How to Stay "Sane" in & Survive Nursing School

Nursing school is difficult, there is no doubt about that. Once you get past all of the difficult pre-requisites and make it into the nursing program, a vast majority of your time is spent learning how to take care of others. Taking care of others is obviously a huge responsibility...and to do it for a living? It can require sacrificing a lot of self.

I am approaching my final semester of nursing school (after a long five years, I'll finally be graduating in December of this year!) and I've learned some tips and tricks along the way of how to keep your sanity in the very difficult process that is nursing school so I wanted to share a few of those with you today. A lot of them may seem obvious but they are truly what has helped me survive so far and can help you, too.

• Time management. This is a huge one. As a nursing student, you are balancing clinical and class time with completing assignments, papers, projects. Personally, I have gone to school full-time for the last five years but I have also worked part-time the entire time as well. So between doing everything I have to do for school with working, spending time with my boyfriend, family, and friends, and taking care of myself, it is a lot to handle. To better manage my time, I:

• Keep a planner and make to-do lists. I write down all of my deadlines/due dates and my work schedule. The planners I have been purchasing the last couple years also have built-in "to-do" lists each day which has really helped in prioritizing what needs to get done, and gosh does it feel nice to check off that box once I complete something!
• Prioritize. This is something that we discuss in regards to nursing (for example, ABC's, Airway, Breathing, Circulation, in relation to patient care) but we also need to prioritize things in our own lives as well. You will not have much free time to work with while you're in nursing school, so prioritizing is huge. I cannot tell you how to prioritize your time since we all have different values and priorities, but taking care of yourself should be your number one priority, always. In regards to assignments, I do the assignments that are due the soonest, usually starting with the most difficult just to get it out of the way, and then go from there.
• Ask for help when you need it. There is no shame in asking for help and delegating things to others, as appropriate, of course.

• Build a good support system. It would be difficult, but you can get through nursing school alone...but it so much better when you surround yourself with people who are there to support you.

• Nursing school friends. These are the people who you can study with but who will also understand what you are going through because they are going through it with you.
• Significant others. I am lucky to have a boyfriend who has been there for me for over the past three years, before I even started in the program. Maintaining a relationship while in nursing school is definitely difficult, especially in our situation where we live about 30 minutes away from each other and have completely different schedules, but we make time for each other. He may not understand exactly what I am going through with school but is always there to lend an ear when I need to vent, to give me time/space when I need it, and to give me nice foot massages after a long day of clinical!
• Family & friends. Again, they may not understand exactly what you are going through, but they are there to support you. Besides, having people in your life who are NOT in nursing school or the health care field is a nice balance. It can definitely take your mind off of the sometimes sad or heartbreaking things you see in clinical or at work.

• Exercise, eat well, and get enough sleep. This is one of the more obvious ones but it is more important than many people realize. I make time to exercise (I work out at home! You can also see if your University has a gym on campus). Getting bored of doing the same old workout? Change it up - try out different classes, work out with a friend, find a new workout routine on Pinterest, or try a different gym, if possible. I also meal prep and find healthy snacks for when I have long days of school/clinical. Meal prepping has helped me significantly in staying healthy and eating cleanly. And lastly, GET ENOUGH SLEEP! I need at least seven hours at night in order to feel alert and ready to learn/work. Figure out what your body and mind need. And do not, I repeat, DO NOT pull all-nighters! Trust me, getting a good night's sleep before a big exam is more important than the few more hours of late-night studying.

• Find healthy ways to relieve stress. No, binge drinking and fast food are not healthy ways to relieve stress 😂  Personally, I do yoga, spend time outside (weather permitting, of course!), watch Youtube videos, and hang out with people I love. This is what helps me relieve stress, on top of taking care of myself with exercising, eating well, and getting adequate sleep. What do you do to relieve stress?

• Talk to a therapist or counselor. There is no shame at all in talking with a professional. I, personally, sought therapy before I started in the program when I was going through relationship and stress issues and it helped me to find myself, set goals, and have more realistic and rational thought processes. Seeing her for an hour once per week or every two weeks really helped me to cope and manage my stress. I anticipate seeing my therapist again towards the end of this year because I know it will be a very stressful time for me.

• Remember why you started in the first place. Reflect on why you wanted to become a nurse. The main reason I and many other people that I've talked to wanted to go into nursing was to help others. Every once in a while there is that experience I have with a patient that at the end of the day/shift I think to myself, "THIS is why I wanted to go into nursing." You will have moments like that, too. As stressful as nursing school and nursing can be, try to take a step back and remember why you started in the first place. Hopefully, this should leave you feeling more refreshed and motivated to continue and to make it through.

1 Year Fitness Progress (Plant-Based/Vegan, BBG, & "The Pill")

February 2016 -> March 2017

Although I feel vulnerable posting these pictures of myself, I am proud of the work I have done and the progress that I've made choosing to live a healthier lifestyle. I will be talking about this past year, the first real year of taking my "fitness journey" seriously. When I say "fitness journey," I mean eating more fruits and vegetables, taking care of myself physically and mentally, and working out regularly. By no means am I training for a sport or striving to be an Instagram model, I just want to feel good, and I believe when you feel good and you take care of yourself, that reflects on the outside.

