what a wonderful box.

So I received my first Birch Box this week! 

 If you have not heard of a birch box then you are in for a fun surprise!  It is a goody bag for girls that comes every month!  Basically you pay $10 a month and this company sends you samples of beauty products varying in sizes from trial sizes to full size products!  This is like the PERFECT thing for me because I love trying out new products but I dislike having to buy a full size product since they can be expensive and also if it is something I ended up not liking then I feel bad for wasting both the product and money.

It comes in this adorable little box with the products wrapped up and a description card of all the products and the price for the full sized items.

Here are the fun things that I got out of this cute little box =]

1) In the middle blue/yellow package :  Colorescience pro "Glow and Go Travel Puff"  This gives your face an extra glow when you are feeling a little dull...I think this is a fun products but not sure I would spend the money to get a full size.

2) Eye Rocker "Desinger Linger":  These things are so neat!  It is strips tht you put on your eyelids and it gives you the perfect "cat-eye" effect!  These will be perfect for a night out with the girls!!

3) The little pink lip-gloss: Jouer "Moisturizing Lip-gloss in Birchbox Pink":  This is such a fun color...I put a little but on and it adds a great pink hue to my lips!

4)Juicy Couture "Viva La Juicy":  I already have a big bottle of this stuff....smells so good with a mix of berries, mandarin and vanilla, its a sweet spicy scent!  I am excited to have this small guy to pop in my purse!

Extras!!!!  So they sent me some extra things this month!  I got Showstopper fashion tape in clear and black.  These will be perfect for a low-cut top and using it to keep your shirt in place!  I also got some free music downloads for a band I have never heard of but will be hearing soon!

I am excited for my next box to come in March!!!

here's to finding new fun beauty products for an affordable price!

-s.

About a year ago.....

I had applied to numerous grad schools...

Had finished 2 different grad school interviews....

Was working part time....

I had officially been a college graduate for over 2 months....

About a week from today I received a letter of acceptance to both schools I interviewed at....

I realized that grad school was REALLY happening....

Deciding to take an ENTIRELY new path....and being nervous, scared, but hopeful.....

Present time:

I have hours of reading to complete each week....

I have actually clients that I counsel....

I have been given so many opportunities to grow as both a counselor and a person

I LOVE what I do...

And to think a year ago I was worried about what I was actually going to do with my life :)

Here's to taking the path that makes me happy, stressed, hopeful, tired, that tests me everyday and keeps me excited for my future.

-s.

losing the extra tire is hard to do.

Well it has officially been 4 weeks since I started on my new lifestyle of  REALLY healthy eating and workout regimen/ getting my life more organized.  It has had its ups and down's but for the most part its all ups.  I have been reading lots of articles that say instead of setting yourself a huge goal like "I will lose 20 pounds" you set small ones like "I am going to lose 5 pounds".  I really like this way of thinking.  It is totally OK to have a huge goal but I always felt like it was so daunting and that I was never going to get there.  However when I think that I am just going to lose 5 lbs it doesn't seem as scary.....and guess what?!?!

I have lost a total of 6.6 lbs in 4 weeks!!!  

I am SO proud of myself and the commitment I have put into this.  I am starting to see results and have more energy than ever. There were many times that I wanted to give up and just eat my Doritos's ( I still eat them just in moderation now)  But I know that if I give up then all the work I have put in will be wasted.

Thankfully  it is also getting much easier to workout and not be so tired at the end of it.  I am now on my second goal of losing 5 more pounds.  Only 4.4 more to go before I hit this goal :)

Here's to healthy food and my new love the rowing machine!

-s.