Downsizing your life?

After much research on tiny houses throughout the last week or so (when I really should have been working on my annotated bibliography for my class), I realized how much courage it really takes to get rid of a lot of stuff you feel like you need. I found this site, http://theproject333.com/, not knowing what it was about other than downsizing to live a more simple life. Basically, you slowly start getting rid of things you don't need (for me it's clothes in my closet) and for the closet Project 333 says to get down to 33 items of clothing, that is including jackets, shoes, and regular clothing items (gym clothes not included). UMMMM, yeah that is REALLY hard to do as a girl, but I am taking on the challenge and went through my closet last night to get rid of stuff I don't wear anymore. The best thing about living in Houston is that we have Plato's Closet, where I can take all my gently worn clothes to try and sell to them for cash. While I was on a roll, I decided to start going through books, dvd's and even found some old school CD's. Lucky for me, right down the street from that Plato's Closet is a Half Price Books, where I can go sell those old CD's, books and dvd's. So not only am I making myself less hassled by having too much "stuff", I now have more empty space in my closet, giving me a feeling of freedom. After going through the Project 333 site a little more thoroughly, I came across a MAGICAL piece of clothing that now has me salivating at the thought of being able to purchase one in April 2013: The Versalette.........check it out below! The best part, its made here in the USA!


Besides the Versalette, I am desperately trying to find ways to save me and the wonderful boyfriend money so we can save more, pay stuff off, and eventually TRAVEL! With that being said, I was able to view an amazing webinar about finances that really helped me change my outlook on money and what a consumer I am....being a female, I never really realized how many hair products, different shampoos, soaps etc I have that have just been sitting in my bathroom, expiring or wasting away (yes hair products and makeup do expire if you didnt know that).....so, my ultimate goal is going to be to use up the crap I have accumulated and to buy more eco friendly/made in the USA items. I didn't realize how many artisans here in the USA sell their goods and they are actually the same as if you were to buy them at the store......I love handmade goods and this one I found this week supports a great cause...

This guy handmakes bracelets from old military uniforms and sells his bracelets for different causes. Great idea!
http://www.shopb4a.com/

Well, that's all I have for right now! Have a great week people!

Janelle

Digital media and projects!

Hola everyone!
So today I realized how much we actually use digital media to get our ideas out there as well as to portray a certain image of ourselves across the board. Well, this being my second semester as a Digital Media Studies majorette, I realized how much I really wasn't in "tune" with my own type of degree. So, I went out......I researched.....I bought books........and now I can gladly say I am now a blogger, website creator, and hopefully soon I will be able to say I am a website designer (where you actually use code) to create awesome webpages that maybe, just maybe can help advance my career. Anywho, I just wanted to share some of my website creations using Wix, these will do for now until I take web design in the fall and I can officially design my own sites. Take a look, leave a comment, have fun! Thanks!

My CDMA website for school: http://uhclcdma.wix.com/cdma

My personal site for my work (still in progress): http://jpfife.wix.com/janjan

My site for my (eventual) pet sanctuary (still a work in progress): http://www.lolasladen.com/

Have a great day ya'll!

Janelle

House projects galore!

I love the house that me and Nathan live in, and if we are super lucky, we will be able to purchase it after the summer once our lease is up. With that being said, our house is very cute and was remodeled by the owner prior to being rented. BUT, if we buy our house I would like to do a few other things, here's a couple pictures of our house before we buy, these are from when we first moved in :)

Our kitchen with tile and laminate, I would keep the tile in the kitchen and pull up the laminate:

Dream tile:

I would tile the entire house mainly because we have so many animals, so much easier to clean! :)
For our backyard, since our gate is still yet to be built and we have decided to have a double door gate, I would love to have this gate.....

