Goals for 2020? Pfft…You need to see my achievements in 2019 first.

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Hello my beauts and sweets! Lyss here, and boy am I excited you are here to listen. More importantly, I am glad you have decided to pop by and take a peek at my blog… specifically this exact post. Recently we all just celebrated a brand new year, 2020. Wow. Whether you were in your jammies, all dressed up and fancy or even just playing a game of scrabble, as soon as it hit midnight, it happened. A new year has begun and you know what that means? It’s time to reflect. I love taking a step back and analyzing what the actual hell happened in 2019. Often however, I feel like we analyze the year and automatically think how we can improve ourselves for the next year. We analyze every single fuck up we made, and think how we can improve on that. Trust me, that’s fantastic we want to improve on ourselves and we will get there. But in reality, did you take the ten minutes on New Years Eve, New Years Day or this past week and acknowledge all the accomplishments you achieved this past year? Want to know a secret? My brain automatically jumped to, “how can I improve”, or “what new years resolution will I create for myself this year?“. My brain didn’t stop and congratulate myself on my achievements big or small from this past year. In fact, I had to really sit back and think hard about what I really was proud of, isn’t that sad? I hate how little I give myself credit at times. As humans, we are so hard on ourselves, it’s so insane but it’s also reality. So I want to take a second and ask you, “What were you proud of in 2019?”.8B75B8B3-D5B8-407E-B6D7-303268408FAE

Sure, maybe it was not the greatest year of all time. Maybe you had a severe heartbreak, maybe you got written up at your job, maybe you got fired from a job, had a falling out with the family or even had a death happen within the family. Life is tough, it throws curveballs at you and expects you to just get over things. That is not always the case. Even so, that certain event that had taken place may even have ruined your year of 2019. For two seconds, I want you to open your mind to a positive viewpoint. Push past that negative voice digging at you to only remember that unfortunate event. I know deep down you had some pretty amazing things happen to you this year. Even if they are the tiniest little things, I want you to make a list. Read it. Share it. Embrace it. In fact, I sat back and wrote a small list myself.

  1. Remember the time at work when you were involved with Summer Program, and your boss mentioned to you that a parent was wondering if you worked at the Daycare as well? Remember when you were not super close with this child, but apparently she had mentioned you at home so many times and how much of an impact you had on her? That was a pretty damn good feeling.
  2. Remember that time you gave your dad an amazing birthday present? Remember how you left him speechless, and you had a drawing created for him by an artist. This amazing artist drew your dad, aunt and their deceased mother hugging them. Do you remember how beautiful this moment was?
  3. Remember when you went on your first beautiful vacation with the love of your life? You went on your first cruise and shared so many amazing memories together. You visited different places and cherished the time you spent.
  4. Remember how many amazing companies you got to collaborate with? How many friendships you created online and the beautiful comments the companies stated about your work ethic? I do.
  5. Remember the time you brought your coworker a muffin and a tea from timmies unexpectedly. She was having an off day and you wanted to change her mood.

Honest to god, when it hit 2020, I was set and ready. I was ready to improve on so many different things which is amazing. There’s always room for improvement, but I forgot to take the time to give myself a pat on the back. This really hasn’t been the easiest year in the world. A lot of shit has happened, a lot that I didn’t think I was strong enough to get through. I have never really taken the time to say, “wow…. you are one badass bitch”. I honestly needed to hear that. Take the time to pat yourself on the back, think about what an amazing human being you were this year, and congratulate yourself, you made it. You are here. You are jumping into 2020. Hold on tight.
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When it comes to 2020, I literally think, “holy hell”. This has to be the best year right? I need this to be the best damn year yet, after all…. it’s 2020. I know for a fact that my nutrition needed to change for the better, I need a smoking hot ass body this year for sure. I picture myself as those fit models on Instagram. Often I jump to these huge goals that kind of scare the shit out of me to be quite honest. Taking baby steps is always the best idea and I need to remind myself of that. Instead of waking up wishing I had Jillian Michael’s body, I will try to drink more water and cut out some of the junk food I munch on daily. Creating smaller goals will help ease you into the year, they are attainable they are achievable. This year, I am for sure going to create smaller goals for myself. As much as I would love to just say, “I want a hot body“, I am going to focus more on being optimistic and encouraging myself on the daily. A few goals that I have in mind would be to create more conversations amongst coworkers, try to make more eye contact (even if it’s only for a few seconds), wake up everyday and really try to go into work with a positive attitude. While working on these smaller goals, I am going to encourage myself, and acknowledge when I make small progress. If I ask Sally at work if she had a great weekend and what her plans were….. you better be damned I am going to congratulate myself for that effort. One piece of advice that I am going to offer to you beauts is to love yourself for the small progress you make. To be quite honest, I have not been doing this too often and I am going to work on this! I really hope you do too! Creating a more optimistic lifestyle is never an easy thing to do, but it is something that can be worked on!
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So when someone asks you what your goals are for 2020, go ahead and make your list. But I want you to answer this question first, “What accomplishments happened in 2019 and what are you proud of?”. Even though it may have not been the year of your dreams, I know for sure you did something in that year that impacted someone else in a positive way. Keep doing YOU.

POESY- “The art or practice of composing poems”- Interview and Collaboration

(Photograph was taken by @chelseabrimstinphotography. If you guys have not checked out her work and page yet I highly recommend it, she is so talented and gifted!)

Hello my beauts and welcome back to my blogging channel! Hi, hello, my name is Alyssa and I am so glad you chose to pop by and say hi! I have been blogging for several years now and absolutely love my hobby with a passion. I would not change it for the world. One piece of advice I would offer my viewers is to find something that keeps you busy and that you enjoy doing. It honestly took me a while to find out what my hobby was, but once I found it, I have never been happier. One thing that makes me absolutely adore my hobby, even more, is interviewing individuals from different communities. I thought of the idea a while back and literally thought to myself, “there are so many people from around the world with beautifully hidden talents, I would love to talk about them on my channel and show them off“.Β  I know for a fact if I had a hidden talent and a blogger reached out to me and wanted to write about me I would be caught off guard but in a good way! So, that is when I decided to reach out to different people, ones who inspire me a lot, ones who are beautiful souls inside and out, and ones who deserve to share their story with others around the world.Β  There is one lady in particular that has stood out to me over the past few months. Not going to lie, I do not watch too many television shows or series, I always end up missing an episode and I get far behind. I decided to watch a new television series called, “The Launch”, which looked very interesting to me, as I love singing shows (secretly wishing I could sing myself).Β  This show helps undiscovered artists shape the creation of new releases with the help of producers and songwriters.

(Photograph was taken by @chelseabrimstinphotograph)

While watching “The Launch“, one girl on the show caught my attention. She had a very unique and beautiful look to her. Not only was she stunning, but her voice was out of this world. Her voice is the type of voice that makes you stop what you are doing and just listen giving you goosebumps all over your body. Her voice has so much power, meaning, and feeling behind it. I think this is what I specifically look for when it comes to singers if they actually have the feeling and power of their voice when they are singing.Β  This lady, being only 23 years old, caught my attention right off the bat and I was rooting for her throughout her whole journey on The Launch. I am honoured and pleased to announce and share that I will be interviewing none other than “POESY” herself.

I remember clear as day, I was in the car with my mom and was in the parking lot of a grocery store. To let you beauts all know I do have two Instagram accounts at the moment, one was for my blogging account, but I decided to just use my main Instagram account from now on. I received a notification on myΒ old account that someone just started following me. I didn’t think it was a huge big deal until I saw who it was that had followed me. It was none other than POESY herself, and I was in awe. I called my mom in the grocery store as I was just waiting in the car and told her the news, that POESYΒ  and I were actually chatting back and forth, having a conversation. I asked POESY if she would be interested in being featured on my blogging channel discussing her music career and Launch experience. POESY was more than happy to be featured on my channel, and I was literally on cloud 9. How was this happening? I informed my mom of the news and she was ecstatic for me as she was a huge fan of POESY herself as well. Right away we played “Soldier of Love” and started dancing and belting it out. I will never forget that day and the amount of happiness that flooded my body. One thought that entered my mind when chatting with POESY was how down to earth she was.

