Life Hacks: School/Health Edition

I am extremely happy to announce that this will be my first collaboration on my blog! This post is in collaboration with Kaila, one of my absolute favourite bloggers. I hope to be doing many more collaborations in the future (and definitely more with Kaila). Click here to read Kaila's post for some more life hacks!

1. Oranges

The smell alone of oranges can reduce stress! This is perfect for the stressful time of semester leading up to exams or just any other time of year that you feel stress getting to you. It has been found that eating OR smelling an orange can reduce stress by up to 70%.

Memphis; Birthplace of Rock 'n Roll

Many of you will know Tennessee as being the place where Miley Cyrus is from but another, more influential singer/actor was from the same state. I am talking about Elvis Presley, the king of rock n' roll. I was surprised to learn that Elvis was actually born in a small town in Mississippi and I was lucky enough to visit the exact location. Seeing the roots of such an influential man was life changing for me. The house was small and built out of white painted wood. It was nothing special but it housed a very special person.

Once When I Was Little

"I could dream more then. I could believe more then that the world could only get better"

When you are little you can believe whatever you want. No one has clouded your thoughts with the 'reality' or 'normality' of life. I think that this is when we are completely ourselves. I think it's sad that we believe that our dreams could come true only when we are young. If only we could grow up with belief in those dreams then maybe the world would be a different, magical place.

"We could build a rocket, fly to the moon. Leave Tuesday morning, be back for noon. And there wasn't nothing, nothing that we couldn't do" 

James Morrison portrays this so beautifully in his song 'Once When I Was Little'. If you haven't heard this song have a listen, hopefully it will bring you back to your childhood dreams like it did for me. And if you are young and still believe in your dreams, then hold onto that for as long as you can because truth is, we all grow up too fast.

- Nicole Marie Ranz

Insomnia.

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Sleep is one of the most wonderful things we do as human beings. When we are asleep we are in a state of calm, where no one and nothing can hurt us. We are just there, comfortably lying still for hours letting our body rejuvenate. But now I begin to wonder, why is sleep such a struggle if it is so good for you? Just like why do we struggle to exercise regularly if it's so good for us?

Lack of sleep can be enough to singlehandedly make a person go crazy. And I am saying this, lying in bed at 2.13 am trying desperately to go to sleep. Me writing this shows how much I am failing while simultaneously going insane.

To some degree I think everyone will experience some form of insomnia in their lifetime and the question is, what causes our insomnia?

Personally, I go through spouts of insomnia. I have a few good weeks of going to bed with no problem whatsoever. That then moves onto not being able to sleep without reading a book for half an hour before hand. This then evolves to being unable to sleep even with hours of reading. This is the stage I am in right now.

But why does this happen?
There is an endless list of possibilities.
For me, it's probably my anxiety.
For others, it could be something as simple as drinking too much caffeine too close to bed.

Yet here I am, 2.17 am, lying in my bed with my laptop and a grumbling stomach trying pass time until the sweet escape of sleep takes over me.

You know what they say, 'Sleep is like a time machine to breakfast'.

- Nicole Marie Ranz

The Great Ocean Road; Victoria

I'm sure most Australians have heard of the Great Ocean Road but if you haven't, it's basically a long road that follows the coast of Victoria (for the most part). Recently, I went on a family adventure along this road and was amazed at the whole experience - both in a positive and negative way.

Let's start with the positives.
The atmosphere around the whole road was an amazing experience and something that I will remember forever. Most of the towns that you will stop off at are quiet and small, creating a much different feel than the city life I am used to.

The view was beautiful. There is no doubt about that. Australia is known for it's beaches and these definitely did not disappoint. It is a once in a lifetime experience to see these views and I 100% recommend. I will, however, point out that if you have driven down Highway 1 in California then this won't be all that different.

New Years Resolutions 2016

2016 is here! I am ready to welcome the new year with open arms and a fresh start. I did a video on my new years resolutions so I thought I would put the video into words and explain my resolutions more thoroughly.

1. Exercise more

Now I know this is the most generic new years resolution you can possibly have. Everyone says that they want to start working out and get fit for the new year. For me, it's more about restoring my old exercise schedule from the beginning of 2015 that made me feel healthy and happy. I used to have a weekly schedule for exercise and somewhere along the track I lost it. In the new year my goal is to regain this exercise schedule.

