Easy little tips to save money !

You want to save for your summer vacation ? For the next school year ? For a new piece of clothe ?
Whatever your reason to start saving money, here is tips that can help you to start.

1. Make a budget 

First you have to look at your budget. How much money you need to pay your things, to eat, for gaz , for activities etc. Once you know where your money is supposed to go, you can start savings.

2. Analyse for a month all the money you spent 

For a whole month, analyse every penny that go out of your pocket. Keep all your receipts and at the end, look at what you spent. How much money did you spent that was not a necessity.

3. Start cooking and make your own coffee.

A 2 dollars here and there for coffee it's easy to spent and at the end of the month you will easily spent at least 20 $ (or more) on coffee, chocolate bar, soda etc.  This money can be saved. Yes sometimes it's good to treat yourself but on occasion only.  Same things for fast food, start packing your lunch and stop eating in fastfood.

4. Keep your dollar bills and your change  in a Jar

For a couple month, we kept all our change and dollar bills in a jar. Everytime, we have some change we kept it. One day we decided to change them at the bank and we had more than 150 $ dollars in little change!

5. Learn to do it yourself !

Your haircolor, your dog grooming, your nails, your painting job at home etc... We all have access to internet and on you tube, you can find any tutorial you need. There is no way you can't do it yourself. Learn to do small things that is going to save you money. Make some research on how to do it and try! Sometimes it will turn up as a fail (my dog first haircut by me was the proof) but you will be better with practice !

6. Sell your stuff that you don't use

For example you buy a book because you couldn't wait for it to be available at the library, once you read it, sell it. You will not have the same amount of money but it's better than to let the dust get on it.
Your old clothes, old shoes, home decor, toys etc... everything can be sell and there is a public for everything. You can sell on "sell or Trade " of your locality on facebook group, ebay, amazon, kijiji etc.

When life give you lemons....

Life is a pretty amazing thing but sometime... it sucks! Do you ever realized that life always have a way to test you? When you decide you want to start something new, start a new diet, start being zen, start a new job, a new hobby etc..

I do. I know that fact for a very long time and now I learn to embrace it.
Recently, everything seem to happen at the same time. I lost my steady job because they closed my department. I also decide that I need to start back my healthy life style after months of eating junk & Tacos (I love the southern food a little too much!).

So here how life tested me. I was super motivated, make my meal plan, my workout plan for the week and was super excited about it. Then, I got urinary tract infection (really ?) wasn't able to sleep for 3 days and got in bed in a foetal position for 2 days. Yes really. Bye bye plans! I was in bed and was deeply craving for sugar ! (but I resisted) Ended up with antibiotics and an upset stomach.
Life was saying : Are you really sure you wanted this?
Me : Oh lord, I can't workout and cook I want to sleep!

Same thing for work, I found a perfect side job that really excited me and give me the opportunity to really work and prove what I am able to do. Then life tested me : I lost my other steady job.
What , really? Are you kidding me ?
Nope.  I know this is not life and death situation. I will get back on my feet but this is just to prove that sometimes, when you decided to start something, life got this way to test you , just to be sure you got the nerves to do it.

Here is some tips to help you say : YES  I can do it !

• Stay focus on your goal! 

There is nothing worst than losing your goal. You will question yourself sometimes and that is normal but no need to quit what your really want because you have  bump in the road. Stay focus of what you want to do and remind yourself everyday that you can do it.

• Tell yourself that is just life testing you and that you can do it!

When you feel overwhelmed and it's seem to be too much, just tell yourself that is just life testing you and that you will pass the test. 

• Let the fear in the closet !

Yes, starting something new or having new projects it's scary. But it's time to let your fear in the closet. You don't need them, they won't let you grow and accomplish what you really want. 

• Stay positive !

People have tendancy to be negative about change. If your people are not sure about what you need to do or about what your doing, let them have their own thoughts. Stay positive and confident that life will turn out for the best for you

• Have faith!

In doubt, rely on something bigger than you. Tell yourself that better days are coming and that you are gonna make the best of that hard period of time. 

You know they said that when life give you lemons, make lemonade. To make lemonade you have to press every lemons one by one. So take the bull by the horns and pressed them ! 

Get closer to your true self

Over the years, after a painful divorce, I truly change a lot.  Not just my physic or appearence, I change inside. 

It's like I have push the button eject and get rid of the bad in me. I was sick of being so sensitive, insecure, anxious, dependant and have a low self-esteem.  We often said that when you touch the bottom, you just have to come back to the top, it was my case.

People around me often thought that it was just as easy at pushing a real button. Because people often look at the final result and not the long way to get to it. I decide today to write a post on how I did it what was the steps for me to truly change and become my true self.

I am in constant evolution and still in the process of changing some things I don't like about myself so I will keep you guys update!

First of all : Don't over talk about your problems 

I used to focus a lot of my problems and not on the solutions. I used to talk and talk and talk about my problems. I don't know if it was to have the sympathy, the approval or whathever but I was always complaining about how my life sucks.

I spent a lot of time alone

At first I thought I was dying from inside. I hate it. I felt that my life have no sense but I needed to spent time alone and truly feel lonely, until being alone was comfortable. At the final, I learn to like it, I learn to be in peace with myself. When you are good with yourself you can spend a whole weekend by yourself doing stuff alone and truly enjoy it. This is the key to freedom, be able to be as happy alone than with people. 

