Why You Should Be More Important Than Anyone Else

“Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Many people do not like to put themselves before others but you should know that it is okay to be a little selfish and take care of yourself. I'm constantly being asked how I find the time to get up and do my hair and makeup and dress nicely to look good for absolutely nothing. I'm always being asked, "Who are you trying to look good for?" and when I respond, people are always shocked with my answer. My answer is always that I try looking good for myself. I'm not saying that in order to feel good about yourself, you need to make yourself look good. Because everybody is different and has different things that make them feel good about themselves but that is what makes me feel good about myself. I personally enjoy pampering myself with a massage every once and a while... Or even getting a facial or taking a nice and relaxing bubble bath. I love doing things like that because I love to take the time for myself to reflect on my life and my goals that I am still pursuing.

I am not trying to impress anybody by doing my hair or my makeup. It just makes me happy and I have fun doing it. And I'd rather wake up a half an hour earlier to be able to make myself feel good.

Everyone should know that it is okay to take care of yourself and set out what I call "Me Time." It's something that I feel everybody needs. Especially after a long day of work or school. Even working out is something that I consider "Me Time." Because I am improving myself and I want to be the best version of myself that I can possibly be.

By taking care of yourself and putting yourself first every once and a while it helps relieve stress and relax... and it even helps build your confidence!

Sometimes I am so overwhelmed by the amount of school work that I have with the amount of hours I have from working and all it takes is 30 minutes for me to just walk away from it all and forget about it all to try and lift those bricks off of my shoulders. We are only human and it is not healthy to be so stressed out and not take any time for yourself.

Advice for when you're overwhelmed with stress:

1) Take 30 minutes out of your day and do something that you love that is positive! Whether or not it's exercising or taking a warm bubble bath or doing your hair differently... do it.

2) Grab a pencil & a piece of paper and make a chart. Make a chart with one side stating your problems and stresses and the other side stating how you can fix it or make it better. Take that piece of paper and post it somewhere where you will see it often such as the mirror in your bathroom or your refrigerator. By seeing that piece of paper everyday, it should help encourage you and push you more towards your goals and by mapping it all out, it makes it much easier to accomplish due to the fact that it is just more organized.

Goal setting is a great trait to have. One of my goals that I am currently working on to set some time for myself is that I am saving money for a vacation. Nothing is more relaxing than going away to a beautiful island and sitting on a beach sipping some lemonade :)

So think about yourself a little more...

The most important thing to remember is to believe in yourself & have faith in your abilities because the only thing that could hold you back is yourself.

My Experience Competing For Miss New Jersey USA

I apologize for the delay in blogs guys! These past two months have been so extremely busy for me that I barely even had time to sleep and now that I have caught up with all of my work and rest... I can now share my lovely experience that I had a little over 3 weeks ago.

About 3 weeks ago was the weekend that I left to compete for the title of Miss NJ USA. This wasn't my first time competing. It was actually my third time competing and it was one of the best experiences that I have ever had! The Miss NJ USA pageant is a part of the Miss Universe Organization so if you win the title of Miss NJ USA, you go on to compete for the title of Miss USA and if you win Miss USA, you go on to compete for the title of Miss Universe.

The Miss Universe Organization is the most prestige pageant that you could possibly be in and being able to be apart of it has been a huge honor. Being in this pageant has taught me many things about myself that I never knew before competing. It helped me choose the career path that I wanted to pursue and it has helped me network with many well known people that I would not know today if it wasn't for this pageant.

Many people have a misperception on beauty pageants and think that they're all about beauty and they're not. They're about who you are as a person, what you stand for, and what you believe in and want to be. They're not like what you see when you watch Toddlers and Tiaras... especially since we are teens and adults and not children. Our parents aren't there running around having panic attacks and screaming at each other because we lost a bobby pin. Our parents aren't even there for the most part until we are onstage. But what I love the most about beauty pageants is the friends that I have made from competing throughout the years. Many people have the misperception that we hate each other because we are competing with one another but we don't. We absolutely love each other and support one another and we always keep in-touch throughout the year when we aren't even close to competition season.

