OCTOBER
10/24/2023    an-afternoon-at-seaport-village-san-diego-ca.html

It’s been a couple years! While I was recently contemplating cancelling this blog page, I perused the different tabs and realized how much work I put into this and decided that I need to slow my roll and just get back into writing. I really do love writing and it helps me get my thoughts out as eloquently as possible since I tend to word vomit quite a bit *sigh*...

These last couple of years has been quite the adventure. I really got into making YouTube videos and I'm quite happy with how far I've come with editing (I knew ABSOLUTELY NOTHING) and coming up with content. While it started out as a lifestyle channel, I realized my travel content far surpassed my other videos (well, other than my "How To Make a Cozy Bed" video that amassed over 22K views).

I was good with putting out weekly content (every Sunday) and some videos did great, some NOT so great. But that's okay...I simply post my videos for the pure joy of it. Sure I received some not-so-nice comments on occasion but I knew it came with the territory.

I don't know who actually watches my videos except for a handful of people whom I'd like to think are super supportive of this journey of mine - THANK YOU! I think anyone that isn't knowledgeable about content or digital creation knows first-hand how time consuming it is and what a full-time job it could truly be!

Anyway, along with being busy with YouTube, I also filmed a reality show with my family on the journey to bettering our relationship and communication while competing against another family in harsh conditions for - you guessed it - a cash prize! We filmed for Survivalists - a show that's kind of like Survivor but way less intense and made specifically for families.

Let me start by saying that it was the most vulnerable any of us has ever been and I have not cried so much (let's be real) ... most of us haven't cried so much in our entire lives. When you're hungry and tired, you're pretty much the truest form of yourself you could be...who cares if there are 10 cameras shoved in your face...the crew eventually become flies on the wall and seem to magically become part of the background.
If you're interested, you can watch our episode here on BYUTV's Survivalists Season 3, Episode 1 (filmed in April 2022, debuting January 2023). I may write about our experience further in a future entry:

www.byutv.org/9371ef4d-5601-4bb7-80a2-db6be4b2f2ae?utm_source=byub&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=share_2023&utm_content=Episode

This is all I have to say for now but I hope to submit more entries in the near future.  After all, writing is my first love!  Ciao and until my next post!  

~XOXO, Mari

MARCH
3/28/2021     pet-shopping-haul-review.html
3/21/2021     how-to-make-lumpia.html
3/14/2021     easy-recipe-baked-lemon-salmon.html
3/7/2021​      how-to-create-a-cozy-bed.html

FEBRUARY
2/28/2021     a-day-in-the-mom-life.html     
2/21/2021     salmon-cucumber-bites-updated.html
2/14/2021     honey-glam-makeup.html     
2/7/2021      post-hotel-trip-to-leavenworth-wa-part-2-of-2.html

JANUARY
1/31/2021     a-real-christmas-town-with-reindeers-leavenworth-wa-part-1-of-2.html
1/25/2021     winter-weekend-getaway-essentials.html
​1/18/2021     pantry-organization-in-7-steps.html
1/11/2021     filipino-scrambled-eggs-easy-recipe.html
​​1/4/2021      why-i-started-a-youtube-channel.html

Here we go!  While I planned to launch my YouTube channel in January 2021, I filmed a couple videos and thought "why not?"  I don't have a particularly huge following (yet) so I don't think anyone would quite notice when I post or not...at least initially. 

​Making my first vid on my own and giving myself a crash course in editing in one weekend took some patience and a LOT of trial and error but I think I'm getting the hang of it.  Sure I'd still like to create amazing videos but I'll give myself a pass and definitely an "A" for effort! 

~XOXO, Mari 

*To be updated with the most recent entries...

12/28/2020     easy-banana-bread-from-scratch.html
12/20/2020     holiday-home-tour-2020.html
12/13/2020     get-ready-with-me-holiday-photos.html

I spent hours this past weekend trying to learn all I could about the basics of video editing, music copyrights, putting together thumbnails, and linking up most of my socials to YouTube.

I have a newfound respect for anyone out there doing YouTube at all. In this short amount of time, I’ve found how time consuming it truly is just to put together and edit a 10/20/30 minute video. I plan to do this part-time and, being a newbie, it took me a few hours to edit a 27-min video down to a 20 minute one. I only knocked down 7 mins! For the next couple days, I plan to work on minor details so it’ll be another few hours full of learning.

So, here it is - in all its glory. Please like and subscribe for updates! ❤️

I have one (test) video uploaded and it kind of gives you a sense of how my video productions are going to be like - travel is definitely one of them!

