Getting Over a Breakup...yeah it's hard

This subject is a hard one and I'm sure if you found this post you're looking for answers and as much as you don't believe me right now yes, even in the worst breakups you can make it through.

I've experienced one of the worst breakups you can imagine. I dated a guy for four years and then he broke up with me over text for another girl while we were at college. I was devastated and trust me, it wasn't easy at all. Now, that was just the first time. We ended up getting back together and then that also came to an end a year later the same way as the first time. I came home from vacation excited to see him and he breaks up with me only to get a new girlfriend an hour later. It also came out that he cheated on me multiple times, lied about the smallest things, and dated multiple girls at once.

This time you'd think the hurt wouldn't be so bad, but it was. I remember crying my eyes out begging him that we could work things out. I'm 20 and I dated him for 4 years which is almost a quarter of my life. I felt like I was losing everything. But I am here to tell you that even after that heartbreak and all that I've been through that it does get better and your life is so much better off without him. But I completely understand that feeling isn't immediate and it is going to take some time to completely feel at peace. I'm going to share some tips that helped me make it through and I hope they work for you.

1. Cut him out of your life completely (and yes, literally everything about him has to go) 

I made this mistake the first time. I blocked him over text but not on all social media and I found myself constantly checking up on him which didn't help me heal either. All his pictures, belongings, etc. need to go until you feel like you can look at those things without feeling upset. This also helps you leave him out of your life. DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT text him. Again, this was another mistake I made the first time. I would answer him when we would reach out to me and he would only reach out to me to tell me about his new girlfriend which obviously didn't feel too great. Just tell yourself it's over and remove him from your life.

2. Find a support system

This is the most important thing. It's going to be hard and you are going to need someone you can talk to. You're going to experience alternating feelings if anger and sadness and you need at least someone to vent to and get those feelings out and to remind you that you are going to be okay and you deserve so much better. You need those friends that will be honest with you and tell you that he's not worth your time.

3. Feel your feelings

You're going to cry. It's just a fact. And don't hide it either. If you feel upset then feel it. That's completely normal and you deserve to get those feelings out. My aunt would tell me that what I'm feeling is rational and that I just need to feel it rather than holding it in. Holding it in only makes you feel worse and honestly, crying is calming in a way.

4. Do something

This is simple but it goes a long way and includes a wide range of things. Doing something includes getting out of bed and doing a face mask or getting out and buying those shoes you've been eyeing up. But do something for yourself and do what makes you happy. I would find that when I would sit alone I would just end up thinking about how I felt and old memories which did not make me feel any better. I needed to remind myself every day to do one thing for myself and doing one thing that made me happy made the difference to help me heal each day.

But you got this! I know exactly how it feels and I can assure you that this feeling isn't forever. You deserve so much better and there is someone out there that will make you endlessly happy. Breakups are hard but you will definitely make it through.

❤ Courtney

 

And the nominees are...

 

Gif from themarthaanne

I was nominated by the awesome Ella for the Liebster Award! This is a way for bloggers to discover new blogs and help blogs to get noticed.

Rules:

• Link back to the person that nominated you
• Write 11 facts about yourself
• Answer the questions from the person that nominated you
• Nominate 11 other blogs for the Liebster Award
• Write 11 questions you want to know about the other nominees
• Let the nominees know they've been nominated and give access to award/questions

 Okay so let's with the facts about myself

1. I am a huge procrastinator. It's definitely a habit that I should work on :/ 
2. I play tennis and the saxophone. 
3. My favorite color is green.
4. I collect Momiji dolls.
5. I have about 10 records right now and I hope to get more! 
6. Clothes with embroidery is my weakness
7. I love stickers but when I get them I never use them because I feel like I have to wait for a good opportunity.
8. I have the same birthday as my mom 
9. I tend to be obsessed with things instantly 
10. I'm really shy when it comes to asking for things. For example, ordering a drink at a restaurant. But if it's in a school situation, I love meeting new people!
11. I have glasses but mostly wear contacts. 

