New year, new wishes!

Happy 2019 everyone! This year is going to be a good one, I can just feel it! I'm so excited for this year to begin, mainly because I'm getting married!!! But also, because I get to start a new chapter. So I especially wanted to write down a few things I want to keep in my mind throughout the year.

I have noticed that every year I tend to have the same goals/wishes in the new year (i.e. lose weight, read more, etc.) This year, those will stand, however I have some new ones.

My two main goals this year are to take care of myself and to go after my dreams!

Making some "me" time

Being in a relationship with my best friend means we are attached at the hip 24/7. We're lucky enough to work at the same place and the same hours so when I say 24/7, I mean literally, and I absolutely love it. Why wouldn't you want to be with the one you love as often as possible? Alas, with that amount of time spent together, I don't really get any "me" time. When I say that I don't mean alone time, I mean time to take care of myself.

Being a girl is complicated and time consuming. Face masks, moisturizing, exfoliating, painting your nails, trying different hairstyles; all of those things get pushed to the way side for me nowadays. Those things and also things that I enjoy that are more "single-player" like reading a book and writing my blog.

I've noticed my skin is suffering from not giving it enough love and I've had that yearning to read a good book. So I've decided to give that gift to myself. I have my reading list already set, and I want to try to get back into a routine of doing a face mask and LEAST once a week!

I'm going to take some "me" time at least a few times a week to do something good for my mind, body and/or soul. Those don't all have to be by myself, but a lot of them will be to an extent and I need to be okay with that. When Sky and I move on from our current jobs, the likelihood we'll be working together like we are now is slim. So I really need to prepare myself for some separation anxiety! So if that means taking some alone time together (i.e. sitting together reading our respective books) I'm a-okay with that!

Our New Year's Eve outing! Ringing in 2019!

Dream BIG!

I have a lot of big dreams. They range from regularly writing here to really getting into starting my YouTube channel. And then I have dreams stemming from those, like what I would do if I become an established YouTuber. With all that I've been through in the past year, good and bad, I've realized that those big dreams are attainable, especially now that I have someone to help me!

I'm really hoping to re-brand a little and kick off Beach Babe Beauty this year. That may mean a little less writing and a little more video-ing(?) but I think the trade off will be worth it!

Overall, I want this year to be a constant vibe of positivity and happiness!

XO, Briana

New Year Wishes 2018

Welcome 2018! Happy New Year! Last year at this time I sat down with my thoughts and wrote out some New Years "wishes" instead of resolutions. I want it to be a positive thing that sticks with me throughout the year and not something that will haunt me if I don't reach the goals I've set. So I think I'll do the same this year!

In my last post, I took a look back at what I wished for my year in 2017. So for this post I'm gong to make new ones, in addition to rolling over the ones I didn't quite make come true.

Working on my fitness, he's my witness (whooooOOOOEEEE)

Number one for me this year is going to be my health. I've finally gotten to the point where I've got a full time job and a set schedule, so no more excuses for me! I really want to get back into a healthy lifestyle like I was back in the end of 2016. I was working out all the time, I was eating well and I remember how good that felt. I want to get back to that. I'm tired of my stomach constantly being in knots and I'm tired of shoving Christmas cookies in my face 24/7. lol I want to be shoving pineapple in my face 24/7 instead! As a goal, I'd like to get to my ideal body. I want to get to the point where I can just throw on whatever clothes and be like hm, ok. I'm pretty close, but still not 100% where I want to be. I want to tone, and lose a little more fluff weight so that I can be a true size 12.

Blog Babe

Next is blogging. Coming back to my newly found time, I feel like I've had a lot more time to write on here than I have in the past. I'm also newly inspired for some reason. So my goal for this year is to post two-three times a week as often as possible. I also want to be more active on my Facebook page, since I feel like it's lacking a little.

Moving on up

I really would like to move out of my parents house, now that I have a better paying job. I've saved some money working 3-4 jobs over the summer and having my own space would really be amazing. I lived by myself in college for a while and it allowed me a lot more freedom in ways. I had space to do yoga in my living room whenever, I did everything on my time and I got to come home after a long day and have some time to myself. Don't get me wrong, I love living with my family, but I'm getting to that point in my life where I think it's really time to take that big girl step.

YouTube Guru

I've been trying to start filming YouTube videos in conjunction with my blog. I like putting videos together and I think it's fun for you guys to see my personality in action along with my immediate opinions. In writing, everything is pre-thought-out. You can't really have an immediate reaction in a blog post, since you have to think about what your writing as you type. With video, I feel like it pushes me to be more relaxed and helps with my public speaking. I'm particularly good with words, on paper. In person, however, I'm not quite as easy to speak. I often get lost in what I'm saying and stumble on words. Plus, I think there are things you can more easily show in video than in pictures. So I really want to get working on it! I do have a channel, it's called Beach Babe Beauty, and I do have one video up that I thought went pretty well considering my newbie status. I guess my goal here is to try to regularly film videos and get that channel some publicity!

