It's Okay to Be a Tired Woman
When the alarm's annoying buzz blares at 5:45 am, there is one thought that immediately comes to mind: I can't wait until I can go back to bed.
Lately, the pep in my step, the energy to meet the day, has been lost. At 29, I have a lot to be excited about and a lot to be grateful to jump out of bed for. I have my dream career, a writing career on the side, a wonderful husband, a loyal family, all the cats a girl could want, and many more great things. I have plenty of reasons to be energized and enthusiastic about life. But lately, it's been a struggle to overcome one huge hurdle: I'm tired. It's not just a lack of sleep or a restless night kind of tired, though. It's a bone-chilling, wearying tired. It's a can't even function, can't even find a smile kind of tired. It's a body tired, brain tired, heart tired kind of tired. I'm just tired. I crave weekend sleep-ins. I dream about the next time I don't have to set an alarm. I hurry home, not so I can do things I really want to do, but so I can melt into the couch in my pajamas at four o'clock and watch Netflix. I'm just plain tired. I'm exhausted. I'm rundown, worn out, beat down, done. And yet, behind the tired, one feeling simultaneously rules my mind: guilt. The Do-It-All Woman of 2017
Looking at my own life and at my female friends' lives, it's no wonder so many of us have become practical zombies, both physically and mentally.
Because we are told we can do it all as a woman, we feel like it's our obligation. We try to excel at our jobs and put in 110% effort in every task. We challenge ourselves to keep our homes at unreasonable levels of cleanliness and organization. We take care of husbands, kids, parents, and pets. We run from event to event so as not to be anti-social. We join groups, volunteer, contribute, and organize at every chance we get. We make sure we say "yes" more than we say "no" so that we are a team-player. A woman in 2017, after all, has to be a go-getter, a doer, and accomplisher...in all aspects of life. To step back, to take it easy is to fail. At least this is what society seems to tell us. Pulled in ninety-eight different directions, it's no wonder we're all feeling run-down. It's no wonder there are mornings when we truly consider smashing the alarm clock into pieces or running away. It's no wonder our biggest goal sometimes is to climb into bed, uninterrupted, and just sleep away the day. Many of us have backed ourselves into a corner and left no room for breathing. We fill our days with so much stuff, that we can't possibly have a minute to just relax. Our days are crazy packed races and to-do lists. A moment not accomplishing is a moment wasted. In short, we are tired because we don't let ourselves have a moment to get rested. We put so many other people, events, duties, and tasks above ourselves, that we are bound to run out of fuel. We are left decrepit and downtrodden. But even then, we don't cut ourselves slack. We are left feeling like there's something wrong with us or like we are failures. We tell ourselves we need to just move on and find energy. We need to eat more oranges or drink more coffee. There are, after all, no excuses for the 2017 woman to just take a break. Learning to Listen to Your Body
It's easy to fall into the do-it-all trap. It's easy to ignore the extra yawns, the negative feelings, and the desire to just take a step back.
However, to be a strong woman in 2017 and to be a woman who can find true meaning in life, we must be willing to listen to our bodies. We must hear ourselves when we say we're tired. We must recognize that we can't run on E forever, and that it's okay to say "no." We must be willing to realize the weariness in our bones is a warning flag that we need to take care of ourselves. We must realize that taking care of ourselves isn't selfish or wrong. We must learn that although we can do it all, we don't have to. Mental and physical wellness are both crucial elements of happiness. To ignore our exhaustion, physically and mentally, is to not be our best selves in any aspect of life. So to all you tired women out there, take a break. Take a moment. Take a day. Take a weekend. Take time for you, just you, to sit back and relax. Take time to say "no" even if you feel like you should say yes. Take time to skip a practice, a meeting, or an event. Take time to rejuvenate and to relax. Take time to realize it's okay to be tired...but it's not okay to ignore it.
