11.04.2020

My November Goals.

Looking Ahead...
The year is soon to be coming to an end. As grateful as I am for that, there have been a lot of things I've learned, even within the last month. It's really hard to even look into December or plan anything for next year, so these next couple of winter months will be a lot of hunkering down and reflecting on a monumental year for us all. I've had my highs and lows, but mentally and emotionally, I've been challenged more than I ever have been. 

I love to try and be an optimist, but in all honesty, I'm quite the cynic. This year has only confirmed it for me, but I want that to change and I don't think it's ever too late to start looking inward to admit that there are always going to be repairs to be made. It was accepting that there were things I couldn't control and other things I knew would make my life easier, brighter, and more positive because I let them go. So, looking forward to a new page on the calendar, I am setting some new realistic goals for myself. 
01. Not leveling up with my inner demons. It may seem quite dark, but I think we all have those inner dark doubts or fears, negative thought clouds, or just straight up anxiety every day because the world is truly at a time when things could be okay one day and all hell breaks loose the next. This month, I will not let them control me. I will acknowledge their presence and replace them with positive affirmations. I know that these pestering thoughts do not decide who I am or what I am capable of, and I hope whoever is reading this realizes that too. 

02. Cutting myself some slack. I am always one to be doing the most when I can, sending out emails and followups, getting assignments done a week early, or delegating tasks like no other. I don't give myself time to breathe or to realize that not everything is so immediate to be dealt with. If there's anything I've learned from quarantine, it's that time has slowed down. There's truth in the normalcy of it, and setting my future self up for success, but if I don't give myself breathing room and a time to digest, I'll get lost in it all. 

03. Finding more creative ways to spend my time. Finding things to do during what will be a second lockdown has been difficult. When the baking, reading, writing, and movie watching is done, it can be hard to find things that are socially distanced now that temperatures are dropping. I could take up a new hobby, try out a new fitness regime, join a virtual bookclub, or start DIY dream boarding a future apartment perhaps. Besides going shopping, I need to invest my time in other engaging activities, but I think the holidays will help inspire some new ones. Who knows? 
04. Thinking about post graduation. It's crazy to think that I am almost two quarters away from a degree. With the constraints of the pandemic and a hyper virtual landscape, competition for a job post grad will definitely be an unruly task. However, I am extremely thankful to have had an internship this past summer to get my foot in the door before I start sending out applications this winter and spring. It will all come down to what full-time job I can find, and I can't even think about where I'll be next year. I'm reassured that the network and community I have been able to be apart of will only cushion the job search and I would hope that employers are more open in knowing how hard this year has been. 

05. Making one thing out of my day positive. We've already established that there is an abundance of negativity looming around us, so my goal for this month is to find and reflect on at least one positive thing that happened to me every day. Whether it be an old friend reaching out to me over Instagram, getting a good grade, actually running a full mile on the treadmill, or simply having a sunny day, there are many things to be thankful for—gratitude is the mood for the season of thanksgiving. 

What are some things you have to be thankful for this time of year? 

posted in
share on
continue reading

10.27.2020

Mystery Solved: Being Content with the Little Things

Fall is the season of letting things go, and that mantra has echoed in my ears all month long. The future is still unknown, I'm still at home, and there's little promise of what's in store. One thing I do hold onto are the little joys I find in each and every day—at least I try to. Being content can be different for so many people who are walking different paths of life and it comes down to your own perspective of what contentment truly means. 
“To be content doesn’t mean you don’t desire more, it means you’re thankful for what you have and patient for what’s to come.” -Tony Gaskins

There's always this outside pressure of knowing what you need to do, where you need to be, and making sure that everything is in place and planned. While this routine is something I know far too well, it controls us and our everyday lives. But lately, I've come to find solace in knowing that there are little positives I can be thankful for. Here are the things that make me content: 

I started a new book this month, called Fable. It's an adrenaline filled adventure on the high seas. Brace yourself for pirate ships and deserted islands, as Fable, a strong and determined pirate, goes up against the forces of nature to find her lost father. It's definitely a page turner and a world worth escaping to. I look forward to it every night! 

I've also been making pumpkin chai tea lattes at home, which have been quite the treat in the morning and a reward for getting through work early and powering through the day. When I'm tutoring, I'll have my iced chai and be ready to meet with new writers and students at DePaul, so it's always a great start to my day when I get to meet with people virtually face to face. 


Since gyms are closed, I haven't been extremely motivated to do work outs, but I have been getting into running more on the treadmill and allot myself some time in the afternoons to running and getting my heart rate up for at least a mile a day. It's been nice not feeling the pressure of having to go to a studio and work out, but I've also felt just more refreshed and can clear my mind a bit when I'm running. 