We gain many opportunities by winning a pageant. When you win, you are considered a role model and you will make endless appearances to many different events such as going to children's hospitals and attending other charity events. We do a lot of community service and one of the things that I would love to do if I were to win is to visit a children's hospital and bring them presents or candy to make their day. Many of the children like to play with your sash or crown because it makes them feel like a princess and I would love to be able to make a child's day like that.

We also gain a lot of publicity do to the fact that we appear on television and go to many appearances and that helps us career wise. Especially if you are into Broadcast Journalism like I am. It can be a great start to your career and good training for it as well since you get used to being on stage and constantly being interviewed and asked questions.

One thing that is phenomenal about pageants is the scholarship prizes. If you win a pageant or even place in the top 15, you win a very large scholarship and it has given many girls the opportunity to go to school when they really could not afford it.

Although I did not win, it was an amazing experience and I hope that I am lucky enough to be able to experience it again next year :)
I recommend that every girl does a pageant at least once in their lifetime. Not only is it an extreme confidence booster but you end up having a great time, build long-lasting friendships, and create memories that you will remember for the rest of your life!

All of the girls competing for the title of Miss New Jersey USA 2016! Spot me? :)


Me with a few of the girls who competed with me:

This is me competing in the swimsuit competition:

Me and my best friend Kasey who came to support me ♡:

Me and Miss New Jersey USA 2015, Vanessa Oriolo!

Me and my favorite news reporter from CBS 3 news, Jim Donovan!

Congratulations to Miss New Jersey USA 2016, Jessielyn Palumbo!
I couldn't think of anybody more deserving to have this title than you! I remember seeing you in your gown and I told you that you were going to win and I'm SO glad that I was right! :)
I cannot wait to see you compete for the title of Miss USA! You could totally take it! Good luck with the rest of your year! ♡

Thanks for reading everyone!

Xoxo,

Amanda ♡

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Create The Perfect Bombshell Curls!

Want these bombshell curls? Let me tell you my secrets... 😏

Recently, I decided to purchase a NuMe curling wand. I was extremely skeptical because I have bought super expensive curling irons in the past and they never got the job done. As skeptical as I was, I just had to try it because it has been getting amazing reviews! So I invested my money into one and these are the results! 

The products that I used with my NuMe wand were:

1) Paul Mitchell Fast Drying Sculpting Spray

2) John Frieda Frizz Ease Original Formula Hair Serum

I used the Paul Mitchell spray first to hold the curls and once I was done I applied the John Frieda serum to smooth it out.

The NuMe wand that I used was the NuMe 25MM Classic Curling wand.

Here is a link to my tutorial on my very first experience with my NuMe Wand:

http://youtu.be/oGgv6Te-nNQ

NuMe is an amazing brand! They're extremely generous and give many coupons! Their curling wands start at $139 but they're always giving large amounts of discounts! 

Coupon:

- 60% off of any styling tool!

Click this link for the coupon: http://bptracks.com/?a=2073&c=221&p=r&s1=

(Coupon is automatically added to your cart! You just have to add whichever tool you want to your cart!)

Expires: October 31, 2015

Another coupon:

- Any wand for $38. Included with the wand, you will receive a free Argan Oil as well as a thermal pouch to carry your curling wand in even if it's hot after use! 

Click this link for the coupon: http://bptracks.com/?a=2073&c=219&p=r&s1=

(Coupon is automatically added to your cart! You just have to add whichever tool you want to your cart!)

Expires: October 31, 2015

Enjoy and stay you :)

Xoxo,

Amanda ♡

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NuMe Curling Wand Tutorial

So I'm sure that many of you have heard of the beauty brand called NuMe... and if you haven't well here it is! :) So I saw all over Instagram and Facebook photos of girls using the NuMe curling wands and curling my hair has always been something that I am bad at... well not anymore! I decided to invest in one of their curling irons of my own and boy am I glad that I did! It is FABULOUS! I feel like a movie star with this hair! I went out after styling my hair and got so many compliments and it made me feel great! 

