5 Vision Board Tips to Help you Slay your Goals

A few weekends ago I went to a vision board party hosted by my friend Monique from Many Sides to Me & Rosalinda.  Monique hosted a little vision board party in 2017 and I was dying for her to host one for 2018!  Last year my Vision Planner was the place I put anything & everything related to the life I wanted to lead in the last year and it helped me so much!

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This year, the vision board meet up started as a little thing.  Something not too big, just at one of their houses, a few close friend & acquaintances.  From what I hear it expanded out to include 70+ invites!  They ended up hosting it at the Miracle Center over in Chicago which was a lovely place.  30+ women attended and all of us shared laughter & a little bit of champagne.  I mean there was a mimosa bar.......

What moved me the most was Monique's willingness to open up about her own planning, blogging, & motherhood journey and how she wishes to devote her life to inspiring other women.  Through just a few tears, she revealed the reason she chose her blog name - Many Sides to Me - is because of how multifaceted her life is.  She's got interests here, there, & everywhere!  During her little speech and through listening to the other women tell as much as they wanted about themselves & their goals for 2018, I realized that womanhood is multifaceted.  It was such an honor to be in a room with women who I didn't know, open up about their lives, challenges, and visions for 2018.

I even met another planner girl, Nubia from Nubia Plans, who finally was able to answer my question "what the heck size is B6?!?".  Everyone there seemed to connect on such a deep level that it truly inspired me to see that magic happens when women gather.

So I started in on my Vision Planner for 2018 at the little meet up.  Luckily there were tons of magazines there to cut up as I only had images I'd pulled from my blog, my Pinterest boards, and my Instagram.  Flipping through magazine after magazine got me incredibly inspired and I want to share with you some tips on making a vision board that works for you :

Host or attend a vision board party

I have to say, like I did above, it is very inspiring to be around individuals that are excited to make small changes in their lives.  Surrounding yourself with this energy is more likely to help you realize what you'd like for your year as well.  Not to mention it gives you time to be social in a supportive atmosphere and encourage your friends to set and reach their goals.  Your party doesn't have to be 50 women gathered it can be your close friends or even family.  Set up a crafty day for you and your BFF!

Break your vision board into areas

It can become overwhelming to think about your whole life and all the things you want to change.  By breaking your board into smaller areas you're more likely to focus on the actionable tasks you can take to improve those sections of your life.  Back in the January Journaling Jump Start, one prompt asked you to think of three areas of your life you'd like to work on.  You can break your board in to areas like home, relationships, & wellness or spiritual, finances, family...the possibilities are endless!  Then you can focus on the small changes you'd like to see in your life in each of those areas and choose images that inspire the changes you'd like to make.  You wan to be able to see yourself living in the images you choose.  If you've like a fun planner insert to help you with feeling your goals this year, join the Printable of the Month Club over on Patreon!

Include images of yourself

Speaking of seeing yourself in your vision board, include images of yourself or photos you've taken that embody the goal you'd like to achieve.  Personally, I include things like images of my What I Wore posts because at those moments I've felt my most authentic self.  I also include images from blog posts, everyday images from instagram, even some from family vacations because in those moments I was living the life I wanted.  And I want to usher more of that in to my life this year!  Seeing that you're already making the changes to live the life you're looking for will inspire you to do more of what makes you feel that way.

Change up the layout

Since I have six areas of my life I like to work on each year I put my vision board into what I call a Vision Planner.  This year it is a 6x9 ish size, disc bound grided notebook that I paste images into.  There are 6 dividers and I get really creative with it.  But you can use a notebook (the common place book is really popular right now), digital software, pocket scrapbooking pages...anything that inspires you.  If you're not really feeling the actual board part of the vision board - maybe for lack of space - create another place for your vision for the year that you will look at everyday.  I kept my 2017 Vision Planner right next to my computer on my desk so I could flip through it often.  This year as I continue to work on the Vision Planner, I have mine in my new Raskog planner cart!

Make a Mini Board

Carrying the inspiration for the life you want to live around with you is a great reminder to keep making small changes everyday.  In my Mini Happy Planner I made a smaller vision board with the available pocket pages.  Add in your main focus for the year, then add something about each of your areas.  Then use each of the pockets for an image or quote that inspires you to work towards your vision.  In mine, I used images from my life to remind me there are moments where I'm perfectly aligned and to usher in more of those moments daily!

A vision board is a great practice to get into at the beginning of the year (or anytime you need to align your intentions!).  Its not too late to get started on yours for 2018, either.  Gather up some friends or your favorite inspiring podcast and flip through those magazines & Pinterest boards.  Layout the life you'd like to lead then make small changes daily so you can see yourself in the pictures.

Check out Moe's blog Many Sides to Me for wonderful printables, planning & goal setting tips, as well as a look into her life juggling mommyhood & ambition.  (ps. she does it extremely well).  Follow her on Instagram and check out her YouTube channel if you want to see more inspiring content from her!

