happy

A Guide To Making Every Day of Your Life As Special As Possible

May 29, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Many people hate the idea of routine and the mundane and want to bring as much magic as possible to their everyday lives. However, if you can’t find the magic inside of routine and the mundane, you’ll never find it elsewhere! In this guide, you’ll see how you can make every day of your life as special as possible. Take a look:

Take Time For Authentic Connection With At Least One Person

Speaking to people isn’t the same as making an authentic connection. This could be with somebody you know, or somebody you don’t. Make an effort to speak to people, listen to them, and don’t just wait for your turn to speak. Ask them questions and show a genuine interest in them. Don’t look at your phone while you’re with another person, as it sends a message that you’d rather be elsewhere.

You’ll feel so much better when you’re authentically connecting with people, and it could have a big impact on them, too.

Watch Your Wording

When speaking to other people or checking in on a loved one, watch your wording. Don’t just ask “how are you” for example. The only acceptable answer to that is ‘fine’ or an uncomfortable conversation if they absolutely have to tell you that they are not fine. Instead, ask them something specific, like how work is going. You could also say, “I’ve been feeling like this lately, how have you been feeling?” Sharing how you are feeling first is a much nicer way to open up conversation!

Get Dressed Up

You don’t need a reason to get dressed up. Saving clothes for a special occasion might make sense if you don’t want to do your food shopping in a sequined, luxury dress, but if you do then do it! Wear the clothes that make you happy and don’t be afraid to dress up. Wear your best clothes for no reason!

Develop A Routine Baggy Enough To Live In

Routine might seem boring, but it can be a great way to build healthy habits. If you build a routine that you’re happy with, you’ll actually want to do it every day. Not only that, you should make it ‘baggy enough to live in’ – a quote from author Matt Haig. Give yourself time to do the things you enjoy, and make sure you have down time. You don’t want to rush from pillar to post every day getting things done.

Being productive can feel good, but filling your day with tedious tasks just so you don’t have to sit with yourself or think about the fact you don’t have any hobbies you enjoy isn’t great! If you feel like you always have to be ‘busy’ try to turn yourself inside out and ask yourself why.

Appreciate The Little Things

Huge, magical things don’t have to happen for life to be special. Learn how to appreciate the little things. Notice things that would pass you by in everyday life. Pay attention to the sounds, smells, and sights that you probably ignore every day. If you don’t look for magic in the ordinary, you won’t find it. Believe it’s there, believe you will find it, and you will.

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Make Gratitude Lists

Making gratitude lists can help you to start and finish the day off right. If you’re just getting started, try writing one out before bed. When you feel ready, you can start doing it in the morning to start your day off right, too. You can include anything and everything. It may be hard at first, but you can find plenty to be grateful for when you look.

The more grateful you are for what you have, the more you’ll have to be grateful for. Try to think of 5 unique things every day. List three great things that happened to you that day, too. Again, you may need to think hard about this, especially if you’ve had a ‘bad’ day, but you will be able to find it if you think about it. You’ll eventually retrain your brain to find the positives in every day without having to think too hard.

Create A Vision Board

A vision board can help you to think more about what you really want out of life. You can make one board for your whole life, or multiple boards for different areas of your life – whatever suits you. When you fill the board with things that genuinely inspire and resonate with you and look at it every day, you’ll likely come into contact with these things a lot more. What you focus on, you attract. Make sure you’re focusing on what you want, not what you don’t want.

Pay Attention To How You Treat Your Body

If you treat your body right, it’ll reward you by keeping you healthy both physically and mentally. Fill your diet with vegetables and other whole foods, but don’t deny it chocolate or cake! Drink plenty of water. Have whatever else you like in moderation. You’ll feel much better when you eat filling, balanced meals rather than junk.

For the day to be as special as possible, you may also decide to boost your energy early on. You can do this with exercise, coffee, yerba mate, or you could buy kratom. It all depends on what you have planned, but a little energy boost will always do you good if you’re planning a busy day.

Take Time To Do Nothing

Doing nothing doesn’t have to mean being bored or unproductive. Many people find that they get their best ideas and solutions to problems when they take the time to do nothing. Actively planning to do nothing could leave you with a new creation or idea. It could mean reading that book you’ve been meaning to read, getting into that mediation habit, or doing whatever else you fancy. Try it and see what comes to you.