The results of my very first time trying out my NuMe Curling wand:

I feel like a gingerly modernized Barbie Doll!

(Since you know.. I'm a redhead and all)

The curls stayed all day and I got the job done in about 35-40 minutes which is super fast for me because I have a lot of hair and it is very very thick. It did not burn my hair or make it smell burnt. I didn't even have to put any hairspray in it after (which was extremely surprising because normally I need a half of a can of hairspray to keep it curled)... and since I didn't use any hairspray... my hair is soft :) I AM OBSESSED. Being that I am extremely picky when it comes to my hair products and tools... I am very surprised that I love this curling wand so much. The best part is that I purchased the NuMe 25MM Classic Wand which is regularly priced at $139 and because NuMe is so generous with their coupons, I got the iron for $27! It was a steal! I highly recommend everyone and anyone to purchase this curling iron because it is truly that amazing. I have bought $200-$300 curling wands that aren't even close to as good as this wand. It is absolutely phenomenal! Below I have attached a link that directs you to a coupon for the NuMe products incase you or someone that you know is interested in purchasing one of their products. For $37 you can get any curling wand that you choose, a massaging brush, and a bottle of Argan Oil. Just click on this link and pick any curling iron that you desire and add it to the cart. The link automatically adds the coupon onto your cart so you don't have to!

Click Link: http://bptracks.com/?a=2073&c=169&p=r&s1=

Another coupon code that I have is $100 off of any styling set plus free U.S. Shipping! So if you want to get one of those wands with multiple interchangeable barrels, this is the coupon you want!

Click on this link for the coupon code for $100 off any styling set:  http://bptracks.com/?a=2073&c=182&p=r&s1=

I guarantee that you will not regret spending the money! I hope you all enjoyed the tutorial video I posted ♡ If you have any questions feel free to comment on my tutorial video or on my blog! Coupons expire September 30, 2015!

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Why You Should Travel

Traveling can be extremely therapeutic. I have always travelled from such a young age. I've been to the Bahamas, Florida, Puerto Rico, Texas, Virginia, NYC, etc. Every single place that I have ever visited has always had a unique and special thing about them that the other places that I have visited never had. I was just recently on a vacation for about 10 days... I went to upstate New York to the point where I was boarderline Canada and the day after I came back from upstate New York, I flew to Florida and visited Orlando and Miami... Which was SO much fun! I ended up visiting the University of Miami which was an incredibly beautiful school with an amazing program for Journalism (which makes it even more awesome) and I ended up visiting Miami Beach as well as Universal Studios in Orlando. It was quite exhausting but quite the adventure! I went on all of these trips with my boyfriend of 7 years named Matt. We love to travel together and see what the world has to offer.

Traveling helps me escape reality but also opens my eyes to the better things in life. Although I love to shop, I'd much rather spend my money on a fabulous vacation. It is certainly money well spent and I plan on saving up more money so that we can go on many more adventures together.

My first tour with the University of Miami! 

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Thanks for reading!

Be Your Own Kind Of Beautiful ♡

You were born an original. To be your own person, not a copy of someone else. Many people catch themselves idolizing people whether it would be a celebrity, a friend, family member, etc. and it's okay to want to be as successful as another person or to have the same goals as another person but you shouldn't want to be the other person. You were born with your own destiny and it's your job to fulfill that to the best of your own abilities. Don't be discouraged by other people and how successful they turned out to be because you are capable of that too. Nothing is ever given to you so you have to work hard towards your goals but once you achieve them, it can be extremely rewarding. Many people try to tell me what my goals should be and shouldn't be and when people try to change you and your goals and dreams, they aren't true friends because if my friend tells me that they want to be the President of the United States I'm not going to tell them that it will never happen. Instead, I encourage them to reach their goals. Is it an extremely high goal? Yes... but it is possible and the people with the highest goals and work towards them end up 100 times more likely to achieve them than a person who does not believe in themselves.

