41. Hobbies | 52 Weeks of Gratitude Challenge

Spending time alone is something I do quite often now that I'm so busy with school- I'm always studying or working on assignments! My hobbies have become a safe haven of sorts. Doing something I enjoy and am passionate about in between study periods is like seeking refuge in a rain storm.

I have quite a few hobbies, mostly artistic in nature, that I rely on for peace of mind. Painting, writing, knitting, and reading are the four hobbies I fall back on more often than not. I love creating new pieces of art and losing myself in a picture, or a poem, or a pattern. I also love to dive head first into the written word of another human to experience life through different eyes. 

Another one of my hobbies is this blog. I don't write for money or followers; I write for myself, because I love it. If other people enjoy it too that's just the icing on the cake! Some of you may have noticed that I took a break this past week from posting on this blog. Unfortunately there were some unfortunate circumstances in my personal life that made it very difficult to sit and write a post. Things have worked themselves out for the most part (which I'm most grateful for) and it feels great to be sitting here writing these words to share with anyone who chooses to read them. 

My hobbies are something I'm very grateful for. Anything that can bring me just a second of bliss is worth taking the time for in my opinion. Do you have any hobbies? What are they and how often do you make time for them?

Thanks for reading & check back next time to see what KatieDidd, xo

40. Greatest Accomplishment | 52 Weeks of Gratitude Challenge

I had a countdown to the day I flew home for Christmas break before I even moved away. Those three weeks were filled with joy, love, and pure happiness. Toward the end of those three weeks home I started getting really quite anxious about the idea of come back to Ottawa and leaving my family once again. I broke down at the airport and begged my parents not to make me go back. Of course they didn't make me come back; my parents told me they would never force me to get on the plane back to Ottawa, but they knew I would really regret it if I didn't. 

I got on that dang plane!

Overcoming my anxieties and moving away has definitely been my greatest accomplishment of life so far. I'm such a home body that the idea of not being home for so long terrified the pants off of me. I know in my heart that I have to be here for my education- it's far superior to any other college I've looked into here at Algonquin. I've made myself a nice little home here in Ottawa and I really like living here! It's definitely only a home for now- I'll be moving back to my true home as soon as I graduate. However, I am honestly so proud of myself for moving here to get a great education and discover who I am in the world. I didn't think I'd be able to do it, but I came back and I'm so happy I did.... Yes mom, you were right haha. 

What would you consider to be your greatest accomplishment so far? Please do let me know in a comment!! 

Thanks for reading & check back to see what KatieDidd, xo

"Are You Gonna Eat That?" | Personal

I don't normally write posts like this on my blog, but I feel like this issue needs to be addressed and what better place to address it than an interactive blogging forum? I'm sorry if this isn't something you want/expect to read on this blog. My regular style blog posts will pick back up immediately after this one!

As someone who has been at both ends of the weight scale (no pun intended haha), I have learned that the way people treat you can be directly influenced by your weight. The comments that seem to grind my gears the most come from people who make comments about how much or little I eat.

When I was over-weight, if I had a big portion I would receive the comment, "oh my goodness that's a lot of food, are you really going to eat that?" On the opposite hand if my plate held only a small portion I would hear, "come on, you HAVE to eat more than that." Now that I've lost the weight people consider me to be 'small' or 'skinny'. I consider myself to be healthy, yet I still get comments about how much I eat! If I eat a lot of food I hear, "wow you really ate all of that?" or "where do you fit it all?" Alternately, for small portions I hear a lot of, "that's all you're going to eat?" and "no wonder you're so tiny."

I can't say enough just how annoying, shameful, and misguided these statements are. How much I eat depends on how hungry I am at the time. If that means I'm full after eating a salad that's cool. If that means I'm not full until I eat a salad, a hamburger, some fries, and dessert, that's cool too. It should never be anyone else's concern what or how much someone is eating. The only time it is ever okay is if you are genuinely concerned about a person you love who is consistently over eating or under eating and becoming unhealthy. If this is the case and you want to say something to them, any of the statements mentioned above are NOT helpful nor do they show your compassion. Try saying, "hey, I love you and if you're struggling with anything you can always come to me." 

