MIMM #19 {I'm Back! & Trip Recap #1}

Hi everyone!! How are you all doing?? I'm hoping wonderfully wonderful! I am great this morning because I'm happy that I'm back to the blogosphere. I did not anticipate leaving the blog free of a personal post until the 28th of July, but  life got away from me. Thankfully however it was not left to completely accumulate cobwebs because the first 13 days were filled with some lovely guest posts! Thank you again to everyone that took the time to write up a post for me, they were great!

Now to explain where I've been...

My family and I were gone on vacation from the 1st of July to the 13th and on the 14th of July I began my "big girl" job. This has been quite a big transition for me so I wanted to take the time to really get acclimated with my new schedule to make sure I could find out what would be best for blogging. I did not want to just throw a post together for the sake of "getting something on the board." 

As of now I am going to have to post a little less frequent then what I was, but I still plan to publish content at least 2 to 3 times a week! I wanted to let you all know that minor change, so when you do not see new content 7 days a week you aren't wondering. It feels great to have found a balance!

I have lots to share with you guys! I most certainly cannot wait to recap about my families trip, but I am going to break it up into multiple posts that way I don't overload with pictures - there are tons.

Although there's no better time than the present to start right?!

 && I am linking up with Katie. :)

On July 1st I was very blessed to travel to the beautiful city of Venice, Italy with my family!

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day of traveling::

Last but not least a quote to kick off the week::

"The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday."

How was your weekend (aka month so far since its been a while)??

❤ Nichole ❤

Bloglovin'

Guest Post:: Small Girl Big Dreams 1993 {Blogging}

I have always loved writing for as long as I can remember. When I was younger I would sit and write short stories or poems whilst my friends would prefer to sit and watch cartoons and movies.

As I have grown older, my passion for writing has developed even more and has become a huge part of my life. Not only does writing allow my imagination to run wild and write fictional stories, but it also allows me to escape from the real world and express myself in a non-verbal manner.

I am currently in my third year of university - due to graduate in the summer (fingers crossed!!) - and I finally know what I want to do with my life. Well, saying that, I'm not exactly 100% sure but I am pretty certain. The media degree I have studied has been all theory and essay based. A lot of people outside of my course have wondered how we enjoy it so much - 'all essays and no practical work? You must be mad!', they would say. But no, it's only mad if you don't enjoy writing. For me it was perfect.

I really want to go into writing as a career which is one of the reasons I have set up my blog. I'm not sure if I want to write feature articles in newspapers, in magazines or online etc yet, but I do know that I want to go into some form of writing in the media industry.

I decided to set up my blog in March this year in order to help me gain more confidence and experience in my writing. I thought it would be a fantastic opportunity for me to develop my writing further, and it honestly has. I have only been blogging two months, but I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I have met some of the most amazing people, gained a new love for things that I wouldn't have thought twice about before blogging and I have grown so much more positive and confident in both myself and my writing.

The one thing I am a bit annoyed at myself for though, is not telling any of my family and friends about my blog. I really want to share it with them, but I just don't have the confidence yet. I'm positive that they would support my blog, whether they like what I write or not, but I just haven't had the courage to share it with them and tell them about it yet. I think mostly it is because I'm afraid of being judged. In person, I am pretty shy and find it difficult to speak my mind in case I get judged in a negative manner. I suppose everything takes time though and I will soon have the confidence to share my writing with people who know me personally.

My blog doesn't just focus on one particular topic, it covers a range of different things. I have written book reviews, opinionated posts, posts about myself and my day-to-day life and posts which my readers are able to relate to. Due to having university deadlines since I began blogging, I have also had many guest posts on my blog too - one of which was Nichole. All the guest posts were absolutely wonderful and really interesting so I was so thankful I could share them on my blog. Even though my deadlines have now finished, I still welcome guests to write posts for me to publish as I believe it is a fantastic opportunity for them to get noticed more, as well as being a pleasure for me to share too.