Get To Know Yourself

Spending time alone is healthy, but for many it can be uncomfortable. This is usually because people don’t ‘know’ themselves very well. Learning to become your own best friend and understand yourself and what you like/don’t like will work wonders for this. You’ll realize your worth and how valuable you are. You won’t waste time with people just because you’re afraid of being alone, and you won’t try to fill that empty space inside you with alcohol or another distraction.

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Try New Things

Get out of that comfort zone and try new things as often as you can. Being comfortable is nice, but nobody ever grows when they are comfortable. Getting out of your comfort zone is so important. Smile at a stranger, strike up a conversation, go to a workshop or class. Do something – anything! Aim to get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself as often as possible. You’ll soon realize you’re more capable than you thought!

Reframe Your Thinking

It can be difficult to reframe your thinking when you’ve been thinking a certain way for so long. However, when you do the work to reframe your thinking, you can quickly realize how you were holding yourself back before. Turn yourself inside out and question your beliefs. Ask yourself why certain things trigger you and make you angry. Where did your beliefs come from? Are they yours, your parents, societies? Reframing your thinking will help you to look at things in a brand new way. Don’t get stuck in your ways.

Practice Random Acts Of Kindness

Random acts of kindness feel great, and they can be a lot of fun. You could give money to charity, leave inspiring quotes dotted around town, and pay it forward in your local coffee shop. It doesn’t have to be a huge gesture or anything expensive – just do something kind for somebody else.

Buy Yourself A Gift

You shouldn’t need an excuse to buy yourself a gift. Do it because you love yourself! Buy yourself some beautiful flowers, write out a note, and admire them every day. You could even buy yourself a balloon if flowers aren’t your thing. If you have a bigger budget, go for a new outfit, or a luxury hair product. Give yourself some of the love and attention you give to others. Don’t feel guilty, as long as you can afford it!

Meditate

Meditation encourages those with a regular practice to pay attention and focus. You pay attention to your thoughts while letting them pass by without attaching to them. You focus on your breathing. You pay attention to how your body feels. You pay attention to what comes up. Meditation often helps people to feel less stressed and more creative. It helps them to sleep better. One thing is for sure: if you start meditating regularly, you’ll no doubt begin to notice the special things in each and every day.

Making every day of your life special doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult. You don’t even need to have anybody else there with you. Remember, always do what makes you happy!

Thank you for reading!

Health Lifestyle

Don’t Let These Things Define You

May 20, 2020 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

Our lives are meant to be lived, but yet many of us can find ourselves trapped in our own circumstance. Doing the same things each day, spending time with people that drain our energy, and perhaps not living our lives in the way we once envisioned are all things that can make us feel trapped. It’s funny that many of us can be defined by what we think we should be doing, rather than what we want to be doing. Here are some of the things that shouldn’t define who you are as a person!

Image source – Pixabay – CC0 License

Your career

Not all of us are lucky enough to know what we want to do with our lives when we are in school. Which means we often find ourselves in a situation where we get a job just to make ends meet. Some people are defined by their chosen career and love that, others choose not to be. Your career should be something you feel passionate about and enjoy doing, after all, a huge chunk of your time is spent doing it. But unless it really has any gravitas to define who you are don’t let it it dictate how you spend your life and who you are as a person.

Your relationship and the future

Your relationship can often be defined by what society thinks you should be doing. The main script is girl meets boy, girl falls in love, boy will want to ask her to marry them. You may even look online yourself and click here for diamond engagement rings while daydreaming about the big day. But it isn’t always that pain sailing. It doesn’t matter who you fall in love with, whether you choose to marry or not, don’t let your relationship define you, instead embrace it for what it is.

Whether you choose to have children

Another thing that society may expect is children, which isn’t always the case for some couples. It isn’t always a given. You may not be able to have children or find that you have trouble conceiving. It could be you choose not to, because you don’t feel that maternal instinct. All feelings are valid and whether you choose to have children or not should not be something that you feel pressured towards.

Friendships

You may find that you also let your friendships define who you are as a person. It could be that you are governed by who you spend your time with. Friendships can be the very best of you, but they also have the power to inflict and influence how you spend your time. Surround yourself with people that built you up and have good energy. Avoid the people that zap the life out of you and don’t have your best interests at heart.