I think it's so sad that no matter what you look like and no matter how hard you work on your body, there's always someone who makes those passive aggressive comments about how much you eat.

Please don't be that person.

Don't comment on how much other people eat. If other people comment on what you eat, ignore them and continue doing you. You know what's best for your body and you know how much or how little food you need at any given moment.

Have you experienced this sort of thing? What did they say and how did you handle it? Please do let me know in a comment!

Thanks for reading & check back to see what Katieedidd, xo

Wake Up With Me: School Day Edition | Morning Routine

Am I the only one who was actually excited to go back to school?? Probably haha. Now that I'm in a program I love, on track to a career I would be happy doing for my whole life, I actually enjoy school and look forward to going.

That being said, I'm not so much a fan of having to wake up early again after such a relaxing winter break! Getting back into the swing of things has been hard (many naps have been had this past week haha) but I've established a new morning routine that has been working for me and I'm excited to share it with you all today!

My alarm is set in the mornings for 6:45am so I can be ready to leave by 8:00am for school. I always spend that first fifteen minutes, from 6:45-7:00am stretching, chugging a big glass of water, and making a tea. These three tasks help to wake me up in the morning so I can truly begin my morning routine!

7:00am: morning yoga!
I'm not sure what sort of workouts I do in my sleep, but I always wake up quite tight and sore throughout my neck shoulders (my chiropractor tells me it's stress but I tend to disagree, probably because I'm in denial haha). Doing yoga first thing in the morning helps to loosen up my body and set my mind on the right track to take on the day.

7:15am: bathroom stuff- wash face, brush teeth etc.

Once my workout is done I head to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. I need to do this before breakfast for some reason... like I just HAVE to. I feel so gross until my face is washed and my teeth are brushed! To wash my face I use the Clinique bar soap in extra mild. I then follow up with the Clinique daily moisturizing gel. To brush my teeth, I use Crest Pro-Health whitening toothpaste- love how minty fresh it is!

7:30am: hair and makeup

Now that it's winter, my hair has to be done because throwing it up in a bun doesn't work with wearing a hat (Canadian problems!). I've been using my NUME tools to curl my hair almost everyday. If you're interested in NUME, check out my full review post and my everyday hair routine video! 

When it comes to make up I keep it super simple- some days I don't wear anything but mascara. However most days I'll use Rimmel wake me up concealer under my eyes and on spots, NYX stay matte but not flat powder foundation so I'm not shiny and a little blush from Revlon in ooh baby pink- that's the face done! I then use the blush as an eye shadow for a really pretty wash of shimmery pink followed up by the L'Oreal highlighter in my inner corner and under my brow bone. I fill in my brows with the Revlon brow fantasy pencil in brunette, curl my lashes and apply generous amounts of Covergirl lash blast, and finish off with Maybelline baby lips chapstick. Simple, natural, and quick!

7:35am: get dressed

I usually pick out an outfit the night before in an attempt to streamline this process... putting an outfit together is not easy for me. My lack of fashion sense rears it's ugly head in the mornings so I make sure I either have an outfit already picked or all the pieces clean for a go-to outfit that I know looks good.

7:38am: make and eat breakfast, catch up on e-mails

If you've been following this blog for any length of time then seeing this bowl of cereal for breakfast will be a shocker- where's the oatmeal!? Lately I've been eating cereal in the morning because 1. it's so much quicker 2. it fills me up so much more! My class schedule doesn't allow me to eat lunch until about 1:00pm on most days so I have to fuel myself up enough to last over five hours on one meal! Oatmeal just doesn't fit the bill for me on a school day anymore. Instead I will divide my bowl in thirds- one third full of Post Shredded Wheat cereal, one third of Quaker Oatmeal Squares cereal, and one third of GM Multi-Grain Cheerios. I sprinkle on some cinnamon and pour in a generous amount of 2% milk. It's delicious, nutritious, and really filling!

7:55am: gather all my things together

I grab my camera bag, my backpack (laptop, agenda, etc), lunch bag and all my winter clothes to get dressed and ready. It takes a good five minutes to suit up for these frigid Canadian winter mornings!

