Checking in

Remember my mantra?

Now that we are one third of the way through 2013 (eek!) I think it's a perfect time to check in with my goals for the year.  

Let's take a look back at what I said here.

Personal Goals

• Go on a blind date
• Ask someone out on a date, because who says I can't go after what I want?
• Find a more unified theme for my blog, and increase my viewing audience
• Go on at least four brewery tours by the end of the year
• Ride a hot air balloon
• Send birthday packages/care packages/cards to show I love my family and friends 
• Buy all Christmas gifts by the end of November
• Send out Christmas cards by the first week of December
• Make a habit out of reading CNN, just like I read blogs/social media sites
• Every time I open social media I have to open CNN or another news source
• Minimizing all meat intake to once a week I've done a great job doing this so far
• Go ALL OUT for holidays (Valentine's, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Mardi Gras)
• Travel abroad at least once this year 
• Travel to NYC, New Orleans, Dallas (for you, Sarah), Boston, Seattle, and Santa Fe
• Take another road trip across the country
• See more of my best friends (in person)
• Go to at least one concert

Physical Goals

• Continue to improve my yoga practice, and master at least two more headstands, including variations of dolphin and scorpion
• Join a yoga studio by the end of September 2013
• Join a gym with spinning classes by the end of September 2013 and join
• Find a team sport/ book club (not physical, but still) / beer tasting club or other group the join by October 2013

Professional Goals

• If accepted to a graduate program I want to choose one that will help achieve my long-term professional goals
• Apply to work at Teach For America's Summer Institute to gain professional development and better improve my management skills and leading a group of people towards success. Decided not to apply after all.  
• Give my students a purpose every day for why they are in my classroom, with a goal-driven mindset until they exit in May 2013
• Mentor at minimum two more students individually on their life goals
• Set up a field trip for my Spanish I & Spanish II students by end of March 2013
• Make sure I am always doing something to work for social justice, whether that is volunteering somewhere new, helping individuals, or donating to a cause.

Not bad, huh? Lots has been happening since the last time I graced the blog world with my presence.  Let's recap...

• I went home to Texas and spent an incredible amount of time with one of my best friends

Taken in East Austin, Texas

• My favorite blogger has reduced her blogging to once or twice a week 
• I have since then learned that age is just a number.  Just a number. JUST. A. NUMBER.
• Felt.."free like bluebonnets in the summer"

Bluebonnets are the Texas state flower and bloom in the springtime in the Hill Country

• Continued to sit on my porch
• Started reading the book Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

• Got classier glassier and invested in two pairs of new frames by Warby Parker and Rivet and Sway

The Mantra by Rivet and Sway on top and the Sims frame by Warby Parker on the bottom

• Went to the beach

• Drank some good craft beer 

What are you reading/drinking/enjoying? 

Have you checked in on your New Year's Resolutions?

First World Problems

I have now had the Clarisonic Mia2 Brush for approximately three months and it is probably my favorite beauty item.  My mom was sweet enough to buy me one last year with some ultra mega discounts she got.  The Clarisonic is quite a splurge for the average shopper, running anywhere from $119 to $200, but let me tell you that it is worth it.  Clarisonic has amazing customer service too! With a Limited 1-3 year warranty and a 90-Day 100% Money Back Guarantee, how can you not try it?

My friend recently had a defective Clarisonic brush that stopped turning on/off out of nowhere, she called Clarisonic, they shipped one to her the very next day with two new brush heads and a label for her to ship her old one right back.  AMAZING customer service or what?

According to Clarisonic, their cleansing benefits include:

• Removes 6X more makeup than manual cleansing
• Leaves skin feeling and looking smoothe
• Removes impurities that keep creams and serums from working their best
• Gentle enough to use twice a day
• Reduces oily areas, dry skin patches and blemishes
• Minimizes the appearance of visible pores

Source

It only takes one minute to wash your face.  You use it for 20 seconds on forehead, 20 seconds on chin/nose, and 10 seconds on each cheek.  Voila!

I have the Mia2 (Retail $149) in this soft pink color, but it comes in all sorts of fun colors

Difference between the Mia and the Mia2, a nice travel case and a timer! Mia2 is the way to go. Check out the Clarisonic website for more info.

My last beauty rant involves something a little bit on the citrus side.  I have a bit of an obsession with The Body Shop's Satsuma line.  I started using their Satsuma Body Butter last spring and fell in love.  The smell is so natural, none of that artificial smelling yucky stuff.  The Body Shop is all about natural ingredients, against animal testing, vegetarian, fair trade, and protecting the planet.  My second favorite product from the Satsuma line is the body wash.  I love to shower, there is nothing like a good shower to rejuvenate you, but let me tell you that the Satsuma body wash gives a new meaning to the shower experience.  You can smell the lovely citrus even after you shower, and you will give shower envy to whomever showers after you.  It basically rocks my world and you should go check it out after you finish reading this.

Do you have a body wash you feel this way about? Give a testimonial about your Clarisonic! Share below!

Liebster

Thank goodness it's spring y'all! I am so happy to see flowers blooming, the weather getting warmer, sunny showers, and brighter colors taking over my wardrobe.  Spring is bittersweet because it means my last weeks in Louisiana will soon come to an end and a chapter in my life will close, but I've got to focus on enjoying the daily happenings in my life.