Your lifestyle

Finally, your lifestyle. Your lifestyle may be all about being plant based or full of exercise. Whether it is positivity and embracing crystals or choosing to believe in star signs. Your lifestyle is yours to make and so don’t let it define you as a person, rather let it be who you are and what you are all about.

I hope this has given you something to think about when it comes to how you live your life!

Thank you for reading!

Lifestyle

Quick-Fix Home Interior Tips To Lift Your Mood

February 4, 2020 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

(Pixabay License)

Many of us live busy and stressful lives, and that is why our homes should be conducive to feelings of peace and relaxation. We can then sit back, unwind, and enjoy our homes, without any further feelings of stress or anxiety to pervade our mood.

With the above in mind then, consider improving your home where it counts. With a few quick fixes here and there, your mood will be lifted alongside the uplift you have given your home.

Here are some ideas that we think you will find useful!

1: Add a few house plants

According to scientific studies, house plants can lower our blood pressure and reduce our stress levels. This is partly because of the sensory benefits they can provide – we are thinking of those beautiful colors and lovely scents that house plants can offer us – and partly because of the way they can eliminate harmful toxins and freshen up our living spaces. So, the next time you’re out shopping, pick up those house plants that are guaranteed to lift your mood at home.

2: Add mood-enhancing colors to your home

Bright yellows, oranges, and blue-greens are just some of the color choices you should consider when painting walls or adding new items to your home. These are the colors that should lift your mood, as they are known to evoke calming and happy feelings. So, the next time you are thinking about painting the rooms in your home, choose those colors that will instantly lift your mood when you step through the door. And be it a new rug, tapestry, piece of wall art, or any other type of home decor, choose something containing those colors that will uplift you every time your eyes rest upon them.

3: Brighten up your home

A dark and gloomy room isn’t conducive to happy moods, so find ways to brighten up your home. So, you might replace thick-set curtains with their lightweight fabric alternatives to ensure the sunlight isn’t blocked. You could add more reflective surfaces to certain rooms in your home, as you will then benefit from the light that will bounce around your living spaces. And you could try these simple home decor tips to further brighten up your home and your mood.

4: Streamline your living space

Studies have found that people living within cluttered spaces produce greater amounts of the stress hormone cortisol. So, rather than feel happier at home, people can feel anxious, depressed, and dissatisfied with the places they live in. These feelings are hardly likely to evoke a happier mindset, so thinking about your home, if you are surrounded by clutter, consider having a tidy up. By removing those items that create feelings of unhappiness within you, and by creating a space that is more aesthetically pleasing, your mood will be lifted rather than deflated when you’re trying to relax at home. Check out these de-cluttering tips for some useful suggestions.

So, if your mood is low at home, and you’re struggling to relax, consider our suggestions. With a few additions and alterations here and there, you should soon start to feel an uplift in your mood!

Thank you for reading!

Health

Staying On The Happy Side Of Healthy

June 28, 2019 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

You don’t have to be someone who is so obsessed with health all the time, to the point where you can’t even have a slice of pizza without thinking about all of the calories in it. That’s the unhappy side of health. Some people really get into that lifestyle, and it does suit them down to a T. But half of the time, the restriction and the self conscious feeling is what leads us to feel unhappy about our health. We’ve had it drilled into us what the perfect person should be like, and despite people now trying to change that view, it’s still so hard to feel confident when you don’t feel like your body is perfect. Couple your insecurities with a negative attitude towards health, and you’re never going to find that perfect balance on the happy side of health. So, this article is going to give you some great alternatives that will help you to feel amazing, bury those insecurities for good, and actually understand what your body needs.

The Restriction Craze

The first thing that we want to address is that you don’t have to be on a restrictive diet. By restrictive, we mean a diet where you’re cutting out all fats and treats, and only sticking to anything “clean.” People can get really obsessive over this one, when there simply is no need to be. All you have to do is track the calories and the macros they contain. Because even with a healthy diet, you could be filling your body with too many carbs and fats, and not enough protein. Once you find the balance between those, which it is super easy to do, you can start having a treat each day. As long as you eat “clean” all day, there’s no reason why you can’t have a slice of cake at the end, or a doughnut in the middle. You don’t have to fully restrict yourself, and a treat a day will definitely still keep the doctor away.

