HaPpY hAlLoWeEn!!!

For the last four years I have spend Halloween in Virginia. I had some great Halloweens and some not so great, but I am so happy to be home to celebrate all the holidays of the season! Being with family for the holidays is always the best.

This Halloween, my family had a ton planned but like always life happens. The perfectionist I am kicked in a bit today and I started feeling a bit of anxiety and depression, but thank goodness for my mother we sure are there for each other when we need it and I am so grateful for her (I think I am getting a head start on Thanksgiving). Everything happened a bit last minute but it was a great Halloween!!!

The day began with a ton of last minute shopping which led right into a few hours of cooking/baking, and finally a relaxing dinner and movie with the fam!

Meow! Cat for Halloween! First time I have ever decorated my face myself for Halloween. I normally resort to masks or avoiding it all together but I am pretty proud of my work! 

Love decorating! Target is my absolute favorite place to get decorations for any holiday!

Dinner: Mummy Hot Dogs and Pizzas, Spiderweb Nachos, and Pumpkin Deviled Eggs!

Dessert: Bloody Eyeball Doughnut Holes and my Homemade Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting!

And we can't forget about the dogs!

Mr. Cuddles- Nemo, Annie- Nala from Lion King, Scooter- Tigger

Lily- Dumbo and Bo-Buzzlightyear

Annie won best costume!

Another great holiday in the books. Next year it will include caramel apples, pumpkin patch, haunted house and extreme pumpkin carving haha!!!

I hope all of you had a fantastic and safe Halloween! Let me know how you spent Halloween...any ideas for next year?!?

Vegas Adventures

Sin City was a blast! I loved my Otto Family Vacation to Las Vegas! Four days and we still weren't ready to come home (at least my brother and I weren't) but if we would have stayed any longer our bank accounts would be in excruciating pain!            

Day One was filled with ups and downs like all traveling is! Wednesday was a busy day with finishing the last touches packing and preparing for the trip! We arrived in Vegas in the early afternoon, and our first mandatory stop was IN N OUT!!! And like always Double Double Meals are our only choice!

                                                                                                                                

After our delicious meal, we continued to the MGM Grand hotel to check in and get settled. The MGM was marvelous, full of wonderful contemporary art work and if you want a marvelous view get a room overlooking the Strip. After settling in, a stop to the bank and Walmart were needed and then a few games of Skip Bo at my great uncle's apartment before heading back to the hotel to get ready for a show at Mandalay Bay.

Michael Jackson's One Cirque du Soleil Show was nothing like I have ever seen before. The tickets were quite pricey but it was worth every penny! We were toward the back of the theater but it was perfect to see the wonderful acts happening above the audience along with the performances simultaneously occurring on stage. The show incorporated a vast number of Michael Jackson hits while telling a story through four teens search in finding the wonderful things in them by relating to specific mementos of Michael Jackson. All while dancers performing fantastic dance numbers, acrobatics and stunts. This show made my trip to Vegas completely worth it in an amazing hour and a half.

Day Two began with Street Performers :) 

And street performers led too trying Coca-Cola's Around the World Tray. Some of them were pretty good  and others quite interesting and not tasty at all! This was a fantastic experience for 7 bucks and well worth it!

This then led to touring M&M World!! A whole wall of M&M's has a way of bringing the little kid inside out and about. Even my mother who is not a big fan of chocolate had to get her own bag of M&M's.

 Thursday evening ended with visiting Fremont street and eating at my great uncle's favorite place.. The Heart Attack Grill! The food was fabulous along with the entire experience. Once you arrive at the Heart Attack Grill you are greeted by a "nurse" who puts a hospital gown and wrist band on you. You then order your burger of choice, mine was the single bypass, and it was one of the best burgers I have ever had. There was even entertainment, if you didn't finish your burger you would get 3 whacks from a paddle given by the nurses/doctors.

A stop to view the Bellagio Fountains on our walk home was a perfect ending!

Friday began with brunch at the MGM Grand Buffet. I mainly had eggs and sausage but I can never resist the dessert section. My dad picked lots of fruity and chocolaty options on the left and I had an array of cheesecakes on the right, my favorite was a caramel cheesecake with a hard butterscotch topping with chocolate shavings on top (back right one). One of the best things about Vegas is their buffets, you can't go wrong at a single one of them!

Later that day, my Aunt Stacey and her family met up with us! It was so wonderful but I have no idea why every time we are together I don't take nearly enough pictures (this time none). I think I just have such a fantastic time with them it skips my mind.

That evening we all had dinner at the Rainforest Cafe in the MGM Grand. I had chicken tenders and they were the best chicken tenders I have ever had in my life!

  

After the Rainforest Cafe, my aunt, mom and I booked it down to the Monte Carlo hotel for the Boys II Men Concert! Their harmonies and passion for music give me chills and I could see their show over and over again and my amazement and admiration for them will never disappear.

Saturday, our final day began with gambling! We had gambled a little bit here and there but pat and I wanted to gamble a bit more before we left. And luckily I believe I walked away with at least 40 extra bucks in my pocket!