Mental & Spiritual

I always make a point to assess my mental health and my spirituality. These are both really important to me. My mental health because I have a history of anxiety and depression; spirituality because it is a part of who I am as a person. Maybe I'll write a post about that sometime! My goal for my mental health is to stay happy and satisfied in life. The happier I am, the better my mental health is. Spiritually, I want to focus on educating myself. I like to be an expert at something before I go around flaunting it. So reading lots of books and watching videos and such makes me feel like I deserve to humble call myself Buddhist. But, I'll go into that story at another time.

I'd say those are my main wishes/goals for the new year, aside from other little goals like actually making my GoodReads goal...missed it by one! And maybe to try and get to the beach more often, just for a walk or to read, when it gets a little warmer. Definitely not now though, since it's currently 18 degrees.

XO, Briana

Life Update and a Look Back

Hey everyone! Apologies for being incognito on my blog for a couple weeks. As I’m sure you all know, the holidays are super fun but also very time consuming! It’s been a little crazy around here too. So I’d better just go ahead and get to my life update!

My big news is that I just got a real, big girl job! Woohoo! Finally, all my schooling and killing myself in retail for the past three years is worth it! #BLESSUP. 🙌🏼 I am officially a Digital Content Producer for one of my local news stations! I’ve actually been working there as an Editor/Prompter Operator since last January and have loved it, even though it was part time.

Funny enough, I was planning on leaving soon because there weren’t any other positions open at the time and I was also working at Dillard’s. I was planning on trying to work my way up in the company there, but then this other opportunity presented itself. Again, I almost didn’t apply but boy am I glad I did! I just finished my two weeks of training and I am already in love. I’m finally getting to do what I’ve wanted to do all along: write.

I spend my day writing and editing and doing social media, all things I am damn good at and love to do! So I’m a happy little clam with a regular schedule and my own desk. Plus I will have much more time to get healthy and blog and other things on my to do list. Which brings me to part deux of of this post!

The new year is coming, and what the hell have I done? Since I made a post last year of all my goals and “New Year’s wishes,” I thought it would be fun to look back and see if I have fulfilled any of them! And then maybe I’ll make one for this year too!

I Gradumawated!

My first wish was to be damn proud of myself for graduating with my second degree! I totally did that and killed it! I graduated in May with my B.A. in Interactive Journalism. Something I probably should have gone to school for in the first place. But I happily and humbly own the fact that I am “hotter by 2 degrees!”

Boss Babe

I had high hopes for my career and I finally got started! I’m happy to be on a career track doing something I love and hope to keep climbing my way up!

Love, love, love! 

I wanted to embrace love from all angles, not just a relationship. I think I did that by making a ton of new friends who I truly care for and love!

Mind, Body & Soul

My last wish was to be my best self. Which I will always wish for, since I always believe there is room for improvement. I’ve let my physical health slip a little, but I really want to focus on that more this coming year. Mental health wise, I’m feeling much more in control. Last year was really difficult for me in this department. I dealt with quite a lot of trauma and my anxiety and depression got pretty dark and twisty. At this point, I feel happy and not nearly as anxious all the time. I said I wanted to read a lot, and I sure did! I set a Goodreads goal to read 12 books this year and I’ve read 11! I’m hoping to maybe fly through one more before the year is gone!

Just a few of my favorite 2017 memories!

So I’d say I did pretty well upholding my wishes for the year. It wasn’t the best year ever, but it definitely wasn’t the worst. I’d say I had some bad and some good moments. But I did make some pretty good memories and those are the ones that stick! Hope you all have a very Happy New Year! Check back in a few days for my new wishes and resolutions!

XO, Briana

Wishes for 2017

Happy New Year everyone! In an attempt to not be cliche, I've decided to do a quick round up of my wishes for the new year instead of making "resolutions."  I guess I would define "wishes" as things that I will strive for and hope will happen, but won't beat myself up if they don't.  It's like a resolution without the built in guilt factor!

Update: #25DaysofFitmas

So I know I said I would update on this weekly, but after I began, I felt that every two weeks or so would be sufficient!  I also said I'd be updating daily on social media, which I have also epically failed at.  Womp, womp.  That's what finals do to you! But just because I haven't been posting doesn't mean I don't think about this challenge every day! So here are some of the things I've done so far!

New Year, New Goals!

Love this free printable from Luloveshandmade!