Hiding Your Insecurities

Some people are struggling with insecurities at the minute. In fact, we’d go as far as to say that most of you reading this will be battling something. One common issue that people really hate, yet it’s so common to suffer with, is sight/our vision. Sight can deteriorate at any age, often from a young one. But some get so self conscious about wearing glasses, even though the simple solution of contacts is out there. Simple Contacts is just one company you could use to order in your prescription, and we promise it will change your life. If the thought of putting them in your eye has put you off up until now, just give it a go two or three times, and we promise it will become the norm for you! There are plenty of other common insecurities that we all have that are easy to hide.

Finding The Happy Balance

As a final note, you really need to find that happy balance. Your mental health and your physical health are really important. So don’t push your body past its limits, and don’t restrict yourself so much so that you’re unhappy. Find that happy balance, and make your body and brain better.

•How do you find your happy, healthy balance?

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Lifestyle

How to Deal with Poor Body Confidence Issues

May 4, 2019 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Having a negative body image can have a huge impact on you emotionally. You may find that you focus on having the perfect body so much that you set unrealistic goals, and that you also find it hard to feel confident in yourself, too. If you want to help yourself, then there are a few things that you can do to try and rectify the issues that you are having.

Fake It Until You Make it

Confidence is very attractive. If you love the way that you look, then other people will, too. Ditching your negative mindset can seem impossible at times; if you want to get around this, then maybe to try and fake it. When you catch yourself in the mirror, don’t pick up on every single flaw. Instead, tell yourself that you are stunning. When you do this, you will eventually feel more confident and you will also be able to break those bad habits that you have developed. It’s tough, but it’s possible!

https://www.pexels.com/photo/smiling-woman-looking-upright-standing-against-yellow-wall-1536619/

Be Your Best Friend

When your inner voice starts to tell you that you don’t look good, try and quiet that voice. Talk to yourself like you would your best friend, and try and give yourself the respect that you truly deserve! You deserve better, and the sooner you understand this, the more confident you will feel about your own body image.

https://www.pexels.com/photo/silhouette-photography-of-group-of-people-jumping-during-golden-time-1000445/

Trade Negative for Positive

If your family members always have something negative to say, then stay clear of them. Surround yourself with people who are able to support you and who want the best for you. People who say nasty comments about other people are usually massively insecure, and they need to say those things just to make themselves feel better. Ditching people can be difficult, but if you can, you need to push yourself, and you should also try to socialize. This will help you to connect with new people who really want the best for you, and sometimes, this is exactly what you need!

Exercise

Exercise is scientifically proven to boost your mood. When those endorphins kick in, you will soon find that there is no room for low self-esteem. The hard part is staying motivated. If you can, it helps to sign up with a personal trainer so that they can talk you through the exercises you need to do in order to change certain parts of your body. You can also sign up with The Club Fitness facilities as they can help you to really get in shape.

Express Yourself

When you have very low self-esteem it can be very easy to fall into the habit of wearing clothes that hide your body. It can also make it harder for you to wear your fave outfits. If you want to help yourself, then don’t shy away from clothes that make you feel good just because they aren’t trendy or fashionable. You should try and avoid covering yourself up! I know I need to be better at this, especially when it’s 100+° F in Las Vegas.

Another thing I do to combat my poor self-esteem is attend therapy. It really helps to simply talk it out.

•How do you combat negative talk and self-esteem? Please share below!

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Lifestyle Nutrition

How The Girls & I Celebrated National Picnic Day (With Subway)

April 27, 2015 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

This past Thursday, April 23, was National Picnic Day. I didn’t realize this was a thing (apparently there’s a food holiday every day!), but I am all about food and the outdoors. So naturally, I needed to get in on this.

When Subway offered to cater a picnic with the girls I nanny/babysit, I knew it would be a perfect way to celebrate!

Disclosure: Subway provided two $10 gift cards in exchange for a blog post and social media shares. No other monetary compensation was received. I only share about events and products I feel my readers would enjoy. All opinions are 100% my own.

I babysit a 9-year-old girl named Frances (I call her Fran) in West Los Angeles. We have so much fun together, so we were both pretty excited to have a picnic. She invited two of her friends from school, Gia and Mia. We also brought along our dogs, Archie and Little T. We were each able to get a full meal (6-inch sub, chips, and a drink) with the gift cards (I used some of my dollars for cookies #duh). Everything was SO good, even the dogs tried eating it. 😉

First, we stopped at the Subway on Washington Blvd in Culver City, Calif.