8:00am: head out the door!

Once I finally manage to sufficiently bundle up, I'm ready to head to the bus stop and make my way to class! My morning routine really is quite streamlined- no frills, no social media- and efficient. I get everything I need to accomplish done in only an hour! This allows me to maximize my sleep time as any college student knows just how precious those extra minutes can be!

Do you have a morning routine? What is one thing you do every morning that sets your day off on the right foot?

Thanks for reading & check back to see what KatieDidd, xo

38. Music You Love & 39. Your Heritage | 52 Weeks of Gratitude Challenge

38. Music You Love

When it comes to music I love, it truly does depend on what mood I'm in at the time. I'd say my go-to artists for any sort of mood would be Adele, Ed Sheeran, Mariana's Trench, and Billy Joel. If you haven't already guessed, I prefer calm music with meaningful lyrics.

Some of my favourite songs by these artists include:

Adele: Hiding My Heart, Make You Feel My Love, One and Only

Ed Sheeran: Cold Coffee, Photograph, Tenerife Sea

Mariana's Trench: Dearly Departed, By Now, So Soon

Billy Joel: For the Longest Time, Only The Good Die Young, and She's Always a Woman

Let me know what kind of music you like! I'm always looking for new artists to check out! Also, let me know if you'd be interested in me sharing some of my playlists!

39. Your Heritage
When it comes to my heritage I'm kind of an eclectic mashup of a few different backgrounds. My biological dad's side comes from Ireland and Italy, which happen to be two of the countries I'm most drawn to! My mother's side holds the only first generation Canadian relative; my Opa immigrated to Canada from Germany after the second world war. Finally, my mom's mom- my Grammie- brings an English background to the table! All this being said, when asked what my background is I typically just say German and Canadian. All the other backgrounds are so far removed from me now since my ancestors moved over here many generations ago!

What is your heritage? Are any of you first generation citizens of their country? I'm so excited to know!

Thanks for reading & check back to see what KatieDidd, xo

Everyday Hair Routine & NUME Tools | Product Review

I recently took the plunge and treated myself to a new straightener and curling wand- my goodness what a great decision! I didn't realize how bad my old hair tools were until I got new ones haha. I bought the twenty five millimetre titanium curling wand and the one inch ceramic straightener and I'm obsessed with them both!

This was my hair curled with the wand. I made the curls loose and soft on purpose- using the wand made it so easy to achieve these results. I found the wand super easy to use as well as super quick and efficient. I only had to hold my hair on the wand for about three seconds and the curl was already formed. I set the wand to three hundred seventy degrees Fahrenheit which worked really well for my hair despite how thick it is. With my old wand I'd have to crank it right up to four hundred fifty degrees Fahrenheit to get the same curls.

The only gripe I have about this wand is that the temperature adjustment buttons are quite sensitive to touch which makes it really easy to accidentally bring the temperature up or down when using the wand. This definitely isn't enough for me to completely write this wand off- I LOVE IT. It was well worth the investment and I'd recommend it to absolutely anyone!

I tried using the straightener as well to curl my hair (I'm not much for straight hair but I do love the look I get when I curl with a straightener) and the above photo was the results I achieved. The straightener is amazing! I may even like it better than the wand thanks to it's versatility. I feel I can get more looks from the straightener than I can from the wand but I highly recommend both.

The downside to the straightener? I really only found one! That downside being that the temperature adjustment is done by a dial as opposed to a digital adjustment. This makes a precise temperature setting quite difficult. Beside that, the plates are ceramic which is amazing, the hand grip is the perfect size for my hands, and the one inch width is great for my hair length.

Over all I absolutely LOVE the NUME tools that I bought- great purchase for sure. I would highly recommend NUME hair tools if you're looking to upgrade from your current tools or you're in need of new ones!

I also did a video review of the wand if you want to check it out!

Have you tried any NUME tools? What'd you think?