(Photograph was taken by @chelseabrimstinphotography)

POESY was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia.Β  Β She had lived on the east coast for a while,Β  and then eventually her family relocated to Ontario. Like myself, she watches too many Youtube Vlogs, and her bookshelf is colour coded to look like a rainbow. POESY was always kind of a musical child, as she started taking piano when she was 5 years old. POESY states, “I was never nervous to sing in front of people, which now seems kind of ironic because I grew up a very shy kid. The first time I remember falling in love with singing was when I was 9 years old and sang at my grandparents 40th anniversary party. My parents thought it would be cute if I performed something, even though I’d never really done it before, and since the party took place around Christmas time, I sang a Christmas song called β€˜the Gift’. It was originally performed by Aselin Debison (who is also from Nova Scotia), and I remember thinking, β€œWhen I’m a teenager, I’m going to be a singer just like her.” After that, I just kind of got obsessed and singing just became a part of who I am. It’s weird to think of a time when I didn’t do it”.Β  I could not agree more with what you had said POESY! That is just like me when it comes to my blogging, it is hard to think of a time when I was not blogging. I feel like blogging has always been a part of me, just like your singing!

I then went on to ask POESY what her basic interests and hobbies were. POESY shares that outside of music, she really loves cooking. POESY explains, “The fanciest meal I used to be able to make was pre-packaged tortellini, but after a became (mostly) vegetarian a few years ago, I think it motivated me to become more creative and find ways to make veggies and beans taste just as good as meat. I also really love yoga – I’m still very much a beginner and definitely have a lot to learn, but it really helps me get into a calm headspace when things get hectic”.Β I love this. I have always wanted to try something new such as yoga as I have heard it’s extremely peaceful, calming and relaxing. This would especially be beneficial when times get really hectic especially since I struggle with anxiety!

(Photograph was taken by @chelseabrimstinphotography) – How adorable is she though?!

POESY has been playing the piano for almost 18 years now (really wish I could play the piano!). I absolutely love hearing someone play the piano since I do not play any musical instruments. Now that I am dating someone who knows how to play the trumpet and piano, it’s so beautiful and peaceful hearing him play!Β  POESY also knows how to play some basic guitar which is awesome! She writes a lot of the guitar because she doesn’t understand where the scales are, so it allows her to get out of her head, and just write based on feeling rather than what key it’s in. After wanting to get to know a bit about POESY and her story, I wanted to get into some deeper questions that I know you beauts are dying to find out. I wanted to know more about POESY’s music career and how she got to where she is today. I wanted to know what her biggest challenge was to get to where she is today. POESY states, “the biggest challenge to getting here was honestly probably just surrendering and putting my whole self into this career. I had known I wanted to do music for over half my life, but I had always been too scared to jump in and commit 100% of my time to it. Now that I am, it’s definitely a lot of work and comes with a host of new stresses, but they’re good ones – the kind that motivates you to go after what you really want and challenge you to be better. And it’s so worth it. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been”.Β  I just wanted to say I am so proud of you POESY for putting yourself out there and showing the world your beautiful talent, you should be so proud of yourself because I am!

(Photograph was taken by @chelseabrimstinphotography)

Who was your biggest supporter?Β I’m very lucky to have always had parents who were very supportive of my artistic pursuits. From driving me to gigs to investing in my piano lessons, they’ve always been there telling me what you dream is possible. I also have an amazing core group of friends and a wonderful girlfriend who has always told me that what I’m doing is worth it. I know that not everyone who has big dreams is as fortunate as I’ve been in the support department, which is why a big part of my music’s message is to follow your heart because I’d love to be able to be that support for someone else”.Β  I completely agree I think it is so important to have parents, family and friends who care about you and support you 100%. I absolutely love your message POESY, you have such a genuine heart and I have not even met you yet! You can just tell, and this is rare to find.Β 

One question I like ask individuals is if they could go back and change the clock, would they change anything, or would they have done something differently? Often I sit back and wonder about this question personally, and there are some things I wish could have done differently for sure. Then again, you learn from your mistakes, and that is life. POESY explains, “I’m very proud of every decision I’ve made throughout my career – and while I guess I could say, β€œI wish I had started pursuing things more professionally sooner,” if I had, I wouldn’t have experienced the life-changing moments and struggles that made me into the person I am today. The only thing I might’ve done is taken some dance classes as a kid so I was more graceful on stage”.Β  I completely agree with you POESY, I wish I would have taken my blogging a little more seriously at the beginning as well, that way maybe I could’ve been further along at this point. But hey, you live and you learn! You are still young, beautiful and have your whole life ahead of you!

(Photograph was taken by @chelseabrimstinphotography)

“…I get most of my clothes from thrift shops, and I think I always will to some extent.Β 
I love putting on pieces of fabric and imagine they’ve been through all kinds of adventures, both sad and happy. Maybe they’ve been on a plane halfway around the world, maybe they’ve witnessed someone fall in love, maybe they’ve been stained with tears, maybe they’ve been pulled tightly to keep someone warm. Maybe they were someone’s go to companion on a good night out, or maybe they were the dreaded ugly piece at the back of the wardrobe that someone’s Aunt Freida improperly gifted. Or maybe they were none of that and just a piece of clothing.Β 
Either way, I like imaging. It makes me feel like we’re all a little more connected to one another, like maybe one day I’ll stumble across something that belonged to one of you. The piece I’m wearing in these photos must have seen some wonderful stuff because I can’t help but feel magical in it ✨“- POESY

(Photograph was taken by @chelseabrimstinphotography)

One of the biggest questions that I wanted to ask POESY and was very curious about was how she had got involved with “The Launch“. Also, what was her experience like on there as well. What an amazing opportunity! POESY shares, “I got involved with the Launch about a year ago when I was contacted by a member of their A&R team. They mentioned the opportunity to me and encouraged me to submit an application. I recorded a quick video of me strumming Zombie by the Cranberries in my bedroom and a few months later, I was on a VIA rail train to Toronto to film the Launch. The whole experience was very positive, welcoming, and nurturing. I had never been involved with television before (or really any kind of large-scale musical showcase) so I didn’t know what to expect. But I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of support and care I received on set from everyone. They felt like family and I left feeling like I’d just had the most unbelievable few days of my life” Wow! What an incredible experience POESY, you must be so proud of yourself! I know I am so proud of you, and I know that thousands of other people are proud of you as well! You are an inspiration to so many people, and I can not thank you enough for that!

Do you write your own lyrics, if so, what inspires you? “Yes! While I didn’t write Soldier of Love, because of the nature of the show, I do write all my other material and am in the process of writing a lot right now. I’m inspired by all sorts of things in life – namely, my own experiences or those of my family and friends. I’m definitely a proponent of β€˜write what you know’, but I also like sprinkling in references to literature, poems, history, and mythology because I’m an English major and occasionally like to use my degree”.

What was one piece of advice someone gave you in regards to your music and singing career? “The best piece of advice someone gave me was to step away from the piano and be a full-fledged performer. A lot of the musical personas I look up to a lot (Freddie Mercury, Florence Welch, Lady GaGa) have a huge presence on stage and I think, while I always aspired to that, I never really felt like it was something I could exhibit myself. Sometimes all it takes is one person giving you permission to become something bigger than yourself to push you to grow into the artist you were meant to be. In short, don’t limit yourself and be open to doing things outside of your comfort zone because the payoff will be huge”. Wow, after reading this POESY I stepped back from my computer and took in everything you just said. I love how you emphasize not to limit yourself, and to push yourself out of your comfort zone. I feel like a lot of people can relate to this, and take this in. I, myself, have had some big opportunities come my way, for example interviewing you, and my anxiety does get heightened because it is a big opportunity for me, I do not want to mess up! I love the advice you share, it truly means a lot coming from someone so successful such as yourself. I know a lot of people will be able to relate to this for sure.