Do you have a vision board for 2018?  What do you want to bring more of into your life?

xoxo, Moe

Make it Monday // DIY Makeup Remover with Essential Oils

As you may (or may not) know, I am trying to focus on moving to a cruelty free lifestyle.  (You can read my transition guide here.)  I'm focusing mainly on cleaning & beauty products this year and part of that, I'm realizing, is also going eco friendly.  I decided that I didn't need to be using something like a single use makeup wipe on the daily.  First off, I'm not quite sure what those things are made of.  Secondly, I'm already using some products that I know will treat my skin a little bit better.

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I wear makeup at least 3-4 times a week, often more, so I'm going through these wipes so fast!  Now I imagine the bags and bags of semi-fabric-semi-paper-towel-probably-heavily-plastic wipes that I've personally thrown away.  No more!  Now I use a more sustainable option that is nourishing to my skin.

supplies // fractionated coconut oil (or other carrier oil of your choice), essential oils, container

So, how do you make it?

This DIY couldn't be simpler - combine 5-10 drops of your essential oil of choice & fractionated coconut oil into your container.  The container I show above is only stainless steel on the outside, the inside is coated in plastic.  If you choose to use a citrus oil be sure your entire container is either glass or stainless steel.  The citrus oil can degrade the plastic and cause it to leech the plastic into your oil.

Daily, I use lavender, frankincense, and melaleuca (tea tree oil) for my skin.  The lavender scent is super calming at the end of the day!

And here's how to put it to use!

Use one pump in clean hands and massage into face to dissolve your makeup. It is seriously that easy.  As a note, be careful around sensitive areas - like your eyes.  Since the oil is heavily diluted, I personally haven't had any problems rubbing it around my eyes to remove mascara, etc.  If you'd like more targeted application, use 100% cotton rounds.  I've even heard of people sewing their own reusable rounds out of flannel and fleece to be more sustainable!

After you've massaged the remover over your face to break up the makeup, run a wash cloth under hot water (not too hot!) and place over your face.  Use this guy the same way you'd use your makeup wipe.  You may want to invest in some nice baby washcloths since they are a bit gentler.  Rinse the washcloth in hot water after use to remove the makeup & oil from the cloth.  The best part is you can wash the washcloth with your clothes!  Fractionated coconut oil doesn't stain fabrics - you won't find those horrible little oil stains like from an oily dressing on your clothes.  

You could use other carrier oils but you may find that they aren't that great for skin, for example virgin coconut oil is considered comedogenic (meaning it is known to clog pores).  Fractionated coconut oil is thought to be significantly less comedogenic.  As a person with oily skin who previously used virgin coconut oil on my skin, I can say that fractionated coconut oil has really improved my complexion!  I'm sure the fact that I'm also using lavender, tea tree, and frankincense has helped too!

Essential Oils for the Skin

There are a lot of different essential oils on the market today so I want to make a note here on the quality of oils you should use.  Since our skin is our hugest organ and our skin absorbs what we put on it, it is important to make sure we are using pure essential oils - oils that lack any additives that may decrease the purity or potency of the oil.  The brand I suggest is doTERRA.  This brand provides Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade oils:

"The CPTG process certifies that there are no added fillers, synthetic ingredients, or harmful contaminants in their essential oils that would reduce their efficacy. doTERRA even goes a step further, putting all their products and the packaging through a battery of tests to ensure a long and effective shelf-life. This protocol ensures potency, purity, and consistency batch to batch." (source)

Above is a list of 6 essential oils perfect for use in your DIY makeup remover.  Each of these oils is said promotes healthy skin & a side benefit is the amazing aroma each oil offers.  It truly can make this simple act a mindful, self care ritual!  My skin has evened out and my makeup routine is so simple now - check out my 15 minute routine here.

Essential oils have become an integral part of my everyday life.  You can find the 8 ways I currently use essential oils here and sign up above to get my free ebook on using essential oils for practical & spiritual use!  If you'd like to learn how essential oils can change your mind, body, & spirit shoot me an email, I'd love to chat with you!

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Follow along on Instagram and join the Five Sixteenths | Live Creative Facebook Group for more inspiration.

How do you use essential oils daily?  Are you switching gears with your beauty products this year?

xoxo, Moe

Ready to start your Essential Oil Journey? 

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3 Ways to Jump into a Yoga Routine // Yoga for Beginners

Everyone seems to sets a goal to get healthy at the beginning of each year.  This year, since I'm focusing on my work authentic I want to continue to participate in a exercise that serves me.  This exercise is Yoga.  About mid 2017 (maybe earlier) I decided it was time to start trying this thing called Yoga out!  During my journey with mindfulness, Yoga kept coming up for me.  I realized that Yoga was a way to show up for yourself & for your health.

