1 Year Blogaversary!

One year ago today I decided to finally take a leap of faith and do something I had always dreamed of doing. I had no idea what I was doing and kept it relatively secret from everyone.I didn't want them to judge me or think I was just trying to be like everyone else. I wasn't sure how to or even where to start. I wanted to put out good content and something I was happy with. I did a couple of posts but even those go deleted before anyone saw them. I knew it would be hard and it would require a lot of dedication which I didn't really have in the beginning. There have been so many times I have been filled with self doubt and thought maybe I should just scrap my blog completely but what would I gain from just giving up.

I know I have been out of the posting game the last month and its because I've been dealing with a lot of different things. But I am grateful for this full year of being a blogger and although I haven't accomplished everything I have plans for this upcoming year.

I want to post more.

I want to be a better blogger.

I want to learn different techniques. 

I want you guys to know me.

There are going to be days where I doubt myself again and think I can't do this but I will remember how much I have grown this past year.

I know this is a random post but I just wanted to thank all of you who have supported me or even read these post the last year.  

THANK YOU!

until next time.

Noshka XXO

The Meaning of TRUE Friendship

As a lot of you may know or may not know I am a military child. One who moved from place to place. One who has been through many deployments and home comings. Yes, moving from place to place is fun, the not so fun part is leaving everything and everyone else behind. You learn to make friends quickly but never allow yourself to become attached because who knows how long you have in that one place. Hence most military children don't grow up with life long friends included, at least it wasn't part of my package... My friends where the people who were always their for me the ones who
I would have to deal with no matter what and that was my Family.
Sure, most people grow up with their best friend or meet them in the first grade, go to the same college together, graduate get different jobs but are in each others weddings. Some make it all the way through and others aren't so lucky.. but what about us military children. Do we ever find that or even have that? The answer is YES.

I've been in Texas longer than any other place I have lived (my dad retired here). Started 5th grade here and even that was tough. Everyone seemed to have their close friends while I unfortunately was the new kid. I didn't know anybody but I made friends quickly again not getting too attached. I went to 2 middle schools because my parents bought a house, so again I was the new kid but in a turn of events, my parents buying a house meant we were staying here for a good while so I opened up. It was at the end of the 7th grade when I met one of my best friends, we didn't know each other and of course we got introduced at a dance. I thought we had just got lumped together because we were both Puerto Rican but to be honest I didn't mind much. From 8th grade out until our second year of college it was like we were joined at the hip. We use to tell everyone we were cousins and to our surprise some people bought it and we didn't tell them otherwise. She was and is my first real/ best friend. All this time I was scared of the thought that maybe I was getting too close and then having to say goodbye would be the most difficult thing I would ever have to do.

In my sophomore year of high school I joined choir only because my sister was in choir and I wanted to do something with her. I was never in choir before so I basically went in knowing nothing. I was in an all woman's choir as they called it and there is were I meet a ton of wonderful ladies but another one of my best friends.  We all sang the same part, Soprano 1, aka the ones who sing the high notes.
Throughout high school we were all inseparable we were a family, yes we had our fights but in the end we had each others backs. By the end of high school we were sisters, they were everything to me and I knew what it felt like to feel like I grew up with them. But my friends boyfriend soon to be husband was joining the marines and she moved to California and there it was... the worst feeling of having to say goodbye to someone I loved so much.

Fast forward 5 years later, both of my best friends have kids and we all finally got back together. I was scared and nervous and excited because although it had been such a long time we remain in contact. Sure it wasn't messaging each other every day but it was the I miss you kind. It showed me that I wasn't meant to grow up with friends I was meant to find them later in life and I am beyond a doubt 100% grateful I found them!

Why do I say this? Why did I even bring this up? I don't know who is reading this if anybody is but I just want you to know that there is a thing as TRUE friends. I know everyone has there ups and downs and sometimes they stab you in the back. But you don't have to grow up with someone to have TRUE or BEST FRIENDS. ( plus you are allowed to have more than one.) Yes there will be cliques of friends who have grown up together and you'll be in the group but its not the group you belong in.  You have your own group! You will have people who will accept you for you, not who you try to be.

