Statement Necklace Collection

I have gone through phases of what I have liked to collect/accumulate and now I’m on the hunt for more statement necklaces. I have statement rings that I have given away because it’s just not my style. I have necklaces with different pendants that will be in a future post, plus there’s my statement earrings, and then a collection I love the most my necklaces. The collection includes Juicy Couture, Jewel Mint, Aldo, Forever 21, H&M, Charlotte Russe, Charming Charlie, Wet Seal, and the thrift store.

Check out my collection below, labeled with where they were purchased.

 

Fall |2014| Lookbook

 Date Night

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Running Errands

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 Dinner W/ Friends 

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Motivational Monday (V.9) : Finding Your Purpose

I came across this quote today while doing my daily scroll of instagram. I absolutely love June Ambrose and aside from the latest trends and her family, she’s always posting motivational tidbits.

This one specifically spoke to me as I am on a journey to figure out exactly what I want to do with life or at least have craft some type of plan. Friday will be a year since I’ve graduated college and I can’t say that I’m where I want to be in life. I mean I didn’t expect to launch right into my career, but at this point I’m not sure exactly what I want my career to be. What I do know is that it will involve writing.

I will do whatever it takes to take my writing career to the next level. I will do whatever it takes find different platforms to share my personal life experiences. I have found my purpose, now it’s time to put the plan into action!

Wellness Wednesday (V.6): Dr. Oz, The Good Life [Premiere Issue]

I have been obsessed with Dr. Oz via radio interviews as of late promoting his new magazine, The Good Life. I wasn’t able to get my hands on the hard copy, but I bought the digital version on my iPad ($3.99) and I am in love. I decided I’d highlight some of my favorite excerpts from the premiere issue.

The magazine, like any other magazine, is broken down into categories: ‘Well Informed,’ ‘Health & Happiness,’ ‘The Good Life Report,’ ‘Mind & Mood,’ ‘Food & Recipes,’ Love/Family/Friends,’ ‘Home/Work/Money.’ ‘Your Best Body,’ and ‘Dr. Oz’s RX For…’

I personally have been on the hunt for recipes for my overflowing yet never used recipe book along with basic tips that I know I can apply now without thinking will they really work. For me it’s all about being consistent and that’s the hardest thing for me aside from actually starting some type of plan/routine.

My skin has been a little crazy and I’m currently using a generic blackhead facial scrub with a generic moisturizer which work fine I just feel that I know nothing about my skin. In the magazine it gave points on what to look for in a moisturizer as well as top picks for day and night depending on what type of skin you have.

A good one will include ingredients from three categories: humectants, emollients, and occlusives.

Karyn Grossman, M.D. (dermatologist)

I am one to walk in the store and if it says moisturizer I check the price, see if there’s a cheaper alternative, typically buy the cheaper alternative as a ‘trial and error,’ yet I never read the back to see exactly what I’m applying to food. This goes for a lot of things I (and others) purchase. It’s easy to get blindsided by the price instead of looking at the contents of the product.

To understand what to look for I first have to figure out what the hell humectants, emollients, and occlusives are. Thank goodness the article broke it down. In a nutshell humectants absorb (hyaluronic acid, glycerin, urea, panthenol, & honey), emollients fill in the dry spots (lauric acid, linoleic acid, glyceryl stereate, jojoba oil, coconut oil, collagen, & cetearyl & stearyl alcohol, and occlusives form a protective barrier for the skin (lanolin, paraffin, beeswax, shea butter, nut oils, squalene & silicones).

I personally stay away from shea butter products because they don’t react well with my skin as well as nut oils. The moisturizer I’m currently using is Target Up & Up, Moisturizing Cream (Sensitive Skin) which is to be compared to Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream. It contains the 3 categories and I can kick myself for picking something that has nut oils’ but in the time that I’ve used it my face hasn’t reacted to it so I guess it’s ok.

I have a mixture of dry, oily (especially during summer), and sensitive year round putting me in a combination category.

