My President's Day

Hello my loves! Sorry I have been MIA for awhile. I am just extremely busy with school and work right now, so it's hard to get on a regular blogging schedule. I wanted to take the time to tell you all how my President's Day was! Since I'm sure you are dying hopefully a little interested to know about!

 My morning started off by making blueberry and banana pancakes with my lovely mother, watching Live with Kelly (no more Regis...sad day) and Say Yes to The Dress! Can it get much better than that? Oh, and also drinking homemade orange juice! 

After my wonderful breakfast, Vince (my boyfriend) came over and we went on a 3 mile hike. The weather was perfect today... sunny and 70 degrees! We ran most of the way down the mountain- trying not to fall. I am sort of a klutz at times, so Vince made sure to run on the cliff side of the trail, he is such a gentleman!! This is a picture of us after our successful hike with thankfully- no injuries.

Once we got back I made us both a tasty lunch, which consisted of: fresh spinach, tomatoes, avocados, cucumbers, and humus, all on pita bread. This is such a healthy lunch that is sure to satisfy your tummy! 

We also made a yummy smoothie! Made with: Coconut water, almond milk, frozen pineapple, spinach, peaches, blueberries, a fresh banana (for creaminess), and flaxseed. I forgot to take the picture before I started drinking it because it was just so tasty!

Vince picked up an extra shift at work tonight so our day was cut short together, but I plan on finishing up some very procrastinated homework and making a yummy dinner with my mom. I hope you all have a wonderful President's Day! I would love to hear what your day consisted of. 

Love Always,

Samantha, LMT 

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. 

Goodbye Whitney...

You will be missed and never forgotten... I have always loved you and your voice ever since I watched Cinderella with Brandy and you as the her fairy godmother when I was a little girl. I would sing along (and still do) whenever I watched it and pretended I sounded as amazing as you did. Every once and awhile I will still randomly sing one of your songs and just belt it out! 

Even though you eventually ended with a bad reputation, I still thought (and will continue to think) of you as a superstar. You will always have a special place in my heart and be remembered with warming memories. 

I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU

Love Always, 

Samantha, LMT

I Am Officially an Addict

 OF ONLINE SHOPPING!!!!

It's terrible really...... terribly wonderful! Vince came over last tonight and saw my card out on the desk and was like, "Oh no.... what did you buy now??" and I gave a well defended explanation of course! I just pressed the magic button for the Mary & Dyer "A Girl With Kaleidoscope Eye Earring." They are on sale for $4.00 with free shipping (as everything always is)! Check out her online boutique if you haven't already. I guarantee you will find something you cannot live without ;) 

Next, I found a ring and dress I could not pass up at Forever 21! I had a $25 gift card from Christmas and decided to use it online... since I'm addicted. 

$4.80

$22.80

I love the mint color of this dress and think it's perfect for Spring, which is hopefully right around the corner. I could not be more ready for it... all my dresses have been teasing me, but it's still just a bit too chilly!

Thursday is finally here and I could not be happier. It has become my new Friday night! Can I get an amen for 3 day weekends?? Have a wonderful weekend loves, be blessed. 

Love Always, 

Samantha, LMT

My Skyscraper

This week has been full of homework and studying... school is definitely kicking my bootay at the moment and I'm not happy about it. I have 3 tests tomorrow (prayers are MUCH appreciated) in psychology, biology AND math. I am going to need some serious brain power! I get so frustrated with myself because I sometimes always tend to wait till the last minute to get some real studying time in. I'm not the only one right!? After these tests are over with I have fun plans for the weekend and plan on writing up a post all about it, so don't forget to check back in at beginning of next week! School at the moment is my "skyscraper" if you will. I just thought I would share this music video with you all because Demi's voice really connects to me in this song and.... I just like imagining myself sounding like her. 

Have a wonderful rest of your week lovelies! 

Love Always, 

Samantha, LMT

I Choose NOT to be Offended

My mom emailed me this devotion yesterday and it was exactly what I needed to hear. I hope you take the time to read this because it really helps put things in perspective, away from our selfish emotions.  

"I Choose NOT to be Offended" -Wendy Blight

“A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” Proverbs 19:11 (NIV)

What did she mean by that? Why does she always hurt my feelings? Why does she treat me that way?

