Author: Sydney

I recently returned from a spontaneous trip to Los Angeles. While I was traveling, I lucked up to see some of the most captivating sights leading to an unforgettable experience in Los Angeles. 

For your itinerary on your next trip, make sure to jot these down, google them and book your experience! 

1. Horseback Riding at Sunset Ranch 

If you don't mind heights, the view is spectacular. Just minutes away from Hollywood Blvd and The Walk of Fame, Griffith Park has the most captivating views overlooking the city of Los Angeles. At Sunset Ranch, you'll be assigned a horse for your hike up to the Hollywood Sign with the Griffith Observatory in clear view. Don't be surprised that scenes from Tokyo Drift were filmed here. 

2. Bradbury Building 

Although you can only visit the first floor, the most beautiful architecture lies in the Bradbury Building located in Downtown Los Angeles on West 3rd Street. Prepare to be amazed at the work George Wyman crafted under local architect Summer Hunt for Lewis Bradbury. And even more amazed that Wyman worked for only five dollars a week to complete this project!  

3. Que Skyspace 

Please don't forget to be a little more brave than the norm and slide down the 45 foot long glass slide on the side of the U.S. Bank Tower. Once you've landed on the terrace, you will have a panoramic view through glass on two observation decks overlooking Los Angeles. 

As a child, our main goal nearing the end of the year is to be on Santas Nice List. You're reading this because the title captivated your eye and has you curious to what you may have done this year to make Santas Naughty List. 

You've been selfish. So what? Sometimes you have to be. Being selfish doesn't have to be a negative thing. It simply states, "I am my first priority and it is time for me to take control of my own happiness". After all, YOU control your own happiness. 

You've gotten out of your comfort zone. Congratulations! The world around you may have a stereotypical categorization for you as they see you do things out of the norm. You only begin to grow when you are uncomfortable. This may be the first step to your individual growth. You are meeting parts of yourself that you have been at war with. This coming year, make it an obligation to exceed the expectations you have set for yourself. Great things never come from comfort zones. 

You fucked up. Haven't we all? Whether it be misleading someone to think you're into them or taking that right exit instead of the left making you 30 minutes late for work. Making mistakes is better than faking imperfections. We're all human here. 

You hurt someones feelings. Assuming it was with honesty, you should never feel regret towards giving someone what another person is not courageous enough to share with them. 

You have been unapologetically yourself. There is nothing more sexy than an individual comfortable and confident in his or her own skin. "The true essence of beauty is being comfortable with your imperfections." – Steve Maraboli

You lost someone. Not everyone you lose is a loss. Simply take this statement and move forward knowing that some individuals are meant for a chapter in your life, not the entire book you're writing. We are here to feed the sheep, not entertain the goats. 

You disappointed someone. Some individuals will only love you so long as you fit in their box. This reminds me of once being told, "you're allowing an individual to linger in your mind without paying rent". This is your box, your life, the only one you have and will live to become exactly who you were set on Earth to become. Don't be afraid to disappoint.

You failed. There's no such thing. You're learning. Always remember for each 'no' you receive, you are that much closer to a 'yes'. Success is built on failure and frustration. Success is looking failure in the face and saying, you didn't work out the times before, but maybe with different direction, I will overcome these obstacles. "Failure is a bruise, not a tattoo." – Jon Sinclair

You took charge. Don't apologize for it. 

If you found that you fit into any of these descriptions this year, know you're not alone. Don't be discouraged when things don't always go your way. And don't be discouraged that you're probably on the Naughty List. Santa brings presents to the naughty kids too! 

With Christmas only eighteen days away, it’s time for you to be confident in how you will be landing the role of ‘Moms Favorite Child’. The older you grow, the smaller your gifts become and the more you want to do for your parents. Here I have listed only a few items sure to make her heart smile this season!

For the Workaholic: Upcycled Cotton Robe ($58) http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/upcycled-cotton-sari-robe

Mom will feel nothing less than relaxed post bath time in this Upcycled Cotton Robe. Get creative in the kitchen making the DIY body scrubs in my last blog to make this gift into a fresh spa experience for mom to pamper herself!