Thanks for reading & check back to see what KatieDidd, xo

How I Got Regular | Top 5 Tips

Yes, you read that right... I'm writing about how I got regular. I'm assuming if you clicked on this that you either 1. struggle with your own regularity or 2. just love my blog so much that you couldn't NOT read my post. Since I highly doubt it's the second option let me start off by saying being irregular isn't fun. The cramping, bloating, lack of energy, and general uncomfortable feeling are just of a few of the unpleasant effects of being irregular.

I didn't realize how common irregularity amongst women is until recently. I was watching a vlog by Anna Saccone where she mentioned that she struggled with her regularity and so sought out the advice of her friend, trainer, nutritionist and fellow YouTuber, Lucy for some tips. Shortly after watching this vlog I had a friend mention to me that she was tired of having cramps caused by constipation. Seeing how I was experiencing the same problem we began doing research, comparing notes, and sharing tips with each other. 

During my research I found quite a few websites that were really helpful:

http://www.lifescript.com/health/centers/digestive/articles/what_your_bowel_movements_say_about_your_health.aspx

http://www.phaa.com/constipation-and-irregular-bowel-movements-in-healthy-women.htm

http://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/guide-to-constipation-relief/bowel-movements-whats-normal/

http://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/7-things-your-poop-says-about-you

After all this research I began my journey to regularity and came out quite successful (TMI? Probably haha). These five tips really helped me and I hope by sharing them with you today some of you will be able to find more regularity as well.

1. Morning Tea

Every morning I now start my day with a hot cup of tea instead of a cold cup of water like I had done previously. The warmth of the drink helps to loosen everything up (check the links for the science behind it). I usually have a peppermint tea as peppermint has great benefits for the digestive system.

2. Diverse Sources of Fibre

Getting enough fibre in your diet is easy, but if you're eating all the same fibrous sources you may not be achieving the results you desire. Try having a wide variety of whole grains and green, leafy vegetables. A salad and a bowl of high fibre cereal every day (Shredded Wheat, Quaker Oatmeal Squares, Multi-Grain Cheerios, Weetabix etc.) have proven to be easy, delicious, and effective ways of getting enough fibre in my diet.

3. Get Moving

I'm a big fan of working out- I love the way it makes me feel. However if you're constantly doing toning and muscle building your body will become quite tight. I recommend walking everyday (or most days) for at least twenty minutes to get things moving. I have also found yoga to be a great way of keeping things loose and moving.

4. Change it Up

As a college student, I fell into the trap of eating a lot of the same foods over and over again. They weren't unhealthy foods by any means, but your body needs a diverse selection of foods to keep digestion successful.

5. Drink 2L of Water Every Day

There are infinite benefits of consuming 2L of water per day and regularity is on that list. To help keep track of water consumption I bought a water bottle that I refill three to four times per day. There is a convenient counter dial on the top of the lid which helps me to keep track of how many bottles per day I'm drinking. This makes it a lot easier to keep up with my water intake rather than having a glass here or there.

We all poop, there's no way around it. Let's abolish the awkward vibes around the topic of what happens (or doesn't) in the bathroom and have an open discussion about our regularity! All comments are very welcome.

Thanks for reading & check back to see what KatieDidd xo.

A Few Changes & New Adventure | Update

So I've made a few changes here on my blog! I've decided to rename the blog to KatieDidd as well as change my header. This is something I've thought about for quite some time and I've decided that, now that it's a new year, I would take the plunge and rebrand my blog as KatieDidd. What do you think of the new name and header?

I have also made the scary yet exciting decision to start a YouTube channel! I've also been thinking about this for quite some time and this channel is really one of the main driving factors for re-branding this blog; I wanted my channel and blog to go hand in hand but my name wasn't available on YouTube. I'm not sure if YouTube is something I will stick with for the long term, but I'm excited to try my hand at it and see if it's something I will love!

I hope you all will stick by me through this new adventure, and possibly even join me! I would love if you'd check out my YouTube channel as well as give me some feedback about these little blog changes!

Thanks for reading & check back to see what KatieDidd xo.

Liebster Award (3) | Tag

What an absolute honour to be nominated (again) for Leibster award! It's such a nice concept to showcase smaller blogs and help each other grow our blogs. I was nominated this time by Dia who writes one of my favourite blogs- I highly recommend checking her out- thank you for the nomination girl!

