That Blog Love Feeling.

I feel very honored to have been nominated for my second Liebster Award! Thank you to the lovely Lisa from Following Lisa for the nomination!

If you are unaware of Liebster Award, it is an award that is given by bloggers to bloggers. It allows newer bloggers share some things about themselves and share the love with other fellow newer bloggers!

The rules for the award are as follows:

1) Create a post and answer the 11 questions the tagger set for you.

2) Nominate 11 people under 200 followers and link them in your post.

3) Create 11 questions for them.

4) Let them know they have been nominated.

5) No tag backs!

These are my questions from Lisa!

1. What is the one character trait that you love most about yourself?

I think I would have to say my positive energy. I always try to look for the best in every situation and I couldn't imagining living any other way.

2. When and why did you start blogging?

I started blogging about 2 months ago. I started blogging because I wanted to share my passion to never give up and to never stop fighting. This link, Why I Started Blogging, goes into detail of why this so important to me.

3. How long do you want to keep on blogging?

I want to keep on for as long as I can! I honestly do not see myself stopping! It has quickly became my me time and my outlet. I love it. 

4. What are your spring must-haves (beauty)?

I love when spring rolls around because I like to break out my pastel colored nail polishes! I also like to wear lighter make-up when it gets warmer! 

5. What do you think of the new spring trends (fashion)?

I unfortunately have not had time to check out the new trends and have not been to the mall in a few weeks, but the last time I liked what I saw!

6. Are you a bath or a shower person?

I am a bath person; nothing compares to a nice warm bubble bath to relax! Based on time though I usually end up jumping in the shower more often.

7. What is your favorite place on earth?

There are many beautiful places I have been and where I would like to go. I would have to say though any place with my family would be my favorite. To name someplace specific though it would be Florida (Disney) with my fam!

8. What is your favorite day of the week?

I would have to say Sunday. A lot of my favorite things are incorporated on Sunday's! I have dance practice, get to spend time with my family and boyfriend and I get to spend time on campus with my sorority sisters!

9. Name your three top films for a girls night in.

Bridesmaids

A Walk To Remember
Burlesque 

10. Do you have a social project that you adore/take part in?

I was raised doing community service weekly and it is a part of who I am. I adore and take part in any type that I am available to and always will. 

11. Do you want to build a snowman? 

Absolutely LOVE this movie! This line from the movie (song) makes me smile because my brother quotes it all the time!

Now I nominate!

Emily from Pretty Please

Robert from I Wrote A Little Something

Laura from This Rambling Corner

They Call Her Mon

Carly from Carly Blogs Here

Sian from Swiftly Style

Jo from She Wears Burgundy

Jay from PuzzlePieceLife

Scribbles by B

Jilly from Perfection is Overrated

Anneke from Be Fit, Be Happy, Be Me

You're questions are…

1) What has surprised you most about blogging so far?

2) Where is your favorite place to eat out?

3) What do you hope to be doing a few years down the road?

4) If you could move anywhere where would it be?

5) Do you have a certain fashion style?

6) Who inspires you?

7) What is your go-to beauty product?

8) Do you have an ideal date night?

9) What is your favorite childhood memory?

10) If you have a bad day is there something/someone who cheers you up?

11) Why do you blog?

Can't wait to read your answers! 

❤ Nichole ❤

Bloglovin'

Pause and Relax

In a world that is run by agenda's and to-do lists, it's hard to find time to just stop, step back and relax. We don't take the moments we should for ourselves in fear that the pile of things we need to accomplish will continue to grow. Stress is something in which we all can relate to and I'm sure we all know is not great for our health. Which is why relaxation is very important. 

Since Sunday is considered a day of rest, it seemed appropriate to share relaxation techniques that help relieve stress I found on webmd.com. 

1. Meditate

Take a moment to close your eyes and slow down your thinking. This can help to calm your nerves and your body, as well as clear your head. 

2. Breathe Deeply

Deep breathing slows your heart rate and lowers your blood pressure. Give yourself a break from whatever you are doing and work against your stress. 

3. Be Present

Slow down and focus on the now. Every time you rush and hurry to do something or get somewhere you are adding more stress to your day. 

Source

4. Reach Out

A great way to manage the stress you are feeling is to talk about it to others. Find the support system you feel comfortable turning to and let it out. 

5. Tune Into Your Body

To lessen your stress, you have to first be able to understand what causes it. Pay attention to your day and note when you feel stressed and why.

6. Decompress

Place a warm heat wrap/towel around your neck and shoulders. While doing so sit back and relax each and every muscle, letting the tension diminish. 

Source

7. Laugh Out Loud

Laughing is a great pick me up and also has physical benefits. It lowers your stress hormone, cortisol, and increases endorphins, which boost your mood. 

