Hey there,

It's been awhile. I was busy trying to focus on my last semester of college. It paid off!!! I am now officially a graduate of the Colorado School of Mines (which I learned recently took the number 1 spot for engineering school in the USA)! I am now the holder of a Bachelor's degree in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering. I still can't believe how far I have come in my life. Being a young mom and all the stressful moments we as a family had to push through so that I could get here. The hard and stressful all nighters to the stress it put on my relationships with my family, fiance and friends all led up to this point and I couldn't be happier!

I was very lucky to have an amazing support system. I was able to surround myself with the type of people who wanted more in life and believed that I could be more than just a teenage mom statistic. From the time I found out that I was pregnant I have done everything in my power to succeed in something that would allow me to take care of my family. I never let people tell me how my life should play out...even though they tried and I hope that you never let anyone dictate your life either. I take things one day at a time (not to say that I don't PLAN because I am totally a planner) and have figured out along the way that life is really what YOU make it. Your biggest enemy is yourself. You decide what is too hard or too easy or too stupid. YOU decide whether or not you will live your dream or not. Unfortunately I had no financial help from my parents, but I didn't let that stop me. I received grants (financial aid) and took out loans in order to pay for my education, but I didn't let it go to waste. I cannot wait to start work as an engineer. I have always been a problem solver, someone who could look at a problem in a different light and figure out how to make things work. Solving problems is what I love and when you do something you love, all the stress and money in the world couldn't prevent you from doing it.

In closing I just want to say thank you to every single person who has told me that I can do this, I can make it and who has supported me through it all. I also want to say that you can do anything you put your heart and mind into. Follow your dreams and do something that makes you HAPPY it is well worth it.

<3 Crystal

I Passed the Semester!

Today in the life,
I finished the fall semester of senior year last week and today found out that I had passed all my classes! YAY me! I am very proud to say that the spring 2015 semester will be my last before graduation. Now of course it feels like time has swooped on by but time is relative. It will have taken me 6 years to graduate but at least I will be able to sat I did it, I graduated from one of the most respected engineering schools in the country. That fuels me to keep going. About 5 more months to go! Eeeek.

**My advice for those of you going through college is to surround yourself with as many driven and positive people you can. They will not only keep you company but will support you and push you to be better. They will also make for some amazing connections once you are in the workforce. So keep that in mind.**

Anyways, to be honest this "break" is driving me nuts and it has only been a week. I am the type of person who strives on stress and constantly doing something, "anything" lol. Maybe I will get back to the gym and working out again.... we shall see. Until next time.

“Just know, when you truly want success, you’ll never give up on it. No matter how bad the situation may get.” - Unknown

<3 Crystal

Mines Football

Today in the life,
My fiance, best friend and I went to watch the Colorado School of Mines football playoff game. It was awesome. I have attended this school for 5 years and have never had the chance to go to a college football game. So I was estatic this morning lol. This was one of the things I wanted to do befor I graduated and I did it. Item crossed off the bucketlist.  Oh and you bet I actually have a bucketlist, do you? I don't plan on wasting my life on things I hate. So I have things like bunji jumping, jumping out of a plane, and riding a hot air baloon to name a few. Other include traveling all over the world! Life is amazing, don't take it for granted :)

BTW we went to see MockingJay Part 1 and I was a little dissapointed. I mean I know they always save the amazing parts for Part 2 but still. Anywho Peta looked crazy! Let me know what you guys thought of the movie and if you have anything on your bucketlist that I should add to mine lol. Have an amazing day!

♡Crystal

Cupcake candle

Today in the life,
I have so much homework due this week and I thought I would share my study habits that I normally practice in order to get through it all in one peace!

Shown below is my new cupcake candle. I won it in a raffle at a long time friend's baby shower. It is the cutest thing and it smells like milk chocolate :) so delicious! My room smells amazing lol.

So this is the first thing I do when I have my room to myself (my fiancé and son are out getting haircuts) is to light a good smelling candle so that I can calm down, breathe in the good and breathe out the bad.

Next up, I turn on the radio. Ugh watching television and doing homework does not work well for me, but put on some slow R&B and I'm in good shape to get some major work done.

But first, I spend 5 to 10 minutes on social media... ugh I know that darn internet, but it gets my internet fix done with, and I can finally focus on my work :) 

When others are around, I put in earphones to keep from getting distracted or I simply find a quiet place. In my house though there are very seldom places to have a quiet room to yourself lol so I sometimes have to leave and study at school. 

Well hope this helps ya out!

♡ Crystal

Lips of the season

Today in the life,  

I decided to wear my new lipstick, "Liar"by Urban Decay to work, and I have to say that I am in love with this nude color. It has a slight pink tint that is perfect for my darker skin. I've always had trouble finding a nude lipstick that would work for my skin,  go figure I would go to the new Ulta beauty store that just opened by my house and luck out! Eeek so excited. Especially because according to recent fashion shows,  natural is the "in" look! I love natural beauty so I'm glad I will be in style this fall season! So you can understand my excitement.

Anyways, as an update from my previous posts, I participated in the career fair at school last week, and it went amazing! At least 5 companies were interested so I'm over the moon with joy that it went well :)

The engineering companies were from allover the US though so I will have to see what would be best for my family. My original plan was to stay in Colorado because I absolutely love it here, but I'm keeping an open mind now to move to a different state. I know God will lead me in the right direction!

Attached are some of this years Fall Collection,  displaying natural beauty :) Enjoy!

Lloyd Simmonds About Fall-Winter 2014-15 Make-Up …: 

http://youtu.be/aIonjySDjpE

And as always, stay positive,  smile and live your life in the way that makes you feel happy and free!

♡Crystal