2013 New Years Resolutions

As 2013 creeped up on me suddenly, I am thinking of new years resolutions. Every year I do this to myself, like the rest of the world and set goals. I think it's important to do, and gives you motivation to do and try new things or improve on old things. This year I came up with more personal goals I'd like to share.

• 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.
  
• 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.
  
• 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
  
• 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!
  
• 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.
  
• 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.
  
• 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.
  

I think that's about it for my New Years resolutions. I'm glad I sat down and did this. It's taking me forever to do! So are any of your new years resolutions similar to mine?! What are your new years resolutions?

2012 New Years Resolutions Revisited

I made a list of New Years Resolutions last year and I wanted to revisit them to see and show my progress! I feel that I completed 95% of it and I am happy with this past year, 2012 was truly good to me, and I am very thankful for it. :)
So, lets start with revisiting what my new years resolutions actually were:

My first resolution is to blog more. I like to blog once a day, but I want to blog about different things. I love posting my hauls(Mostly because it reminds me of what I bought and have) but I want to expand to different things. I'd love to do more makeup tutorials or more makeup reviews. First I need to realize that type of thing takes time and a lot of time I don't have a lot of time to sit down and edit pictures, they come as they are, raw and uncut! Also, my page, it's boring and almost a year old since I last did something with it. It's time to sit down and learn to edit my page. So expect changes coming! Also, I'm curious, what would be interesting posts for you to read? Since you guys are my readers you guys get what you want first! So, let me know!! :)

Did I accomplish this? Well to answer this question, I would have to ask my readers; YOU. Do YOU think I blogged more?! In my opinion, I feel like I blogged less. I say this because I was at a point where I was blogging everyday in 2011 and in 2012 with my senior year of college it was a lot tougher to find time to blog. Not only that I had an internship this past fall that took up a lot of my time.
Also, I did not blog about what I wanted to blog about. I stuck with what I was use to blogging about. I did begin to blog more about the happenings in my life, and I think that will stop. I found I lost readers when I did this. I didn't have as much traffic to my blog when I did this either. In 2013, I will strictly stick to hauls, beauty, and OOTD's. But I will talk more on that in a different post.

Do something drastic with my hair. My hair cut has been the same for 3 years now, maybe longer, it's definitely time for a change. I change my hair color quite often, but definitely not the style. I'm thinking bangs. I've been tossing that idea around for a while, so it's time. Maybe I'll start with side bangs and work from there.

Did I accomplish this? Yes, I got bangs! I finally did bang this year!! Currently it's a love/hate relationship, more of a love relationship than hate. I'm finding it harder to keep up with them, but I will try to continue throughout 2013.

Save money!! This one is inevitable, I just have to. I'm 25 and I'd like to have a nice cushion by the time I'm 30.

Did I accomplish? Ehhh, I didn't save any money in 2012 unfortunately. It's so hard when you have an apartment and doing everything on your own. So I will continue with this goal in 2013, but will do a separate post on this!

I'd like to start working out 3 times a week. My friends and I are doing that Hot Yoga again this friday and I felt absolutely amazing after so this is a good start. Tomorrow I'm going to head to the store to pick up a Yoga Mat for our next session. It'll be nice to throw that in there once a week while I'm working out at home. But let's be honest, who doesn't put this on their resolution list? :)

Did I accomplish this? Yes! In 2012 I lost nearly 20 pounds!! I also completed 2 rounds of Insanity. I am very proud of myself! I would show before and after but I decided against it.

Graduate! 2012 is the year I'm finally graduating, it's been such a long so-many years of college and I'm super excited to finally be done with it all. I have 2 more semesters, so I'll be graduating in the fall of 2012 and I honestly can not wait!!

Did I accomplish this? This was SO hard for me, but I did!! This past semester was extremely hard for me. I went out of my comfort zone and had to do a speech and a lot of presentations. I almost wanted to quit, but I did it. I officially have a bachelor degree and couldn't be more proud of what I've done. :)

Learn to cook. I mean actually cook a meal. I love to bake, and I feel like baking comes naturally to me, so learning to cook would be a wonderful addition. haha. :) It'll also make my fiance happy and that's always a good thing!

