Fall's a little different for me this year. While everyone back home is anticipating snuggling up in blankets and drinking hot apple cider, I'm getting ready for the next high season, which means sunny skies, beach days, and more tourists. 

Over the past few weeks we've had non-stop rain and my tan's a little faded, but I'll be smelling like a coconut soon enough and dipping my toes in the water. 

But, no matter where you're at in the world, there's something on this list for everyone. Happy fall :)

♥ Get artsy with nature. Press leaves and flowers into old books or go on a nature walk, pick up whatever catches your eye, and incorporate into a painting.
♥ Take photos of what fall looks like in your town and share with your online followers.
♥ Pumpkin picking!
♥ Make apple cider
♥ Read a book of poetry
♥ Pick one thing from your recipe/craft Pinterest board and actually make it!
♥ Knit a scarf (or buy a really cute one on Etsy)
♥ Throw a dinner party.
♥ Go for a morning run/walk.
♥ Or sign up and run a 5k.
♥ Visit the farmer's market and pick up some fall veggies and fruit: apples, beets, cabbage, pears, pumpkin...
♥ Bake green tea muffins
♥ Do a fall clean. Don't let things get cluttered until spring. Clean out your closet, organize your shoes, throw out old makeup, file and store important documents, etc.
♥ Vow to write your novel. Join NaNoWrimo.
♥ Watch the classic holiday cartoons like, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
♥ Carve a pumpkin
♥ Jump in a pile of leaves
♥ Take a dance class: swing, burlesque, ballet, Nia
♥ Start a daily meditation practice
♥ Learn about all the ways you can use essential oils, then put it into practice
♥ Use that crisp autumn air to air out the house
♥ Take your dog for a walk in the park
♥ Start a Pinterest board with photos from your life
♥ Invite someone over for tea
♥ Write a gratitude list every day 

From Dr. Wayne Dyer:

"Become totally empty. Let your heart be at peace. Amidst the rush of worldly comings and goings, observe how endings become beginnings. Things flourish, each by each, only to return to the Source...to what is and what is to be. To return to the root is to find peace."

"Be here in your mind as well as in your body, in a state of appreciation and an absence of longing. Let go of wondering about doing the right thing. Release the what-ifs and all of your goals for the future, replacing them with the power of this instant. Be here, and remember to do it now, for thinking about someplace else uses up your precious present moments."

"It's a surrendering process, if you will--simply allowing this great all-creating, all-nourishing Source to take you where it will."

"This surrendering process allows you to bear witness to the unlimited abundance of eternal light that is always present. You retrain yourself to give up your beliefs about lacks and shortages; you instead trust in the great Source to provide what you need, as it has always done for all beings."

From Gregg Matte:

"Take the next step forward in faith."

"When you are trapped at the water's edge, keep walking, because God opens unexpected paths."

From Cheryl Strayed:

"Nobody is going to give you a thing. You have to give it to yourself. You have to tell us what you have to say."

"To use our individual good or bad luck as a litmus test to determine whether or not God exists constructs an illogical dichotomy that reduces our capacity for true compassion. It implies a pious quid pro quo that defies history, reality, ethics, and reason. It fails to acknowledge that the other half of rising--the very half that makes rising necessary--is having first been nailed to the cross."

"What if the greatest beauty of the day is the shaft of sunlight through your window? What if the worst thing happened to you and you rose anyway?"

From John Osteen:

"If you are tempted to be angry, allow Jesus to demonstrate his peace (Colossians 3:15). If you are tempted to doubt, remember the life you now live is by faith in him (Galatians 2:20). If you are tempted to give up, believe that you have his strength to go on (Philippians 4:13)."

"...doubt sinks you. Faith holds you up."

From Erika Napoletano:

"Hug failure. Roll up next to it in bed every night and spoon it. Become intimate with it because it's going to allow you to do things in life and business that those who are afraid to fail can only imagine."

"In business and life alike, we're entitled to nothing. We don't get cookies for having great ideas. Every day, we have to wake up and re-earn our place in the lives of the people who make it possible for us to do what we love."

From Joel Osteen:

"With God on your side, you cannot possibly lose. He can make a way when it looks as though there is no way. He can open doors that no man can shut. He can cause you to be at the right place, at the right time. Jesus said, 'If you believe, then all things are possible.'"

"Don't grow accustomed to living with less, doing less, and being less to the point that you eventually sit back and accept it."

"'Fan the flame. Rekindle the embers. Stir up the gift that is within you.' Paul was reminding his understudy to live with enthusiasm. Give it your all. Don't settle for mediocrity."

"When things are difficult, smile by faith. Don't wait until you feel better. Smile, and the feelings to support that smile will catch up."

"Be comfortable with the person God made you to be. You can't get distracted and lose your focus by comparing yourself to others. Run your own race."

"You may tend to see how great everybody else is, but let me tell you, there is something great about you. Somebody thinks you're amazing. Someone else is inspired by your life. Some even with they could be you. You are a person to be celebrated. So put your shoulders back. Hold your head up high. You don't have to compete with anyone else. Just be the best you can be."

From James Altucher:

"Keep failing until you accidentally no longer fail."

"Nothing comes out exactly how we want it. But we have to learn to roll with it and move to the next work."