Learn to listen to your inner voice and say NO

Saying no it was so difficult for me. Every sunday I had lunch at my mom and spend the day there. I had a lot of things to do, sometimes I was exhausted of my week, I didn't want to go but I kept going. Until one day I decide I wanted a whole sunday for myself doing nothing!

I said no. At first it surprise others when you say no without explaining yourself or by telling the truth but they understand. After that, I went everytime I wanted to go not by obligation. 

Learning to listen to yourself, to put you limit and know what is good and not for you is crucial. 

You have the right to have an opinion and the right to say no. 

Try new things to learn what you like 

You have no hobby? Nothing set your soul on fire? Try to find something, anything. Collecting stamps, dancing, zumba, working out, painting...whatever. Try new things and found something you truly like. 

Don't try to do the trendy things just because everybody does, try something according to who you are and what you like. Don't know where to start? Think about something you used to like to do when you were younger. There is an hobby outhere for you, you just need to find it.

Be the person you want to meet

That is so true and powerful. When I used to be anxious, I wish people will be more easy with me. So I became the person I needed too. I stop complaining, I start being positive and I start being the person I wanted to have in my life. It was not fake, it was changing some bad habits to be better with others. When you are better with others, you are better with yourself. 

Don't be scared of what people will think. 

I am too fat to workout, I am too ugly to model, I am too stupid to study... Stop thinking all the bad things about yourself, stop judging you and forget what people will think. 

You wanna do something? Do it, you have just one life and if you constantly think about what others think of you, you will end up doing nothing and be miserable. 

Look at yourself for a minute, are you the judging type? Are you the kind of person who constantly analize and judge others? If the answer is yes, it has to start with yourself. Stop being so judgemental with others and you will not worry so much about what others think. 

Hope this paper help you guys ! Please comment or suscribe with your email address. 

And don't forget to like our IG account : @ ve_allthelittlethings

Why you should NEVER try diet pills!

I am not a doctor either a specialist but as millions of americans, I tried diet pills.

I tried 2 products : one with acai berry that you can find in walmart for 10 $ and It works products.
Both of them make me feel nauseated and soooo bad. Did I lose weight ? Maybe a pound or 2....And after feeling so weird, I started to make some research about diet pills...

Yes I know I should research BEFORE I take those.... but now I wanna share my experience and why you should never used them!

They can make serious damage to your body 

A lot of law suits as been made about permanent liver problems after using diet pills. Yes this is true, you can seriously have major problems taking those pills.
They can also make you feel dizzy & nauseated. Why ? Because a lot of them make you lose your water !
(this is why you look more skinny )


They will make you feel like you have more energy, for a moment

Yes at first you will feel like you have more energy. They are loaded with caffeine products that make you feel like you have energy. In fact, you are more caffeinated. It can make you feel like having palpitations, make you feel more nervous and anxious! Long terms, they can lead to serious heart problems. One pills can be like taking 3 cups of coffee... If you already drink coffee... that is too much. Hello migraine and hands shaking.

You will need to stay close to a bathroom 

Miracle? Magic Pills ? Not at all. They call it laxative and it' not good for you. Most of them have laxative propriety that is gonna make you....poop!

It will make a huge hole in your budget

They are expensive. The more popular they are, the more expensive they are. With It works, they make you on auto-refill will cost you a lot of money! Even if you buy them at Walmart, to poop & lose water, it' overpay.


Those people don't love you

That women that sell you those pills make you feel like you are her BFF ?  But she don't love you, she don't know you, she want your money. Those companies make you believe they want to help people but are they? When I want to help someone I don't charge a ton of money. It is a big company and big company have juste one goal : MAKE MONEY. When I start complaining about my Thermofit & how bad it make me feel, they told me : You are maybe allergic to one of the product in it. But mam' I have no food allergy, if it's natural (like you pretend) tell me what am I allergic to? Silence!

No proof

Yes you have seen all those pictures on Instagram and probably have a friend that it work for her. But the science have no proof that any of that products work for real. Who are you gonna believe, science or Instagram ?

What's in it? It's always vague

A lot of those pills got the mention or hashtag : Legit. Really? It's not FDA approved but it's not a street drug. When you want to know what's in the pills, it's always really vague. It's all natural. no preservatives....
Like an apple you mean ? No like a pill. Yeah right, I forgot that pills are growing in a garden... just sayin'


KFC , Sugar rush & Fries will become your BFF

Your mind will be soooo happy. It will make you believe that you can eat junk like a pig and not get fat. So what are you gonna do? You are gonna eat everything you are craving without any consequence. The pills will make the work anyway! WRONG! Yes maybe you won't get more fat but all the transfat and all the saturated fat that you are gonna ingest will stay. You will eat more junk food than ever, you will have sugar withdrawal & you will end up having more bad habits than before you started.
After that, it will be harder to stop that food & you will be in a circle of diet pills.

I hope it will help you take the best decision for you. We all dream and want to believe that the magic pills exist but the truth is that the best way to lose weight and keep your health it's to exercise & eat clean.

How to make a good first impression!

I'm working in business development and I know how a good first impression can kill you.

It also true in your personnal life. For a first date, a job interview, meeting your boyfriend family for the first time, first impression is primordial. 