First off, and I'm sure a lot of us are like this - exercise isn't fun.  I don't get anything immediately out of it except soreness and a resolve that I don't have time for this.  But yoga....man yoga connects a lot of you.  It can be as easy or as challenging as you want, which is what I like.  (I may be wrong, but there's no easing into something like running....you're either moving, or your not.  And I have zero time to be lifting weights).  Yoga gives me the instant satisfaction that I've gotten something out of the last 10, 20, 30 + minutes of my time spent on the mat.  I feel like I've actually achieved something.  Yoga connects you to your soul.  Yoga connects your mind to your body.  Yoga asks you to show up to the mat and it gives you the opportunity to show up in the way you are able & the way you need to.  Do you need a block? Great, grab one, keep going.  Do you need to put down a knee? Great, do it, keep going.  It only asks that you show up for yourself, in the way you need, today, tomorrow, and the next.

I love yoga for that reason.  As a plus size lady a lot of exercise isn't built for us in the way we need it.  Some may disagree with me, and that is fine, but I feel a lot of exercise asks us to push ourselves only on the physical level - you're burning calories, increasing stamina, building muscles.  And that is fine & dandy if that's what you need.  But I feel like yoga asks you to talk to your body.  How are you breathing?  Where are you feeling the stretch?  Are you stretching farther than yesterday?  What is your body feeling in this pose?  It is a connection.  It is a flow.  And that is why I love it.  You're flowing with your body, one fluent movement after another.  You're challenging your body all while you're listening to it. 

So if you're interested in starting yoga but not sure if you're totally down for it, here are some of my thoughts :

Get clear on your goals

Why do you want to start yoga?  What will you get out of a yoga practice?  For me mindfulness & a connection to myself all while participating in an activity that gets me moving is the reason I do yoga.  Depending on the level of your yoga flow you can really work up a sweat!  I am just trying to build a flow so when I am looking for a routine online or a class I am looking for beginner yoga, mindful yoga, or stretching sequences.  I'm not looking for fat burning or extremely fast paced yoga.  Under this umbrella, decide when yoga will fit into your life.  Are you going to go to a class?  Is this a morning routine?  Is this something you'll do on the weekend?  Personally, I choose to do yoga as a part of my morning routine.  This means I'm getting my blood pumping and my mind connected to my body at about 5:30am on the weekdays.  I'm looking for stretching sequences or longer flows.  My favorite routines to follow often have the words mindful or stretch in the title.

Grab your gear & props

I'm going to focus on the fact that I'm a plus size gal, but a lot of this is the same for beginners as well.  You may not have as much range of motion or even any work out gear so these are great for beginners as well.  The first thing I started out with was a mat. leggings, and a sweatshirt.  Honestly you don't need a mat or any clothes (if your down for that!) but it helps.  The mat mainly gives you the scope of the area you need to be working it.  It helps you to understand where your body should be and, for me, helps me align my feet since I can see the contrast between my mat and the floor.  I also recommend blocks & a strap.  If you're range of motion isn't that expansive or your just not used to putting your body in certain poses, blocks and straps can help you modify poses so that you are able to move into them.  I love that the flow of yoga supports modification with out you feeling like a loser for needing it.  For me, if I can't follow you, do what you do, and keep up then I feel like a failure.  Why am I doing something I can't do?  When I can't get through an exercise routine and feel successful....you can bet I'm not going to do it again.  Yoga isn't like that.  There are plenty of yoga flows and routines that allow you to feel connected & successful....with or with out modifications!

Don't wait for a class

We live in the age of the internet, folks.  That means there are a ton of yoga instructors to follow on social media & places like YouTube.  I think that I was super lucky to have found Sarah Beth Yoga on YouTube as soon as I set my mind to embark on this yoga path!  She is amazingly gentle, easy to listen too, and offers side by side modifications.  Don't wait to go to a yoga class!  If you have that in your mind (and you're like me) you'll find every excuse not to go.  Or, you'll build up so much anxiety on the judgement that might be passed on you.  People can judge...yoga can not.  If you're searching for yoga flows on YouTube try using terms like beginner, mindful, and stretch.  To ease yourself in do shorter flows, 10 to 15 minutes, so that you're feeling successful and therefore motivated.  I know shorter flows helped me to feel like I was able to do this...that yoga was something I could feel successful at!  I save longer routines for when I'm really pumped or have more time (like the weekends!).  One of my goals this year is to work longer flows into my self care on the weekends.

These three areas can really help you decide if yoga is for you and why it might serve you.  Connecting the mind & the body is a key part of yoga.  This can really help you move into a healthy routine & get moving.  You can get a ton out of yoga, not just mindfulness - you can build flexibility, build muscle, burn fat, build stamina, and gain strength.  Just start & see where you go.

Why are you considering yoga?  What had yoga shown you?

xoxo, Moe