I've opened up about my long term relationship with my own Prince charming, Dimitar, and over the years I've learned so much about what makes us strong that has made me redefine what love is to me. In the beginning, I didn't believe that we would make it because both of us have such strong personalities that we had no idea how to work with one another. But, with love for one another and dedication, we really overcame all of the obstacles that came our way.

    This year will be my ninth anniversary with Dimitar and it feels so surreal to say this to myself; it truly feels like it was just yesterday where we were going on our first date to the movies together to watch Gravity with Sandra Bullock in it. We connected so easily with one another and made each other laugh so effortlessly, something I cherish even to this day. How time can feel so close yet so far away is only part of my amazement when it comes to long-term relationships. 

    I'm not a love guru or anything like that, but I have learned from the chaos around me what love should and shouldn't be. Using what I've learned and meshing it into my own intimate relationship, it has helped me build a solid foundation for myself that I hope can help others. After all, we all deserve to have a deep connection not only with ourselves, but with someone we truly love and want to spend our lives with. 

TIPS FOR LONG HAPPY RELATIONSHIPS

1. FRIENDSHIP FIRST

    I know it's not possible for everyone to start out as friends at first but the concept alone is what matters. Dimitar and I jumped into our relationship pretty fast and even though we had a deep connection, it still was a jump. It took us time to build up the necessary blocks that would help us grow and understand one another better and since we both were determined to make our relationship work - we both made an effort. 

    In time, we focused more on bonding first as friends - which may sound weird - but it really took the pressure off of us and helped us build trust between each other which is so important in every relationship, intimate or not. We had more fun this way thinking of ourselves as friends first and before we knew it,  the obstacles slowly drifted away and made room for experiences that mattered. As a result, our love for each other grew. 

2. BE EMOTIONAL MATURE

    Both Dimitar and I were emotionally immature when we started dating. When it was good, it felt amazing. When it was bad, we both never wanted to be wrong. We didn't back down in arguments because both of our egos were at the forefront of our actions. It wasn't healthy and while we were young, 19 to be exact, it still wasn't good for our relationship. When I realized that you can't put a fire out with fire, I decided to work on being more emotionally mature which also helped Dimitar do the same. 

    I've talked before on this blog about how our emotions, if left to explode, will always get the best of us. Emotions can be a great way for us to express ourselves but only if done in a healthy manner. Too much of anything is bad for anyone and the same can be said about our emotions. If you let your emotions get the best of you and those around you, it's only bound to bring your relationships down, including the one you have with yourself. By practicing emotional maturity, you give your relationships a chance to exist in your world, and a chance for you to exist in theirs. 

3. LISTEN & COMMUNICATE

    I can still remember how drastic my relationship improved when I started to listen more and communicate regularly. Rather than trying to always be right, I learned to listen more because in all arguments - there are two people with different sides. So it's only fair that you give each person a chance to be heard by listening to them. Also, with listening, you also want to communicate your feelings in a none accusing way. When I started expressing my feelings more often with my partner in a calm manner, he became more aware of how I truly felt and was more receptive to me which created an open space for understanding.

    9 times out of 10, listening and communicating effectively has not only helped Dimitar and I have less arguments, but if we do, they really fizz down in a matter of minutes. Yes, we are still human and occasionally we do bicker - but now that we know how to handle ourselves when it comes to disagreements, we spend more time just enjoying each others company. By learning to listen and openly communicate your feelings with your partner, you will find it easier for them to understand you and vice versa. 

4. BE ENGAGED & INVOLVED

    They say when you and your partner become a long term relationship - anything over five years - that there is a comfort phase everyone goes through. A phase where doing the same thing over and over can put a potential strain on a relationship's youth and this is actually true! Dimitar and I experienced this phase when money became tight for us and we found ourselves saving up and going out less. Naturally, it brought us down and while at first we weren't really aware of the effects of doing the same thing every day were - but we did realize that we had developed a comfort zone.

    If you find you and your partner in a funk from being in a comfort zone, take initiative to plan different activities regularly. When you actively engage in youthful activities like going out with your partner and trying new activities, it can easily and quickly make any couple bond and feel more renewed. So never get too stuck in the comfort zone and always spice your activities up. This will also incentivize your partner to do the same. 