8. Crank Up The Tunes

Listening to soothing music can lower blood pressure, heart rate and anxiety. And busting out a favorite melody can always help take your mind off things!

9. Be Grateful

When you start to feel stressed remind yourself of what really matters. Remember the good things and celebrate accomplishments, big and small.

Source

We may not always have a whole day to dedicate to relaxation, but there are small things we can do each day to help us reduce the stress we feel.

Questions of the Day:

1) What ways have you found best to cope with stress?

2) Do any of the tips in this list stand out to you?

3) How do you like to relax when you can?

❤ Nichole ❤

Bloglovin'

Saturday Cartoons

The other day my mom sent me this picture:

Source

It was not only an awesome quote, but it gave me a fun idea for a post. I like to keep things a little light hearted on the weekends and I thought what better way then to combine motivation with cartoons! Hope you enjoy!

"your are braver than you believe, stronger than 

you seem, and smarter than you think"

"what doesn't kill you makes you stronger"

Source

"be who you are and say what you feel because those who
mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind"

Source

"when life puts you in tough situation don't 

say why me, just say try me"

Source

"the very things that hold you down 

are going to lift you up"

Source

Have a great Saturday!

Do you have a favorite motivational cartoon quote?

Which one of these did you like best?

❤ Nichole ❤

Bloglovin'

Friday Favorites #4: Week of 3/21/14

Good morning and happy day! It's Friday!

My plans for today are being in the library, being in the library, and lastly, being in the library. I like to plan ahead and seeing that next week is a busier one, my goal is to get as far ahead as I can in my assignments! 

Whatever today may have in-store, make sure you take a second to celebrate all your favorite things and times from throughout the week. And share them with me too! After all, that's what we do around here on Friday's!

--Walking to Class

Tuesday was a gorgeous day. It was almost clear skies, calm winds and about 47 degrees! After our hard winter, this was wonderful. Hearing that it was supposed to be rainy and cold sometime during the weekend, I decided to take advantage of the nice day. I walked across campus to my next class instead of driving over like I have all semester. Even though the walk is only about 5 minutes I made sure to take my time enjoying the beauty of my campus. It's crazy to think that in 43 days this won't be my daily life. 

--March Madness

Now, even though I don't live and die by the bracket I am a huge sports fanatic. Yesterday started the first round. These games are some of the best there are throughout the whole season; literally anything can happen. Each and every team brings it all to the table. I like to watch as many as I can.

Source

I also can't help but flashback to one of my favorite times of last year when my parents, boyfriend and I drove down to the Final Four! It was an amazing time that was just made better by our team making the championship game!

--Nail Polish

I am not a fan of when my finger nails are polish free. I used to go have my nails done with acrylics quite often. Although very nice, this got a little pricey. So, self-manicures it is! Here are some colors I have used recently!

--Bottles

I have quite the obsession with bottles; water bottles, coffee mugs, etc. A lot times I end up grabbing the same one out of habit, but I do try to remember to switch it up every so often. I thought that by pulling out my favorites to share with you all I could also help refresh myself of what all I have to use!

--Easy Button

For the longest time I have thought that the Easy Buttons from Staples were the greatest. Even though they cannot take your stress away, to me it seemed like it could manage to put a smile on your face! Last week after my honors convocation my mom and dad gave me an Easy Button as a little surprise. I could not stop laughing. It will be by my side studying for finals!

--Post this Week

What Do You Carry? on Wednesday 3/19/14:

Ready. Set. You're turn!!

What did you love this week?

❤ Nichole

Beauty is..

Today's society has created a norm that being beautiful is dependent on how one physically looks. Because of this we idolize models and celebrities that are portrayed in the media. Because of this we look in the mirror and never are satisfied with what we see or who we are. But what makes being "Hollywood perfect" beautiful? Well the truth, that is not what real beauty is. 

Beauty is more than skin deep. 

True beauty cannot be created by choosing the right eyeshadow to compliment your eyes or best style for your hair. True beauty does not come from working out non-stop to fit into a size two or get that 6-pack and those biceps. A truly beautiful person comes from much more then any of that.  

Beauty comes from any sort of adversity:

• defeat

• suffering

• struggle

• loss

And never giving up. 

Going through adversity creates a unique sense of understanding and appreciation for the life. We all have different hardships that we face. We all deal with them in certain ways. It is important to let the difficult times make us as compared to break us. By doing so we strength our beauty within. 

You can strive to become the most physically beautiful person there is out there, but without a greater inner beauty you will be lost. I enjoy clothes and make-up just like anyone else, but a few digits on a scale or the label that is sown into our clothes does not enhance the person we truly are. I take pride in my appearance, but I do it for me not because society says I have to. 