For the Chef: Hand Carved Wooden Cookbook Stand ($75) http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/hand-carved-wooden-cookbook-stand

Pair this cookbook stand with her favorite cookbook, spices or even new silverware! Make sure to stick around so you can pick up on all of Moms skills. 

For the Traveler: Smartphone Charging Reversible Tote ($119) http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/smartphone-charging-reversible-tote

Grab a planner, pens and her favorite read to prepare her with essentials for her next adventure! Write a sweet note for Mom to remind her you love her when she’s away from home for a while. 

For the Entertainer: Wine Tasting Flight ($59) http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/wine-tasting-flight

There’s nothing that says ‘Welcome To My Home’ like choosing the wine you’d prefer mom to pour! While you’re adding it to your cart, check out the collapsible beverage bin that keeps the bottle cold. 

Happy shopping! 

As a makeup artist, you not only fall in love with makeup, but having healthy skin too. Below I have listed three DIYs that you can concoct from you pantry to prevent boredom this holiday season! 

Healthy skin will:

1. Boost Your Confidence (because you don’t have to wear makeup everyday)

2. Delay the Aging Process 

3. Prevent Skin Problems 

RELAX

Bath Salts: 2 Cups of Epsom Salt, 12 Drops of Lavender

Lavender happens to be my favorite because of these benefits; fights dandruff, calms skin irritation, busts bloating, lowers heart rate and lowers blood pressure. Lavender might be my favorite, but if you prefer another essential oil add 12 Drops to 2 cups of Epsom Salt and soak your day away. 

Exfoliate Those Lips

Lip Scrub: 3 Drops of Peppermint Oil, 1.5 TSP of Sugar, 1 TSP of Organic Coconut Oil, 1 TSP of Honey

Tis the season for all things Peppermint! This Lip Scrub will not only exfoliates your lips as it removes dead skin cells, but freshen your breath too.

Ditch Your Face Wash

Face Scrub: 1 TBSP Organic Coconut Oil, 1 TBSP Baking Soda

This face scrub works as an antibacterial moisturizer that exfoliates, cleanses and clears pores. 

While you’re jotting these recipes down, go ahead and manage your stress levels by creating a to-do list to refer back to as your complete tasks each week. Managing your stress levels will allow you a healthy state of mind as your skin won’t be prone to breakouts and sensitive. Maintain a diet that is rich in Vitamin C to younger looking skin. Fruits, vegetables, whole grain and lean proteins are low in unhealthy fats while giving your body the vitamins needed for daily nutrition. Sunscreen is so important whether you’re laying in the sand or shopping the streets during the winter. Using sunscreen will prevent age spots, wrinkles and decrease your chances of skin cancer. Have you ever heard someone say “kill two birds with one stone”? Heres how: Find a daily moisturizer that reads SPF 30. 

“There is no point treating a depressed person as though she were just feeling sad, saying, ‘There now, hang on, you’ll get over it.’ Sadness is more or less like a head cold- with patience, it passes. Depression is like cancer.??? – Barbara Kingsolver, The Bean Trees

I agree, with patience and prayer the disorder seemed more bearable. But it was the impatient times that my world spun of a category 5 hurricane at 160 miles per hour, filling my head with tears that wouldn’t fall.

The late night headaches hadn’t disappeared in my sleep, instead turning into nightmares. I’d never forget that my grandmother told me dreams were more about how you felt than what you saw. Well I hadn’t ever felt worse than I did last night searching for the person who deserved the next apology. No one understood how agitated I became when they looked my way for direction. I couldn’t even direct myself. 

The excuse to job interviews, “I’m waiting on an appointment back from my doctor”, flowed as wine. And right now, I want a whole bottle. Neurotransmitters in the brain are off balance and I don’t want to get out of bed. 

Overwhelmed means I’m exhausted at the sight of the work load on my desk, just as I am when I have no job to do. At the thought of traffic, I want to close the curtains and bury myself under blankets. I didn’t want to accept nothingness, but my mind was settling. 

I wish I could quit you, like I quit taking my prescriptions. 

“You’re not all yourself, but you will be soon”, was the thickest lie I ever wanted to breakthrough.