I can honestly say that joining the blogging community has been one of the best decisions I have made this year. Everyday I wake up looking forward to connecting with other bloggers, sharing posts with them and most of all, reading their wonderful posts.

I would like to say a massive thank you to Nichole for giving me the chance to feature on her blog :)

You can find my blog at - smallgirlbigdreams1993

And also find me on twitter at - @bigdreams1993

Guest Post:: Sarah Smiles {Motivational Posters}

Hello all you lovely people at Upbeat Uplifts! I’m Sarah, from over at Sarah Smiles and I am suuuuper stoked to be writing for Nichole today! I literally felt so honoured and lucky when Nichole asked me to guest post for her, so I guess I better make it a good one! :)

I started blogging around August last year, but didn’t really put the time and effort into my blog until February this year. I started blogging due to needed an avenue to spread my creativity. I have always been massively creative and being an academic through my whole school/sixth form/university life meant I didn’t really have a creative outlet, so Sarah Smiles was born! Although I have only been blogging for around four months, I have completely fallen in love with it. It was the best decision I ever made.

Outside of blogging, I am a huge fan of music and plan many instruments such as guitar, bass, ukulele & piano. I am literally alwaaays singing, I’m not sure how my flatmate/family/boyfriend puts up with me, haha!

I had to really think about what I wanted to write today for Nichole and it took me a while to come up with something that I thought would be worthwhile sending over as a guest post. Around a month ago, I finished my exams and started getting back into my design work and decided to make some motivational office posters to hang in my office to keep me focused and motivated.

Although no-one likes to admit it, I’m sure we all have that little thought in the back of our mind where we all want to be as successful as *insert Youtuber/Blogger/Vlogger’s name here* and I am no different. Although blogging is my hobby, imagine how great it would be to be able to get paid for doing something you love? For me, this isn’t something I imagine happening and I have a real-life plan as to what I am going to do after university. However, a girl can dream eh?

And if dreaming and focusing and motivating myself to be the best I can be means my content in my blog & youtube videos improves, then surely having ambition for my blog isn’t a bad thing! I know people don’t like to admit that they have high hopes for their blog, but if I can make a living doing something that is my passion, then why not do my best to get there and do it?

It might never happen and I might always be working in an office, running a blog and a business on the side, but you never know, so I’m going to continue to motivate, focus and keep myself determined to make my blog and videos the best they can be. After all, there is nothing wrong with putting effort into doing something you love.

I’m going to leave you with the two office prints I plan on putting in my office, in the hope that it motivates, inspires and allows you to stand up and say ‘I WANT TO BE A WRITER/BLOGGER/DESIGNER’ etc because ambition is healthy and helps us to get all that we want out of life.

Thank you so much Nichole for having me, I actually really loved writing this post & it’s given me even more confidence again to make my dreams come true! I do hope you will come and have a read at Sarah Smiles, so I’ll hopefully see you all soon!

Keep smiling m’dears, its contagious! Love Sarah xxx

Guest Post:: The Novel Coffee {Books That Inspire}

Hello, everyone! I am really glad to be guest posting here on Upbeat Uplifts! Before I get in to what this post is all about, I am going to tell you guys a bit about myself! I started blogging about four months ago. At first, it was a way to bond and get closer to my Big in my sorority, but I really enjoy it! I love being able to share my thoughts and experiences with people! Outside of blogging, I really love to read, sing Disney songs, and hang out with my friends! In keeping with the motivational theme of this blog, I decided to share three books that have inspired me a lot while I read them and long after I have read the last page and closed the book. 

First is The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. I have read this book multiple times since my sophomore year of high school and I love it so much. This book is about a freshman in high school named Charlie. He talks about a lot of the challenges he faces including parties, making friends, and dealing with traumatic situations. This book motivates me because through all of the struggles he goes through, he still finds a way to make it through! It is a great book to read when you are first going in to a new phase of your life! 