Don't pretend to be someone your not so others will like you. I promise there are people out there who looking for a friend just like you. They are trying to find you. Don't be scared to loose someone in your life because it will happen but those who are meant to stay will stay no matter the circumstance. We may not talk everyday but I know if I needed them or they needed me I would drop everything for them in a second.

We can all be friends here!

Until Next Time

XX Noshka

Spring FabFitFun

Subscription Box Update!

Last month I posted about finally subscribing to FabFitFun. This box isn't monthly like I previously said it is annually. The Spring Box came out at the beginning of March and I finally received my box.
There where a couple of bumps in the road with this box which I would like to talk about before we get to the contents of this box.

• contents of the box revealed before everyone received their box 
• charged before sent shipping notification or tracking

Even though those are only two things it seemed to be a common cause for concern for a lot of us seeing as we were charged but had not been notified. I also noticed that a lot of people were having trouble with the customer service but my experience was completely different. I emailed them and got a response the next day. I'm sure that's not the case for everyone but they do seem to care about their customers. 

Now that the rant is over....let's get to the goods!

Here is an over view of what was in the box. For this box they have partnered with the nonprofit I AM THAT GIRL which helps girls dealing with self doubt turn that doubt into self love. They work to create a healthier and more empowering world.  Check out I AM THAT GIRL  HERE!

Retail Value: $35

The first thing I noticed was this Kitchen Herb Garden DIY kit. Now I've never been one who has a green thumb or anything but I can always give it a go right? lol. This kits includes all the tools needed to grow thyme, basil and mint. Seeing some mojitos in my future if they end up growing lol. It also includes the plastic pots plus every time you purchase a MakersKit it donates school supplies to a public school in their partnership P.S ARTS.

Visit http://makerskit.com/  to purchase one for yourself. 

Retail Value: $14.99

I then noticed this bright pink Mat Strap Plus.  I wasn't really sure what it was so I read the description that came in the booklet. Its an all in one strap. It can be used as a resistance cord for strength training or an alternative mat bag. This is a really good concept for people who go to yoga or are having trouble holding a pose which would include myself. Maybe this will make me more of a yoga enthusiast. 

Visit merrithew.com to purchase this or other items!

Retail Value: $28

The Bath Bomb Trinity is a set a bath bombs obviously lol which are made up of organic ingredients and essential oils. With scents of eucalyptus, peppermint and lime, and lavender, chamomile,ylang ylang, jasmine, rose, and sandalwood. One to wake up, one to distress and one to feel the love. Pop them in your bath for a relaxation you'll never believe. 

This was one of the products I was most excited about! This contour kit is the debut product for Joey Maalouf and FabFitFun. It comes it both Light/Medium and Medium/Dark. Each palette includes a highlighter, blush, bronzer and contour.  I have yet to use this yet but I am super excited to try it out and let you guys know what I think. This retails for $32, and if you would like to get your hands on one just check out ishbeauty.com and use the hashtag #IMSMOKINGHOT

Retail Value: $9.98

If you like to have spa nights or pamper nights than this product is definitely for you. This is an all in one hand an foot treatment that strengthens your nails and moisturizes your skin and lets be honest who doesn't want that especially with the warmer weather coming soon which means sandal season. I will definitely be using these.  

Check them out at keratingloves.com !

Retail Value: $22.99

This argan and hemp seed oil is suppose to leave your hair feeling silky smooth, healthy and frizz free which is all great things for someone who has been suffering from frizz since well forever lol.  I always feel uneasy about hair oils because I always seem to use to much and then it makes my hair greasy so I'm going to have to pay attention to how much I use but I look forward to being frizz free lol :) 

Retail Value: $19.95

Because the weather is starting to get warmer it means we have to shave again. Not that we ever stopped shaving just cared less about it since we were wearing layers of clothes. This product is suppose to be the best shaving cream ever lol. Its a mix of body lotion and shaving cream and a bit of "blade butter" to give you the nicest smoothest shave ever experience. Since I rarely use shave cream anyways which I know is bad I can already tell that its going to be better than what I'm use too. Hello Smooth Legs..

