I had dial-up internet for the longest time, so I didn't really get into the whole YouTube thing until it was already becoming a career-building powerhouse. But, boy, did I eat that shit up when I could finally stream it! (Seriously, the dial-up struggles were real, y'all.) Since then, I've found people who I relate to, people I admire, and people who educate me on several different platforms.

Some of these people have completely changed my way of thinking and have even helped to shape some of my values. They've helped me learn about myself. That's the power of the internet –– don't take it for granted.



1. Tanya Burr. It is entirely possible that the very first YouTube video I ever watched was a Tanya Burr video. I had always had an interest in makeup but, let me tell you, I was a mess. My foundation was always a shade darker than my skin tone and I was lucky if I could apply regular ol' eyeliner well. But watching Tanya changed all of that –– and I even started doing makeup on other people at their request. I put emphasis on that because it's a little crazy to me that people trusted me to do their makeup for huge life events like weddings. I still watch Tanya because I feel like I've kind of grown up with her and I just enjoy watching her empire grow.




2. FemmeHead. I found Victoria, or FemmeHead, because I was looking for videos on minimalism. But as I checked out her channel, my eyes were opened to this more intentional and natural way of living. Everything she does seems to come from such a place of peace and growth, which really resonate with me, and her focus on the menstrual cycle has helped me to learn more about mine and to understand it better... and maybe even learn to love it a little? I don't know, maybe I'm not quite there yet.



3. Lavendaire. Another vlogger I found thanks to minimalism is Aileen, better known as Lavendaire. But the reason why I really love watching her videos is because of her focus on growing and learning as a person. Her videos always inspire me and introduce me to new people who are doing really awesome things –– seriously, check her out if only for her Artist of Life series. It's amazing.

4. GirrlScout. You can thank Instagram for this one because GirrlScout just happened to pop up on my explore page on time and her kickass hair was a good enough reason to follow her. Seriously, follow her for the hair alone because it is sooooo badass. But she's also a really talented photographer and just all-around cool person.



5. Naturally Katie. Katie is a local blogger, but one who has probably changed my outlook the most. She is a nutritional therapy practitioner, which means she focuses on ways to help us make our bodies healthy and well from the inside out. Her blog and Instagram are full of helpful tips and products that are better for our bodies, from the food we eat to the toothpaste we use. Her blog actually inspired me to begin checking out less toxic options when it comes to makeup, skincare and hygiene products.

It's easy to take things for granted and forget how incredibly precious the good moments in life are. I feel like I've been doing a little bit of that lately, despite my nightly gratitude journal, but this past week I realized how fortunate I truly am.

 I used to have chronic migraine, which meant that I spent nearly half of each month trying to manage crippling pain in my head that affected my speech, vision, and overall day-to-day functions. For me, it's a genetic condition that my doctors hope will fade completely by my early thirties. They have diminished in the past few years; I've gone from having them three or four days a week to once a week at the most. Unfortunately, I had a two day migraine this past week that left me feeling... Well, I felt like shit to be right honest about it.

And even though I was pretty miserable, I found things to be grateful for throughout.

I am so grateful for my parents. I currently live with them and not only do they support my by allowing me to live with them –– I do cook and clean, as well as provide technical support on a pretty regular basis, so I'm not a total mooch –– they also support and encourage me emotionally. They understand that there are days where I can't do a whole lot and they don't try to shame me for that. In fact, my mom was sweet enough to stop and buy me some cookies one evening to make me feel better.

They are nowhere near as good as her homemade cookies, but they did the trick.

I am also grateful for my little fluff of a cat, who stayed by my side while I wasn't feeling well. During my morning pages, I reflected on how lucky we humans are to have pets who show us absolute unconditional love. Maybe that sounds cheesy, but it is also very much true.

Another thing I am grateful for –– and I may have already mentioned this, I'm not sure –– is the public library and their ebook system. I have been reading like a maniac ever since I discovered the wide range of books they have on there and I'll be sharing some of my favorites with you next month. Definitely check to see if your local library offers ebooks.

Because it is so hard to focus when I have a migraine, I didn't read many blog posts or articles. I did, however, watch a little bit more of the CW DC Arrowverse shows: Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow. The Flash is definitely my favorite of the four and I've found Legends a bit hard to get into so far (but I am only three episodes in, so that could change).

So I guess you could say I'm grateful for Netflix. But aren't we all?

Let me know what you've been grateful for these past couple of weeks in the comments below, or tweet me @biancaprincewv!