Go with formulas designed for combination or all skin types like Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 and Elizabeth Arden Visible inference Skin Balancing Night Cream.

Both of those products are over $20 and of course I will be on the hunt for a cheaper alternative the next time I buy a moisturizer.

Aside from the skincare article I really can’t wait to try out recipes, Orecchiette with Spicy Sausage & Broccolini and Turkey & Vegetable Bolognese.

Dr. Oz, The Good Life, is available on newsstands & digitally and for $15 you can sign up for a year subscription here. Stay tuned for upcoming Wellness Wednesdays where I’ll share more of Dr. Oz’s tips.

Wellness Wednesday (V.5): My Impromptu Workout

This week has been great because I’ve been able to have time on my hands to create new content for the blog that I’m excited to share and have been sharing. Thanks for all the feedback. There’s just been one big icy, messy, problem: SNOW! I have been in and out of work due to the weather and although I’m happy to have some time to myself, I’m TIRED of shoveling snow.

The first storm hit Monday morning. Literally hours after the Super Bowl ended and the stadium was clear, hear came storm MAXIMUS! That left about 6 inches or so and I had to shovel that. The snow was light, but between cleaning off two cars, shoveling a drive way & sidewalk, cleaning my porch and laying out ice, I was TIRED.  Mind you there’s stills snow on the ground from a storm that happened nearly two weeks ago.

If that wasn’t enough not even two days later we’re hit with NIKA! This storm on top of the snow that’s already on the grown came with ICE making the snow heavy and harder to shovel. Plus the people that plow my street plowed alright and I went out this morning with about 6 inches of snow blocking my driveway. So it was the process just like Monday except this took way longer because of the weight of the snow.

I don’t mind shoveling and getting a snowblower is on my to-do list, but for now its the traditional shovel and brush for my car. Here are my tips for shoveling snow.

• Bundle up (the snow is wet if you’re wet and go in and out you get sick). I usually have on leggings, sweatpants, a long sleeve shirt and a hoodie, and THEN I put on my coat, scarf and gloves being sure my neck and back are covered for when the snow randomly falls from trees.
• Wear boots that do not go past your calf. Wearing other boots might be contracting when you have to bend to pick up the snow. I wear my Timbs with two pairs of socks and I’m just fine.
• Shovel the snow as soon as it hits the ground. Yes, I know it might be a waste if more snow is coming down, but it’s better to do it while its freshly fallen this way it’s softer and easier to pick up. Also it’d be easier to pick up 3 inches here and 3 inches there then to pick it up all at once.
• SHOVEL THE SNOW BENDING YOUR KNEES! You don’t want to hurt your back or cause a strain on your chest. Also all that shoveling can lead to heart attacks so BE CAREFUL!
• Stay hydrated. It can be tiring moving snow and I know that I am always thirsty. Don’t feel like you can’t take break. If that means you have to go in and out a couple times then so be it.

Those are my personal tips on shoveling snow. For more of an ‘expert’ opinion click here.

Surprisingly I’m not sore from shoveling snow, but I’m so over it. It was a good workout and I got plenty of arm and cardio work in over the last couple days. One upside to the snow is the beautiful sight outside. It’s gorgeous.

There’s supposed to be ANOTHER storm hitting this weekend between Saturday-Monday. The reports are saying anywhere from 3-30+ inches. Yeah, I’m looking forward to none at all, but I’d rather have 3 then any more than that.

ALSO if you are traveling in snow be sure to have some essentials in your trunk just in case: water, flashlight, blanket, brush/shovel (for snow), kitty litter [Heres a great list here]. Kitty litter is GREAT for traction if you get stuck. It’s better to use that and additionally shovel snow (if that’s what you’re stuck in) than to press the gas and burn the rubber on your tires. I know this from experience after getting caught in the mud n my backyard. Having a blanket and water and maybe a snack or something is good. You never know what could happen and with all the snow, ice, salt, etc. on the roads it messes up your car. You don’t expect it to happen, but it’s better to expect the unexpected and be prepared.