Base on science a first impression is make in 1|10 of second! So don't miss your chance. 

Also, it's been prove that a first impression is really hard to change, yes people judge a book by the cover.

So now, how to make a good first impression? Here is some tips :

Adapt your clothing for the occasion

If you are going in a casual sunday barbecue you will not wear the same clothes than on a job interview. So first, adapt your clothing for the occasion you are attending to. And remember, you may have a really distinct style but don't go too much on it. Stay classy, fully cover & pretty.

Smile

Yes you may be shy or little embarassed to meet new people, but smile. If you don't have anything smart to say, just listen.

Participate 

Try to participate without taking too much space. Nobody like somebody who take all the space and talk without taking a breath. Just prove you are happy to be there and you want to be part of it.

Speak the truth

Always!! Don't try to be someone you are not or pretending to know something you don't. Also, don't lie on loving something you truly hate. Especially on a first date, don't say you are into sport if you like to compete on how much hour you can stay watching netflix. Be yourself it's the most important think.

Tell how you feel

You are shy ? You have trouble speaking in public ? Tell it. I can relate to my own experience. I am a native french speaker and at first when I met people in the states , I always say that they have to speak slowly to me cause I am not used to english. People are more kind, they understant and they ajust. It is better to tell the truth than to look like a fool.

Stay classy

Sometimes you talk like a sailor ? Watch your mouth for a first impression. Sometimes we want to fit in or be funny but it's not funny if you are not classy. Be yourself but keep a little reserve if you are to much extravert.

Now you are ready ! You have another tips ; comment below !

How to boost your motivation at work!

We will all agree with that, sometimes we better stay under our blankets and do nothing than going to work. It happen to everyone to hate their job & have an hard time finding motivation.

In my country, I used to have a job at customer service that I truly hate, but I had a big salary, good benefits etc... I had to find a way to stay motivate & love going there 40 hours per week or I wouldn't be able to survive. Now I am lucky I have a job that I love & I'm working from home but sometimes I still need some motivation!

Let me share what It really work for me :

Bond with your colleagues!

It is the first thing to do. I don't tell you to love everybody, but find at least one person to be friend with, to have good conversation at break time, someone you can talk to when you think you are not able to do it anymore.

Stop complaining

Yes your job suck, yes you are tired, yes you are not pay enough, yes your boss is a jerk ...all the reasons are there when you want to find negativity! Stop complaining & having a pity party. Put your big pants on and handle every situation with a big smile & positive vibes. Even if you are complaining every seconds about everything, it won't change, you will still be there until the end of your shift.

Have a passion outside work

Have a passion outside work that make you feel like you are doing something with your life. Whatever it is, do something you are passionate about & make you feel good to be alive. It will keep you in a good mood to handle life at work.

Take a breath of fresh air

At least one time per day, go outside and take a breathe of fresh air. A short walk or just sitting outside will make you feel like you are enjoying the day & will provide you the energy you need to keep going.

Have pictures that remind you your life "outside"

Surround yourself with pictures of your people, your cat, your dog or everything that make you happy. You work to pay a trip to Bali ? Put some pictures of Bali on your desk & focus on this. When you have a hard time, look at your pictures or things that remind you "your life outside work". It is just a job, not your whole world.

Make something special

Once per week, make something special. Something like : every friday we are eating out, every friday morning you buy yourself a coffee & a donut at the coffee shop.. Something that will make you look forward to that day & will make you feel like you did it!

Be a better employee 

Ok this one seem weird but it is true. If you are trying to be better at your work, you will find that you like it more. Sometimes, all we need is a little boost of self confidence to kick us & give us the motivation back. You think you need more training to improve ? Ask for it.  I bet your boss will be happy to know you want a be better. Do the best that you can, everyday so at the end of the day you can enjoy the fact that you did good.

Don't bring your problems at home

It is ok to talk to your people about your struggles. But if you come back home everyday super moody, complaining about everything, they will be tired of earing you. Manage your stress and your hate & if you really need to talk about, do a 5 minutes of complaining & then get over it.

Get over it

There is no perfect job, there will always be at least one colleague that will get on your nerves, there is always phase when you want to quit everyting and say fu....that sh... but get over it. Brace yourself, chin up & be an adult. Yes working suck sometimes but this is part of life. We can't be all hippies doing nothing all day & living from the homemade soap we did every full moon ..

You can do it !
Make a huge coffee and face the week!

Why I decide to stop drinking alcohol

I decided a few months ago to cut drinking wine & other alcohol every week. Yes you read it right. 

I was used to drink a bottle of wine, or some beers every weekend. I needed my glasses of wine at friday night . I don't know exactly when alcohol is really a problem but I considered that I was on my way to develop one with time.

The problem was not that I like to drink wine sometimes, the problem was that I needed it. 

The problem was that when I open a bottle, I was likely to finish it. The problem was that when I am a little bit drunk, I am becoming a nightmare. 

Here in the south, most people don't really drink by religious conviction. I think it is very noble of them. 

For me, it's not about religion (I am a believer don't misunderstand me) it's just because it is just not good for me. Nothing in it is good for my body & mind.

We are not a good match, we don't fit together anymore. Sometimes I order a drink at the restaurant and end up wishing I ordered a soda. My taste has changed and i'm proud of it.