In the picture on the left, I had just started nursing school, I had just begun Kayla Itsine's BBG program (previous blog post on that here), and I was still not making the best choices in regards to my food.

In the picture on the right, I am more than halfway through nursing school, I am about 10 months in eating a plant-based diet, and about 10 pounds heavier.

When I look at the differences between the two pictures, the first thing I notice is my stomach. My tummy has always been a source of insecurity for me. I see that it is more defined, I have that "V" now, and my "muffin tops" are a bit smaller! The next things I notice are my legs & booty! My legs look thicker and stronger, and although you can't see my tush here, it is firmer, bigger, and more lifted. My boyfriend has noticed these changes the most and it wasn't until I looked at the difference between these two photos that my body really has changed.

So, what have I been doing differently?

1. I stopped the BBG program several months ago. It is a great program and I still do Kayla's workouts from time to time, but I was getting bored of it and I wanted to try something else. Now, I mostly walk, do kettlebell workouts and other workouts I find on Pinterest. I listen to my body and tailor my workout to that, while still trying to push myself. About 2 months ago, I also started going to yoga once a week. I. love. yoga. and it has helped so much with my balance, listening to my body, and my strength.
2.  I eat a plant-based/vegan diet. I also listen to my body and pay attention to how I feel after I eat certain foods. Within the past couple months, I have especially noticed how my body, particularly my gut, feels after eating carbs and sugar. They tend to make me feel bloated, weighed down, and fatigued so I have been trying to cut those out as well and replace them with vegetables and fruits. I also try not to eat when I'm bored and meal-prep as much as possible. Being a full-time college student and a part-time 3rd shift worker at a hospital, meal-prepping is the key to staying on track.
3. I went off of my birth control pill. I went off of the pill at the end of 2016. After I did this, it was like the fat, particularly on my abdomen, just peeled away without changing anything else. I went off of the pill for various reasons - but mostly I didn't want to be taking hormones anymore. I have been battling with (self-diagnosed) anxiety, depression, and moodiness for the longest time. I originally went on the pill in high school for my acne (this was before I was sexually active) and when I went on it, it was like I bloated up (I gained so much weight) and became a totally different, unhappy person. I felt like I was living in a fog. I finally decided it was time to stop taking it and it is like the fog has been lifted. No, I am not ready to have children just yet so my long-term partner and I have been using other birth control methods. I am so happy I decided to stop taking the pill, it is one of the best decisions I have made, particularly in regards to my mental health.
4. Lastly, I am kinder to myself and my body. I focus on how I feel instead of how I look. Yes, it is awesome to see progress, but it is more important to feel better. I feel myself getting stronger, being more confident, having more mental and physical energy, and being kinder to myself when I slip up (at work, in school, with my diet, anywhere). I try to focus on the long-term as opposed to short-term and that seems to help as well. I want to age gracefully and live not only a longer life but have a better quality of life, too. Age and other uncontrollable health risk factors aside, I believe the work you put into your body is the work you get out. Treat your body right and your body will be good to you, too.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to ask any questions or share your own opinions or experiences.

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10 things I've learned in 22 years

This blog post is inspired by Jenna Marble's 29 Life Lessons I Learned in 29 Years video. I limited this list to 10 things - 10 things that came to my mind first. Of course I've learned more than 10 life lessons in 22 years, but I could probably talk forever if no one stopped me! I will probably kick myself later for neglecting to add something or stating something oddly, but I will leave this list as is. Feel free to agree or disagree with anything on this list, or comment with your own life lessons or input. I'd love to hear it.

So here's ten things I have learned so far in my 22 years of life:

Taking care of yourself is important. I think your early twenties are a really important time to break bad habits and replace them with good or better ones. I like to believe your twenties are a time to have fun, but also be responsible enough to think long-term. I quit smoking, started exercising regularly, and developed healthy eating habits.

Your parents are human too. When I was a kid, I looked up to my parents very much and thought they could do no wrong. When I started really thinking for myself, I realized how toxic some of the thinking and interactions within my immediate family are. Emotional and verbal abuse are not normal. I strongly believe family is important, but if a relationship is only toxic to you and your life, then some space or distance can be a good thing. 

You might think you know what you want, but that can (and will probably) change. When I was 18-19 years old I thought I knew everything, including how I wanted my life to go. Yes, this was only 3-4 years ago but a lot has changed in just a few years time. I am wise enough now to know that life can change in an instant and that it's important to be flexible in your plans, and I also realize I have a lot left to learn.

Others will not always have your best interest in mind. People can be selfish. Oftentimes other people will do things and make decisions that will hurt you. And I guess that's the way the world works sometimes, sometimes you have to do things that make YOU happy. It becomes a problem when you are intentionally doing things to hurt other people. At the end of the day, you have to be an advocate for yourself.

Knowledge is power. I feel like a lot of people view college/university in a bad light nowadays. It is an investment of time and money, and no one is guaranteed a job after he/she graduates. I highly value my education and what I have learned so far. I strongly believe that continually learning and growing (no matter how you do this, it doesn't have to necessarily be a formal education) is important to becoming the best human you can be.