Did I accomplish? YES! I learned SO many different meal recipes. This past semester I was the one cooking dinners, and I was making different desserts as well! I feel very accomplished with this task and couldn't be happier. I will continue to grow our recipe collection for our children{when we have them that is haha}
Chicken and dumplings.

Go somewhere new. I don't really care where it is, I don't have an specific place in mind, but every year I put this on my resolution list because I think it's important to do something new once in a while. Whether it be go to a new city or state you've never been to or even just a restaurant you've been wanting to go to, I think this is always a good thing to put on your list. It could be just a store you've been meaning to go to, but never yet gone there, well make it a goal to go there within the next month, I mean why not?! You've been wanting to go, so go!

Did I accomplish? YES! My fiance and I went to a lot of new places this past year and my favorite has to be Philadelphia. I've been there a lot of times before, but this year we explored. I went to Reading Terminal Market, Philly Cupcakes, Terror Behind the Walls(Something I've been wanting to do for years now!), Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia Eagles game and SO many other places.
Surprised my fiance with a trip to a Philadelphia Eagles game. Our first game!

Lastly, stop tanning. This year I will be experimenting with many different self tanners and become best friends with one. I need to stop tanning, it's so unhealthy and makes you look so much older than you really are. I don't really want to stop this, but I know I just have to! It's addicting and it's time. I'm 25 and I need to get over the whole tanning phase.

Did I accomplish? Some what. I did not go to a tanning bed besides for one week and only ended up going 3 days. I did tan at the beach though. So I can say I am happy for what I did. I did not tan 4 months like I was doing! I look at myself now and I'm happy with being pale. :) I will continue to use self tanner though! My fiance says I look a lot younger (my age) and he likes that I don't tan anymore and so does my dad. I'm tan free! haha.
So me, in late 2012, a paler version of me with darker hair. I love my darker hair. I need to dye it now though, it's faded away so much!

2012 was truly a great year for me. It was filled with so many memories! I am open minded and bringing on 2013 with a positive attitude. Soon I will do post on my resolutions. Which have been thoroughly thought out.
So did everyone stick with their 2012 resolutions?

Victoria Secrets Semi Annual Sale Haul January 2013

Happy New Year!!!
I'm back to blogging. :)
Before I get to my haul, I want to make a few announcements about upcoming blog posts:
You can expect a few things from this blog soon:

Giveaway! I will be holding my first giveaway for the year and it's going to be a good one!

New YouTube account. Soon I will be announcing my new YouTube account. That's right, I will be making videos again! Starting with my giveaway. :)

A blog post about 2012 year in review

Blog post about my new years resolutions

Ok, now onto my haul. This morning, my best friend and I headed to the semi annual sale. I was stocked up on gift cards so I was looking forward to it!
I walked away with two bags full.

Slippers I scored for cheap, which I will be selling, (if interested contact me) because they do not fit me. *Sad face*


I honestly dislike taking photos when I'm at my parents house. There is NO light in my room, only a small window. So this grey shirt ended up looking black.

Cute wings on the back.

This is the first time I'm trying the Victoria Secrets Model Essentials line, and I really like this!


I'm going to give this body scrub a run. I'm not sure if I'll like it, but we'll see. I need an exfoliater, so we'll see how this one works. I paid $7.50 in case you're interested. (I might possibly do a review on this)


Funnel neck hoodie

I love the color of this one.


Two t-shirts.

So my question to you is, did you go to the semi annual sale?

My Christmas Day

Christmas is always so hectic for me between my fiance's family and my family. It starts with Christmas Eve and runs through Christmas day. But I truly do enjoy it. I love being surrounded by family. It's what the holiday is suppose to be!
I had a wonderful Christmas filled with lots of goodies from Santa.
I'll share some photos throughout the day. I have so many, so I'm going to limit it to a few.
My fiance and I after we left his grandfather's house.

At night my fiance and I exchanged gifts. It's so hectic during the day we have to open our presents up at night. But I don't mind at all because it gives me something to look forward to all day. :)

I bought my fiance's these boxers because I love the outside package. He calles Toilet Paper TP. So I thought it was funny and I had to buy it for him.

