Showing posts with label my. Show all posts
Showing posts with label my. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
A Declaration of Love for My Favorite Leafy Green Vegetable
A Declaration of Love for My Favorite Leafy Green Vegetable
Is kale still cool? Or is the ubiquitous fluffy green cultivar it too "mainstream" now? Its pretty much everywhere but to be honest, I aint complaining. So yes: much like kale, Im not sure where society stands on ironic sweatshirts. No matter. This is how Ive chosen to live.
I do feel like a bit of a hypocrite-- I didnt wear this outfit to eat a salad or tend to a garden of some sort: I wore it to grab some ice cream at Little Babys. (It was avocado though, so it wasnt all bad.) To class it up, I paired it with my favorite long camel blazer. Then, to dress it back down again, I added my favorite Docs and a baseball cap. Life is about balance.
Ill cherish these last few days of "kale sweatshirt" weather-- I have a feeling itll be over pretty soon.
xo,
e.m.
sweatshirt/ T-me, polo/ Fred Perry, blazer/ ASOS (similar), jeans/ Urban Outfitters, shoes/ Doc Martens, bag/ Chloé, watch/ Michael Kors, hat/ GAP, lipstick/ Lolita by Kat Von D
***Photos by Danielle Conyers. Follow her on Instagram!
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Friday, March 24, 2017
19th Birthday Post My Favourite Films About Growing Up That I Watched While Growing Up
19th Birthday Post My Favourite Films About Growing Up That I Watched While Growing Up
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| This is a really dark birthday candle picture but I think its pretty and theres no 19th birthday photos anyway |
Seriously, it sucks having to draw my attention away from the kids menu at restaurants because Im an adult so I have to get steak.
In my thinking, though, I came to the realisation that even though 19 isnt a particularly special milestone age, this is the first birthday in my "new life", you could say. Gone are the days of growing up in a small town, since now Ive lived in Christchurch for over six months and passed my first semester of university. I no longer have to go grocery shopping with mum but I can buy chocolate whenever I want which is honestly the best part of growing up. Oh, and did I mention that I have a cinema five minutes bus ride away, with three others within a half an hour radius? If thats not cool, then I dont know what is.
In a way, 19 is a pretty important age to be. Whereas 18 is the age where you get slapped with the label "grown up", whether youre ready or not, by the time youre 19 youve done a spectacular amount of growing up. Well, I guess thats just how I feel now since a lot has changed since I turned 18 (I say this every year, but I could probably say now that just about every aspect of my life is so different from what it was last year). In celebration of that fact, heres a whole lot of films that taught me a bit about growing up while I was growing up. Dont expect John Hughes films (dont get me wrong, they had their influence), but more a bunch of films that came out at vital times in my life and gave me a bit of perspective. And yeah, things get mushy.
An Education - Earlier this year I outlined my intense love for this film, mainly because it shows the struggles of living up to unreasonable expectations in every way possible. Ive always found myself to be a little bit of a Jenny, trying my best to do things that I dont really care for, working hard but hoping that therell be a little bit of fun around the corner, and maybe being a little too pretentious for my age (now Im grown up and living with a whole lot of engineers, Im just known as the weird Arts degree student). Just as the title suggests, it has always been a film that I go back to get an education, whether it be about getting a "real" education or an education from "the university of life".
500 Days of Summer - Just because it gives you a lot of perspective on idealising and relying on other people to make you happy. And relationship stuff. And that expectations/reality scene still hurts me to this very day. Also, it spurred my five year long crush on Joseph Gordon-Levitt who is one of my favourite human beings on the planet and who inadvertently taught me how to be a better person. So I guess that counts as growing up also, doesnt it?
Cemetery Junction - This is an extremely underrated and underseen film, but one Ive held dear to my heart since I first gave it a blind watch in late 2010. Most of the reason why I connected with it so well (and pretty much whoever else I showed it to) was the fact that I lived in a place very similar to Cemetery Junction, where people very comfortably exist and dont really know whats going on outside of the town. Its something that Ive always hated and found most gratifying when I got out of Dannevirke, because the idea of making do with what little is there and existing is not one that Ive ever really enjoyed. Yet, the strange thing is that the people I grew up with became the new generation of people who could help Dannevirke be a better place, but we all left because we were so over it. And thats what Cemetery Junction is effectively about - those who outgrow their surroundings and what theyve always done, vs those who are far too comfortable with it. Of course, this is a film by Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais so theres a bit of off-humour in there, but this film deserves a lot more credit than it ever got.
