Anything is Possible

Audrey Hepburn had the right idea in stating that, "Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!" There are moments where we struggle to reach our goals and there are moments where everything shines in our favor. Patience is key in moments of struggle and it is important that we embrace our journey by continuing to trust in ourselves. No matter what we believe in and no matter what we are fighting for we have to remember that anything can be possible as long as we truly believe in ourselves!    


<3 Yours Truly

Audrey Hepburn

Inner guidance

Many people judge for the simple reason that they think they know what is right and what is wrong in their own eyes. What others believe is right for them may not necessarily be right for you so don't jump to any conclusions thinking that you have to change what you believe in. Always strive to be your best and don't let others bring you down along the way because in the end they won't matter. Remember that you matter and to trust your inner guidance. Breathe in a little inspiration and trust in yourself because you are the one who knows what is truly best for you!

<3 Yours Truly 

Find Your Focus

Our society has become so accustomed to being on the go and living life in fast forward. We have taken on so many responsibilities that we find ourselves struggling to manage everything that we have going on. Our minds are constantly racing and are always a few steps ahead of our every move. We have programmed ourselves to be so on the go that we now have difficulty focusing on a single given task. Try to find your focus today by clearing your mind of all your responsibilities for a few moments and notice how you truly feel when you are completely relaxed. Is it difficult for you to focus? Does your mind begin to drift away and is it difficult for you to sit still? If you are struggling to find your focus, try to meditate and sit still by thinking of something pleasant and relaxing. With time and practice you will be able sit still for longer periods of time, which will increase your ability to focus.

<3 Yours Truly

Honesty

Honesty is something that I deeply cherish and keep near and dear to my heart. Ever since I was a little girl I was taught to be honest and I am so incredibly thankful that I have had so many positive influences in my life. Honesty has helped me become the person I am today and it is something that I continue to live by. No matter what the situation is, I make sure that I am honest and that most importantly I stay true to myself. Honesty has helped me overcome difficulties and I believe that when things get tough we can find a way with honesty on our side.

<3 Yours Truly 

Active Body, Active Mind

Physical activity is very important for our well being because it helps keep our mind and body active. Staying active keeps our body and our brain in good shape physically. Research has shown that twenty minutes of physical activity a day can reduce the risk of early-onset dementia as well as other neurological disorders that occur with aging naturally. It is important that we take care of our mental well being early in our lives so that we can prevent our brains from deteriorating and developing a brain disease. Make it a priority to add physical activity to your daily routine so that you can live a much healthier life at the age of eighty.

Check out this website for more information on exercise and the brain:
http://www.acefitness.org/certifiednewsarticle/1402/exercise-and-the-brain/

<3 Yours Truly

Jennifer Aniston    

Embrace Friendship

I am so incredibly lucky and thankful to have such amazing friends in my life. My friends are always there for me whenever I need them most and they support me no matter what I am striving to accomplish. Friendship is very important to me and I know that I would not have become the individual that I am today if I did not have their support. Take a moment today to embrace the friendships you have and remind your friends know how much they mean to you. Most importantly, remember that no matter what the situation is, true friends will not judge you nor will they discourage your greatest aspirations.

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.” - Audrey Hupburn

<3 Yours Truly

Love More

Love is one of the most significant things that we need in our lives, in which will help keep us going. Without love, our lives can become very empty and depressing. It is important that we allow ourselves to love because it will help us grow as individuals as well as help maintain our psychological well being. Some people believe that they need to find a significant other to be able to have love in their lives, but love is found in many different forms and it is important that we embrace love every moment we get. Instead of looking for someone to love we should focus our energy on embracing and loving what is already around us.

<3 Yours Truly

A World Without Judgment

I enjoy writing about judgment because we are faced with it on a daily basis. For those of you that read my blog frequently, you may have noticed that I have written about judgment before. People judge for many reasons, but usually they do it to overcome their own insecurities. Judgment is nearly impossible to avoid and it will follow us throughout our lives. We cannot escape people's judgment and negativity, but we can definitely control how it affects our psychological well being. Next time you are judged keep in mind that the person judging you is struggling with their own insecurities, so do not let their negative comments affect you! Remember to keep your head held high and do not let other's negativity bring you down!