I notice that since I quit alcohol, wine is everywhere. We live in a society that encourage people to drink.. Drinking wine is trendy. But, is it cool to wake up every saturday morning with an hangover ? Don't think so.

Is is cool to ruined your health and your liver, not for me. I used to read funny meme on pinterest about wine and thought it was "SO me". Is it? I mean, in all that I am as an human being, loving wine is not what I am proud of. Actually, it is the opposite. 

I really believe we should think that people who can have fun without drinking are the coolest.  

In a quest of being more myself, of becoming the person my soul is truly, drinking is not the way for me to get there. The best way to get there is to be true to myself and be ALL THERE. 

I don't think I am here & now when I am drunk.

I also noticed that it is hard to accept for some people. "You are boring, let's have fun" or " Just one glasse will not kill you ". I know. I know that, why you just don't accept that I CHOOSE not to ?
I am enough like I am. If i'm invited somewhere, it's because you want me to be there. So that I drink a diet coke or a huge beer is not supposed to change anything.

So this is why I quit alcohol, just because I wanted to. Because I think it's not good for me anymore & I am proud of it.

If you are running after happiness, it's time to stop!

We all know that one facebook friend that have the perfect life. Perfect home, perfect lifestyle, perfect job, perfect husband, perfect kids.... And as an human being it is prove that we are all attract by that kind of life.

Why  ? Because we were raised to be. Marketing make us thing that we NEED certain type of products to be happy. We all have our own idea of success but most of the time it is associate with money and stuff.
Someone once told me, if you are really happy in life, do you really need to show it on social media? That makes sense... The grass look always greener on your neighboor side...
Why are we obsessed to show on social media our happiness & our cool lifestyle?

Let's do something :
I want you to remember your own memories and note it. Take a step back to think about these moments

-The happiest moment that you had with your parents ?
-The happiest memory with your boyfriend / husband ?
-The best memory of your whole life?
-The best moment that you feel that everything was right and perfect?

Now, tell me if it was associate with money or material?

I bet the best memory you had with your parents was NOT when they bought the new egyptian carpet for 1000 $.

The best memory with your husband was probably NOT the moment that the two of you bought a new car.
The happiest moment of your life was NOT the perfect big TV you bought....

So why material and money would make us happy? Because we think this way.
If we stop and look around, we will found beauty and happinest in simple thing :

Play chest with your child, reading a book, walking hand in hand with your boyfriend, watching the stars at night,  listening to your favorite artist while you are cooking... This is simple, this is happiness.

Yes it is an inside job, yes it is something you have in yourself.  Because you may compare everything you have and everything you are to someone else, it won't make you happy. This is not how you are gonna feel happiness.

Maybe you need to change some things, maybe you need to look inside yourself what you want & really need. But I guarantee you that is not in money & materials that you are gonna find it.

You want to find happiness?  Stop, breathe and look around. I bet it is just in front of you and you miss it!


And you, what make you happy ?

Save on Grocery Shopping ! Pay less, eat more & better!

It is prove that we spend a lot of our income in grocery shopping. And sometimes when you have  to cut somewhere this is the first place you are gonna cut. In a country where it is more cheap to eat a meal at the fast food than to cook, you have to be creative and have some tricks to eat healthy on a budget. Here is my few tips that is gonna help you save on grocery shop and make your life more simple! Because yes it is possible to save some money when you know where to start .

1. Plan!

I will say that for every aspects of your life : Planning is the key to save time , money , and be less stressed. Instead of rolling your cart like a chicken without a head in the grocery shop, make a menu, then a list classified by aisle (No I don't have OCD). It will make it so much easier to find the things you need, you will save time and you will enjoy knowing where you go. An efficient grocery shopping take me about half and hour.

2. Don’t go shopping with an empty stomach

It is the thing that everyone is gonna tell you, don’t go grocery shop if you are hungry. First you are gonna buy all that sweet stuffs you try to avoid, second you are gonna fill your cart with all kind of stuffs that don’t go well together and third, you will try to go faster and you risk to choose not quality products.

3. Choose the best timing

After work, you have only 20 minutes to go to walmart for your grocery, yeah right like you are gonna be the only one. Lunch break and supper time is the worst time to shop.  It is crowded, you don’t have much time, you are tired, you don’t have enough space to really look at the sale and you have less choice. You need one pound of turkey meat, there is the chance that the only thing left is the more expensive one or the less quality. This is not what you want. Find the best timing for you, when you have no rush and you can enjoy the experience.

4. Look at the circular, the savings apps and the coupons

Couponing is really popular these days and people go crazy about it. It is a good thing, when you need it. Buying 22 bottles of dog shampoos just because it’s 1 dollar, not really worth it.

The best thing with couponing is to make your grocery shopping list and after find coupons for what you are gonna actually buy. Also, look at your local store circular to base your menu on what is on sale. Be careful, most of the time there is a lot of junk food that is on sale and seem attractive.

5. Make it yourself

Cooking your own crust, pastry, cookies, cake, granola bar & desserts are more healthy cause you don’t have preservative in them. They also cost less money. You save a lot when you cook your own cookies and your family gonna thank you for it. They taste better, they are fresh and they are made with love. What can you ask more ?