I learned a lot about comparing through Pageantry. Many people are always asking me... "isn't it so intimidating being on that stage in a bikini?" And "don't you feel insecure about yourself standing next to over a hundred gorgeous women?" And the answer is no. Is it tempting to want to compare yourself to other people? Of course! But you have to train yourself to not compare yourself because it will only kill your self-esteem and make you feel discouraged and upset. Instead, try thinking of all of the amazing qualities that you have. What makes YOU better than them. As selfish as that might sound, it helps. And it's okay to be a little selfish because you need to care about yourself first. Personally, I get extremely pumped for swimsuit competition. I don't get insecure on stage because there are many people out there who could never step foot on a stage and just being able to be on that stage is a huge accomplishment. When you look on the brighter side of things, your entire outlook on life will change too... And for the better! Who cares if someone else is smart or good looking or amazing? So are you! So embrace it :) It is beautiful to be different and true happiness and confidence shines from within and it shows to others :)

Xoxo, Amanda ♡

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Adopting My Dog Was The Best Decision Of My Life

                      

 For a few years I was begging my parents to buy me a puppy. Every birthday, Christmas, Valentine's Day... I wanted a dog in the worst way. I always knew that I wanted either a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or a Pomeranian because those are my two favorite breeds but little did I ever realize that I could adopt one from a local pet shelter.

Above, you see photos of me and my beautiful Pomeranian named Mimi. She is the sweetest and most loving dog you could ever imagine having... and she's funny! She loves wearing clothes and she loves her owners and is not afraid to defend them when she feels that they could be in danger.

I was always aware of pet shelters, it just never came to mind because I was used to always going to pet shops. Although I did not get Mimi from a shelter, I rescued her from a home that she was unfortunately extremely abused at. When we got her, she was in extremely horrible shape to the point where when we got her, we took her straight to get groomed and the groomers did not want to accept her and cut her fur. Her fur was extremely knotted up and she had feces stuck to her fur... she smelled awful but that didn't stop my mother and I from wanting to save her. When I first saw her, I immediately just fell in love... and I could tell that the feeling was mutual. Because she was abused, she did not like strangers and her first reaction to meeting someone new was to growl at them and bark because she was scared but for some odd reason she never reacted like that towards me. She is a very expressive dog and when she first met me, she looked at me with such adoring eyes as if she fell in love for the first time and it was ADORABLE! (My mom was super jealous because Mimi would growl at her yet she loved me right away). Little did I know that adopting her would be the best decision of my life... She has made my life so much better since she came into my life and I couldn't be more grateful. She is my best friend and she knows it too. She literally follows me everywhere and she LOVES going for car rides with me! She is literally everything that I ever wanted in a dog and more! Basically, if I got to create my dream dog, it would be exactly her.

I decided to write this blog because she is a huge part of my life and I want to bring more awareness to adopting an animal because they could be the best thing that could ever happen to you. Many people have a misperception of animals that are abused or in a shelter and the honest truth is that they are amazing and all they want is love and a good and safe home. By rescuing a pet, you will be saving a life and getting just as much love as you would get if you bought your pet and if not, more love. Another perk is that when you adopt a pet, it costs anywhere between $50-$200 compared to buying one at the store which is normally anywhere between $500-$2,000. The way that I look at it though, is that whether you adopt a pet or buy a pet, you are still giving an animal a home which is what every animal deserves but if you truly want a pet, I recommend visiting your local pet shelter first and seeing what you could possibly be missing out on because you could end up meeting the best thing that could ever happen to you in that shelter.

In-case you are unaware of where a shelter may be, here is a website that will locate a shelter near you: 
https://www.allpaws.com/organizations?gclid=CLbmupXuhscCFcWPHwod1SEAYA

Xoxo, Amanda ♡

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Don't Let Life Discourage You

Everybody goes through dealing with a bit of discouragement at least once in their lifetime. If not, end up dealing with it on a daily basis. And guess what? It is completely normal to have these feelings! You just cannot allow them get the best of you and refrain you from being the successful person that you could be because although you may feel stressed out and hopeless, anyone could be successful if they truly put their heart and mind into it.