-"Peace and Love, Don't Judge"
<3 Yours Truly

                                                         

Emotional Freedom

What does freedom mean to you? Our country is highly recognized for it's freedom and those that fought for it. Physical freedom is very important, but to be emotionally stable, it is important that we allow our minds to be free. Our minds can become overwhelmed and we need to be able to control our emotions so that we do not become emotionally imprisoned. Negative emotions can take a toll on our psychological well being so we need to know how to control our emotions. It is impossible to completely avoid negative experiences, but we will be much better off if we are able to control ourselves from getting worked up and stressed out. Learn to let go of negativity and learn to free your mind so you can bring more peace into your life.

<3 Yours Truly

Art Therapy

For those of you that read my blog yesterday you may have noticed that I briefly discussed art therapy. So what is art therapy exactly and how does it work? Natalie Rogers, a humanistic psychologist, is the pioneer of expressive art therapy. Expressive arts can be found in various forms such as dance and improv, painting, sculpting, and writing. The arts is used to create a safe environment, which makes it possible for individuals to express their deepest emotions through personal artwork.

This summer I had such an amazing opportunity to intern and mentor for Free Arts of Arizona, which is a nonprofit organization that works with at-risk youth from over 100 different treatment centers, homless shelters, and group homes across the valley. Free Arts of Arizona has amazing programs that give children the opportunity to express their deepest emotions through various types of artwork. Mentors and volunteers at Free Arts of Arizona are given the chance to enhance lives of many abused and homeless children by introducing expressive art therapy to their lives.

Remeber that you do not have to be an artist to be able to express your emotions through art and with art there are no strict rules that are simply black and white. If you are interested in volunteering and helping heal a life get involved and contact the Free Arts of Arizona office !
http://www.freeartsaz.org

<3 Yours Truly

Finding Peace

Many people struggle to find peace and some people are so unfortunate that they cannot ever find it. Some people resort to drug use and abuse because they believe that by escaping reality they will be able to find peace. The truth is that escaping reality and running away from fears will only worsen the situation. Finding peace is not easy because it takes a lot of self-awareness, motivation, and support from others. Times can be tough and it is very important that we have emotional and physical support from our loved ones. Finding peace is very difficult and sometimes it is better to look at the process of finding peace as something that we work on throughout our life time. If you are looking for more peace in your life try yoga, meditating, or art therapy. Check out some of these resources bellow that can help you find your inner peace. 

<3 Peacefully Yours

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200705/art-therapy-the-healing-arts

http://www.sumitsyoga.com

"every little thing is gonna be all right" -Bob Marley

So many of our waking moments are focused on achieving specific tasks and to-do lists. Sometimes we are successful at achieving our tasks, but sometimes life happens and we are faced with obstacles that prevent us from our accomplishments. When we are faced with struggles the most important thing to keep in mind is that in order to get through difficult situations we need to be optimistic as well as realistic. So when you feel a little defeated try looking at the bright side of things and remember to make the best out of every given situation.

Bob Marley's inspirational lyrics are sometimes just enough to help me make the best out of a situation
"Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right" - Bob Marley

<3 Yours Truly

We Always Want MORE

Our society is so focused on always wanting more. Whether it is more to a relationship, a career, or simply materialistic things, it seems as though we can't ever be happy with what we have. The lifestyle that we are accustomed to has trained us to strive for more and striving for more than what and who we are is not a bad thing. I definitely agree with the fact that we should all work towards becoming self-actualized individuals, but I also believe that a very important aspect of reaching our fullest potential has a lot to do with accepting and being happy with who we are. Once we are able to live happily in the now,  I think that it will become much easier for us to reach our fullest potential.

<3 Yours Truly

Last Week's Poll Results !!

After analyzing the results from last week's poll, I am excited to say that 87% of everyone that voted chose happiness! There are so many expectations that we have to live up to and it is in unfortunate that many of those expectations do not include happiness solely. We are educated to believe that financial success brings happiness, but really how often is that even the truth? Granted money can get us a lot of things, but it cannot buy us happiness. So why is our world so obsessed with money? Financial stability is important, but many people don't realize that money isn't everything and that it doesn't solve all problems. Research from a diversity study shows that individuals that are the least happy are making over $81,000 a year and individuals that are the most happy make anywhere between $40,000 and $80,000 a year. Take this into consideration and remember that there's so much more to happiness and that money can only do so much.