Retail Value: $65

This Jook & Nona tag necklace  is a plated 18k gold stainless steel engraved necklace. Not everyone got the same engraved necklace they do have different saying like Love, Happy, Inspire and of course Dream. With these inspiring necklaces you are sure to have a positive outlook with this dainty necklace to remind you every time you look down.

Visit jookandnona.com to check out their amazing selection.

There were also two gift card included in this box which one was to 31 Bits which is handmade jewelry from artisans in Uganda  to help them rise above poverty and create a better life for themselves. Check them out HERE!

The other gift card was from Sterling Forever, which has a mixture of fashion runway trends, celeb favorites, and high end jewelry designers. Check them out HERE!

Total Retail Value:  $282.91

I have to say for the two boxes I've gotten so far I'm very impressed with FabFitFun! They pick out a great mix of items and also partner with some great organization to bring us the very best. I can't wait to see what is in the next box. 

If you would like to try FabFunFun, here's my invite link and enjoy $10 off !

http://xo.fff.me/dASCd

Until Next Time

Noshka XOXO

Target/ Old Navy Haul

Hello Everyone,

Spring is in the air and with that I've done some spring shopping. I know typically your suppose to do spring cleaning but what can I say lol. I didn't get an enormous amount of stuff but I thought I'd share what I did get. 

So lets start with Target...

We all know that even if you go to Target to browse you always end up with a couple of thing and that's just what happened. It like you get in a trance and want to just buy everything, the WHOLE store. 

The first thing I picked up were these adorable DV Ella Espadrille Sandals. (Click Here) They are perfect for spring and summer and you can wear them with essentially anything because they are nude. I picture them with some boyfriend jeans and a light weight white shirt for a casual look or pair it with a Maxi Dress for a fun night out. They are also super comfortable which is a plus!

If you know anything about me it is that my favorite movie is Peter Pan SO when I saw this pillow case I about DIED! Its everything that resembles Peter Pan. I can't wait to put it on my bed. They have a variety of different sayings and adds a cute touch to any decor. Click Here!

Those are the only thing I got from target but I'm sure I'll go back soon and pick up some more stuff. (Let me know if you would like to see those in the comments below)

When I went to Old Navy they were having a 40% off sale. I don't usually buy things unless they are one sale or there is sale going on. So I had to take advantage of this sale. lol 

I didn't realize it but I ended up putting a whole outfit together. 

The first thing I picked up were these adorable Ballet Flats. I like to go for more neutral tones in my shoes so I can wear them with everything but I saw these and instantly fell in love. I think they will add the perfect pop to any classic neutral outfit. 

I always wanted printed pants. I just never thought I would look good in them especially Pixi pants. I've tried them on before but they just didn't seem to sit right. Then I realized I wasn't trying on the right size, silly me. So although these were excluded from the sale they were clearance so I ended up getting them anyway. 

Theses Silver and Black Houndstooth pants were the PERFECT fit. They were classic and simple BUT still add some interest and pattern to the outfit. 

The last thing I got was this Swing Pintuck Top. Its a simple shirt but you could dress it up and dress it down. Pair it with some ripped up jeans and some wedges or dress it up for work. Its nice and flowy and has some beautiful details.

These are the few items I picked up from Target and Old Navy I thought I would share with you guys. Have you guys done any shopping recently? Have any favorite items? Let me know in the comments below.  

Until Next Time..

Noshka XOXO

Spring Break on a Budget

Hello Everyone & Happy Spring Break!

There are plenty of us who have never gone away to Spring Break. Some of us work or just don't have enough money to go away. There are plenty of options for those of us who don't go away. I've come up with this list of fun and some realistic things to do on a budget because let's be honest we don't want to spend a ton of money. Let's jump right in!

1. SLEEP 

If you are in college and you are not going away for spring break, I would recommend you catch up on sleep because chances are you just finished midterms and you are wrecked lol

2. Netflix

Who doesn't want to binge watch shows in their pjs with a bowl of popcorn?

3. Pool Day

If you live in an apartment complex and they have a pool or a hot tub use it! You are paying for it right?!. If you don't live in an apartment complex check to see when your pools open. Let's be honest everyone wants to get some sun during spring break.