(Photograph was taken by @chelseabrimstinphotography)

Often, if we are starting something new we do not know where to even start or how to go about something. I wanted to know if POESY had any words of advice to someone who was just starting out in the music industry. POESY states, “Write a list of reasons why you love music. Why it makes you happy. Why it makes your heart sing. Think long and hard about it and get as specific as you can. Then hang it up or save it on a computer somewhere where you can easily see it. Anytime you make a decision about your career or come across a setback, remind yourself of why you love what you’re doing. It’s very easy in this industry to lose sight of why you started this journey in the first place, so being really concretely sure about why you love and want to do this will make it easier to both push ahead in hard times and take a moment to relish a good time”.Β  Thank you so much for the words of advice and wisdom POESY! I highly agree with what you are saying. I think it is so important to remind ourselves why we start something, and why we love it. I could not agree more with the “hanging it up” somewhere in your house to see. I think just waking up in the morning and seeing this will help brighten your day.

“…Cupcakes, spring days and sly smiles because hey, things might just be turning around”- POESY

Another question that I love asking individuals who I am interviewing is where do they see themselves 5 years from now. POESY explains, “I see myself as being an artist who is lucky enough to have a music career that can take them all over the world. I really want to travel and see as much as I can. I’ll be almost 30 so hopefully, I won’t be too stressed out. By that point, I’d also like to have two recorded and released albums under my belt. Β I’ll have a tiny little dog that comes on tour with me, have the time to celebrate the highs and lows with my friends and family, and maybe be working on my first book”.Β  That is amazing POESY, and I wish you nothing but the best in your endeavours. You truly are going places, I have a good feeling about this! Just don’t forget this little old blogger when you are really famous! haha! I am praying for you, and wish you well!

Did you always know you wanted to become a singer? “Yes! I remember doing a school project in the 4th grade where you had to research what you wanted to be when you grew up. Mine was on a black bristol board complete with a red Hollywood-style curtain pulled back on either side to reveal the gold letters that read: β€œSinger”. I remember even then, my teachers were hesitant about the 9-year-old who claimed she was going to win Grammys and perform all over the world one day, but I always knew it in my heart”. I truly believe that this is going to be you one-day POESY, you got this, and you have a lot of people who are rooting for you like myself. You are so talented and you can do anything you set your mind to!

One question that I was really looking forward to hearing from POESY was geared towards her eating disorder. As you beauts know I personally suffer from an eating disorder myself, so I can relate and it really hit home for me reading her Instagram post on “Bell Let’s Talk Day”. POESY released a video explaining that one of her songs is in relation to her eating disorder and came out to share. I had to ask POESY about it, and if she had a message to those who may be suffering, like myself, at this time. POESY shares, “I feel like I’m not the best example of this. I denied my eating disorder for a really long time because the struggle I was experiencing felt more comforting than pushing myself to recover. Recovery was really hard, and I consider myself to still be working on it. I think it only really started getting better when I made the choice to choose a fully happy and healthy life, free from the grips of my disorder. I unfollowed every Instagram account that made me feel bad about my body and replaced them with people who were also in the recovery/body positivity community so that I saw inspiring messages from people going through the same thing as me every day. That made me feel a lot less alone. I also started to get into cooking, so that I found a creative way to enjoy food again. And most importantly, I opened up to people in my life and told them what I was experiencing. Once people around me knew, we were able to work together to find ways to make sure I was continuing to work towards a life where I felt comfortable in my own skin. The best message I can give to someone who is struggling right now is that recovery is hard; it’s more than being able to eat ice cream whenever you want or having pizza just because. It’s a choice that you make every day – it’s a process. And it’s okay to not be perfect at it every day. There may be times, even years after, where you still have bad body image days. But eventually, those will be farther and fewer in between and you will feel like yourself again. It might be a slightly different you than you knew before, but it will be beautiful and strong and so worth it”.Β  I want to personally thank you for your beautiful message to those who may be struggling. It is hard. It’s a very hard process, and it is nowhere near easy. I am on the road to recovery now, but getting there and admitting I really need help was not easy. I love how you unfollowed some Instagram accounts that made you feel bad about your body, and I think this step will help me greatly. I think following some more accounts which shed body positivity will help me on my road to recovery. I know it was not probably easy for you to share this with the world on, “Bell Let’s Talk Day”, but I truly want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for doing this. Not only are you expressing that it is okay to get help and not be okay, but you are being a positive role model for thousands of people from around the world like myself, and I can not thank you enough for that. You are beautiful.

“…Be who you are, love who you love, and shine as bright as you freaking can, no matter what that looks like, because you are wildly special”- POESY

Before I end this interview with the beautiful and talented POESY I would love to give a shout out and acknowledge the gorgeous pictures that I had shared in this blog post. Although I do not know the photographer personally, she has a gift and talent that is exceptional.Β  I absolutely love photography and I am always intrigued by the type of photography artists choose to do, and by far this is amazing and beautiful work. I highly recommend checking out POESY’s beautiful girlfriend’s work over on Instagram at “@chelseabrimstinphotography“. I would absolutely love to maybe book a photography session with her one time, that would be amazing. She is from Toronto Ontario, which I am super excited about! Keep up the fantastic work Chelsea Brimstin, you are going places just like your girlfriend POESY. Keep on shining! Beautiful work!

“…she made me realize that to love someone is to fall in love with their whole soul before you even realize it’s happening”- POESY

I want to personally take the time to thank the beautiful POESY for allowing me to collaborate with her and agreeing to be interviewed. I can not get over how amazing and talented you are, you are such a beautiful soul inside and out. You really are going places, and I will not forget the day you responded back to my message on Instagram! (me dancing full out in the car singing Soldier of Love with Mom cranked up). I love how down to earth you are, you were my favourite singer on β€œThe Launch” and I wish you nothing but the best for your future endeavours. You completely made my day! Keep on being you, keep offering your beautiful words of advice and wisdom to many others around the world.Β  You truly are one of a kind and an inspiration to thousands of individuals such as myself. Keep on shining, and enjoy your wonderful journey. I can not wait to see you on May 11th at The Zoetic in Hamilton Ontario. Of course, I had to get VIP seats to see you, and I am counting down the days! Maybe I will even get the chance to meet you as well, who even knows! That would be a surreal experience! Love you POESY! I hope you beauts enjoyed this blog collaboration and interview with POESY. Be sure to follow her on Instagram and support her music journey! Much love xo.

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Country Blitz with Lauren Elizabeth

Country Blitz with Lauren Elizabeth

Hey my beauts, I hope you are all doing well! Almost the weekend thank god! I can not wait till Thanksgiving and have my mom’s amazing potatoes, gravy and turkey galore. Can not forget about the pumpkin pie that’s for sure! So thatΒ is what is keeping me going throughout the week! That and country music. As you beauts may know I never have been the type to really be head over heels for country until recently. I have been getting more into country and living with my grandma, she always and I mean always listens to country music, so I am constantly around it. One thing I love about country is how beautiful the lyrics are, they are so simple yet so effective and powerful. I love the tone of voice in country music, it is so relaxing and I feel like with every song you can relate to it somehow. It is just simply beautiful and I have no other way to describe it. I happily reached out to a country artist who I have admired for a while now and asked if she would collaborate on a blog with me about her music! I am so thrilled to have her as a guest on my blog as her singing and talent is absolutely amazing. Just seventeen years old, born in Β LaJolla California, this country artist is absolutely obsessed with lifted trucks, country music and singing. Β She has moved a couple times since then but is recently living in Cave Creek Arizona for about 5 years now. Please give a warm welcome to the beautiful and talented Lauren Elizabeth Bizzell!

