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7 Ways To Change Your Life

August 3, 2020 itsamandaburnett 1 Comment

Are you ready to change your life? If you’ve been feeling like you’re stuck in a rut and don’t know how to get out, then this post is for you. When we’re feeling stuck or lost, that’s our body and mind giving us a sign that we need to make some changes. We’re doing something we’re not supposed to, we’re not doing something we’re supposed to, or we’re doing both in many areas of our life.

I recently found myself pretty lost in life. I totally lost my purpose and had no idea how to get my life back on track. The 7 things listed in this post are things I’ve been practicing and they have helped me tremendously. I hope they can help you too. ♥

Do Some Soul Searching

Who are you? This is the one question we get asked all the time but often, we get stuck and realize that we don’t know. Life gets so busy and demanding, we start focusing on everything other than ourselves and then we lose sight of who we are.

Some questions to ask yourself are:

What are your dreams and goals in life?
What makes you happy?
What inspires you?
Are you living life to the fullest right now?
Who are you surrounding yourself with?
What stops me from going after what I want?
What’s missing from my life?

This is the one step I think is the most important and should be focused on the most. Take your time answering these questions and really dig deep.

Drink More Water

I know, this is the tip everyone has for everything. It’s also the one thing most of us don’t do enough of. If you think about it though, it’s always the #1 tip people tell you for clear skin and to lose weight. That may be true but it’s never mentioned enough for the benefit of your mental health.

Did you know that our brains are 70% water? Also, studies show that 80% of Americans don’t drink enough water. If our body literally needs water to function properly because our cells depend on it, we are doing ourselves a big injustice and actually putting our mental health in jeopardy when we settle for juice instead of water for the 5th time that day.

Being even a little bit dehydrated leads to some of these problems:

Lack of energy
Anxiety
Heightened emotions
Lack of focus & motivation
Headaches
The “happy” chemical, Serotonin, has a hard time running smoothly

I know there are many outside factors that effect mental health but drinking enough water can help. Now go fill up your water bottle.

I just bought a weekly planner on Amazon that has a daily water log if you’re interested. It really helps you keep track of more than just your tasks but that hydration needed for your mental health!

Wake Up Early

I used to get out of bed at 10 – 11 am every morning. Then, it usually took me an hour to actually wake up after that. By the time I was finally awake, I felt like I pretty much wasted the day and I noticed I wasn’t getting much done.

One day, I randomly woke up at 6 am and couldn’t go back to sleep so I decided to get up. It was shocking to me how energized I felt pretty much right away. The sun was just coming up, birds were chirping, and I actually got some work done before 10 am. Never thought that would be a thing! I’ve been getting up around 6 – 7 am every morning now for 2 weeks and I feel great!

It’s been known for early risers to have more productivity, more energy, and since they’re not over-sleeping they are in a better head space. For one week try getting up just one hour earlier than normal. Then try getting up a little bit earlier depending on when you were originally waking up.

I promise, it sounds dreadful but you’ll thank me later!

Practice Positive Affirmations

One thing is for certain, our thoughts are powerful. The problem arises when we’re being hard on ourselves. When we’re looking in the mirror and pointing out every little flaw or beating ourselves up when we made a mistake. If you think it, you’re going to believe it. It’s a vicious cycle so many of us go through but it’s a cycle that can be broken. So let’s shatter it and turn our minds around.

If you suffer from negative thoughts like I did, try telling yourself 3 positive affirmations for every negative thought.

For example, turn your “I’m ugly” into:

I am beautiful
I love myself
I am confident

The first few times you do this, you’re probably not going to believe a word you say because you’ve let yourself be so negative for awhile. I promise you if you keep practicing this, you will start to finally believe yourself.

Our thoughts become our reality.

One thing I suggest is also writing positive affirmations down regularly. The action of writing them out and visually staring at them helps a lot. I have a blog post with a printable of positive affirmations if you’d like to check it out!

Listen To Self Development Videos & Podcasts

There are times where I know that I need to work on being kinder to myself, practice my affirmations, drink more water, but I need a gentle push in the right direction again. Even when we have all the tools ourselves, we need help from an outside source. I like turning to self development videos on youtube & podcasts.

Part of my new morning routine is actually watching at least one positive video or listening to one self-development podcast with a cup of coffee before I get started with my day. It helps remind me where my focus needs to be & to reset any limiting beliefs that I woke up with.