Change is uncomfortable, but necessary. I think this can apply to a lot of things. "Change is the only constant," is a saying that I try to keep in mind whenever I am going through a major change in my life (like changing jobs, ending relationships, etc). Change can be very scary, even if you know that it is a change that will be good for you in the long run. I just try to remember that the process is temporary and that I will eventually become accustomed to whatever change is happening, that that will become the new "normal" eventually, and that I will become a stronger and better person because of it.

It's important to be able to laugh at yourself. I think a sense of humor is a very valuable tool. Life is too short and goes by too quickly to take yourself seriously. I remember reading somewhere that a person is perceived by others as more friendly if he/she is able to admit when he/she is embarrassed and laugh about it (I'm paraphrasing here!)

No one really knows what they're doing, but most people are really good at pretending. Life is a crazy, scary, and beautiful experience. I think the sooner people realize this, and realize that we are all in this together, the kinder people will act towards each other. I've realized that all you can do is do the best you can with what you have. You don't have to be rich or famous to have an impact on people, but you can have a positive influence on people in your immediate environment - your neighbors, co-workers, clients, friends...

You will encounter people who have starkly opposing beliefs and opinions from you, and that's okay. If everyone thought, believed, and did the same things, the world would be boring. Not only that, but I think balance is essential (in politics, work/life, nature, everything!). Without balance, we would be going from one extreme to another. You don't have to agree with what someone else thinks or believes, but empathy and genuine understanding of another person's lifestyle is powerful.

There is still a lot left to experience and to learn. I feel I have already learned and experienced a lot as a 22 year old, but I have a lot of life left to live and I am looking forward to continuing to learn and to grow!

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♥

July snapshots

July is one of my favorite months out of the year. The weather, the sunshine, the festivals and events that take place throughout the city, the freedom... all reasons I love this month. I have to admit that I am sad to see it almost coming to an end because that means only a month separates me from classes starting up again. Don't get me wrong, I love school and learning new things, but nothing quite beats the freedom you feel on those rare summer days off.

Below are just a few snapshots from my iPhone from the many memories I've made with my boyfriend, friends, and family this past month.

It has been a very fun month which included things such as: seeing Luke Bryan in concert, walks through countryside trails, fun times with friends at downtown bars, and reminding myself that it is okay to forget about work for a night and fully enjoy my time with the people I love!

Questions of the day: What memories have you made this past month? What is your favorite time of the year?

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♥

Prom Night

I remember in the fifth grade i counted down the years until i could go to prom.  It made me feel so old at the time - i remember thinking "just six more years and we'll all be high schoolers and go to prom".  Now that the event has come and gone (it was on Saturday night-Sunday morning), it seems time just went by way too quickly.  It's funny how prom seemed like the biggest deal back in the day, and now that i'm actually at the age where i can go to things like prom and such, it's not that big of a deal anymore.  It seems overrated even.  That might just be my take on it, since a ton of people from school were sharing how super duper excited they were about the night on Facebook.  Maybe i'm just a party pooper?

We all met up at my house to put on our dresses and take pictures before the dance, where the limo driver met us as well.  Yes we hired a limo driver to haul us around for the night!  Are we cool or what?  Four people in a ten-person-capacity limousine.  It was quite the squeeze (that was sarcasm, obv haha).  We decided to go with a smaller group (sans dates) because we all just find it more fun, and with more people comes more drama in our opinion.

With my lovely mother ♥

I went with a fairly simple dress in a bolder color.  It was actually the first one i tried on and was so relieved that it was long enough (maybe too long as everyone, including me, was stepping on it!).  For my hair, i tried to compliment the dress as much as possible, but keeping it casual as well, so i just did a messy side bun on the opposite side of where the asymmetrical strap was, with little twists on both sides of my part.

For my makeup, i tried to do a bit of an Adele-inspired look.  She always looks so flawless and classic with her makeup - it's simple, but a bit dramatic at the same time, which i think is perfect for prom (or everyday if you're like me) and went really well with the dress and hair.  So for the look, i did some contouring & highlight of the cheeks, dark black liquid winged eyeliner, a shimmery lid with a defined crease, false lashes, white eyeliner on the waterline, and a nudey-pink lip.

Everyone usually gets their hair, makeup, and nails done professionally, but i don't trust other people with trying to make me look good for events like prom!  I'm also a bit skint atm haha.

Ooh la la!  Inside the limo.

Didn't take any pictures at the actual venue where our prom was held, but we went to this really classy Roman-inspired place, ate some delicious steak with prom king & queen, and tried to dance without looking like slags and without sweating too much.  Lovely image, no?  Wish people would actually dance and not ahem... do whatever you want to call how the kids are 'expressing themselves' these days.  I have to say the icing on the cake was when they played Friday by Rebecca Black - some hardcore dance moves and stellar singing ensued.

After prom, the prom committee every year organizes a 'post-prom' at the Y, which is basically a lock in that goes on from 12:30-3:30 AM, where everyone still has their makeup & hair done, but changes into sweats.  There's a ton of food, inflatable obstacle course, and fun times to be had.  The best part was the hypnotist though!  Can't even begin to describe that... People were genuinely hypnotized and it was the strangest, yet most hilarious thing i have ever seen.  Maybe next year i'll be able to actually be hypnotized, my brain wouldn't shut off & let me fall into the trance...