2. Start and keep a journal

Apparently, keeping a journal is very good for you. There is something therapeutic about getting all your emotions and troubles down on the page. Someone very wise gave me the advice to start the ritual of journal writing and I decided to take up that challenge. Of course, starting off writing everyday is ridiculously difficult and there is slim to no chance of me achieving that. Instead, I aim to write in my journal once a month (at first!).

3. Have more self control on social media

When I say this I mean in constantly being online. It is not healthy to 'stalk' people who you are no longer friends with or people who have hurt you in the past just because you are desperate for an update of their life (trust me, I've done this too much). I've come to realise that the most important people will know what is going on with you WITHOUT the assistance of social media. I think more blackout nights in 2016 are in order.

4. Read more books

Now I am very proud of myself for the amount of books I read in 2015. I didn't read many books at all (or as compared to some people) but for me, it was a big achievement. I used to HATE reading with a passion and over the last few years hate has turned into love. So, for 2016, I aim to read more books than I did in 2015.

5. Get into a regular sleeping pattern

I've noticed that when I go to bed around the same time and wake up around the same time, I generally feel healthier and happier. Somewhere around the middle of 2015 my sleeping pattern went from scheduled to whenever! The change definitely made it harder for me to fall asleep and make me feel tired more often. In the new year I would love to regain the sleeping pattern I once had.

6. Say yes more

Towards the end of 2015 I started getting these weird, spontaneous lapse in judgement that lead me to saying yes to a lot more things that I normally wouldn't have. Most of these times I have said yes have lead to great memories or just simply the reassurance that I can do it. I think it's important to start saying yes to more things more often, that way you gain more life experience and hopefully lifelong memories.

7. Start a self defence class

For my whole life I have wished that I started some sort of self defence (like Karate) when I was younger. It would certainly make me feel safer being by myself if I knew that I could protect  myself. After years and years of wanting to start, I hope 2016 will be the year that I actually do it.

8. Get a job that I enjoy

This one is kind of more specific than it sounds. Right now I work in a cafe and although I don't hate it, I also don't see  myself being able to do it for much longer. It would be a dream come true if one day I could follow my passion for youtube into something that becomes a job. I mean doesn't everyone dream of getting paid to do something they love?

9. Be organised

In 2016 I am going to do my very best to stay organised for the whole year. That means writing down university assessments, studying well before exams, finishing assignments early and being prepared for class. For youtube, that means posting weekly videos consistently all year. For my blog, that means posting at least once a month (a small goal I know, but I am trying to make youtube my number one priority for now).

10. Be happy

Cheesy, I know. But doesn't everyone just want to be happy? Well, I do. I am leaving the unhappiness of 2015 behind and taking a new, positive, happy approach into the new year.  2016 will be a wonderful and happy year, I'm sure of it.

Feel free to leave any of your new years resolutions in the comments! I would love to read them.
Happy new year to all my wonderful followers and I hope 2016 is the best year of your life <3

Love, Nicole Marie

Christmas Wishlist 2015

Every year I find myself creating a wish list for Christmas and my birthday. I never, ever get all of the things I have on the list (very rarely do I get any) which is okay because Christmas isn't just about presents. In saying that, I am always very curious as to what other people put on their lists so I thought I would share mine with you. It's almost like a little imaginary haul.

My Christmas Wishlist 2015:

Electronics -

• Frends Headphones
• Earphones
• One year subscription to the 'Calm' app

Beauty -

• Lush bath bombs - preferably the Christmas limited edition ones
• Nars Illuminator in Copacabana 
• Zoella Beauty - Mini fizz bar trio, bath bombinis bath fizzers, Soak opera, Tutti fruity bath fizz, fizz bar, body scrub
• Rapidlash or Revitalash
• Glasshouse Christmas candles (limited ones)

Brave

Today's Music Mondays: Brave by Sara Bareilles

"Say what you want to say, and let the words fall out. Honestly, I want to see you be brave"

Although the song was originally written directed at coming out, this song can be applied to many situations in life. Whether that be telling a friend or family member a secret or just letting them know about something that is going on in your life. This song gave me the courage to finally speak my mind and tell someone something that I should have told them a long time ago. Actually, it gave me the courage to talk to a few people. The more you speak up, the easier it becomes. I was brave and I'm proud of that.