Motivational Monday (V.4) — Being Happy for the Success of Others

Sometimes when you’re not at the point you want in life and you have people around you prospering in their own lives it can dampen your mood and make you feel some way towards their success. It’s hard to have a friend land a new job and you’re sitting in your current situation waiting for things to happen for you. Yeah you’ve applied, yeah your friend could’ve gotten lucky, yeah you could’ve got that promotion… Why the excuses? Why not be more proactive in your decisions. Don’t be upset over the success of others when you have the same 24 hours in a day as they do.

I came across this article in the Huffington Post, Stop Hating: Five Reasons It Pays to Get Happy About Other People’s Success. Here’s their tips on how to not be a ‘hater.’:

1. Proactively look for opportunities to shine the spotlight on someone else.
2. Create a daily gratitude list.
3. Be aware of jealousy.
4. ‘Fake it till you make it.’
5. Start with the people you love.
6. Work you way up to dealing with the hard stuff
7. With practice, you’ll be able to tackle the more sensitive issue.

In all honesty it’s hard to look at someone, especially a good friend, and not be happy for them when they reach their goals, but if you’re not where you want to be feel some type of animosity, better yet, jealousy. There’s no need for that. Just take a different approach when going about what you want to achieve. Every one has the same 24 hours, make the most of it. With the tips stated above the least you could do is act happy. Friends, family members, etc. can tell just by the tone of your voice the excitement. Yes I have told friends that I’m happy, but not happy as a joke and that was wrong. I need to celebrate their success and continue to be proactive as I wait on my time to come. Success is not going to come to you. You must work for it. So instead of getting jealous when someone reaches a goal for you, celebrate, continue to work, and when your time comes others will celebrate with you as you celebrated with them.

Wellness Wednesday (V.3): My Workout Playlist

I’ve been getting a little bit better with my consistency in working out. Key words ‘a little bit.’ As for my eating habits I can’t say much. I’ve been stuffing my face with junk and a lot of that has to do with boredom and being stuck in the house. After working all week I like to do absolutely nothing on the weekends, but just because it’s cold doesn’t mean I can’t be active.

As I talked about in Fitness Wednesday (Week 2), Glamour magazine had an excerpt in the February edition titled. Here’s the ‘5 Ways to Fool Yourself Into Exercising’:

1. Tell yourself, ‘I only have to work out for 7 minutes.’
2. Listen to your exercise playlist before exercising.
3. Workout with someone who is 40% more fit than you are.
4. Schedule it into your calendar.
5. Stop debating the damn workout and just go.

As January winds down there’s only so much that I can say I accomplished so far this year. My plan as to working out in consistently in January is not on the list. Well I’m going to keep trying. It’s a process, not an overnight thing. I need to watch what I consume and stop making excuses as to why I can’t work out. These 5 tips are really helping especially #1. Seven minutes, just seven minutes.

Hopefully I’ll get better with time. No, I will get better with time. (Speak things into existence.)

Well, here’s my current workout playlist.

https://soundcloud.com/lakia-broadhurst/sets/workout-1

Motivational Monday (V.3) — 7 Cardinal Rules for Life

Motivational Monday (V.2) — Making Time For YOU!

I’m a little late with this weeks Motivational Monday, but I have been so exhausted. I have been up the past week editing the blog’s archive and my sleep pattern went completely off. I would fall asleep after 2am, rush to be to work by 9am and be cranky throughout the day due to lack of sleep. This isn’t the first time I’ve done this. I procrastinated my way through college, truthfully speaking. All-nighters were a weekly routine for me especially for big projects. I always told myself I worked better under pressure, but I guess that was just another excuse. I’m always off doing other things and never taking care of myself. I always overlook how important it is to take care of my body. I always push off taking vitamins for the next day, calling the doctor next week, waiting until the last minute to pay bills. I have honestly spent a lot of my money on nonsense. I have nothing to show for it. At 22 years old I want to take learn to become a better me in all aspects, mentally / physically / spiritually.

