TBT: Treasure Chest

This is one of my all time favorite blog posts. I originally wrote it in May 2011, when I was struggling with a lot of friendships and relationships. I'm happy to say that my friend who came up with this analogy is still a friend of mine today. She is the girl who promised she would never leave...which may not sound like much to some people, but to me, it means the world!

My friend's sister came up with this analogy when she was in high school and I think it's very warrior queen so I wanted to share it. It's my new philosophy that I've adopted. It encompasses all aspects of life in dealing with people and (sometimes) their toxicity.

Inside each and every one of us, there is a treasure chest of gems - rubies, diamonds, gold colins, emeralds, etc. And before we form a relationship with anybody, we must evaluate if their treasure will be as valuable as the treasure we are giving them. This is true in any relationship, whether it be friendship (what originally sparked this conversation), a relationship (which is what started the philosophy) or any sort of partnership.
Basically, is this person going to be as good to you and for you as you are to them? Too many times we form bonds and relationships with people who are just not a great match. We like to try to fix them, but no one can fix another person, they must fix themselves. You can offer ideas and advice and support them, but why support something that is toxic and will only drain you? This becomes a parasitic relationship and you will resent that person.
Now the part that I was struggling with is that I have been feeling deceived. When these relationships of mine began they were anything but toxic. Our treasure was of equal value. But as time wore on, my treasure held its value (as it always does because I'm more focused on relationships than anything else) but theirs did not.

People change, circumstances change, events transpire...but it does not mean that the treasure I was originally given is cubic zirconia compared to my diamonds. It just means that that relationship has expired. It can be renewed in the future, perhaps if the value hasn't deteriorated completely.


It's like this:

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. For every e-book purchased I will receive commission. 

 Creating a Beautiful Little Christmas.

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Post Exchange and a Liebster Award

Hello new bloggy friends!

I do hope you come and stay for awhile. This blog is all about being positive, finding the good in ourselves and making changes in the world around us. In short, we're moving in our own way!

There's been a lot of growth in my blog recently and I cannot even express how grateful I am for all of this. I started my blog as a means to following my dream of starting a magazine for teen / college age girls about being themselves and finding the good in life [and escaping some of those stigmas that other magazines give. I don't want to read just about fashion and makeup but about other stuff TOO. Enter Warrior Queen - the someday magazine that will give you the other stuff to read right after you read Seventeen...or before, I'm not picky].

I happened to be nominated for another Liebster award this past week. Thank you Stefanie @ The Husak Household. She's truly amazing. We met through a Carabox exchange and I just adore her.

Since I did a Sunshine Award last week, I will not be nominating anyone, but the questions are perfect for you to get to know me a little better.

Did I mention I also partook in Just Jacq's Post Exchange for October? It was fantastic!! I got matched with Elizabeth from Army Ever After. This lucky girl lives in Hawaii with her army husband and I truly hope I get to visit and go hiking with them someday - she even told me it's okay if I complain the whole hike.

The Post Exchange is an easy exchange each month. You can sign up for November here. You spend a month getting to know a partner and at the end of the month you send each other an encouraging card. No need to buy a gift, although you can if you'd like.

Now, for my favorite thing - a survey!

This award is given to new or up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers...the award is then passed along to other bloggers in the same category to help spread the word and support one another. Here's what you have to do:

1. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.

2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, then create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award to.

3. Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them in your post.

4. Go back to their page and tell them about the award.

5. No tag backs.



11 Random Facts About Me:

1. I give everything I can to everyone I can, but I still think I should be giving more.

2. I have a horrible inability to keep things clean.

3. My brain runs at a speed of 100mph. The things I say sometimes don’t make sense.

4. Every day I try to challenge myself to do something new or to be a better person.

5. I have 4 cats and a dog, but really only 1 cat is mine.

6. Besides one boy cat as a child, every cat that has been MINE has been black. I heart black cats.

7. I have a very long commute to and from work every day, but I truly love my new job.

8. I don’t know what it means to not be busy.

9. I am learning to enjoy the slow things, a little bit more.

10. I used to go to Nascar races ALL THE TIME.

11. I love song lyrics because they simplify my thoughts in a way that make them easy for others to understand.

The Questions

1. If you had to choose a last supper, what would you choose?

A meal made my by family. COMPLETE. It would have my grandmother’s chili, my other grandmother’s potato salad, some jerky from Papa Frank, potato candy from Papa Buddy, my mom would make me my favorite cake (neopolitan) and my dad would cook carne asada – not tritip. Aunty Nik would give make me carnitas and tamales, because it’s a last meal and you have to stuff your face for that.