<3 Yours Truly

Time Can Be Stressful

Sometimes we have so much going on in our lives that it often feels like we just don't have enough time for everything! There's been days where I've wished that there were more hours in a day and now I realize that wishing such nonsense will not only grant me more time, but it will also make my to-do list much longer. If you are overwhelmed with everything that you have going on in your life try to take a step back and see what you can do to change your daily rutine. If it is possible, try to eliminate things that cause you to stress out. If it's school or your job causing you to stress, try making small changes in your life such as eating a more balanced diet or working out. Relax and stress less!

<3 Yours Truly

Love Don't Judge

It is unfortunate that there are so many judgmental people in the world. I truly believe that the world would be a much happier and peaceful place if people were more accepting of others. Some people judge as if they were given special authority to do so and some people, whether they believe it or not, judge to overcome insecurities. Try to live your day today without any judgment. Don't judge others and most importantly don't judge yourself! See if a day without judgment will bring more peace to your life!

<3 Yours Truly
"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." <3 Audrey Hepburn

Must Love Shih Tzus

Many of you may already know how obsessed I am with my dogs. I have two Shih Tzus, Kona and Kai, that are absolutely precious and they have such big hearts! They greet me at the door whenever I come home and seeing their happy faces makes my day. They have such huge personalities that continue to amaze me and I am so lucky to have such beautiful spirits in my life ! Do you have animals that you completely adore? Feel free to comment and post about them because I would love to hear about them !

<3 Your Truly

For The Love of Toms®

I am absolutely obsessed with shoes and over the past year I have completely fallen in love with Toms! Blake Mycoskie, the creator of Toms, is truly an inspiration. Toms are super comfortable and are designed to fit every type of style for both guys and girls! The Toms mission and company Blake Mycoskie created is unbelievably amazing! For those of you that are not completely familiar with Toms, with every pair of shoes you purchase, Toms gives a pair of new shoes to a child in need. If you love Toms this is an amazing opportunity to make a difference and save a life. 

Check out the Toms website bellow for a variety of styles as well as the entire story behind Toms !

http://www.toms.com

<3 Yours Truly

Cool Summer Looks

Summer can be a little warm no matter where you live, unless you are living in New Zealand or the other side of the equator. Stay cool this summer by wearing as little clothing as possible and by avoiding suffocating materials. Ready to revamp your wardrobe? Bohemian Chic is this summer's trendy style! What makes Bohemian Chic the perfect style for summer is the lightweight material used to make clothes. Check out some of these Bohemian ideas to help you stay cooler this summer !

<3 Yours Truly

Summer Rejuvenation

Summer is here and it is our time to have fun and relax ! Summer gives us the opportunity to recharge our batteries and escape the stresses of reality. Whether our summer destination is in our backyard or on an exotic island it is important that we take time for ourselves to rejuvenate our mind and body. All the wear and tear that our bodies experience throughout the year need time to heal so it is important for us to take care of our bodies before we need serious medical attention. When we give ourselves the opportunity to recharge, we can help fight feelings of burnout and are able to become more focused. Before work and the school year kicks back into high gear, try to find some time this summer to fully relax. 

<3 Yours Truly

Let's help make the world a better place !

It is unbelievably heartbreaking to think about the hardships that some countries in the world experience. It is unfortunate that so many people have to risk their life and struggle just to make it though their day. People living in third world countries are constantly battling for natural resources that we often take for granted. Water is among one of the most scarce elements in the world and only about 60% of people in the world have access to sanitized water. There are many countries that do not have access to sanitized drinking water and almost 3.6 million people die a year due to water related diseases. So what can we do to help? The answer is LOTS !! We can definitely start out by conserving water, we can volunteer for various organizations such as Water For People, and we can donate to an organization to further help with water sanitation in the developing world. So let's get out there and help make the world a better place! I can only imagine the difference we can make if we all contributed a little effort.

Learn more about water scarcity here:
http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/water/en/

<3 Yours Truly

Forgiveness

Forgiveness can be a very difficult process especially if we have been hurt or if someone has violated our trust. The more severe a transgression is the harder it becomes to grant forgiveness. Forgiveness plays a very important role in our life and well being. Some people believe that they can move on with their life without having to forgive and some people believe that the transgressor does not deserve forgiveness. Even though we may have been hurt so badly that we feel that forgiveness isn't even an option, we need to understand that the process of forgiveness serves us great benefit by allowing us to move on, to grow, and to be happy. Most importantly we need to learn to forgive for ourselves. Forgiveness is not an easy task and it does not happen over night. With time we will be able to forgive by allowing ourselves to let go of the past and focusing on the present and the future.