5. PLAY & LAUGH OFTEN

    Dimitar and I always make time to play and laugh. I don't spend a lot of time on social media, but when I do, I love collecting funny videos or funny memes just to show Dimitar and he also does the same with me. At the end of the day when we're together, we then go over all of them and we both have a great laugh and it's such a great way to end the day. We also make time to play together too, whether it's through cuddling or actually playing video games, we love playing and joking with one another because it just makes us feel so good. Since we're both quite silly in general, us being more playful with one another really brings out the best in us and our relationship. 

    I highly recommend couples of all lengths to be playful with one another. Play more videos games together or board games, watch more comical movies or tv series, joke around and be more child like with one another. I find that's it's quite common for life to take a toll on intimate relationships that we often overlook the importance of playing and laughing, but please don't! 

6. CHECK UP ON EACH OTHER

    You may think it comes easily in a relationship to ask how the other is doing, but it's fairly common not to! Both Dimitar and I are two highly independent people who often keep our emotions to ourselves. We learned the hard way that just by checking up on each other and asking the other how they are, really makes us both feel secure in the relationship. Life happens and sometimes it really takes a toll on us, so just being mindful to what happens in our partners life as well as our own, can help us be more caring for our partner when they need support the most. 

    Sending a daily text, giving a hug or kiss, asking them how they are or how they have been feeling, can really help our partner decompress if life is wearing them down. As long-term partners, it's so important for us to be there for our partner because that's love after all; it's a bond that is promised through the good times and hard times. 

7. MAKE GOALS TOGETHER

    If you and your partner make time to regularly talk to one another, it will be common for goals or wishes to pop up that will really bring your relationship together. I find that making goals together in a long term relationship not only gives a relationship a solid foundation as it reminds each person that both people are committed to the future, but also, it gives the relationship a chance to build onto the relationship and create more memories within it.

    Dimitar and I often talk about our goals together and one that sticks out is our goal to get an apartment together. We talked about it so much and how great having our own privacy and life together was going to be, that when it actually happened - it really brought us closer together. Make goals together with your partner and you will be pleasantly surprised how it challenges your relationship; in a good way!

    If you have any tips for long term relationships for others to learn from, leave your comments down below! 

Until next time! xoxo - Sarah

    Spring is one of my favorite seasons; apart from Fall of course. In Spring, the trees start to flourish, the flowers start to bloom, and it's always the perfect temperate for me outside because everyone knows that I hate sweating and being hot. Yuck. Since I've had the chance to try a few new things this month, I wanted to put together a small list of my current favorites because I haven't done one in a while; it's an unusual list though, so brace yourself. 

               * This post may contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. See disclosure for more details.

    As you all know from a recent post, this month has been really hard for me and I've kept to myself a bit more. While my content is always focused on the brighter side of life, I never want to shy away from being real with my readers because I know life happens and I always want to be someone that someone else can relate to. I am doing better though and with my spirits being high today, I felt up to creating a new post. 

    I am not one for being materialistic but occasionally I do like to enjoy buying myself a few things here and there to spice up my routine. I honestly think that when it comes to making a favorites list, your list can have anything in it, which is why I was pretty excited to make this list since I realized I actually had many new favs to share with you all.

1. Morgan Miller Vitamin C Facial Oil & Rose Hip Facial Oil

    I returned the next day to Ross again and found two oils by a company called Morgan Miller; Vitamin C oil and Rose Hip oil. Both smelled amazing and are made in Korea. The Rose Hip oil is my new favorite oil because it also has lavender in it, which I absolutely love! My skin practically drinks these oils up and I find that a little goes a long way.

2. Neutrogena Clear Face 55 SPF Sun Screen

3. State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition

At base enlisting one of my members to follow me

4. Hokko Life

Completing tasks for neighbors

    

    Another game I have come to really like is a game called Hokko Life. It's PC life simulator game that is quite similar to the well known Nintendo Switch Game, Animal Crossing. I found out about this game after realizing how badly I wanted to play Animal Crossing. Since I don't have a Switch though, I found Hokko Life and it's about 95% identical! The atmosphere is relaxing and cozy, the colors are vibrant, and while it does feel like you progress in the game very slowly - it's enjoyable. 

