Clearing Your Mind

Published on by Demetra MarieLeave a comment

As I was sitting here trying to decide what to sort through next, I became a little overwhelmed. Do I go through all of my clothes (for the third time in a year and a half)? Do I sort through my make up? Shoes? I just couldn’t decide. I then thought of clearing out my mind. I’ve been so busy lately running from one thing to the next, that it took my friend to call me up and say let’s go for a walk on the path near my house. That is where I came up with the idea for today’s post. Clearing out your mind and living in the moment.

We all are busy and some days there is just no way around that. Especially with today’s technology, almost everyone has a smartphone that receives new e-mails, voice-mails, and social media. We are constantly connect to each other and the world. What happens when you turn your phone off and just let your mind wonder for an hour. So on my walk yesterday, going a little against what I just said ‘turn off your phone’, I turned the sound off and turned my gps on (I’m keeping track of miles), and just focused on what I was doing. I was connecting with my friend. That is the time that you can’t take back. Enjoying the moment and being in the moment. I wasn’t worrying about missing calls or e-mails. I wasn’t worried about the fact that I wasted a half hour of my time a few hours prior. My friend told me everything that was new going on with her, how her wedding planning is going, and just random girl talk. I was also aware of the random little things that I saw along this path that we were on. The smashed can, the names on each of the benches that were dedicated to loved ones that have passed, the cute little park, the birds and ducks, the stairs, the ponds, and even the giant white plastic bag/container that looked like the resident stork.

While the story of my walk may be a little lackluster, it was a great reminder to stop and smell the roses. Be in the moment. Carpe Diem. My challenge to you is to unplug for 10-15 at some point in your day. No television, phones, music, just silence. Journal, go for a walk, meditate or read a book. If that isn’t your cup of tea, get together with a friend, grab a meal or a drink, leave your phone in the car. If you must have your phone on you, put it on silent, have some willpower and DON’T check it til you are ready to leave. Another important note as I mention not checking your phone while you are having your unplug time; DON’T check your phone while driving.

Hope you have a wonderful week!

Hair Product Purge

Published on by Demetra MarieLeave a comment

Today we’re talking about hair. Now ladies, we all want those long luscious locks. I don’t have any secrets to get your hair long and healthy but I do have rather long hair. However while the long locks look great it is a bit much to keep up with.  I like to keep my hair routine pretty simple and while I’ve accumulated some products over the past few years. Frankly I don’t need everything that I have, so time to purge! About 2 years ago I had done my first clear out of hair products ever. So this is pretty much what I kept from then with a couple of additions.

A few things to keep in mind when going through your hair products. This includes your shampoos and conditioners. I just have a couple of “backups” with these items so you will only see those and not what I’m using in the shower (they are the same thing).

Before:

Before-Hair Purge

 

The following are a few things I kept in mind:

  1. Is it old/expired? (yes your hair products can expire)
  2. Do I even like the product?
  3. Does it work? (believe me I’ve held onto items thinking I can get them to work)
  4. Do I find it useful still?

 

After:

After-Hair Purge

 

As you can see it seems like I didn’t get rid of much. I mainly got rid of the items that don’t work for me at all or have expired.  Like I said in a previous post, this Spring Cleaning Series was spurred by me moving rooms in my house. Another important fact is that my style is slowly changing. I’m finding that an easy, simple hair routine is what works for me, and I don’t need styling products taking up cabinet space.

If you want a review of any of the products that I’m keeping or tossing even let me know!

Polishing Off the Polish

Published on by Demetra MarieLeave a comment

It’s here!! The Spring Cleaning series. It can be a daunting task to look at everything that you have and decide in one day to keep or get rid of items. Today I’m starting off simple. Ladies, pull out your nail polish! This includes your top and base coats. All of my polishes are stored on a shelving unit that my grandfather built and used in his garage decades ago. I have a little nook in my closet that is of no use. I installed the shelf and decided to use it as storage. Now that you know a little bit of how/where I store my collection, on to cleaning it out! Here are a few things I kept in mind as I went through my collection.

1. Do I really need it?/ I don’t really need all of these.

2. Do I have a similar color?

3. Do I even like this color anymore?

4. Will I actually wear this shade in the future?

5. Is the polish still good? or is it expired?

6. Which are my favorites, that I absolutely can’t part with.

Here is what I started with: (Not Pictured Top/Base Coat/Tool and Gel Kit & Polish Shelf)

 

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Keeping all of that in mind I pulled out color family by color family. I was pretty brutal in deciding what I was going to keep and what I was going to give away or toss. I forgot to count exactly how many bottles I was going through but I did count how many I was getting rid of or giving away.  I slimmed down my collection by 23 bottles! Twenty of the bottles are still good and are able to be given away to friends or family. Three of the bottles were just absolutely no good and had to be tossed in the trash. Here is what my nail polish shelf looks after.

 

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Hope you enjoyed my polish clear out and it inspired you to maybe clear out your old polish!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April Favorites

Published on by Demetra MarieLeave a comment

Hello friends!! Today I’m sharing my favorites. These are the few items that I’ve reached for almost every single day. They make me feel put together without putting on a full face on make up. It takes less than 5 minutes to put my fave together.

 

AprilFaves

First up is the Maybelline Color Tattoo in #25 Bad to the Bronze. This product has been out for a few years now, and has easily become my go to easy eye look. I have also used it as a base under powder eye shadows for a more glam look.

The Buxom Full On Lip Creme in White Russian. Some people have a love-hate relationship with this product. The love part is the color and texture. The hate is the menthol, tingly feeling. I, however, I love the minty, tingly feeling. The texture is light, and the color is natural looking. It often ends up in my purse as my go to lip product or my oops I forgot to grab a lip gloss.

The Rimmel Match Perfection 2-in-1 Concealer & Highlighter is my new favorite! I have it in the shade 230 fair/light. I’ve tried quite a few concealers for under the eye and this is by far the best one I’ve come across. It doesn’t crease and the texture is light and creamy.

Last but not least, my favorite, all time, holy grail, drugstore mascara. The L’Oreal Lash Out Butterfly mascara in Black is fantastic! It is not too wet and not too dry of a formula. I like that it doesn’t clump. What I love about this product is that it lengthens my lashes and slightly thicken them up. I like to say it has a natural glam effect on my lashes.

Hope you enjoyed my monthly favorites. On Monday, I will start my spring cleaning series. Have a great weekend!

Spring Cleaning

Published on by Demetra MarieLeave a comment

Hey all! So I have decided to slim down the amount of things I have. This was spurred by switching rooms in my house. I’ve gone from an 18 x 15 room, with an extended wrap around closet, to a 15 x 12 room with two standard size closets. Also spring is underway and summer is almost here! In the next few weeks I am going to take you through my collections of clothes, makeup, bath and body products. I’ll show you what I started with and what I will keep and what I will toss/donate.

A few things to keep in mind when going through your stuff. When it comes to clothes, I give gently used or brand new items to a family that I know. Things that have been worn a bit more and still in good condition I donate. Clothing that has been worn out, torn, rip, or the color is fading I will just toss in the garbage. Cosmetics I don’t share with anyone. Sometimes I do give some items to my sister that I’ve used only once or twice, the rest I toss it in the trash. The same thing goes for bath and body items. Anything that is old, expired, or I just don’t need or use anymore will be given away.

On Wednesday, I will share my monthly favorites. Let the cleaning begin!!!