New resolutions: letting things go

 When I made the crazy decision to start a new adventure, I never knew that my life would change that dramatically in a couple of months. I feel like a completely new person. Exploring and Re-exploring a city, new friends, and new relationships all tied into one tiny package. What ties this package you ask? Well its what I call life lessons . One main gift is the lesson of letting things go.

Clinging onto situations that are no longer relevant in my life has been very difficult through the years especially in new adventures. I tend to carry the baggage of the past into the future hoping that situations will change.  I always believe that every relationship has a purpose. It's taken me a long time to realize that certain people and certain relationships serve a purpose for a time period in your life. I often cling on to said situations or relationships in the fear that I might be alone or in the fear that I cannot find anything better. It's taken me a long time to realize that these factors are limitations I put on myself and they often dictate my choices moving forward. I always say when "you have nothing left to lose you have everything to gain." I hope to remember this when some relationships or situations end. Letting go of things gracefully will allow me to feel lighter and move forward in finding better things.

I hope all of you remember that lettings things go does not show your weakness but rather your strength. Who you have and what you have is a blessing. Surround yourself with people who support and show you what you are worth. I think its most important to remember your own value because this translates into your confidence. Holding onto negativity or negative relationships just limits you. It's a great time to end these limitations.

Until next time...

Graduation: Next up?

Hope everyone had an excellent week! Can't believe it's almost three weeks into May. I just want to take a brief moment to Congratulate everyone Graduating this weekend and just Graduating in general this year! To the Class of 2014!

I take pride in Graduating this year (again).  It marks another big goal in my own life of achieving another Diploma: a Master of Science. They are just two letters but it changes so much of who you are. Over the last two years my path has changed a lot but my determination has always remained high. Even though  I never dreamt of receiving a MS, I am so grateful for the road that has led me to this achievement. Everything is possible and happens for a reason.

I just want to take a brief moment to acknowledge my amazing friends and family. Make sure you take time to thank your own family and friends for the support you receive. I know I wouldn't be where I am or be half the person I am without these amazing individuals.

Once again congrats to the class of 2014! Dream big!

Until next time..

Monday Blues

The last two weeks have been hectic. I have been trying to organize everything that I need to do before I leave for my trip. I went through a period of having this monotonous lifestyle to this exciting new phase. Getting to this new phase in my life has had its own hurdles. However, I couldn't be happier with where I am today because I learned a lot about myself through these difficult periods.

My friend and I were discussing yesterday how everything happens at the right time. I personally felt lost and misguided this past year, which was one of the reasons I began this blog. I wouldn't say that I am completely where I want to be in life but I am making progress towards my goals. So this sparked my interest in writing a post on how to over come hurdles.  Regardless if you are facing the "Monday blues" or just a period of uncertainty, I want to just share some simple thing that helped me through my own struggles.

The most important thing for me has been my Faith. Just reading prayers and devotionals has allowed me to clear my mind. The inner peace I rediscovered was something that I was missing. Faith has allowed me to surround myself with positive energy. No matter what religion you are, I think this is something each of us can benefit from. My friend and I follow different religions but the inner peace that we have both found through our faith and belief has allotted us to find positivity. If you consider yourself more spiritual then Yoga and meditation are other options for you.

The second thing that has helped me through my difficult time is exercising. A lot of people believe that  exercising is just for obtaining a ideal weight. Physiologically it's more then that. Exercising releases chemical substances called endorphins which trigger positive feelings. It has been a great outlet for me to let go some of the stress I carry and just once again surround myself with positive energy. If you don't want to go to a gym then consider walking outdoors. Even a little exercise can help.

My final suggestion would be to pick an outlet or hobby that allows you to be creative and provides an escape from the hurdles you are facing. For me this blog is one of the outlets. I love writing about my random passions and I love hearing people's feedback and opinions. It is one of the many ways I feel like I help other people and in return they help me too. I feel like there is so much positive things that I have began to appreciate and it is another way for me to be optimistic.

I want to end with this quote I found:

Hope you all have an amazing week! Until next time…..

Foundation Review: Laura Mercier

I am so excited to write my very first beauty product review. I love reading other blog post about beauty recommendations and product reviews. It’s actually very informative and helpful. I just began experimenting with make up myself so I know the struggle of finding the right foundation, the right tools/techniques and more importantly finding these products within a price range.  If I can help one person find a product they love through this review then I consider it a success.

Today’s foundation review is a high-end full coverage foundation by Laura Mercier. I have been looking for a full coverage foundation for a while, but struggled with finding one that matches my skin tone exactly. Laura Mercier’s foundation is amazing for several reasons. I LOVE that they have nine different color options that varies from each other with the skins undertones in mind. I have a yellow/gold undertone in my skin so its difficult matching drugstore foundations perfectly. I often times end up buying two and mixing them. It is not ideal or convenient. 

