16 & Driving - What To Expect

I was one of those people who didn't get up and run at the chance to take my driver’s test the day I turned 16. (Full license at 22 babyyy!)

I was still living at home, going to high school, and didn’t have a job yet; I was also lucky to have a mom who was up for driving me to most places, I’ll be it, as I wasn’t the partying type, there weren’t many other places to go, but nevertheless, I was set.

When I turned 18 and graduated high school, I began thinking and came to the realization that driving to University might be best - gain some independence; have freedom to come and go as I wanted. (Plus, waiting around outside the central cafeteria everyday wasn't too appealing.)

During that 1^st year of University, I was so glad I decided to start learning over the summer, because I couldn't wait to be able to drive on my own. Where I live, the first step to getting your full license is having what’s called an “L” – it means that you have restrictions to how and when you can drive, the main restriction being that you have to drive with a fully licensed driver over the age of 25 at all times for one year. 

I'm coming up on 4.5 years of driving now (woo!!), and although I'm THRILLED that I can drive and have a car of my own, I've adopted certain habits, and, noticed a lot of "goings-on" out on the open road, so I thought I'd mention a couple here:

(via Catrific)

Let's Say It Now ... I'm Blissfully Aware

... Damn. Well, let's get it out of the way right from the get go, shall we?

Procrastination.

It is currently 10:11 PM on January 2, officially Day 2 of blog-every-day-month, and I have just started writing today's post...

The day started with one of my weekly volunteering shifts, then moved on to an unexpected couple hours of work, and ended by me going to the mall to return some clothes. Not a whole heck of a lot, but enough to keep me busy, and apparently, just enough to say: "I just couldn't write this any sooner."

Don't get me wrong, I have a book with lists and lists of ideas (LISTS.) that I'm planning on writing about, and have even been carrying it around with me for the past couple of days to jot down random ideas that come to me, but procrastination doesn't take a holiday.

Oh, the excuses would pile up - I've been through 17 years of schooling, I know how this goes. And the thing is, when you're a common procrastinator such as myself, you know exactly when you're doing it and how you'll feel later when what you're putting off actually has to be done, but you continue on, blissfully AWARE, every time.

Getting Around To All The Stuff (2014 'Suggestions')

In my search for new blogs last night (being the newbie that I am), one thing stood out amongst everything else, the last posts: The New Years post.

The two most popular posts were:

a). People giving their goals and resolutions that they're hoping to get to in 2014, and

b). People reflecting on their past years, accompanied with photo montages or highlight-of-the-month lists.

After reading about my 5th New Years post, I started thinking, "What do I want to accomplish this year?" Immediately, I started remembering the ones that I had just read or the generic "go to the gym more" (still a solid goal), but I also wanted to think of ones specific to myself as well!

After all, what's New Year's without a tiny bit of reflection, if only to move forward and learn from the past ... or something like that! :)

NYE 2013 .:. Commitment: Here Goes!!

Write a new post everyday in January...?

Commitment.

It usually involves someone relying on you for something or having to fulfill a role or obligation. It's a kind of promise, and those I don't take so lightly. (...so I guess, if anything, you know I keep my promises haha)
This is why I have difficulty with commitments sometimes.
The struggle.

But, today is New Years Eve, and I've been thinking lately that I'd like to do something - have a project of some kind - and came to thinking about my blog! I used to love reading and writing, but as I got older and started University, more things started taking up my time. But now that I've graduated, I've been trying to do other things that I've been wanting to do, and writing is one of them!

So, I came up with (just today), that I'm going to try my damnedest to:
Post everyday of January 2014...!!
(You have my permission to constantly remind me if I start slacking)

The Sweater Weather Tag!

1. Favorite candle scent?
¤ I don't actually use candles! I think because when I was younger I was scared of accidentally ever catching something on fire since I was kiiiind of a clumsy child...but I've been thinking about maybe buying a Christmas-y scented one for the holidays, just to have around the house for an hour at a time.

2. Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?
¤ Hot Chocolate. Whipped Cream. Chocolate Flakes. Mmmmmm......ღ

3. What's the best fall memory you have?
¤ I think, maybe, school time...?...! Growing up I always looked forward to school. I'd go back-to-school shopping as early as I could, have my mom drop me off at Staples/Walmart and just spend hours going through all the new gel pens, notebooks, smelly markers, pencil topers, geometry sets, duo-tangs, etc, etc, etc. And there were always the events my school had for Halloween and all of the pre-Christmas hype... good times indeed. Ahh, nostalgia... :)

4. Which makeup trend do you prefer: dark lips or winged eyeliner?
¤ Winged Eyeliner - I've been using Sephora's Colour Proof Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in 01 Black and Rimmel's Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Black. Sometimes do a wing, not always, but just in general, I prefer eyeliner to dark lips on me. (But if you can work it, go 'head!!)