In our master bedroom, we have one really large closet that is split into two sides, so I would like to turn one side into a mini office space instead of using an entire spare room as an office like I am now......this is cute and practical!
My office:

Dream office:


For the other side I would like to completely re-vamp it into something like this.....I believe they used the Container Store's Elfa System, which if you have ever been to the container store it's a little pricey depending on what you are buying, so I guess I'd have to save up for this.......
My closet:

Dream closet:

I would also like to re-blind the house- we have those ugly cheap metal blinds now, with these blinds, they are solar efficient, and look cool!
Current living room and blinds:

Dream blinds:

Ok so we don't really have a "laundry room", it's basically a hole in the wall in our garage big enough to fit a washer and dryer with the hookups, but I would like to dress it up a teeny bit to maybe look like this (and get a new washer/dryer to go with it! lol)




For our backyard, well, it's currently in progress:
Our current back yard (Picture to be posted soon):

Dream backyard:


Firepit (fire glass!):


Dog house ideas for the backyard:


To hide the air conditioning unit:


Of course none of these renovations will happen until we buy the house, but I can dream until then.... :)

Makeup, hair and other crap

Okay, so I've decided to use this blog for various reasons from here on out:
1) To discuss fitness ideas/workouts/products
2) To share craft projects I have created/plan on creating
3) To share travel ideas/places with pictures from trips I take
4) To discuss various items going on today, in the media, and around the world
5) To talk about my favorite products, stuff that I have learned to love, and my favorite philanthropies that sell products
6) Discussing my personal goals, what I'm currently working on, and what I plan on doing in the future......


SO with that being said if you don't want to read about any of this stuff, don't read my blog! I will try and update daily, but with my busy work and school schedule it may or may not happen, either way, bear with me :)

So my blog for today is talking about makeup, which if you KNOW ME you know I don't like wearing a lot of it, but here's a list of some of my FAVORITES! I know that a lot of you may think the crap I buy is expensive, BUT I would rather pay a little bit more for a GREAT product than a lot for a bunch of crappy products, so in the end I really don't spend much since my makeup goes a long way and lasts me 6 months+ for each item :)

Jane Iredale Pure Pressed Base SPF 20 Foundation ($52) (Beyond Beaute in Deer Park or online)
AWESOME mineral powder, doesn't look cakey, which most mineral powders seem to do on my face since I have combo oily skin, I know its a little pricey, but seriously, a LITTLE goes a long way! I'm guessing my compact will last at least 6 months or longer, we will see! Oh yeah, cool fact, comes in a really NICE gold compact (metal not plastic) so you only have to buy the refills! Refills save you about $12 :)


Jane Iredale Lash Extender and Conditioner ($16.50) (Beyond Beaute in Deer Park or online)
Okay, I haven't really tried any other lash conditioner or extender, but I LOVE this one, primarily because it helps your lashes to grow as well as works as a primer and makes your mascara really pop! Put this on first, let it dry and then mascara yourself and your good to go! :)

Stila Forever Your Curl Mascara ($23 @ Ulta)
I bought this cause the girl at Ulta said it would hold a curl, I don't have a favorite mascara, I'm always looking for the best one out there and so far I haven't found it. This mascara is pretty cool, it actually curls your lashes throughout the day and keeps the curl.

NYX Creme Brulee ($5)
Bought this stuff to try out and OMG love this! Does not look cheap-y and gives a glossy shine, not too much though :) Comes in a bunch of other colors but I like being as close to natural as possible :)

Jane Iredale Absence Oil Control Primer 1 ($37) (Beyond Beaute in Deer Park or online)
This stuff is AWESOME at keeping oil at bay...use a foundation brush to put it on (draw diagonals each way on your face to blend in) and it keeps your face fresh for a good chunk of the day :) I won't say all day because I do have oily skin, but most of the day...

Lorac Unzipped ($40) (Ulta or Sephora)
Since I don't like looking un-natural, I bought this palette because it has all the natural colors you may need for day or night, it even comes with a baby eye shadow primer :) The colors are great and don't crease with the use of a primer (I use primers for eyeshadow and foundation to make sure my oil doesn't make my makeup cakey). Great palette!

NARS Blush in Super Oragasm ($28 at Sephora)
This blush is great, it goes on light but has a bit of shimmer, adds a natural glow :)


Jason Lavendar Body Wash (about $10 depending on where you go, sold at HEB)
I will never use another body wash (unless it is anything with mint!), I love the smell and how relaxing it is, especially after a hard day or a good workout. LOVE!


DHC Cleansing Oil ($28 on DHC website or Amazon)
Came across this cleanser in a magazine, said it had great benefits so decided to try it......it's a cleansing oil that will not dry out or break out your face! Since using it my face has been clearing up and my exzema is slowly starting to go away :) The only thing is when using it your hands and face have to be dry, you only need a LITTLE squirt, rub into your face for a minute or so and then wash, it seriously dissolves all makeup, including the waterproof kind. Amazing.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ($11 at walmart, but you can buy a double pack at sam's club for $18)
This is my favorite go to cleanser, it's cheap and will last me about 8 months for the large bottle. This is made by dermatologists so it has the right ingredients to get your skin feeling clean.

