No One Decision is Right OR Wrong

The past few months I have been tossing around a thought about decisions. Specifically, decisions being either right or wrong.

Decisions are often portrayed as two options: the true path, the one that shall lead us towards the light at the end of our tunnel, or the ugly path, the one that will only bring trouble and discomfort.

With this outline, it should be easy to make decisions! Just pick the GOOD one - the RIGHT one - and all will be well. Right?

Uh, no.

Right and wrong are not that simple.

This past summer I found myself consoling my mom with the statement, "It's not right or wrong; it just is."

I shocked myself in saying this. It came without thought, but how true it rang!

Decisions (for the most part) are not good OR bad, right OR wrong, they just ARE.

Each one has consequences, both good and bad, and some decisions will make us happier than others.

That's it.

The choice between staying or moving: Staying could mean a stable job you've had for years, friendly neighbors you trust your kids to speak with, or just close proximity to loved ones. Moving could mean seeing a part of the country or world you never have, an exciting job opportunity you might never get again, or getting away from a toxic environment.

The choice between laying a mortgage down on a new house or taking yourself on a trip to Europe. A mortgage means a place to start a family, a stable place to call home, or just plain independence. Taking that trip could mean crossing off items on your bucket-list, seeing the world before starting a family, or just allowing yourself to do something crazy for once.

No matter which choice you go with, the choice is not WRONG unless it FEELS wrong to YOU.

Your gut knows best. It knows what you REALLY want, even if you can't decipher it immediately.

So, listen to your gut and choose whatever path makes you feel happiest and freest.

Note: Topics like murder, racism, sexism, or just plain cruelty are different. Your choices in how you speak + act towards other people, cultures, etc. should be made sensitively and CAN be wrong, even if YOU don't feel it is.  

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Life Lately in IG Photos

tiger pose

flying warrior variations

In honor of one of my October goals, I have joined the #SizeDoesntMatter yoga challenge on Instagram! This month has been hosted by @biggalyoga + @yogimj - two awesome ladies showing that yoga isn't just for thin, white women. 

photobooth friday

my favorite color... pink!

Joined by Katelin, I've been participating in #lovetober hosted by @galadarling! 

There have been fall walks + football games wrapped up in rain jackets and scarves. 

I have dropped love notes here + there!

And I have been getting in the holiday spirit with pumpkin purchasing, warm drink drinking, scary movies before bed, + a trip to Harry Potter World Studio Tours on the horizon. 

If you aren't yet, follow me on Instagram here! 

What has October looked like for you lately? 

P.S. I realize there are some wacky font changes going on - I've noticed blogger will do this on the occasional post. I hope it doesn't bother you as much as it does me! 

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Anger + Love, My Authenticity

a little love note 

Being honest but reacting less.

Staying Authentic means having opinions that you don't agree with,

but being told I'm rude makes me question -

What is Authentic?

I don't want to hurt you, me...

I want to fight without anger, but anger is all I feel when

I'm passionate.

Too big for one room; too small at home.

How much of my personality is perfect? Enough?

Where do I find that peaceful balance and

how?

Sometimes I am perfect, enough...

With values for humanity, kindness, and love; with

fierce loyalty that bares sharp teeth in the best ways.

Movement of my body that is fed and watered well.

Edgy haircuts, nose rings, and a style exuding comfort and confidence.

A girlfriend I kiss every night. Warmth when I hold her hand. Steadiness in our relationship.

Sometimes I am empty, lonely...

Guilt-ridden for things I've said, fierce with anger; for irritability every period

with cravings that bring tears.

Feelings of doubt and hopelessness. Unworthiness -

followed by anger at the lies spinning round my head.

Anger.

So much anger.

Thrown at her. Blamed on the world; on my depression; on too much caffeinated coffee.

Yet so much love.

Love for life - my life - for this world, for her, for days spent in the rain under a blanket.

How do I find balance?

To live with both so strong...

I struggle to find balance.

To find my authenticity.

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Review: The Body Shop Seaweed Skin Care Set

I've been using this skincare set for a little over a month now, and I am in love. Within a day of trying these products my skin was satin-smooth, + after a few days of use I saw a notable reduction in blackheads around my nostrils (where I get them worse). 

You can get each of these individual products in larger sizes at The Body Shop in stores and online, but I got a tester set since I had only sporadically used my girlfriend's face wash + was unsure of what I liked + would actually use. It cost 11 pounds (18 dollars) which I think is a great deal. 

All of the products came in the mesh packaging seen above - basically their own make-up bag! I find this handy to keep all of them together rather than spread across the bathroom counter or shuffled among my make-up in another bag. 

