Fifteen of my Favorite Feelings

If have not seen the video, “Fifteen of my Favourite Feelings,” by Estée Lalonde, I would highly recommend watching it. It is one of my favorite videos of hers because it is so positive and really focuses on things that make you feel at your best self. I was inspired by this video to list fifteen of my favorite feelings and moments that put me in a positive mood, no matter how small or quirky they may be.

WARM COFFEE OR HOT CHOCOLATE ON A COLD, WINTER MORNING

I work in the same office with my mother and we arrive at work very early in the morning. I love having a warm cup of coffee or a hot chocolate to start the day when it is chilly. When she surprises me with a cup of coffee, it puts me in such a good mood that I feel like I can start the day with a clear head and not focusing on how much I despise cold weather.

LOUNGING AROUND IN MY PINK, FLUFFY ROBE

Don’t you have that one article of clothing that makes you feel complete when you are wearing? For me, that is my fluffy pink robe. As obnoxious as I look when I am wearing it, it is my favorite item to wear when I need that extra boost of comfort.

Arriving at home after a long day

I recent months, I have been making an effort to go out and do more; especially since those who I have been surrounding myself with lately would rather be out of the house than lounging around. That is definitely what I need and I absolutely love the feeling of going out and seeing more than my computer screen, however, my bed still feels amazing and I love laying in it after a long day.

Clean makeup brushes

I am terrible at washing my makeup brushes and I know it. It is definitely a habit that I need to do more because the feeling of clean makeup brushes on your skin is something that you cannot recreate anywhere. I have not been wearing makeup lately, but I did just wash my brushes so the next time I decide to put on a full face of makeup, my skin will be in for a treat.

Saying “I love you,” and hearing it in return

The phrase “I love you” is one that is often overused and thrown around. Saying it can leave you feeling vulnerable and open to hurt, so allowing yourself to say that and hearing the one you love say it back can lead to an overwhelming feeling of happiness.

Holding hands

My heart smiles when our fingers intertwine. Something about holding hands puts my mind at ease and just brings be back down to earth.

Broken in shoes

New shoes are great, but new shoes can also be very uncomfortable if you are wearing them for the first time for an extended period of time. The minute those shoes are broken in, you enter a new dimension. You can conquer the world because it feels like those shoes were made specifically for your feet.

being genuinely appreciated

I love telling the people that I love how much I love and appreciate them because I know that it has a positive impact on their mood. Hearing that in return instantly brightens up my day. All of the hard work, love, energy, and time that I put into any task, job or relationship that I have does not need to be acknowledged by anyone, but it is nice when it is.

Driving with the windows down and the music blasting

Screaming my favorite songs at the top of my lungs into the summer breeze extends sunshine from the sky to my soul.

A moment of steady breathing after an anxiety attack

Living with depression and anxiety can be a struggle. You have your good days and you have your bad days. Sometimes, you have even worse than bad days. The moment of clarity, where your heart slows to a normal rate, when you can breathe again, when you can smile again…that is a feeling that nothing can touch. You’ve made it through and you know that better days are coming.

Waking up next to the one I love

Opening my eyes and seeing the one I love, still sleeping and snoring, puts a smile on my face first thing in the morning. I love it and I always feel so lucky.

Cuddles from pooches

Is there anything better than dogs? No. So cuddling with my favorite dogs and telling them how much I love them brings me so much joy. Seeing the look on their beautiful faces makes me smile and talk in baby talk that is despised by so many. I don’t care though and will continue to do it until my last breath.

Laughing ridiculously hard with my best friends who I have known for years

I have some of the best friends. I have known this wonderful group of ladies and one gentleman for years, some since elementary school. Many of my best memories are because of these wonderful people and I love and appreciate every moment that I get to spend laughing with them. I cannot imagine a life without them and I don’t wish to. I feel lucky to have friends like this in my life because some don’t get to have that.

Happy endings for my favorite fictional characters

Like many people who have their favorite shows and characters, it is a lovely feeling when they get their happy ending complete with their success and love. It feels like you had some part in their success because you had been rooting for them all along and they finally got what you felt they rightfully deserved. Pat yourself on the back because you helped them reach their full potential. you did that.