Next is The Fault in Our Stars by John Green! I know that this book has been getting a lot of attention lately with the movie coming out, so I am not going to talk a whole lot about this one since we all know that this story is a huge motivation. I am just a sucker for a love story and this one is fantastic. Nothing gives me more hope that I will find love than the story between Hazel and Augustus. 

Last is another book by John Green, An Abundance of Katherines. This book is about a young guy named Colin Singleton who is going through a breakup with his 19th Katherine. This book motivates me because I read it at a very crucial time. I had just recently gone through my first real heart break and it was nice to read this book and see that a break up is not the end of the world, even if it really kind of feels like it. 

What books motivate you? 

Je t'embrasse,

Meghan

Guest Post:: A Whole Lot Of Chitty Chat {Dealing With Anxiety}

1) Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging as somewhere to put my words, somewhere to get my thoughts out of my head. From day one (I admittedly didn't have many readers then, but I still manage to do it fine just the same now) I have blogged openly about my struggles with anxiety & panic attacks but now I've decided to spread my blogging wings & widen my blogging content...(that sounded so much more professional/posher than I actually am). There is so much more to me than anxiety...well I like to think so anyway! :) I've started to share the occasional nail post, outfit post, do it yourself kind of posts & just random rambly ones...I mean come on, who doesn't love a rambling post, ok... some of you? on to the next question…

2) How long have you been blogging?

I've been blogging since February 2013, I originally started over on wordpress but I wasn't overly keen. So I moved over to blogger & transferred my old posts across for saves keeping. I first started blogging on blogger with the name 'away with the fairies 321' but I eventually felt that didn't suit myself as much or my blog...so a whole lot of chitty chat was born & is still going strong. I absolutely love my little blogging space, I certainly waffle away on there...just like I'm starting to do on these questions now, brace yourself for the guest post (that is of course if Nichole adds this in before the post) & if not, I apologize & congratulate you for making your way through.

3) What is something you love to do outside blogging?

Hmmm...I love to do a bit of shopping & by shopping, I'm not overly picky what kind of shopping either...food shopping, clothes shopping, shoes shopping, home interior...I'm up for them all really. I also enjoy spending time with my family & friends (maybe this should of come first?), being outdoors, being in the countryside, walking, watching telly, listening to music, watching youtube, reading, creating little projects& a newest love of mine has to be driving...I LOVE it!

On with the post...I wasn't 100% sure what to blog about so I ran a few ideas by Nichole & she then suggested I wrote a post about dealing with anxiety because apparently I always write a fabulous post on that (Nichole's words not mine)...why thank you Nichole, how very flattering. I think I'll get a wiggle on now & get started.

I really hope with this post I can help atleast one of you. Anxiety is different for everyone so I'm not going to give an explanation as to what anxiety is but if you do want to read abit more anxiety related posts I have plenty over on my blog, that is if you want to check them out of course...no pressure, but receiving comments really does make me smile & feel a little warm & fuzzy inside. Firstly I'd like to add a photo that pretty much sums anxiety up in one picture...

The things that have helped me deal with my anxiety, might not work for everyone but you never know unless you try right? So I just wanted to doubly put it out there that I'm not a doctor or any form of mental health professional, just a girl living with anxiety day to day. I always feel like people living with it actually have better tips & of course more understanding than any doctor or professional. I'm starting to waffle again, I clearly don't go ahead & plan posts really, just go with the flow...there is no controlling my waffle. :)

Righty hoo, my tips for dealing with anxiety are….

talk...

