Summer To Do List

Since summer officially starts in a few days I thought it would be the perfect time to share my summer to do list! These are a few simple and fun things (in no particular order) that I hope to do this summer. Keep your eye on this list throughout summer as I'll be editing it once I check an item off the list! I hope you enjoy and let me know what's on your to do list this summer! Yay for summer and yay for more ice cream cones like the one pictured above!

1. Go to the drive in.

2. Spend an afternoon outside playing lawn games.

3. Play tennis as much as possible.

4. Go see a concert (preferably an outdoor one).

5. Go to an amusement park.

6. Buy fresh/local produce whenever possible.

7. Go on a winery tour.

8. Plan a dinner party on the rooftop.

9. Go watch an outdoor baseball game.

10. Make homemade popsicles.

11. Take more pictures and videos.

12. Take a weekend getaway.

Image source

Pep Talk Thursday: Encouragement

So here we go! As I said in my post yesterday, today's post would be a little different than my normal posts. I've thought long and hard about how to channel these idea's into a post or a series and I think I have finally landed on an idea that feels right. So, I'm still working out the logistics, but I think every other Thursday will now be known as Pep Talk Thursday. Every other week I'll cover a new topic, these will be wide ranging, but my hope is for this to be like we're sitting together, having a tea and just chatting. If you have any ideas for a topic please feel free to share! I always love new ideas! To start I thought it would be best to ease in to this with a topic that I've mentioned a few times on here and my instagram, and that is the idea of encouragement. This one word honestly fills me with so much passion and joy. Seriously just say it out loud a few times. Doesn't it make you want to help others, or send a nice text to someone who might need it? Well that's exactly how it makes me feel and hopefully once our little pep talk is through you will feel the same way!

My relationship with the term encouragement (yes you can have a serious relationship with a word...) began a few months ago. This was right around the same time that this blog of mine felt a little stuck, and when I wasn't sure where I wanted this space to head. So, what better way to get motivated then to procrastinate and watch a bunch of videos that aren't really related to what you're doing... smart one Nicole! However, what I quickly learned through some of these videos was that they were speaking so clearly to me, that their messages really sparked something within me. There's a whole bunch of videos, blog posts and webinars that are great for inspiration and cover many topics. Some of my favourites are The Conversation by Amanda de Cadenet (here), blog posts by Lara Casey and Emily Ley, and also their webinars. Seriously go check these out, they will make you feel so inspired and ready to move mountains afterwards!

But after watching and reading a few of these things I kept coming back to the word encouragement. Why is it so hard for women to encourage each other sometimes? Sure, as a friend we are so supportive and can be so encouraging, but I feel as strangers we tend to compete more then encourage. Maybe it's just me, but does anyone else feel this way? I noticed it greatly when I started getting angry/competitive with other people on instagram (first world problems here) and I took a step back and thought to myself, wouldn't it be so much better if I encouraged these other people? Wouldn't I love it if they encouraged me as well (treat others how you want to be treated)? So that's what I began to do. 

When we step back and look at our actions and thoughts I think that is when we can really understand where they are coming from and how we can change them. Encouragement can be so powerful and so helpful. Everyone has a story, everyone has problems, you never know what is really going on in someones life. Because of this if you can encourage that person in any way possible, isn't that going to just be the best thing? Trust me not only will you make them feel better, but you as well will feel great. Whether it's being there for a friend when they need you, sending a reminder to someone who needs an extra good luck, or encouraging a stranger by helping out or acknowledging you like what they're doing, every little bit helps. 

In one of the interviews that Amanda de Cadenet does for The Conversation, she talks with Gwyneth Paltrow about parenting and what it means to be a mother. Gwyneth Paltrow discusses this in relation to other mothers and how sometimes they can be so critical of one another as mothers. She then continues on by saying mothering is already hard enough "can't we all just be on each others side"? I thought this was brilliant. Think about it for a second. Can't we all be each others cheerleaders? Sure we can have different opinions about things, but can't we cheer each other on and encourage each other?

That idea of being on each others side paired with the quote below from the very talented Erica Cook,  was really the inspiration behind my idea of Encouragment Always Wins. Guys I truly, whole heartedly believe this. Yes people are going to do bigger and better things than you, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't encourage them. I know that there is always going to be a more popular blog than mine, a blogger with way more instagram followers than me, and sure, from time to time that does make me jealous, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't support or encourage those other bloggers. 

So let's start with this guys, let's start by encouraging each other more. I know we can do it! Start by encouraging your friends and family, showing your support for them and whatever it is they are facing. I guarantee you will be so glad you did, and will want to continue doing it (it's honestly addicting). I'll leave you with that and let me know what you think of the first Pep Talk Thursday.

May Favourites

Can you guys believe that it's already mid June!?! Seriously where did May go? Either way I'm excited that it's June, which means summer is almost here! This is my favourite time of year as we move from spring to summer, things just always seem more relaxed and enjoyable. There are so many fun things I want to do this summer (more on that later), but before we get there, I thought I would start sharing some of my monthly favourites with you all. At the beginning of every month I'm going to look back and share some of my favourites that I either bought, was given or that I experienced. I thought this was a fun way to show you guys some of my go to products and even more so, to keep an eye on what I'm buying (eek). So let's jump right in! Here are my May favourites!