In trying to become a better ‘Me’ I have to become more conscious of everything I’m consuming, and I’m not just talking food. I want to consume things that will make me happy, challenge my brain, and most importantly boost my energy. Being that I commute to and from work daily it can be troublesome and by the time I get home I’m done and all I want to do is lay in bed, watch videos on YouTube and if I happen to fall asleep so be it. This leads to an irregular sleeping pattern and when I wake up after 1am from taking a ‘nap’ at 7:30pm I want to get up and get something to eat. I want to get up and do something. Then by the time I fall back asleep it’s too late and I’m literally fighting for sleep before I have to get up for work. To me and making time for myself I have to be on some type of schedule. I have to give my self an allotted time to watch the videos / TV shows I want to watch and still make time for my 8 hours of sleep and waking up early enough to make breakfast or have it already made and ready to go.

I’ve realized that I feel so much better with not just ample hours of sleep, but when I have everything ready for the next day with my purse having all my essentials, my lunch is packed, and my outfit laid out. It’s nothing worse than waking up late, having to fix lunch (or opt to buy fast food; money wasted), and digging through your closet for something to wear and hoping it matches.

It becomes a balancing act and trying to figure out your day with getting work done, but always finding time for yourself. Always finding time to take care of yourself whether it is pre-making lunches, checking in with the doctor annually, maintaining organization in your home, etc. Your surroundings affect your mood quickly and if you’re always in a rush and living in a mess that’s the energy you exert to others whether is purposely or inadvertently.

In essence it’s just about giving yourself time, JUST FOR YOU! Not thinking about work, kids, family, boyfriend/husband, mom/dad, sister/brother, friends, etc. It’s about making time for you. Put the phone down — that means get off the blogs, twitter, Facebook, & Instagram. Take a shower, relax, no technology at all. Just pick up a magazine, a newspaper, a book you’ve been meaning to read for months that’s collecting dust. Paint your nails, listen to that album you’ve been meaning to listen to, but never found the time. Get your mind right and just relax even if its for 5 minutes. Not everyone has the time to give themselves a lot of ‘me’ time. You have to though and make it a part of your daily life. It’s great to be there for others from whatever aspect, but you have to be 100% to do so. That ‘me’ time is the first step.

Sunday Rant (V.2): Lazy to Productive

It’s 8:03pm (notice I like to timestamp events in my life) and I’m just getting around to putting up my rant. It’s before midnight so it’s fine. I’m just determined to get up a blog post EVERY DAY! Today I woke up fairly early and I’ve finally got my sleep schedule back on a routine.

I spent the beginning part of my day editing my blog’s archive (which is almost finished), but then I looked around my room and saw how messy it was. It’s hard to work in mess no matter how much you try to look around it, or sit on top of it. I decided to clean my room.

In the midst of cleaning I decided to work on some blog posts. There goes the distraction and procrastination of cleaning my room. The sun was still out and I wanted to get some posts done with natural lighting. Stay tuned for those! After getting all my photos done I was able to clean my room and so some laundry. I try to do most of my work on the weekends because after working anywhere from 8am-6pm Monday to Friday I’m tired and all I want to do when I get home is shower, eat, and watch my favorite shows.

SPEAKING OF, my winter will be filled with episodes of Law & Order: SVU (still not the same without Stabler), Criminal Minds, NCIS: Los Angeles, Pretty Little Liars, Netflix,WWE (yes I’m a wrestling fan), and my personal fav YouTube!

I get a lot of inspiration for YouTube whether it’s an incentive to go buy the latest product, DIY ideas, tutorials, hauls, and my new fav vlogs, I love them all. As for the WWE I will soon be canceling my Netflix Account and signing up for the WWE Newtork ($10/month). Yeah it’s a $2 increase in my ‘budget’, but all the perks with the WWE Network are so worth it.

As for my night I’ll be looking on Instagram & Google to see who won at the Golden Globes, editing & creating more blog posts for  the upcoming weeks, and getting into my magazines of the moment.

 

Hope you all had a productive Sunday, and cheers to a productive week.

Until next time…