Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Moving!

I've had a really hard time deciding about moving to a Wordpress account or staying here with Blogger. I don't like change, but I've read so many positive reviews about Wordpress and that it is really the way to go with a long-term blog so I decided to give it a try.

I know I don't have many followers yet, but for those of you who do follow me here is the link to the new site. I exported this blog to Wordpress so nothing is lost! Can't wait to see you there!

New Site :)

Monday, September 28, 2015

DIY: Photoshop Glitter Text


I have used Adobe Photoshop and similar programs since I was little for my own personal use. I have always been artsy and enjoyed drawing pictures or creating images on the computer.

Growing up a horse obsessed little girl, I played a couple similar horse games online. In these games, you owned horses and trained them by entering them in shows to earn points. The higher the points, the more valuable the horse. You could then sell your horses breed them to produce valuable offspring. A big part of the game was having extravagant and edited images for your horses and layout. Ya ya.. don't make fun!

Anyways, I wanted to share with all of you how to create Glitter Text in Adobe Photoshop! You can use it for anything, such as event invitations or for some image on your blog. I hope this will help you! I know there's probably many ways to make glitter text, but this is how I do it! I'd love to see some of your finished work!
Open Photoshop. Create a new document.
I selected to create a custom document so I could make it a size that I wanted. Here I'm going to make the banner for my blog! **Note, not the actual image used for my blog as I already made it before deciding to make this blog post!


Sunday, September 27, 2015

Meet the Kittens

Two of our fur babies need to be introduced together. Our adorable black sister kittens that we adopted from the Humane Society.

The rare two headed cat
How did we decide to introduce TWO black kittens to our home when we already had a dog and a cat? My boyfriend and I were at the pet store buying litter for my older cat and he pointed out that there was a pet adoption center in the back of the store. He suggested we go inside and look at the animals. I told him that it was a bad idea because I knew I would want to leave with something...

So we headed into the pet adoption center. There were several rooms which housed the older kitties, giving them more space to roam around. At the end of the hallway we turned left into a big room with ferret cages with two kittens in each cage. In the first cage we saw the most adorable sister kittens. It was love at first sight. They were so goofy playing with us through the bars of the cage and reaching out to us. They seemed so attached to each other climbing all over each other playing and cuddling together. I just knew we had to have them.


 My boyfriend and I debated for a while about what to do. I felt like we were making a very impulsive decision adding two more cats to our home. I was worried about what my parents would say. I could not figure out what to do and of course the boyfriend was no help. I also worried about having too many pets in our apartment. I decided we should go home and think things through. As soon as we left I regretted not having them with us, but I still worried about bringing home two more cats. How would the older cat react? How would they react to the dog?

The next day we went back to the pet store with the intention to adopt them, but still uncertain if we were making the right decision. The man working there told us another family had come in earlier looking but wanted to separate them. It broke my heart to think about them being separated, they were obviously very bonded to each other. I walked back out to the store to make my final decision when my boyfriend texted me and said, "If you don't want these kittens you are going to have to pry them from my hands"..


The adoption center was thrilled we were adopting them together, took a final picture of us with our new children, and sent us on our way. They do everything together and look so similar that only certain personality quirks and different meows help us differentiate between the two. We have different color collars on to help!


I could not imagine my life without these fur babies. They are sweet, goofy, loving, and so so funny. They love to cuddle, play, eat, and sleep! Adopting these girls was the best decision we ever made. I am absolutely obsessed with them and take way too many pictures of them.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Bathroom Decor

When my boyfriend and I first moved in to our apartment together, we had almost nothing and had to make several expensive runs to Ikea and Walmart for the basics. We did not have the time or luxury to shop around for nice color schemes and decorations. Our first night in the apartment, we had some beer, a blender, a Brita water filter, and my mattress. We spent the evening setting up our new bed frame from Ikea and eating dinner on the floor. We eventually got all settled buying everything we needed, but I never got around to redecorating.

