I were them, I always get compliments. I bought the red bubble necklace for $5.99 from eBay seller beautyangelking.

Another J Crew inspired necklace. $5.36 from eBay seller beautyangelking.

 

 

Statement necklace with earrings. $5.99 from the eBay seller beautyangelking

 

 

Statements are always great to dress up a plain outfit. I find that I always stick with plain tops, nothing with pattern, so statement necklaces always help my outfit. 

They are HUGE and intimidating but trust me, they're worth it, and will put everything together. 

Plus, you're getting them for such a steal you don't have to feel bad for buying one.

Have a great night!