Since I started my minimalist journey, I've been more mindful about not only what I purchase but where I purchase things from. That is why I made the decision to buy mainly from small crafters and artists when possible, especially when it comes to luxury items like jewelry. Not only does it feel great to support someone in their creative endeavors, but you also get the satisfaction of knowing that what you are buying was made ethically and, likely, with very little waste.

I am very lucky to have a friend who makes some gorgeous pieces and, with a little bit of extra money last month, I was able to buy a piece that I'd had my eye on for quite a long time (as well as the best impulse purchase I've probably ever made). You can find Leigh's shop, Tooth & Berry, on Etsy – and definitely do go and check it out because her stuff is beautiful. There are at least 10 more things I would buy right now if I had the money.


First, let's talk about the packaging. Perhaps it seems like a silly thing to talk about, but there are two things I love about this packaging. One is that you can tell some care went into it: the hand stamped logo and the twine wrapped around the paper made it feel like a proper gift to myself. The second thing I love is that everything is either reusable or compostable! It may not have been intentional, but it was a definite perk for me.

And, obviously, my cat liked it.

But the important part is the jewelry itself. And it certainly didn't disappoint.


This is the necklace I'd had my eye on for... well, a really long time. You can definitely see why: it's freakin' spectacular. Three rose quartz stones are housed in the middle of gold hematite and paired with two smokey quartz pendants on each end.  Rose quartz is one of my favorite stones and it is paired perfectly with these other elements. The chain is long enough that it fits over my head comfortably but not so long that it gets in the way. It sits at the perfect length and is so well made.

Plus, do you see the care that went into the packaging?!? I can't get over how much I love it. I felt like an Earthy Witch Goddess when I opened it up and, let's be real, who doesn't want to feel like that?

Plus, it goes perfectly with the impulse purchase I made when I bought the necklace...


Yes, those are earrings that say Moon Baby. You see, if I were to describe my style, it would fall somewhere between nerd, hippie, and witch. (One time I got an anonymous message that said I had a "pretty witch look" and, honestly, it's the best message I've ever received.) Like any good witch, I love the moon. So I instantly felt a connection to these earrings and had to have them.

Seriously, I cannot stop wearing them.

It's obvious that a lot of time and care went into these pieces and, let's be real, they are cool. I know that's not, like, a hip word to use these days, but they make me want to watch The Craft and live my dream of becoming a very well dressed sorceress.

Check out Leigh's shop here: Tooth & Berry

Buy those fantastic Moon Baby earrings here: Moon Baby earrings

There may be two months left in 2017, but I am already looking ahead to next year.

Each year I choose one word that represents something I feel I need more of in my life. In 2017, that word was courage and I took steps to find my courage: speaking up when I had something to say, going to social events that I normally would have skipped, and doing things that I wanted to do regardless of the opinions of others. All-in-all, for it being my first word of the year experience, I would say it has been a fantastic success.

In fact, I would say my experiences this year have actually led me to my word for next year: intentional. Because I had the courage to explore and express myself, I began to realize what it was I truly valued and wanted out of life. Lately, I have been trying to balance those values with the life I had already created for myself –– and, spoiler alert, they don't match up.

First, let's discuss what it means to live intentionally. According to the Wikipedia page for intentional living – because, yes, it has a Wikipedia page – the definition is this:

"Intentional living is any lifestyle based on an individual or group's conscious attempts to live according to their values and beliefs. These can include lifestyles based on religious or ethical values, as well as coaching, personal transformation, and leadership training."

Intentional living can be a difficult concept to grasp because, while the definition is the same for everyone, putting it into action in your own life is a very individual thing. Your own personal values influence your intentional living journey and no two journeys will be the same.

For me, intentional living means being mindful about how I spend my time, what I spend it doing, and who I spend it with. It sounds simple, but those three things are made up of a million tiny decisions and details.

Intentional living, to me, is also a bit of slower living.

A lot of us don't like to admit it, but we worry about what other people think of us. I want to let go of that and only worry in a way that is healthy and normal. While so many of us have that hustle mindset, where our brains are constantly on and ready to go-go-go, I want to break away from that and feel emboldened to go at my own pace. I want to be okay not buying the latest tech gadgets and growing my own garden in the spring and summer.

Living with intention is a way to cultivate joy. That is my goal for 2018, to live in a way that makes me feel fulfilled and joyful. I've shared with you my general idea of what that means but, like everything, it is going to be a journey. Throughout the year, I hope to share ways that I have put this idea into action ad the results I've seen from it.

I also recommend that you find your own word of the year. Don't force it. Just put the intention out there and I'm sure a word will appear to you. And I'd love to know what it is!

• A Wooden Slat
• Twine
• Utility Hooks
• Nails
• Hammer
• Ruler & Pencil (Optional)