<3 Yours Truly

Unconditional love

Love comes in many forms, but the greatest and most important kind of love is unconditional love. To love unconditionally means to love someone regardless of the qualities they have to offer. When we love someone unconditionally we are nonjudgmental and we love them for the person they are. Relationships can become unhealthy if we do not accept our loved ones for who they are and try to change them. Instead of focusing on the negative qualities that we do not like in our partners we should try focusing on the positive qualities they have to offer. I believe that if we direct our energy towards highlighting the good that our significant other has to offer rather than trying to constantly change them our relationships can be more successful. I also believe that change begins within ourselves and that maybe we need to make a "change" within rather than trying to change someone else.

<3 Yours Truly

Health & Happiness

Sometimes we get discouraged as we contemplate working out. We think about the effort and energy that we need to put into our workouts and instantly we become discouraged. There are so many benefits to working out that are often taken for granted. Many of us are motivated to work out to look good on the "outside" and really there are many benefits that we forget about on the "inside". Working out and being healthy serves a lot of benefit to our internal organs. Having healthy organs, will keep us from getting diseases and will also help us overcome various diseases.

Most importantly, working out helps keep our brain healthy. When we work out, our brain relseases endorphins, which are neurotransmitters that are found in the brain. When endorphins are released, they reduce stress and lead us to feeling happy or euphoric. Working out also improves the brain's memory as well as the ability to process information. Working out is more important than we may think and we should not overlook the benefits that serve our brain when we work out.  Stay healthy, stay happy !

<3 Yours Truly

Image from: glassrocklife.com

Friendship

Throughout our lives we develop many friendships. Some friendships are deeper than others and some friendships only last a short period of time. Friendships are important because they keep us grounded and motivated to be the best that we can be. They keep us alive, the keep us young, and most importantly they make us happy. As we experience change throughout our life span we meet new people and make new friends. Friends are there for us whenever we struggle and whenever we shine. Whether our friends are beside us or faraway we know that we can always count on them where ever they may be.

I am so thankful to have so many incredible friends in my life ! I know that without my friendships I wouldn't be the person that I am today and nor will I be the person that I hope to become one day ! You all truly inspire me and thank you for all that you do !

<3 Yours Truly

“No matter who broke your heart, or how long it takes to heal, you’ll never get through it without your friends" - Carrie Bradshaw 

T.G.I.F

Most of you are probably excited as your work week is coming to an end. With that said, I hope that everyone has a relaxing weekend because I know you deserve nothing less after a long and hard week of work! Take the time to quiet your mind and body this weekend. Sometimes we find ourselves living in fast forward and by living in fast forward we cannot enjoy the beauty and peace of living in the moment. Where ever you may be this weekend, take time to unwind by relaxing and embracing what your surroundings have to offer!

Check out some relaxation techniques from Mayo Clinc!
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/relaxation-tecnique/SR00007


<3 Peacefully Yours

Summer Boredom

Are you bored this summer? The summer doldrums are on the rise while most of us have a break from school, time off from work, or just have little extra time on our hands. If you have a case of the doldrums I believe I that I may have a cure !!

Have you ever considered mentoring at-risk youth? In the state of Arizona alone, many children have experienced various cases of abuse and/or are in need of another adult role model in their lives. It is really easy to start volunteering and it does not have to take a huge amount of time and effort. There are many organizations across the valley that are looking for mentors and most importantly there are many at-risk kids that need your help.

Mentoring at-risk youth does not only benefit the youth, but it also serves personal benefit. It truly is a humbling experience and it will also make you feel good about yourself that you are giving back! I have been a mentor at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Arizona for over three years and in May of this year I started mentoring at Free Arts of Arizona. Both organizations are truly amazing and I feel so privileged that I have the opportunity to work with both organizations! If you are the least bit interested I highly suggest that you look into one of the various organizations that are in the valley. It doesn't hurt to try new things so if you are ready to make a difference in someones life please get involved ASAP!

Here is a list of some organizations to get involved with, but there are many more out there so please, please, please, don't hesitate and get involved !!
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Arizona
Free Arts of Arizona
Best Buddies
Make-A-Wish Foundation
Habitat for Humanity
Central AZ Shelter Services Inc.

Let me know if you have any questions!!
<3 Yours Truly

Are you reluctant to change?