Rules:

1. Once nominated, make a post thanking and linking the person who nominated you.

2. Include the LIEBSTER AWARD sticker in the post too

3. Nominate 10 other new bloggers that have 200 or less followers who you think are worthy of this award. Let them know they have been nominated by commenting on 1 of their posts. You can nominate the person who nominated you.

4. Answer the 10 questions asked to you by the person who nominated you and make ten questions of your own for your nominees.

5. Lastly, copy these rules in the post.

1. What is the most challenging thing about blogging for you?

Probably finding the time to create content that I'm completely happy with and proud of. I'm very busy being that I'm a college student and my standards are quite high for what I want this blog to be. The lack of time accompanied with my desire for perfection don't really lend themselves to one another haha.

2. How do you deal with stress?

Umm... I don't haha. I'm so awful at dealing with stress that I usually wind up having a bout of anxiety during very stressful situations. Some things I've found that help me are journalling, yoga, and finding something calming to occupy my time like knitting or reading.

3. Did you start blogging for pleasure or money?

Pleasure for sure. I still only do it for pleasure.

4. What is one thing you can't go a day without?

Tea!! I probably have two to three cups of tea everyday! 

5. Is there one person or event you would say contributed the most to who you are today?

My mom for sure. She's such an inspiring and gracious woman and I've always looked up to her so much. She has taught me what it means to be a good mother, wife, and person. I love spending time with her and I cherish every moment we share.

6. Would you rather travel for the rest of your life and never set down permanent roots or would you rather be restricted to only one place the rest of your life?

Definitely one place. I'm very much a home body and the idea of never having permanent roots doesn't appeal to me. I'm a family gal and I definitely want a family of my own one day.

7. If you could only eat one the of food (Italian, Chinese, Mexican..etc) for the rest of your life what would it be?

Italian! Pasta, lasagna, gnocchi, manicotti, cannelloni, chicken parm... I'll weigh a thousand pounds but I stand by Italian haha.

8. is there a website or blog you visit every day? What is it?

Cozy Comfy Home by Lor, Career Girl Daily, MindBodyGreen, and FitSugar are blogs I visit everyday. As far as websites go, definitely Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin', Tumblr, ACSIS and Blackboard, and probably a few others that I'm forgetting.

9. Which social media profile has helped grow your blog the most?

Probably Facebook. I've joined a blog sharing Facebook group recently that has helped to grow my audience. That being said I haven't done too much promotion of my blog. If it grows that's amazing but I'd be happy writing it even if no one were reading.

10. What is your ultimate blogging goal?

To keep writing this blog consistently for five years.

My Questions:

1. What is your go-to album or artist to listen to for any mood?

2. What dress style do you tend to prefer- a line, skater, body con etc?

3. Could you survive a tech free 48 hour detox?
4. Over plan or go with the flow?
5. What is your favourite flavour of ice-cream?
6. Who is your favourite author and what is your favourite book by them?
7. What is one goal you have for your blog in twenty sixteen?
8. If you had to wear the same makeup look everyday what would it look like?
9. Favourite way to accessorize?
10. Where in the world would you like to travel to most?

I would like to nominate: 
Kerri from LifeStyleBeautyX, Lotte from Lotte's Beauty Box, Lor from CozyComfyHome, and Ailbhe from TheRedBrunette. Let me know if and when you ladies post so I can check them out!

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn

36. Your Home & 37. Something You Created | 52 Weeks of Gratitude Challenge

36. Your Home

I'm so unbelievably blessed to have not just one, but two places I can call home. At the moment I'm in Sault Ste. Marie at my family home for winter break; I love this house and I love this city and I love that my whole family is here- it really is so homey and I hope to move back here after college (but who knows, right?). I'm also very blessed to be able to call Ottawa my home for the time being. I feel really at home in my apartment. My roommates are amazing, I have made great friends and the city has become a place where I'm very comfortable. I can't say wether or not Ottawa is a place I will call home forever, it really is such a big city, but it's home for now and I'm grateful for all it's offerings!