    Playing in Hokko Life means building a town together so that you have a thriving community where everyone helps each other. There are numerous ways to keep your character engaged and even though I am still in the beginning of the game, I very much enjoy this game!

5. Gemma's YouTube Channel

        I've been browsing YouTube more often these days and I came across a lovely channel owned by Gemma Louise Miles. She makes lifestyle content covering all kinds of interesting topics like healthy eating, traveling, makeup, cleaning, and hauls. It's always nice to find a new YouTube that I can follow and appreciate and I personally love Gemma's energy! If you have some time, definitely go check her channel out!

6. Keto Pecan Sandies by Ketoserts     Since doing a 20 day water fast, I have taken much time to prepare for my keto diet. I compiled a list of keto recipes to try that would satisfy my cravings and I'm so happy with what I've found! The first keto recipe that I came across are these Pecan Sandies from a YouTube channel called Ketoserts. It's a channel completely dedicated to keto recipes and I love her content! Since I always loved Pecan Sandies growing up, I decided to make these and boy were they delicious! I finished them in one day!

7. Keto Biscuits by The Big Mans World

        While I'm not a fan of making keto bread just because of how many eggs it takes to make a small loaf, these keto biscuits I've discovered however are so amazing! I've made them at least three times so far and each time I'm always impressed. Not only are they healthy but they're keto too and so delicious. Even if you weren't doing keto you would be hooked which says alot. I had Dimitar even try them and he couldn't believe they were keto. 

8. Alina Baraz - To Me (Song)

    I discovered Alina Baraz while listening to a playlist on YouTube. The playlists were randomly playing and when I heard this song play, I immediately loved it and couldn't stop listening to it! I've never heard of her before but I love her voice and her songs are so down to earth and relatable. If you haven't given her a listen to yet, definitely go check her music out!

9. Firehook Bakery in Old Town Alexandria, VA

    I've bought cake from this bakery before but this time, I actually had time to request a custom cake made fresh! Oh, it was amazing. Even though the cake wasn't keto friendly, it was such an amazing treat to be able to eat it. I bought it for Dimitar's birthday which was on 4/20 and since he loved it so much, I knew I had to make it a regular for us. I also have mentioned before that I love supporting local businesses and since their cakes are so good, I can only do my share by making sure they thrive because I don't want to go anywhere else!

~

    Well, I hope you enjoyed todays favorites list, and if you've tried any of the items mentioned in this post, let me know your thoughts on them! 

Until next time! xoxo - Sarah

    Two years ago today, my dearest mother passed away. I dreamt a few nights ago that I was nervous about this day coming, where these buried feelings of sadness would find me all over again and resurface. No matter how grateful I try to be though for the challenges God gives me, it can never fully remove the pain I feel from my mom's absence. How badly I wish to visit her or call her even, just to realize I wouldn't be able to. To anyone who has lost someone before, you know how consuming that kind of emptiness can be. 

    It honestly feels like a lifetime has gone by since I heard her voice. Since my mom lived several states away, talking on the phone was all we could do. Even though she struggled with alcohol, deep down in my heart I know she meant well. My mom helped me realize the importance of forgiveness, compassion, being bold, and the importance of laughter. She had a tough life but she always did her best to smile through it. 

    The last conversation I had with my mom, she was cheerful. She always enjoyed a good laugh so whenever I called her, I always made sure to lift her spirits. I mentioned in some of my early posts about my mom, that I spent so long looking for someone I could relate to just to realize that my mom was that person. She was the friend I was deeply in need of and she helped me understand the importance of being vulnerable.

    I had always been afraid to open up to people out of fear of being hurt, but getting closer to my own mom helped me find peace with the world around me. By being understanding of my mom and letting go of my expectations or even judgement, I was able to be in the moment with her. It was hard because it meant being vulnerable to even more pain and uncertainty, but if it meant being there for her when she needed someone the most, I was willing to accept it all and deal with it as it came.