This was my fiance's big surprise. He wanted wheels for his car last year but I didn't buy them, so I surprised him this Christmas with them. I know there is only two photographed here, but the other two were out in our garage, just in case you thought he got jipped! haha.

He was SO excited and it was all he talked about. Even though he can't use them until the summer, he is still really excited. The moment a person opens up a present you're expecting them to love, and you see them smile it's exactly the reaction you're hoping for makes your day. Does that make any sense to you?! lol. I hope so!

My fiance surprised me with a Juicy Couture bag and a soft cuddly bear. He is officially called Mr. Snuggles.

Vanessa is now a proud owner of a Lu Lu Lemon jacket. I don't know how he knew I wanted it, I guess he's been looking at my instagram(vzaleski)! :)

And of course a picture of us both by the Christmas tree. Unfortunately it came out blurry, but I am happy with it. Better than nothing!

I also got so many other great goodies from my family that I will share another day. I do not intend on doing a big "haul" post, but I'll post some things. :)
I am considering taking a break until after the new year. It's time to update my resume with my internship and start applying for accounting positions. I have some time off of work next week so that is my intentions along with doing some shopping with all of my gift cards.
If I do not blog, I hope everyone has a wonderful and happy New Year and of course a safe one!

My Christmas Eve

Christmas eve always seems so magical to me. I have said this before and I will continue to say it every year, it's my favorite part of Christmas. This Christmas it was extra special because I did not have to work. :) I was able to sleep in a bit, went shopping (What? I had to use my $10 off Vicki's coupon!). I came home and made Chocolate Covered Strawberries and wrapped more presents.
My family and my aunt went to church and we had dinner after. It was nice this year to have my aunt stay for our Christmas Eve dinner. It made it extra special to spend time with her! After my family's dinner, I went over my fiance's house and had dinner with his family. Yes, I was full! And we all exchanged presents. :)
My Christmas Eve started out with my painting my nails. I've been wanting to do the peppermint nail look for a while, but never took the time to do it. This time I just did my index finger. But I'm happy with the way it came out!

Our Christmas Wafers for our dinner.

After our dinner we broke out the Bailey's my parents bought when they went to the Dominican Republic.

I guess my dad couldn't wait to take the picture and just took the shot. lol.

My fiance & I Christmas Eve. I wish I took a picture of my hair piece I had in my hair. It looked so cute. :)

Presents are all wrapped and ready to be opened at my fiance's house. :)

Nana loved her present so much she sat on it. Haha

Cupcake bank!! I think she is telling me I need to save money. haha. Actually she bought my fiance and his sister one too. Haha!

My fiance's mom opening her presents. I bought her a keychain with her dog on it along with a calendar with all different pictures of Mr. Odie Dodie. She LOVED it!

Vanessa, you bought me a present?

Oh, what is it?

Vanessa, I hate it!

My presents from everyone! :D

And I already spent the Vicki's gift card and bought the Eagles Yoga pants I've been wanting. :)

I'm off to work now. Tomorrow I'll post about Christmas Day.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!
I hope Santa was good to everyone!
I will resume regular blogging soon. Everyone enjoy their holiday! :)

My Sunday Picks

I just finished my 10 page internship paper and 2 page abstract paper. Go me! :)
Today my dad and I did a lot of Christmas shopping for my mom. I picked up something for my brother also. My list is slowly dwindling!! :) I have very few things left to buy and I couldn't be happier. I can finally stop stressing!! School is over and the rush of Christmas is almost over.
Tomorrow I go back to my normal job, no more internship. I'm excited to see everyone and meet the new people working there. :D
Today is Sunday, so it's time for some of my Sunday picks.
Old Navy Heart Sweater. $25.00 25% with your card or 20% any form of payment. HERE

Pretty color! $29.94 HERE

I don't know why I love this sweater so much. I guess I love ugly Christmas sweaters. $24.00 HERE

Love polka-dot! Don't ever go out of style! Please! $20.00 HERE

And of course you need a new pair of PJ's for Christmas morning! I almost picked this up when I was Christmas shopping, but couldn't because they're so short. Not fair! $12.00 HERE

I hope everyone had an amazing weekend. One week 2 days until Christmas! Anyone else excited?!