7. Try to avoid aisle in the middle

Every grocery are build the same. You have the veggies and fruit, the meat and the dairy all around the store. In the middle, you have the processed food. If you have your list in your pocket, try to go only where you need something. Don’t make every line, it will end up with a bunch of cookies that you don’t need (neither for your health and for your budget)

8. Lower your eyes

Marketing make it easy for them, they always put the more attractive (and expensive) stuffs (oooops busted !) in your visual sight. You want to have the best deal, lower or higher (almost where you can’t reach it )your eyes. The best price are really often at the lowest shelf. This is why if you shop when it’s not that crowded you will have time and space to flex your knees and reach the best deals!

9.  Don’t waste

This is so important, if you are paying for food that go into the trash, your losing money and it’s not good for the earth. I always keep my skin of vegetables (garlic, onions, potato), the heart (cabbage, celery, brocoli, cauliflower) and I put them in the freezer. Once in a while, I make a veggie broth with everything that I collect. It is super easy you only put water in a pot with salt and your veggies, you boil for and hour or two and filter it. You got a healthy, free veggie broth for your sauce & soup.  When your fruits is borderline, make a smoothie. When your veggies are close to be rotten, cook them in a broth and mashed them to make a good veggies soup.  It is way more easy that you think.

10. Eat less meat

Meat is a huge part of the price of the grocery. Try vegeterian recipe and get used to eat without meal. Make a bolognese sauce with lentils instead of ground meat, make veggie burger, try tofu! Be creative about it and have fun! It is not true anymore that a meal without meat is boring. With all the resources like pinterest, blogs, TV show about recipes, there is no excuses to try something new!

11. Keep it simple !

A good piece of lean meat, veggies (fresh or frozen) and rice made a good healthy meal. No need to make all kind of recipes that use a lot of ingredients you don't have at home. Keep your meal simple, look for good recipes with few ingredients in it. Pinterest will be your best friend on that!

Really hope it help you guys, do you have any other tip that you want to share ? What is your routine of grocery ?

Can’t wait to hear about it!

How to get rid of that bad orange/yellow in blonde hair !

Recently, I had that spring fever of getting my blonde hair back!
I was dark brown (like really dark level 4) and I know it would be a long (& hard for my hair) process.

I decided to go for a level seven for my roots and a lot of highlights blonde everywhere. Blonde hair = bleach! Bleach = ouch you can have a hay head if you are not careful!
Of course it took 2 times, and my hair was so ugly that I would like to wear a hat forever.

I look like a clown or a cheap version of a mermaid : cheap dirt orange and yellow blonde !
My hair was broken & I was looking alllllll over the web to find a trick to have a pretty blonde without the ugly copper and yellow. And most of all without having to dye them again (read hurt them again).

•  I saw a youtube video of a girl who put violet shampoo on her dry hair for 30 minutes then rince.  Happy me. IT WORKS! I have to repeat 3 times in the same week to have a great smoke color more natural.  I personnally used the brand  Joico:

• After you did that, always wash your hair with violet shampoo and conditionner. My favorite one are from l'oreal Paris :  Ever Pure. The only con for this conditioner and shampoo, the iris smell is really strong and you have to get used to it.
• The price is good 6,72 $ (at Walmart) for the conditionner.

• Last but not least, Always , always treat your hair. They are damaged and it's not pretty to see a head who look like hay. So treat them with love for a couple weeks. My favorite blonde treatment is from Goldwell. Only 60 seconds, perfect for the shower !

Because Blonde have more fun they say ! 

Change your glasses for less than 40 $!

I have to wear glasses since i'm 12 years old & before I discover that you can buy them online, I used to wear the same pair for a very long time due to their cost. (Those are sooo expensive)

A few years ago I discover the website : www.zennioptical.com a super website with really low price glasses (from 6,99 to 40 $) with a good quality. They have a lot of differents styles & models and the shipping is fast (usually around 2 weeks) I order a lot from them & it is a good website to use. 

BUT! Recently I order from Firmoo ! www.firmoo.com .. AND WOW! I was amazed by the quality of the frame but also the quality of the glasses. Plus, they give you an amazing quality case to put them on. The shipping was fast (a week!) & I am more than satisfied!

More than that..... My Boyfriend order a pair too. They are truly amazing but they don't fit on him like he expected. Guess what ? Just an email at the company and BOOM they are sending a new pair for free! 

Their moto is to have a 100 % satisfied customer. Their service is fast & really good. 

I didn't have to argue to have my money back or to exchange them, they just say don't worry we will send you another pair for free.

The more beautiful on that site is that you can find coupon to have better discount. They have BOGO sale, 15 % off, free shipping etc. You can always find something. 

We use the bogo sale and we have 2 beautifuls  pair of glasses for 61 $ (shipping and antireflective include)

Zenni is a good website if you want to try but Firmoo is way more quality & the design are super modern!

If you want to take a look at their IG :

@zennioptical 

@firmoo

You can also use the # : #firmoo #firmoooptical and you will see a lot of pictures that will help you choose the one that fit you!

You have another site to suggest ? You love Firmoo too ? Comment below ! 

How to beat Stress & Anxiety

It's not a secret, I am person who deal with stress and anxiety since i'm a little girl. But now the difference is that I can deal with it, I can control it and it didn't ruin my life anymore . I can manage my stress and it's a huge change in my life.
There is no boundaries like it used to be.

I am the kind of girl  who tried everything ! From the happy breathing books to hynosis, here is the things that really work (for me ) to reduce stress & anxiety.