4. At Home Spa Day

Pamper yourself or a group of friends with an at home spa day. 

5.Bake

Who doesn't want to make mountains of chocolate chip cookies ( i do)?!?!?

6. Try something new

It could be anything, food, hobby, a new restaurant, so many options.

7.Hike

If you like to be outdoors you can easily find a trail or go to your favorite spot for a hike. 

8. Cocktail Hour

If you are of legal age have some friends over and have a some drinks and watch some cheesy movies and just laugh.

9. Local Events

Look up events in your area and go to them. They are usually free and you can usually find something interesting or fun.

10. Relax.

You honestly don't have to do anything if you don't want too. Take the time for yourself and relax. Enjoy being off from school or work and do what makes you happy. 

Do you have anything you like to do on your time off?

Until Next Time,

Noshka XX

5 Spring Break Essentials

It's almost that EXCITING time of year again!

SPRING BREAK! Woooo!

I know a lot of you are tired of the colder weather and just ready to be in the sun, I know I am and Spring break is the perfect reason to be in the sun. To help you prepare for all the FUN you will be having (I'll be working) I've complied a list of 5 essential products you will need because lets be honest during Spring Break less is more! These are things you can use for all your beach travels or even during the summer. I don't know if anyone else likes to pack but I love to back so lets jump right in to what you will need.

1. Sunglasses

This doesn't have to be an expensive pair of sunglasses, in most cases it should be a cheaper pair just in case you party too hard and they broken or lost. I would say you should be safe with two for a whole week and I know target has some rather cheap ones they even have some in their dollar section which don't look awful. These are just some of the ones I have and I prefer the over sized sunglasses.

2. Bathing Suits

Bathing suits are essential if you are going somewhere tropical or to the beach which who doesn't want to go to the beach. I wouldn't take all the bathing suits I own but it would be best to take one or two especially if you can mix and match them. It gives you versatility and different looks without trying too hard.

3. Over-sized Lounge Wear

You don't want to wear your fancy clothes to the beach or pool. It would just be easier to take some over sized school shirt like the ones above away with you. They are easy to just throw on and walk around with.They don't have to be sleeveless like the ones above they can also be long sleeve in case you go out earlier in the day and its a bit chilly. Plus they are a comfortable.

4. Sandals/Flip- Flops

I would opt to take two types of sandals (flip flops). One for beach wear and then one for when you go out and dress up. I wouldn't recommend heals because lets be honest who is really going to go all out when all you want is to slip something on and off without all that hassle. The ones pictured above are some Lauren Conrad from Kohls and the Sam & Libby ones are from Target. Nude is perfect because it goes with everything.

5. Versatile Outfits

The picture on the left is a romper and its an all in one outfit you throw on and your good to go. I would also bring a maxi dress in case you go on a night out and you want to dress up. You want something flowy and loose plus if you get a sunburn it wont hurt as much. 

*Bonus* 

If your going to the beach I would suggest bringing a portable speaker that way you can listen to your own playlist. Have your own party in the sand. If your with a group it can make for a more enjoyable experience.  Plus you can jam out!

Do you have any Spring Break Essentials? Are you going somewhere fun? Let me know in the comments below!

Stay Safe & Have Fun

Until Next Time

Noshka XX

Subscription Box: FabFitFun

Hello Everyone!

I finally did it! I finally got my first subscription box! Yay! I've seen a lot of reviews of subscription boxes and by seen I mean YouTube.. At first I wasn't too sure about which box I would get. Fashion? Beauty? So I went with the one that had a little bit of both and that to me was the FabFitFun (clickable link) box. For those of you that don't know the FabFitFun box is a $49.99  subscription. It comes with full sized products there is even an option to add on products for an additional charge.

The box that I received was the Welcome Box which is a compilation of all their past favorite products. I wasn't too sure what to expect and honestly I was a bit nervous. I was pleasantly surprised when I received the box.

When you get the box you get a card with all the products it contains ( which I didn't look at until after) and a little magazine with a some tips and just some information.