Another photo in the limo / A picture of the airbrush tattoos my friends and me got at post-prom!  Mine is the ace of spades card.

After post-prom, my friends and i came back to my house, where we stayed in the hot tub until the sun started to rise and then we passed out in the basement for a little bit.

Overall, it was quite a fun night!  Wish i could've let go a bit more and gotten into the whole 'prom experience'.

♥

Update & Upcoming Travels

I feel like i have SO much to catch up with you ladies on!  (Please excuse the wordy sentence).  I won't have too much time to get any blog posts up for a while - not like i blog much anyway! *sadface* - but i digress... So much has been going on lately in my life: i've been working a ton, i've been ill & therefore have a lot to catch up on school-wise, preparing for prom, and i've also been getting ready for my trip to England & France!  Yep, if you didn't already know, i will be flying to London this Wednesday (the 20th) and will be there for a few days, then i'll be taking the train to Paris.  It's so surreal, it honestly hasn't even hit me that i'll be going to the country where an insane amount of my favorite bloggers, bands, etc. live, although we've been planning this for months!

I'm going with a fairly small group of people from school (it's an English department trip for juniors and seniors).  I'm really hoping to avoid looking like a tourist, although with a group of people that really don't know anything about England and traveling with a tour guide, unfortunately, i'm afraid that we will look like utter tourists. D:  Oh, the horror!

Although i may look like a total nerd/typical tourist, snapping photos of everything and hopefully getting LOADS in Primark, if any of you happen to spot me, don't be afraid to approach me!  I know this most likely won't happen, but i would love for it too. ;)  And if i see any of you, i will definitely at least try to gather the courage to come up to you. ♥

If you have any recommendations of products or places i should check out, definitely let me know!  We're staying in Hammersmith and i'm already planning on trying to make time to go to Superdrug, Primark, New Look, maybe River Island, and hopefully Topshop.  My bank account is going to totally hate me after this trip.  Ahem.

A bit off the subject, but i wanted to give a little shoutout to Hannah who recently celebrated her one year blogiversary and decided to share the love a bit by mentioning a few of her fellow bloggers she met through Blogger - one of them being me!  It honestly made my day, it was so sweet.  Beautylishious is one of my favorite blogs and the lady behind it is so lovely. :)  Happy blogiversary and here's to many more to come!

I hope you're all doing well, i miss blogging & talking to you guys. :l

Talk to you lovelies soon!  Thanks for sticking by me and Big City Dreams, i mean it. ♥

♥

13 personal questions

One of my favorite Youtubers, Gemma, recently did this 'tag' and you know how i am with tags!  I can't get enough of them ;).  So again, i thought i'd go right ahead and do this one.  Sorry if you don't really enjoy reading tags, they're just quick & easy to do when i don't have time to do an actual beauty/fashion-related post.
You can watch Gemma's video with her answers here ♥
Click photo for credit.

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1. What do you order at Starbucks?
I'm actually not a huge Starbucks fan, but if i have a gift card or something i usually get a tall Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino & a chocolate chip cookie.  Haha :)

2. What's one thing in your closet that you cannot live without?
Probably a basic black or white cami - i wear these under everything.  I don't know why, i've been wearing those camis under everything since like fifth grade!  Another thing is probably a pair of dark wash jeggings.

3. What's one thing that most people probably wouldn't know about you?
I'm secretly a huge nerd.  I love learning and reading and watching the History & Discovery channel and such.  I'm a huge nerd when it comes to music and astronomy especially!

4. Name one thing you want to do before you die.
Fall in love & make it last.

5. What's one food that you cannot live without?
I'm sure i can definitely live without these (not by choice :P) but: pizza, brownies, pineapple.
Worst answer ever haha.

6. What quote/phrase do you live your life by?
See the beauty in everything.  Keep an open mind.  Happy girls are the prettiest girls.  Do what you want and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

7. What do you like and dislike about the Youtube/blogging community?
Like - This may sound completely cheesy/dorky, but it's fascinating (to me anyway) learning about how other girls live in countries throughout the world.  I was so used to life where i live, and i didn't really realize how different other girls my age live their lives because of their culture & where they grew up - whether it's in Ireland, England, Spain, or even just the west coast.  I don't know, i'm fascinated by it. :)
Dislike - Like Gemma, i really don't like how judgmental & negative people can be.  Gemma answered this part perfectly, so i don't feel like repeating it!

8. What's your number one most listened to song on iTunes?
Closer by Kings of Leon ~ it's nearing 700 plays now!

9. What kind of style would you define yourself as having?
I honestly don't know, it changes with my mood.  It's also changing a lot at the moment - i've been getting rid of so many of my old clothes because i just can't stand them anymore.  Unfortunately i have no money to get new clothes, so i'm literally living off of a few tops, cardigans, & jeggings.  I hate my life haha.

10. Favorite number?
Am i the only one who thinks it's weird to have a favorite number?  I don't know, i like odd numbers.  And two.

11. Two hobbies.
Tidying things, my room especially.  Blogging.

12. Two pet peeves.
People who use "ur", "u", "y", "r", etc. for your/you're, you, why, are, etc. when they have an adequate amount of space to type the full words.  Unnecessary & compulsive swearing (i'm guilty of this one sometimes, i'll admit!).

