balance

Life Updates!

Hello lovelies,

I know it’s been a while… like a very long time since I’ve posted anything on my blog – but here I am, and I’m truly back!

If you follow me on any of my social media, then you probably already know the big news…

I’m pregnant! 

We are expecting a little baby boy in February 2017 – and we couldn’t be happier. 

We’ve also purchased a new house and are moving in 4 weeks before the baby is due – crazy I know. Hopefully the little guy takes his time and gives me enough time to setup all the new furniture! And by setup, I really mean order my loved ones around for a couple days until all the new furniture is built and in the right spot. I’m going to have to be extra creative with my thank you gifts… dealing with an 8 month pregnant woman trying to nest won’t be easy! 

So besides buying furniture and decor for the new house, starting my baby registry, I’ve also started a new job in the last month – hooray! I couldn’t really couldn’t be happier. They’ve also been super amazing about my pregnancy which takes a lot of stress off of me. Although I don’t want my blog to become a pregnancy or new mom blog, you can definitely expect that a couple of my posts will be baby related, I mean this is a really big deal!!

So stick around to see all the exciting projects and adventures I have on the go!


Amanda xox

21 Day Yoga Challenge

I’m freaking out!

I officially only have 21 days left, until I get on a plane, and leave for vacation. A well-needed vacation…

In order to avoid inducing panic attacks due to my overwhelming number of tasks I have to accomplish in the next few weeks, I’ve decided to give myself a 21 day yoga challenge.

This will help me relax and breathe, while still giving me a seriously great workout. My goal is: 1 full hour of yoga per day, for the next 21 days.

I have exams coming up, 3 staff holiday parties to attend, 1 birthday, Christmas shopping, and three paintings to finish. No big deal, right?

Simply writing out that list makes my chest tighten.

That’s exactly why I need a release. Yoga will help my body and mind relax through meditation and exercise, and this practice will help increase my feeling of well-being.

Do you have any advice for me?

Let me know in the comments below, I would appreciated anything that will help make the next 21 days less stressful.

But seriously… VACATION! I’m so excited I could cry.

Amanda Kayla Liberty | Blog | Video Games

peanut butter and jelly love

The Peanut Butter to My Jelly

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Yin to My Yang.”

Today’s Daily Post prompt is, how do you define the term “soulmate”?

I’ve often debated whether soulmates were real. In my mind it was impossible to define, even if you found someone that you loved entirely, what made them your soulmate?

Today I know what it means to find your soulmate. It was in front of me all along – it was so natural to me, that I didn’t realize I was surrounded with people that had found their soulmates.

First, my Grandpa and Nan. They weren’t the touchy-feely kind of couple, but they were obviously in love. I remember my Nan yelling “FRANK!” from the kitchen to let him know that lunch was ready. They watched movies together and they cooked together. They did everything together. My Grandpa would always joke that every time my Nan would touch his computer, she would manage to break something. She still quotes that joke to this day. I know she misses my Grandpa dearly, we all do. It’s practically impossible to suggest that my grand mother should look for someone new to spend her time with – but she said it best, “I don’t need to find someone new, I had my true love, my best friend, that’s all I will ever need.”

Secondly, my Mamie and Papie. The funniest and the most adorable couple you will ever meet. They are the kind of people that still kiss each other every day, hug and hold each other at family gatherings and the kind of couple that still taps each others butts when the other is walking away. I remember being young and saying “I hope I’m in love like they are when I grow up.” They would do anything for each other, and it’s not because they’ve said that specifically, but everything they do, the way they still look at each other – I have no doubt when I look at them that I am looking at two soulmates.

Lastly, my parents. As their child I know their relationship more than most. My parents dream together, set goals together, and attain them. They’ve always worked as a team, and they always confide in each other. They’ve always had each other’s backs, even when I gave them hell as a teenager. They are the best definition of “support system” you could imagine, and honestly if you don’t have that in a relationship, what do you have? They build projects together and give each other endless credit for the work they accomplished. The sweetest part about them, is when I’m with either of them, they are always saying nice things about the other! My parents love each other beyond belief. I’ve always wanted a relationship like theirs. They are goofy and they make each other laugh. Even if my mom is playing her apps while they watch TV, my parents are always together, because that’s just where they want to be. My parents are the definition of soulmates, it’s clear to see, but even more clearly felt when you are around them.