Our true beauty will always shine through. 

Souce

Do you know the saying, "don't judge a book by its cover?" Hopefully, but if not, now you do. It's a crucial one to constantly remind yourself of. We judge and ridicule yet a person is so much more than what we see on the outside. We cannot fully understand a person's journey. This is because they may not disclose every little detail about their life or we may have only just met them meaning we don't know where they have come from. A simple smile can cover up a lot. But what if you took the time to really get to know someone? 

And I mean really get to know them.

I guarantee you you'd find some of the most beautiful people in the world.

Source

Embrace adversity. Stay positive. Care for others. Love life. And shine on.

Nothing could be more beautiful. 

As always thanks to Amanda for today's link up!

Questions of the Day?

1) Do you believe beauty is more then skin deep?

2) Has adversity helped you develop inner beauty?

3) Who is in your life that you believe is truly beautiful?

❤ Nichole

The Self-Love Tag

Hi everyone, this is my very first time ever posting twice in one day! You can see my post from earlier today here. Kayla over at Microscope Life tagged me to participate in the Self-Love Tag. So here we go!

1. What does self-love mean to you?

Self-love to me is being proud of who you are. It is important to keep in mind of where you have come and where you are now. To celebrate the little things. Self-esteem was never something I was great with. I have always been super hard on myself. I do so because I like to constantly do my best, but there are certain ways to do it. I have now learned how to push myself yet to be thankful for and of whatever I end up accomplishing.

2. What is your favorite way to pamper yourself?

My favorite way to pamper myself is to either go for a pedicure or a massage. It is normally 45 minutes to an hour of just me and I try to not think about anything. It's best when I can go grab a pedicure with my mom! It can get pricey though so I don't do it too often. 

3. What are your three favorite hobbies/pastimes that make your soul feel on fire?

1) Dance - my outlet, my passion, where I feel most like me 

2) Time with my family/close friends - memories that outlast anything

3) Most recently, blogging - I love writing and sharing 

4. What movie always puts you in a good mode when you're not in the greatest mood?

I can't name just one, but I would have to say any type of comedy can do this! Also Disney movies, can do the trick! 

5. Who do you trust so much that you would easily believe in anything and everything they said?

My parents, brother, and boyfriend. My family is my everything and I know they always have my best interest in mind. They always look out for me. 

6. What quote totally motivates you?

"We define ourselves by the best that is in us, not the worst that has been done to us." - This quote helps me remember that what I'm going through isn't the end and isn't what I should put my focus to. Instead I need to look inside of myself and use the gifts I have been given to become who I am meant to become.

7. When was the last time you took yourself on a date? What did you do?

Last Friday. I went for a much needed massage. It was wonderful. 

8. What make-up or beauty products makes you feel like a million bucks?

When I am not on court I really do not wear too much make-up. However, I love my blush. I think it instantly brightens up a face. 

9. What is the last thing you did for someone else that made you feel amazing?

I can't think of something specific because I tend to do a lot of little things. Everyday I try to do something for someone. I try to make someones day better in anyway I can. I love to help people, it is a passion of mine. If I leave someone in a better mood then when I first saw them I feel amazing. Even a simple exchange of a smile makes me feel good!

10. Do you feel comfortable with and without make-up on?

Both, however, I actually prefer to not wear make-up. For the longest time I was not comfortable with people seeing me without make-up and I would constantly be fixing it throughout the day. As I have become more confident in myself over the past couple years I have noticed I do not feel as if I need makeup like I used to. 

11. What piece of advice would you give a child about to grow up with the pressures of today's media and its crushing expectations?

I would tell them to not listen to what they hear or internalize what they see. I would explain to them that the "flawless" look that is portrayed to us in not reality. I would tell them to be true to themselves. Granted my just simply saying it may not do the trick so I would encourage them to look for the truth themselves. I would encourage them to look at pictures of stars when they are not "made up" to see they are just like us. I would explain to them the true meaning of beauty is more then what you see. 

12. What song puts you in a good mood every time?

Even though it is a tad over played I would have to say the song "Happy" by Pharrell. It talks about how if you are happy you can take whatever life brings your way! 

13. What is the best advice someone gave you or you realized about life?

My mom has always told me that if you can list the people you can count on on one had (5 fingers) you are blessed. This has stuck with me because the amount of friends you have in life does not enhance your life, but the types of people they are can. Surround yourself with those who genuinely care. 

14. Who makes you giggle like a giggle monster?

My brother makes me literally laugh out loud all the time. He is one of the funniest people I know. He deals with life through humor and he is pretty darn good at it! 