"Nothing's gonna hurt you the way the words do when they settle 'neath your skin"

Despite my short act of bravery the outcome was not expected. I expected everything to be okay after the truth was out but it was far from it. Things snowballed... and not in a good way. Although the majority of people will have positive reactions and become even more supportive, there will always be a few people who don't. I think in situations like this it is important to remember that you took the small act of bravery and that is an achievement enough.  If someone else can't accept it - that is on them, not you.

"You can be amazing, you can turn a phrase into a weapon or a gun"

It is also important to be aware of the fact that your words have the power to be hurtful. And you should not use your words as a weapon. Of course, we are all human and in the heat of the moment it is easy to say things you don't mean. But when this happens it is also where your true feelings are exposed. I believe that there is always some truth beneath the cruel things that people can say to you, that is the truth that THEY think about you. It doesn't necessarily mean that it is the truth. After all, most of the time people only see things from one perspective; their own.

Just remember that once things are said they cannot be taken back. Yes, it is good to tell the truth and yes, it is important to speak your mind but if you really care about someone, you shouldn't say things to purposely hurt them. Relationships are dangerous. These people who know you inside and out are the ones who know how to hit you where it hurts. Words have the power to destroy a life or the power to save one. So use your words for good. Be brave... speak up... and let your words change the world.

Love, Nicole Marie

Support

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We all need someone to lean on. We all need that support at some point in our lives and the only hope is that when you support someone they will support you back and be there for you when you need them. It's funny how in the toughest of times you realise who is a true friend. Sometimes you can be there for a person and they can't return the favour. There is no doubt that this hurts but it's okay. Everyone has their own lives and their own worries.

Being friends with someone is a funny concept. Even though both of you have your own lives, at the end of the day you are expected to be there for the other. Even if it takes dropping what you are doing at that moment and just listening. Sometimes it's important to put a person before other things in your life, otherwise you don't know what could happen to them. It is also important to look at things from both perspectives, a lot of the time if a person is making you feel a certain way, odds are that you do the same to them. I think in situations like this communication is important. However, when communication fails, it might be time to simply move on. 

For me, the people who have been supportive are not who I expected. People who I haven't know for long have proven to be the most understanding. People who I never expected to be supportive and understand, actually understand the most. And people who I expected to be there for me, aren't.

What I am now trying to make myself realise is that it's okay. Not everyone can be your knight in shining armour and as long as you have a few close people that you can lean on you'll be alright. At the end of the day, whatever 'down' stage of your life you are in, YOU need to be the one to get yourself out of it. People can help you as much as they can but before you decide that enough is enough, no one is really going to be able to help you.

As they say, quality over quantity. 

Love, Nicole Marie

The Atlantis Hotel; The Bahamas

The Atlantis hotel.

Beachy, calm, tranquil, holiday in the sun. These are the words I associate with the island of the Bahamas and the breathtaking hotel that sits upon it. 

Between the private beaches and the private water park, the Atlantis hotel is a perfect location for a getaway (even if it is just a three day cruise from Miami like it was for me).

You may have already read my Florida post where I touched a little on the big step it was for me going on this cruise but in this post I am going to focus more on the island itself. The island that I have now named my honeymoon island (sorry future husband, it's already decided. We are going to the Bahamas for our honeymoon).

When arriving on this island we were met with streets of shopping filled with fine jewellery and make up brands. After spending most of the day wondering around the shops we finally made our way to the Atlantis hotel.

This hotel is home to an amazing water park which we unfortunately didn't have time to see BUT we did have time to explore the aquarium at the hotel filled with exotic sea creatures. I would 100% recommend adding this hotel to your bucket list! 

If you are interested in seeing some more of my time in the Bahamas then feel free to watch my Florida travel vlog :)

If you live in America I would recommend taking a short 3 day cruise out to the islands of the Bahamas, it really was the perfect getaway. 

Love, Nicole Marie

p.s. I know it has been a very long time since I actually went on this trip but I am doing a blog post on every state/city I went to! There are still a few more left so keep an eye out :)

We Are Who We Are

Recently I have been listening to 'We Are Who We Are' by Little Mix.
Yes, it's an old song.
Yes, they are coming out with new and amazing music.
But to me, the importance of the message in this song will never diminish.