However, we moved to a new apartment in April and I decided to do the interior decorating I had initially planned. We overlapped apartments a few days so I was able to spend time shopping around and finding what I wanted. Since we had decided not to move closer to the beach, I wanted something to be beach themed in the apartment.

This is what we ended up with! No thanks to my boyfriend, he was no help!







And just for fun, we used these tub slip grips! Bright and colorful and fishes to go with our beach theme!
The kittens love playing with these in the tub!

Towels in teal

Review: iOS Upgrade

 I updated my phone to iOS 9 last night and it was a complete disaster. I do not normally do upgrades when they first become available because they tend to be glitchy and I don't like change. I read the description of the upgrade on my phone and it did not seem to have too many cosmetic changes. Some of the positive attributes to upgrading were updated and improved battery life, traffic and maps, Siri features, and the addition of a news app, new multitasking views, and a variety of other features.

My phone had been acting slow recently so I decided to upgrade when I was relaxing after class.

I immediately regretted my decision!
There were several big feature changes that I did not like as well as no real increased phone performance.

1. There were minor differences in the keyboard and fonts. They were not big changes, but they were different and irked me. I could have dealt with these minor changes had it not been for the others listed below.

2. Find Friends was made a mandatory app. I had used the app in the past, but I was extremely irritated that it was a made permanent app that I could not delete. The app is a weird and very creepy and stalkerish way to know where your friends are at any given time. While it can be turned off or you do not have to use the app.. what then is the point of its required presence? This really bothered me because I do not want something to happen and for the app to decide to run itself. I also do not like being required to have apps on my phone that I do not use.

3. Still extremely slow. After my update had been completed, the phone was running as slow if not slower than before the update on the old iOS. I did give it a little while to settle but nothing changed, my phone kept freezing. It seems as though Apple wants everyone to upgrade to newer phones that will run smoother with the new updates.

4. I did not notice this myself, but after some Google research I read that the iOS9 platform drained battery life from peoples iPhones. This was one of the key factors in why many people updated the software and Apple did not follow through.


After playing around on the new platform and disliking it, I decided to restore my iOS back to the 8.4.1 version I had been using. I read a lot of directions and peoples reviews on this process and it seemed to work fine! However, there would be a limited time to downgrade as Apple only supports old iOS platforms for a few weeks after introducing new software. After successfully restoring my iPhone to the old iOS, iTunes was unable to find my most recent back up so I lost all my text messages from the last 3 months. I had thankfully uploaded all my pictures separately and they were all saved. My downgrading back to the old iOS after a short period of time is why I was unable to see for myself the draining of battery.

To be fair, I did not give the new iOS9 a fair shot, but with my initial dislike I did not care to try. I did not feel that the improvements outweighed the things I disliked about the update. Maybe I am biased because I do not like change, but most of the changes did not even affect the appearance of the phone.

I have debated upgrading to a new phone because I am due for an upgrade and I dislike my phone running so slowly, but I really dislike the size of the newest iPhones. I have an iPad mini, I don't need a phone that is getting close to the same size.

Has anyone else updated to the new iOS? What do you think? What are your thoughts on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus? Suggestions on other phones you like?

Monday, September 21, 2015

House Keeping

We all look forward to the weekend because they mean no school and hopefully no work! Weekends are the time to unwind and relax after a long week. So who wants to spend their weekend cleaning their house? I admit it can be hard to find the motivation to clean. Here are a few tips to help you!

1. Split it up!
Try and do some small things throughout the week to make cleaning on the weekend easier and less time consuming. I like to vacuum several times throughout the week because of the animals. While keeping the amount of dust and animal hair down, vacuumed floors make the apartment look and feel cleaner. Regular vacuuming requires you to pick up things that might accumulate on the floor throughout the week. My boyfriend throws all his dirty clothes on the floor next to the laundry basket (men!). In order to vacuum, you need to put everything away first which in turn helps to keep the house clean.
 I also clean a different area of the house on different days. If you clean something very thoroughly during the week, you either will not have to do anything on the weekend or you can just wipe down that area. Cleaning one area daily means that you can spend less than twenty minutes cleaning a day and still have a clean home!

2. Weeknight Laundry
Another way to keep your cleaning load down on the weekends is to try and do laundry throughout the week. It is very easy to put a load in and swap them around while watching tv. I also like to watch tv while folding laundry and pairing socks, it makes for a good distraction.

3. Have friends/family over
Nothing motivates me to clean our home more than inviting people over. I want my house to be clean and welcoming so that people continue to come over for dinner, watch games, or just to hang out.


4. Rearrange
I get bored easily so I like to rearrange the furniture, mainly in the bedroom. Although we will be rearranging the living room and dining area when our new couch comes in! While rearranging, I vacuum a lot so I need to put everything away. I am typically more motivated to keep a newly arranged room clean because it is still fresh and exciting.

5. Make the bed daily
Making your bed every morning keeps your room looking organized. When the bed looks nice I am more inspired to keep the rest of the room neat and tidy.

Of course Callie had to be in the picture :)
Buy comforter here!
Throw Pillow Here!

6. Plan it out
I love lists. I write everything down in lists, in multiple places. I will write the same list on my white board, in my planner, and in the notes on my phone. I feel so accomplished when I can delete something from the list or cross it off.



 Planner here

Sometimes life gets in the way and your laundry sat in the basket all week and you were unable to clean. Just set aside a few hours on Saturday or Sunday and do a good cleaning and start over next week! A clean home is welcoming and relaxing. The absence of clutter and chaos in your home, especially in your room, is less stressful and can help you sleep better at night! Just know how great everything is going to look when it is cleaned!

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Birthday

My birthday was on Wednesday and I had an overall great day. I was able to sleep in and spend the morning relaxing at home. I had to go to class in the afternoon but we got out early! My boyfriend surprised me with tickets to the San Francisco Giants game!! He told me to be ready when he got home from work. As I was getting ready I realized that I could not find any of my Giants shirts anywhere! I asked my boyfriend what I should wear and he told me jeans but that he would pick out the rest when he got home.

I got really excited because it sounded to me like he got me something Giants to wear! He showed up at home as I was drying my hair and surprised me with a goodie bag of presents! I will post better pictures later!


First was an awesome Giants jersey of my favorite player which I was able to wear to the game! It even has the World Series badge on the shoulder!

He also got me a camo Giants hat which I didn't wear to the game but I probably should have with all the rain. Both the Giants jersey and hat can be bought in person at the Giants dugout store, I was unable to find them online!

Then there was a camo Browning sweatshirt I can wear hunting! While my favorite color is pink, his reasoning for the purple logo was that the pink one had pink inside the hood and I would not be able to wear it hunting. I love it anyways and I especially love his reasoning :)

Last was a new duck call for hunting. And of course, it's pink!


While I am not materialistic and the presents were not what was important to me, I loved everything he got me and was so excited at all the thought he put into getting me presents. My favorite part of my birthday was getting to go to the Giants game with my favorite person! I also loved that the Giants won!!

Monday, September 14, 2015

Fresh Start To Working Out

Working out is very important to me. I love the stress relief it provides and I love being in great shape. I am very competitive so I love playing sports. I do not work out to be thin, I work out to be healthy and in good shape. I want muscle tone and strength over being skinny. There is a big difference between being lean and toned and just being skinny.

However, school and life often get in the way of being able to work out regularly. I know it is important to make a better effort to find time every day but I get tired after a long day at school. I have been trying to have a more positive outlook on life and focus on myself. Life is not meant to be constant work and struggle, we are supposed to be happy! So in order to keep with this spirit, I have decided to start fresh and give it one hundred percent.

Here are a few tips for finding the motivation to work out..

1. Work out in the morning
When you work out first thing in the day, you beat the end of the day exhaustion. Working out in the morning is also revitalizing and leaves you feeling accomplished the rest of the day. There are many other benefits to working out in the morning, maybe I'll create another blog post on that!