Then we had our picnic at the park in Playa Vista, Calif.

(Little T & Archie, respectively) (Mia is wearing blue tights, Frances is wearing a dress, and Gia is wearing a light blue top)

It was a GORGEOUS day for a picnic!

And of course I snapped a few selfies. 😉

It was an awesome day! The girls and I had so much fun; we will probably do it again soon!

A huge thank you to Subway for catering our picnic; it was delicious! Find Subway on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.

How did you celebrate National Picnic Day? Did you know about this holiday?
Do you enjoy Subway? What’s your favorite sandwich?
Do you enjoy picnics? (trick question- who doesn’t?!) 😉

Thank you so much for reading!

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Health Reviews

How JLo and BodyLab Are Focusing On Women’s Health

April 11, 2015 By lyndsinreallife 6 Comments

JLo. Fitness. Nutrition. Energy. Weight Loss. What do these things have in common? BodyLab.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary BodyLab product kit in exchange for an honest review on my blog. I only share products I feel my readers would enjoy. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

First, let’s come back to JLo (aka Jennifer Lopez). We all know her. Fabulous singer, awesome actress (Enough is a classic, I don’t care how old it is!), sexy mama, successful author (affiliate link), and a fitness/health guru. She created BodyLab, a line of health and fitness supplements made for women, by women. Here’s what JLo has to say about BodyLab:

“In all of my work—my music, my films, my book, my foundation—I always strive to inspire women to be the best and happiest versions of themselves. I joined the BodyLab family not only because of their commitment to creating great health and fitness products for women, by women, but also because of their approach to the holistic lifestyle. It’s not a solution-in-a-bottle. It’s not a fad diet. It’s part of a health regimen that makes your metabolism work as hard as you do. It’s a way to love your body” (website).

Photo courtesy of the BodyLab website

The rad thing (can you tell I live in SoCal?) about BodyLab is how great the products are for women! Here are a few facts:

No added creatine
No ingredients that wreak havoc on your hormones
Plant-based compounds to help you burn through excess body fat, get lean, and feel amazing.

BodyLab also offers workouts, challenges, recipes, and a great community (more details on their website). They’re not just a company that sells you a product and says, “Here ya go, good luck!” They truly go above and beyond to set you up powerfully for a healthy lifestyle.

Alright, let’s get down to the products.

Tasty Shake Thermodynamic Protein Complex

I used to drink protein shakes every day. I love the idea of them: simple, quick, nutritious. However, after years of the same shakes, I was over the taste. I got to the point where I couldn’t drink them at all. I was nervous to try Tasty Shake** for that reason, but obviously wanted to try it so I could give a proper review. With that being said, I LOVE this shake! I have the chocolate flavor, and it tastes like chocolate milk. Plus, it has a bit of caffeine, which is great for me since I’ve switched from soda to seltzer water and have difficulty getting the caffeine my body still craves. It’s really great as a pre-workout shake as well! Most of the products are plant-based, but note that the Tasty Shakes are whey protein. Each serving contains 15g whey protein and 90 calories. Side note: the label says to mix with water, but I mixed mine with almond milk for more flavor.

**Tasty Shake comes in regular vanilla, regular chocolate, and thermodynamic chocolate (with caffeine).

7-Day Ultra Fast Slim Kit

This kit is pretty awesome. I get nervous about “detox” kits because of how they tend to mess up the flora in our guts and cause more harm than good. They often don’t offer a probiotic with the detox. BUT, BodyLab does!!

For the first seven days, you take two of the triple process detox and cleanse capsules in the morning and two in the evening with dinner. These capsules help reduce belly bloat and waste buildup so you feel lighter and more energized.
In addition to the detox capsules, you take two of the thermodynamic Total Burn™ capsules in the morning and two in the evening with dinner. The Total Burn™ capsules are powerful fat burners that increase metabolic rate and enhance energy.
After completing the first seven days, you then take the probiotic replenishment capsules. You take one each day for seven days. The probiotics help to restore the natural flora in your gut, allowing your digestive system to work properly.

I really liked this Ultra Fast Kit! It didn’t cause emergency runs to the bathroom, but I could definitely feel a difference after the seven days! I felt lighter, less bloated, healthier, and more energetic.

I also received a full-size bottle of the Thermodynamic Total Burn™.