Lauren started singing since as long as she can remember. whether it was the third-grade talent show, or singing in the shower, in the car, it has always been something that she loved doing. Lauren has always said that everyone has their “thang” and hers is music. Lauren started playing pianoΒ in freshman year but chose to not continue with it, until she picked up the guitar one day and fell in love playing with it right off the bat. Lauren has been playing for a little more than two years now. Lauren states, “I think I was more into guitar because it was more ‘country’ then piano was to me. I play every day!”. She has been writing her own songs within the past year and has admitted to struggling with it. However, Lauren expresses, “worry now and then you get a few good lyrics and it turns out a little bit better every time.Β I try to find inspiration anywhere I can honestly. Anything from friends, relationships, life lessons, to being mad about something will usually do it for me. Really just anything I am passionate about, I seem to be able to write about”.Β  That’s amazing Lauren, way to go!


I was really curious to ask Lauren who inspired her to get into country music! Lauren explains, “my Mama!Β I guess you could say that country music is just in my blood because I grew up loving it.Β My Mom always sang, and we would always listen toΒ Faith Hill,Β Martina McBride,Β Trisha Yearwood, and most 80s-90s country “divas”. I just never stopped loving their music, and their voice”. Β I also went on to ask Lauren if she has ever performed on a stage before? Lauren states, “yes I love performing more than anything!!! I perform anywhere and anytime there is an opportunity because you never know who is listening! I want to perform like there’s a CEO of some big music label listening because someday that might be the case and it could make or break a successful music career!Lately, I have performed in an annual school district event that raises money for music programs in the schools in the Cave Creek school district called “Rock the District”, which is usually the highlight of my school year, every year since middle school when I did it with our choir. I have performed in it myself for three years now. I can’t wait for the next one!I also have been involved withΒ Alice Cooper’s Proof is in the Pudding Talent Search. This is for people 25 and younger to compete for the prize of opening forΒ Alice Cooper, Β and other famous artists and bands like Joe Perry,Β Korn, The Hollywood Vampires, etc. I did it last year for the first time and made it to the quarterfinals! As of this year’s competition, round one is this week on Tuesday so wish me luck!! It’s been an amazing experience so far. You get to meet so many other talented musicians and new friends, and lots of people that want to help you succeed. The competition is held at Alic Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Center in Phoenix, and during the year they provide free music lessons, dance lessons etc. it is a great thing to be involved with!” Wow! You should be so incredibly proud of yourself Lauren, that is so amazing and such an accomplishment by far! That is quite amazing that you have been involved with this and so many other things, great opportunities are coming your way!

I was also very curious as to what other hobbies Lauren enjoys doing! Lauren explains, “Well my favourite thing to do besides singing or play the guitar, is probably going to concerts! Whether it’s with my Mama or my best friends, I always seem to have the best time!Β I love hanging out with my best friends as much as I can, and I also work a lot and I am lucky to say that I actually really enjoy my job”.Β  Rock on Lauren!

“…Practice, Practice, and Practice some more!”

What personal advice would you give to someone who is just starting out in this career path? “Practice, practice, and practice some more!!Β Don’t waste any opportunities you get to sing or play for someone. You never know what doors each performance could open up for you!Β Sing/play like nobody is listening. Pretend you are just by yourself in your room, or wherever you feel the most comfortable, it decreases nerves!!Β Don’t give up if you get a hateful comment or negative feedback, either way, it is only going to make you stronger!”. These are great words of advice Lauren, that is awesome. I am sure you are helping out hundreds of individuals who needed to hear this and get help starting out!

Rather than giving advice, I was curious as to what was the best piece of advice Β Lauren has gotten from someone before in regards to the music industry. Lauren explains, “I believe the best advice I ever got from somebody in regards to the music industry is to keep at it and don’t give up when you fail. There will be times when you mess up a song or get embarrassed at a gig but you have to pick yourself back up again, learn from your mistakes and apply those lessons next time! Fall down nine times and get back up ten times!”


“… fall down nine times and get back up ten times”.

Have you ever been on tour before? “I have never personally been on tour, however, I would love to! I do not think I am necessarily experienced enough to do so yet, but I love travelling and have always wanted to travel so I am sure that it would be so much fun. I haven’t made any concrete plans to tour but it’s definitely a goal of mine!”.Β  I have high hopes for you Lauren, I know you will make it big someday!


I was curious as to how long Lauren sings and practices for each day. Lauren explains and emphasizes that she sings with every chance she gets. She states that the best time for her to practice is usually when she is home alone which makes a lot of sense!Β If not home alone Lauren usually sings with just her younger brother who has learned to tolerate her constant singing. Lauren also explained that she will be doing the dishes and just start singing her lungs out. HAHA that is awesome Lauren if I could sing I would do the exact same thing that’s for sure!

Who are your favourite musicians? “Trisha Yearwood,Β Faith Hill,Β Miranda Lambert,Β Carrie Underwood,Β Eric Church, Dolly Parton,Β Gretchen Wilson,Β Chris Stapleton,Β Little Big Town…. I could go on for hours!”


Lastly, I always like to end my collaborations with individuals with the miracle question, where do they see themselves 5 years from now? Lauren expresses, “well the dream is for me to graduate high school and then attend Belmont University in Nashville to get a degree in Music Business, and then start playing every gig I can around there, to hopefully get a recording contract, or to figure out how else I can involve myself in the music business in case being the artist myself doesn’t work out”.Β  I really do have so many high hopes for you Lauren, you are a beautiful soul inside and out and have done amazing for yourself so far, that’s fantastic. I truly believe you are going to go super far one day, just keep doing you and you got this. I want to personally thank Lauren for allowing to be on my blog and collaborating with me on her music. She was a pleasure to work with, and it was so wonderful actually getting the time to get to know her personally. Please help spread and show some love on her Instagram page at, “lauren_elizabeth_music”, and be sure to give her a follow! You will not be disappointed whatsoever. Her facebook link is also located in the link within her bio. Β Be sure to also follow my other social media accounts located on home page for upcoming blog posts in the near future! Take care.

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“It’s a Business and You’re a Product”- The powerful Journey with Singer/Songwriter Emily Hatton

“It’s a Business and You’re a Product”- The powerful Journey with Singer/Songwriter Emily Hatton


Hello my beauts, I hope you guys are all doing well and having a great day so far! Β There are always things in life you wish or dreamt you could do. I know for a fact I always wished I could sing or dance. I envy people who have this talent, it’s so beautiful, peaceful and relaxing listening to someone sing. One fact you beauts didn’t know about me was I used to be able to sing! I was actually in theatre for a couple years when I was younger and were in two plays called, “Joseph and the amazing technicolour Dreamcoat’, Β and also, “Not just another variety show”. In Not just another variety show, I had to sing a duet with a young girl and it was amazing. You really felt all eyes on you, and we took over the stage. But then something happened…. you guessed it…. puberty. Gotta love it that’s for sure. I stopped singing after that because I could not sing as high as I used to anymore. But hey that’s okay because there are other people in this world who I can listen to and admire. But there is one girl in particular that stood out to me and has for a while. I never have done a collaboration with a singer before, but I thought, “hey... why the hell not?”. This girl resembles a Disney Princess, as her friends like to call her, is a qualified teacher, and is trained in Advanced Wildness First Aid. Sounds legit right? This girl is everything, let alone one of the most beautiful singers inside and out that I have ever heard of. I had the absolute privilege and opportunity to collaborate on a blog post with the gorgeous Emily Hatton.


Emily from Melbourne Australia, calls herself a daydreamer, she smells like “Pink Sugar” (the perfume she has been wearing since she was 16 years old), Β likes baking healthified treats, and loves coffee. She sounds like my kind of friend I need in my life! Β Emily enjoys going to the gym 5 times a week and would rather spend a day hiking than watching a movie inside, even though she adores movies! In fact, her most recent favourite movie is “The Edge of Seventeen“. Hey, Emily, this is also one of my favourite movies as well. I absolutely am addicted to it! Β Lately, though, Emily has been collecting succulent plants. One thing you need to know about her is that she is a deep thinker, she appreciates sarcasm and is someone who believes in kindness. Emily states, “Β the most common thing observation I hear when someone meets me is, β€œyou’re tall for a girl,” and so now my typical response is, β€œThank you. Now that you mention it… my face is further from the ground than other people.”That’s me in a nutshell. (I’m the nut.)Β “. HA! I absolutely love this, this sounds like we are going to get along already!

