Last Day for Libras

Dear September,

I want to tell you thank you for all the memories and discoveries you brought me. The amount of busy-bee work, sweet moments with friends via text, celebrating birthdays and my impromptu solo trips to the mall, Marshalls and Starbucks for my Venti Berry Hibiscus refresher, with lemonade, keep the water, half the sweetener, lots of ice. SLURP! Aaahhhh.... so good! Oh, and thank you for Barista Brianna (proper name),who works at the Starbucks just a hop, skip and jump from my work. Who by the way knows how to make my drink juuuuuuusssst right! Yes, September, thank you for her as well.

My days are long and my nights are short, but my mind is constantly full of check lists, memories and work-related projects that constantly have me envisioning my next move before my body can follow. When ever I feel this overwhelming amount of production, I can either do one, two, okay, three things (tops!) to resolve the tension.

My first option? Cry like a banshee (in Irish legend-a female spirit whose wailing warns of an impending death in a house.) Second option? Clean my closet. Not kidding. There's something incredibly therapeutic for me when I clean my closet.

Yes, it's a big journey ahead, but I feel ready to take on the world when I start sorting through piles of new clothes, clothes I'll never wear again, clothes to give away to the Goodwill and clothes that offer the "what was I thinking?" question that even Goodwill would send back.

Every time I slough off another piece of clothing from my wardrobe into a giveaway pile, I feel a sense of unnecessary thoughts, negative self-talk and gibberish from the critics in my life slough away with it. If either of these two options fail me, I enlist option three-- hit the gym! Yes, the gym. I have actually enjoyed the mental and physical release of losing myself in a world of sweat and iron.

My personal journey with the gym truly started in January of this year (2013), just after my sweet boyfriend ("E") purchased me a gym membership for Christmas just one month prior.

Now before you start thinking the worst of "E," just know he didn't seek to make a point when purchasing a gym membership as a gift. It wasn't until much influencing and assurance on my part that this was the one and only gift I wanted for Christmas, did I receive this gift. It was expensive after all, a two-year membership. (Watch out!)

Once I signed up and took the first step into the gym, I got nervous. In my eyes I was about 40 pounds overweight and hating every ounce of it. I lost myself in my concerns and worry of life, that I had over eaten and was under active in anything other than the tasking bicep curl of food-on-a-plate-to-mouth-movement my fork trainer supported me with.

It wasn't before long when a mirror became that ever cliche enemy, and my once favorite person became a stranger. I was irritated all the time, disgusted with myself, and cried crocodile tears for everything and nothing at all.

I was embarrassed to try on clothes or even stand next to my supporting and loving boyfriend."How did I get this big," I would often yell out. I would slap my stomach and not in the friendly slap a cute guy's butt sort of way-- No, I was slapping it as a mental reminder and self-inflicted pain type of way. Talk about harsh! But I didn't like it, and was mad that it was there. And then, it hit me hard. I didn't know how I was going to do this, but I was going to make the stranger in the mirror disappear.

As of right now, I'm currently down 13 pounds (inner cheer!) and have completed two mini goals I set up for myself. During this time, I have stumbled upon some great fitness routines, exercises and help from two savvy individuals right out of Southern California. Their names are Karena and Katrina and they have their own fitness and personal success empire that has grown into a large support system for girls all over the world, and I'm thankful to say I'm a part of their wonderful community. Check them out here: Tone It Up!

These two girls have both had their fair share of life-taunting and traumatic experiences. K&K have overcome many obstacles to reach their fitness, emotional and health goals, all the while belting out a few banshee crying moments I'm sure. But through it all however, they use the gym as their ultimate release and it's made a big impact on how they view the world, and let me tell you, it's changed my view of the world as well.

My gym days are my own. I allow it to be my "Lisa time." It's my one, or, two-hour freedom from life's worries and complaints. And you know what? It works! The tension around my neck literally melts away during each mile, pound of weight, jumping jack and minute spent working out. I receive the ultimate form of mental clarity and gain one step closer to my ultimate weight loss goal. (see what I did there?)

If you're stuck in a rut or not sure how to kick-start your fitness goals, I would say keep you journey light and airy. Pressing your mind with questions during a workout will only cause defeat, and when you battle the burn, the only thing that gets burned, is you.

I've learned this lesson the hard way, but have found that working in tandem with my burdens has allowed me to jump over each one and leave a fun trail of past memories and worry behind me. Good luck to all you goal-setters out there! You can do this. Be patient with yourself. Enjoy the trail you leave behind. You got this! ;)

oh! and just in time for a mini protein boost, these bad boys showed up in the mail!

Here's another shout out and a BIG Thank you to Perfect Fit Protein, K&K and the Tone it Up Team! for all your support! XOXO
Lisa

All Girl, Day or Night

My Beauty Routine and Style by ladylisalove featuring a body moisturizer

 

 

 

Here's my deal, when you work as a freelance beauty and fashion editor for a well-known publication, you're prone to test hundreds, if not thousands of products.