Endurance Boosting Deep Tissue Oxygenator

The deep tissue oxygenator enhances endurance, increases speed, improves VO2 max, and optimizes performance. It is stimulant-free! You take two capsules one hour before your workout. These capsules definitely helped me to have a better workout each time I took them! I especially love that they’re stimulant-free. The Total Burn™ has enough caffeine for me.

Advanced Joint Formula For Active Women

The joint formula helps reduce joint stiffness, and also increases range of motion. It is PERFECT for yoga! Well, for everything, but yoga is my fave. You take one capsule in the morning and one in the afternoon or evening. I didn’t realize I’d be needing a supplement for my joints at age 27, but I do. My hips and knees are in poor condition and are always really stiff and sore. The pain doesn’t go away with this supplement, of course, but it does help to diminish the pain! Yoga is a bit less painful now. 😉

BodyLab also has a Thermodynamic Pre-Workout Extender™ and a Total Shape Up Kit (All-in-One 30 day system).

How Do I Purchase BodyLab Products?

You can find BodyLab products in various retail stores or order them online.

I found these in Rite Aid in LA and got really excited haha

DISCOUNT!!

If you’d like to order online, BodyLab has graciously offered 25% off any BodyLab product + FREE shipping to my readers/followers!! That’s a pretty stellar discount if you ask me. Simply visit BodyLab.com and enter code tbb25 at checkout to receive the discount and free shipping. There’s no expiration date on this code, so be sure to use it any time you place an order!

Also, if you purchase the BodyLab Shape Up Kit, you’ll get a free signed copy of JLo’s book True Love (while supplies last; affiliate link). The Shape Up Kit is on sale for $99 right now, too. Awesome, right? Check out the YouTube video of this promotion below:

BodyLab creates their products with love for women, which is obvious when you look at the capsules:

How cute are these little hearts?!

Alright friends, it’s time for me to take my supplements and make my Tasty Shake so I can get my yoga on. Thank you as always for reading my blog! Don’t forget to follow BodyLab on social media (even for the workouts and recipes alone!). You can find them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+ and YouTube.

So tell me,

What types of supplements/shakes do you take?
Do you prefer/avoid certain ingredients?
Do you love the movie Enough as much as I do?
Do you prefer JLo or the classic Jennifer Lopez?

Share with me in the comment section below!

To peace & happiness!

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Personal

The Universe Is Testing Me, & I Am Grateful For It

January 19, 2015 By lyndsinreallife 5 Comments

The Universe has been testing me this past week.

It’s testing my strength, my patience, my courage and my ability to handle an emotional situation. It’s checking to see if I will remain positive, or if I will crumble into a negative, jaded state-of-mind.

Last Monday, I hit my arm pretty hard on a table. So hard that it swelled up in two places similar to the size of large marbles. I couldn’t move it. It bruised badly. It was extremely painful. I thought it was broken. It was almost impossible to pick up the little babe I babysit, let alone hold his hand.

This is a poorly edited photo, but I feel it shows the bruise/swelling pretty well.

It was my first full week back to work since before the holidays, and it was tough. Figuring out our schedules and making sure Archie (my pup) had enough attention. It wasn’t the worst thing in the world, but it added on to the stress.

Then on Friday, on my way to work, I was rear-ended getting on the I-10. I just got my car in November. Nooooooo!

And I am incredibly grateful for all these things/events.

This is my affirmation stone from soulcandy.co – I carry it around with me and look at it often. <3

Sure, I hurt my arm pretty badly. But it wasn’t broken or fractured. I was able to take off a day of work so I could ice it and let it heal. I have an amazing boyfriend who wrapped it for me every day and did the things I couldn’t do with a hurt arm.

Going back to work every single day was a big change from not working for almost 3 weeks, but I am so grateful not only have a job, but to have a job that I LOVE! I often get asked, “What do you want to do for your career?” after telling them I am a nanny/babysitter. And it’s funny, because this IS what I want to do. I get to hang out with super cool kids. I get to teach them, and they get to teach me. It’s flexible and the parents are awesome. I am so so thankful I get to spend my days doing what I love!

As for the car accident, I could have totally lost it. I could have yelled at the guy who hit me, I could have cried. But I didn’t. Because where would that get anyone? Things happen, especially in traffic in LA. The guy who hit me was really cool, and his first question was, “Are you okay?!” I am grateful no one was hurt. I am grateful the cars weren’t even scratched! It could have been so much worse, but it wasn’t.