A panic attack is maximum 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, your body relief natural signal to your brain to calm down. If you are in a huge panic attack thing about it, it will be over in 45 minutes. I CAN DO IT !

Inhale & Exhale 

Yes this is simple but inhale for 7 seconds, hold 5 seconds and exhale for 7 seconds. It's magic.
It's natural and you can repeat that as long as you need it.

Be in nature 

Nature is really special. When you spend some time outside looking at god creation, you know there is a world bigger than you & for me is always have the effect of calming my soul. Hearing the birds, the leaves, the wind, it's a good way to relax.

Happy thoughts & happy activities

A lot of people don't believe in the power of happy mantra but it really work. Speak to yourself in a gentle way. Remember that you are enough, you can do it and there is nothing that will destroy your inner peace. Identify the activities that you are doing that relief your stress and do it as often as you can.

Read on that subject 

If you want to beat the ennemy you have to know the ennemy, right? Yes that is right, read about anxiety and Stress. Take the more info you can about it & It will help you fight it.

Your brain is the strongest

Yes, it can play with you sometimes but your brain is the big winner. So tell your brain that you are not allow it to destroy your peace and be stress. When you are soooo anxious tell yourself out loud that anxiety is not gonna win , your brain decide and he choose peace

Distract your mind

When you are anxious you are overthinking and focusing to much. When it happen, distract your mind doing something or chewing something. If you are at work, chew a piece of gum and focus on your work the more you can, you will see, it will go away.


Identify your stress trigger & expose yourself to it. 

Exposure is a part of the therapy. I know it's hard but you have to expose yourself to realize that you are strongest than your fears.  You will keep the memory of that time that  you were able to do it and it will improve your self confidence

Talk about it 

Don't be ashame of dealing with anxiety. EVERYONE is expose to stress but it's different intensity for every person and that is ok. If you open yourself about your stress, you will see how much people feel  you & are compassionate about it.

Go find help 

If stress is ruining your life and you can't deal with it anymore, go get help. There is something out there for you. For some people it is medication, therapy, hypnosis, acupucture, yoga etc.. there is something for you. Try something ! If it's not working, try something else, until you found the right thing for YOU.
We are all differents after all.


You are not alone

Don't hide yourself at home. Let people see you the way you are, even if you are deep in your anxiety and let people help you. You are not alone in this. Remember that everyone experience stress, stress come and go. It's never a permanent situation. So no need to think you will never beat it. You can do it I believe in you!


Hope this text help you! Please leave a comment!

Unplug yourself !

One of the part of the Hygge and Minimalist Lifestyle that I really like it's to unplug ourself from social media & technology to learn how to live in the moment.

It is super hard those days to do it! It's just part of our routine to do it.
For me, the social medias are a good way to stay in touch with my family & friends that live so far away from me.

The other day the storm in the south was so intense we lose TV & Internet and we almost hyperventilate. No joke, we we're like... boring! Because we are not used to live without it, live like we used to do before.

But I learn throught experience and years that social medias need to be use in the good way.
I will say something that can't be read everywhere... the stalking on social media.

You know, that ex you broke up with a couple years ago that you go take a look at his page sometimes ... The girl your guy used to date, and you  taking a look at her instagram and compare yourself.
The test of : what kind of tattoo you should have? what haircolor is your perfect match ? what Simpson's caracter are you?.....

You know what I am talking about...that time waste. I used to have a routine with social media everynight I was taking a look at my facebook before I go to bed and every morning when I wake up... Why ? What would I miss ? Hum... Nothing. That Jessie is Lisa, that my aunt should have a butterfly tattoo and that the girl I went to kindergarten with, got a new boyfriend.

Yes, this is the kind of infos we are looking at everyday and they are more than useless.
When I was a teenager we didn't have all that (thank god!) and I spent my free time, making my homework, hanging out with my friends  & family and Reading.
So why now that I am an adult and more responsabilities ( so less free time) will I spend that precious time on social medias?

Yes this technology have some good, publishing that blog, having new clients, making friends, staying in touch with our people and this is how we should use it.

I am not proposing to live a life without that (it's not realistic) but to set some goals to unplug sometimes.

• Making a movie night with the cellphone in a basket in the center of the table so nobody touch it.
• Going eat out with your love one and no cell phone
• No cell before going to bed, a good book, a magazine or just enjoying each other
• A saturday outside with your family without any cellphone!

You understand the idea.. just unplug it sometimes and appreciate the real life, the real moment, the real sunset, the real funny move of your kid (or dog) and make memory in your head, like we used to do!

And you, do you unplug sometimes?

How to start a more minimalist closet !

I plead guilty , a year ago, I own wayyyy to much clothes in my closet.

When I move to the states, the only space I had to carry my clothes was my trunk. I needed to make choice. A lot of them was not smart at all but I still reduce almost half of my closet.

After reading books & articles about minimalist, I did another round of choosing the clothes I need & get rid of the rest. (I donate the clothes to  the salvation army)

You are tempted to ask me : Why will I have a more minimalist closet?

Here is the reasons why :

• It is wayyyy more easier to chose your clothes in the morning. 
• You save money. Why ? Because you actually used your clothes and buy only what you need.
• You have more space for other things.
• You used your clothes!
• It's good for the earth.
• You own quality clothes instead of quantity.