The first thing I saw in the box was the bright pink box and in that pink box was a $25 dollar gift card to shoptiques.com...this is not something I wasn't familiar with. But its just like the gift card says "shop the world's best boutiques".

I then noticed the small little square box which is the 

Passport to beauty Tibetan Goji Berry: Advanced Anti-Aging Eye Serum with Retinal.

This interested me because I am trying to get more into skincare and have more of a skincare routine than I do now. I'm very excited to try thins out and let you guys know what I think. 

Retail Price: $88

Next I looked in the WREN pouch. I was surprised to see such a cute little necklace. The retail value of this necklace is $100! To my understanding there were a couple different necklaces that went out but I happened to get this heart shaped necklace. It is a 14k gold dipped 1 pt black sapphire accent. Its's the perfect dainty necklace.

Retail Price: $100

The thing that I was MOST excited about was the Zoya Nail polish in Avril. As you know or don't know I have a SERIOUS nail polish obsession. So to get a nail polish in such a great color (pinky nude, to be exact) is something I will be using for/ through every season. :) Plus I already tried it and it works wonders.

Retail Price: $9

Next was a pair of headphones; and who doesn't need an extra pair of headphones just in case. Now I usually just get a cheap pair of headphones because I don't believe in investing on a pair of really expensive ones. So when I saw that these retail for $80 dollars I was shocked. They look like they are higher quality than what I am use too (obviously) but they seem like they will be my at home headphones because they help to drown out the sound.

Retail Price: $80

Another thing I got was this Gorge "I'll make you look amazing" daily spray. This product is a leave-in conditioner formulated to restore moisture and repair all the damage.  Its said to help save your hair if you have over processed, coarse, frizzy and dry hair. I have a couple of those hair symptoms so I will be super excited to see how this works with my hair. 

Retail Price: $ 24.95

Now there are something things in the box that I'm unsure of/ know that I wont use as regularly.

One of those items is this drink, I'm not much of a protein drink drinker but I will give it a try. Its not something I would purchase on my own but if I am gifted it, it doesn't hurt to try it. Who knows I might actually end up liking it.

Retail Price: $2.99

The next item was a jump rope, now its not something I will use all the time but something I could use every now and then. It does have cushioned handles which is something I can appreciate especially if I'm doing exercise plus the pink color is a plus.

Retail Price: $14

The total retail value of the FabFitFun Welcome box is  $315.95  and I only paid $40 for it.

Would you like to try out the FabFitFun box? Click on the link below to get a special offer!

http://xo.fff.me/dASCd

Do you guys have any other subscrioption box services that you love? Leave them in the comments below!

Until Next Time

Noshka XOXO

Update: Where have I Been?

Hello Everyone,

I'm sorry I haven't been around lately and haven't been posting as frequently as usual but I started my internship 4 weeks ago and its been very busy since then. I've been wanting to post but I haven't had the time to sit down and really focus on making a good content blog for you guys.

So I wanted to fill you in on what's been going on and how my internship is going.

A little background: as you know I graduated college in December. I knew I had the MIT internship before then; MIT is Manager in Training. I was anxiously waiting for where I would be headed to complete this internship. First they wanted to send me a little more than 2 hours from my house. I knew that wouldn't work for me since I hadn't been working and I didn't have too many resources to rely on and it was short notice to find an apartment in so little time. I contacted my recruiter and she was able to make it a location that was only an hour away from home. That made me a little bit happier because I knew I would be able to drive if I wasn't able to find an apartment (which I didn't).

As my internship started I was nervous, nervous at the fact that I would be meeting new people I had never met before. That I had to become a leader to a team of all new associates who would wonder who I was and why I was there. I was scared. Scared I wouldn't fit in and that they wouldn't accept me. That this team had worked together for so long that there would be no chance of me finding my place.

The first couple of weeks were rocky, for me at least. I lacked the confidence I had in my previous internship and reverted to being shy. But I knew that I needed to take control of that situation. I knew that if I wanted everyone to like me then I would have to take the first step and reach out to them to learn about them and thus they would want to learn about me. So that's what I did I talked to some of the associates asking them how long they had been with the company and so forth and I noticed that they wanted to learn more about me.