Admittedly yes this is easier said than done sometimes but please try. Talk to anyone, your mum, your dad, your brother, your sister, your auntie, your uncle, your cousin, your friend, your partner, your neighbour, your doctor...just talk to someone. I really like the quote, ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’. Talking has to be one of the best things I've done to being able to manage my anxiety. One thing that certainly did help me was starting my blog, my blog was & still is my place to just express myself by getting anything & everything that is bothering me out of my head. It really gives me focus & purpose. But I didn't just rely on my blog to help me though, I also spoke to my doctor & received counselling...two separate lots, the first one made me worst in my opinion but I didn't let that stop me completely. I was referred again & got a new therapist, she was absolutely fabulous & I can't praise her enough. So if you do have counselling & don't feel you connect with the therapist, don't be scared to change therapist. There are different therapists out there for a reason, we aren't expected to get along with all of them.

don't be ashamed to ask for help...

this one ties in with the therapist part of my previous tip. Asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of, honestly if you feel like you really aren't coping& /or are feeling unwell don't be ashamed to ask for help. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health so please look after them both. Mental health can affect any of us at any point in our lives & we all deserve to get the right treatment.

accepting...

accepting that I have anxiety was one of my first steps to being able to deal with life better. I'd say over the past year is when I actually accepted that I have anxiety, but anxiety really only is part of me. Once I decided to take anxiety on my journey of life, took it under my wing & became friends with it...it certainly decided to play a lot nicer, making life that much easier...minus my attempt to go to a blogger meet up recently, that didn't end great.

routine...

after leaving school & finishing my placement after leaving school I had zero routine, my day to day routine of work had ended, my relationship at the time had ended...I'd gone from being out the house all day at work & then spending the evenings with my boyfriend to nothing. I slowly but surely started to go out the house even less. I had no reason to, I'd occasionally helped my parents at their business but sometimes I'd only manage a couple of hours a day. But a few years down the line, I decided to take driving lessons (something I never thought I'd ever be able to do) & I decided to blog about my journey too. So not only did I have driving lessons to focus on, I also had my blog too...writing up blog posts, sharing tips. Getting into that routine has without a doubt helped me get my life back on track. I'm still helping out at my parents business, I don't have a set routine each week but I'm able to go out a lot more, especially since I passed my test & my parents bought me a car (one extremely lucky girl right here!). It is now very rare that I'm actually in the house all day any day of the week. So if you can manage to create a routine I really think it will help, even if the routine varies from week to week. It will hopefully give you a sense of meaning& stability too (it certainly has for me). Even creating a to do list for the day helps me.

positivity...

I haven't always been positive about things in the past & especially with anxiety a lot of negative comments can brew in your mind but I have managed to switch the negatives into positives. Don’t get me wrong the negatives do still creep in the little nasties but they will do, I’m only human…I’m not a programmed robot of any kind. So when a negative thought creeps in try your best to change it to a positive. At first it will be hard but keep at it, you can change your thoughts.

Ok, this one is the final piece of advice, I promise. It kind of goes for any illness, don't let your illness define you.

​

A little note to anyone who is currently suffering with anxiety, please honestly don't suffer in silence, speak to someone. Things honestly do get better over time, there is no quick fix for it but with time & practice things will get easier. You really do have to go through bad days to appreciate the good days but it is all worth it in the end. Baby steps, one day at a time. Anxiety is just a little snippet of you but it can feel so overpowering I know but honestly things do get better, things do become more manageable but just please keep going. You will feel more in control.

I'm going to end this post now because I feel like you may all have just fallen asleep, I highly doubt you'll be wanting to click onto my blog now...but the clue is in the name I guess, a whole lot of chitty chat. It certainly is what you get. :) I'd really like to say a massive thank you to Nichole for allowing me to do a guest post for her wonderful blog. Nichole is such a lovely girl & I'd class her as my friend...my friend with a massive heart & an incredible story to share! I don't remember how I came across Nichole's blog but I'm so glad I did, I get so bloomin giddy when I see she has uploaded! Nichole, keep being inspirational & just keep being you! <3

Anna

Guest Post:: Skinnedcartree {5 Steps To A Positive Mindset}

If you’ve ever heard of Shaycarl, the YouTube sensation who promotes happiness, positivity, a healthy lifestyle and amazing family values, you may have heard the cliche ‘happiness is a choice’. Speaking of cliches, you may have heard another popular quote Shay likes to use.

‘The secrets to live are hidden behind the word cliche.’