 Q &A

1. If you could have any superpower what would it be?
• Mind reading
2. What is your favourite flower?
• Cherry blossoms
3. Summer or Winter?
• Fall?? I can't pick one. In the summer I wish it was winter and then in the winter I wish it was summer so all the seasons sounds good to me. 
4. Three words to describe your style
• Interesting patterns with a dash of hipster
5. Are you still in school?
• Yep
6. What would be your dream job?
• I'd love to be a graphic designer!
7. What is your favourite restaurant?
• I don't necessarily have one. I'd eat anywhere!
8. If you had to live in another country what would it be, and why?
• All of them? Haha sorry I'm terrible at answering questions.
9. Favourite song at the moment?
• Float by The Neighbourhood
10. What was the last book you read, and thoughts?
• A Man for All Seasons. Didn't understand anything that was going on. 
11. Favourite quote?
• "What a treacherous thing to believe a person is more than a person."-John Green, Paper Towns

Nominees
So I'm really new to blogger so I don't know that many blogs and the people I was going to nominate already did this tag sooo I though I'd open it up to whoever wants. If you would like to do this tag, go for it! Or even commenting the answers would work too.

Questions for you!

1. One thing on your bucket list? 
2. Who/What/Where does your blogging inspiration come from?
3. Favorite quote and why?
4. What's something that makes you laugh out loud?
5. Favorite social media?
6. What did you want to be when you were a child? Or what do you want to be now?
7. Favorite book?
8. Favorite thing about blogging?
9. Least favorite thing about blogging? (It's okay to be honest)
10. Last place you traveled to?
11. Do you have any pets?

If you read the whole thing, you deserve an award. This whole thing was really fun to do, but a ton to type. Hope you guys liked it and possibly answer some questions!

♥ Courtney

Josie Maran Pure Argan Milk Intensive Hydrating Treatment Review

Phew...that title was a mouthful. Try saying that ten times fast!

Anyway, I received a tiny sample of this from Sephora a few weeks ago. It was in a small container about the size of a penny. I'm surprised it lasted this long to be honest, but it was nice. I wish I had a picture of my sample but I didn't take any pictures before I used it up.

Photo credit: Josie Maran

To start off, I wasn't quite sure how to use it when I got it. I began to use it just as a night serum to hydrate overnight. Sometimes after I wash my face with all my acne products, my skin gets dry so I thought I'd try it overnight. It made my skin feel great in the morning! It was radiant and not oily which was amazing! I even noticed my acne get significantly less from just overnight use. Soon after I realized how fresh it made my skin feel, I used this before I put on makeup for a daytime routine. Instead of using moisturizer, I would use this treatment. It is very lightweight and glides on like silk. Also, a few drops (or dabs in my case) goes a long way. The only downside of this product would be this price. It is $56.00 for a 1 ounce bottle. I really loved the sample, but I could not picture myself buying the product for full price (even though I was basically sold on the product already). If it were to ever be on sale, I would buy this product in a heartbeat! But for now I think I'll stick to my good 'ol moisturizer. I would like to try Josie Maran's Pure Argan Oil though. It's a little cheaper and I've heard great things about the product. If anyone has tried it, please let me know what you thought in the comments!

♥  Courtney

Get your closet ready!

Online shopping is my kryptonite. I'm always hunting for deals to revamp my wardrobe. And I don't know about you, but I love receiving the packages on my front doorstep. It's like Christmas everyday!

Anyway, from my many hours of online shopping I'm going to share with you my favorite and latest finds. 

Shoptiques

Photo credit: Shoptiques and and StartUpMyFashion

I just found this through reading an article on Marie Claire and I love it! I don't have any boutiques near me, but I really like how boutiques are individualized and have their own unique sense of style. This site enables me to shop at boutiques all over the country from the comfort of my couch. If you want to check it out, here's my referral link! 

Zara

 

 Photo credit: Zara and coastalpolitan

Shopping at Zara can be tricky. At times it can be expensive, but then when the sale rolls around the deals are awesome! They used to offer free shipping/returns but now that no longer exists. $4.95 isn't too bad though. The clothes have beautiful prints which will revamp any outfit. The sale is going to wrap up soon, so check out what is still in stock!

Forever 21

Photo credit: Forever 21 and lyonessusa

Lastly, the handy Forever 21. It's not really a new find, but I really recommend it. They have EVERYTHING. If you're looking for a specific piece to complete an outfit, I'm pretty sure you'd find it here. The categories are endless and it may require a lot of digging to find the perfect outfit combinations but it's worth it at an affordable price. The only thing is that there are no refunds, just store credit which can make online shopping a struggle but I still think it's worth a try.