Now that I got you curious about this here how to start:

• Look at every pieces of clothes you own. Analyse them. Are they fitting together ? Do you still wear them ? Are they fit your style and personnality? Do they make you look at your best? If the answer is no : Donate!

• Get rid of the clothes you haven't wear for at least a year, or the one they don't fit anymore. If you lose weight, you will want new clothes.

• Find the color that match with your skin tone, your hair & eyes. The cold colors fit you better ? That's mean you don't need that bright yellow shirt that you haven't wear in a decade.

• Find your own style. What is comfortable? What make you feel pretty? What is the message you want to send to the world ? What is still trendy and in good condition?

• Now divide your clothes by seasons : Fall & winter clothes together and spring and summer together. Only keep in the closet the clothes for the actual season and put the other in a plastic container in the attic.

• Ok, Now you know where you are going. You meditate on your style, on the type of clothes you like and you got rid of the one who didn't fit with you anymore. The principe of having a minimalist closet it's that every piece that you own fit together. The best way to get there it's by having classic & monochrome clothes. Not boring clothes, but clothes the same shade that will fit with every pants. Go wild & colorful with the accessories (necklaces, shoes, earings, belt...etc) But remember, you don't need 1 million necklace. Just one or two that fit with everything & that you truly love.

• We have so much clothes we never used, this is what minimalist is about. If you own just a few pieces in your closet you are going to wear them and used them until they are not good anymore. Own less, save money & live better.

Time to shop ? 

• Now you need new clothes because you actually used the one you have. Time to shop smart. Prefer quality to quantity. Pay a little more for one nice pull  that will last years and still be the same shape after washing it, instead of buying 3 cheap quality shirts that is gonna be waste in few months.

• Keep in mind that you know your style now, no need to buy that neon leggings that are super trendy but will be ugly in 3 weeks. 

You think classic fashion is boring ? Think about iconic women like Jacky Kennedy, Olivia Pope (ok I know she's not real) Claire in House of cards.. etc.

Classy never look old and boring ! 

What is your minimalist closet tips ? Follow me on IG : ve_allthelittlethings !

And keep following me for more minimalist closet tips!

Bored & Broke ? Here is some free activities to enjoy your weekend!

Don’t have much budget for the next weekend? Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean you have to stay at home! Those day almost everything has a price and finding fun activities can be really hard and you are tempted to stay at home.

When you start a minimalist lifestyle you want to live better and make the best of life. Life offers a ton of activities for free with kids or just adults, here is some my favorite one. Have fun!

1. Walking & Hiking

This is by far my favorite one. You can do it by yourself or with your family and there is a ton of places, national parks, city park etc. where you can walk for free. No need to be full equip to start, a good pair of shoes, water and comfortable clothes and there you go!

2. Organize a picnic

On a beautiful sunny day, find a quiet place that you like and go for a picnic. With kids? Find a park where they can play so adults can read, talk and enjoying good times too. Alone ? Bring a book and your favorite playlist. Packed some fresh veggies, panini, sparkling water, hummus & crackers, and desserts and enjoy the fresh air.

3. Visit Friends & Family

We always say we don’t have enough time to visit our people. When you have a time out wondering what to do. Visit your people! Especially the older one, they will be so happy to have they will be so happy to have some company!

4.  Play game !

Invent a treasure hunt, play Uno, monopoly or your own invented game. It seem so simple & boring but my boyfriend and I love to play domino.

5. Find an hobby & Learn something new

You love to write? Start a blog or a book . You like to read ? Go to the library and borrow books. Today with internet, pinterest and you tube it is possible to learn almost everything. Learn a new languages on fun & free website, liste a you tube video on how to be a better human being. Get inspired by what other people do.

6. Borrow stuffs

If you are a reader, go to library to rent books, movies, documentary and some have music too. If you have in your circle a movie passionate, borrow some movies & TV show instead of renting them.

7. Volunteer

You love animals ? People at animal shelter are always looking for people to walk the dogs or play with them. You can also volunteer at church, with kids, in a shelter… Possibilities are multiple depends on what you like and are comfortable about. To know more about volunteering, you can contact your town.

Have other ideas ? Share them with me !

The hygge lifestyle

When I was in Canada my mom ask me what I want for my birthday, She won't be there and want to make sure I bring something back with me for that special day. 

Because French is my first language , when I really want to relax, I want to read a french book. Here in Mississippi they are hard to find so a book was the perfect gift idea!

We were at the bookstore , looking for everything & nothing at the same time. Then I found a book call : The little Book of Hygge. I was super interested by the pictures and the quality of this book. So this was my choice! 

I didn't expect to found a true calling in that book & lifetstyle and I want to share it with you!

First Hygge is pronounce Hou-ga (my boyfriend is tired of hearing me singing houga houga everytime I found something related to it!) 

It is a super lifestyle that came from the danish people, prove to be the happiest people on earth. I learn a super lifestyle that related with everything I already love : the slow life. 

It is not super new, I mean, It remind me a lot of lifestyle that already exist : call it hominess, comfort life, the good life,slow life, dolce farniente.... this is the principe of the Hygge. Living in the moment, in total comfort with all the simple stuff. 