2. If you could go back to any era, which era would you go back to and what fashion trend would you rock?

I would love to go back into the 50s, but I would probably be very mad at everyone for trying to boss me around and not let me have too many rights. I would, however, rock the style.


3. What is your ultimate goal for your blog?

To start a magazine!!! I want to grow my readership and support for the magazine so that I won’t fail when I start it. Really! It’s about changing the lives of some impressionable girls and women.


4. How would you describe the perfect home?

Oh! This is easy!! One with love. It probably wouldn’t be clean all the time and the kitchen and living room would truly be lived in. Everyone would be gathered around each other simply being with each other. There would probably be an amazing backyard to host get togethers because 4 walls cannot hold the love that would be in that home. The bedrooms would be doubled up – some even tripled. If you needed a place to stay, that would be the place and those without a home would call it home.


5. If you got $1 million dollars and had to give it all away, how would you share it?
I would give some to my favorite charities and then I would spend the rest on children in “the system”.


6. If you could meet one celebrity, who would you meet and why?

I don’t know. I think I would like to meet Gwen Stefani. I have always wanted to and I really think she could give me some WQ motivation.

7. If you could have any profession (real or made-up) what would you choose to do with your life?

I would be a world changer. I would be out in the trenches working everyday to change the world. I don’t have the tenacity for it…and I suck at being too far from home for longer than a week.


8. Would you rather have someone clean your house every day or do your hair and make-up and dress you every day?

Clean my house!! I am totally in love with the way I look. Hey! I’ve finally mastered eyeshadow and makeup. My style is getting better, but as long as I’m comfy, I don’t mind THAT much. Cleaning though…man…let me tell you. I will splurge on a housecleaner.


9. If you lived the life of a TV character, who would you be?

Jess from New Girl. Easy peasy.


10. What piece of technology can you not live without?

My cellphone. Well…technically any since that is what I do…TEACH technology.


11. Do you know where your ancestors came from (your heritage) and does your family celebrate anything special from their culture?

My dad’s family is from Sonora, Mexico and Europe [we have the geneology]. My mother’s family came to the United States aboard the Mayflower. We don’t celebrate any particular days, but we have many Mexican traditions.

Side note: Here are some of my favorite posts: 

Why I began to Blog

25 before 25

My Favorite Workout Excuses

To My Warrior Princess

Welcome to one of my little slices of the internet :)



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5 Little Grins Week 2 [Link-Up]

<a href="globsoflipstickandclumpsofmascara.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/4fb1b81a9b1ad6d17c9317ea03174589/tumblr_mucw6eXUKG1s3gqbyo1_400.png" alt=" 5 Little Grins " width="350" height="246" /></a>

We'll go ahead and say it: Most people think Mondays suck / are the worst / should die a fire-y death. I'm sure you get the picture.

We've all had our fair share of bad Mondays and bad Tuesdays and just plain ol' bad days. Instead of focusing on the bad, what if we focused on the good things?

What if we focused on the little things that made us smile today, yesterday, last week? Could our whole attitude change? In time, would we find that we're having more good days than bad?

Cassandra, Paulina and I would love for you to join us on our weekly link up counting at least 5 things that made you smile in the last week. We could start our Mondays on this positive note!

Of course, this is all about encouragement, so hop on over to some other blogs and leave a positive note and make a new friend! The Rules! (These are really just kind suggestions)

1. Follow your hosts: Cassandra, Raewyn, and Paulina!

2. Link up your post that includes 5-ish things that made you smile in the past week

3. Comment after you link up

4. Go visit some other blogs and make some friends!

5. Have fun, and don't forget to smile!!

How cute is this survival kit??