 After gambling for a couple hours and lunch by the pool with everyone, my brother and I headed on over to the New York New York Casino and Hotel to ride the New York New York Roller Coaster. It costs $14 to ride the roller coaster once but both of us (being the roller coaster fans we are) thought it was completely worth it!

After, we went back to the MGM for the David Copperfield show. I had seen magic in person before, but wow what a show!! He amazed me from beginning to end, and what a FINALE!! If you are ever in Vegas and David Copperfield is performing GO SEE HIM! You won't regret it!

The night ended with our last meal...IN N OUT! And some Skip Bo at my uncle's apartment where I saw a couple of painting done by my grandmother! What a perfect ending to an amazing vacation, seeing the beautiful talent of an amazing woman. I hope one day I can paint as beautifully as her.

Flights in the middle of the night provide the most beautiful view!

Best vacation I have had in a while, but I couldn't be happier to be home with my Princess Lily (and Mr. Cuddles of course!)

Vegas was incredible but like all vacations sometimes it is just impossible to fit everything on your list in. A few things I already have on a list for my next Vegas vacation:

-Zip Line: both ziplines (old one in fremont, and new one at the Rio) were still under construction

-Madame Tussauds: Unfortunately no one wanted to experience this wonderful wax museum with me so it will have to wait till next time

- Gondola ride at the Venetian: also under maintenance

-Hakkasan Club at the MGM: the hottest spot in Vegas right now!

If you have any suggestions for amazing things to do in Vegas, let me know so I can add them to my list!

And if you are headed to Vegas anytime soon and experience any of these shows or restaurants as well I would love to hear your reviews!

Once Is Enough

I have quite a few blog posts I am working on but I ran across this picture/quote and had to share it! This is my Starting Sunday Spectacularly post a day late!

I love this quote and once again I have found something that is a perfect description of why I created this blog. Life isn't easy. It isn't easy to leave our comfort zones and follow our dreams. Life is full of ups and downs, successes and failures, triumphs and heartbreaks, but no matter what why not live a life of fullness, happiness, and passion?! It is worth to cost to truly live your life and though it may be difficult and trying as life is I promise it will leave you with no regrets. "Start creating. Live your dream, and wear your passion." Don't waste anymore time living a life you are unhappy with, begin today, work hard, be fearless, live your dreams and create your life!

"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough."- Mae West

Stop Fearing and Start Living!

I have decided to make Sunday my motivational, inspirational blog post day. I think I might call it Starting Sunday Spectacularly but I don't know if I am completely sold on the name so if you have any suggestions please let me know I would love your input!!

Last week I spent a few hours on a plane to and from Las Vegas, and what is a plane trip without an awesome magazine. I got a few as I mentioned in my Preparing for Sin City Post, but my favorite was O: The Oprah Magazine, October 2013 Issue entitled "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living!" The majority of the magazine is based on overcoming fears and anxiety. I felt like I lived a large part of my life in fear and feeling many times overwhelming anxiety. Having these feelings can be consuming, overwhelming and defeating. Creating Amanda isn't just formed to share my journey overcoming weight but also my fear and anxiety.

Dr. Phil wrote a short article in this months issue based all on FEAR. "A psychology professor of mine used to say that 80 percent of decisions are based on fear rather than desire." Can you believe this? Unfortunately, I can. I can believe that whether we know it or not most of our decisions are made based on our worries and concerns and not our deepest wants and desires, even if the cost is minimal. It is understandable to not make decisions that would jeopardize your welfare or your families welfare but are you "punking out on your dreams? You need to start believing in yourself enough to go for it instead of settling into your comfort zone." It is so easy to settle in our comfort zone as I am sure most people are very aware of but comfort zones are exactly that comfortable, not incredible, not fulfilling, only comfortable. "Too often we settle for what we don't want instead of reaching for what we do. It's an epidemic that I call fear paralysis." Could you imagine now knowing this, being able to switch the gears in your brain to finally make choices not out of fear but out of faith and desire. Well good news... YOU CAN!! 

Dr. Phil recommends doing a "brutally honest 'decision audit' to find out whats dribing your choices." Here is what you do: list the top 7 decisions you have made in your life, and think back to how you made them, were they driven by aspiration or fear? Are you making decisions to help you move toward your dreams or to move away from your fears? "Trying and failing means the world has rejected you and your efforts, and rejection is our number one fear. But living- really living- is about taking chances, so what a shame if you never conquered your fears." To overcome fear paralysis, we need to start by not blowing the stakes of our decisions out of proportion. Sometimes our fear and anxieties exaggerate the consequences of our decisions to catastrophic measures when really they are minimal and solvable, so be realistic and clear about the possible outcomes and consequences of your decisions. Next, play the "what if" game, but play it all the way to the end, with best and worst case scenario. I also like writing down the pros and cons to my decisions which is similar to the "what if" game. Know the risks you are willing to take, what you can sacrifice, what you can bounce back from and what could cost you everything. But remember, "you'll never get ahead by playing it safe."

Now that we are overcoming our fears lets feel Joy!