The song talks about something that is so important to have within yourself and that is pride and acceptance of who you are. You are stuck with yourself forever so why not love yourself? There are so many amazing things about each and every human being that is individual to YOU. These are the things you should be most proud of and share with the world. I know, I know... it's easier said than done but it is worth a try!

While we are here... so much amazing new music is coming out! Little Mix, 5 Seconds Of Summer, One Direction and many more I'm sure. I would be lying if I said that didn't overwhelm me a little because thats twenty bucks an album to fork out all in the same time frame.

While on the topic of music, for an assignment for uni we had to create a blog (which personally I was very excited about). Anyway, our blog topic was music and I made posts like this on inspirational songs. I enjoyed it so much that I have decided to continue it on this blog. So, I will now be doing 'song reviews' on songs that mean something to me. Let's call it 'Music Mondays'. Hopefully this will allow you all to discover new and inspiring music that will make a difference in your life.

Love, Nicole Marie

You Need To Be Cold To Be Queen; Blair Waldorf

I am in the middle of a very exciting Gossip Girl marathon. As of right now, I am watching the finale of season 3 and what I have realised during these first 3 seasons is that Blair Waldorf is the most inspirational character. Despite her obvious flaws (the scheming, blackmailing and bullying other people to get what she wants) I think she is a good person. She is loyal, loving and hard-working. These are three things that I am working towards improving in myself.

Blair doesn't let anyone step over her. She doesn't let anyone stand in the way of what she wants. She doesn't let the pressure of life get to her. And whenever something DOES get to her, she will bounce back every time. The resilience of Miss Waldorf is another thing that inspires me about her. Throughout all of the pain and hardships, Blair still ends up happy and successful.

The power of Blair Waldorf's forgiveness is amazing. No matter what mistakes others make - whether it be Serena sleeping with her boyfriend or Chuck trading her for a hotel -  she always has the ability to forgive and forget in time. Holding a grudge will never do you any good and although Blair can hold a grudge, she will always forgive the people who are most important in her life. And this is a very fine line to master. It's important to figure out who is there to stay and who is just passing through your life.

She carries herself with grace and poise. She dresses to impress. She speaks clearly and articulately. She is one classy lady, that's for sure. And right now, she is my biggest inspiration.

Blair Waldorf is my alter-ego. Whenever I need to remind myself to be strong, to be powerful, to let nobody stop me, I think WWBWD (what would Blair Waldorf do?).

I desperately need this cup to serve as a constant reminder:

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Here are a few of my favourite Blair Waldorf quotes:

"You need to be cold to be queen"

"If you really want something, you don't stop for anyone or anything until you get it"

"I'm not a stop along the way. I'm a destination" 

"You can't make people love you. But you can make them fear you"

"Feelings never make sense. They get you all confused. Then they drive you around for hours before they drop you off right back where you started" 

This is my second blog post in a row dedicated to the wonderful Blair Waldorf, if you haven't seen my last post it was on the fashion of Blair Waldorf, so check that out if you are interested!

And remember... WWBWD?

Love, Nicole Marie
(All images from my pinterest board)

Weekend Getaway; Queensland

Recently I went on a little getaway with my mum and my sister to Queensland. It was honestly such a beautiful time and I couldn't be more thankful that I had the opportunity to go.

We flew into Brisbane, only spending a few hours in the city before starting on our hour drive to one of my sisters friends house. The whole reason we flew up to begin with was to celebrate her birthday and it was so lovely to spend a relaxing weekend with people I have known my whole life. We then drove just over an hour to the Gold Coast and stayed at the Hotel Grand Chancellor. I 100% would recommend this hotel. Fabulous location and fabulous rooms (even though there was no free wifi). We spent the next two days relaxing, eating, walking along the beach and doing a tiny bit of shopping. We also got tickets to the Russian ballet and saw 'Sleeping Beauty' which was beautiful and well worth the money. We had a night flight back to Sydney from the Gold Coast (the airport was so cute!). 

While being away for just four short days I was able to face my fears (some of them) and I am glad to say I have come out alive! I don't know why this trip was such a big deal for me, maybe it's because I'm at a rough stage in my life right now where I am just trying to work things out. But this trip WAS a big deal and I'm going to say that I'm proud of myself. I'm proud of how far I have come in those four days and how far I have potential to go in the future. 