 

And trust me, I've had my fair share of skin irritations and reactions, sticky hair, swollen lips and well, the list goes on, but aside from my guinea pig experiences, I have to say, I've stumbled on some favorite beauty items that have worked their way into my morning beauty ritual.

 

Hope you get the chance to try one, two or all 12! It may seem like a lot, but when well placed and blended, it's a divine look that can be worn to work and texturized with the richer eye-palete shades to transform into an evening look.

 

 

 

1. My first step is to wash my face using the Clarisonic brush. This oscillating brush is ideal for cleansing your skin of dirt, grime and sebum, and sloughs off dead skin cells, allowing for a fresh, rosey appearance when finished.

 

2. Next, I use two small pumps of Philosophy Miracle Worker anti-aging serum and blend in a circular motion over face and neck. Now that I'm pushing into my early 30s, life is setting in and I need to take care of my money maker.

 

3. Right after the Miracle worker, I apply in circular motion, the M.A.C Mineralize Charged Water Face+Body Lotion.

 

4. M.A.C. Studio Finish SPF 35 concealer goes under my eyes, sides of nose and chin. You can apply anywhere you have dark shadows or red spots.

 

5. Apply, just like the face lotion and serum, the Smashbox BB cream. This five in one cream gives a perfect slate for your next steps.

 

6. Apply M.A.C Studio Fix powder plus foundation all over your face using the sponge applicator included.

 

7. I personally like to swirl M.A.C Tropical Taboo Mineralize skinfinish ont he apples of my cheeks and curve it ever so slightly up into my temples for a sweet glow.

 

8. With a light hand, Do the same thing with the Cargo Bronzer, or any bronzer to add sun-kissed glow. The shimmer from the Mineralize skinfinish will shine through. 

 

9. In soft, circular motions, add Smashbox Blush in Rush to just the apples of your cheeks.

 

10. Add the softest light pink of Smashbox 'Photo Op Softbox' Eyeshadow Palette to your entire lid up to the brow and then add the top left brown shimmer shade and lower far left shade in a plum/brown to the creases of your eyes blending outward for a subtle cat-eye. (sorry, I can't recall the names).

 

11. Finish off your look by adding Baby lips soft chapstick/moisturizer by Maybelline to lips; and

 

12. NYX Round stick lipstick (in Christie) layerd on top.

 

Leaning on Autumn

As the seasons start to shift, so do earthly possessions. A time of reflection is no lazy task.

In reality, you idly wait while your mind places a sudden hold on your limbs, and unlocks your box of memories. You start to think of places you've been, things you did and people you once knew or still currently know, while your mind actively participates through the threshold of each new scene behind your eyes.

As time continues to pass, the wall holding two hands starts to rotate clockwise. You are now fully submerged in a deeper dream of reality that host such things that only you and your best friend at the time would know. Such as those special tokens, letters or figurines  that you buried in the backyard for safe keeping, only to come back the next day and brush of the muddy residue and crawly creatures that were disturbed by your unexpected retrieval 24 hours later.

Life is funny that way.. it continues its movement while you stay steady in one place. Often times it can feel lonesome, unsettling and downright unfair. Just like that moment you lose your car keys just as you are about to leave the house.

Your heart starts to race, you kick into fight or flight mode and you immediately search your memory files for places you once were before leading up to this moment.

You curse every book and door knob during your search. Tossing magazines and flustering over clothes that have now spread out like a blanket on the floor.
"Awe." You sigh. "There are my keys," you mutter.

Life has been restored from your temporary loss, your blood pressure diffuses and your breath returns to a steady pace. You're now on your way...

I think losing someone you love so dearly is just like this. Although, the steady pace and temporary loss is without end, the initial fluster can set in and set you back a few minutes, hours or days.

If you're late for work, it makes others late, as they are now waiting on you. Does the same rule apply when we lose someone we love?  If they are no longer here, does our heart then become late for other love? The truth is, our heart was built to have several tiers of love. Each new person we meet, is placed within one of those tiers.

There is no mediocre love, but there is love that goes far beyond reach, holds an unconditional burning candle and provides an ache that can feel like torture. It is this love tier that holds only the finest of the finest in our minds devotion. The memories. The places we were. The moments we will never forget.

To all the loves that were lost. You are not lost at all and you will never be forgotten. You will continue to be my search beyond the field. I will dig you up, I will brush the dirt off your face and I will keep you in my safe box every day for the rest of my life; You will never be without my love, as you are my treasured token and top tier.




Dedicated to Andrew, Grandma Lorraine, Nana Fina, Papa Lloyd, Abuelita Rodriguez, and my dear friends and family who have all lost someone so close to them. May your tokens continue to shine.