    Through phone calls, we grew close to each other to the point where we both started to have dreams about being with each other. I like to believe that now, she can be wherever she wants to be and while I miss her deeply, I'm happy for her new found freedom. I'm happy that she's no longer in pain because life on earth is truly hard. Since I don't believe in death, once my sadness passes on a heavy day like today, I remember that my mom is always with me. She has proven this to me through signs that only her and I know which comforts me when I need it the most. 

    It may be some time now before I get to see my mom, but I know when the time comes, I'll spend days like today celebrating her soul rather than grieving. My mom loved appreciating the fine simple things in life and it's through her own passions that I hope I can keep her close to me; spending time outside in nature, baking, having a great laugh, being around loved ones, and most importantly - being there to care for oneself. 

    So today, even if I may cry more than usual and feel sad even, I'm truly happy for everything my mom has been able to help me with. The blessings that have appeared in my life lately out of nowhere truly feels like I have an Angel watching over me and I know it's my mom.  Whenever I fear the worst and ask for guidance or protection, everything always ends up being okay and I know it's because my mom is looking out for me. 

    Since twenty-two was always a number that my mom and I loved, I like to believe that she will help me make this year, 2022, a great year. It will come with it's challenges, but I know she will be there every step of the way guiding me in the right direction. While I miss her deeply, I know we will only continue to get closer as time pushes on.

To my dearest mother with love, 

    I send you so much joy and happiness.  

    I'm back! After doing a water fast for so long, I needed to take some time away to get my energy back to normal. I spent a lot of time thinking during my fast and recovery that I realized how important visualizing is for our own success. In everything we do, our own ability to picture an outcome comes first. Have you ever thought about it? 

       * This post may contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. See disclosure for more details.

    If you're accustomed to the Law of Attraction, you understand the concept of how like attracts like and how the same goes with negativity. We're all energetic magnets surrounded by balls of experiences that really test our skills and wisdom throughout life. The key to all of this that makes everything more interesting, is not just how we manage our thoughts, but how we use our own imagination. 

    What I mean is, you know how you'll sometimes find yourself daydreaming about those lucky lottery numbers or that dream vacation? If you turn your daydreaming up a notch and use it to help you achieve your goals, you're actually likely to speed up your manifesting. I'll use me as an example. 

    My goal this year is to grow my YouTube channel and my Blog. Part of the Law of Attraction is that in order to get what you want, you have to live your life like you already have what you want. So, if I wanted my YouTube channel and Blog to grow, I would need to carry myself mentally and emotionally as if both my YouTube channel and blog were fruitful. It would also mean taking small steps to help me get to where I want to be like making more videos and articles.  

    If that's too hard to do, try spending 5-10 minutes everyday just sitting quietly - preferably listening to binaural frequencies -  and imagining what your life will be like if your deepest desires came true right now. What feelings would you feel? What would you do during your daily life? How would you change? What would you buy to splurge on? What kind of people would you surround yourself with? What exactly would improve in your life? When you take the time to visualize yourself achieving your deepest desires, you're giving yourself permission to commit to your dreams to the point where you imagine a life with them already manifested. 

    I would say write down your goals, but I don't find that this really immerses you into the visualizing aspect. Sometimes by letting our minds go and do it's own thing, we discover that there's more to us than what can be applied to paper. Now, I'm not saying that writing goals or dreams down is pointless - because it's far from that - but visualizing changes everything. Writing is a way to solidify or identify a goal while visualizing gives us a chance to live what's yet to manifest. 

    Ever heard the saying, fake it until you make it? This expression couldn't be more valid when it comes to visualizing to achieve our goals. So many successful and famous people have opened up about the powers of visualizing. When you're deep in hardship, it can be hard to see beyond it, but even then visualizing instills hope and pushes us towards a destination we know we'll thrive better in. 

    One of my favorite books is by Viktor Frankl called Man Searching For Meaning, and in this book he opens up about how he survived being in a Nazi concentration camp by visualizing a future that he could look forward to. To this day, this book always gives me hope and reminds me how beneficial it is to visualize a better life for ourselves and how far it can actually take us. 

    Whether you need a boost of abundance in your life or you want to turn your life around completely, I highly recommend practicing visualizing on a daily basis. I have recently started getting back into it and within a month, I have had more opportunities come my way in such a short amount of time. 