On a sunnier note, my sweet friend Christine at xtine danielle has nominated me for the Liebster Award.  I've always wanted to be nominated for a blog award and getting my blog out there is one of my annual goals.  Working as a busy teacher, I don't get to focus on my blog as much as I would like to, but come summer time and once I start graduate school in the fall I intend on dedicating much more time to The Bright Side.

Thank YOU Christine for the nomination and for helping me to promote my blog.  Christine is one of the sunniest people I know, she has an incredible story and always has a smile on her face.  I remember Christine being a pleasure to talk to at all times, her love for the Boston Red Sox, and her love for good music.

What is it?
The Liebster Award is given to new and upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers or so.  Liebster is German for "sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome." 

Nomination made by...

Christine at xtine danielle nominated me here for the award. Merci, beaucoup.

Liebster rules...

Learning more about each other is the name of the game. The Liebster blog award rules are as follows:

1. Post 11 random facts about yourself.
2. Answer 11 questions from your nominator.
3. Nominate 11 other blogs with under 200 followers and ask them 11 questions.

11 Random Facts About Me

1. I like odd numbers.  A lot.  Whenever I pump gas I have to stop pumping at an odd number, like $33.03. Oh, I guess I also like the number three. 
2. My favorite time of day is twilight or just before, right when the evening starts to get a little bit cooler.  Everything looks magical at this time of day.
3. I really enjoy dining outside whenever the weather is warm enough and not too humid.
4. I am in love with the Pacific Northwest.
5. I am a die-hard proud Texan and love all things Texas, including: bluebonnets, country music, boots, the rodeo, the Lone Star flag, Shiner beer, BBQ, and the Alamo.
6. Even though it's difficult for me to choose, I think my favorite season is fall. No, summer...no, fall. It's definitely fall. 
7. My first language was Spanish and I did not learn English fluently until I was five years old.
8. The sweetest voice I've ever heard comes out of the mouth of Amos Lee.
9. I truly enjoy buying creative and thoughtful gifts for people more than I enjoy receiving them.
10. My favorite alcoholic beverages include: microbrews, red wine (Malbec), and anything with gin.
11. I cannot see myself not working for social justice, specifically education.   

11 Questions Posed by Nominator

1. Why did you start blogging? I started blogging (the first time) when I was a sophomore in college because my good friend told me I should spread my positivity.  The name came from how many times I said "on the bright side" to others.  I stopped blogging, not knowing much about it short after my junior year and not sure of what direction I wanted my blog to take.  After a life-changing year post-graduation I returned to the blog world and have been back ever since.
2. Describe yourself in two words. Silver Lining ;)
3. What’s your all time favorite tv show? Can I have four? Friends, Grey's Anatomy, The Wonder Years, and Gilmore Girls.
4. What’s one quirky thing about yourself? Everything about me is quirky (right, Margarew?).  I like leaving notes on my receipts for waiters and waitresses at restaurants, even if it's simply a handwritten thank you.
5. What’s your biggest inspiration? Currently, my students, and all who have experienced and/or are currently experiencing injustices in our country.
6. Name three places you’d like to travel to? In the United States: Oregon, Maine, and Alaska.  In the World: Argentina, Ireland, and Morocco.  But really I would love to go to all seven continents.
7. Have you ever sky dived? Would you? I have never sky dived nor do I have the desire to do so. I feel like this is that one question that defines whether I am "cool, hip, or happening" lol.  Sorry I'm not sorry.
8. What’s your favorite quality about yourself? I attempt to be humble, inspirational to others, and empathetic.
9. What’s your favorite social media tool/network? It's a tie between Twitter and the Instagram. Probably Twitter, though.
10. If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it? I wish I had a moving and monumental answer to this, but I would have to do a lot of thinking.  I would definitely hire a lawyer first.  Then, I would pay off my graduate school.  After this is taken care of I would expect myself to do only good and necessary things with the money.
11. What’s your all time favorite meal? Food is my favorite thing. I enjoy a good meal and this is so difficult to decide.  My favorite meal would definitely include seafood (fish, scallops, crab cakes), a twice baked potato, an amazing salad, a glass of wine, and plain cheesecake with strawberries for dessert. 

My 11 Liebster Award Nominations

Lisa Lupo Photography

Musings From the Law

Lauren Stilz

The Forever Optimist

Whale You Be My Friend 

Easy Means Simple

Amarette's Abenteuer 

Your Super Awesome Life 

Taking Back My Twenties

Katy Loves

writes like a girl

11 Questions For Nominated Bloggers

1. What is your favorite season?
2. Who was your first concert?
3. What is your go-to Karaoke song?
4. What is your favorite quote and why?
5. What is your favorite blog post and give us the link to it?
6. Who or what inspires you?
7. What is one thing you cannot do without in the morning?
8. When are you at your happiest? 
9. List three strengths and three weaknesses about yourself.
10. What is your all-time favorite song?
11. What are three blogs you read regularly?

Enjoy. If you're a reader, feel free to answer the questions above in a comment.