He isn’t wrong. We, as human beings, are always after a quick fix. A new amazing diet that will shred weight instantly, the secret to life, a new self-help book that will answer all your questions and lead you down a path of happiness and wealth. But you know what? There are no secrets and there are no quick fixes, the secrets to life truly are hidden behind the cliches we hear every day.

Work hard. Keep trying. You get out what you put in. Never give up.

These aren’t popular phrases for nothing. They are popular phrases because they work. But because they seem like too much work, so we push them aside.

I’m here to bring you 5 cliches that you can follow to change the way you think and behave to have a more fulfilling, happy life. You’ll not only get others liking you more, but you’ll probably like yourself more too. 

5 ways to a positive mindset.

Choose your mindset.

You just cannot control some things. You know what you’re stuck in a traffic jam which means you’re running late for work - you can get angry and frustrated. But you can’t change it. 

If you break your favourite coffee mug, you can get mad at yourself for being clumsy and let it ruin your day, but you can’t change it. 

If you make a mistake at work, you can sit and fret about how your boss will react and track back to ‘what if I had done this..’ but you can’t change it.

It takes a lot of effort to let go of those things out of your control and not let it ruin your mood and take over your thoughts, but it’s important to remember that you cannot change what’s done. What you can do, is put it behind you and remember it won’t be important tomorrow or next week and invest your time in feeding positive thoughts. Choose happiness, choose positivity. 

Positivity breeds positivity.

Ever notice how when you start having a moan about your annoying colleague with a co-worker or friend, they join in and have a cheeky gossip too? Well, you’re fuelling negativity and bringing each other down. Of course, it’s always good to have a rant and vent, but you don’t want to fall into the trap of doing it too much or being seen as a negative person. 

You can fuel positivity too. If you start talking about you favourite Disney film, chances are others will too and it will turn into a conversation about your childhood and happy memories. If you start talking about your favourite restaurant or food, then the same will happen. You’ll feel much better focusing on those things that make you happy and sharing them with others than feeding the negative thoughts and ending up in an even worse mood! 

Stop overthinking things!

Avoid over thinking things you can’t control -this ties in very much with the ‘choose your mindset’ tip. If you cannot control something, then you need to let it go and stop trying to think of ways to change or or go back in the past. Chances are it won’t matter soon and you’re wasting your mental mental energy.

Smiles are contagious.

It’s hard to resist smiling when somebody smiles at you, isn’t it? Some social settings can be awkward, being the first to simply smile and nod at somebody will make you instantly more approachable and open to conversation. You’ll also be seen as a positive, happy person. Also - sometimes simply smiling at somebody can make them feel a lot happier. 

Do a good deed.

It doesn’t have to be a big thing, something so simple, such as running a quick errand for a work colleague, getting somebody a drink when they’re busy, offering to carry something for somebody who is struggling - it does not matter how big or small your good deed is, but it could change a persons whole outlook on a day. I know whenever I do something good for somebody that has no benefit to me, I feel really uplifted, happy and positive because I’ve done something to help somebody. Try it.

So there you have it - my simple tips to having a happier life and a better self image. It’s not always easy think positive and put these steps into place, but I can promise that it does get easier!

You can read another post about how I took control of my life and stopped self destructive behaviour here.

What are your tips to a positive mindset?

Corinne x

Guest Post:: Strength and Sunshine {Happiness In the Little Things}

Hey there Upbeat Uplifts readers, it is Rebecca here today! I am so happy to be here today and so honored that Nichole asked me to do a guest post for her! I love Nichole’s blog and the positivity and happiness she presents in every post! I know that if we lived closer, we would be real life friends instead of just virtual blends ;)

So I blog over at Strength and Sunshine which is my lifestyle blog of everything food, fitness and fun! I post healthy gluten-free and allergy-free recipes and talk a lot about yoga!

1) Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging because I had been religious blog reader for years and started to feel left out by not being a bigger part of the community I fell in love with. I started with food blogs because I have always loved cooking, but then I was introduced to healthy lifestyle and fitness blogs. From there I knew that having my own blog was a must! It allowed me to connect with people that had a lot in common with me and that lived their lives the same way.