I truly believe if you have a positive attitude, you’ll live a positive life. You attract what you talk/think about (thank you Dad for teaching me this). There’s no reason to get upset about things you cannot control. And I learned a few things from these incidents, especially that I am a strong person. This past week may have been challenging, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Smile! Life is beautiful. 🙂

Have you ever had something unpleasant happen that you were later grateful for?
Do you feel that you’re a generally positive person?

Thank you for stopping by & reading my blog!

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XO

Lyndsay

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Personal

I’m Choosing To Live In The Moment; Who’s With Me?

September 1, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 9 Comments

Something that’s been on my mind a lot lately is living in the present moment. With all my thoughts about whether to move back to Ohio or to stay in Southern California, I’ve found myself constantly thinking about what’s going to make me happy.

But then I realize I am so consumed by the thoughts of my future self/happiness, that I completely neglect my present self/happiness.

The only thing we truly have is this moment. The past is but a memory. The future will never truly be here. We only have right now.

It’s important to remember that every action has a consequence/reaction. It’s not wise (in my opinion) to go throughout your life without a care of how your actions will affect others. That’s selfish. However, it’s also important to remember that we don’t need to think about every little detail and plan out every little thing that will happen next. Because truthfully, nothing ever goes as planned.

Image Source: notsalmon.com (I LOVE her Insta)

Before bed every night, I find myself going over and over the stresses of my life in my head. I never come to a conclusion (because truly, how will that happen while laying in my bed at 1 o’clock in the morning?). I only end up with more stress. So I started actively thinking about things that were more calming, like my breaths as I try to fall asleep. Nothing too serious, just simple breathing patterns. I found that I was able to fall asleep much easier and faster, and I was having fewer nightmares. I truly lived in the present moment, and I felt peace. So now I do this every night, and I love it!

I don’t want to waste away my days focusing on petty things. I don’t want to waste my days sitting in my apartment and waiting for the next great thing to happen. My life is happening right now, and it’s up to me to make it what I want.

And it all starts with living in the now.

Who’s with me?

XO, Lyndsay

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Lifestyle Personal

Fourth of July & A Trip Back Home

July 4, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 8 Comments

Happy Fourth of July everyone! I hope you have a wonderful holiday with your friends and family. 🙂 I’m really happy right now because I am spending my holiday (and the next 3 weeks) on Kelleys Island in Ohio with my family! Yes, Ohio has islands. LOL. Lake Erie has a few of them, and Kelleys Island happens to be the one I practically grew up on. We camped here every single year since I was 4, and now my parents own a house right on the lake.

I took this picture tonight from the front yard of the island house. Amazing, right?! It’s absolutely amazing. I keep joking that a SoCal resident vacations on a tiny island in Ohio haha. I’m on the island for about a week (even running a 5k tomorrow- I’ll update on that tomorrow!), in Ohio for two weeks, and then Chicago for one week. I’ll blog as much as I can, but it’ll be pretty busy! We don’t have very good internet up here at the island, so it’s been really hard to keep up with blogging and Facebook. Bare with me!

I’m still pretty jet-lagged, so this is going to be a shorter post. But I wanted to note how awesome it is being able to spend time with family. They’re all in Cleveland and I am in Los Angeles, which is about 2300 miles apart. I have two nephews under the age of 7, soon to be 3 come September. I feel like I am missing out on so much since I live so far away. It’s hard. However, I realize that by not living here, I appreciate it more. I value my time with my nephews, parents, and brothers.. even my dog Emma! She lives with my parents still (they couldn’t bare to let her go), and she follows me EVERYWHERE every time I am home! I just love it. It’s like she totally remembers me. She gets really excited when she sees me, she sleeps with me every night, and she won’t leave my side. Sometimes it feels like I never left. It feels so good to be home.

With my pup Emma

Little brother Mike & I on the golf cart

The pictures aren’t edited so they’re not the best quality, but I wanted to share them anyway. 🙂 Now it’s time for bed! Being in the Eastern time zone has me all messed up. Three hours makes a HUGE difference! 5k in the morning along the quarry, followed by an awesome day with my family and a few island friends whom I haven’t seen in two years!!

Have an amazing & safe holiday!!