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The cruelty-free March Beauty Box by Petit Vour, $15
Cruelty-Free Beauty: Petty Vour March BoxWhy I Love Petit Vour
A few years ago, I saw a video that changed everything in my beauty junkie ways.
A Beagle Freedom Project video popped up on my Facebook, and I never looked at makeup the same way. After seeing the torture these animals go through during animal testing, I vowed never to let an animal suffer just so I could have pretty blush or nice, blending eyeshadow. When I first made the choice to go cruelty-free with cosmetics, things weren't easy. High quality products were few and far between. It was truly a sacrifice. Even things like the makeup box subscriptions were off the table since they included many products that tested on animals or included ingredients tested on animals. Then I came across Petit Vour. This cruelty free company mails a monthly subscription box with four items each month. Every item is 100% cruelty free and also vegan. These all natural products range from makeup to skincare to hair care. Even the sample sizes are decently sized, but sometimes you even get full-size products. I've been a member of this program for over a year now. For $15 a month (which includes shipping), it's great to try new products and get a fun surprise in the mail each month. What's in the March Box
This month, the box includes:
My review of the box
This month was mostly skin care products, which is what I really like to try from Petit Vour. I have used items from Little Barn Apothecary and am excited for the cleansing oil. I like that it says it tones and hydrates in addition to cleansing. I'm also a huge fan of masks, so I'm excited to pop that on (impromptu spa day, anyone?).
The face balm definitely looks like something to wear at night only and even suggests that on the directions. It looks a little heavy, so I do worry about clogging pores. It is formulated with rare East African shea butter, though, which sounds like it would be super hydrating. My skin is coming off of the harsh winter months, so it probably could use something like this right now. The only negative thing I have to say is that I'm worried about the illuminating beauty oil. I tried a bit on today and feel like it makes my nose look greasy instead of dewy. I'm also super not confident in my contouring/highlighting abilities, so I'm not sure if I trust myself with this. It has high amounts of glitter that do fade into your skin once the oil is absorbed, but I just have this inward fear of looking like a disco diva and no one telling me. So I'll come back and give more feedback once I've tried the items, but so far it looks like a nice box as far as skin goes. Check back next month to see what April's box is or head to Petit Vour for your box now! 
Beauty and the Beast 2017 Review
As a child, Beauty and the Beast was my favorite movie. I loved Beauty's gorgeous, princess-like dresses. I loved the talking candlestick and Chip. I loved the magic of the "Be Our Guest" Scene. I loved the final scene, when a kiss turned the Beast into a Prince.
Perhaps Beauty and the Beast set me up to be both a hopeless romantic and a romance writer. When I found out the movie was being redone as a live-action movie and Emma Watson would be playing Beauty, I squealed like the five-year-old I still act like. I've been counting down the days until release since I first saw the trailer. Quite simply, I was entranced before even entering the theater. The movie did not disappoint. Emma Watson played her part beautifully. From her acting to her voice, she did Belle justice. The dresses were just as gorgeous as I could hope. Plus, she captured the defiant yet caring sides of Belle and really enhanced the role. The Beast was more frightening in appearance than the one from my childhood, but it also worked well. The personalities of all of the other characters were maintained. I love that they came to life, although I do think Lumiere was cuter as a cartoon than in this movie. My favorite scene was the "Be Our Guest" song, which literally gave me chills. It was my favorite as a child, so to see it in 3-D was magical. To think about what my five-year-old self would have thought of this scene literally coming to life is a beautiful thought. It was stunning and fun, just like I'd always imagined it to be. The "Tale as Old as Time" scene was also breathtaking. The dance scene was gorgeous, and I couldn't take my eyes away. My only complaint is I wish the movie could have been longer. I would have loved to see extra scenes between Beauty and the Beast to build their love story. However, this movie did a great job at sticking to the original while adding some extra information about both characters' backgrounds. I adored this movie and cannot wait to buy it. If you liked the original, you should definitely see this one. 5 out of 5 stars. New Romantic Drama: Remember When |
 
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