Now, as far as price point this foundation is more expensive then an average drugstore brand. The average cost for this foundation is $45.00. My recommendation for individuals who are looking to buy high-end foundation but not sure about the price, color, or brand is to go a store like Sepohra. They will help you by taking pictures of your skin and giving you recommendations based on what type of coverage you want. They will also give you sample sizes of the foundations you tried.  It’s a great opportunity to test something out before investing in it. Plus, you can wear the samples for several days just to see how you feel over a span of days instead of making an impulsive decision at the store. 

Another reason why I love Laura Mercier’s foundation is because it is highly recommended for sensitive skin. If you are like me and your skin is hard to work with then this brand might be perfect for you. I break out when I try new products and this foundation is so gentle and light. You don’t even feel like you have it on.  I haven’t noticed any outbreaks since I have been wearing it for past three days. I also love how this foundation doesn’t dry up my skin especially in the T zone.

Overall, it gives me the 12+ hour coverage that I like while allowing my skin to feel light. I highly recommend it and it will be one of my beauty favorites for months to come. Like I mentioned this product is a splurge at $45.00. However, a little product goes a long way so take that into consideration.

I have attached my photo with the foundation so you can see how the flash works with the foundation. I was pretty happy. My shade was “Sand Beige”

Until next time..

One challenge completed! OR almost

Two posts in one week! I think that in itself deserves a party but first let’s get down to business (To defeat the Huns). Yes, I am five. But for real lets begin:

As of today I have officially completed TWENTY-SEVEN days of the Simple Green Smoothie Challenge. If you didn’t know I started this challenge and want to know more about it then read my post “We crave a different kind of buzz”

My initial reaction to this challenge was all about the increase in energy that I noticed after having these smoothies. Twenty-Seven days into the challenge and this opinion stands the same. I absolutely love how energized I feel and how much longer I can concentrate. When I used to do school work before this challenge, I relied on two cups of caffeine in a span of four hours to achieve ultimate concentration. Now I have completely gone caffeine free for the twenty-seven days and have not missed it one bit. My wallet also thanks me for all the money I am saving and Starbucks on the other hand is missing me.  I think if you want to begin this challenge for an energy boost and concentration then I highly recommend it.  

I am sure many people are curious if this challenge helped me lose weight. I will address that but first I wanted to emphasize that doing this challenge for me was MORE THAN just weight loss. I just felt like I needed a detox and a clean start. Luckily by combining this challenge with proper exercise along with portion control I successfully lost 4 pounds! I do want to emphasize that results may vary for each individual but I was really happy with how this regiment worked for me. I did not stray from my goal and I think consistency is key to noticing changes.

However, not all opinions remained the same. When I initially wrote about this challenge I mentioned “sleeping better” as another positive factor. Sadly, this was not the case through out my twenty-seven days. I think that my sleep pattern is still inconsistent and something I need to work on.

There were some negative side effects of this challenge and I guess I should have expected it since it’s a detox. My skin took a while to adjust to this new regiment and as a result I broke out on my face frequently. It’s not something I am or was used to. I usually have clear skin so this was something I was very unhappy with. I had to look into alternative remedies to get rid of my new breakouts. However, this past week my skin has been doing much better and I think it might be as a result to my body finally adjusting to the change. 

My number one suggestion  when doing these types of challenges would be to keep track of your time frame. Many people start these regiments and expect results or changes within a couple of days. I really believe you have to be realistic and also consistent. If you stay committed, I am sure you will see the results you aspire for.

So many of you have also asked me will I continue this Green Smoothie detox/challenge in the future and my answer is yes! I am planning on continuing it all through May since I feel like my body has finally adjusted to it. I will probably also keep up with it after I return from vacation. Let's be honest after an Indian wedding you need a detox more then ever.

I want to end by saying thank you to everyone who supported me on this challenge/journey. I am so happy to have shared my green journey with you guys and hope it pushed all of you to have a clean start yourself!

Until next time with lots of love..

Spring Haul

It's been a while! I know my promise of a post every Monday and Thursday has not been accurate but instead of making excuses on what's been going on I would love to just focus on my exciting new post today and the news I have moving forward with this blog. So grab and a drink and lets get started...

Today's post is something really exciting for me. It's all about fashion and my Spring Haul. In the past, when I bought clothes or shoes I would just buy things that I saw and liked. I never thought about versatility. Boy, was I doing it wrong. Recently, I went through my closet and donated more then half my clothes. It felt so therapeutic. I realized how many things I had in my closet that I never wore or could only wear a certain way. So I made a decision that moving forward I would have clothing that's versatile but also fits my personal style. I think it's important that these pieces can make an entire outfit and can be styled individually to create different looks. Versatility also has to allow me to take my outfits from day to night. Often times I am on the go or out and about when my day time activities merge into my night. Instead of feeling underdressed/uncomfortable I feel like I can confidently go to different settings with these pieces.

To begin I'll go through my shoes! I posted a picture of my purchases on my instagram account (@Dawnonwards) and I was so excited to share it. I am loving the rustic colors and the wedge style. The number one reason why I love the wedges is that they are so comfortable and can be versatile.  They give you the ability to transform an outfit from day to night, a factor everyone should consider when buying clothes/shoes. 