We've also got a giveaway! [I know, there are 3 going on right now]

Now to make you grin!

A totally awesome giveaway from Paulina's new sterling silver collection! 

You get to choose one of Paulina's sterling silver bracelets. There is heart & arrow, infinity circles, horseshoe & 4 leaf clover and a cross. Value $35 Not only that but you will also win ad space from the 5 Little Grins Hostess'! Who are Paulina, Raewyn and Cassandra. 

From Color Me Brave - 600 x 100 Banner

From Be A Warrior Queen - 700 x 300 Banner

From The World From The View of Two Teenage Girls - 250 x 250 Banner

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Monday!


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Just Jacq Guest Post: Blue Fashion

Today I've got a different post for you - a guest post! Also, the very first fashionable post to grace this blog. I don't write too many any because I am not fashionable. Didn't you read about how one of my goals is to accessorize and the works every day for a month? Luckily, I've got people like Jacquelyn who can give me affordable, easy and beautiful fashion advice. Enjoy!

-----

Hi everyone! I'm Jacquelyn from justjacq where you can find me writing about all kinds of topics. One of the topics I write about is fashion where I post outfits and include links only to affordable, reasonable items from stores that I would actually shop in and that meet my budget. Every single piece in the outfit I'm wearing today was under $20. When my Grandmom was visiting recently she asked if I liked to wear a lot of blue. I kind of scoffed and said no. In the weeks since I realized I do actually wear a lot of blue. Sorry, Grandmom.



This cardigan and dress were both bought on sale from Target. Ever since I began really cutting down on my spending I refuse to buy anything full price at Target. not when things go on sale so often!



 I was wondering how I'd be able to continue wearing this dress as the weather cools down. Throwing on a cardigan is a perfect option. Later I'll add some tights and boots!



So back to the blue. One of my favorite looks is to wear multiple pieces in varieties of the same color. Adding my new bubble necklace from Bauble Bar is the perfect addition to the mint cardigan and flats from Old Navy I already owned.


 

What color have you been wearing a lot of lately? You can see more of my blue outfits here, here, here, and here! Be sure to come visit me! Blog, Bloglovin’, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.



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Do All With Gratitude

Oh hey Warrior Queens!

I'm excited it's Thursday, are you? I'm also excited about this post on gratitude. A lot of little things are coming together and I am just so forever grateful.

A couple of blogging friends and I are going to start a Monday link-up about being positive in a few weeks and I hope you're ready to join us! We're super excited and I'm trying to be creative and come up with a little button.

In the meantime, I've got Danielle from @ A Writer in Love here to tell us about her gratitude journal! Do you have one of those? They're fantastic!!

I graduated college last December and I couldn’t have been more excited about it.  I was graduating a semester early thanks to Advanced Placement class credit from high school, and I was thrilled about getting a head-start in the grown-up world.  I had a shiny new Bachelor of Arts degree in creative writing, and I wanted to flaunt it!

Then January came around and I realized that being a grown-up was not working out how I had hoped.  I had a bad experience at an internship I’d thought would’ve been perfect for me, and I missed my friends and my campus.  I felt heartbroken whenever I imagined the cozy basement of the school library, where I would read and write and drink too much coffee.  I pined for another Friday evening of drinks and movies in my friends’ apartment.  What was I supposed to look forward to?

I’ve kept a journal for as long as I could remember, but I realized that so much of what I was writing was negative and very sad.  Certainly, a journal is a proper place to write about the things that are bothering you, but getting stuck in all that pessimism can really affect the rest of your life.  So, I remembered something my grandma talked about doing, and I wanted to give it a try.

Keeping a “Gratitude Journal.”

It’s simple, really: take a notebook, or a Word document, or open up the “notepad” app on your smart phone.  Think about the things you are thankful for on that particular day.  Some people choose to keep a bulleted list, where others (like myself) choose to write in paragraphs.  You can be thankful for something big, like your good health, or something small, like the sandwich you ate for lunch.  The idea is just this: focus on writing down the good things.  Even on the worst of days, I guarantee you can find SOMETHING to be happy about.

