February Favorites

My January Favorites post was a big hit, so I decided to try to do one each month!  What have you been enjoying lately?

Jade roller

I use this for nightly and morning facial massages.  It is supposed to help reduce puffiness.  I don't know if it's really working; I've only had it a short time.  It feels really lovely, though, especially when it's a bit cold.  Feels very soothing.  And if nothing else, just rolling it around my face reminds me to relax my facial muscles, which has to help with something, right?  I got it from Amazon.

Lipsense - Napa

As you know from this post, I am now a distributor for Lipsense.  I recently got this color, Napa, and it is my new all-time favorite lip color!  It makes my eyes look green and my teeth look white. Win-win!

Handmade thank you notes

I used some old water color pages from my art journal and wrote a simple thank you message on them.  I was thinking about sending these with my Lipsense orders.  I'm inspired to make some more little notecards with all my art journal pages and painting scraps.

Using a men's razor

I picked up a pack of Gillette Fusion razors from Sam's club because they were cheaper than the Venus ones.  And guess what - they work so much better!  They give a smoother shave and don't cause as much irritation on my sensitive skin.  (I'm talking about my legs, by the way...)  Also, I don't have a picture of the razor because I thought that would be kinda weird...

Thanks so much for reading.  What are your favorites from February?

My Lipstick Addiction

Hello friends!  Sorry it's been so long since I've posted.  I've been soooo busy.  I thought I'd pop on here and give you a little life update.

HEALTH UPDATE

The month of February brought some good health, but still no answers, yet.  I've had many tests done and am just waiting for the next step.  I've tried to eliminate some stress, and that has helped a LOT.  I have a lot more energy.

WORK UPDATE

My job has been going great.  In January I had a bunch of work-related trips and it was a bit stressful.  But February has been smooth sailing.

LIFE UPDATE

We are going on a service trip to Ukraine this summer!  I will be teaching in some music camps and Peter will be helping with the athletic portion of the camps, as well as documenting the trip with photos and videos.

MY LIPSTICK ADDICTION

I signed up as a distributor of Lipsense... have you heard of it?  IT'S SO FREAKING AWESOME.  Basically it's lipstick that doesn't come off or smudge all day.  All of my profits from this business will go toward our Ukraine trip!  If you're interested in learning more, please check out my facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/412237472448005/

I promise this blog will NOT be overrun with Lipsense posts!  I may post occasionally on here, but it will not turn into a Lipsense website, trust me!  I just wanted to mention it at least once so you would have the chance to learn more!

So what have you been up to lately?

XO,

Julie

Intentional Living

Note: Since writing this post we actually did buy a TV.  We initially only got it to watch the olympics.  And you know what?  We hardly ever watch it now.  Peter uses it for video games, sometimes we'll watch Netflix... but usually... it's off.  So I think this post still applies.

There's usually a mix of reactions when people hear (or see) that we don't have a TV.  Surprise, disbelief, scorn, and sometimes envy.  We invariably get asked a lot of questions about why we don't have one.  How do we survive??? What do we doooo???  I usually just shrug my shoulders and reply something along the lines of, "Well at least we're saving a lot of money..."

But when I really stop to think about it, there are many reasons why I don't want a TV, and only a few of them have to do with money.  I hate background noise, I hate commercials, I get bored easily, we don't have to pay for cable.  But mostly it has to do with intentional living.  TV is a distraction.  For many people, it's an escape... from reality, from their thoughts, from their lives.  I'm sure a lot of people could benefit from unplugging the TV and just living intentionally.

What does that even mean, living intentionally?  How do you do it?  Why should you do it?

Be intentional with your words

Say what you mean and mean what you say.  Don't be a flake.  Don't be superficial or "fake nice."  Pay attention to how people are receiving your words.  Don't barrel through conversations.  Pay attention to how people respond during conversations and adjust your tone if needed.

Be intentional with your time

TV is a big time waster.  What could you be doing instead?  Exercising?  Reading a book?  Starting a hobby?  Spending time with family or friends?  Make time to be with the people you care about.  And when you are with them, really be with them.  Don't keep checking your phone.  Don't let your mind wander.  Pay attention to them.  Do you know someone who's in the hospital?  Go visit them.  Don't always be daydreaming about the future.  Be present in the moment.

Be intentional with your actions

Pay attention to your body language, your quirks, your habits.  Are you trying to emulate someone?  Are your actions contrived?  Just be yourself.

I think the main thing to remember about intentional living is to pay attention to your surroundings and the people you're interacting with.  Don't waste your time on trivial things.  Live in the moment and don't take things for granted.  And be yourself.  Don't try to look or act like someone else.

What do you think?  Do you try to live intentionally?