From Edwene Gaines:

"An uplifted mind is a magnet for all good things of the universe to hasten to you. Whereas, a depressed, anxious, critical, resentful state of mind becomes a magnet for trouble to fly to you. The choice is up to you."

Last night my boyfriend came home dripping blood and barely walking; he had a wreck on the motorcycle. He's okay, but his left side is pretty beaten up and he may have broken his foot. Needless to say, I'm not feeling all that great today. I just ask for your prayers and positive thoughts for his strength and healing. Thank you ♥

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Sometimes I forget the ocean is outside my front door.
Then I hear the waves crashing, see a sailboat drift by. And I am in awe.

There is so much to be grateful for and my heart continues to expand.

I went for a beach walk yesterday and found shells colored inky purple and white, orange with strips of black, driftwood and itsy, bitsy crabs scurrying across rocks and sand.

The sky is a perfect mix of clouds and sun. I breathe in salt air, wash my face with sea water.

And then there's Stewie, our probably-not-more-than-five-pounds mutt of pure happiness. He bounds through the door with that look of puppy joy and I can't help but smile.

And one more thing...something I'm creating for you. A daily dose of inspiration to light up your life. I can only tell you this: poetry, wisdom, love. Like a circle of muses.

As I worked on it today, my heart filled with gratitude for what it will become and who it will touch. I am already so very thankful for those who will experience it. I hope you'll join me when the time comes ♥♥♥ 

More info next month!

In the meantime, count your blessings, even the ones that haven't manifested yet :)

I haven't worn much makeup since I got here. The ocean cleared up my skin and the sun gives me a little color, but there are times when we go out and I put on a little extra somethin'. Here are the essentials I packed with me:

Face

♥ Foundation 
My skin is already oily, but add the humidity and forgeddaboutit. I switched from liquid to powder foundation about a year ago and it did wonders for my skin. I started out using bareMinerals matte foundation in Fairly Light, but now use the less expensive, but just as effective, Physician's Formula talc-free mineral powder in Translucent Medium.

♥ Powder 
I'm all about a matte finish and Maybelline's Dream Matte Powder provides the best results for me. It's not cakey and I don't have to use a lot to get nice coverage. I use Sand Medium, which is just a smidge darker than my skin color.

♥ Blush
I just recently found The Body Shop's Shimmer Waves in Blush. I mix the colors for a subtle sparkle, a little color, and a nice glow across the cheekbones. I also use it as an eyeshadow and brow bone highlighter.

Lips 

♥ ChapStick 
I like plain old ChapStick because it's not goopy like lip gloss and provides moisture and shine. I've seriously been addicted to ChapStick since the first time I put some on in 8th grade. I keep tubes in almost every area (purse, desk, bathroom) so that it's never too far away.

♥ Lipstick 
It's rare that I wear lipstick, but when I do (does this sound like Dos XX commercial?) I like to wear Victoria's Secret Perfect Lipstick in Wish (light pink) or Rosebud (berry red). From looking at the website, it doesn't seem like they have the Perfect Lipstick line anymore :/

Eyes

♥ Eyeshadow
If I'm going for a casual, day look I wear Urban Decay's X - a peach shimmer with gold shift. Being a light-skinned, cool color tones gal, I usually can't get away with gold shades, but X is the perfect mix of pinky peach and gold that doesn't look harsh against my skin tone.

For bold-colored eyes, I stick with purples and blues that compliment my light skin and dark eyes. For this I love Anastasia's Pacific Coast palette - a nice collection of blues, greens, purples, and browns. I like blending the purples and blues, then lining the bottom of my eye with dark blue. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like this palette is available anymore, but she has some other great options on her website and Sephora.

♥ Mascara

I've been a fan of Maybelline's Great Lash mascara for quite awhile. It's dark, stays put, and doesn't clump. Right now I use the non-waterproof variety, but it doesn't smear and is still somehow easy to take off with a baby wipe. I've also used the waterproof one, which is excellent for all the same reasons.

Here's what I know for sure: that life's happening right now. 

Yes, the clock is ticking and your time is running out. I know, I know, bummer, but it's real life. The facts. But that's why we have to juice it for all it's worth. 

That's why we have to start living RIGHT NOW, and I don't mean just getting by. I don't mean striving or settling or curling up into a ball in the gutter. 

I mean thriving. I mean bringing magic and happiness into each day. I mean loving the crap out of yourself and giving yourself permission to enjoy life. 

Yes, enjoy life! Why wait another second? Why put off your joy because of x,y,z? 

So maybe things aren't perfect - they never will be. So maybe you're working really hard to accomplish that next big thing - that's cool, but don't get bogged down in the details. 

Don't get so frustrated with your dreams/life/relationships that you forget about all the really amazing, beautiful stuff happening in your world. Do what ya gotta do, honey honey, but carry joy with you. 

Stop wasting time worrying, trying to figure things out, criticizing yourself. 

Stop thinking about the money, how you don't compare, the dream that failed. 

Just show up everyday with a little faith, a little gratitude, a little joy in your pocket. All it takes is a mustard seed, ya know, and things start happening. 

Faith + action, that's all you need. Start living now. Move in the direction of your dreams, but don't forget to look around. 

We're on a wild path of loveliness. Take off your shoes, smell the jasmine, eat a berry or two. Indulge, gorgeous one. 

You have every reason to.