5. Best fragrance for fall?
¤ Vermont Sugar Maple from Bath & Body Works - We just recently got a Bath & Body Works in the city where I live, and after hearing so many people saying "I got this," or "I got that from BBW", I thought I'd check it out. I have allergies to... really, any, fragrance scents, :S so never have worn a perfume or body spray, HOWEVER, when I saw and smelt the pocket sized hand sanitizers I was psyched! The Vermont Sugar Maple reminds me of the smell of a hazelnut latté - so sweet and delicious - and the best part is, the scent slowly fades. 

6. Favorite Thanksgiving food?
¤ Mashed Potatoes & Gravy... SO GOOD! Even though Canadian Thanksgiving has already come and gone, I'm seriously considering just making a mini-Thanksgiving dinner myself too.

7. What is autumn weather like where you live?
¤ No snow but it gets really chilly and there's frost outside every morning - I kinda prefer the warmer weather :D not a huge fan of how static-y everything gets and wearing glasses, you walk inside after being in the cold and BAM! You can't see.

8. Most worn sweater?
¤ Navy & Burgundy chunky knit sweater from Forever 21 (I'll try and add a picture of it here in the next day or two!) - Their sweaters, I mean, there's just SO many of them and they're affordably priced too, so they're a great fit for me! ;)

9. Must-have nail polish this fall?
¤ OPI DS Extravagance - Deep burgundy w/ a subtle sparkle
¤ OPI DS Classic - Warm gold w/ a subtle sparkle
¤ Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Midnight Sky - Dark silver/grey with a slight metallic sheen

10. Football games or jumping in leaf piles?
¤ Jumping in leaf piles! - Football just seems like it takes so long, like an hour for a couple minutes of play in some instances... whoa.

11. Skinny jeans or leggings?
¤ Skinny Jeans - They're a bit warmer in the cold weather. Thinking of getting some chunkier knit tights this winter though. Jeggings are nice too sometimes!

12. Combat boots or Uggs?
¤ Oh man, if I could style combat boots, then those hands down! (styling attempts in progress)

13. Is pumpkin spice worth the hype?
¤ Not sure, haven't had it before. Wasn't ever really a fan of the taste of pumpkin **don't hate me**

14. Favorite fall TV show?
¤ The Goldbergs! - Seriously guys! The episodes are only ~25 mins, you should check 'em out! :D

15. What song really gets you into the fall spirit?
Hmm... songs I've really been liking lately are:
¤ Team by Lorde - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g03b4U_aPk
¤ Counting Stars by One Republic - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT_nvWreIhg

Well, that was fun. :) Nice way to ease back on into writing some good 'ol blog posts!
Till next time,
TCTTFN!

Makeup Haul TRIO: Maybelline & NYC

I haven't been able - or rather, I haven't let myself buy any new makeup for a couple of months now due to my current unemployed-ness... however, I figured it'd been long enough, after all, it could come in handy during a future job interview, right? ... yes!

I also thought I'd maybe experiment a bit more with "the look" and got to thinking, I really could chop all my hair of and dye it red and it really wouldn't have a negative effect on anything I'm currently doing. Strange feeling really, kind of reminds me of a Jack's Gap video I saw a while back - as a result of a happier circumstance - but, you get the gist.

Just so many options.

So here goes, the mini haul!

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The Finds:

1. Maybelline Fit Me Shine Free Foundation Stick - 330 Toffee Caramel

Oooooo...!!

Ahhhhh....!!

WHY?
I've never worn foundation - liquid or powder - except very, very special occasions, so I thought why not give it a go. I had heard of this 'stick' before and seen it while on my typical drugstore/walmart-run, and had even had fun with the 'Testers' to find my shade, but, even though I liked it, I just didn't think I'd use it enough to make it worth it. The other day however, it went on sale, and that was good enough for me!

AND SO?