Until next time! xoxo - Sarah

Day 1: 138.2 lbs. (03/17/2022)

    Feeling normal with minor hunger pains. I developed a headache later in the day and stayed busy with daily tasks as usual. Energy was slightly effected when doing strenuous tasks. Drinking plenty of water helped ease my hunger. 

Day 2: 135.2 lbs.

    Woke up fatigue. Could hardly sleep the previous night before. Muscles were fairly weak and moving alone took so much effort. Cravings were high and it was hard to focus on daily tasks; thought about giving up my fast. Going out in the evening helped take my mind off of hunger but left me exhausted. That night I slept for 8 hours. 

Day 3: 134.2 lbs.

    Woke up fatigue with low energy. Hunger pains were intense and I spent the entire day watching food videos - lol. I was very restless and tried to take a nap, but was unsuccessful. I was easily irritated and tense; I thought about giving up my fast many times. Playing video games really helped take my mind off of everything. I went to bed around 11pm but could not fall asleep until 6am. 

Day 4: 133.2 lbs.

   Woke up very irritable and very exhausted. I started to develop bags under my eyes from lack of sleep. Could not focus on daily tasks so I continued to watch food videos. Journaling my thoughts and feelings helped put my fast into perspective but I continued to question my fast. I ended up buying myself some melatonin 3mg and took two before sleeping and I finally got 7 hours of sleep! 

Day 5: 131.6 lbs.

       Woke up feeling well rested and more energetic then yesterday. Muscles still feel fatigue when moving but not as bad. Able to focus on daily tasks and drinking water has become much more fulfilling. My mood was semi-high and I felt optimistic about completing my fast. I was able to work on a novel that I put down several months ago and it felt great to write again.

Day 6: 130.2 lbs.

    Woke up feeling semi-normal. Not much fatigue at all. Taking melatonin two nights in a roll has helped me sleep better and I was able to get 9 hours of sleep last night! I feel a bit more excited about my progress and continuing my fast. I also don't think about my cravings as much. 

Day 7: 129.4

    Felt much more energetic to do daily tasks and slept 8 hours previous night. Having fun was a lot easier and my focus was much better. Cravings were not as noticeable so being around food wasn't as hard. Was able to clean the entire apartment without feeling lethargic.

Day 8: 127.6

    Much happier today! I spent more time appreciating my fast after seeing results. I am able to focus on daily tasks without food crossing my mind and if they do, watching keto food videos satisfies me. I spent the day planning my keto plan for when I would be ready to eat after my fast was over and it was pretty exciting. 

Day 9: 127.0

    Felt pretty normal! No body aches or fatigue. Energy was high and I felt great. Weight loss was slow though which was very confusing. Nonetheless, I felt great. My hunger pains weren't that bad except for some minor back pain. Sleep was much better except for the weird feeling in my legs. 

Day 10: 126.6

    Feeling normal and high energy. I managed to do some cleaning but it did start to tire me out so I took it slow. Had energy to walk around outside but only for a short one. My back was still sore though - the kind of soreness I feel when I am about to start my period. I can be around food and cook just fine but being around my boyfriend while he eats is still hard.

Day 15: 122.6

    Slept very well the previous night. Now instead of taking 2 melatonin before bed, I take one. My clothes are fitting better too and I can tell that my face has slimmed down quite a bit. I also started my period today and there aren't many cramps or pains or cravings even. I still felt sleepy though throughout the day so my energy wasn't quite there which could be a result from my period.

Day 20: 118.2 (04/07/2022)

    Experiencing more hunger pains. Being on my period really made me feel sluggish and exhausted due to the cramps. I've been contemplating on cutting my fast short next week if the daily hunger pains don't go away. Writing my novel is the only thing I can focus on - that, and preparing my keto meals for when I'm ready to start eating again. I've also planned out how I'm going to reintroduce food back into my body.

** Broke my fast later in the day after intense hunger pains! I still feel happy though with myself and accomplished. For the next 9 days, I will do my recovery diet and then after that, I will do ketogenic Intermittent Fasting to maintain my weight loss.

Left: 138 lbs / Right: 118 lbs