This month I picked out 8 products that I have been loving. Truly each one of these products has become my go to staple!

Ole Henriksen Face Wipes: I had been searching for face wipes for a little while now. I used some drugstore brands a long time ago and went back to try them again. However, this time around my skin wasn't too happy with me that I did. Most of them irritated my face and I got a slight reaction to a few different brands. So off to Sephora I went and came across these! I'm so glad I did. I'm really in to more natural and clean face products lately and I was so happy when I found these ones because they fit the bill. They smell amazing and take makeup off really well. They are also supposed to brighten your face, which I do notice but just slightly. They don't irritate my face at all and don't sting around my eyes, which I find some wipes can do.

Eos Shave Cream: Yes, I know, this is quite random. But I came across this the other day at Target and decided to give it a go. I've heard so many great things about their lotions and lip balms, so I was excited to try it. Honestly guys this was life changing. Like words can't even describe how in love with this I am (and yes shaving cream can be life changing). It leaves your skin so smooth afterwards and just makes shaving so much easier. This is my number 1 favourite from this past month so run to your nearest target and buy every single one on the shelf!

Rifle Paper Co. Cards: How cute are these? I think I have an obsession (we all knew that) with Rifle Paper Co products. I picked these two cards up in hopes of framing them for my gallery wall (more to come on that soon!), but decided to hold off and use them as cards instead. I'm excited to send these out to a few friends soon.

Kate Spade Pencil Set: Well to add to my stationery obsession, this Kate Spade pencil set, which was given to me as a birthday present (my friends know me so well) makes everything that much better. What's better than writing your to do list with a fun and bright pencil? Well nothing in my books. 

Maybelline Lipcolor: To add to my major slight stationery obsessions I think I also have a lipstick/gloss obsession. I can't seem to leave Target without grabbing a new one. I picked this Maybelline one up at the beginning of May and I knew it would be the perfect spring colour. This one is called Vivd Rose and it is the perfect bright pink/red colour.

Origins Moisturizer: Since it is almost summer I started thinking about my SPF situation and realized my face moisturizer did not have any SPF in it. So I did some research and again keeping with a more natural product, I came across this Origins face moisturizer with SPF 30 in it. I really like it so far and it again has the same brightening effect as the Ole Henriksen face wipes, which I love.

Lush Face Mask: Ok so I might have bought this mask at the end of April, and yes I'm a rebel for including it in my May favourites, but I just had to. I've used this a few times now and every time I'm always amazed at how smooth it leaves my skin. It has a great peppermint smell to it and leaves my skin so soft and refreshed.

Lululemon Sports Bra: Well I did it; I finally found a gym I like. After a few trial and errors I recently joined a new gym and I love it! I quickly realized though that I did not have enough workout clothes and quickly made my way to Lululemon. I love their sports bras, and for me they are so comfortable and I love the thinner straps on them. A little tip for you guys too, I usually go in every so often and just check to see if any of them are on sale, which they usually are, and that's when I scoop them up! I mean you wear a shirt over them so for me I don't really care if mine are neon orange or some crazy pattern! If I can save $20 or so then it's well worth it!

Ole Henriksen Face Wipes, EOS Shaving Cream, Rifle Paper Co Cards, Kate Spade Pencils, Maybelline Vivds Lipcolor, Origins Moisturizer, Lush Face Mask, Lululemon Sports Bra

I hope you guys enjoyed this months favourites! What were some of your May favourites? Stay tuned for a new series post coming tomorrow! I'm excited about this one guys, it's a little different then my usual posts but something that just speaks to my heart! Have a great Wednesday!

Done Is Better Than Perfect

Well hello again! I know it has sadly been just over a month since I was last here (eek), but sometimes that just happens. Sometimes life just happens friends. My relationship with this blog the past month has been, well, non existent. And it honestly was by choice. I enjoy blogging and creating new content and sharing with you all, but this past month I was just the most uninspired I think I have ever been. I also think I really needed time to decide what this all means and where I want this little blog of mine to go. When I first started thinking of blogging (years ago) I had a few ideas of what I wanted that space to look like. Time went on and I never officially took the leap to start that blog. Finally after really listening to myself and letting go of those things that held me back (what would others think?) I started this little space! And I've enjoyed it every moment since. But I think like most things in life, they need to be reworked, reevaluated and rearranged. So, nothing major is really going to change here, but I am going to keep moving forward with this space of mine (yay) and continue to bring you all some fun content and hopefully some inspiration as well! I've always felt that everything I put on here has to be 100% if not 120% perfect. I strive for perfection and one of my biggest fears with this blog was coming off as an "amateur", looking like I didn't know what I was doing. But I've also realized that done is better than perfect sometimes. Sometimes 2-3 simple outfit pictures are just as good as a perfectly put together photo shoot of an outfit, that shooting a "how to style" series doesn't need the absolute perfect lighting, and instagrams don't need to be perfectly styled. That's not real life, and at the end of the day I rather showcase real life, and help others out in an achievable manner. This isn't to say you won't still see some pretty pictures and design, because you sure will! But this hopefully means more content will be put up and the more real life aspects will shine through! So get ready friends! I'm back and so excited to dive in! I hope you stick around and join me on this new path for Style of Living!