Yes, I still keep my regular journal.  But as time goes on I spend more time writing positive things in my gratitude journal than lamenting all of the icky, negative things that I used to spend time writing about.  Try it out!

What are you thankful for recently?  

Have a wonderful day,


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Sponsor Spotlight: This Workman Life

Happy October!

October is one of my favorite months! To make today extra special, I wanted to introduce you all to Dani @ The Workman Life.

You probably have seen Dani's button at the bottom of each of my posts for the last couple of weeks. She won the ad space in a giveaway I participated in over at My Show! Below, get to know her and her adorable family a little bit better.

Hey all!
We're the Workmans, I'm Dani, an Aries, a DIY-er, Healthcare professional, Momma and Wife. I'm married to Bubba, a Leo, a soccer fanatic, video game addict, Daddy and Husband. Little Dude is our main man, and he is almost two!
We blog with a sundry of topics, from our life, to tutorials, nail design, reviews, recipes and more! If it is fun, interesting, or something you need to know about, it goes on the blog! We'd love to meet you and have you join us on all our adventures!
See you soon!

Don't forget to check out my favorite posts from September: 

• Super Easy Homemade Donuts - Yum!
• A Dollar Away from a Better Day - such a cute idea for kids! 
• Kilted to Kick Cancer  - Raising awareness on prostate cancer

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The Collective Social Blog Hop

Ah! My first time co-hosting a blog hop! Jump on in :)

Welcome to the weekly blog hop party, The Collective Social Blog Hop.

This is a link up for bloggers who want to gain followers and meet awesome people.

<div class="Peacoats & Plaid" style="margin: 0 auto;"> <br><a href="http://www.peacoatsandplaid.blogspot.com/search/label/the%20collective"><br><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a268/bre916/BLOG/thecollective200_zpsb8a6e82b.jpg" alt="Peacoats & Plaid" height="200" width="200" /><br></a><br></div> <br><!--end button code box--><br><br>

Not sure if this is the blog hop for you? Listen to what other bloggers have to say...

"Just to let you know, your blog hop is the best I've participated in for gaining new friends!!! I couldn't believe the results!! Thank you!"

- Danavee, This Vintage Grove

"I'm dropping by to let you know that I love being a part of your blog hop! 

 I have been meeting really nice bloggers.  Bloggers who are actually friendly and want to connect! 

I'm putting the blog hop button on my side bar, like, permanently!  Everyone should know about it. Just thought I'd share with you. Thank you."

-Vickie, Oh Abby Day

"Hi BreAnna, just want to say that your blog is beautiful, creative, and fun. The GFC collective is one of my favorite parts of the blogging week. Love meeting new friends and fellow bloggers. We just started our blog and were amazed at how helpful the GFC collective is! Keep up the amazing work."

-Alea and Rachael, Sparkle Your Life

"This GFC Collective Hop is seriously one of the best link ups out there! Through this hop I have found so many great blogs & friends that I wouldn't have otherwise found! Thank you so much for hosting such a fun link up! Please take the time to link up & join along! You won't be sorry that you did!"

-Amy @ Keepin' Up With the Smith's

"I'm so excited I found your blog and this wonderful link up! I have met so many new people and found so many wonderful blogs this way. This is a great idea and I'm glad to be a part of it!" xo -Taylor @ Nothing But a Pigeon

Bre @ Peacoats and Plaid

and my co-hosts for the week 

Raewyn @ Warrior Queen

Autumn @ Gypsybeee Vintage

Interested in co-hosting? Send an email to peacoatsnplaid(at)gmail(dot)com to get on the list.

An InLinkz Link-up

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The longing for the ideal weekend

Having a weekend off in my life is rare. So rare it only happens every few months - if I'm lucky. Even more rare, is having a weekend off with Iman. We work in the food industry, and everyone who has ever gone to a restaurant on the weekends knows that weekends are not a day of break for those employees. No, it makes more sense to have a day off on a Monday. But I work a full time M-F job.