One of my favorite channels on YouTube right now is, Isabel Palacios. She has so many self love & manifestation videos that motivate me when I need it the most.

Unplug At Least Once a Month

If you’re always on your phone and trying to stay consistent with social media, you understand that sometimes it can get overwhelming. When you find yourself having a meltdown because you don’t know what to post that day or maybe because you’re comparing yourself to someone, it’s time to put the phone down.

At least once a week, I’ll choose a day to just leave my phone alone for 24 hours. This is considered my ultimate self-care day that I typically like spending by myself.

Some things to keep you busy & recharged during this time are:

Practice meditation
Write down positive affirmations
Have a movie night
Pamper yourself with a bubble bath & face mask
Read a book
Try a new recipe
Give yourself a manicure
Go for a walk and explore someplace new
Catch up on sleep!

If you feel like it’s needed you could also go a week, I would just suggest deleting the apps off your phone so you’re not tempted to scroll through them.

Walk Away From Toxic Things and People

What in your life doesn’t make you feel good? Who in your life doesn’t make you feel good? These are both questions I have to ask myself when I feel like my energy and vibration is low. Toxic things and toxic people are energy vampires.

Don’t let negative and toxic people rent space in your head. Raise the rent and kick them out.

I recently had a toxic person in my life and the sad thing was for the longest time I didn’t even know they were toxic to me until after I was hurting. Walking away can be hard but staying will only hurt you more.

We only accept good vibes here.

Go Change Your Life

Please remember that you deserve a good life. If things aren’t going so well, you have the power within yourself to change things around. So take the time to figure out who you are and then take the necessary steps to change your life. You got this.

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See you next time!

5 Ways To Overcome A Creative Block

June 15, 2020 itsamandaburnett 41 Comments

If you’re a creative person like I am, then you’ve most likely experienced the dreaded creative block. One week, you have so many ideas for your blog. You have content planned for your Instagram. You have a strategy in mind and you’re on top of the world. Then all of a sudden, you have no idea what to do. Your mind is blank and you grow frustrated. You just want to get an idea to come out of the brain that once could come up with five in one minute. It’s one of the worst things that could happen when you genuinely love creating content. The past two weeks, I’ve been in dealing with this. I’ve dealt with it before though so I took these 5 steps and it’s safe to say, I’m back and my creativity has been restored!

Take a break

This is the first step I highly recommend. It’s also one that I hate but it actually works so hear me out. When you spend so much time planning and creating, your mind is working pretty hard. Us creative people are always thinking. There’s a reason why you can’t think of anything anymore, your brain is tired!

Taking a social media break isn’t bad. Will you get as many views as normal? Probably not. But you need to remember that taking a step back will do more good for you in the end.

Tip: When taking a break from creating new content, just edit and re-publish old blog posts! It’s called refurbishing and from experience, it can actually help your blog without too much effort on your part. Bring those posts from six months ago back to life!

Make Self-Care A Priority

When we’re so busy creating, we often neglect ourselves without even knowing it. You wake up super early so you can get work done on your blog before getting ready for your day job, sometimes forgetting to even eat or drink enough water. You get back from work and you waste no time working on your blog/social media again resulting in getting little sleep. Sound familiar? I know I’m not the only one guilty of this, guys!

While you take a step back, focus on yourself. How?

Make sure you’re getting enough sleep
Eat three meals a day and drink enough water
Read
Catch up on Netflix shows
Journal
Pamper yourself with a face mask and a bubble bath
Go out and be social

Keep A Notebook Nearby

Creative blocks don’t last forever and you will eventually get some ideas flowing again. The thing is, they may come at any random time and you don’t want to risk trying to remember them. Keep a notebook nearby so you can write an idea down right away when it comes to you. This may even mean bringing it in your car or to work with you!

This is a good tip to do at all times but especially when you’re going through a creative block!

Reorganize / Change Things Up

There’s a good chance your creative block is from things being a bit too repetitive or boring. I know I personally always feel more refreshed and motivated when I buy new home decor, rearrange my room, organize my makeup drawers, or even getting my hair done!

Here are some more ideas for you:

Buy new home decor
Rearrange your house
Change your look
Go shopping for a new outfit

Find Your Inspiration

Believe it or not, inspiration is right around the corner.