37. Something You Created

I spent all morning mulling over this topic (which is why this is a later blog post than most Sunday uploads haha). As an artist I create so much on a regular basis from paintings to poems to photos and so on. Without being able to put my finger on a single stand out art piece that I've created, I had to knock all art off the table. During my morning yoga it dawned on me that I have created everything about my life and that's what I'm most grateful for. I have created a beautiful life for myself at only twenty years of age and I'm very proud of that. 

I hope you are all counting your blessings as the new year begins. Where do you call home? I'm very curious about where in the world you are located! Also what are you most grateful for at the minute? I'd love to read about your gratitude in a comment.

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn

Welcoming Twenty Sixteen | Favourites, Goals + More

I know everyone says this and it's completely cliche, however I have to say it too: WHERE DID TWENTY FIFTEEN GO? This past year has been an absolutely whirl-wind for me, full of new beginnings and a lot of personal growth. Twenty fifteen definitely has been the biggest year of my life thus far and I'm excited to see what twenty sixteen will bring about!

Milestones of Twenty Fifteen

April saw the birth of this blog and I honestly can't believe how much it has grown already! I started it out of boredom as I was taking a year off of school to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I'm so happy that I took the plunge and started writing this blog and I'm positive I'm going to stick with it for quite some time. September brought about my move to Ottawa; moving ten hours away from home was easily the scariest and most rewarding experience I have ever had. I have learned so much about myself, about life, and of course about photography as that's the program I'm taking in college. I know I have been a legal adult for almost three years now, but I feel like this year, after becoming independent, I am truly an adult mentally and emotionally. I'm not a completely different person by any means but my priorities have shifted and my maturity has definitely improved.

Favourites of Twenty Fifteen

From makeup and beauty to television and music, to books and so on, twenty fifteen brought a lot of new favourites into my life. When I say a lot I mean a lot, so I'll share twelve with you today- one to represent each month of the year!

1. Minimalistic Makeup

I went through a phase toward the beginning of the year wherein I wanted to be like all the YouTube beauty gurus and go the whole 9-yars when it came to makeup. I started experimenting with foundations and dramatic smokey eyes and I quickly realized that that's just not for me. I have discovered a quick, minimal go-to look that I wear everyday and I really love it. It's enough to allow me that extra little bit of self-confidence going out in to the world but I still look like me and I really appreciate that.

2. Greek Yogurt

Athentikos by Astro in Plain has become my go-to snack for the afternoon. I love adding a touch of cinnamon and raw cacao powder for flavouring. It's jam packed with protein, contains good fats and is relatively low cal- what more can you ask for? It's also amazing for cooking with. It adds protein to any meal and thickness for cream sauces like Alfredo without all the extra fat of heavy cream.

3. Journaling

I have kept a journal for as long as I can remember but it was a very passive way for me to express myself. This year I made it my mission to write in my journal at least twice every week, using it as a way to express myself and my emotions in a positive and effective way. Journaling has helped me to control my anxiety and keep track of my thoughts and emotions throughout the year. It has definitely become a daily task for me and I'm sure I'll be keeping it up well into the future.

4. Clinique
My skin has been something I've struggled with since about the tenth grade and I finally have found my holy grail skin care brand that works for me all the time! The Clinique products that I use on a daily basis are the extra mild bar facial soap, take the day off cleansing milk, and the dramatically different moisturizing gel. My skin has never looked and felt better. Finding my perfect combination of products has definitely been a huge blessing as my skin was one of my biggest insecurities.

5. Painting My Nails
I discovered, probably around May, just how much I enjoy painting my nails. Over this year I have tried almost every colour you could imagine as well as many different brands. Essie and Revlon have become my favourite brands without a doubt with my favourite shades being reds and blues. 

6. Cinnamon Everything
I'm not sure when exactly my love for cinnamon developed but I have become somewhat obsessed with the spice! I love mixing it in to greek yogurt, sprinkling it on cereals, and even brewing it on it's own to make a big cup of cinnamon tea!