There is a long road ahead, I know that for sure, but this trip has given me hope that I can get through it. Sometimes all we need is a few days to ourselves to think and decide what we really need in life. And I think I've decided.

Here are some photos from my trip, hope you enjoy them!

Serendipity.

Serendipity means a 'fortunate happenstance' or 'pleasant surprise'. To me, serendipity is a wonderful and intriguing word, possibly one of the most beautiful in the English language. Until recently I didn't know what serendipity meant. Yes, I have been to the dessert restaurant in New York but I was never curious enough to look into the meaning of the word.

I think that most of our lives are made up of serendipity. When you think about all of the amazing things that have happened to you, you didn't expect any of it. It was complete luck, or maybe fate, or maybe destiny. Or maybe it was a combination of all three.

I like to think that there is a plan for all of us. Yes, we get to make our own decisions but there is something bigger than us giving us signs, pointing us in the right direction so that one day we will be brought to a special someone who makes us whole. Now I'm not saying that we can't be whole on our own but doesn't everyone want to find that special companion to tackle the ups and downs of life with?

The movie Serendipity goes into the idea of fate and destiny a lot and I couldn't agree with it more. To me, the movie proved that if it's meant to happen, it will happen. It just takes time. Maybe you're not ready for a boyfriend right now or maybe you aren't ready for that job just yet. Whatever it may be in your life just remember that something good will come to you just when you stop looking for it. And that's serendipity.

Love, Nicole Marie

P.S. Serendipity is a great movie! I definitely recommend giving it a watch. I would rate it 9.5/10 :)

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Soldier on.

"They say before you start a war, you better know what your fighting for." - The Cab

There are strong people who wake up everyday and enter the battlefield for the greater good of the world. They set aside their worries and fears and fight for who they are and what they believe in. They take strength from within themselves even when they think they don't have any strength left.

Sometimes life gets tough. And when life gets tough you have two options - to let it over take you and consume your every thought, or become tougher.

Some people have it rougher than others and I know that there are people out there that have problems worse than mine. But that doesn't mean your problems are any less real... any less serious. You have a right to get angry. You have a right to be sad. You have a right to feel any emotion towards things going on in your life because truthfully, no one else understands unless they have gone through it themselves. Things are tough now, but they will get better. You just have to soldier on.

Sometimes you need to strap up your boots, zip up your jacket, tie up your hair and fight. Fight for the life you once had or fight for the life you would like to have. Fight for the people you have lost or fight for the people you are going to gain. Fight for the past memories that bring you joy or fight for the future events that will bring you happiness.

Even the greatest of soldiers don't stay in combat forever.

Love, Nicole Marie

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Los Angeles; The City of Angels

Dad: Excuse me, I have a weird question.

Waitress: This is LA, nothing's weird.

Los Angeles is a magical place. It is a place where you can hike mountains to reach breathtaking views whilst escaping the busy streets of California.

It is a place where happiness can come from the smallest of things such as meeting a celebrity. For me it was Nathan Fillion and Seamus Dever from Castle. These guys are the first real celebrities I have ever met and I couldn't be happier with my experience: 

Internet Detox.

This post relates a bit back to my blackout post (if you are interested in reading it then here it is)

There comes a point where it is all too much. Constantly checking to see how many people have liked our photos or checking messenger to see if the person you are waiting on has been 'active' or 'read' your message. This can make a person go insane, I have felt it first hand. It can bring a constant feeling of worry or fear. It's like the phone that you hold in your own hands now represents the power of hundreds of people who could potentially hurt you.

I was watching The Princess Diaries recently and a quote was mentioned that applies to this situation:

'No one can make you feel inferior without your consent' - Eleanor Roosevelt 

In this day and age there are so many more ways that people can make you feel inferior; instagram, facebook, twitter, youtube, tumblr, personal messages etc. We are all so attached to our online presence that it now has the power to destroy people. In my opinion, this is too much power for any one thing.

When talking to someone in real life you can use all of your senses - sound, sight, touch, smell and taste (not that you would be tasting a conversation). This means you can see the emotion on their face and hear the lightness in their voice. Over text messages things can get easily misunderstood. People can assume the worst, read what you said in the wrong tone or think you are attacking them when you really aren't. Where does this constant need to reply to messages come from? Why can't we spend time alone without talking to someone numerous times a day? I don't know for sure the answers to these questions but I do know that it has created a reliance on other people's opinions and this isn't necessarily a good thing.