13. Guilty pleasure.
Chocolate.  Omg.  If you have a TGI Friday's by you, go and get the "Brownie Obsession" dessert.  Just trust me on this one!  Oh, and you might want to bring someone along to help you finish it haha.

♥

four things tag

click photo for credit

Whilst checking my Blogger dashboard as you dooo, i came across this tag on Ellie's blog Little Elfie (go check it out, it's one of my faves & she's lovely ♥).  I've not done one like it before - well, maybe i have but i can't resist these tags - so i thought i'd do it!  I always enjoy reading these, so i hope you like what i've written below :)  If you end up doing this tag, feel free to link it in the comments.  You can read Ellie's answers here.  And here are mine... ♥
*Edit: Ellie seems to have privated her blog, sorry bout that :/ Hopefully it'll come back up soon!*

Four things found in my bag:

- Strawberry Lip Smackers chapstick

- Wallet

- Victoria's Secret Kissing in Paris body mist (if you think you're too old for body mists, you've clearly never been to Victoria's Secret)

- Juicy Fruit Sweet Fruit gum

Four things found in my wallet:

- Learner's permit

- Two five dollar bills (this is so sad haha)

- A plethora of gift cards

- School ID

Four favorite things in my room:

- Blanket

- Figurines my parents have collected over the years from travelling & such

- Framed sheet music

- Book shelf

Four things i've always wanted to do:

- Travel the world

- Fall in love & make it last

- Give back to my parents & thank them for all they've done for me

- Go back to Disney World

Four things i'm currently into:

- Cheerios

- Reading

- Dreaming

- Resisting change

Four things i bet you didn't know about me:

- I think having a favorite number is weird

- I've played the violin for going on eight years now

- I cannot stand romantic comedies, aka chick-flicks

- I hate that they've stopped teaching kids how to write in cursive

Four songs i can't get out of my head:

- Marry You by Bruno Mars

- Roll Away Your Stone (Live at Glastonbury 2010) by Mumford & Sons

- Hey Baby (Drop It to the Floor) by Pitbull & T-Pain

- Read My Mind by The Killers

Four shows that i watch:

- Skins US & UK

- Misfits

- Jeopardy

- Intervention

Four things i'm passionate about:

- Happiness

- Traveling

- Art - music, photography, etc.

- Learning (ahem.. nerd)

Four things i've learned from the past:

- Don't judge a person by what you see or hear of them, you have no idea what they may actually be going through

- Laughter really is the best medicine

- There's beauty in everything

- Although it's scary, sometimes you have to just put yourself out there

Four places i'd like to go:

- Egypt (feel horrible with all the chaos & everything going on over there)

- Germany

- Japan

- New York City

Four things i did yesterday:

- Got out of school early (thank you crazy Midwestern weather)

- Watched Planet Earth

- Made brownies

- Cried until my eyes were sore

Four things i'm looking forward to:

- Playing Mario Kart DS

- My birthday in March

- England & France in April

- Summer & being done with school (except for the humidity & bugs)

I'd also like to add: happy February!  This year is already going by so quickly.  I have an interview at the thrift store tomorrow, so cross your fingers for me please!  My friends who work there are reassuring me that it's really nothing, but i can be such a nervous wreck.

♥

Q+A tag

I was tagged by the super lovely Holly to do this questions and answers tag, so i thought i might as well :).  You can read her answers here!  I do enjoy doing & reading these tags, so if you do this one, link it in a comment!  Hope you enjoy my answers as well as the irrelevant (but pretty :) photos haha ♥

Click photos for credit!

1. What's your dream job?

I would love to do something art-related, whether it's making music, being a photographer, working in fashion, etc.  I can't see myself being happy if i don't have art in my life!  Although i would love working in a artsy-type of job, realistically i suppose it can't really happen.  But yeah, if i could choose it would be something along those lines.

2. What is your favorite fragrance for winter?

I admittedly don't have a single fragrance suitable for winter!  I would love something a bit warmer or spicier, but i can't be bothered to go out & search for a new perfume, haha.  Any recommendations? :)

3. How do you take your tea/coffee?

At the moment, i actually prefer hot chocolate ♥.  I like any fruity or minty tea, and don't drink coffee - wish i could say i do!  Then i could be like one of those hipsters who always have a Starbucks cup in their hand ;)

4. What is your most important beauty secret?

Take care of your skin.  Remove your makeup, wash your face, moisturize, drink plenty of water, etc!  Can't emphasize this enough.  I slip up on this all the time, but it's definitely important!

5. If you had an all expenses paid vacation anywhere, where would you go?

Hmm, this is such a tough choice!  Maybe space?  Haha :).  There's an insane amount of places i want to go, so i'd probably pick the most expensive one!  (Laura's lame).

6. If a genie popped in your lap right now and offered you three wishes, what would they be?

-Megan Fox's or Katy Perry's figure!  Been feeling really crap about my body lately.

-A sexy boyfriend.  Nuff said?

-For my family to be happy & healthy.

7. If you could only have breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert foods for the rest of your life, which one would you pick?

In an ideal world, desserts would be healthy & i would choose that.  Or breakfast food, i LOVE breakfast food!  Waffles, mmmm.  But i suppose all those carbs would be bad for you after a while haha.  I think i would choose dinner as that has the biggest variety of food & would probably be the healthiest.