Moving onto Emily’s singing I began to ask her basic questions leading into it. I asked Emily at what age did she start singing. She replied, “literally when I was born. My mum tells me she knew I was going to be a singer because my cry was so clear.I also have a VHS of me when I was four, sitting on a couch, singing a whole bunch of songs to the camera for about an hour and a half. Because that’s all I wanted to do. Mum also told me that as a kid, I perpetually sang in the bath, so she always knew I hadn’t drowned. She would only run in if I stopped singing”.Β That’s a perfect idea! You knew from a very young age then Emily! I was also curious if Emily knew any instruments or not. This has always been a dream of mine as well, to play instruments especially the piano. I would’ve loved to have done this. Emily states, “I learnt cello in school. I don’t play anymore though. My mum taught me the piano. I stopped lessons in about seventh grade, but I’m still pretty fluent, though I’ve always been better doing stuff by ear, rather than sight reading. Β Β Β My main instrument now is guitar. I’m self-taught. I picked one up for the first time when I was nineteen and became obsessed with it. It’s the first thing I go to when I’m writing songs.Β  Oh, and I know four chords on the ukulele. Next on my list is the banjo”. That’s amazing Em! I am so proud of you for being so engaged in musical instruments, that’s great! That is a true talent that’s for sure. Β Self-taught is crazy good! That’s unbelievable, I don’t know if I could ever do that but koodoos to you!! Keep on going girl!


I also wanted to know if Emily wrote any of her own songs at all, and if so who inspires her to write her songs. Emily explains, “I sure do. My songs are like my therapy. My inspiration is my emotions. I’m a very positive, happy person, and when something affects me in a negative way, the first thing I turn to is music. For example, when I’m feeling really sad about something that’s happened in my life, and I’m trying to sort through thoughts in my head, writing is the best way to figure things out. It makes me concisely express what I’m conflicted by in that moment, and stops the spiral of confusion. It clears my mind. If I feel like screaming for whatever reason, I’ll incorporate that into a belt (a loud, long, high note) in my song. If I’m super angry, and I don’t know how else to get the frustration out, I write lyrics that I would want the other person to hear, but I try to make them smart. Not just making fun, or whatever. It’s like being able to yell everything you’re feeling, but people actually listen until you’re finished. It’s great. And I try to not be mean or vengeful, but sometimes, a song can literally be the initial, emotional reaction that in reality, that only lasts for a few hours. But writing helps dissipate that, and I can actually get over things very quickly nowadays. On the other hand, if something really strikes me with joy, I’m likely to write a song about that too. For example, meeting my American relatives for the first time. They welcomed me in so warmly and made me feel so part of the family, I had to write a thank you letter, in the form of a song. I played it for them and ended up making some of them cry. I think if you can make someone cry with music, you’ve done something right haha”.Β  That is for sure Emily, that is so amazing, you should be so proud of yourself! Β Touching people in that way is absolutely beautiful and so nice to see and watch.


I know that Emily enjoys country music so I had to ask her who inspired her to get into country music. Emily replied, “Oh my goodness. A great mix actually! One of my dad’s favourite artists is James Taylor, and we did a lot of long drives together when I was younger, so I have many memories of Dad singing along to the CD’s in the car. My favourite of his is β€œCopperline.” I love, love, love Shania Twain. My dad can vouch that there are a few songs I played ad nauseam when I was younger, much to his annoyance, and, β€œMan! I Feel Like a Woman!” and, β€œThat Don’t Impress Me Much,” were two of them. A few years back, I discovered and fell in love with The Band Perry and absolutely adored their style. Kimberly Perry reminded me of the Dixie Chicks and their beautiful tones and I always aim to emulate that super smooth, perfectly pitched way of singing. From then on, I started actively looking for other bands in the genre. I also had a singing teacher in high school tell me my voice was suited to country, and back then I actually laughed. Now, I want to hug her. My other biggest country influencers are Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts and Faith Hill”.Β  I also wanted to know what types of genres Emily sings when she is in the zone. Emily stated that she sings mostly country and pop music, in fact, that is how she loves to write her songs. Emily also explains, “I love the melodic elements, the poetic and metaphoric style, and how it can have contrasting sultry ballads as well as boppy, fun tunes. But I am also known to sing along to musical theatre and Disney, of course”.Β  You know who Emily reminds me of when she sings? She reminds me of Taylor Swift, I can hear it in her voice, what do you beauts think? Emily was so kind as to send me the newest song she wrote just for me to listen to. I was absolutely honoured and could not express how generous that was of her to do! What a sweetheart. She reminded me of T-Swift the whole entire time, I had goosebumps! What a true talent she has. It’s unbelievable.


I know we are all dying to know if Emily has performed on a stage before and what not! I know I am dying to know! With a talent like that, it needs to be shown off for sure! Emily states, “Small stages, yeah. Not counting high school, I’ve done a couple of gigs around Melbourne. It’s my goal to play on a stage somewhere like the Grand Ole Opry, someday. Or the CMA’s. And around the world on my own headlining tours, of course”.Β  That’s a great goal to have Emily, I know you can do it if you put your mind and heart to it, you got this!

Besides singing, what are your other hobbies? “I love trying new things, so generally I’ll have a new obsession every week. Recently, random things include sewing, gardening, and colouring. But the recurring things are cooking, camping and hiking, yoga and kettlebell classes, reading, and patting my pet rabbit. I also watch hours of F.R.I.E.N.D.S, and lately, Gilmore Girls, because who doesn’t want to loiter in an idealistic world every now and then? Before I started giving everything to music, it was acting. So that’s another hobby now. I would easily commit to either, and ideally both, for the rest of my life”.Β 

“It’s a business, and you’re a product”- Emily Hatton


I also wanted to know if there were any of Emily’s family members who were involved in music and enjoyed music. Emily expresses, “My mum is a music teacher, and mostly listens to classical music. My dad has always, always had music playing constantly. Namely Phil Collins & Genesis, Sting & the Police, James Taylor, Pink Floyd, Leo Sayer, Eric Clapton, Elton John and ABBA”.Β  Wow, so music runs in the family Emily! That’s amazing! That really does help a lot that is for sure!

Did you know you always wanted to be in the music industry? Oh, yeah. It wasn’t always crystal clear to me in which capacity I wanted to pursue it, but I always knew I had to sing. I tried musical theatre for a while. I love it, but I love performing my own songs more”Β . That’s great! You are really going far Emily, keep up the great work!

I was also curious as to how long Emily practices singing for within her daily schedule. With a voice like that, I was very curious! Emily states,”literally all the time. I practice shamelessly in the car, in the shower, while I’m cooking, and even quietly on the train, while people are staring at me. Sometimes I’m singing, and I think it’s in my head, until someone comments on the song, and I realise it’s out loud”.Β  That’s hilarious! Good for you! It takes a lot of confidence to be on that level and it seems like you have a ton which is amazing. I only strive to have that much like you Emily!


Who are your favourite musicians? “Oh my gosh, so many. There’s a massive variety of humans who inspire me, whose albums I’ve listened to so many times I’ve lost count, and also have influenced my style. Off the top of my head: The Band Perry, The Dixie Chicks, Shania Twain, Avril Lavigne, James Taylor, Lady Antebellum, Billy Joel, Maroon 5, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin, and Hunter Hayes. I also, in general, love 80’s pop & rock. It’s my favourite era for music because of its expression of vocal harmonies, drum beats, chord progressions, and general energies of the music, including the creative risks artists took”.