It’s impossible to go out looking for your soulmate. As many have quoted:

“You don’t find love, love finds you.”

Love found each of my grand parents, and love found my parents.

True love isn’t perfect, it’s flawed and inconvenient at times, it’s hard and it hurts, but love is also perfectly imperfect, grateful and kind. Finding your soulmate is finding a balance within another person.

Falling in love with someone and spending your life with them, now that is one of our lifetime’s greatest adventure.

Basically, my latest artwork sums it up perfectly:

peanut butter and jelly love

You’re the Peanut Butter to My Jelly
Amanda Kayla Liberty
2015

Happiness Defined

“To live in the present moment is the highest calling, the source of all happiness”Naval Ravikant

I always come back to this quote, it’s beautiful and meaningful and mostly it’s a necessary reminder for me to focus on what’s truly important.

Lately, I’ve been very distracted. I probably often seem to be more interested in my phone than my surroundings. For that, I am sorry… because that’s the farthest thing from the truth.

I’ve always been the type of person to encourage everyone to live in the moment, seize the day, and be grateful. But mostly that they need to stop worrying about things that are out of their control.

I should take my own advice more often…

For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been overwhelmed and disappointed about decisions I made in the past. I’ve been scared, and even angry at times, and it’s affected every inch of my life.

The truth is that I’m happy, I’m overjoyed with my life – the problem is, I need to start acting like it.

I’ve basically worked for 30 days straight now, yesterday being my first day off in a long time. I keep telling myself that because I’m so busy with my two jobs and school, I don’t have enough time to paint and write. In my defense I do try and use my free-time wisely, even if it means lounging on the couch playing my Xbox or watching Netflix. That time is important, everyone needs to unwind.

This is my happy place

This is my happy place

However, I’ve been making too many excuses. If I truly wanted to balance my schedule properly and give myself time for painting, drawing and writing, I most certainly could. But often, laziness takes control of me and I truly just want to do nothing…

But time is our one resource that isn’t renewable, therefore we all need to use the time we have wisely. I need to kick my behind back into shape and make things happen for myself. Because I know that being creative, giving myself time and space to unleash the ideas I have buried in my head… that makes me happy.

Which is why this week I will be launching my new website which will feature all of my artwork that’s for sale, and a page for custom requests. As some of you may not know, not only do I paint, but I also do a lot of graphic design. So make sure to keep an eye out for the launch as I will definitely be posting it on my blog!

Thanks to everyone who has supported me in this incredible time in my life, and everyone who has shown immense support for my blog. I love you all – I can’t thank you enough.

AKL ♥

Ps. Last week I officially sold my first piece of artwork, here is “Messier 8”:

Messier 8 Amanda Kayla Liberty 2015

Messier 8
Amanda Kayla Liberty
2015

Beans Now, Steak Later

“Beans Now, Steak Later”, after hearing this for the first time, I was initially puzzled. What did this mean? Oh great… now I’m hungry, and I really want a steak.

The basic principle behind the saying is that, if you live simply now, later on in life you will be able to enjoy life’s pleasures without worry – in this case, a steak. As much as this sounds like an exaggeration, this actually comes from a true story. In Kevin O’Leary’s book Cold Hard Truth On Men, Women & Money, he writes about a time he met an elderly man from Minneapolis. He explains, that he ate beans for over 5 years, and after he paid off his mortgage, he bought himself a steak.

I found myself partially troubled by this idea. When I was younger I was told to save, and that later on in life I would be able to enjoy my savings, travel, and do whatever I pleased. However, when I became old enough to start making my own opinions about life, I started to fear living for tomorrow, and began to live with the mantra “live each day to the fullest”.

Now, at 26 years old, I wish I would have found a balance between both those ideas. Because yes, life is about balance. Living within your means, but enjoying every day to its fullest. The thing I didn’t understand as a teenager, and still struggle with today, is that, living every day to its fullest, doesn’t mean always having to spend money. I, along with many other people, need to learn to embrace and treasure the simple things in life, every single day – and that, is living each day to its fullest.

Beyond my internal debate on the matter, I still believe there is something real, something honest in “Beans Now, Steak Later”. Personally, what I would like to take from it is that, today, you might struggle, you might be doing certain things you’d rather not be doing, but one day, everything you have accomplished, and all the hard work you put in, all of it was moving you towards your ultimate goal, whatever that may be.

Now, go seize the day!