8. If you had to pick a famous person for your other half to meet, who would you choose for them?

Yo no tengo un amor :/.

9. What is your biggest makeup pet peeve?

I would have to say when really gorgeous girls pack on their makeup - they're naturally pretty, they don't need makeup!  Of course they're the drawn on eyebrows and visible foundation line, but those have all been said before.

10. If you could only wear one piece of jewelry for the rest of your life, what would it be?

If i ever get married, probably my wedding ring - haha.  But right now, i would probably pick something understated & delicate - something like this.  Just a tad bit of sparkle, dainty & timeless!

11. What one talent do you wish you had?

I think if i had to choose, it would be being funny or speaking well - if those are talents!  I wish i could just charm people, you know?  Like, being funny & making people laugh - sure i can do that, but it doesn't come naturally like it does for others!  Charisma would be lovely :)

12. The product you will continue to purchase?

Tresemme Tres Two Hold hairspray!  Love this hairspray, i'm probably on my third or fourth bottle of it already.  Holy grail product for sure :)

13. If you could look into the future, would you?  What would you want to know?

I honestly wouldn't.  I think if i knew something about my future, i'd constantly be anxious about it & worried about possibly changing it.  Maybe i'm looking to far into this haha.  I guess uncertainty is what makes life exciting?

14. Who is your biggest celebrity crush?  (Include pictures)

Oh lord, too many gorgeous men on this planet to just choose one!  Well, i guess i'll TRY to narrow it down... ;)

top L-R: Cillian Murphy, Mumford & Sons, Adam Levine
bottom L-R: Johnny Depp, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Andrew VanWyngarden
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15. What made you start a blog?

Well, nothing/no one made me start a blog, i started it because i wanted to!  I discovered beauty videos on Youtube, then discovered the blogging community through that, and was inspired to start my own.  I guess i just wanted to have my own bit of the beauty blogging community, so that's when 'Big City Dreams' emerged.  And that's that really :).

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30 Things I Want To Do

I saw this post on Katherine's blog Paper Pocket (she's super lovely btw :) and her list of 30 things she wanted to do was amazing, so it inspired me to do my own.  Definitely feel free to do this post as well, i'd love to read it!  These things are in no particular order, just typing them as they pop into my head, hope you enjoy ♥

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1. Move to a big city or a cottage in the woods (a la Sleeping Beauty :)

2. Open my own sweet shop.

3. Marry an amazing man.

4. Play in an orchestra outside of high school.

5. Go sledding with friends.

6. Bake and decorate cut-out cookies for Christmas.

7. Climb a tree.

8. Go on a ton of roller coasters and scream my head off.

9. Redecorate my room.

10. Donate blood.

11. Finish my Wreck This Journal.

12. Travel the world with someone i love (there are just too many places to list!).

13. Try various different foods.

14. Go to space.

15. Learn how to surf.

16. Dream more.

17. Travel the entire Route 66, from Chicago to Los Angeles, baby.

18. Learn two different languages, not including English.

19. Read more books that aren't just mental chewing gum (Twilight, ahem).

20. Stop wasting time seeking other people's approval.

21. Be nicer to the people who love me.

22. Become less dependent on technology.

23. Learn how to play the harp and piano.

24. Be in a musical.

25. Own a kitten.

26. Make beautiful things - babies, music, etc. :)

27. Do what i love, and help people along the way.

28. Go to the places The Lord of the Rings was filmed.

29. Start taking dance classes again.

30. Complete everything on this list.

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An Explanation ♥

As some of you may have noticed, my blog has been kind of straying away from beauty & fashion a bit, and has turned into more of an inspiration or photography type of blog.  I have to say, this is unintentional.  I absolutely love makeup & fashion, but i feel like every 'fotd' i do is the same, my monthly favorites consist of the same few products, etc...and i find it hard to take decent photos of my outfits (which the outfits themselves can be quite similar).

I hate to blame the money factor, but it's so difficult to blog about new products or to show you girls what i've recently acquired when i don't have the money to actually go out & buy new clothes or new makeup.  I'm currently saving up for driver's ed, my trip to England & France (which was a struggle to even convince my parents to let me go), and a new camera, and i don't even have a job, so money is soo tight for me right now - i find it hard to even scrape up a few dollars to go out to a movie or dinner with friends.  Sure my mom will pay for a winter coat, or the occasional top, but with the economy the way it is and with money being tighter than usual, my family's priorities have been sorted out & the money spent on things that are considered more 'luxury' (ie. clothing, trips, makeup, etc.) has definitely decreased significantly.

Of course i'll try my hardest to continue blogging about makeup & fashion as per usual, but i just thought i'd let you all know what's going on and why my blog seems to be going off in a kind of different direction.  This post is more personal compared to what i usually post, but i feel like it had to be said.

I hope you girls understand.  You have all been SO supportive & lovely to me, and i'd like to thank you so much for everything ♥.

Since you're the ones who read my blog, what posts do you enjoy reading the most or what would you like to see more of on my blog?  It would be extremely helpful to get some feedback from you all :)

I'm off to go start my English essay (the rough draft is due tomorrow -____-).  Hope you are all having a relaxing Sunday!

xoxo,

Laura

Ask me anything / Tweet tweet!

