My 2014 Journey..

At the beginning of this year I knew I wanted to make great changes in my life. I had been living life the same way day-to-day for the last three years and was unhappy. I took the time to evaluate everything that was happening in my life. I am a college student with good grades, I have

an amazing family and true friends. So why wasn't I happy? The truth; I was happy with everything happening around me but not with myself. 

For years I have struggled with my weight. I've never thought you had to be thin to be happy or beautiful. But my self-confidence was suffering and I didn't like the choices I was making in my life. The first thing I learned in wanting to lose weight, is probably the most important.. You cannot do it for anyone but YOURSELF. I have tried a million different diets; that maybe should have worked. But when it came down to it, I was always doing it for someone else. For my family, for a boy, etc, etc, etc. 

I kicked off my weight loss with this amazing program called the P.I.N.K. Method. This program aided in my weight loss because it simply taught me how to eat again. It eliminated all those foods I had been relying on for years and focused on nourishing my body. After following this method for a month, I found I no longer needed it. I was now able to make more conscious decisions and follow my own guidelines. This is when I started to introduce exercise into my weight loss journey. I was not a girl who liked to exercise. I never got off on running marathons, lifting weights or doing any other high intensity workout. In fact, if I am completely honest.. I didn't even like to sweat. What I discovered is that I couldn't kick my own butt at the gym, so I had to get someone else to do it for me. First, it was my sister who would force me to the gym. She's always been a touch terrifying and in the beginning that's what I needed. Then I got braver, I signed up for boot camp. My first session I thought I might throw up and had visions of pushing the instructor onto a busy highway. If you know what I mean... But as time went on, the sessions got easier and easier. 

After struggling with my hatred of exercise for so long. I have actually learned to love it and enjoy my time "sweating" it out. I have learned so much over this last year and I am excited to share my experiences with all of you! 

Check out some snapshots of my journey over the past year.  

-Fruity Water Drink-

-P.I.N.K. Method Meal-

 -Fifty-Five Down//Twenty-Five To Go-

Time Managment?

Time; the one thing I have never been able to get a handle on. I cannot believe it has been three long months since my last blog post. I say "long" but in actuality these three months have gone by incredibly fast! I have not been avoiding my blog in anyway; I have just been busy. Busy, putting myself through school, working on myself and discovering new opportunities. Ideally, I wish I would have been able to manage my time more effectively and made time for the things I love. Things I love like this blog. This blog has been a great outlet for me over the years and it will continue to be. As previously mentioned in this post I've been working on myself. It is this work that has made me  the happiest I have ever been. Since the beginning of this year, I have been on a journey. And it is a journey, I am excited to share with you all here. Stay tuned... 

 

WARNING: This picture is irrelevant to this post. But, it's just so darn cute!!

DENIM HEAVEN

Lately I have been obsessed with trying to make my own "destroyed" denim shorts. I have been seeing them everywhere and everyone is wearing them. As a student on a budget, I don't have the time nor money to look for those perfect pair of jean shorts. I am very particular of what I am looking for and I don't have a lot of money to waste... So I thought, why not make my own? I never seem to throw out jeans and over the years have acquired quite a collection.After spending hours looking through YouTube videos on DIY demin shorts. I finally found two perfect videos that helped me in my quest. I thought I would share these videos with all of you. If I have one piece of advice; measure a billion times and cut once!! Check out the videos and my DIY "destroyed" denim shorts below! 

How to cut high waisted jean shorts: 

http://youtu.be/_V2ALny3jV4

How to destroy your denim: 

http://youtu.be/dvI-0o6IF54

My destroyed denim shorts:

FAV. BLOGGING TOOLS -PART I

Recently I've been having a number of issues with my computer and it has led me to realize how reliant I am on certain computer programs. These computer issues have also contributed significantly to my lack of posts over the last couple months. Getting all my computer programs and files back together it has opened my eyes to some of my favourite blogging tools. Programs and websites that I use regularly in creating content for my blog. In the spirit of getting back to blogging and the glorious health of my computer... I thought I would share with you some of my favourite blogging tools.  

1. PIC MONKEY (www.picmonkey.com)

I am constantly using Pic Monkey to edit and dress my photos up. I have more recently become a fan of adding boarders to my favourite photos; so this website has come much in hand.

2. PAINT 

I know, I know. Paint has been around forever and is truly out of date. I just find using this program so easy and it is not at all confusing. I find with a lot of design programs I don't end up utilizing half of the features, simply because I don't know what they do. I have been using paint for years and thus far it has met all of my design needs. Whenever I create a new header for my blog, I always use paint!

3. BLOGLOVIN' (www.bloglovin.com) 

Bloglovin' is a great tool to use for not only following your favourite blogs, but promoting your own! The concept is simple, all of your favourite blogs in one place. No more navigating from site to site. Find me on Bloglovin' and I will be sure to follow back! 

4. INSTAGRAM (www.instagram.com/vickimariee)

I am so obsessed with Instagram! I love connecting with people from all around the world and sharing my favourite photos with my friends. As a blogger I find Instagram to be an amazing tool that all fellow bloggers should be utilizing. It is a great way to snap a good quality picture on the go. As well, it can help drive a lot of traffic to your site, if used properly. 

Follow me on Instagram - @vickimariee

5. DIGGO (www.diggo.com)

I am always looking for fun ways to keep organized, especially when it comes to my blog. Diggo is a cool way to keep track of interesting articles, video, & websites. It's a convenient way to sort your thoughts until  you finally get the chance to write that blog post. Diggo also supports mobile devices which I find super convenient for a student who is usually at school or working. 

6. AFTERLIGHT (App)

Afterlight is one of my favourite apps on my phone. It is a great picture editing and enhancer that I love to use in combination with Instagram. I would highly recommend this app to any frequent Instagramers and bloggers. There are a lot of editing options on this app that you cannot find anywhere else. I absolutely adore this app. 

What are your favourite blogging tools?

SUMMER BOTTOMS!

I usually wouldn't think to put together a post like this. But, I have noticed this summer I have been increasingly obsessed with purchasing summer bottoms. And by "summer bottoms" I mean shorts, jeans, skirts, and such. Check out my favourite summer bottoms below! 

H&M

Target

Old Navy

H&M

H&M

H&M