Brene Brown, PhD, is a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work and is author to some phenomenal books such as Daring Greatly, The Gifts of Imperfection, and I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn't). Brown's article in The Oprah Magazine titled "Dare to Feel Joy" is another short article to start living fully and feeling true joy. "We simply cannot know joy without embracing vulnerability- and the way to do that is to focus on gratitude, not fear. The good news is that joy, collected over time, fuels resilience- ensuring we'll have reservoirs of emotional strength when hard things do happen." Her DARE to "Daring to Feel Joy" requires 3 steps:

1. Stop the Train: When you are feeling overwhelmed and traumatized by all the "what ifs", be open and honest with yourself, take a deep breath and make a conscious decision not to reboard the overwhelming and overloaded thought and "what if" train.

2. Be Thankful: When you start recognizing you are feeling fear, use it as a signal to switch gears and think of all the things you are grateful for. "Speak your gratitude aloud to others, or write it in your journal." This truly does work!! Fear is solely our personal emotions and concerns but feeling gratitude gets us out of our own heads and realize we really have some wonderful things we have been blessed with and things are okay.

3. Start a Practice: "Joy is a spiritual practice we have to work at." Appreciate everyday moments."It means not living in fear of what I could lose, but softening into the moments I have."

I absolutely love the advice from both of these profound individuals. I can not wait to start using their advice in "Creating Amanda", which in my eyes is one that doesn't make decisions out of fear but out of faith in myself and in my dreams, and feeling joy and gratitude for all the amazing things I have been given. I hope you will start this journey with me. A small thing I am going to work hard on this week is affirmations and on the top of my list is "I am Fearless."Create your own affirmations and repeat them daily, this will help you in Creating whoever it is you want to be! Remember there are no limitations!

Lets Stop Fearing, Stop Worrying and Start Living!!!

September Favorites

I wanted to share a few things I tried this last month that I am absolutely in love with. I am by no means a beauty expert. All I am doing is trying things and sharing my own experience with you all and you can either try it out for yourself or just enjoy reading my opinion :)

FAVORITE Hair Products:

1. I got a new brush from Sally Beauty Supply. I have never used a paddle brush so as I was walking through Sally's a few weeks ago I decided to give the Brush Strokes Spackle Paddle Brush a try. My hair is in heaven with this brush. I have hair that easily and constantly tangles but my tangles are no match for this brush. I highly recommend if you have not tried a paddle brush, DO! I also bought a couple of teasing combs I have yet to try but once I do I will share my review of both of them.

2. The second product I am in love with is the Biotera Long and Healthy Triple Action Leave-In Treatment. On the bottle it states that it provides 3 remarkable benefits: (1) strengthens inside and out, (2) prevents breakage, and (3) detangles and softens. After washing my hair, I let it dry for about 5-10 minutes, brush through my hair and then apply the treatment to the mid shaft to ends of my hair. I also absolutely love the smell of this product along with the remarkable things it has done to my hair.

3. Sometimes while standing in lines waiting to check out, stores have a gift of putting those little extras you can't walk out of the store without. While shopping at Ulta, this happened to me but I am grateful I did. The Batiste Dry Shampoo is a go to for me. I bought the travel size but I can promise you the second it runs out I will be getting the full size immediately.

FAVORITE Body Products:

4. I have used Lady Speedstick for as long as I can remember, and I love it. Unfortunately, I started do very intense workouts at the gym and Insanity at home and I was not happy that I wasn't quite getting the long term effect I need from deodorant so while I was out grocery shopping I spotted the Degree Girl Just Dance deodorant and it has been fantastic keeping me covered, protected and smelling good even throughout my workouts.

FAVORITE Fashion:

5. Though this is not my most fashionable purchase they were must haves. I was in desperate need of new tennis shoes so I went to this new store called Ground Up that is located only in Houston, Texas. They test the pressures in your feet and see how you walk and really analyze to try to find the best shoe for you. The Brooks Dyad 7 tennis shoes have padding in them that feel like I am walking on clouds! Don't get me wrong I love my Nike's as my fashionable tennis shoe, but after getting these my back problems and endurance during workouts have improved astronomically.

FAVORITE New TV Show:

6. On September 16th, FOX aired a new show called Sleepy Hollow starring Tom Mison and Nicole Beharie. There has been 3 episodes so far and I am in love with this episode. To be honest the first episode didn't do too much for me but as the story and episodes are coming together, I am loving it more and more as the characters and plot develop. Check out the trailer below!

Finally.... FAVORITE Songs of the Month:
I have quite a few favorites this month because I got 3 new albums in September: Imagine Dragons "Night Visions", The Mortal Instruments Soundtrack, and Parachute "The Way It Was" (my cousin actually lent me this cd to download)! If you don't have these 3 albums go buy them this instant!!

Imagine Dragons- On Top of The World

Parachute- White Dress

Katy Perry- Roar

Seven Lions with Myon and Shane 54- Strangers

Demi Lovato- Heart by Heart

Colbie Caillat- When the Darkness Comes

Jessie J- Magnetic

Lady Gaga- Applause