When I was shopping, I saw that the current sandal trends are incorporating lace ups and had zippers.  got my shoes from JC Penny and I got them during the Easter sale. I also wanted a simple sandal. I felt that if I was out running errands and then I had to go to a nice brunch, these sandals have some unique details that make them look dressy. All three pairs together was $60. A great deal in my opinion when each one originally was priced for around $49.99. My suggestion for shoes is to wear something that is comfortable. Also, be willing to try new things.  I was never a fan of wedges but once I began seeing the trends and exploring I actually saw the potential in ways to style them.

My next part of the haul included bright floral or colored shorts. The shorts are literally everywhere. I absolutely loved these shorts because they can be either styled up for a night out or styled down for a casual day look. Your outfit is what you make it.  Both these shorts are from charlotte russe and I got them for $26.00 total. There is a 10% discount but unfortunately the lady who rang me up wasn't so nice because she failed to include my discount and was sassy about ringing it up again. So make sure you mention the 10% discount as soon as you get to the register. 

I also was just looking for a nicer loose white T-shirt to possibly wear with these shorts and I came across this adorable half sleeve white blouse from Forever 21. It's longer and I love it because I can wear it with these shorts and it would look great but I can also wear the blouse over jeans and wedges and they would look amazing. Other then having basic tee's I love having basic blouses because you can wear them so many ways. I think everyone needs to have these types of blouses in at least white and black. I got this top for $14.99, a steal in my eyes. 

The last two pieces I have are just plain scarves. Although it's technically "spring", where I live it often rains. Since it is spring I like to add a pop of color through my scarves. Like I said I own a lot of basic T-shirts and the best way to dress it up sometimes and especially in dreary weather is to add bright colors. So I found these two amazing scarves at Boscov's and they were on sale for $2.00 each! I thought it was a good deal and picked up a bright yellow and a rich blue. I think both are vibrant and add a statement to an outfit. 

That concludes my Spring Haul! I am excited to style these pieces so check back on my twitter and instagram (@dawnonwards) to see how I do it! 

So now for some exciting news like I promised: I am going to be traveling the next couple of months and also plan on moving to a new city this summer. Although this is a big step and a tough decision, I am so excited for the new opportunity. I plan on including a lot of DIY/Room inspiration/ Decoration posts in the near future. I would love for you to follow along and try some of my DIY. So look forward to a new section in my blog dedicated to just apartment decor and styling.

So until next time..

We crave a different kind of Buzz

I wrote this post on Monday but got delayed in publishing it. My goal today was to address my April plans. For me, April is the epitome of spring and a fresh start. So why not try something new and fresh this month? Thanks to my friend, Alexis, I was introduced to this "30- Day Green Smoothie Challenge!" by simple green smoothies. Each week they send you a "grocery list" with the items you need to prepare the smoothies for the week. These recipes contain a lot of nutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins/minerals.

When I began this challenge I was hesitant. I have never really tried a challenge of any sorts and was not sure if it was something I would be able to keep up for a week let alone 30 days. I decided that it would be a worth a try because I was feeling overweight and lethargic. It seemed like my out look was improving but the baggage I carried was showing. So I headed off to the grocery store with my list and my mission to keep this challenge alive. I checked out and spent a total of $21.00. Yes, you read that correctly. I was shocked. A diet plan that is supposed to make you achieve your goal each week costs only $21.00? I really thought it was too good to be true at that moment.

The first day came around and I made one of the green smoothie in LESS THEN 10 MINUTES. Yes, once again you read that correctly. I will post the ingredients below if you are interested. The recipe was formulated by Simple Green Smoothies. I consumed a tall glass worth and let me just pause and say that glass changed my life. I had so much energy after it and I was not craving for snacks an hour later. I even mentioned to my friend Alexis that this was better then Coffee. Those who know me would be surprised by the previous statement.

Currently I am on day 3 of the challenge. So far there have been many changes I have noticed. I figured I would keep track and check in on this through out the month to update you on the status and opinion on this challenge/lifestyle. So far, I have a lot of energy after I have these drinks. I also seem more focused when it comes to completing tasks. The last two nights I have slept way better. I also have added in exercises to keep me going.

I really feel like I have discovered this secret that not a lot of people know about. Its seriously amazing and I really really love how we get emails each week with a detailed list. It makes the shopping easy and it gives me a reminder to keep up with it. I feel like this is something I will implement into my life far beyond the 30 days. If you guys want more information please check out Simple Green Smoothies.

As a added bonus I am sharing one of the amazing recipes that was sent to me as part of the 30 day challenge: I adjusted the recipe slightly to fit me. I hope that you guys try this and taste it and join the movement at Simple Green Smoothies.

My first day recipe consisted of:
1 cup of spinach
3/4 cup water
1 orange
1 banana
1 cup pineapple

Check out my instagram: Dawnonwards for more updates on my day to day things and this challenge update

until next time…..