You can see the predicament.

We both make sure to have Sunday off to spend time together, be able to attend family functions and breathe. Mostly though, we sleep on Sundays. This weekend, Iman has the entire weekend off. I'm jealous. I work tomorrow morning. But that's okay because once I get off work (did I mention I get to watch the Ohio State game while I work??), we're heading up north of LA to celebrate a friend's birthday. I lived up there when I went to school and Iman moved up that way with me last May. So we have a lot of friends up there. It's only about a 100 mile drive, which is nothing in California buuuut with no time off work / my friends working in the food industry too, seeing each other is close to impossible.

Old blurry pic of the birthday girl and I!

But it's going to happen. We're going to cram as much seeing people time as we can into our Saturday evening and Sunday morning. It won't be a relaxing weekend but it will be a fun one.

On that note, I got thinking about my ideal weekend. I'm not talking about the perfect vacation weekend or anything crazy. I'm just talking about how I'd love every weekend to take place.

It'd start out with sleep, obviously.

But none of this stay in bed until 1 pm stuff that we do on Sundays. This is my ideal weekend, and that means it's going to be relaxing and fun!!

I'd love to go to brunch. I love brunch. We used to do roommate brunch after our brutal Saturday night restaurant closing shifts (and then drinking after, because you gotta party it up at 21) back in the day. I love it.

Adventure shoes

After brunch, I'd like to wander down to the beach or some other fun activity. Mostly, I want to be just lounging around in good company. I want it to be the type of day where the only time people are on their phone is to take pictures, if on their phone at all.

We could kayak! We could go on a beach hike with our toes in the sand. Whenever I think of this, I think of Thousand Steps in Laguna Beach. When you go, if it's the right time of tide, you can get to a secluded beach area.

Beach love in college

In the evening, I'd love to have a barbeque. Friends over, sangria in pitchers and laughter. We could play some fun party games, or just regular board games. A midnight walk to the park would be so much fun!

Of course, we'd go to bed late and sleep in extra late on Sunday morning.

Family days are the best!

But we'd manage to get up and have lunch with our families. I love going to Iman's brothers' basketball games on Sundays. I get prettttyy into it.

That giant is 13. 6'6"...

Sunday night would be an awesome time for a girl's night. Leave the boys to their own devices and have at-home spa makeovers or cocktails at a low-key bar/restaurant.

Ah! It all sounds so wonderful and that little Friday daydream is exactly what I needed to get through the rest of my Friday at work.

Adventure faces

What is your ideal weekend?

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September Blog Goals

Happy September, and HAPPY LABOR DAY! [even though I am working this year...]

In our family we do this crazy competition thing on the first of the month. It doesn't make any sense but my brother's 1st or 2nd grade teacher did it with their class. On the first of the month the first student to say "Rabbit" to her first would receive some sort of a prize. This grew into him saying Rabbit to all of us and a competition between my family and friends. So the first of the month I always wake up invigorated to get bragging rights.

For the first year since I was three, I will not be going back to school. It is a pretty surreal feeling. I am used to coming up with goals and being organized and I'm going to be doing that. But in blog form!

I am really trying to focus on Warrior Queen right now - sharing what the movement is and gaining followers. I am so excited to see my dreams moving forward. Of course I would love to start my magazine but it is deeper than that. If I could just help one girl across the country feel stronger and more true to herself.

So, I wanted to share my September goals.

1. Create a Media Kit
2. Comment on 3 blogs a day
3. Befriend 3 more bloggers
4. Participate in a giveaway
5. Co-host a link-up (probably with Paulina @ Color me Brave)
6. Write 4 more guest blogs
7. Get 1 guest blog post
8. Fix my blog layout (maybe purchase a new design)
9. More pictures!

What are your September goals? 