While summing up this interview and questionnaire, I wanted to ask Emily some more intense and personal questions! I began to ask Emily if there was a piece of advice she would give to someone just starting out in this career path. Emily explains, “Stay positive. It’s so easy to lose motivation, feel like you’re getting nowhere, or take rejection personally. One of my favourite quotes that I live by is, β€œget comfortable with being uncomfortable.” It’s a life thing. It’s when you grow, and become better. To get where you want to be, you have to work hard, accept failure, try and try again, and if things still aren’t going the way you planned, try different methods and be open to broader ideas of making your dreams a reality. Like, other ways you can still be involved in the business you love, just taking the long way β€˜round to reaching your destination. If you really want something, if you can’t stop picturing it, if it fills you with joy and vibrancy, give it everything you’ve got. Learn from people who are where you want to be. And then help others up to where you’ve progressed. Network, share, love what other people are doing, and be grateful for where you are. And be there in person. It’s a process. There are milestones, but there’s not really a point when anyone’s β€œmade it.” In reality, you’re just doing the same thing you’ve always done. Just the stakes get higher. The stage and the audience get bigger. But everything is an ongoing effort and commitment”.Β  I think I am going to go to Emily for advice from now on! She pretty much summed it up and that was beautiful to read. I am sure someone will benefit greatly from these words of advice, so thank you for sharing Emily!

Lastly, I asked Emily where she sees herself 5 years from now. “I see myself very clearly on tour, having released an album, wearing some sort of sparkly dress, smiling. Because I get to call what I love my job”.Β  That’s amazing Emily! How talented is she though? If you have not checked Emily out and her amazing voice be sure to head on over to her Instagram page at “Emhat”, and check her out! Her videos are amazing, and her voice is stunning. I have been hooked on Emily for a while now and knew I had to reach out to her to share her talent and story with you beauts that’s for sure. So please go show her some love!


I want to personally thank Emily from the bottom of my heart for agreeing to collaborate with me on this blog post and opening up about her singing and music journey. Emily you are so so talented and deserve the best in life. Emily was such a sweet girl to work with, so pleasurable and nice! I know you are going to go far one day and when you are on stage, think of me πŸ™‚ So be sure to go follow her Instagram page and check her out, she would love that! Also be sure to follow my other social media sites located on my homepage for upcoming blogs in the near future, thanks again!

As Emily Hatton says it! “Much love ” xo.


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Dear Girl Afraid of Falling Behind

Dear Girl Afraid of Falling Behind


Dear girl afraid of falling behind,Β 

You’re not alone trust me. There are days where I look around me and wonder “Why don’t I have a big girl job yet?”, or how come I can’t seem to find a job in my field. Sure I have had babysitting and nanny jobs in the past but it’s not the same. I did not go to Brock University for 4 years to come out and apply for waitressing jobs. I am behind, everyone is going forward without me, and I am stuck. I want to scream for the world to slow down so I can quickly move up and not be so far behind. I am almost 24 years old, I should have my life together by now, I should be out of school, having my career dream job, starting a family in the next 5 years but somehow I feel so behind. Why? Don’t you hate that? Your thoughts in your head that won’t shut off even when you close your eyes to sleep and turn off the world around you? There are some days where I feel on top of the world as if no oneΒ can get on my level and bring me down. Other days I drown in my thoughts and wonder why I am moving so slow through life when others around me are running through it. It makes me feel like a failure. Welcome to my negative side. She often comes out when there are too many thoughts strolling and wandering through my mind. She’s terrible but doesn’t know it. I hate when she comes out, it’s as if everything I do is not good enough, that I need to try harder in life to succeed. But what if I let her win? What if everything I did I considered a failure in life? I would be miserable. I would hate who I was as an individual and I would be so burnt out from trying too hard. I am not going to let her win. She can’t and doesn’t deserve to. She’s miserable and that’s no way to live. What if I told her to look at things from a different perspective? Then what.Β 


Dear girl afraid of falling behind,Β 

Did you tell her? Let’s take a second to break down those things you see as “failures in life”. So you don’t have a big girl job yet, so what. Sure you want one, but how did you get that degree in the first place? By studying, by sleepless nights, by breakdowns, by endless amounts of presentations and assignments, and by four years of hard work. Now take a step back and ask yourself, “Do you really see that as a failure?”. Or those of you who have tried school and can’t seem to find the right program for yourselves. That’s okay because guess what. I thought I was going to be a teacher since I was 5 years old, and I found out that just wasn’t the right career path for me. So I tried a new route and love the program I am in right now. There are so many different programs out there that how the hell are you supposed to narrow it down and just chose one? It takes time, and I feel like everyone thinks time just runs out like that. Sure we grow older and get wrinkles eventually but that’s years down the road, not tomorrow, not the next day, or the day after that. You have TIME. And we need to reassureΒ ourselves that we do. Even if we take a second out of our days to remind ourselves about this, that’s okay. I have to remind myself that I am not behind in life, that I am not falling behind. In fact, I am taking my time. I am not rushing, I am simply waiting for opportunities to come and find me as if it’s a game. I have been hiding for so long, that I think my hiding spot is too good for opportunities to find me. But then again, everything happens for a reason, and I truly believe in that saying and live by it. So girl afraid of falling behind, you’re only 2 seconds behind, not a year, not 2, not 3. It’s okay to not be on the same route as everyone else, and it’s okay to take that extra time for yourself to figure out what you truly want in life. Decisions are difficult. And it’s okay to take time for them.

Dear girl afraid of falling behind,Β 

Focus on you. Focus on which plan you want to do next and stop worrying about the speed around you, you’ll get there. I know it feels like your miles behind but you’re not. Don’t let her win. There are times she’ll try to make you feel like you’re nothing, that you’re a failure, but you are far from that. Look at your accomplishments and everything you’ve done in life, it was not easy to get there, you worked for it. Even though time does not stop and people are continuing on with their lives around you, you go at your pace. Jobs will always be there, school will always be there and you’ve got nothing but time, endless amounts of it. You go do things at your own speed and life will accommodate you, trust me. I believe in you, and you’re never far behind. Things happen for a reason and always remind yourself of that.Β 

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The meaning behind ” It’s the Little Things in Life that Matter “

The meaning behind ” It’s the Little Things in Life that Matter “


Hello, beauts and happy Saturday! It’s finally fall and I couldn’t be any more excited that it’s finally here. Fall is my favourite season in the whole world, I just love everything about it! From being super cozy , to pumpkins, to plaid and to blanket scarves … it’s just perfect. So I have been pondering and wondering what blog post to do this weekend for you beauts and it came to my attention that I have never shared with you the reason and meaning behind my blogging name! When starting out with blogging, I had to think of a name for my blog and trust me it was super hard. I sat there thinking and thinking and wondering what I was going to name it because I wanted something that screams ” me ” and is something I valued and treasured. Then it hit me. Honestly, I am a very happy go lucky individual and often the littlest things make me happy. I thought ” hey … it’s honestly the little things in life that matter in the world “. It could be looking forward to that coffee in the morning in your favourite mug that makes your morning. It could be throwing on your favourite cozy PJs before you go and watch an amazing romantic movie before bed. It could be receiving a ” good morning beautiful ” text from your significant other. It could be receiving that support from your mom before writing a final for your class. It’s honestly the little things in life that matter.


I used to take things for granted. I thought that everyone was privileged like I was, that everyone got things like I did and was blessed with certain outcomes. But that wasn’t the case . When my stepmom got into a horrible car accident a year ago everything changed. The fact that she was an innocent bystander and passed away two times on the operating table was unimaginable. I really thought to myself “ wow, how could this have happened ?! “. This could have been me. So now at night, I hug my boyfriend a little bit tighter, I make sure I say I love you to my parents through a text, I check in on my sisters every now in then cause you never know. These things are so little yet they matter because you never know if you are going to have a tomorrow. I truly stand by my name even more now and am so grateful for a today let alone a tomorrow if it comes. Β I am so blessed to be here, to be alive and I cherish every moment I get being here on earth. I am thankful and proud.