- Blends very well! (As long as you get close to your skin tone, it should look just fine because of this)

- Light coverage - won't replace a concealer if you use one

- Mattifying formula isn't harsh looking (still have dimension on your face - not that harsh thank goodness :)! )

- The stick will last a while (partly due to the fact that I'll only use 2 or 3 short strokes on days I want to do full makeup haha)

- And, being able to throw it in your bag & go. <3

Y/N: I'd buy it again maybe when I eventually get through this one

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2. Maybelline The Rocket - 401 Very Black 

Loved the packaging

Solid plastic-tip bristles

WHY?
I found myself standing in the middle of the cosmetics aisle in Target, quickly googling each mascara that I saw for under $10, trying to gauge what people thought of them all (Makeup Alley was a good summary database), but nothing stood out. After about 15 minutes walking slowly up the aisles, I finally just picked a random one that I had seen once or twice on YouTube, and hoped for the best!

AND SO?
- Grabs each lash right from the root & separates really well!
- Doesn't irritate my eyes (I try and buy hypo-allergenic when I can)
- Doesn't clump or leave lashes feeling hard (Benefit's They're Real! did for me)
- Adds length, not so much volume
- Best mascara I've bought in a very long time!
- And, look at that blue & pink. <3

Y/N: I'D BUY IT (Again)!

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3. NYC Applelicious Glossy Lip Balm - 353 Pink Lady

Compact packaging

Light apple-shaped core

WHY?
I'd almost given up on finding a pink/natural looking colour for my lips. I've swatched lip balms, lip butters, lip glosses, lipsticks, lip stains, and nothing I'd come across looked right :(. Having somewhat darker skin (think Christina Millian's complexion), naturally my lips are darker than a light pink shade, which I find either the colour doesn't show up enough, or it looks different on than it does in the package... tricky, tricky. On a whim, I saw the NYC products on sale, and decided to pink up this lip balm for $2.99, and if worse came to worse, it was only some change :)

AND SO?

- Best. Pink. Yet. (Best I've ever tried!!)

- Light & natural looking but still shows up (more than a L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm, less than a Revlon Lip Butter)

- The subtlest of sparkle (subtle meaning you'd have to be up close and personal to even tell)

- Smells deliciously sweet indeed

- Good for work, school, or day-to-day wearing

- Does not have any added benefit for dry lips so continue using one if you have one (ie. EOS balms)

- And, look at that apple core. <3

Y/N: I'D BUY IT (Again)!

TCTTFN :)

Go Offline & Outside :)

During high school, I wasn't interested in buying makeup or extra clothes. It really wasn't until University that I actually found it fun to spend a few hours at the mall, looking back on it, I'm happy about that :)
I spent my time outside either on my farm or playing new sports, while some of my other classmates took to the mall, quite well.

When I started thinking about it, my mind drifted to the internet, and how it's the biggest culprit for distracting people now a days from exploring the real world! There's a lot to see and do out there (and not just look at through a computer screen).
I feel like because computers and the internet are so entwined with our everyday lives, that it sometimes can even seem like a challenge for some people to find other things to do which is a strange thought.
I guess because it wasn't even an option when I was younger, coming up with things to do didn't seem as hard at the time, but I think it's still important to spend time thinking about those other things, if not even more so now.

Try sitting down for 30 minutes before bed or on your way home, and write a list of things that you've always wanted to learn more about or how to do or places you've always wanted to go! What a broad concept though, hey? "What do you want to do?" Hmmmmm...

• Take inspiration from your Tumblr/Twitter accounts - what do you repost? Food, fashion, quotes?
• Is there something unique about the town you live in? What would someone describe it as in 3 words?
• What teams are you a part of right now? Sports teams, after-school programs, art classes?
• Is there something that someone you know can do well that you wish you could do too?
• What makes you happy? :)

Build off of these things and try to be creative!
Always wanted to be more athletic? Join your local intramural sports team;
Reblog those tumblr and instagram pictures people take of their food? Learn how to cook;
Love to learn about new countries and read travel blogs? Work towards being able to travel somewhere!

Have a little talk with yourself and go try something new! :) 9 out of 10 times, if it's fun, safe, and legal (I felt the need to throw that in there haha), you'll be glad you at least tried. And if not, you can just add it to your list of memories to look back on down the road <3

TCTTFN :)

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I've never been great with diaries... oops!

Hi there!

So, it's not that I haven't thought about this blog at all, it's just, wow procrastination is a hard one to beat!!

Haha, but seriously, I'm constantly coming up with new ideas to write about and take pictures of for this blog, and just had been so busy with my last semester of school, I slipped up on actually following through...! :(

I have loads of ideas, and now that I've graduated University (!!) I'm going to make a real effort to post here on a regular basis, because I know it's something I really would like to do & hope you guys find it  interesting or even helpful in some way! :)

That's all for now guys ~ Looking forward to posting more content!!

TCTTFN!

P.S. I've also updated my Music page too ~ There are some great new songs out these days!

;)