Throughout my life, I have always dealt with feeling discouraged due to many things... Mainly because I was bullied and was constantly being told that I will never be anything in life. And although those words were extremely hurtful, I've taught myself to not be affected by hurtful words that other people say. Like I said in my bio, I am studying to be a journalist... so my ultimate goals are two things: 

1) to be a host of the New Years Eve show held in NYC (with Ryan Seacrest because he is my ultimate idol... He is literally everything that I want to be career wise)

2) I would love to be a host on E! News.

Very high expectations... However, that is what I want and I plan to work as hard as I possibly can to get as close to my goals as possible. Now being that I am studying journalism, I ALWAYS get told that I shouldn't go for that because it is extremely competitive and that it's hard to find a job in that field. And although that may be true, I don't let it stop me from pursuing what I want to be in MY life. I'm extremely passionate about what I am studying and yeah it may not be easy but nothing is ever easy. Nothing is ever just given to you. You need to work really hard at it and I believe that I can achieve anything that I seriously put my mind to. As I mentioned earlier, I was bullied... A lot. And it was absolutely terrible and degrading and it affected me greatly as I grew up. Once I graduated High School and started College, my entire view on myself changed. I began to not care about whether or not people were judging me or making fun of me for what I was doing with my life because I realized that I am not what other people say that I am and I realized that God put me on this Earth for a purpose and that I have duties to fulfill that may be different from everyone else's duties and I am okay with that. There are people out there who will try to break you down and they want to see you fail which is sad and unfortunate but it's true. But you cannot let that get to you. I've taught myself to block the hate because I know who I am and I do not need a person to try and tell me who I am and who I'm not.

Most of the time when people judge you or make fun of you, it's because they are jealous. And jealousy is a very nasty feeling. Chances are, if someone is jealous of you, you're probably doing something right with yourself because if someone is jealous and envious towards you for what you're doing, chances are, they wish that they were doing the same things that you're doing. So don't be afraid to be yourself and express how you feel because there's only one you and only one life to live so you need to make the best of it and enjoy every second of it. Just some inspiration from the heart ♡

Xoxo, Amanda ♡

Feel free to follow me on Instagram and Twitter!

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Meet Your Blogger ♡

Hi there loves! My name is Amanda and I am currently a student in college majoring in Broadcast Journalism. I am extremely passionate about communication and I love speaking to people and making new friends. I have been a dancer since the age of 3 years old but when I started college, I did not have enough time to pursue dancing due to the fact that I am a full-time college student and I also work part-time. As I grew up, I found a new passion of mine which was beauty pageants. Beauty pageants have taught me many things. Mainly that I am my own person and that I have one life to live and a purpose and that I have to achieve whatever it is that God put me on this Earth for. One of the things that I realized that I wanted to do once I began pageants was be a journalist and the other thing that I realized is that I want to be a role model to other people. I love doing community service and helping not only my own community but other communities as well. I have helped schools raise money for children's education because unfortunately, the school did not have enough money to provide the children books. I love to collect coats to people who cannot afford a coat or are homeless and need a coat to stay warm in the Winter because it is absolutely terrible to have to deal with being freezing during the Winter. In my photo, you see a photo of me on stage for my second (most recent) pageant, a selfie that I took, and a photo of my boyfriend (Matt) and I taken at our Senior Prom :) We have been together for almost 7 years so I know a lot about relationships and love giving other people advice about their relationships and how they should deal with certain situations. I do believe in true love and happiness so I hope that you all enjoy my blog! This is my very first blog and I couldn't be more excited about it! :) I have always wanted to start a blog but now that I am more educated about journalism and I am planning on being a journalist, I figured why not start one now? So here you are guys... I hope you all enjoy ♡

Xoxo, Amanda ♡

Feel free to follow me on Instagram and Twitter!

Instagram: amanda__saez

Twitter: @amanda__saez

(both usernames have two underscores)

:)