2) How long have you been blogging?

As of June 26th, I have had my blog for 1 year! It is crazy. It still feels like I just started and hit publish on my first awkward post. My blog has grown a lot and I am finally starting to figure out exactly where I want to take it. I still consider myself a newbie bloggers and I know I still have so much to learn, but blogging gets better each and every day through the connections, opportunities and the things you learn about yourself!

3) What is something you love to do outside blogging?

Well, I blog about the things I love which are fitness and cooking! Ask me if I would rather go to the movies or a yoga class. I will pick yoga in a heartbeat! (I actually hate watching movies! I don’t like sitting still for so long). And cooking. Well I think it is my greatest passion. But besides that, I love to read as well. One other thing I love is organizing! But I don’t get to do it often since my room is always clean, so I have to find other things to organize, put away, and throw out. Like unloading the dishwasher...pure joy ;)

I am also a recent high school graduate and will be making my way off to college at the end of August down to DC! This is going to be a crazy new adventure for me, so I am both so nervous, but so excited!

Today though, I wanted to talk to you all about happiness and how I find happiness and joy in my life. It truly is the little moments and things that bring the greatest joy to life. And when we find those little moments that bring us joy, we appreciate them more and know how to get out of a funk! So here are my 10 little (and some big) pieces of happiness!

1. Sunshine. There is nothing more refreshing and beautiful than waking up to a day full of bright natural light and warmth. Sunshine make me so happy and I appreciate every day that is! Just take a look at the name of my blog!

2. Breathing In The Warm Summer Air. How can you not find joy in taking that first breath of no longer bone chilly cold and stepping out into the sweet smell of summer?

3. Working Up A Sweat That Leaves Me Energized. Those feel good endorphins are no joke. I really never have done a workout that left me feeling bad or sad. Once I start moving and using my strong body, my whole mood changes. If you find yourself in need of a pick-me-up I suggest you get up and move!

4. Yoga. Speaking of working out, yoga is simply pure joy and bliss to me. When I am in need of happiness, I know that getting on the mat will allow me to find peace and connect with my body and spirit. Yoga in itself is beautiful and it makes me feel beautiful, confident, and strong.

5. Savoring A Quiet Morning. The happiest time of day? That one is easy! The hours between 4:00am and 9:00am. I am happiest that early, yes, that early in the morning. It is my time to come to being, move my body, make breakfast (pancakes on the weekends...always!), read blogs, and just be. Simple quiet stillness. Perfect happiness.

6.Confidence. When I am confident with myself and in myself, I feel happy. When I see someone being confident, it makes me happy as well. Confidence is so important to have. You don't want to let others walk all over you, you want to stand strong and live for what you want and believe. When you do that, you will find that little bit of happiness :)

7. Getting Lost In A Good Book. I have let this bit of happiness slip from my life this past year, but I am determined to bring it back. Now that school is over and I have more time, I will be able to finally start reading copious amounts of books now. Then fully getting enveloped in the characters and stories. So relaxing, so perfect!

8. Hugs. Some people like to speak their love, but I like hugs best. I have always had trouble saying “I Love You” to anyone, even my family. I would much rather show it in the form of a warm embrace. I feel it is more powerful and meaningful. Not to mention hugs always put a smile on my face and happiness in my heart.

9. Getting Creative In The Kitchen. I am not sure where my love of cooking came from, as my mom and dad don’t cook and my mom really hates it. But I find so much joy and happiness in getting in the kitchen and creating magic. I lose myself in my cooking and recipe creation. Trying out new techniques, flavors, ingredients, all with the hopes that everything will come out perfect and tasty. Even if it doesn't I am still happy I was able to spend time doing what I love!