♥

This or That?!

I saw this tag on the lovely Sabrina's blog A Little Obsessed a while back and i love little tags like this, so i figured i'd do it!  You can read her answers here :)

Makeup

Blusher or bronzer?  Bronzer.

Lip gloss or lipstick?  Lipstick all the way!

Eyeliner or mascara?  Mascara - makes such a difference.

Neutral or color eyeshadow?  Neutral for sure!

Pressed or loose eyeshadow?  I prefer pressed, it's just a lot easier to use & it's not as messy.

Brushes or sponges?  Brushes!

Nails

OPI or China Glaze?  I haven't tried enough China Glaze to compare the two, but i love OPI!

Lotion or body butter?  Probably lotion.

Body wash or soap?  Mmm, Lush soap or Snow Fairy shower gel :)

Lush or other bath company?  Lush!  Love how environmentally friendly they are & they're products are soo fun & lovely!

Fashion

Jeans or sweatpants?  For comfort - jeggings or sweatpants.  For fashion - jeggings!  Can never find jeans that fit my properly.

Long sleeves or short?  Right now, 3/4 length or short sleeves with a cardi on top :)

Dresses or skirts?  Dresses.

Stripes or plaid?  Ooh, this is a toughie!  I love both :)

Flip-flops or sandals?  Sandals for sure.

Scarves or hats?  Ahh, can't decide!  Love them both for different reasons.

Studs or dangly earrings?  Studs normally - i do love a good dangly earring sometimes though!

Necklaces or bracelets?  Another tough one!  Can't choose :)

Heels or flats?  Flats - i'm almost 5'11!  Don't get me wrong, i love love love heels though!  Just don't wear 'em :/

Cowboy boots or riding boots?  Probably cowboy boots!

Jacket or hoodie?  Depends.. :)

Hair

Curly or straight?  Both!  Depends on the outfit.

Bun or ponytail?  Messy bun :)

Bobby pins or butterfly clips?  Bobby pins.

Hairspray or gel?  I'm a hairspray fiend.

Long or short?  On me - long hair, but i honestly think some people just look better with shorter hair!  A lot of girls can pull it off :)

Light or dark?  On me, darkish-medium haha.

Side-swept bangs or full bangs?  Again, on me - side swept i think.

Up or down?  Down nine times out of ten!  I do love a good up-do though :)

Random

Rain or shine?  Right now i'm lovin' the rain - i love 'em both!

Summer or winter?  Ahh, that's a tough choice.  Love the sun & having no school, but i also love snow & holidays!

Autumn or spring?  Love them both for different reasons!  Can't choose :D

Chocolate or vanilla?  Chocolate, duh :)

-

Click on photos for credit!
I'm not going to take anyone in particular, but if you haven't done this tag already, do it!  I'd love to read it ♥
Hope you ladies are all having a lovely weekend - i have so much work to do :/
xoxo

Ask me anything / Tweet tweet!

♥

Mini Q+A ♥

I was tagged by the lovely Sabra Rose to do the 8 questions tag!  Thank you soo much again sweetie :)

I've already done the '8 questions tag', but the questions are different every time, so i thought i'd go ahead & do it :) ♥

I also want to say a quick thank you to everyone who follows me as i reached 350 followers the other day!  Thank you ladies soo, sooo much - i don't deserve you ;D

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1. What's your favorite lipstick or lipgloss?

I'm definitely more of a lipstick person, and i have two lipsticks that i find myself reaching for the most :).  They are, Maybelline's Color Sensational Lipstick in "Pink Please" - a more medium-toned, peachy-pink (review here) & Revlon's Matte Lipstick in "Pink Pout" - a warm, light pink color (review here).

2. Do you love fake tan or do you just embrace being pale?

I'm naturally super pale (we're talking NW15) & i've always hated it, i just never did anything about it.  But i've recently gotten into self-tan & i'm never going back!  Haha :) (A post on my self-tan venture here).

3. Are you a dog or cat person?

I think i'm more of a cat person.  One of the main reasons may be that i'm allergic to dogs :/, but i feel like i can relate to cats - as weird as that sounds hahaha.  They mainly just sleep all day, stretch, lounge around - exactly what i do ;D.  They're also mega adorable of course!  I still do adore dogs though :)

4. Do you feel more comfortable in jeans or a skirt?

I've never found the 'perfect' pair of jeans (i'm quite tall, so jeans either run too short, too big around the waist, too tight in the thighs, etc.), so i never really feel too comfortable in them.  And with skirts, i always feel really fussy with them, haha, but i think they are more comfortable tbh.  I'm still most comfortable in leggings or a dress though :)

5. Do you like matte or glowy skin?  Do you prefer to start with a matte base and highlight certain places on your face or do you just like to glow all over?

I like to try & find a happy-medium between the two.  I like to start with a matte base & highlight certain places, for sure - especially in the winter.  In summer though, i feel like it's easier to get away with more glowy/dewy skin.  I have quite oily skin, so either way, i'm always a bit shiny/dewy!