Ok, onto the individual reviews! 

One fault I find with The Body Shop packaging is that it really doesn't explain what a product is for + how to properly use it. And, being me, I'm too lazy to look it up.

So, never having used toner + having no real clue what it is, I just started throwing it on in the mornings before my moisturizer to freshen + wake up my skin.

Make-up remover cloths (just the cheap ones) work great to dump some toner on + pat it across my face. I tried my hands + a wash rag, but this method is the easiest without wasting product.

My skin feels so dewy + bright after I apply this toner rather than stiff + tight like it often does upon waking up or after a shower. I've gone through about half the bottle + I definitely plan on buying this in a larger size when I run out!

You can find this product here.

After the toner, I immediately apply this moisturizer. It's a very small tub, but a little goes a long way. It'll be a while until I run out of this, + I'm not angry about it.

This day cream is heavier than the night treatment (a little too heavy?), but feels so good right out of the shower + quickly helps even out my skin color.

I will say if your face is feeling oily + the toner doesn't ease that, you might want to go for a lighter moisturizer. This can make me feel a bit greasy on the days I don't shower.

This product is here.

Omg. I love, love, love this face wash.

It goes on very smooth with immediate relief as I scrub it into my face. This is great for sensitive skin like mine! It doesn't burn, pinch, or feel like anything really. A small pump on each cheek, my nose, chin, forehead, + temples, then I usually leave it on a few minutes before wiping it gently off with warm water. It's just like... ahh!

And blackheads? I was shocked at how fast they cleared up.

Get it here.

Once I've washed my face for the night, I eagerly grab this night treatment.

Washing my face usually results in drier skin, + this quickly soothes raw or irritated skin. In fact, I found the skin at the edges of my nostrils painfully raw for a bit, so each morning + night I applied this at the irritated areas. 3-5 days of applying it regularly, the skin was healed + new!

This moisturizer is very light + refreshing; I love applying it before bed!

Find this here.

I highly recommend all of these products. They have done wonders for my skin + I'm not sure I'll ever want to try another skin care product!

If you've tried these, let me know how you liked them! What skin care products are you loving or... not loving?

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Flower Power + Boundaries

Sometimes one person's boundaries conflict with your own.

This is not a time to betray you + your values. Neither is it a time where you + said person can't find a grounds of communication, coincidence, + respect.

Have a fantastic week!

Outfit Details: Top/Store Twenty-One, Jeans/Target, Shoes/Primark, Socks/Topshop, Purse/Primark

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Listen...

Listen.

To your teachers.

Who are they?

Where do they come from? 

How have their stories been created? 

What can you gather from these stories? 

What can you learn from 

These teachers?


Listen

To the ones whose voices are shunned by society.

Who are they?

Where do they come from?

How have their stories been created?

Why does society try to mute these powerful voices?

What can you learn from

The ones whose voices are shunned by society?


Listen

To your dreams.

What are they?

Where do they come from?

How have these desires been created? 

What craving is at the root of these desires? 

What can you learn from

Your dreams?


Never stop

listening.

Never stop

questioning.

Never stop

dreaming.

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5 Goals for October

Happy October, friends!

I say this every new season, but Fall has to be my favorite season.

Except I totally do not say that about winter.

Surprisingly here in England, it is not feeling exceptionally fall-y! Sometimes it's chilly, sometimes it's downright hot, + it still remains very green.

With the new month coming in, I want to set some goals.

Goals make me excited, but they can also make me feel pretty crappy when I don't excel in the ways I hope. So, I set these goals with relaxed intentions. Aka: it is NOT the end of the world if I fall behind or scrap them all together.

Though, I must say, these goals are pretty fun.

1. Do Yoga Every Day

Simple, I miss it.

Inspired by mynameisjessamyn and her #SizeDoesntMatter yoga challenge, I want to start making yoga a daily practice again. Even if it's one pose.

2. #lovetober

I'll be joining with hundreds of others in Gala Darling's October Instagram challenge, #lovetober!



This is not my first Instagram challenge, but I hope it is the first that I COMPLETE.

Follow along on my IG, @evecalian!

3. Go to a Pumpkin Patch

+ not just any pumpkin patch - an ENGLISH pumpkin patch!

I haven't been in years, so this needs to be remedied in this new country.

4. Carve a Pumpkin

You can't go to a pumpkin patch, purchase a pumpkin, + not carve it. Ok?

5. Organize this Space

In the next few weeks a new about page will appear, the tags will get cleaned up, + I'll become more familiar with the new layout. Hopefully, this will make navigating this space easier for you + create a homier environment for us all.

What are some goals you have for the coming month?

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