“…enjoy the little things”


I am so thankful to have so many supportive people in my life and never thought my blog would have taken off like it did today. I never thought I would have been given so many opportunities to collaborate and meet so many beautiful kind people. I love reaching out to people to know their stories and their background information. That’s why I chose to start interviewing people. I love hearing about their talents and their amazing careers and goals. It’s the little things that matter in life. So make sure you thank those who are supportive in your life. Tell those you care about how much you love them. Hug those who need a hug and laugh a ton when things are messing up. Just laugh it off. Be happy and proud you’re here that you get to experience new things in life and treasure the great memories you have. Remember, it’s the little things in life that matter in this world.


Be sure to check out my other social media accounts located on my homepage and subscribe to my blogging channel for more upcoming blog posts to come in the near future. Thanks again for all your love and support! xo

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Tattoo Number TwoΒ 

Tattoo Number TwoΒ 


Hey beauts ! Hope you are all doing well and had a fabulous weekend! I had an absolute blast this weekend as there was so much packed into one fun-filled three days. I wanted to show you guys and update you’s with what I did this Saturday ! Guys, I got my second tattoo! I wanted to give you guys a quick little update as to how it went and what the tattoo exactly looks like! So we went to St.Catharines and got it done with two of my closest and best friends in life. We all wanted matching tattoos because we are classic bitches like that.


My one friend went first cause she hates anxiously waiting which was completely fine. Hers was around 45 minutes , then it was my other friends then! They both got beautiful thigh tattoos , and I was the odd one out and chose my back tattoo. Guys …. when it was my turn I was completely freaking out! I had to have my one best friend come in with me and hold my hand….pathetic I know. Mine was around 40 minutes I would say ! It hurt so badly. Do not recommend back tattoos unless you have high pain tolerance. That is all.



The finished look was amazing. I could not have asked for anything better. It means so much to me too and that’s the thing about tattoos, the more personalized the better.  For our tattoos we all got some sort of a compass on ourselves with the saying , “no matter where”. This tattoo honestly means the world to me, not only because it was with my two best friends, but the meaning behind it.  No matter where the three of us are in the world, we will always support each other, love each other unconditionally, and cherish each others presence.  I will always cherish this tattoo, and whenever a rough day approaches, I will look in the mirror at my tattoo and instantly smile. I love my friends and this gorgeous tat.

I hope you guys enjoyed this short and sweet blog post on the newest addition to the tat family. Be sure to follow my other social media accounts located on my home page to get the latest updates!

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Dear Girl In An Abusive RelationshipΒ 

Dear Girl In An Abusive RelationshipΒ 


You fit in an 83% percentile category. I bet you wish that category was ones who have loving relationship and are respected as wives, mothers, and women. I wish I was lying dear girl in an abusive relationship, trust me. Sadly you were the vulnerable victim chosen to be tortured and your strength tested. Are you strong enough? This isn’t what I am asking YOU but I know you ask yourself this as soon as you wake up til when your puffy eyes close. Can you answer this? Better yet, I will help you answer that lingering question. I know you are. Remember the time when your grandpa passed on, and you were there every second for your family, or the time you started figuring out your life plan for yourself? That is called strength, and that is something you have and will always carry with you. But he makes you question your strength, and why is that? Because you’re a slut for talking to that other guy, or you’re a bitch just because? Do you honestly believe that? For one second , girl in an abusive relationship, picture me waving my magic wand over your life. Imagine him not there. Do you still think you’re that slut? I know you are probably thinking, “yes I am, I should not have even spoken to the guy”. You are your own person, you can speak to both guys and girls. You can be sociable instead of hiding in your room under those cold blankets. Wipe those tears away. I need you to find and help dig for that strength buried beneath you. I know you have it, you’re a beautiful girl nowhere near a slut, that I know. I miss you. I miss your smile and goofy laugh. Most importantly, I miss your free spirit, and outgoing personality. I remember always making each other laugh. Now I am the one trying to crack a smile from you, anything. I remember everything.


Dear girl in an abusive relationship,

Remember the time when you used to think so highly of yourself , that you didn’t need a man in your life. Remember now , how you sit there and think to yourself ,” why am I so stupid?”, or ” I don’t think I can do this on my own without him”. If you were stupid you would not have gotten to where you are today , you would not be that lovely girl hidden underneath those lies, and you have survived life without him before you met him. You can do things on your own. You went to appointments on your own, you went to school on your own, & you have your own friends. You are an independent person and you’re own person, he isn’t you. His name isn’t yours and he doesn’t have your strength, that’s the strength to not insult others, treat others with disrespect and betlittle people. You should be proud of who you are, I know I am. Even though she’s hidden, she will come out. In order for her to come out , you need to give yourself some credit. You’re not a failure for being that vulnerable victim. You’re not a failure for choosing the wrong one. And you’re not a failure for not changing your ways earlier. Today’s a new day. It’s time for YOU to shine. Today’s your day. Life is too short to stay stuck one other day in this life you did not wish upon. Life is too short to explain to your kids that daddy is not a nice man, and that you hope better for them. I know you want to show them everything in life, and to encourage their growth and development over time. You don’t need a man discouraging you, or even them for that matter. I know you would hurt inside seeing that. I know you don’t want them to go through what you did , so let’s change this. You and me together. Let’s get started on this journey one step at a time.  Those endless nights where you couldn’t sleep because you started to believe the names he would call you. Those days where you couldn’t spend time with family because he was jealous and wanted you for himself. Those days are gone. This is a new chapter and guess what? It’s not too late. It’s never too late. I want you to know I am proud that you have the courage to start this journey , even though you’re unsure. I don’t know where this path will take you but I promise you it will be better than the one you were on for years now. I promise. I know there are more cons in your relationship than pros, that you are certain. 


I just want to give you a few reminders before you start this journey . 

1) You are strong enough to take on any battle. You are getting your life on track, you have a job , you are here.

2) This journey may cause you numerous amounts of anxiety, anxiety which may doubt your decisions. Remember why you’re here , why you started this. Face your anxiety, this is about you not him.

3) Your body is your canvas and it’s yours. You do what you want with it , but don’t let someone claim it’s theirs. 

4) Your happiness is the only thing that matters. You need to put yourself before others and truly think about your needs and wants.

5) Noone in their right mind should belittle you , you’re an individual with a name not ” stupid” or ” faggot“. Remember that name on your birth certificate ? That’s you, not who he thinks you are you imagines you to be. 

6) Everyone is here to support you. Often we feel alone in these circumstances, that is never the case. You are never alone . There’s always a shoulder to cry on, a helping hand around the corner and ears to listen. 

7) It’s not too late to start a new life. Don’t live in the past , start fresh , you got this. When starting your new journey let go of your grudges and frustration, it’s time to let go.

8) You’re beautiful. Often we need to be reminded after someone destroys us mentally and physically that you’re beautiful on the inside and outside. For someone who offers so much to this world you deserve way more credit than that . That’s why I’m here. 


9) Think positively . You got this . I know your brain is full of negative thoughts at the moment, it’s probably overwhelming . Trying to have that positive mindset will help you along this journey , more than you know . 
10) F*** him. You’re better than him. You need to keep repeating this to yourself and this upbeat thoughts. You managed once without him, you can do it again.

Dear girl in an abusive relationship,

I am with you on this journey. I want you to understand that , and so are your friends and family. Make this change today , why wait another minute. Life is so short to let him waste YOUR minute . He’s not worth it . Let someone come into your life who treasures your dimples, the way you get nervous around big groups of people as he makes you feel comfortable, and the way you chuckle when you laugh. Let him take in all your flaws and treasure all your traits. Let him find you . He will trust me , he already told me he’s on his way , he will be there when you least expect it. Do you trust me? I know your trust issues are high , they have every right to be. But you can trust me when I say everything will be okay . You will be okay.