10. Living. What is the ultimate happiness? Life! If we didn’t have life we wouldn’t even be able to experience happiness! Life has it ups and downs, its sadness and pain, anger and frustration, but with that, we learn what happiness is. To live and enjoy each and every moment we might normally skip over. To enjoy time with loved ones. To take care of ourselves. To simply love and be happy with who we are and where we are. Finding the happiness in the little things, big things, every thing!

Thank you again Nichole for allowing me to take over today! And I hope all of you come over to Strength and Sunshine and say hello! Everyone needs their daily dose of sunshine ;)

Connect with me, I love meeting new people!

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Guest Post:: Microscope Beauty {Confidence Building Beauty}

Hello everyone! It's Kayla from MicroscopeBeauty.com guest posting for Nichole today. Although I'm a firm believer that you should feel comfortable and confident in your own skin, there's just something about certain makeup that makes you feel like you can take on the world. These are a few of the products that help build up my confidence when I'm wearing them.

It's still debated in the beauty world as to whether a face primer is really worth it. I'm a strong advocate that it can make a big difference and the Stila One Step Correct ($36) proves it for me. The different color ribbons blend together as you pump out the product to help even out your skin tone, minimize redness, and help your foundation to sit nicer and longer. I've tried a lot of primers in my day and this one is definitely top notch.

I've only recently gotten my hands on the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum ($16.20) through a beauty swap because I thought it was impossible to get it in the United States. It's still not the easiest feat, but I've found that you can purchase some Bourjois stuff from ASOS. I've written a full review of the foundation on my blog already if you're interested in a more detailed description. This foundation gives my skin such a natural, awake glow and helps to even out my somewhat blotchy skin tone. It's also incredibly light so it doesn't feel like I'm wearing tons of makeup on my face. 

One of my biggest problems are my under eye circles. For years I dealt with comments and questions from people that I looked really tired regardless of how much sleep I had gotten. Nothing ruins your spirits more than when you're having a good day and someone says you look sick or beat. The NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer ($29) is the best thing I've found to mask my dark circles and make me look awake. It's thick, but easy to blend and make look natural. Plus it lasts all day.

Lately I've found that the right blush can give me confidence I never expected. When I'm looking for something to give me a natural flush and glow to my skin, two blushes rank at the top of my stash. The Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in "Peaceful" ($26) and theBalm's "Frat Boy" ($21) are very similar in color and application which is probably why I love them both so much. They last for ages, provide the perfect amount of color to the cheeks to give your face a lot of light and vibrancy. 

Finally a good my-lips-but-better lipstick can polish off a look and give a final boost of confidence. The fail-safe lipstick is MAC's "Syrup" ($16). It's creamy, long-lasting, and the perfect shade for my lips. It's also incredibly easy to touch up on the go so I don't have to be nervous that my lipstick is all over my face.

Take it from someone whose hobby is makeup and beauty, makeup isn't everything. However it's an amazing tool to give you the confidence you need to kick butt at a job interview, kiss the boy you like, and take on the world.

Be sure to stop by my blog and say hi!

xoxo Kayla

Guest Post:: Housewife Glamour {Social Media Negativity}

Hello Upbeat Uplifts readers! My name is Heather and I blog over at Housewife Glamour.

I started blogging in 2010 as a way to document my wedding planning, and that sparked an unexpected, yet instant love for sharing the daily musings and healthy living inspirations on the site I run today.

On Housewife Glamour, I share healthy recipes, workouts, beauty how-to's, and dabble into fashion every now and then. I'd love it if you stopped by sometime!

I've known Nichole for just about a year now, but I feel like it's been so much longer!

We met dancing together for the Pistons, and have been through many highs and also many lows together. Today she asked me to discuss how to deal with some of those lows, so here we go!

Negativity.

If you're on social media -- and especially if you are a blogger -- you're eventually going to come across it. 

Whether it's on your own page or you stumble upon it on someone else's, the crazy online world we call the Internet can be a very beautiful, yet haunting experience. 

Just like life, blogging can have it's good - I love what I do and I'm in love with this magical world of connecting through social media - and our bad - what the heck just happened, and why am I still putting my heart and soul into this - days. 