When you think about it, whose instagram really represents their lives? Just because you post a lot of pictures with your girl friends, doesn't mean you don't know any guys. Or just because you always post pictures with the same person, doesn't mean you don't have any other friends. Or just because you hardly ever post anything at all it definitely doesn't mean you don't have a life. Your profiles online are anything you want them to be. It is all an illusion.

As Roosevelt said, they can't make you feel that way without you allowing it yourself. You can not check that message that you know will make you feel bad about yourself. Or you can not look at other peoples pages to see what they have and what you don't. You don't have to scroll through comments in a self destructive mission to find hate. All of these things are choices.

We have become so addicted to the internet that it takes all the self control in our bodies to keep from doing these things. So I am proposing an internet detox. Now I am not talking no internet completely. Don't constantly check to see if someone has replied or seen your message, don't keep refreshing when you post a photo to check how many likes you have, turn your phone off before bed etc. All of these little things can make you feel a lot better, not only about yourself but about the other people in your life.

So here I go on a little internet detox.
Let me know if you decide to do it too :)

Love, Nicole Marie

New York; The Big Apple

'Take as much from the city as the city took from you' -Among Savages 

The iconic New York City is a complex yet amazing place. It is a city where you can get to most places you need to go by simply walking. It is a place where you can have the hustle and bustle of city life with some nature thrown in the mix, found in the serenity of Central Park. When I was in New York a few months ago, I was lucky enough to experience the beauty of Central Park covered in snow... Have a look for yourself:

Florida; The Sunshine State

Now I know it has been a very long time since my American holiday but today I have found myself reminiscing on the good times I had on holiday.

Since I got home from my holiday at the beginning of the year, life has slapped me with reality and the harshness of the world has become clear. 

I believe travel makes you grow as a person and visiting Florida was no exception. We spent some time in Miami and during this time I came across many homeless people but one in particular caught my attention. There was one man who seemed young enough to be just a little older than me and yet he was sleeping on the side of a busy road, ignoring everyone that walked passed just like everyone walking past was ignoring him. My first instinct was to help him. So we went back to our hotel and gathered all our food and gave it to him. Small acts like this make me feel like I have done something good but then again, I feel like it is never enough. 

For me, Florida gave me a lot more than just that experience. I conquered some of my personal fears in Florida. I went on a 3 day cruise to the Bahamas which I was terrified for due to my proneness to motion sickness. Although I was sick for most of those 3 days, I look back on the experience and smile. I smile because I experienced life on the water and got to visit one of the most beautiful resorts ever built. This memory takes over the memory of feeling nausea and weakness for days straight. 

I also was faced with another fear of motion sickness when my family and I went to the alligator park and went on the airboat. Now in no way did I enjoy this experience but it will always be a reminder that I survived it. No matter how much I disliked riding through the wind at a fast pace in water full of alligators, I survived.  

We stayed at South beach in Miami and this brought me another new feeling. It made me relaxed and peaceful. Watching the waves crashing on the sandy shore during the day and walking the streets full of restaurants at night. I can only describe this wonderful feeling as 'being on holiday', and I constantly find myself craving this feeling. 

Here are some of my favourite photos taken while in Florida/Bahamas/Cruise, I hope you enjoy. 

The Brain.

Recently I posted a video with some small ways to change your life. Now I'm talking about changing your life for the better when it comes to your mental health.

So if you are feeling a little overwhelmed, anxious or stressed at the moment give this video a watch. You might find it helpful!

I always wonder why people find it so hard to accept help when it is their brain that needs it. Your brain is just another organ (a very important organ) and deserves the same attention as any other part of your body. If a doctor told you that you need heart surgery you wouldn't even blink before accepting the news and making an appointment. But when a doctor suggests you see a psychologist then the automatic response is 'no'.

I think this is because society has made mental illness something to be ashamed of. But in no way is that true and in actual fact, it takes the strongest of people to admit to needing help and it takes an even stronger person to accept help when it is given.

The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. Give it the attention it deserves.

Love, Nicole Marie