Happy New Year everyone!!  Sorry I've been pretty MIA for the past couple of weeks.  My life has been pretty busy lately with the holidays and the start of school, so that's one of the reasons I'm writing out my resolutions for the year!  The plan was not to jump on the bandwagon of broken promises, but to kind of come up with some reachable goals for the year to come!  I'm sure we all have them whether we made them New Year's Eve or not!  So here are my goals for 2016!

1. Find Something Every Day To Be Excited About

This is an important one that ties in with number 5.  Being excited all of the time keeps your energy up, helps you to acknowledge your gratitude, and get pumped for things to come!!  Even if it's just something small like getting to sleep in or going out to dinner with your boyfriend, those things are important parts of your life and things that make you happy!  Being grateful for those things keeps you happy and humble!

2.  Post On The Blog Twice A Week

I will admit I am horrible at keeping on track with the blog.  I try to post often, but more than not, I get distracted by life and then realize I haven't posted in two weeks!  So one of my goals, since this blog is very important to me, is to post twice a week.  Whether its a long article like this one or just my favorite pins of the month, I want to make sure I'm posting regularly for myself and for you, my readers!  I don't want to disappoint!

3.  Stay Organized & Stress Free

Ahh yes, organized and stress free.  Sounds like a beautifully unobtainable thing.  However, I know it's possible if I try hard enough.  I've got like 4 planners, notepads everywhere, and constantly check my classes on Moodle to make sure I've done everything I need to do.  Stress has been a battle for me in the past with school, so my goal is to not procrastinate and stay on top of my work in order to avoid that.  I'm not about that late night essay writing!

4.  Read At Least 1 Book A Month

If you didn't already know, I loooveee to read.  I would do it all day every day if I could.  Alas, life does not allow that.  So I've set a goal to read one book a month.  Or at least try.  I tend to get wrapped up in running around all day that by the time I head to bed I flip the TV to reruns of Friends and drift off to la la land.  That is a horrible habit I want to break, so the plan is to read at night, thus getting my monthly fill of the literary escape.

Currently reading! Movie comes out 1/22! Good motivation to finish!

5.  Maintain Balance & Keep Positive Energy Alive

This is a super important one, and one that will blanket all or most of the others. Keeping a balance in life is the key to happiness for me at least.  If I'm all work and no play, I'm miserable.  If I'm all play and no work I have the constant feeling that I'm forgetting something and I also get pretty damn bored.  So I plan on staying super positive, even through the inevitable hardships, and keep my life in balance.  That includes going out for drinks every once in a while, even if I have to get up early the next morning.  Such is life.

6.  Promote Healthy Habits

I'm already off to a great start on this one.  I've been eating really well and working out every other day.  I hope to keep this up, since I already feel a thousand times better than my "holiday self" which indulged in lots of booze and cookies.  I also plan on keeping good company.  That means people who will encourage me, push me even, to stay on this track.  Those people are pretty damn wonderful and I'm so thankful to them for helping me to become a better me!

Part B to this one would be to maintain a healthy diet, not an actual "diet."  Diets don't work. I've tried the lot of them and they're good for a while, but ultimately disappoint.  So I like to eat healthy most of the time, but if I want a slice of pizza, I'm going to eat it.  And not feel bad about it.  Seems like a good habit to have, right?

7.  Land That Summer Internship

This one is more subjective and is dependent on a lot of outside factors.  But I really want to make it in the world of Journalism, so I plan on getting an internship this summer, whether it's somewhere local or an online gig, anything that's going to look good on my resume is good to me.

8.  Open A Savings Account

Money and I have a love/hate relationship.  I hate it because it runs my life.  I love it because I love to shop.  See my issue?  So at this point in my life I feel like I should be making enough money to have some savings.  Currently, I am not.  But I hope to change that within the next year or so.  So instead of spending the money that I would normally use for my student loan, I plan to save it. Well, some of it at least.  We'll see how that one goes.

9.  Learn To Cook A Few Good Meals

I HATE TO COOK. I really, really do.  I wish I didn't because my dad is an amazing chef and I'd love to learn from him.  But unfortunately, I am horrible at it and I hate it.  But if I'm ever going to fend for myself (without the use of EasyMac and Ramen Noodles) then I need to learn at least a little bit.  So my goal is to figure out how to cook at least 3 meals that are healthy and easy.  I'll probably hate every second of it, and I'd rather bake 80 cakes, but I'm gonna do it, gosh darn it.

So those are my goals for the year.  I hope to carry them in to the future as well!  Most of them are just creating a better lifestyle for myself so I really hope to accomplish each and every one of them! What are your goals for 2016?  Do we share any? I want to know and maybe we can even help each other out!

XO, Briana