I didn’t realize these words played through my head on a continual basis until my daughter pointed it out. She ended many of our conversations with, “Why do you get your feelings hurt so easily?” Or, “Mom, you’re so sensitive.”

At first, her words angered me. But over time, I began to hear what she was saying. For years, I allowed people’s words to hurt my feelings. In turn, I harbored anger for those words. The anger took root. Satan fed the words to me over and over again. I re-played them in my mind. Each time the anger grew deeper roots.

Listening to a sermon in church, I would think, “I wish ______ was here. They really need to hear this!” Of course, the sermon by-passed my heart all together. The words of others consumed my thoughts and focus, and stole my time.

About this time, God called me to teach a Bible study on the book of Proverbs. I spent days and weeks absorbed in this amazing book of wisdom. One afternoon, this verse leapt off the page and into my heart, “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense” (Proverbs 18:11).

I had a choice. Up until now, I heard people’s words, jumped to a conclusion, and chose to be offended. But through His Word, God spoke and said, “Wendy, you can choose to look past their words and not receive them with an offended heart.”

I discovered that I needed to LISTEN objectively and ask: What is driving their words? Do they have a valid point? Do they have a deep hurt? Do they need something I am not giving? Are they generally just plain mean and negative?

The responsibility was on me to stop the words from entering my heart and taking root. I discovered in this process that I WANTED the approval of others. Yet, God’s Word clearly says that He is the only One whose approval I need. When I accepted this, my heart changed.

Yes, it took time, and I am a work in progress. But, now when someone speaks a hurtful word, I check it at the door of my heart. I hear the words, I recognize my issue, and I speak Truth over my heart. I literally say, “It is to my glory to not receive this as an offense.”

It is a win-win for everyone because I do not ruin the rest of the day by pouting and making it all about me or soaking in self-pity. And, each time, I sense God is pleased as I honor Him by choosing NOT to be offended.

Heavenly Father, thank You that I am created in Your image. Thank You I find my identity in You. Thank You that it is only Your Word and Your opinion that matter. Lord, give me Your ears to hear. Help me not to be easily offended and easily angered. Help me lay down any offenses to which I am currently holding. Let me live in the freedom of Your love and forgiveness. Help me live not in my flesh, but supernaturally in the fullness and freshness of Your Spirit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.


Ephesians 4:26-27, “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” (NIV 1984) 

Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (NIV 1984)  

"I read this and thought about how sometimes I get my feelings hurt too easily or am too sensitive to what others say. Thought you might like to read it too. Love you!" - my wonderful mother

Love Always, 

Samantha, LMT 

Brag About A Product Friday

Today's product is a Camelbak water bottle. If you don't own one of these, go to your nearest Target (or online) and purchase one. I promise you won't regret it! I use mine every single day and it keeps me drinking water like a mad woman! If I forget it one day (wherever I am going) I sort of have one of those "freak out" moments...

 me - water = not a pretty picture

I can't stress enough how important it is to drink a HEALTHY amount of water throughout the entire day! This is one thing that I am actually good at doing! So I am always pushing my parents, boyfriend, friends, random strangers, don't worry I don't go that far... to keep drinking water or asking if I can get them a cup. 

AND these water bottles are only about $15.00 (without filter)

I think one with a filter is about $10.00 more, but don't hold me to that! 

If you haven't caught on to what I'm suggesting here, go buy one! They're A.M.A.Z.I.N.G., cross my heart. 

Fun Fact: 

I have a new found love for biking. It is an incredible stress reliever and a great way to keep your legs toned and the cardio up! I am one of those people that are basically paranoid of everything. For example, running alone. I always want to go out running but if I can't have a running partner with me I won't go.... yes I'm a big baby, but I got chased by a wild dog last time I ran alone so I don't want to try my luck again. Anyways! Riding a bike is something I can do by myself because I just feel much safer, and I could run away from a dog faster on a bike then on my feet. And guess what I take with me when I ride..... you're right! My Camelbak water bottle!

Have a wonderful weekend loves! If you have any exciting news, prayer requests, random comments or suggestions, I would love to hear them. 

Love Always, 

Samantha, LMT

You Won't Regret Reading This

Here is a collection of a few pictures I have found on Tumblr in the past few days that just made me smile, or feel inspired. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! 

Have a wonderful weekend lovelies, stay true. 

Love Always, 

Samantha, LMT

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