Please join me in this next adventure of mine ❤️

~ XOXO, Mari

If you've been following me a while, you'll notice I am no longer "FACES by M the BLOG" and that I am now "THE GOOD LIFE with M". The rebranding has been something I've wanted to do for months. With all the changes the world has experienced (and probably still experiencing), I thought to myself that it's time to move on to the next step of my life and focus on other creative outlets I've been wanting to sink my hands into. With all the uncertainty, I feel like taking next steps.  

I announced to everyone on my social medias back in August 2020 that I plan to phase myself out of my makeup artistry, "FACES by M" and fully retire around 2022.  First, I am doing more interior design work at my day job - grateful I get to say that, especially at my age - and want to learn as much as I can.  Second, I want to travel more without having to work around wedding season (Spring/Summer) or weekend makeup appointments...of course, the traveling I'd like to do overseas is going to have to take a backseat because of the growing numbers of COVID and ever-changing travel requirements.           

And as I close out this entry, I should mention I have a basic sense in how to edit videos but I don't have the "know-how" in creating the amazing productions I envision in my head. I know I'll get the hang of it - I have a vision and know what I like so I'm relying on blind faith. Naturally, I'll be working with my socials so that I amp up visibility. It'll be interesting to see how it works for me to combine all platforms.

It'll be a steep learning curve but, at the same time, it'll be awesome to pick up some new tech skills.  Wish me luck loves and CHEERS to The GOOD LIFE with M!

~XOXO, Mari ​

How many times have we said, "This year will be THE year"?!  Depending on how you interpret this saying - this could easily be seen as good or bad.  GOOD, being that you're ready to get your sh*t together and truly making an effort to do so.  Or do you see the BAD...maybe you feel as though you're putting unnecessary pressure on yourself.  Whatever your perception is, just be sure you keep yourself on track to get to where you want to be and take as much or as little time as you can handle.   
I can tell you that, for us, this is going to be a year full of new adventures...from travel, career highs, milestone birthdays, etc.   No matter the challenge, we are ready to take on whatever comes our way!  
Introducing my first posts of the new decade.  Cheers and happy reading!

~XOXO, Mari

*to be updated with the most recent entries
​

3/30/2020   easy-avocado-spreaddip-in-4-steps.html

3/25/2020   in-uncertain-times.html

3/12/2020   salmon-cucumber-bites.html

3/6/2020    being-happy-with-yourself-as-you-are.html

1/6/2020    ascend-prime-steak-sushi-bellevue-wa.html

Well hello-hello!  Is it just me or did this past year whiz on by?

I can't believe we only have 2 more days of 2019 but I'm ready to start facing 2020 head-on with whatever trials and tribulations that come my way.  So many things I'm thankful for!  Just to name a few...

• A job that I wasn't even looking for unexpectedly fell onto my lap and, to my surprise, I absolutely love it!  The company itself is great, people are friendly, and I love that I get to practice what I love doing (design)!
• My children are healthy and growing.
• We booked our 2020 vacation and may possibly go out of the country once again if everything pans out (stay tuned for my blogs on that)!
• Our eldest son graduates high school and completes his communion courses at our church, finally.
• A new home (that I am excited to decorate for)

I truly believe that if you can dream it, you can achieve it.  It may sound cliche but, as I've said before...if you WILL something to come to fruition, something amazing is bound to happen - whether it is exactly what you pictured in your mind or something closely surrounding what that thought is so that you're one step closer to whatever it is you're trying to achieve.

I hope that for each and every one of you, you find that little (or big) nugget to get you going in upcoming months.  Cheers to a new decade and hope you - YES - have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

~ XOXO, Mari

Okay y’all I’m going to clump all my entries for the rest of the year right here (because I can). We are in the middle of a home-buying process and that is taking priority at the moment. So without further ado, here you go!

~ XOXO, Mari

​*to be updated with the most recent entries

10/14/2019     new-york-city-family-travel-tips-things-to-do.html   

I've been on a major hiatus these past few months because I wanted none other than to spend time with family. 

If you follow any of my other social medias, I've taken a big step down from my makeup artistry and focused on my family and other areas of my life that needed some attention. 

While I've taken time to reflect, I got to thinking about what I actually wanted to do with my life and how best to incorporate my family into many of the things I do.  We've made decisions as to what would work best for us as a family; therefore, dreams and priorities have shifted for me as an individual.  I've found there's SO MUCH MORE I want to do that I want to tap into it all because, knowing myself, I'll regret it if I don't attempt to take those steps forward in achieving any of my goals.

Below are some miscellaneous shots of what I've been doing these past few months.  Still busy as ever; however, my schedule isn't as packed as what it used to be (believe it or not)!  Just major chill time but I'm ready to get back to writing and doing some fun things to share with y'all! 

Blog posts coming your way soon...

~XOXO, Mari