6. What's your favorite fruit?

I used to like strawberries & pineapple the most, but ever since this summer, i've started to like watermelon the best :).  So watermelon i think is my fave atm, but i love red grapes & green apples as well :)

7. Who's your style icon and who's your makeup icon?

I can't say i have one specific icon for either, but i do like to draw inspiration from celebrities, bloggers, magazines/ads, etc.  Some celebrities whose style i love are: Rachel Zoe, Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen, Whitney Port - anyone with a laid-back, bohemian-chic kind of style :).  As for makeup, i mainly just look up to beauty bloggers for inspiration to be honest :)  But i think i'll be unoriginal & say the Kardashians celebrity-wise - we all know they look absolutely fab 24/7!

8. How do you feel about tattoos?

Unlike my parents, i'm quite open to tattoos.  I think tattoos that have a meaning behind them are brilliant.  If you're going to permanently mark something onto your body, it might as well mean something to you, otherwise i think it's just something you'll regret.  If i were to ever get one, i think it would be just one word, or a short phrase that holds quite a significance to me in my life.  Overall, i think it's a personal choice & should be really thought through before actually getting it done, instead of it just being on a whim - remember, your skin isn't going to be this firm & wrinkle-free forever!

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♥

Happy 101 :)

I was tagged by the lovely Belle over at x_All that's beautiful_x to do the Happy 101 tag!  Thank you so much sweetie :)

I was actually planning to do the "10 Things That Make Me Happy" tag, & although this is a bit different, i'm so glad i got tagged!

Rules:

1. Post who gave you this award.

2. State ten things you love.

3. Give this award to 10 other bloggers & notify them in a comment.

This is in no particular order :)

1. My sisters ♥

left picture: Samantha, Stephanie, me
right picture: me, Samantha (she graduated that day :), Stephanie
I have two older sisters (yep i'm the baby hehe), and i love them to death.  They're the ones i feel i can always talk to when things are going right & when i have no one else to really turn to.  I'm so grateful i have them in my life :).  I don't know what i'd be without them!


2. Friends ♥

That's me in the middle LOL
This sounds so typical, but i really do love my friends!  Haha.  I finally found a great group of people to hang out with this summer (let's not go back to my past friendships...ohgod.), and i'm so happy i found them!  We've had countless amounts of good times together & yeah :).  Love 'em!


3. Blogging ♥

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Blogging is amazing, i'm soo glad i stumbled across the whole blogging world!  It's such a creative release for me (also a way of procrastating...ahem..), and it's a fantastic way to discover new products & clothes, as well as other cultures & ways of life!  Soo incredible. 

4. Music ♥

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Music is everything to me, as cliche as it sounds.  It's there when i'm happy, mad, sad, confused, anxious, apathetic - it's there through everything.  When there's no where left to turn, there it is to turn to :).  Music really does save lives ♥.
As for my taste in music, i love absolutely everything.  Name any genre out there, i lovess it.


5. Shopping ♥

credit - love this girl's blog!
And yes, i realize the US doesn't have Primark!  lol :/
Ohhhh, shopping.  We all know we shouldn't do it as much as we should, but who can resist right?  I guess i could list off some places i love to drain my cash into - Forever 21, H&M, Charlotte Russe, etc. :)  Confessions of a Shopaholic = life!  (Minus Hugh Dancy *sigh*)

6. Autumn ♥

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I was just discussing with a friend the other day how much we love autumn & everything about it :).  Hoodies, homecoming, hot chocolate, walks through the park with the leaves changing colors, crisp not-too-hot-not-too-cold weather, etc. ♥.  Fall would be the perfect season if it weren't also back-to-school season! :(


7.  Photography ♥

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Photography to me is not just a form of art, it's a way of escapism & inspiration.  Looking at different photographs can take one to different places & different times..it's incredible.  I'm not even going to bother sharing some of my favorite photography in this post, it would literally be 905423 years long if i did!  If you do want to see my faves, check out my Tumblr & weheartit (shameless plug!).


8. Traveling ♥

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Sometimes photographs just can't do real-life objects justice..With traveling, you can discover different places (obv.), cultures, lifestyles, foods, architecture, & yourself (i know, cheeseballlll! but it's true :).  I think everyone needs to travel.  If someone goes their whole life without even leaving their city, they are truly missing out on the world - sure you can discover things through the internet or tv, but nothing tops actually having the whole travel experience.


9. Chocolate & sweet treats ♥

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Cookies, cotton candy, cupcakes, brownies, donuts, cake...am i making you hungry yet?  Haha, we all love a bit of something sweet sometimes!  Well, maybe all the time, but we try to limit ourselves, right?  ;)  I've been getting better at resisting these sweet treats, but those who also have a sweet tooth know how hard it is sometimes haha.  Bottom line, tasty treats are tasty ♥.


10. Dancing ♥

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I've been dancing since i was really little, and although i don't take actual classes anymore, dancing is something i adore :).  It must go along with some of the music i listen to (ahem..Passion Pit), but sometimes i can't even resist a bit of foot tapping or even a bit of flailing of the arms (hahaha, truth!).  If i actually danced as much as i wanted to/felt the urge to, i'd probably be burning so many calories that i might be the healthiest person alive haha ;).  Love love love.



Anyone who fancies doing this tag, go ahead - i'd love to read it!

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♥