Thanks for reading and I hope I could help with your online shopping adventures! 

♥ Courtney

Best Products for Acne

Items from left to right:

e.l.f. Studio Acne Fighting Foundation in Buff

Clearing the acne while concealing it? It's a win win situation. This formula is very lightweight and has pretty good coverage. It covers most if not all of my scars and I find that I don't have to use a ton of concealer over this. Another plus is that it keeps my acne from getting worse which is a miracle compared to other acne foundations I have tried. Usually after I remove my makeup, I find a new spot and it was like a routine; however, with this foundation, my spots are smaller and new ones don't reappear every day. 

Biore Charcoal Cleanser 

I got a sample of this with a magazine awhile back, and  I loved it so much I went out and bought a full size bottle the minute I finished the sample. Anyhow, this cleanser cools the skin (it's very therapeutic to be honest) and it leaves it feeling refreshed. Cleansers generally dry out my skin, but this one cleansed all the oils and left my skin feeling soft and clean so I usually start my morning by washing my face with this. Also, a little bit goes a long way. It last forever! Well, not forever I guess, but close to it. 

Philosophy Purity Facial Cleanser

Okay so this is one of those beauty items that I will probably buy forever. It's amazing. It's a very simple cleanser for all skin types and it does what it's supposed to do: cleanse. But I think that's why it's awesome. It makes my skin feel new (if that makes sense?). It's so simple that it doesn't agitate my skin and it leaves it feeling perfect. 

Clarisonic Mia 2

If you don't have one of these then you definitely should consider getting one asap! It's an investment but it's worth it. This with a simple cleanser (like Purity) does wonders for the skin. It clears dead skin cells and leaves your face feeling radiant. I recommend switching the head from the normal one that comes with the clarisonic to a sensitive skin one. The sensitive skin one is softer for skin and doesn't feel rough on the face.

St. Ives Green Tea Cleanser 

St. Ives has been changing the look of this product, I'm pretty sure I have gotten a different design every time I've bought this. Anyway, this product was great for clearing acne, but if your skin is sensitive I may not recommend it. It exfoliates but it did the job for my T-Zone. If I get a couple of new spots I use this and it clears it pretty quickly. 

Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets

Every single person with oily skin needs to have this! Acne is caused by oil clogged pores so to prevent that these blotting sheets will get the oil off your face before they can clog your pores. It leaves an awesome matte finish and it feels nice to not feel like your face is shining brighter than the sun. 

Yes to Cucumbers Face Cleanser Towelettes  

These will be your best friend. It's a quick remedy for being too tired to completely remove your makeup and cleanse your face. Annnddd in the morning you can refresh your face with these too. Basically it's cheating the 7th rule for my Acne 101 posts earlier. 

Hopefully I could recommend some cool products and help you on the quest for clear skin!

Acne 101

If your skin is anything like mine, then you've probably used every product in the drugstore and had zero results. Believe me, I know how frustrating it is.

Here is what you need to know:

1. Acne is not going to go away overnight. Don't be discouraged if it just looks like it's getting worse. 
2. Try not to touch your face. I know how hard it is if you have bangs, but maybe clip them from your face if you keep fumbling with them. 
3.  Pat your face dry, don't rub. Rubbing will agitate the skin more and prolong the healing process. 
4. Wash your pillow sheets often. When you sleep, oils are released and it's definitely not helping your acne. 
5. Find a face wash specially for acne. If it just says cleanser it won't help fight acne.
6.  Wear makeup specified for acne. It will help clear the skin and prevent further breakouts while other foundations will clog your pores and cause more acne.
7. Wash your face every day: morning and night. Yes, everyday and two times a day. Don't skip a day!

These are the basic steps which will definitely help reduce acne slowly but surely. Step 7 is the most important step. If you're going to pick just one step this is the one. Personally, this was the hardest step to follow through. I'm not going to lie, there have been nights where I've been so exhausted I've slept with my makeup on. Oops.

Give these steps a try! Look out for a post about my current skincare and products I recommend!