Clarisonic Mia ($129 at Sephora)
I got one of these back in 2010 I believe, this will gross you out! The way it works is you are supposed to squirt face wash in the center, (can NOT have those bead things in the face wash, it will ruin the clarisonic) and then start going in circles around your face, I want to say it turns off after a minute or two to let you know you should be done......yeah my brush head was almost brown from all the makeup lol.......works great though, but it's not a necessity.

It's a 10 Miracle Hair Mask (I think $23ish? Sold at hair salons)
This is a 3 minute hair mask you put on and leave on in the shower, then after 3 minutes wash off. I don't use any other hair products once I've used this, it makes your hair EXTREMELY soft, even with straightening. Great product.

It's a 10 Miracle Leave In Treatment with Keratin ($ depends on size of bottle but between $20 and $30)
This is like the above product but used outside of the shower when your hair is still damp. Just a few sprays helps detangle your hair and makes it soft when you blow dry and straighten.


Well that's all I got for my "BEAUTY SEGMENT" lol, tomorrow I will be posting about my home projects I hope to start in the near future :)

Janelle

So is that like, car tint on your eyes?

This is mostly directed to all my lady friends (maybe some guys lol). So yesterday I decided to pamper myself a bit by having my eyelashes and eyebrows tinted at Beyond Beaute here in Deer Park. The process took about an hour or so, and I was definitely skeptical, but the girl who did it was awesome! For my eyelashes it almost looks like I have a bit of eyeliner on the top and bottom (not super noticeable) but if I went without mascara you would be able to tell the difference. My eyebrows are not fake looking, just look a bit more full. Anywho, it's safe for contact wearers since its a vegetable oil and all natural and will last 4-6 weeks but maybe a bit longer for the lashes. Def worth the money! So, if you hate putting on makeup as much as I do, maybe this is the solution for you, it was $19 for lashes and $25 for brows. Oh yeah, you have to go see Hong, she is hilarious and does a great job! :) The End!

My Favorite Philanthropic Companies

So I said I would get together a list of all my favorite companies that not only sell GREAT products, but donate a HUGE chunk of their earnings back to the people, whether it be here in the US or in a far off land outside of this great nation. Oh yeah at the bottom I will also put my favorite brands of various things as well and I will tell you why........ENJOY! :)

1) Humanwrit.es (yes that is the website) - I found this org sells nice journals and for every journal purchased (they're extremely reasonable and nice looking) 10 books are donated to schools in need.

2) Indosole - They sell cute flip flops and shoes with the bottoms being made out of tires! For every 2 pairs of shoes/flops they sell it keeps one tire out of the landfill.

3) 31 Bits (31bits.com) - They sell cute Ugandan jewelry that allows women in Uganda to start working for them and eventually become independent and own their own business.

4) Full Circle Exchange (fullcircleexchange.com) - cute handicrafts for the home or person, empowers women to overcome financial duress and rise above it.

5) Together We Rise (togetherwerise.org) - Sell cute teddy bear stickers and t-shirts, 100% of their profits go towards their cause, giving foster children a brighter future by creating fun events to get them interacted and engaged, great cause!

6) Bark Box (barkbox.com) - Each BarkBox is a monthly subscription that sends your doggy super cute chew toys as well as snacks and other awesome high quality goodies, well worth the money! Cheaper than going to Petsmart to buy new toys and snacks! Anywho, 10% of all proceeds are donated to a local shelter or animal rescue, I am a big advocate of this company! :)

7) Sseko Designs (ssekodesigns.com) - Uganadan women create super cute sandals with interchangeable straps to enable themselves to become more independent. This company also advocates that the women involved in this company go to college to become more educated to be able to find jobs or open their own business. I personally have a pair of these sandals and they are SUPER CUTE!

8) Toms (toms.com) - Most people have heard of toms, for each pair sold they donate a pair to a child in need. More recently they started selling sunglasses as well, for each pair sold they will donate a pair of eyeglasses to a child in need. Great company! Oh yeah, and their shoes are comfy and practical! :)

9) Punjammies (punjammies.com) - AKA The International Princess Project - This company helps former trafficked women/sex slaves get involved in creating their own income via pajama pants. These are super cute and the money generated from these pajama pants are what these women get paid to support themselves and their families. Sizes are true to size, VERY cute capri pajamas and pants.