Young Adult - This film isnt so much about growing up as it is about those who never grow up. Even though it never sets foot in a high school, it is just as much about high school as something like, say, Mean Girls. Mavis Gary may be somewhat successful, but everything she is about is all about who she was in high school. And that kind of fascinates me, since high school was generally a pretty okay time for me but you cant really apply any of the social things you learned at high school to real life. Basically - I dont wanna turn out like Mavis Gary. But shes a fascinating character nonetheless.
Before Sunrise/Before Sunset/Before Midnight - Basically because this film has given me a lot of conversations which I hope to have in the future. It isnt really about growing up, but more about living, and it is beautiful.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Obviously this was going to make the list. The Perks of Being a Wallflower was my go to movie last year. Through all of the good times and the tough times, it was always there. It was kind of a perfect film to have around when I was doing my final year of high school since most of it was about those final days (even if it was through the eyes of a junior) and those moments that make you alive as a teenager. Even at the risk of sounding like a little oversaturated Tumblr kid, the teenage years are the time to feel infinite. I kind of miss that feeling already.
The Spectacular Now - Just as The Perks of Being a Wallflower was there for my final high school year, The Spectacular Now came into my life right at the very end. It was just one of those movies that came along at a perfect time. As Ive said before, I am Aimee and that scares me a lot but it has comforted me a little bit through some trying times. Thats the real beauty of film in general - when you find a movie that you really connect with, theyre the best at giving you advice on life because someone is actually thinking like you. Plus, Im not gonna lie, but the final days of high school are actually pretty terrifying when youre not entirely sure of what you wanna do and you just wanna live in the "now". Even though pretty much everything is based on how well you do as a teenager, it is the time when you wanna live in the "now". The Spectacular Now is a pretty sad deconstruction of that, but itll probably be the film I go back to in order to live these formative years.
Boyhood - I realise that I only just saw this last week, but the bottom line is: this film is actually like watching my childhood unfold because the course of the film runs parallel to the time which I grew up in. Also, I love this film a lot. Thats really all I can say.
What were the films that told you about growing up? Any thoughts on being 19?
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Saturday, February 11, 2017
A Few of My Favorite Things
A Few of My Favorite Things
Mermaids, small happy fish, and blue paper packages tied up with strings :)
Since this illustration features a present wrapped in strings, and since it is a Holiday card and holidays are some of my favorite things, I think it is an appropriate entry for this weeks Illustration Friday. It really is much too early to be thinking about Christmas, but after working on these cards for a week I just cant help it. Now that they are finished, though, I need to focus on more pressing matters...
like what to be for Halloween?!
This is my second and final Holiday card for APE! Off to the printer they go! Have a great week!
Available link for download
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
6 0E6th visitor to my blog!
6 0E6th visitor to my blog!
Wow! It took me almost 10 years to reach a million visitors. Then, within, 1 year I went from 1 million up to 6 000 000 visitors! Thank you global-world for making this possible! I have learned so much from the statistics generated from visitors. I will keep on doing my best to make this walkthrough blog an even better pleasure for all.
The Maakal-Blog. Helping people who are stuck in adventure games! 1 2 3 solved yourself.
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Monday, February 6, 2017
a few of my favorite things today
a few of my favorite things today
I am sick. Achy body, runny nose, sore throat, dog tired, sick. So I have been lazy today. Kade is having a movie marathon, and I am sipping green tea, reading books, and browsing the internet. Sounds like fun, right? Not so much fun when you swallow and your throat totally sticks together, and you cant breath because your sinuses are also stuffed up! At least I dont have what Jer has dubbed, "death disease," where his uvula (dangly thing in the back of his throat) puffed up 10 times the size its supposed to be. Are you grossed out yet?
So, I thought Id share some fun things I have found. They help make being sick a little more bearable.
I LOVE this owl fabric! I think it will be my next fabric purchase. I am afraid that I wont want to cut into it, though! That is problem with really cute paper, cute fabric, cute ribbon... I want to save it for something "really special" and then end up not using it. Im trying to break that cycle by not buying new craft supplies until I use what I have. But these owls might be the exception...