And finally, taking off my bra!

Do I really need to explain this one?

I could go on about my favorite feelings, but these were the fifteen that stuck out to me at the time. These definitely help me to feel like I am at my best self. What are some of your favorite feelings? I'd be interested in hearing them.

Finding a Skincare Routine for Me: Updated Skincare Routine

I have always struggled to find a skincare routine that felt like it was working for me. It took a lot of me learning about my skin, trial and error, and discovering my skin type. I am lucky that I do not have to deal with blemishes or acne scaring. My skin, however, is very dry; dry to the point where if I do not immediately put on moisturizer, the area around my mouth will turn ashy. It is a problem that I deal with every winter and it has been a frustrating experience to deal with.

Recently, I changed my skincare routine and people have definitely noticed a difference. I have gotten many compliments on how healthy and glowing my skin looks and it is all thanks to my No. 7 Skincare items, Mario Badescu facial spray, and my Paul Mitchell Marula Oil Treatment that I have been using for the past few months.

For my every day routine, I stick with four key products: No7 Beautiful Skin Melting Gel Cleanser, Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater, Paul Mitchell Marula Oil Treatment in the light formula, and my No7 Beautiful Skin Day Cream.

These four products have really made an improvement on my skin. The gel cleanser starts as a gel and then turns into an oil as you rub it into your skin, adding moisture while removing any buildup that may have accumulated through the day. The facial spray just adds a refreshing boost of moisture that I can continue to use throughout the day if I feel my skin is getting dry. I keep a mini version in my purse if I need it on the go. The No7 Day Cream is a great moisturizer that I use for day or night because it really helps to add the finishing touches on sealing in the moisture that I put back into my face.

The Marula Oil was a surprising product that I recently started using, since I had originally purchased it for my hair. I was using it on my extensions to give my curls a boost without having to curl my hair again and it worked really well. However, when I took my extensions out, I felt like it was too light of a formulation for my transitioning hair. I started using it on my face right before I put on my moisturizer and it just really helped to lock in moisture that I felt like I had been losing during the winter months.

Two other products that I use when I need a little something extra are the No7 Beautiful Skin Radiance Exfoliator and Hydration Mask. The exfoliator is great at exfoliating my skin and helping to bring back brightness after a long week. I use it once a week to get any dead skin cells or impurities that have built up over the week. The mask is a wonderful mask that really helps to add an extra boost of moisture for my really dry skin days. The texture is something that you would need to get used to, as it kind of feels like glue when you apply it to your face; however, it does an excellent job at retaining moisture.

They have really helped me out during the winter months! Here is a makeup free selfie to show you how great it is!

 I really suggest trying some of these products if you have really dry skin like I do and see how they work for you. 

A Re-Introduction Of Sorts

Hello. It’s been so long, you probably forgot who I am. Well, let me reintroduce myself in case you forgot.

I’m Keyerra and I am the 25 year-old, still learnin’, just wingin’ it (everything but my eyeliner) Key behind So This Is The Key.

These past few months have been very rough. I was given an ultimatum and essentially forced into quitting my job, which led me to getting two jobs to compensate for the loss of my job. My bills fell behind and I was extremely depressed, so my blog sadly fell to the back burner. While I took this time off, I worked on myself and tried to get inspiration for different projects, blog posts, and an eventual YouTube channel that I had wanted to start for a while. I have learned so many things and met so wonderful people these past few months that have inspired and driven me to be my better self. Turning 25 has made me want to take the plunge to do things that I have always wanted to do; traveling, finishing school, moving out of Maryland, and anything that I want to set my mind to. I want this blog to be so much more than beauty. I want it to showcase my growth and how I plan on taking more chances and doing more with life than sitting behind a computer screen wishing for so much more.

I am so excited to revamp this blog and to launch my YouTube channel as a fun outlet to my hectic life. So, now that I’ve introduced myself to you, I cannot wait to take on this new journey.