relax – WITTY 'N' PRETTY

8 Simple Ways to Destress After Work

etsy pumpkin spice

Happy Thursday everyone! Only one more day until Friday, so start making your weekend plans! Friday night, I’m going to watch Hocus Pocus in one of the public parks here in Dallas. I’m bringing a cozy blanket, a picnic basket full of munchies, and of course a big pumpkin spice latte. Speaking of which, one of my favorite things to do after work to relax is sit on the couch with my favorite pumpkin spice latte mug and drink some coffee. Read on for a few of my favorite ways to relax after work!

relaxing ideas after work

Ways to Relax After Work

We all have our vices and things that calm us down when we’re stressed or just have had a long day. My days are filled with demands from my job and early mornings. Sometimes I don’t have time for anything other than a protein shake and a big cup of coffee. But when I get home I relax by doing something enjoyable. Here are a few easy ways to destress at home:

Color in a coloring book (Michael’s has some for under $5!)
Take a hot bath with fizzy bath bombs
Sip coffee or tea while spending time with your kitty or pup
Lift weights and do some cardio to burn off stress
Paint your nails a festive color for the season
Sit by a fire and read a book
Create a new board on Pinterest and pin a few items
Do some online shopping and buy yourself a little something

Your mental health is so important to the rest of your life! I’ll be totally honest and tell you that in addition to doing some of these things, I also from time to time talk with a psychologist to ease my anxieties. You wouldn’t think people would judge me for that, but you’d be surprised how people react when they find out I talk to a “shrink”. But in my opinion, it’s nothing to be embarrassed by! Sharing your ideas and feelings with another person that will tell you the truth is so beneficial. It’s truly the best stress reliever for me.

If none of these ideas tickle your fancy, a scientifically proven way to fight depression and anxiety is to smile and laugh. For whatever reason, it makes your entire body feel better. I won’t go into the science of it mostly because I’ll totally butcher it, but it works and we all need to smile more. If that’s all you get out of this post, then I’m happy with that!

simple blog layout

Ranked: Best Chick Flicks

A friend of mine at work was showing me a list of the top 20 western films of all time according to another blogger. Not being the connoisseur of western movies that he and his other male counterparts are, I decided to try to win at their game by writing my own list of top chick flicks. You girls may want to add a few or even take away some, but if I had a 48 hour drive somewhere and I needed to kill time, I’d be packin’ heat with these lovelies.

Top 15 Chick Flicks

15. Letters to Juliet– It’s romantic, funny, and set in Italy. All the elements of a good girl movie.

14. Aquamarine– Flashback to my middle-early high school days! Seriously, the best Disney/Nickelodeon cast of teen girls ever.

13. The Notebook– I love Rachel McAdams and James Marsden is my man. You read that right, I didn’t swoon over Noah in the movie, I was in love with Lon. Sue me.

12. It’s Complicated– This movie is awkwardly hilarious. I was stuck on a plane coming back from Orlando and this was the only movie that I could get in while up in there. Is it weird that I love this movie only because she’s an amazing baker and Steve Martin is in it?

11. The Devil Wears Prada– Meryl Streep is the epitome of #girlboss in this movie and her hair is on point. I love the little look inside the elusive fashion world we all sub-consciously wonder about.

10. Twilight– Edward Cullen *swoon*. I’m Team Edward. Deal with it.

9. Made of Honor– Patrick Dempsey is such a cutie and he really knocked it off the park with this rom-com.

8. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants– Such a classic for us girls! A story of best friends, exotic travels, and even more exotic men (if you’re Lena that is). What more could I ask for?

7. Clueless– This is a cult classic. It just is. Rich, unassuming girl spending daddy’s money and trying to do good in the world? How cute.

6. Mean Girls– Regina George. On Wednesdays, we Wear Pink. Everyone gets those references. Nuff’ said.

5. Cinderella– Not the 1950s Cindy, the new Lilly James version that came out this year. It struck a chord in me. I can’t get over how beautiful it was. Prince Charming was also just swoon-worthy. When Ella says that everyone is looking at him, he replies “Believe me, they’re all looking at you.” How sweet is that?

4. How to Marry a Millionaire– An old Marilyn Monroe movie that is as vain as it sounds. These ladies want to marry money and they’re having a hard time finding it. Story of my life. Oops, I shouldn’t say that.

3. The Princess Diaries– Most of us grew up wanting to be princesses and we were able to watch Anne Hathaway actually become one. Not to mention we rekindled our love of Julie Andrews. The woman never ages and always looks beautiful.

2. Legally Blonde– Elle Woods. Need I say more?

1. Breakfast at Tiffany’s– My best friend would kill me if this weren’t at the top of my list. Audrey Hepburn is an icon and this movie is her legacy. A helpless girl who has a love affair with expensive things and the wrong guys, sounds like me for sure.

What did I miss? Let me know!

Time to Think and Reflect

Do you ever feel like you just need some time to think and reflect on life? So much has been changing in my life so incredibly fast and I feel utterly unprepared for what lies ahead. As I mentioned in a previous post, I just graduated and in other big news I’m getting my own apartment with one of my friends. It’s a lot to take in! Being the overwhelmed girl I am at the moment, I’m taking some time to chill out and think and write about all of this.

It seems like just when one problem is solved, another one comes up. I guess that’s the thing about life, nothing will ever be perfect but you have to learn to cope with it and keep smiling. I really see value in taking time to process new things in life. I do this in several ways.

Meditate- whether it be on a yoga mat or in the shower, having solitude to think about life is a really important part of my processing it.
Lift weights- Not only do you focus your energy on that particular activity, it allows you to exhort pent up negative energy that you often harbor.
Rest- I like to sometimes just get in bed and lay there. I rarely take naps but sometimes they do so much clear your mind when life has thrown you for a loop.
Drink Tea- For whatever reason, tea or cocoa seem to solve all of the world’s problems when you need them to. Sitting with a warm beverage in my hand instantly calms me.

Life keeps throwing things at me and I’m hoping I’ll be able to handle them as they come. There’s never a dull moment.

How Saturday Mornings Should be

Saturday Mornings by oceangirl15 featuring three wick candles

Isn’t this how we all idealize Saturday mornings? Relaxing, beautiful, sophisticated, romantic. For most of us, Saturdays aren’t like that. But for a moment let’s stop and pretend they are. No pups barking for their morning meal, no kids screaming for Lucky Charms, and no loud cars going by the house. Just you, your coffee, soft pajamas, warm bed, and lit candle. Excuse me while I go float on a cloud. Happy weekend!

My 3 Obsessions: Coffee mugs, nail polish, and cute socks

There are many things in life that make me happy. Audrey Hepburn movies, a warm blanket, vanilla scented candles, seasonal coffee, and so many other things. Right now my favorite things happen to be coffee mugs, nail polish, and cute socks. I’ll keep it short but I’ve found nothing that compares to these little loves I have found recently.