We (well, Kade technically) got a hamster from a friend for Christmas! He is a panda bear hamster named Po after this guy:
I havent got a real picture of Po yet, because he is only awake at night and I dont want to blind him with the flash. But, he is really cute, and VERY clean (seriously, he cleans his cage every day!), and pretty funny too. I was looking up some info about what treats hamsters can have, and came upon this video. Kade loves watching it! Cute!
Speaking of broccoli, Im going to make this broccoli cheese soup. So easy, and a great comfort food especially when youre not feeling well!
My SIL sent me a link to this awesome website! Its called Starfall.com. It is GREAT! Kade and I have already spent lots of time there already. We are mostly still working on the ABCs. Ive been adding in some of the level two little stories, for instance Zac the Rat is great to read after learning all about the letter A. They also have lots of other fun activities, movies, etc. They even have some really inexpensive journals and books you can buy too.
Lastly, my new favorite song. I dont usually like country very much, but this song is a bit country or folk, and I cant stop listening to it!
Jer is gone for the weekend at a Mens Retreat with our church. So tonight, I am going to make some soup and have a movie marathon of my own! See you next week!
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Wednesday, February 1, 2017
A little freebie for my fans!
A little freebie for my fans!
Hi All,
I wanted to share a quick freebie with you all. Ive made some labels for my plethora of tea tins, and thought I could share them!
Ive made cute Monster Labels that you might want if you have any brain breaks and fairness sticks in your classroom. You can see how they turned out below. Click the HERE to get the freebie on Google Drive.
Have a great Sunday night!
Mrs. Castro
Available link for download
Monday, January 30, 2017
3 beauty product I always have in my bag!
3 beauty product I always have in my bag!
As you all might have seen in the title, todays post is about the three beauty products I always have in my bag! All of them are from The Body Shop, I really love this brand. The products Ive tried so far are all amazing!
Now they have a new store in Iulius Mall Cluj-Napoca, so its easier to get hold of them, but you can also check out their online store.
I fell in love with the pink grapefruit scent!
1. Hand Cleanse Gel - this is really a must have item in everyones bag! Our environment is filled with bacteria, so its important to use it before eating or after leaving a public transportation. Really like the scent of this product, as Ive told you before. It also cleanses the hands without drying them out.
2. Hand cream - It seams I always have dry hands so I need to apply hand cream 3-4 times a day. This hand cream is perfect for that, it hydrates your skin. It doesnt leave a greasy residue on your hands and it absorbs rapidly into your skin. The packaging is small so it fits in almost every handbag, another bonus.
3. Lip Butter - As the colder months are here, its good to have a lip balm in our bag/ pocket to prevent our lips from getting chapped. I really love the formula of it, its like a butter as the label says and it intensely hydrates your lips. It not only smells amazing but it also tastes like grapefruit! The only thing I dont like is the packaging, you need to use your finger to apply the product, not hygienic at all. The product itself is really good, but the packaging could use an update.
Have you tried out any of these product? If so did you like them? What product do you like from The Body Shop?
Have a lovely day!
XOXO
Kinga
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Sunday, January 29, 2017
3 Ways I Help Myself When I Lose My Weigh Get it
3 Ways I Help Myself When I Lose My Weigh Get it
The real world has been kicking my butt this week. I am so, so tired. I normally thrive and appreciate the hectic days in my office, but this week they are drowning me. I am normally liberated at new blogging opportunities and posts, but this week they are exhausting me. My mom was in town Monday through yesterday, which helped, and was so nice to have. I let loose a little and enjoyed time with her.
What has been bothering me most-- a lot of the reason why I am more tired than usual, and why I have had so much trouble sleeping lately is my RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome). I was diagnosed in February. I started showing symptoms a year before though, but they were sporadic and did not happen often. At the time, I attributed the symptoms to overworking myself at the gym.
It feels like ever since I was diagnosed I have issues nearly every night when I get into bed, which is horrible for me because I absolutely love sleep, and I ensure I get plenty of it nightly. It is rare that I let anything interfere with my sleep schedule. For my RLS, I have been on prescribed medication from my doctor as well engaging in a plethora of "home remedies" that my friends and readers have advised to me. Most of the time, that entire combination helps, but sometimes it doesnt.
Saturday and last night it did not. I was up all night in so much pain. It is so hard to describe the pain to people: it is not an ache or pulled muscle type of pain, it is nerve pain. It is agony to lay still. The only relief I find is when I get up and walk around; which last night I did until 2 in the morning. By then, all of my sleep medication kicked in and knocked me out. Which is great, but I have felt horrible today: fatigued, unable to concentrate, falling asleep at my desk, and my RLS pain is still active. It carried on from the night and is still hurting as I am in my office. I keep getting up to stretch my legs that provides provides relief, but the pain sneaks right back in when I become still.