15. What is something about society that bugs you that you wish didn't?

I think being the fact the majority of the world is materialistic. I care more about the relationships in my life and I know I always will. It's hard for me though when people don't and they care more about the things they have or the things someone can bring to a relationship. I always want to change them, but I have to constantly remind myself that they are who they are and I am who I am. I will be better off in the long run caring about people. 

16. What is one of your favorite things to do on the weekends?

One of my favorite things to do on the weekend is to just have a simple and relaxed weekend. I am a very simple soul. I love extravagant things but I find just as much beauty in the little things. The other weekend my boyfriend and I just stayed in and played euchre with my parents and it was one of the most fun nights. 

17. What is something you're really proud of that you've done?

I am really proud that I am graduating in four year. I made it a goal of mine starting my freshman year and due to my health I thought I was off track for good. I met with my advisor, planned a couple 17 credit semesters and got back on track. I will be graduating in May exactly 4 years from when I graduated high school.

18. What is one of your favorite memories with one of your friends?

There are so many! I have some of the most amazing friends in the world! I think one of my favorite memories is of when I was in the hospital and I received a youtube video put together by my friend Alex. He got all of my close friends at school to send me love through a video since they could not physically be there with me. 

19. What advice would you give someone who needs a boost in confidence?

I would tell them to always try to look for the good. There is always something good. I would also tell them to know that no matter what they are going through it will get better. Everything they go through matters and it is helping to shape them into who they are meant to be. I would tell them to embrace the bad instead of letting it over take them. I would tell them to always be true to them and never be ashamed of who they are. 

20. Lastly, how do you plan on investing in self-love?

This blog. I have always been told I have a very special outlook on life. This is a way for me to reflect personally and share it externally. 

I now tag anyone and everyone who reads this post!

Comment with a link to your post if you do!

❤ Nichole

Follow on Bloglovin'

What Do You Carry?

We all carry around things everyday that weigh us down. The extent in which baggage affects us depends on who we are. However, no matter who we are, the longer we hold onto things the heavier they become and the harder it becomes to rid it from our lives. But what if you decided to simply unpack?

Life is timed out for us beyond what we could ever imagine. It is hard to accept it, but we cannot change it. By not letting go of what we are holding onto there is the possibility we are keeping others who are meant to cross our path from doing so. The baggage we have could turn them away. Here, we are interfering with our life by holding on to the past, instead of taking control of our life by letting go and moving on.  

The baggage that weighs you down weighs down those around you too.

Source 

Just because we all have baggage does not mean that each person is accepting to that which is not theirs. Not everyone wants to help you carry it, aka help you through it. Now, one thing to keep in mind is that just because someone does not want to help you unpack does not mean that they are a horrible person. They just see you are filled with hurt or anger and it does not appeal to them. Actually, in my experience, a lot of people do not genuinely care to deal with other problems unless they are directly affected by it. 

Even though it may feel as if they are turning their backs on us that is not the case. It's better to not have someone then to have someone who does not genuinely care. Scenarios where we feel like there is no one there to help us unpack really have the ability to open our eyes if we let them. It can help us see that maybe we should have stopped and looked at what we were carrying with us a long time ago. If it is too much for someone else, it's definitely too much for ourselves.

And always remember no matter how you feel, you are not alone.

It is important to find those in your life who want to help you get through it. They are out there I promise you. They may have yet to come into your life or they may be someone you interact with daily and just don't realize it. Only the right people can successfully help you unpack. When you find them you will know. They are the fibers that have the ability to keep you going. 

You have to accept that there are more people out there who are not willing to help you unpack then who are. As well as, the people you want may not be the ones who are meant to. These people also can change throughout time. Be conscious of the ones who do want to and hold onto them as long as you can. Never take them for granted and always appreciate them, for it is rare. Those that stop their life long enough to look to you are a blessing in disguise. It can be hard, but let them in and let them help. 

I used to struggle with this, but there is nothing wrong with asking for help.

Source

Our baggage is our responsibility. To truly get rid of it we have to become committed in our mind and heart to do so. It won't matter how much help we get unless we personally decide to let go. Once the choice is made to begin to lighten the load some people can let go all at once and never look back while some people need to do it little by little. Remember what I said at start of this post; the extent in which baggage affects us depends on who we are. Yes, there is no doubt we need to let go and move forward, but it has to be done at a pace that is right and healthy for you. 

"Let It Go" from the movie Frozen

Let's start unpacking!

Questions of the Day:

1) Do you ever look within to see what baggage you are carrying?

2) Are there certain people in life who help you unpack?

3) How do you decide when it's time to let go?

❤ Nichole

Follow on Bloglovin'