Dear Anxious Girl Afraid to Ask for Help

Dear Anxious Girl Afraid to Ask for Help



Hey my beauts , hope you all are having a wonderful week so far ! I keep forgetting it’s a four day week so pretty much have been confused all week as to what day it is , living on the edge a little bit. As you guys know , I have been doing more inspiring stories lately just because I see people each day who would use a little pick me up here and there. I really enjoy writing these types of blog posts , you can actually find more of the ones that I have completed early on, maybe last year on my blogging page ? I have recently gotten back into the swing of it and some of you have really enjoyed these types of posts. This one is for those who are anxious to admit that something needs to change, that “I” need help and are too afraid to ask for it. 


Dear anxious girl afraid to ask for help,

I’ve been there. In fact, some days I am still there. It’s probably one of the hardest things to admit to yourself , to literally sit down and say out loud ” I need help”. I have been in your shoes. I have been where you are all through university, struggling and trying to hide that I had a few dark secrets. It’s pretty easy to hide things that you don’t want to face , trust me , anxiety and I have been playing this game for years . But finally , I did it. Enough was enough. Sure I could’ve  taken that bottle of Tylenol that was spilled all over my bed, sure I could’ve locked my door so my roommate didn’t have to burst in, and sure I could’ve been silent on the phone with my mom. But what would this all have solved? Would this have made life easier, better ? No. In fact , that would have made me selfish and bitter towards life. There’s way too much to live for , I didn’t want anxiety taking that away from me . He wasn’t going to take that away from me . It’s okay to ask for help anxious girl. I was that anxious girl too . 


I know what you’re thinking, ” what will others think of me?“. Your true friends, the ones who hold your hair back when your puking after too much vodka, the ones who let you cry on their shoulder and the ones who encourage you to smile will understand. But what about the rest of the world you may ask? What about them. I bet you they have their own problems going on , maybe even worse than yours. My therapist once told me , ” don’t let anxiety take over your life, it’s okay to admit that changes need to take place“. That is exactly why I participated in a group that took place every Wednesday evening. That is why I would tense up before 6 o’clock hit. And that is why I would be exhausted coming home around 8 o’clock that day. Mentally exhausted because I pushed myself. I admitted to the internet, friends and family , but most importantly to myself that I needed help. And I am okay. Sure I may get anxious here and there, I may have to miss work once a month to see a therapist, I may have to take 3 mandatory pills a day for my anxiety , but I am okay.

Dear anxious girl afraid to ask for help, 

I know you will be okay too . If you need me I am here to talk to. I know you’re scared and I was too. In fact anxious girl, I strongly encourage you to get that help you need today. Don’t let your problems or underlying issues drag behind you all your life. That is no place to live. That’s not living, that is simply getting by. I don’t want you to just get by, I want you to laugh uncontrollably until you pee your pants, I want you to be cheering on your sisters at their talent show , I want you to love life.  At one point I didn’t love life, but admitting I need that help was one of the biggest accomplishments I have ever made. Now that I have asked for help, I am more comfortable asking for help when it comes to other things. When it comes to my eating habits I am getting the help , and guess what. I am okay. I know you can do this , it takes two seconds out of your day to finally listen to yourself. Friends have always told you you’re a good listener right? I heard you’re very good at it, so show me. Show me you can do this and show yourself you can do this . 

My names Alyssa Hotrum, I am 23 years old . I have underlying eating disorders and am diagnosed with general anxiety as well as social anxiety . I admitted this to myself, can you ?

Dear Girl on the Verge of Quitting

Dear Girl on the Verge of Quitting

Hey my beauts, hope you all had a wonderful weekend spent with friends and family! These are the times and moments you have to treasure and remember. I recently have been inspired to do more of my “inspiring blog posts” lately, such as my dear letters. Sometimes these type of blog posts come to me and sometimes I will be sitting in front of the computer for hours trying to get something to come to me, it’s really a hit or a miss. I have been inspired to do a letter geared around the theme of quitting. Β I know for me, if I do not want to do something or I am not motivated, I will just say f*** it, I am tired, or I will do this tomorrow. This letter is meant for those on the verge of quitting, on the verge of saying “I will just do this tomorrow“, this is for you.

Dear girl on the verge of quitting,

“You’re fine, you’re good, you can just pick up the pieces tomorrow and start fresh that day”. Do these sound familiar? Your brain can be an absolute beautiful pleasure to have, filled with wonderful thoughts and encouraging statement pieces. On the other hand, it can be your fuel girl on the verge of quitting. Don’t let these thoughts fuel your fire. You’re better than that. I know life would be so much easier if one could just start a new process the next day, leaving today a day to relive your normal unsatisfying routine that you wanted to change. Girl on the verge of quitting, do you remember why you started? I remember. You only told me a thousand times why would want to change up your routine, and better yourself. It was only those numerous nights where you kept reminding yourself in the morning you are going to start. So start. Go and be that morning person you always wanted to be. Don’t think that you can’t do this, I have seen what you can do. I think that you are blind to the amount of amazing things you can do. Were you fast asleep when you won your university 45-minute debate in front of your seminar? Remember that sleepless night before hand? Did you show up to your seminar stating, “I am going to do this tomorrow“? No. You did it. You won. You knew deep down you had this even though I know you are not 100% sure of yourself. Don’t worry girl on the verge of quitting, that is something we can work on another time, but let’s focus on the aspect of quitting, and how you did not quit in that moment. How good did that feel? I know you were completely out of your comfort zone, I think that is life right? Life is about doing things you would not normally do, and you did just that. I think you surprised yourself, don’t you think?

Dear girl on the verge of quitting,

Can you remind yourself why you started this journey? If you need some help, why don’t you grab that pen and paper over there and write out your reasons, I think you could name 10. But that’s just me. Your reasons are not dumb, do you need to be reminded of that? I know you thought of these reasons for a purpose, so let’s continue to strive for that short or long term goal. If you need me to help push you, I think you should hang your reasons above your bed, that is what I usually do. I know it’s hard girl on the verge of quitting, but can you just do me one thing? I don’t ask for a lot. Can you please stick through this one thing and push yourself as soon as you wake up and get out of bed? I know this is a really big commitment, and you’re probably scared to take on the challenge. May I remind you of the time you went completely out of your comfort zone and joined a treatment program? No, it’s not something to be ashamed about, so get that thought out of your mind. Where would you be right now if you said, “ I am going to do this another time, not today”? Would you be reaching out to lots of people in regards to blog collaborations, let me just add in there that you have never even met half of these beautiful individuals, but you did it. I am proud. I know you want to say you are secretly proud of yourself as well. It’s okay to take that credit once in a while you know. In those moments, you did not quit. You were not a quitter. You are not a quitter.

Dear girl on the verge of quitting,

You can do this. I know you got this. I know you regret some things in life, but don’t let this be one of them. Don’t let this opportunity slip and run away from you. You are already in the moment, you’re here, so let’s stay here and hold onto that promise. You need to let go of things that you quit in the past, you’re not that same person anymore remember. That isn’t you. Let’s show you what you’re capable of. Β So girl on the verge of quitting, I hope I got through to you a little bit. I know it may take a few reminders here and there to not let this opportunity slide, this is why I am here. You may read me anytime you wish, okay? Β I just think that some days I may know you a little better than you may know yourself. I know for a fact you’re a strong girl with many ambitions and goals in life. Keep this goal on your list, don’t scratch it out until it’s completed.

Remember all those nights where you questioned yourself in university and stated, “I don’t know if I can do this”. Remember when your palms were super sweaty before presentations and you had to borrow your friend’s water bottle in order to add some moisture to your throat because it was so dry before that one presentation. Remember when you scored a 90 on that presentation and you hate public speaking? I remember. In fact, I will always remember. If you need a pick me up, I want you to take a second and glance at that diploma hanging on the wall. Did you quit that? No. You did that, you got that education. That was all you. Do you see how much stuff you’re capable of? Don’t let yourself down, because I know you’re better than that.

Daer girl on the verge of quitting, you’re not a quitter.

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