7. Konjac Sponge
Along with Clinique products, this little guy has really helped my skin tremendously! When I don't exfoliate my skin it gets quite lumpy and spotty, however most exfoliants irritate my sensitive skin. Konjac sponges have been such a blessing for my skin and it's overall glow- it's such a gentle exfoliation but still so effective.

8. Curling with a Straightener
I've been a fan of curling my hair for ages but I tended to stay away from doing so due to my tendency to be an absolute putz and burn myself on a regular basis. Discovering that I can curl my hair with my flat iron has changed the game and I've been wearing my hair in soft, loose curls almost every day since said discovery.

9. Gum Flossers
Super random, I know haha. Oral hygiene is very important to me- I think it is for most people- and I'm a huge advocate of flossing and brushing at least twice a day. I have issues with traditional floss as the feeling of the string between my teeth makes me cringe like you wouldn't believe! These rubber flossers have made flossing an enjoyable experience and I'm happy to use them twice a day!

10. Social Media

I can't say I was too involved in social media before this year. I've had a Facebook account since ninth grade and I dabbled in Twitter, but this year I really grew to appreciate social media for blog promotion and for staying in contact with my friends and family back home. My favourite social media platforms are definitely Instagram and Pinterest.

11. The Saccone-Joly's
I'm a big fan of YouTube videos over TV any day. I love that you can learn to do anything and also see real people living their authentic lives. The Saccone-Joly's have definitely become my favourite channel to watch- the family is so entertaining and down to earth! I look forward to their videos everyday.

12. Cooking Shows
As far as television favourites for the year I honestly couldn't narrow it down so I lumped all cooking shows into one for the sake of the favourite. My favourite cooking shows have definitely included Chopped Canada, The Great British Bake Off and Jamie Oliver's SuperFood. It's awesome to get inspiration for new recipes as well as learn new techniques to apply in the kitchen! 

Goals for Twenty Sixteen

 I don't want to say I'm setting new years "resolutions" per-se, but I do have a few goals for twenty sixteen that I want to work at;

1. Strengthen my Faith

I feel that every time I become anxious (which is quite often) it is insulting to God because it means I don't trust Him. I really want to strengthen my faith and trust in Him so I can cast my anxieties upon Him and leave it all in His hands. He has a plan for me and I need to have faith in that plan.

2. Love my Body

I have always tried to be active and eat healthy for the benefit of my physique more so than my health. I want to learn to love my body the way it is instead of micromanaging my calories; EAT THE DANG COOKIE!

3. Explore New Mediums of Creativity

There are so many arts and craft actives I want to try and learn. Painting, knitting, and pottery are high up on that list. I think trying my hand at wood working and stained glass pieces would also be amazing!

4. Find More Joy

I tend to be one of those people who focuses on negatives instead of positives and I can be quite hyper-critical of myself. I also worry quite a lot about others when I really shouldn't- it isn't my business nor my problem. I want to focus on only helping when it is is needed or I'm asked, realizing that there are some things I just can't fix. I don't want to be bogged down by the problems of everyday life, especially those that aren't my own. Instead, I want to focus more on the positive aspects of my life and find more joy in every thing.

5. Have an Open Heart

I've been hurt, by men mostly, so many times that I tend to block off the possibility of new relationships and even friendships. I want to make it a goal of mine to put my past experiences and pain behind me and move into twenty sixteen with a clean slate and an open heart.

I think these goals are definitely going to take time and effort. I may not see total success in accomplishing said goals in this coming year, but progress will definitely be made. My specific steps I'm planning to take in January are not crystal clear yet, but I definitely want to devise a concrete month by month plan that will help me move forward in achieving these goals.

And to finish off welcoming the new year...

A Cheeky First OOTD of Twenty Sixteen
My entire outfit is from H&M and I'm obsessed with it! I love the colour of the pants and the sweater, especially together and I really like how soft the sweater is. My favourite part of the outfit though has to be that it cost a total of $14.00... Thank you Boxing Day sales!

I want to thank you all for joining me on this journey of life- the support I have received for and from this blog have been so overwhelmingly positive. I can't wait to see what twenty sixteen has in store for me and to share it all with you guys. I wish you all the best for the new year (hopefully the hangovers aren't too bad today haha).

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn