Christmas Gifts Galore

Hey everyone!

I'm back with a small post on a few of the beauty/care items I received for Christmas!

Starting in the far left bottom corner is Hugo Naturals Handcrafted Soap in Vanilla and Sweet Orange. I obviously haven't tried it yet, but it smells wonderful! The orange scent is more pronounced, but it is a sweeter, lighter orange than I expected. It is a paraben free soap and vegan and all other sorts of good things! Hugo Naturals has a website at hugonaturals.com where soaps can be found.

Next up, is a Travalo! I've heard of these on YouTube and think they are so cool. You use that pump on the bottom by pressing on the top of a perfume bottle so that you can travel with your favorite scents.

The small glass jar is the Maybelline Color Tattoo eyeshadow in Tough as Taupe. This product is a cream shadow. Tough as Taupe is a matte, cool grey color that applies fairly sheer, and will be a good base under other eyeshadows.

The stick in the paper packaging is something I had never seen before. It's called Skinfare. It's claim is that it is a topical skin stick. They even say "apply everywhere you have skin". It is lightly scented, I think this one is a lemongrass based smell. I applied a little on my skin and it really wasn't greasy at all. It's another all natural product. I guess we will see how it works! You can purchase them at skinfare.com

Lastly, are my personal favorites! It is a set of Sleep fragrances from Bath and Body works. I received a matching body mist, shower gel, and lotion, but I believe the fragrance comes in a couple more items. The fragrance is called Lavender Chamomile, but it is the most pleasant lavender scent I have ever come across. It's an extremely clean, fresh smell with an almost powdery quality. I love it and plan on wearing it often!

What did you all get for Christmas? Leave me comments to share your opinions on these products or others I should try!

Merry Christmas

Hey everyone!

Since it's Christmas Eve, I imagine a festive holiday post is in order!

This Christmas, the thing that's been most on my mind, is the way that our culture has become so materialistic. I know it's been this way for a while, but as a twenty year old, the "magic" of the presents has started to wear off. I appreciate the idea of buying something special for those you love, but the day isn't about stuff.

This year I found myself more agitated by the pressure of presents than exhilarated by the idea of my family's faces when they opened gifts on Christmas morning. I think that the shopping, traffic, and rush of the holidays has completely overshadowed the idea of simply spending time with your family. What I will always have are the memories that I make with my family, not what they bought me on Christmas. I will remember the traditions more than the treasures.

I am so thankful for this year, for the changes and growth I have experienced, and most importantly the family I was born into and the friends I have found. I am so blessed and grateful for their love and support in everything I have done this year.

So, tomorrow, I will be spending my time relaxing and soaking up my time with them.

Now I realize that this is quite a sappy post, but I think it's allowed as it is Christmas time. :] Try to remember the real reason that we even celebrate Christmas and embrace the time with your family.

Sincerely, Paige


Do you have any traditions or special memories? Leave me a comment below!

Updated Layout

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to let you all know that I've changed a couple of things around. One, obviously is the look of the blog! I think this is much more fitting and exciting!

Also, I have FINALLY figured out what was wrong with my subscription and commenting problems. Since, apparently, I had not made a FeedBurner account yet, my email following was impossible to use. You can now have emails sent to you at each new post! Yay!

Lastly, I have a Facebook page that I may or may not have mentioned before. Go here to like it!

I am working on coming up with some new, good ideas to post about. But for now, go read Sarah's latest post! It's inspiring me to not give up on this yet!

Have a happy holiday season and a merry Christmas if I forget to post before Tuesday!

Sincerely, Paige

Where'd I Go?

Hey guys!

Just a quick update. I know it's been forever since I posted. Suffice it to say that I got busy; exams happened, and the day after I finished my semester, I went to Florida for my fiance's sister's wedding. (Not sure if I've ever mentioned that fact that I'm engaged on the blog or not, oops!) It was nice to have a chance to get away from school and enjoy the weather and family and friends.

Today was my first day back at home and I realized that I have kind of abandoned this blog. I love doing it. I love writing for it. I guess I'm just at a stand-still with topics. I'm not exactly sure what I was expecting this blog to be. I'm not sure what I wanted my main topic to be, which is usually what bloggers do (or so I assume). I feel like I'm not quite enough of an "expert" to discuss beauty, and I'm not as much of an aspiring writer as Sarah. So right now, I am trying to evaluate whether I want to share my thoughts on products or if I want to keep posting random thoughts.

I really do hope to figure it out soon so I can start posting again. Thank you so much to everyone who has been following me through this learning process. I am so blessed that there are even a few people who will listen to my thoughts and come back for more!
I will be back soon, I'm not giving up yet!

Sincerely, Paige

Healthy Eating?

Hey everyone!

It's been a little while..longer than I had hoped to be away. I got busy and distracted.

But, this week I've been thinking (well, I'm always thinking..but stay with me!) and realized that I keep having all these great ideas, but I lack follow-through. I've been meaning to exercise, eat better, blog more, have better sleep patterns, pray more, the list goes on. I've just been wanting to improve aspects of my life and I even think up a plan of action. But, I never take the actions.

So, I'm wondering if telling my readers this plan will make me stick to it more. I'm hoping it will. If I feel like I'm breaking a promise to you all then maybe I'll be more willing to stick to it? Fingers crossed!

Tomorrow my roommate and I are planning on grocery shopping for our last little bit of the semester. I thought that maybe a good place to start on this new healthier journey would be to share my shopping list.
So here it is: Grapes, Bananas, Carrots, Frozen Spinach, White Beans, Whole wheat pasta, Whole wheat bread, Shredded Cheese, Greek Yogurt, Honey, Walnuts

We still have peanut butter, jelly, brown rice, and some oatmeal packets. I'm planning on eating PB&J's on whole wheat bread, pasta with cheese and spinach, and yogurt with honey and walnuts mixed in.
Hopefully that will constitute a few meals until I can think of more creative ways to eat healthy on a college budget.

Any advice on sticking to exercise and nutrition plans? Healthy, easy recipes?
Leave me a comment below with any tips or tricks!

Sincerely, Paige

Learning about Me

Hey everyone!

Tonight, my roommate and I took a personality test online. Click here!

I've been continually struggling with my major and future career choices. I am a worrier, so not knowing what my next step should be is particularly terrifying. And, as the semester comes to a close, we are required to pick classes for next semester. I have juggled majors quite often over the last few months.

I decided today to actually utilize one of our few free on campus resources: Calling and Career Center. They advised me to take a couple of career assessments. Not that they were unhelpful, but the tests were not especially satisfying in their results. I wasn't guided into a career like I hoped I would be.
I guess it's a problem to expect a simple online test to simply say "Tah Dah! Here's your perfect career choice!".

Another thing I'm discovering that college preparation is lacking is an aspect of involvement in choosing a major. Most people I know just pick something. Nothing particular is done in order to make sure students are actively looking into their personal strengths.
Our college makes us take a strengths finder test. But, nothing is stressed after that for each student. I know it would be asking a lot to make time to meet with each incoming Freshman. But I think that for students that come into college without knowing what exactly they want to study, it would be beneficial to see what they are particularly talented in.

After taking to my roommate, an advisor, and my mom, I realized that I really do have an interest in English. I realized that my Strengths would work in an English degree.
It's important that students have a knowledge of their talents. More so than needing to have an idea of a major when they step foot on campus, students need to realize they have talents in them naturally. They've been conditioned to think they just have to make a decision.

Everyone has a natural talent and skill set that prepares them for a specific purpose. I think more students should spend time trying to learn about themselves before deciding on a career for the rest of their lives.

Ok, end of scattered thoughts.
Thanks for reading my crazy, scrambled, ideas!

Sincerely, Paige

Occupation: Unknown

Hey everyone!

Today I want to share with you all some things that have been on my mind and heart as of this week.

I want to preface this post by saying that the last thing I want this blog to become is a negative space where my readers and I rant and rave about things we do not like.

I am currently a Sophomore college student. I feel extremely blessed to be able to attend college on a scholarship that only requires me to keep a high A grade point average. I am extremely fortunate to be in college without going into debt that will follow me for years.

But, lately I have started to contemplate the way that young adults are told to continue their education. As of now, I have thought about three different majors, and so many careers I could not even tell you all of them. I am confused and still unsure of where I will or should end up in life and what my occupation will be (if I choose to pursue a career and not be a stay at home mom..maybe another post on that later).

In high school, most kids are taught basic education like reading, math, history, and sciences. These things are extremely important and help us to be good citizens of our country and communicate with others in an intelligent way.

What I feel that this does not prepare us for is trying to enter college, at the young age of 18, knowing what we would like to do for the rest of our working lives. By learning these things, we have no experience of the business world, or the medical field, or being a professional writer. We don't have experience in the work force. We haven't tried to learn what the day of an accountant or pastor is like.

I know some people grow up knowing their calling, but I for one, did not spend time in high school thinking about a future job. I was just trying to do my homework and get good grades on the tests that week.

I think that taking time to learn about your strengths and weaknesses is a good thing. Trying to find what makes you tick, makes you happy, and feel like you are accomplishing positive change in the world is really important. I think that a gap year is a positive thing and might affect a lot of students decisions to continue in school, if they knew going in what they wanted to study.

Another part of this discussion I've been having with myself, is wondering whether an almost "necessary" college experience is good for every young adult. I do not mean that college is unnecessary  for everyone and I know that some jobs definitely require schooling after graduating high school (uh, doctors please!).

But maybe, we all need to take a step back and think about what we really care about in life. Maybe defining ourselves by our calling isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Maybe the most important thing is finding a place where you feel you can make a positive difference and change lives of people around you.

Sincerely, Paige

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Cookie Craze

Hey everyone!
So I didn't post on Saturday like I said I would, but today you get an extra yummy post.

This week I have baked cookies twice.. I like to think it's how college students cope with stress and tests, and life in general.

I did a quick Google search for "easy and fast" chocolate chip cookie recipes. I decided the picture on *this one looked really good. Unfortunately, mine did not turn out nearly as perfect looking, but hey, that's part of the fun. And, despite their appearance, they tasted FANTASTIC!

If you like a little salty, perfectly soft yet still slightly crunchy cookie, give this recipe a try!

1 stick butter, melted
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 12oz bag of chocolate chips or chunks

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Whisk together the sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla until they are smooth and look like caramel.
Mix the flour, baking soda, and salt together in a separate bowl.
Stir the dry mixture into the egg mixture, but don't over do it.
Add in the chocolate chips.

Spoon the mix onto parchment lined baking sheets. (Try to keep the mix more into ball form than the picture below shows.. )
Bake for about ten minutes.

 Cool for a few minutes, or as long as your eager friends will wait.

As you can see, the cookies tend to spread out. If you are looking for a nice presentation, I recommend spacing them more than two inches apart.

These cookies don't last long so be prepared to grab one for yourself while they are still nice and warm!

Sincerely, Paige

*recipe from Food Network

Affirmations & Epiphanies

Hey everyone!

It is currently 2 am. I unfortunately took a two hour nap today and am now not sleepy. Oh the joys of being a college student.

I apologize for my absence. I've been having a case of blogger's block.

But today I had an epiphany. I had a teacher tell me that I was good at accounting. I hate that class and know that I would be unhappy in choosing accounting as a career. But after leaving that class, I automatically reevaluated my major choice. I realized today how easily swayed and encouraged (or discouraged) I am by having other people tell me I am good at something.

In the car with my fiance, I had a moment. I had a clear, strong thought that life isn't about having other people confirm me and my actions.

My blogging isn't about having other people think I'm good at it. It isn't about getting a huge audience that follows my every move. It isn't about getting comments and affirmation about my writing. It's a hobby. It's something I enjoy and should do because I like it. I should continue to blog because it makes me feel happy, and to me, it is a release and a way to evaluate my thoughts and channel them out of my head. A blog isn't something you do just because someone else is going to read it.

So, I am going to press on with this adventure. I am not going to give up for fear of failing and not getting subscribers. That isn't what's important. I am going to do this because it's something I have wanted to do for a year. If I fail, it's ok; and it's ok because I tried my best.

I will post again tomorrow (Saturday), because I can only get better if I practice.
I hope this post helps someone else out there who is struggling with affirmation issues.
Do something for you today no matter what other people are going to say.

Sincerely, Paige


*I got a few ideas for this from Zoella's blog post here.

On Embracing Uniqueness

Hello everyone!
So I told you I would be posting about fashion and beauty. I feel like I need to put this word of caution out before I begin with real fashion posts. Just because I like or recommend an outfit or style, does not mean that my readers need to emulate it.

I think this is the problem with so many young women today. We are constantly being bombarded with celebrities and media icons showing us what to wear or how to cut our hair or wear our makeup. We all automatically assume that we need to pick someone or something to copy. Long hair, short hair, hipster, preppy, emo...thousands of other trends and styles that come and go, but each one has an almost cult following of people who feel they must stick to this certain genre.

But maybe what we are so strongly searching for, and still coming up empty, isn't to be “in fashion.” Maybe it's to have our own personal style that makes us feel good. You can wear cowboy boots one day, and high heels the next. You can wear a baggy t-shirt today and a sundress tomorrow. You don’t have to have one look that mimics a celebrity. Wear what makes YOU feel confident and comfortable. 

We all need to shake this mindset of impressing everyone else and trying to prove that we are good enough. God made us “good enough”; we are beautifully and wonderfully made in His image. If He wanted everyone to look and act the same, He wouldn't have created us with so many different personalities and aesthetics. I think He likes that we are all different. We all need to accept who we are and what we look like and stop trying to change ourselves to fit into this unachievable mold of perfection. You are already perfect in the eyes of God, which is pretty incredible. 

So, my goals in posts about fashion are not to force one more crazy trend down your throats. It is simply to show my personal style, and maybe help someone else who likes some of the pieces. Pick and choose what you will and create a look for yourself, not for anyone else.

Love and hugs to all of you beautiful and perfect people!

Sincerely,
Paige

Hello world!

Hi everyone!
This is my first official blog post! I am so excited to start this new endeavor with all of you, however many of you there are. A Classy Catch-All is what it sounds like, an all encompassing lifestyle blog that can discuss any and every topic. I hope to start with two posts a week, so hold me to it! 

I plan to post mainly about fashion, beauty, and cooking, but want to focus all of those topics on accepting who we are and not changing just because the media tells us to. So there will be advice based (and rant-like) posts at times.
I should be back tomorrow with a post that follows one of my main topics. 

In the mean time, here's a short intro to myself..
I am a college student at a small university. I am currently studying to be a teacher, but things could change yet again. I struggle with generalized anxiety disorder, more on that later. God gets me through; I honestly do not know how I would have made it this far without His intervention. I love artsy things, reading, and beauty videos on Youtube. I consider myself quite nerdy at times. I am finally content with just being myself. 

See you tomorrow!

Sincerely,
Paige