They were finally starting to like me when the store manager mentioned that she had heard something I had said. My words had been twisted! I felt as though my trust had been broken and that they weren't interested in me, they were interested in what I knew and what I was going to know. It shocked me that someone would take my sign of friendship and break it so easily in the time I had been there. It was hard for me to accept, after all I am going to be a leader to them soon.

It's still hard to accept, how do I become a leader everyone can trust but also take seriously?

I guess that's what I have to work on. Being confident in my skin, in my knowledge and in MYSELF.  Knowing that these next couple weeks will fly past whether I'm ready or not, whether I want them to or not.

But, I will be ready! I am going to kick butt! ( I hope lol)

So that't what I've been up to the last 4 weeks. I'm sorry I haven't been able to post as much as I've wanted to but I'm working on finding a schedule that works better. If you have any suggestions please let me know it the comments below.

I know this was a rambley blog but I hope you guys still enjoyed it!

Have you ever had to deal with broken trust? Has something happened that shocked you?

Let me know in the comments below!

Until Next Time

Noshka XX

Valentine's Day Series: Outfit Ideas

Hey Everyone!

This is the 3rd and final installment in my Valentine's Day series. I really enjoyed doing this series and hopefully you all enjoyed reading it. For this post I'm going to share with you a couple of Valentine's Day outfits. These are outfits I would personally wear. Its all about comfort for me anyways. Remember: its all about confidence and if you don't have a date you can still ROCK these outfits. Lets jump into it!

Casual Outfit

For this outfit I decided to go for comfort. This is something I could wear to work or just on a day date. The Old Navy Pixie Pants give a pop of color while keep all other aspects neutral. The chambray and white shirt give the look a more laid back feel while the nude Steve Madden flats pull the look together. I added some jewelry pieces to dress it up a little but you could opt out of you wanted too.

Dressy Casual 

This look is still casual but I dressed it up with these nude strappy heels from Nine West. I also dressed it up with a hot pink scuba shirt. Plus the added costume jewelry. I love the look of this outfit and I would definitely wear this on a night out.Jeans can be very versatile. You can dress them up or use them for a casual day. It all depends on you.

These are just some of the outfits I came up with that were easy for Valentine's Day and these looks can be easily recreated with anything you have in your closet.

I hope you guys have an AMAZING Valentine's day, whether your single or in a relationship remember that everyday you should be shown that you are loved not just on the holidays.

Any special Valentine's Day Plans? Comment them down below!

Until Next Time....Happy Valentine's Day <3

Noshka XOXO 

The Year Recap: 2015

Wow! Time sure does fly!! In a couple of days we will all start writing 2016 on our papers (more like writing 2015 for a couple of days maybe even weeks lol)

In this post I wanted to do a look back into this year since I feel like a lot of things happened this year.

Blog: I started my Blog this year, I took the plunge and I did it! It was something that I always wanted to do and even though I changed the name a million times, and thought/ keep thinking its not that good, I want to make it better.

Internship : It was a scary experience for me to go from being an associate to someone who is a leader and has more responsibility. It has its ups and downs but the team I had backed me up and showed me that I was more than capable of doing/ being a leader. It gave me the confidence I needed to believe in myself.

Graduate College : Yay! One of my biggest/ greatest accomplishments. I worked 4 hard years to achieve my goal, my dream and to think that that work paid off is unbelievable. Im so excited for what the future holds but also a little nervous.

Holidays: This isn't a major accomplishment but I was able to celebrate the most amazing time and my favorite time of year with my family! We don't get to see each other that often and although time went by super fast (I blame time change) I've had an amazing time and I can't wait to do it again. I love my family!

                                   Resalutions for 2016

• Travel
• Be Optimistic
• Get Organized
• Learn 
• Learn to let things go
• Continue Blogging 

Now I know these are vauge resalutions but i don't want to make the commitment to lose weight because let's be honest that won't happen. In 2016 I want to better myself and surprise myself. Learn that I am capable of anything.

Congratulations everyone & Happy New Year! May this year be better than the last! Until Next Time! :)