Photo by Katarzyna Grabowska on Unsplash

Look up inspirational quotes and write your favorites down
Check out the list of my favorite positive affirmations
Pick up a self-development book (I’m loving Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis right now)
Read articles on successful bloggers and influencers. What are their secrets? Write down some ideas that you get!

It Doesn’t Last Forever

I’m going to end this blog post by reminding you that your creative block will not last forever. Try taking these 5 tips into consideration! I’m sure you’ll get that much closer to breaking free and getting your inspiration back.

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If you’ve experienced a creative block and you have a secret to getting out of it that I haven’t mentioned, let me know below!

Revel Nail Dip Powder / First Impression & Review

June 8, 2020 itsamandaburnett 1 Comment

Nail salons have been closed down in Washington State for a while now due to COVID 19 and even though I’m not one to get a mani at the salon done regularly, I was very frustrated with my at-home mani chipping within the hour. But the biggest thing that always prevents me from getting a professional gel manicure is the money. I tend to be very frugal most of the time.

When I started seeing ads for Revel Nail Dip Powders, I was intrigued. People were saying they were potentially saving hundreds of dollars by giving themselves acrylic and gel manicures that last up to 2 weeks from the comfort of home! It was truly a no brainer that I needed to try this.

Revel Nail has over 500 colors, although there’s a lot that aren’t currently available due to COVID 19. They’re also vegan & cruelty-free and made in the US. There’s also many dip powder brands but the reason why I chose Revel Nail was their outstanding reviews!

Starter Kits

If this is your first time trying dip powder nails, I recommend choosing one of their starter kits. There are one-color and four-color kits. Each kit comes with four liquids: Pro Base – step 1, Activator – step 2, Finish gel – step 3, then Gel Thinner – Prevents the liquids from getting thick and clumpy.

Pretty pink kit, liquids, and dip powder in Phoebe.

The kit that I chose was their 4 color kit, Pretty In Pink, because I really wanted some pink colors. I also really wanted a pretty sparkly silver color for an accent nail so I added a single dip powder, D167 Phoebe.

One of my favorite parts of the whole checking out process was you have access to AfterPay! Even though the price you pay is totally worth it, you have the option to break up your payments into 4 installments so it’s even more affordable.

How To Apply

Before I purchased this kit, I was pretty nervous and had to look up so many “how-to” video’s explaining the whole process. Even with seeing the process a bunch, when I finally got my package, I was still intimidated. It’s a lengthier process with more steps than your normal nail polish routine.

Note: practice makes perfect. After doing this and learning from the mistakes I made, I am way more confident in my dip powder application skills! It’s really not as intimidating as it seems once you get the feel of how all of the materials work.

1st step – Thin layer of pro base on your nails. (Do one hand at a time)

It’s important it’s not applied too thick or the powder (next step) will get very clumpy and you’ll have to file everything down.

2nd step – Dip your nails in the powder, tap off excess.

3rd step – Repeat step 1 & 2 one more time. You want two coats of the powder.

4th step – Apply a thin layer of Activator on all of your nails. Wait 2 minutes for it to dry.

5th step – File and shape your nails.

6th step – Apply another layer of activator. Wait another 2 minutes.

7th step – Apply a thin and quick layer of finish gel. You just want it to coat the majority of your nail but don’t focus on any details yet. Wait 2 minutes.

8th & final step – Apply a more generous and detailed coat of finish gel.

Ta-da!

Personal Results:

I absolutely love and recommend Revel Nail Dip Powder so much. After making the mistake of applying the pro base too thick and attempting to fix it, I realized how easy it’ll be next time around.

Now I really wanted to see how long they lasted and what they could withstand. They lasted me about a week and a half without lifting or chipping! Although, I do think they started lifting because of how thick I applied the liquids. So if you’re careful not to make that mistake, these would easily last two weeks! Did I mention no chipping occurred? Pure magic, I think.

Removal:

Once you got your nails on, they stay solid and removal is a whole process! But it’s totally worth it. I’ll get into what Revel Nail reccomends vs what I did and why I don’t want you to follow in my foot steps on this step. You live and you learn, right?

Recommended:

File down the glossy top coat

Take acetone soaked cotton balls and wrap them with tinfoil on your nails. Let them sit for 5 minutes.
You should be able to wipe the gel away pretty easily.
If needed, repeat those two steps.

