It's Time To Put My Foot Down

I have been wanting to do something new with my hair now for months... and I am stuck between going to a darker brown or having highlights. I would LOVE to get some opinions on what you all think would look best on me. I always enjoy hearing other people's opinions! I have gone darker brown before and I do love it, but I want to try something new. Or is something new not better in this situation? I'm not completely sure...I'm just scared of getting highlights and hating them! It would be so terrible to spend the money and not end up liking them_help please! 

my natural hair color 

The first two photos are of what color highlights I am interested in, and the last two are of the darker brown:

#1

 

Random Pinterest Picture

 #2

Ashley Greene 

#3

Ashley Greene...again

#4

Lea Michele

Let me know what number you like the most, and have a blessed weekend!

Love Always, 

Samantha, LMT

My Weekly Check List:

So I was supposed to have this up yesterday, but my computer chose otherwise.
 Sorry it was a day late!


I have decided that each Monday I will create a "check list" of things that I need to get done for the week that I either keep putting off or just plain forget to do! I know "technically" Sunday is the first day of the week, but for me, Monday is the start of my week. I figured this may be a way to motivate me more to check them off my list, and I'll let you all know what I got done at the end of each week!

1. Clean my room. I know this one sounds obvious but it's just so true! I struggle hard with keeping my room nice a tidy. Hence, why it is on my "to do" list!

2. Exercise at least 3 times. I keep finding myself making up excuses as to why I can't work out. I don't have time, I'm too tired, I have other things to do, blah blah blah. I'm tired of making excuses for myself. I am the only thing in my way. My exercise goal in to tone up and be able to run at least 3 miles with out stopping. I have always been a short distance runner and I think it's time to work on my long distance. I need a good kick in the butt! 

3. Buy more massage sheets. I have been getting more and and more clients (thank you Lord) and am in dire need of more high quality sheets! I already have one pair that I love, but some that need to go "adios". This is a high priority on my list because I have 10 clients this week! 

4. Get to bed by at least 10pm every night. I am one of those people that need a lot of sleep to function properly. I wake up around 6:45am in the morning so by going to bed at 10:00pm that should give me almost 9 hours of sleep, and I need every hour of it!

I would love to hear what you have to "check off" your list this week! 

Love Always, 

Samantha, LMT

Prayers Please

Hey guys, I had a post written up for today.... but my computer decided otherwise! I will hopefully have it written up by tomorrow if technology cooperates. 


Also, if you could pray for my dad, he has been in the hospital since Sunday. He has diverticulitis (which is small, bulging sacs or pouches of the inner lining of the intestine (diverticulosis) that become inflamed or infected. Most often, these pouches are in the large intestine (colon). He has had an "attack" before, but this one has been the worst yet and the antibiotics aren't helping too much right now. I'm praying that tomorrow they will finally kick in a fight off the infection! He has also had trouble taking deep breathes, and is now hooked up to oxygen. I just don't like the sound of that. I know everything will be okay, but it just breaks my heart to see him like this. 


So if you believe in the power of prayer, I would greatly appreciate them and I know he would too. Thank you:)

Love Always, 

Samantha, LMT

A Sweet Confession

It's confession time! And mine is that I have a terrible love for sweets... I wish I didn't, but unfortunately I do! I recently learned a wonderful healthy way to satisfy my sweet tooth that I had to share with you all!

I was watching the Today show the other day with Hoda and Kathy Lee and there was a segment with healthy alternatives to your unhealthy food cravings. Instead of having a bowl of ice cream or a slice of cake, take fat free yogurt and add hot chocolate powder to it! I happened to have fat free yogurt left from when I made yogurt sauce the other night.

 (read how I used it here)

I made this yogurt chocolate wonder for the first time last night, and let me tell you_amazing! 

It definitely filled my craving for something sweet and my hips loved it too! On the Today show they used Greek fat free yogurt, which is a great way to get some extra protein, and you could eat it for breakfast if you so desired to! I get extremely excited finding healthy alternatives to unhealthy foods I tend to crave. I hope this helps you satisfy your sweet tooth, minus the guilt trip!  

I would recommend getting Yoplait Greek yogurt over other brands. 

Have a wonderful Thursday loves!! Let me know if you try this and if you enjoyed it or not:)

Love Always,

Samantha, LMT

A Healthy Alternative

Hello loves! Sorry it has been forever since I've last posted! School started back up yesterday and I'm already starting to feel a bit overwhelmed so I've had other priorities before writing up an interesting post... My Biology teacher has informed me that students from Yale, Stanford, etc. have taken his class and said it was the hardest class they have ever taken. These are the best of the best we are talking about!! That got me a little flustered but I believe I can do it if I put my best foot forward (prayers please)! Anyways, since that blurt had nothing to do with the title of this post I'll get to the juicy bit I'm going to share with you. 

Last night my boyfriend and I made a trip to the grocery store and then returned to my house to make a very tasty and healthy dinner. Lately I have been motivated to eat healthier and exercise on a regular basis... my routine is far from perfect but I'm starting to get somewhere! Burgers and Mashed Potatoes were on our menu for the night. Now wait just a second before you start thinking, "that meal does not sound healthy in the slightest!" just wait, I promise you, it was indeed healthy! Instead of a beef burger I made a turkey burger. Make sure you use lean turkey to make the calorie count worth it! If you go with the lean, or extra lean (even better) it will be around 160 cooked. How awesome is that?!