It's bound to happen to all of us at one point or another, and that's completely normal. But, when you least expect it, you'll receive a comment or email that will brighten your day and remind you why you care so much. 

You'll snap out of the blues and why you started sharing your life and words with others will become clear again: to inspire, and most likely to make people smile. 

It will feel good, and you'll be on your game until the next negative comment comes around.

So how do we move past the bad and focus on the good?

Social media is a great tool for both businesses and friendships, but it can also make us judge without even realizing it. We can easily get caught up in The Comparison Game and experience emotions about ourselves solely based on what others are up to. 

It can be vicious, and hurt even more when others realize they have similar thoughts and use your page as a platform to discuss them. 

While I'm not claiming to be an expert on the subject, I have prepared a handful of tips that can help us rise above the negativity that can so easily consume... well... all of us.

• Take negative comments with a grain of salt.

Comments are comments. That's it. In the real world, what do comments equal? Nothing.

They literally have no power over our lives, unless we let them get into our heads and affect us.

Whenever you see something you don't like or appreciate, remember to take a comment for what it is. An opinion... that's it.

• Negativity on social media is just like negativity in real life.

Remember those silly little rumors people in high school made up about so-and-so just to get a rise out of their classmates? That can easily happen on social media pages as well, but you have to decipher what's important to stress over and what isn't worth your time.

Majority of the time, negative people aren't worth your time.

Move right past 'em and spend your time focusing on those who actually take the time to know you!

• Think about what's bothering you. Is it what somebody said, or how they said it?

There's something to be said about taking and accepting feedback.

When it's written in an off-putting way, however, you can lose the point of the comment all together and only remember that word or phrase that made you upset. Just like the comment is just a comment point mentioned above, a word is just a word.

Is a word really worth the time you're spending dwelling on it?

Probably not. Move on!

• Keep in mind that some people comment to offer constructive criticism. But... there's also a line between constructive and rude.

Most feedback comes from an outsider's wish to provide constructive criticism. Most.

In some cases, people want to voice their opinion to help you see something from a reader or follower's point of view. They get the courage to say something and hope you'll hear them.

If they're just being straight up rude, that's a line you don't even need to jump close to. Again, is this really worth your time and energy to stress over? Most likely, your answer will - again - be no.

• Don't get defensive. If you aren't sure how to respond to a negative comment, take as much time as you need before you address it properly.

Just like the "think before you speak" rule, it isn't a bad thing to have a filter online.

Your first instinct might be to speak up and address someone who is being rude in an unflattering way. In the long run, that isn't going to do anything but make you look silly and egg them on even more.

If you aren't quite sure how to respond to something, ask a friend and have them help you come up with an appropriate response.

• Your blog and social media pages are your spaces. You have the right to ignore, delete, or respond to anything.

The choice of what to do with a negative comment is completely up to you.

Just remember that you chose to put yourself out there, and there are all types of followers under the reader umbrella. Not everyone is going to respond the same way, and in turn, negative comments might surface.

With the good, often comes the bad, and how you address it can make you an even better blogger and inspiration to follow.

Take a deep breath, reflect on what was said, and address it with a light heart and maybe even a sense of humor.

• Focus on the positive!

This is why I love coming to Nichole's blog so much. She's always positive! 

Everyone has their differences and struggles, but there's a way to go about and discuss them. Complaining won't get you very far, but taking a look at what you've learned throughout the hardships will.

Whenever you need to block out the bad, think of the good. Focus on those appreciative emails or positive notes of feedback and use them as inspiration to keep moving.

You'll only get as far as you let yourself go. Make sure to keep looking forward, and that what's in front of you is bright! 

*** Thanks again, Nichole, for allowing me to crash the party here today. It was fun for me to post outside of my healthy living bubble, and I hope to see some of you pop in (and link up!) with what keeps you smiling over at Friday Favorites every once in a while. 

Have a great day! xo 

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