Another tip: You should always give your nails a break of at least a week before doing your nails again.

What NOT to do:

Do not soak your nails in acetone then proceed to lift off the nails where it’s starting to lift at the bottom. They won’t just pop right off. Well, some did but don’t do it anyway. Two nails were injured while doing this. Sigh. I make mistakes so you can learn from them, friends.

Since this was my very first impression, I will be updating this post after I apply these nails a second time!

Want 10% off your first Revel Nail order? Click here!

Until next time!

DIY Glam Makeup Vanity Under $500

May 18, 2020 itsamandaburnett 1 Comment

Looking to get yourself a glam makeup vanity for half the price of most? You’re in the right place!

Heads up: This post does contain affiliate links. If you purchase anything through one of the links, it won’t cost you a penny more but I will receive a small commission. Thank you for your support. ♥

I haven’t posted on my blog in a little bit but I’ve been so busy redoing my entire apartment! If quarantine has taught me anything, it’s that I really love Amazon, Pinterest & organization. When you’re spending so much time in your house, you get inspiration that you cannot ignore!

Needless to say, my makeup vanity is probably my favorite part of my bedroom makeover! The thing is, so many makeup vanities out there costs about $1000. Especially the ultimate glam style that I was going for. But I realized, you can buy everything separately and have a similar result for cheaper! All you need is a table, a makeup mirror, then some accessories of course. And even though I like pretty things, I’m always trying to stay in my frugal ways so if you can relate, this post is for you.

Ready to see how I made my makeup vanity under $500?

The Vanity Table

The first thing I bought was the vanity table. I was originally going to get a plain white desk, but then I saw this mirrored style and couldn’t resist. Nothing screams glam more than this. Then I went to the reviews and saw everyone was using this table for their makeup vanities!

When I bought this desk, it was on sale for $170. If the original price of this desk is too far out of your budget and you’re still looking for a mirrored style, I went out of my way to find a cheaper (but still great quality) version for you! See below.

These are just fancy desks, there are plenty of cheaper desks under $100 on amazon that would still be perfect for a cute vanity!

The Hollywood Mirror

The next part for my glam vanity was, of course, a cute Hollywood styled mirror. There are so many cute mirrors to choose from on Amazon but this is the one I bought!

The bulbs on this mirror are very bright and perfect for makeup application! The mirror comes with three touch control buttons: On/Off, mode, and power (brightness).

My favorite part is the fact there are different color modes (cool, neutral, and warm) so you can see what you’re makeup will look like in different light settings. Also, the brightness is adjustable! You just press and hold the power button to brighten or dim the lights.

The bulbs on this mirror aren’t replaceable but they last up to 100,000 hours! So if you don’t leave it on all day, they will last you for many years.

Let’s talk accessories!

Any great makeup vanity needs some accessories. Even if you love a clean and uncluttered look, there are some necessities you should have at arms reach.

A Closeup Mirror

I don’t know about you, but when I’m applying my eyeliner or filling in my brows, a closeup mirror is a must. It’s a lot more comfortable than getting up super close to the regular mirror. I actually got this mirror for Christmas but you can find it on Amazon!

It even has a little storage tray you can use for your every day jewelry!

Makeup Brush Holder

If you have a lot of makeup brushes, a cute makeup brush holder is a must. Before buying this one, I was actually using an everyday cup which wasn’t very spacious or pretty. This one holds all my brushes and adds some sparkle to my vanity!

Storage & Extras

My desk comes with two spacious drawers but I don’t have a whole lot of extra room for separate drawers beside my vanity so I bought these two small stackable drawers to place on my vanity. They’re pretty convenient for my everyday basics!

Extras

Flowers

When I was looking at vanity inspiration on Pinterest, I kept seeing fake flowers placed on top. I thought it was super cute so when I was at my local Dollar Store, I picked these up. They really brighten the space up while not taking up a lot of space.

Personal Fan

I really love having a small personal fan at my vanity. I use it mostly for when I apply my setting spray. Not only does it feel good but it helps everything dry quicker and stay in place. It’s also a great thing to have in the summertime regardless!

That’s it!

That’s all the basics you need to make your DIY glam vanity! So before looking at those vanities priced at $1000, try going for something you can put together yourself at half the price. If this is still a little bit over your budget, try going for a cheaper desk! It will still look just as cute, I promise.

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See you next week!