I didn't get a chance to take a pic of my actual burger because, well I ate it too fast to even think of taking a picture so this picture will have to suffice ;) 

Ingredients in meat: (basically add as much as you think you would like)

• ~1 tablespoon of ground ginger
• hoisin garlic sauce (add a little more than the soy sauce)
• 1-2 tablespoons of low sodium soy sauce
• green onions 
• feta cheese

I dressed the burger with a delightful yogurt sauce, grilled red onions, and sliced tomato. For the "bun" I used a thin whole wheat pita bread. 

Yogurt Sauce Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of plain yogurt
• ~2 tablespoons of mayo (remember, you can always go low or non fat with these 2 ingredients)
• green onions (thinly sliced, white and green)
• fresh mint (thinly sliced)

Now for the mashed potatoes: Instead of making them with 100% potatoes, do half cauliflower instead! You can barely taste the difference and it almost cuts the calories in half! Also, use skim milk and a light amount of butter when it's time for the mashing.

That was my Healthy Alternative to last nights dinner, I hope you enjoyed! If you try making this, please let me know because I would love to hear how it turned out for you. 

Love Always, 

Samantha, LMT

Birthday Weekend

Hello loves! This weekend is going to be my birthday weekend, and I am super stoked about it! I will have a post written up either Saturday or Sunday about all the magic it entailed, so check back then! Does the picture give away too much what a part of it will be? ;) You are never too old for some Disney in your life!

I hope you all have a wonderful Monday! I am spending mine going to see the new Mission Impossible with my love and then probably hanging with my parents since he picked up an extra shift at work tonight... booo, but I am extremely proud of him and his incredible work ethic. Sorry again that I haven't been posting much lately again... I'm just spending my time enjoying my break and not really focusing on interesting posts to write up. I'll get back into it soon though, so don't give up on me just yet! 

Love Always, 

Samantha, LMT

Question Time

Alright everyone this is a question I have been thinking about pretty much ever since I started this blog. I'm a little embarrassed to ask this but, I don't know what the best way to answer a comment is! I know this isn't a life or death question, but I honestly don't know which one to do... yes I'm a newbie at blogging... so help me get better... please! I always want to answer my comments as quick as possible but lately I haven't been answering them because I want to just pick one way and stick to it. 

1. Reply via comment box

2. Reply via email 

Which one would you prefer? 

I know this sounds extremely simple, but just bear with me!

Love Always,

Samantha, LMT

The New Year Has Arrived!

Hello loves! I just wanted to take some time to sum up my New Year's Eve for you all. My group of friends (which I refer to as "the group") all met up at my best friend Rachel's house before embarking on our journey! 

Vince and I at Rachel's house. He looked so handsome in his new Express shirt that we picked out.
 Fun facts: my skirt is also from Express, and January 13th (also my 19th birthday) will be 1 year and a half for us.  

After driving 30 minutes to our destination and living through me driving and dealing with my road rage issues (yes it's true I have a problem) we all ate dinner at Buca di Beppo. It is such a fun restaurant to go to and caters to a big group with their family style Italian food, can it get any better??

 My friends are simple amazing. We all went our own directions for college, but whenever we are reunited on breaks, it feels like nothing has changed. I am extremely blessed to have them all in my life. 

These girls have been by my side for my entire life. They're the best of the best! I don't know what I would do without them. 

Morgan, Rachel, Me, McKenna 

Morgan, Rachel, Me, McKenna. 

I love my shoes btw... is that bad to brag about your own shoes?? I don't think so! I wore them to prom my senior year of high school and still continue to wear them whenever I get the chance.

After dinner we all headed back to Morgan's house for games and just to hang out, which we do best! I made chocolate cup cakes with peanut butter frosting. Only 2 were eaten... one by me because I had to try them. I'm going to think that no one ate them because they were all too full from dinner? The cake was a little dry I'll admit, but they were pretty tasty if you enjoy rich chocolate! I still have much learning to do in the baking department, obviously. 

Vince took me home a little before midnight because I started feeling crappy while everyone else went out to a beautiful lookout we have in town. I wasn't feeling myself all night, and woke up the next morning sick. I've been fighting off the cold ever since. Two colds in one break... what's up with that!? I'll have to say it wasn't the most exciting New Year's Eve, but it was a good memory for sure. 

I hope you all most the most of 2012 and follow the path God has for you. 

That's my only plan for 2012. 

Love Always, 

Samantha, LMT

I'm back!

Hello lovelies!

I just wanted to apologize for not writing a post in way too long! I honestly just haven't felt like writing and I don't want to write anything pointless, I want it to mean something and I want to enjoy writing it. I have just been enjoying my Winter break with my family and friends. It was been absolutely wonderful! I don't start back up with school until January 17th, whoop whoop! I'm hoping to have a post written up in the next few days for you all, so don't forget to check back in!

I hope everyone had a wonderful New Years and I would love to hear about how you celebrated it!
Do tell :)

Love Always, 

Samantha, LMT