2. Find your activity
To get your work outs in, find an activity that you love to do and look forward to doing. Hiking, surfing, dance classes, or adult sports leagues are all fun ways to work out.

3. Bring a friend
Working out with a friend is very motivational because you will be less likely to bail on your work out if you have someone waiting on you. It helps if you have common goals or interests in activities, but even if you don't you can always just take a long walk and spend time gossiping.

4. Pencil it in
When you write it down in your schedule or plan the time to go to the gym, you will be more likely to follow through. It serves as a reminder and as a motivation to get it done.

5. Set goals
Have short term goals leading to a long term goal to help keep your interest. It will keep you motivated when you are successfully reaching the goals you set for yourself. For example, instead of having one long term weight loss goal, focus on working out a certain number of times per week. Reward yourself when you reach each of your short term goals, or just after each work out to condition your body to look forward to working out!

6. Don't give up
Sometimes life will get in the way so don't get discouraged or feel like you have failed yourself if you miss a work out. Just make sure you get back on track the next day and keep going!



 Remember to take your progress slow as you get back into working out so you don't injure yourself! That was my problem last time, I kept increasing my running distance too quickly and got hurt and could not work out for a month. So join me on my fitness journey and share some of the ways you motivate yourself to work out!

Friday, September 11, 2015

Healthy Skin

We all have that friend who has absolutely flawless skin. The one who is naturally gorgeous and has perfect skin without having to work for it. This can be very upsetting and discouraging to the rest of us who work hard and struggle to have beautiful, healthy skin. I wanted to share a few tips I've found to be extremely helpful in keeping my skin looking it's best!

1. Do not wear make up!

Make up is bad for your skin plain and simple. It clogs your pores causing more undesirable blemishes.  If you must wear makeup, try to do it only when necessary and take it off as soon as you get home. Clean your face thoroughly to be certain you get rid of all the makeup! DO NOT wear makeup while you work out!


2. Visit a dermatologist

Instead of spending a lot of time at stores looking at different face washes and cleansing products and testing them out, make an appointment with a dermatologist. They will be better able to recommend products for your skin type that will work better than stuff from your local grocery store. You may even get a prescription face wash or lotion to help. It is also important to check your skin regularly for questionable moles. (I will upload a post about the products I use on my skin later)

Also, your friend who may not be working very hard for their beautiful skin may have visited a dermatologist and gotten expert advice and great quality products. Do not feel discouraged in visiting a doctor for help!

3. Drink plenty of water
 
Water has a variety of benefits for your body, including helping you have beautiful skin! It hydrates your skin increasing elasticity and giving you a healthy, youthful glow. 

4. Wear sunscreen

The sun and the vitamin D in sun are healthy for you, but not too much! I must admit that I am guilty of not always following this one. I hate the smell and feel of sunscreen so it took me a long time to find one I was willing to wear on my face, my dermatologist recommended it. Wearing sunscreen helps to prevent moles, sunspots, and wrinkles! 

5. Stick to a routine

Wash your face regularly, even when you are tired or lazy. Most people tell you that washing your face once a day is best. They suggest washing your face at night to wash off the dirt and grime of the day. While this is good, I find it equally as important to wash your face first thing in the morning. Along with waking you up, it gets rid of the sweat and pillow/hair oils that have accumulated on your face all night. Also try to keep your hair pulled back out of your face when you sleep and wash your pillowcases frequently. I like to wash my sheets and pillow cases every weekend!

6. Treat yourself

My last tip is to splurge a little! Treat yourself to a facial or a relaxing massage to calm and relieve stress. Buy yourself a nice face mask or washes/cleansers. You and your skin deserve some pampering!

 
I hope you find some of these tips helpful! Remember to see the beauty your life and love yourself!




"Beauty isn't about having a pretty face. It's about having a pretty mind, a pretty heart, and a pretty soul."

