7 Favorite Things of 2017

I know, I know. It has been... quite some time. School, work, life in general. 2017 hasn't been the kindest year, but Joe and I have done so many cool things. That topic is for another day.

I thought I would stop in with a few of my favorite things from 2017. These are all items I couldn't live without and would definitely recommend purchasing. Some beauty, some home, some fashion.

1. Boxycharm. This is a subscription that I picked up in 2017. I dropped Ipsy about half way through the year because I was NOT happy with it. Boxy offers 5 full sized items for $21 a month. It

offers high end brands- Dr. Brandt, tarte, Ofra, pur-lisse. I've encountered some of my new favorite brands through this subscription. Interested in checking it out? Use my referral link. Click me :)

2. Glade Plugins. Ahh... I've tried many of the plugin air fresheners. These have proven time and time again to be the best. One plugin fills my entire living room, kitchen, and dining room. I used to have one in my bedroom, but it was so strong we had to move it. You can adjust it to less or more, but even on the lowest setting, it was still powerful. There's variety of scents for all profiles. Pick them up at any local store.

3. Zenni Optical. I have a husband who loses everything, and who is also probably legally blind. Glasses are expensive. The last time we actually bought glasses from the eye doctor we walked out spending almost $900. Eek! A friend recommended Zenni, and it is a godsend.  Their cheapest glasses start at $6.95, and the most expensive pair I've ever seen is roughly $35. Now, if you require special lenses, different coatings, or the extras... it will cost you more. When Joe dropped a 5 pound Napoleon book on his glasses during vacation- no fear. We got home and ordered a $6.95 pair that arrived less than two weeks. I scored these glittery, cat eye glasses for $12.95 https://www.zennioptical.com/ 

4. Atkins Mocha Latte Shake. I hit the low carb train pretty hard for a tad bit. I lived on Atkins shakes during this time. The mocha lattes were by far my favorite. Everyone recommended the caramel ones, but they left an awful after taste. I could drink these by themselves or partially poured into my coffee. It made for a great breakfast. The prices vary on these. I often found better deals on Amazon versus in store.


5. Wet Brush. My hair out of the shower is a tangled mess. I dread washing my hair because of the knots and tangles- even after using condition. Coupled with stress... my hair was falling out by the handfuls each time I brushed it. My aunt recommended the wet brush while we were on vacation. My little cousin has hair to her waist, so I knew this was a good product based on her recommendation. I bought one, and I LOVE IT!!!! I can brush my hair without ripping it out. Go buy it now. Check them out here.

6. Audible. This is a newer addition to my electronic devices. I love to read, and I was always against books on tape/cd. I felt like I was cheating on a real book, and I was convinced I would miss physically turning pages. I literally had no time to sit down and read after work and school full time. (Let's face it... I did enough reading for me and you both to complete assignments.) Audible allowed me to indulge in books, but still be free to do other things. I didn't feel bad about not having a book either. Audible is worth it. You get 1 credit a month towards a book for $14.95 (most audio books run $20-25.) Your first 30 days and first book are free. Prime member? You get free access to Audible channels, specific content, and extras FOR FREE! Download the Audible app today.

7. Farsali Unicorn Essence. This is also a recent Christmas gift from the world's best friend, but I SWEAR BY IT! In just a few days my excessive dryness and facial redness has disappeared. It smells delicious and packed with tons of antioxidants. The actual essence is pink and shimmery. And the packaging? Deep purple with gold accents. It has a ton of uses. For me, I just slather all over my face. Pure luxury. Also... you automatically feel like a youtube makeup guru while applying. I'm ready to add the Gold Elixir to my arsenal too! Unicorn Goodness!!!

There you have it. My 7 favorite things of 2017. I could have listed all beauty items, but I was fair to the other areas in my life. What are some of your favorites from 2017?

The Working Reality

 First, before you read this post and assume I am complaining, I am fortunate to be able to work remotely. It has been a true blessing to our family, as we hit a few bumps in the road. What I mean by bumps, is off-roading, need an ATV, mountains to get over. A question I get sooo many times- how do I get your job? I want to work from home and sit around all day!

What people don't often realize is the reality of working remotely. Although this doesn't cover it all, it's probably the top reasons I hear from people who want to work from home.

You get to wear pajamas all day! This is totally true. I do get to wear more comfortable clothes than skirts and heels. After almost eight years in an office five days a week, I didn't have ANY "normal" clothes to wear besides business attire. Now you're probably thinking, I wear my fancy yoga pants and corresponding tee. To be honest, it's usually my pajamas from the night before, and I don't ever match. You can bet there is some sort of ink and/or coffee stain. I hardly ever "get ready", and when I do, my husband or mother says, "Wow! you put on real pants today!"

Can you do me a favor? Run an errand, pick this up, etc? No, no I can't. Do you know why? I have a REAL job and things to do. Yes, I work remotely, but that doesn't mean I have any less of a workload or job. Most days I am lucky to even feed myself. In office, I was more apt to walk away and take a real lunch or break. I still have deadlines conference calls, resumes to review, and emails to answer.

You don't have to deal with coworkers. Well, this is also true. I don't have to make awkward chit chat and ask about your weekend wasting twenty minutes of time. Without this distraction, I am able to be a lot more productive. On the flip side, the majority of the time there is very little interaction beyond a brief call or email. There's days I crave real human interaction. My husband works nights, so our scheduling doesn't allow a lot of time for full conversations. I'm usually waiting to talk to him when he comes home, at which point he stares blankly because he just worked a 12 hour shift, and it's 6AM. I sometimes chat with the cats, but they are never interested in what I have to say.

You get to work whenever you want!  I still work a standard work week- Monday through Friday 8AM-5PM. I think the hardest part of working from home is learning to clock-out. I struggled with this for the longest time, but doing better. In my job, your work is never done There's always one more place to source, one more candidate to contact, one more resume to review. Supporting managers across the world, also means I am working in literally every time zone.Before or after my work schedule, I catch myself thinking, "Well, I'll just hop on a moment." Or, "Let me answer this email really quick." Two hours later, I'm still working. 

So, yes, working remotely does have both pros and cons. Believe me when I say it takes an incredibly organized, self-motivated, and dedicated person. Why would you like to work from home?