Being sleep deprived affects me more than others sometimes. A lot of people are used to it, and their bodies and mind have adjusted. Unfortunately, I am not at that stage. Since I am a very high energy, outgoing, nonstop kind of person, I wear myself out a lot. I have admitted that on here many times. My remedy is sleep. When I am deprived from this, I can maybe be a bit dramatic and overbearing. Hell, I may even act like a 2 year old who needs a nap. I admit it, though. I am not proud. It is just one of my many flaws.
I was dealing with the sleep deprivation over the weekend and on Monday and now I am back again plowing through it today. When I feel this way, it makes me lose sight of everything. I am a person who has never had balance in their life. It has always been all or nothing. Thus, over the past year, I have been working extensively to teach myself a life balance.
I have gotten so, so much better, but I am still not where I want to be.
When I find myself slipping and losing my way-- losing vision of my goals, I need motivation to help me get over this internal negativity.
Below is what I have done to help lately. It may be "over the top" to some, but for me, its perfect. I am a woman on a mission, I am a woman who is fighting emotional eating, and I am a woman who still has 30 pounds to lose. I am also a woman who is working on improving the way I handle tasks and stress.
Some of us truly need this extra, grandiose motivation.
Food Motivation:
Print that picture above (I think the black background and white font just make it so intense and like its really challenging you) and put it on your refrigerator, near your purse and/or wallet, at your desk-- wherever you need too.
It may sound silly, but I promise you it works. There is nothing quite like reaching for that slice of chocolate cake after you already had a slice yesterday, and seeing something like that. It ruins the mood. It kills the cravings.
I am all about losing weight the healthy way-- a person needs their occasional bad food and cheat meal(s), however, if youre like me and stress eat, binge when life gets hard, or just have an issue with saying "no" to bad foods more often than you want to admit, something like this will help. It is a reminder of the measures you are taking to try and lose weight and become healthier.
Seeing something that like that puts my journey into perspective for me when a bad day or overbearing food craving start to take over and cloud my judgement.
Exercise Motivation:
I love to exercise. The high that comes from sweating and pushing your bodys limits while blasting your favorite music, to me, is indescribable. I absolutely love training.
But sometimes, my case of the "blahs" after a long day of work or stress, outweigh my my love for exercise. That is when I have to dig deep inside of myself and kick my own ass. Which is unbelievably hard as I am sure most of you know. That is why it can be so difficult to stay motivated.
When this happens, you have to look deep within yourself. It is not easy. This is the number 1 one reason why so many people give up on their weight loss journey: the lack of self-motivation. Motivation cannot be bought. Motivation cannot be taken with a glass of water to start your day each morning.
Motivation comes from constantly cheering yourself on and making yourself mentally stronger. That is why I think the above picture is perfect to print and keep for those days when you lose sight, and most importantly, when you lose hope.
- I started because everyday I could not look in the mirror without crying.
- I would shower with the lights off because my naked body disgusted me.
- I started because I was in Target trying on a size 18 in pants that did not fit and I broke down.
- I started because I felt so tired all of the time.
- I started because my passion and work ethic for life dissipated on a daily basis..
- I started because I wanted to FEEL good about myself.
When I remember how bad I used to feel, and how desperately I wanted to change, it helps me push on. I may be weary, I may be cussing and crying, but I push on.
Eventually, you reach the finish line. You pushed yourself: you made healthy choices, and you attended that workout you so vehemently wanted to miss. That is when everything changes. The endorphins are pumping, your confidence is built back up, and you now how the strength to keep going.
Goal Motivation
There is nothing that makes a journey so real than seeing what you could be-- what you WILL be. One thing I have done for years now and continue to do, is carry pictures of my favorite fitness inspirations; be it on my phone, on my refrigerator, desk, or somewhere in my home. My two favorite women are Ava Cowan and Pauline Nordin. They remind me that what I want is possible if I work hard enough. When my passion for fitness began in late 2008, those two women stood out to me more in the magazines than anyone else. I have been inspired ever since.
If they can do it, damn it, so can I. They are women and I am a woman. Its simple-- if I put in the work and dedication, I will get the same results.
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