When I'm feeling like my routine is monotonous and I'm just waking up to do the same thing every day, log into Zoom, tutor, do school work, walk the dog, and so on, I try to make my day different and find the little things that bring me joy. Being content doesn't have to be a mystery, and you certainly don't have to go searching for a better path or situation at the moment. Change your perspective and outlook by accepting the fact that things might be unknown right now. Finding positive ways to cope is all we have at the moment and being patient for better things to come. How do you find ways to be more content?  

posted in
share on
continue reading

10.20.2020

My Fall Beauty Roundup

I have embraced warm tones this fall, and it's safe to say that the oranges, bronzes, browns, and reds of fall are definitely my shades. With makeup and clothes especially, I have been experimenting with some new finds. I always think back to middle school when I was watching all of these YouTubers and their extravagant Sephora hauls, but I can assure you that a couple of these products were found at TJ Maxx or were part of a sample set. I'm never really on the "hunt" for makeup products, per say but am always on the look out for some cult classics whenever I need to replenish the products I love. 

Here is my fall beauty roundup...

For the face...
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation- My newest favorite foundation! I have always strayed away from foundations, but the "airbrush" quality of it has me swoon. Since I'm not going out too much, it doesn't make sense for me to put a full face of makeup on, but there are definitely those days I want to clean up a bit or experiment. 

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion- I am all about moisturizing as it gets colder. I hate the feeling of dry and scaly skin on a cold fall or winter morning, so to prevent that, I use this right before I go to bed. It's a lightweight moisturizer and won't clog your precious pores. 

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Good Times- Nars has to be one of my go-to brands and since I don't wear lipstick often, I find these lip pencils to be the perfect in between for getting a neutral lip tint when you wanna spice it up a bit. 

Clinique Chubby Stick in Whole Lotta Honey- Along with Nars, I love the Clinique Chubby Sticks. I can throw these into my bag and also have it as a back up to chapstick if needed. They come in a ton of different shades for all different tones, but I always gear more toward the natural blush and nude tints. No lipstick marks on my coffee cup please! 
For the body...

Bath and Body Works Sweater Weather Body Cream- This is my scent of the season and always will be. It is so hard to find it sometimes because it is so popular, so I make sure to stock up on hand creams, body gels, and candles in this scent for sure. It's the perfect blend of spice and woody scents. 

Chloe Nomade Perfume- Along with warm and spicy scents, the Chloe Nomade perfume has been my choice of fragrance for the past couple of months. It's a warm floral with Oakmoss, Freesia, Mirabelle Liquor. 

For the nails...

OPI Nail Polish in Stop It I'm Blushing- I always love a good creamy neutral or blush pink, so I happened to pick up this new shade that has a slight powder pink tint to it! You can never go wrong with OPI polishes. 
For the eyes...
Glossier Lidstar in Cub- If you are someone who HATES eyeshadow creasing or having it move around on your face, Glossier Lidstars are for you! They're perfectly pigmented so you can build the color up with your finger and it lasts for so long. It also has a bit of copper shimmer, which is just divine. 

Nars Due Eyeshadow in Surabaya- My newest addition and find was this little duo of two coppery brown shades from TJ Maxx. It took me so long to realize they were selling Nars products. As someone who doesn't get too playful with makeup, I love having the option to have to blending shades—as simple as can be! They're also very smooth with minimal fall out. 

For the hair...
Briogeo Scalp Revival Shampoo- Okay, Ladies. Dandruff is a no-go this season. I got this Briogeo shampoo from a trial pack and have been using it sparingly to prevent the dreaded winter head itch and dry scalp. It works wonders! I've never paid much attention to the moisture of my hair, but realize it's really important this time of year. 

Living Proof No Frizz Instant De-frizzer- There have been some rather humid fall days. so when I curl or just want to tame my frizzy wave, I spray a bit of this on top of my hair and kind of comb it through with my fingers. Suffice to say, it really makes a difference and my hair looks and feels shinier and more defined.
I am trying to put aside time for self-care more as the weather gets colder and the days get darker quicker. As a result, I'm getting more into experimenting with different looks. However, there are days when I just don't want to wear a single dab of makeup and that's okay! I feel like the makeup world is evolving and more people are becoming confident in their own skin, so remember to use makeup because it makes you feel good. We need a little bit more of that comfort nowadays. 

posted in
share on
continue reading
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
© Natalie Rohman.
Theme by Eve.