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Meet Callie

Getting a dalmatian was probably the best decision I ever made. I had always wanted a dal ever since I was a little girl, something just drew me to them. I knew all the "negatives" that people and even breeders warn about so that people are not surprised when their cute puppy grows up into an energetic adult dog. Owning a dalmatian has been the most rewarding experience, so I want to share a little about my favorite girl!

Meet Callie!
This is my almost 8 year old dalmatian, Callie. She is very goofy, sassy, and adorable! She can be a little protective and shy when meeting new people, nothing aggressive though. She acts tough but she's really actually scared. She is very attached to me and I am to her. When we used to live with my dad, he used to tell me that she would wait outside my door for me to let her in to cuddle, even if I was not home. How heartbreaking... Speaking of cuddling, Callie absolutely loves to cuddle really close all the time. When she gets kicked off the couch, she somehow weasels her way back onto my lap to cuddle.

Such a clown

Callie is an extremely smart dog! I can teach her a new trick within five minutes (so of course she knows a lot of tricks!). Sometimes though, it can be a pain that she is so smart because she knows when we are talking about her even when we don't say her name! She loves her toys and loves to play, but she does not fetch. She does not like to swim or go through water unless her feet can touch the ground. Bath time is always entertaining..

"Come back to bed and cuddle me Mom, aren't I cute?"

Despite what people say about dalmatians, Callie is a very lazy dog. While she enjoys going on walks and running around at the park, she is perfectly content cuddling up in bed or on the couch. When I am sick and do not want to vacate my bed, she will gladly stay and cuddle all day. 

I suppose I should save some pictures for later posts, especially all her adorable puppy photos! Share photos of your fur babies!!

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

About Me

Hi!! I'm Catherine. I live with my boyfriend in a cute apartment in California. I want to live closer to the beach, or on a ranch in Montana/Wyoming/Idaho/Texas/Tennessee, or somewhere along those lines. Or maybe I can live on a beach front ranch :p Our lease is up in a few months and I'm not sure where we want to adventure to next.

I go to college and am a Geology major. It took me a long time before I realized what I wanted to study, I have changed my major four times which has caused me to take longer than four years to graduate.. and I still have another year left.

We live with our three cats and our dalmatian. I have two horses as well. I am absolutely obsessed with my animals so I will probably overload with pictures of them all on here because why not?! 

I listen to a lot of different music but my favorite is probably country. I love to read, so give me some suggestions of your favorite books! I am very casual and laid back, I was voted most free spirited in middle school. I love playing sports. I love being outdoors and going camping, fishing, shooting, dirtbiking, and horseback riding. I really love traveling (but I don't like flying) and taking a lot of pictures. I like working out and eating healthy, which includes cooking us healthy meals! I'm trying to become a better cook and try lots of new recipes.

I'm not really sure what else to say and I have to head off to school, so I'll end it on that. Welcome to my blog and I hope you stick around :)

Saturday, September 5, 2015

New Me

Here I go again! Attempting this blog thing.. I have tried blogging several times in the past with no success. I felt that my blog posts were more like boring journal entries. I did not feel that anything I wrote was interesting enough for others to read. A few posts in to a blog and I would lose interest myself.. Looking back, I feel like I wasn't in the best place in my life when I previously tried blogging. Not that I was depressed, but I wasn't the happy normal me. I think I just stopped loving myself. However, I have recently been focusing on myself and my happiness so I definitely think and feel that I am in a better place. So I decided to give this a try again!

I was having trouble deciding what to write about.. should I share my fashion interests and post some of my outfits? Should I write about cooking and share some of my favorite recipes and healthy food options? Should I share fitness tips and workouts? Should I simply write about my adventures in the outdoors and traveling the world? Then I realized, I can write about them all!! I also think I would be less likely to post without being able to share a variety of topics.. and I would probably run out of things to say! 

So, I'm going to give this a good effort and see where it goes! I know it's too early for any followers, but if you happen to come across my blog, stop by and leave a comment! Thanks for stopping by!!