Ohio State Carabox Wedding Wednesday

Well, if you can't tell, I attempted to craft all of the info that I want to put into one post [because I'm not cool enough to separate it] into one title. In one corner we'll have my love for Ohio State (highlighted in an image or two), in another corner my fabulous Carabox Reveal aaaand as the referee we'll bring in a little neutral Wedding Wednesday :P

My mind is delirious by the way, so that introduction might not make sense. If you follow me on Twitter or Insta you know how bad I am at sleeping and how good I am at working...

I want to start with my Carabox Reveal because I must say how absolutely THRILLED I am to have made friends with these two girls. I was matched with Jessica @ Champagne and Bliss [oh em gee, she lives in OHIO!!]. I sent her a box which I hope she absolutely loves. Go take a look at her reveal ;)

I was also matched with Bri @ Faithful Footprints who has had one rollercoaster of a month but has still managed to send me endless emails and get me the cutest gift box. Hang in there girl!!

Wait a second...did you say you don't know what a Carabox is? Well head on over to Wifessionals to find out. Things are changing for the next Carabox exchange and I am super excited about these changes.

This month's theme was all about ourselves as individuals. We were matched with someone in our age group / life cycle. I chose the group that was married, since I'm engaged and have been living with Iman for over a year now. WOAH.

Bri truly found the most perfect things for me - and I love her little note explaining it all [but not as much as the letter about our friendship!]

First, I saw some chapstick! I seriously cannot have enough of this stuff.

The next thing I opened were muffin mixes! Somehow she had my two favorite muffin flavors....aaand Frosting CREATIONS. Oh em gee, I have been wanting to try these for months, but haven't had any funds for the baking stockpile. [Probably the only thing I stockpile...]

Then some post it notes and fun pens. The office supply store is my heaven...and InkJoy happens to be my favorite pen. Everyone in the office knows that if they see an InkJoy on their desk they better return it to me!

A red mug [for my favorite color...also Ohio State's color...I'm just sayin...] and ginger peach black tea. Uh hi, my name is Raewyn and I love ginger and I love peach and tea is my favorite thing. My lock screen on my phone actually says "A cup of tea makes everything better."

Lastly! So I can have some more pink in my life [Why won't boys let us girls have a pink room in the house??] a "R" decal. I'm plotting the perfect placement of it...

Thank you so super much Bri! I appreciate it all, and especially our newfound friendship. Hang in there tomorrow for your dental procedure!

****

My Wedding Wednesday post is sort of minimal, but a big exciting announcement for myself.

I have mentioned before that Iman and I are paying for our wedding ourselves and sort of struggling with paying for it. But I have faith that everything will work out, especially with such a supportive group of family and friends. I know I keep saying how blessed we are that we have family and friends contributing but I wanted to just highlight how extra appreciative I am.

On Sunday at my brother's birthday dinner, my aunt told me that she'd like to pay for our florist -- to have big extravagant floral arrangement if that's what I wanted. I do prefer something on the small side but this now means that I will have someone setting up the flowers and centerpieces, making the boutineers and bouquets and can do more flowers than I originally thought. I just can't believe it, still.

My family has always been very supportive like this -as a child I spent weeks every summer at this aunt's house on vacation from my brother. Her daughter does the same at our house now. Apparently, her mother in law paid for all of the flower arrangements at her wedding back in the day and she wanted to pass on the favor.

Now I'm getting into flower planning mode! WOO!

One of my best friends, who is making our cupcakes, has also been talking to me a lot lately about the wedding. Currently, she is pregnant [officially announced last week, but I've known for awhile!!!] and due in January. I know my little niece or nephew - they find out next week - will be almost 3 months old at the time, but she will also have a 2 year old with her. I love my munchkin but she's never much help when mama and I bake. I didn't want her stressed out to the max so I asked her about it. Either she will be making them -- they're pretty plain and easy, if you can't tell extravagance is not my thing -- or an old classmate from her Chef school will be doing it at an affordable price.

It is so nice to see such things falling into place. Such a relief with all of the other stress in my life!!!

And one last Wedding Wednesday Ohio Love...I cannot wait to see many of these girls at the wedding!!

Freshman year dorms, Morrill Tower baby!

p.s. Have you checked out our giveaway on My Show?

a Rafflecopter giveaway