Here is some concrete things to make you understand the hygge :

• Reading a book, coffee in one hand, candlelight all around you in a bed full of pillow : This is the ultimate hygge! 
• Cooking a long mijote while you take a sip of wine with really close friends, this is hygge.
• Well wrap in your favorite blanket, with wool homemade socks, your favorite pull watching TV for hours, this is hygge.
• Spending less money and more quality time with your closest squad: this is hygge.
• Stay home playing chess and drinking warm tea or coffee, this is hygge.

This is simple, it's all about the lighting, the atmosphere,the ambiance, the slow life style, taking time, collecting moments, enjoying the now and creating a lifestyle without stress. 

You want to learn more here is the great, so pretty book that it inspire me : 

https://www.amazon.com/Little-Book-Hygge-Danish-Secrets/dp/0062658808

This is not the last post I will do about that subject, be sure!

What is the hygge thing in your life ? It speak to you?

5 tips to buy a plane ticket for less!

Living in the states, I have to come back home to see my family . Canada is 27 hours of car from where I live so the plane ticket is the best option. But they are expensive! A month ago when I bought my plane ticket, I ask everyone that I knew if they have tips to have the best ticket for less.

Here is the tips that I got !

•  Last minute deal? That is a myth! If you want to have the best deal on a plane ticket you must buy it at least six weeks before the day you want to leave.  I did it, I try to buy it last minutes and instead of  paying 411 $ I paid 553 $ ! 

• Buy on week day! Friday and on the weekend the price of the ticket are higher. The best day to buy is thuesday.

• Shop your ticket! You have a lot of website that offer all the prices possible. Some of them have the best deal, clearance, discount with code etc... You can set alarm on a flight that you want and follow the price by email. Website like KAYAK, FLIGHTHUB and CHEAPOAIR are a real deal!

• Be flexible ! If you are flexible for the date of departure, you can find cheaper ticket. Also if you are flexible for the airport and ready to drive a little longer, it could be cheaper. (Be sure tho that you are not that far and the gas worth the money save!)

• The last one is a little weird but true. Many plane company want to full the plane. The result is that sometimes they sold more tickets that the space they have on the plane. On my flight back, I was surprise to learn that they sold 4 tickets more than the space and everyone who hasn't reserve their seat (including me) were subject to take another flight for a compensation of 400 $ USD.  I had to take a connection for another flight and had only 45 minutes between the two, but otherwise I would have say yes!  A lot of time we wait between 2 flights or if we are not in the rush to head to the final destination, this is a real big saving!

Of course, everyone know that going on a trip at thanksgiving, christmas, springbreak and pretty much every holidays is a lot more expensive than regular ticket. Hope this will be helpful!

And you , what is your best tips to save? 

From a Canadian City to Deep Country in Mississippi

I was born & raised in a 100 thousand people  city in Québec, Canada. My whole family speak french, they all live in the city too. So my experience with the dirt and the mug of the country was quasi non-existent.  A few visit at a farm… and that is it.

By destiny  I met an american online and after months of relation, I decide to take the big step and move with him in the deep country of Mississippi.

Maybe one day I will talk to you about all my cultural shocks but this is not what this is about today. Today I want to talk to you about the evidence that we are made for a certain lifestyle and we just don’t know it.

I never thought that at 30 years old I will move from my hometown and I will live in a place where the closest shop is twenty minutes of car away. I thought this lifestyle was absolutely NOT  for me.

I couldn’t stand to think that I will be bored like he.. l in a town where nothing happen. But I was motivated by love and probably a lot of hope.

You can imagine how surprise I was when I first saw a cow in the backyard. I was like : Wô, this is cool (and that stink too), neighbor's dogs running everywhere without a leash, a bunch of goats in a front yard and all that stuff I haven’t seen yet.

It took me two months to realise that this was my life now  and I have to stop “grieving” my old city lifestyle.  And then it happen : I realise that I love country. I love that everyone waves hands when they see you, the breath of fresh air when you take a step outside, the absolutely amazing view and the calm of it. The calm of not having the pressure of a social status, the calm of being who I am, the calm of a walk outside with my boyfriend looking at the cows playing with each other. Having the chance to have a nature lifestyle.

I thought that I was a city girl cause I haven’t experience anything else. Now that I took a step out of my comfort zone, I realize that I was made to be a country girl. I raise and feed chickens and it make me happy and alive. I’m proud that they were just baby chicks and now they are big and ugly. I’m proud that I contribute directly to nature. I slept every night without car or motorcycle sounds!

I have the feeling that I am in communion with myself here and it’s amazing. I saw a sky full of stars for the first time without buildings, house and everything. Just a dark sky and thousands of stars. I was almost in tears. What a beautiful life is out there that I knew nothing about.

I always been a nervous person in the city and here, I am more in peace. I found calm and beauty everywhere. Why ? Cause I decide to take a step outside my comfort zone. I decide that I will try something else, I will learn, I will live and I will maybe enjoy it.

Now I know that I am not just used to it, I am happy in it. I am happier in this environnement.  I still enjoy going out in the city for a couple of days, but I am happy to see my stinky chickens and come back in this small town.

You know when you read something like you are just one decision away for a complete different life. This is it. I took the decision to follow my heart and It lead me to found the real me.

This is what life is about, experiment, take a chance, step out of comfort zone, make mistakes, try, learn, assume your choice and then found happiness.

Love,

Vé

Are you a city or a country girl and why ? Leave a comment