We often view change as a negative experience, but we need to learn how to embrace change so we can further grow as individuals. Change can be a beautiful thing as long we are able to handle it appropriately and do not let it get the best of us. Change is not an easy thing to overcome and it is important that we are patient with ourselves throughout the process of change. We need to learn to look at change as an opportunity to grow and therefore make the best of it. Without change we can become stagnant and can sometimes feel defeated if we do not take action to experience new things in our lives. Be happy, be free, and embrace change !

<3 Yours Truly

Breathe Often and Stress Less

Our lives often become overwhelmed with the stresses we experience in our everyday life. As we journey through our day and attempt to conquer every obstacle on our to-do list, it is important that we learn to breathe. We often take for granted the little things that can actually benefit our well being. As we progress through our day, our stresses may accumulate to dangerous levels that can cause our body harm both physically and psychologically. Stress management is very important and a significant step in managing stress is recognizing when it is appropriate to make changes to our lives before our stress becomes unbearable. Research has proven that stress is one of the factors that contribute to many physical and psychological diseases and has demonstrated strong connections to cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Take a moment today to clear your mind and just breathe. Whether you are hoping for your day at work or school to come to an end or if your mind has become overwhelmed with endless responsibilities, just take a moment to yourself and breathe deeply. So where ever you are at today just relax, clear your mind, and with every exhale let your thoughts escape your mind.

<3 Peacefully Yours

Happy 4th of July !!

Hey everyone I hope your day is filled with lots of love and fireworks! Most importantly please remember to be safe and of course have fun as we celebrate our country's freedom! On July 4th 1776, our country gained its freedom because our leaders fought hard so lets not forget to honor those who have risked their lives and currently risk their lives to protect our country's freedom today! Feel free to post about your Fourth of July festivities and I cannot wait to hear all about them<3

<3 Yours Truly

Envy Much ?

I am often left with astonishment when I think of all the envy that occurs in the world today. I cannot help, but wonder how things would be if we were more content with the life we had instead of becoming consumed with wanting more. I am referring to "we" because I am sure that everyone including myself has expressed envy at some point in their lives. Some people may disagree to have ever expressed envy and it is important to understand that having the ability to openly state that one has experienced envious emotions takes a lot of courage and exemplifies autonomy.

Envy may have been a factor in a lot of history's tragedies. Things that I consider in regards to envy are past wars and hatred amongst different countries, conflicts between friends and loved ones, and the development of various psychological issues. Why is it that we want more than what we already have and could the world be less tragic if we were more content with what we had? According to research, feelings of envy emerge due to an individual's feelings of inferiority and invidious ill will. Present findings indicate that people differ in measurable ways in their tendencies to feel envy and that these differences may have important implications for social interactions (Smith et al. 1994). This past year, I have done a lot of research on self-love and how self-love leads to intrapersonal (within yourself) and interpersonal (with others) happiness. I believe that a key factor for us to achieve happiness within ourselves and with other individuals is to acquire self-love. Self-love is not an infatuation but a development of respect and an appreciation of our own worth. In order for us to become more self-actualized individuals it is important that we learn to accept ourselves and to make the best of our differences.

I believe it is very important to learn how to control envious emotions in order to maintain both our physical and emotional well being. We need to learn how to shift our judgment from envying other's riches and focus on bettering ourselves for our own benefit.

"Envy is an insult to oneself"-Yevgeny Yevtushenko


<3 Yours Truly

Red, White, & Blue <3

The 4th is just around the corner and I hope that everyone is as excited as I am!! Feel free to post about your Fourth of July activities :)

Fashion Tip: Rock your red, white, and blue gear this weekend !!
Kate Bosworth:



Health Tip: Wear lots of sun block and stay hydrated because it's going to be a sizzling weekend!!

Be safe and have fun!!
<3 Yours Truly

Hello

Welcome to my official blog! I am super excited to be doing this and I cannot wait to hear what everyone has to say! Every week I will be posting a poll that you guys can take that is based on what you guys want to get out of my blog. You can find this in the "What do you want from my blog" section. After I carefully analyze the results I will take them and apply them to my blog so I know that I am reaching out to everyone !

The theme of my blog is Peace, Love, and Fashion, as the title suggests! I will be posting inspirational thoughts and advice on fashion as well as various obstacles that we face on a daily basis. I hope that everyone including myself will be able to benefit and learn a few things from this experience!

Today's Advice: Feeling stressed, anxious, or are you looking for a total body workout? Exercise your mind and body doing hot yoga !
Recommended Studio: http://sumitsyoga.com/
<3 Happy Following