10) Charms for Charity (charmsforcharity.org) - This org was actually created by a sorority sister of mine who has a love for animals (like me!) so each charm purchased helps an animal in need (100%!)  and all the money goes to numerous animal rescues in need.

11) Krochet Kids International (krochetkids.org) - basically the same concept as Punjammies and Sseko, except this company also has people they help in Peru. They sell cute crocheted beanies as well as cute t-shirts, scarves, and more. Check this company out!

12) Mimi Green (shopmimigreen.com) - This company is not necessarily like the rest, but they create high quality handmade dog collars that you can actually have embroidered with your dogs' name and your phone number...these can be completely customized and are made here in the USA :) With that being said, although they do not donate a specific percentage of sales, they do donate a lot to the New Mexico Pug Rescue. All collars that are discontinued or not quite perfect collars are donated to this rescue for pugs waiting to be adopted. I've ordered two collars from them recently and can't wait to see the end result! :)

Well, that's all I've got for right now, but if you have any orgs you would like to share please do! I am always about supporting a great cause! :) Have a great day ya'll! :)

Things to do before I die, great title for my first blog ever right? LOL

So with this being my very first blog, I figured I would go out with a bang and make a personal achievement list of things I would like to do before I die, basically to keep myself accountable to the world for either achieving these things or not. I have a lot of crazy ideas in my head that make people wonder, why the hell would she want to do that? But I love learning and experiencing, especially as I get older because of the fact that you only have one life to live, so why not make the most of it? Well so here goes on my first blog, my bucket list :

1) Visit Australia, I've always wanted to go there and I am fascinated by its beauty and the crazy shit you can see there that you can't see anywhere else in the world. (Great barrier reef anyone?)

2) Visit Ecuador to see the Galapagos Islands before they are ruined by tourists, beautiful country from what I've seen in pictures.

3) Skydive!

4) Buy land, a couple of chunks, all in Texas of course, but mainly in the Hill Country and around the Houston area.

5) Create my animal sanctuary (on my land of course!) so that I can rescue and re-home animals from shelters that have a high kill rate (or those I find on the street lol).

6) Create a tiny house, by hand, with very little help, I took engineering classes and will be obtaining my associates in engineering design graphics this semester, why the hell not? I want something I built myself, people build houses all the time, why the hell not me? Take a look at some of the houses I'm interested in:

Cute 2 bedroom house -> http://tinyhouseswoon.com/sauvie-island-tiny-house/

Cute coastal house, LOVE THIS! -> http://tinyhouseswoon.com/the-edge/

Elegant small house -> http://tinyhouselistings.com/smallworks-elegant-lane-cottage/

And of course, my original tiny house pic, although not more than a 200 square feet really makes one maximize space, maybe could be used as an outdoor office to get away? -> http://tinyhousetalk.com/candices-tiny-tack-house/

7) Be completely financially stable, that means NO DEBT, no student loans, no credit card balances, NOTHING........I am hoping to be there in a couple years, student loans and their interest rates are killer though.......

8) Buy the house Nathan and I are currently living in this year, doing a few remodel things to the floor and having it paid off within 10 years or less.

9) Do a Eurotrip of my own! I want to visit Austria (see my friend Nina!), Germany, Italy, Croatia, Switzerland, and maybe France.........this would be a backpacking trip ONLY! No suitcases allowed lol.....I've always wanted to do a backpacking trip!

10) Visit New Zealand, a very outdoorsy country, ahhh gotta love it!

11) Visit Ireland, as much as it rains there it is still a beautiful country and I definitely need to go here.

12) Visit Alaska! Enough said!

13) Go whitewater river rafting in Colorado, West Virginia, AND Alaska.

14) Retire before I'm 55.

15) Ride a hot air balloon.

16) When I retire, I want to live self sufficient of needing to pay for anything.

I know my list is somewhat short, but I know what I want to do with my life, it's just having the means to do these things and not get in over my head financially but still being able to have fun. I have a wonderful support system at home (Nathan, the dogs, the cats, and the guinea pigs) as well as a great family who has always told me I can do whatever I set my mind to. I will be turning 28 next month so I better get onto planning some of these things, my goal is to complete at least 5 of these goals within 5 years :)

Janelle