10 Simple Things that Make me Happy (and a Sephora Giveaway!) 8.28.2018

I’m definitely a believer in looking for the good in each day, and I also love little routines, so the simple things in life often bring me so much happiness! Of course traveling to amazing destinations and celebrating life milestones make me incredibly happy, but those don’t happen all the time, so I think it’s important to find what makes you happy and what you’re grateful for in your everyday life. 

I thought I would share 10 things that make me happy in everyday life, and I challenge you to make your own list! 

Diffusing essential oils

I’m still fairly new to the essential oil world, but the past several months I’ve loved diffusing them in our home each day! Not only do they make our home smell better and create a relaxing atmosphere, but they have a number of health benefits such as purifying the air and relieving headaches or stress. I have a few diffusers, but this one is my favorite (and by far the cheapest), I use Young Living oils because the quality is the best I’ve found (a little goes a long way)!

Finding a kickass new song or album and listening to it on repeat

I’m so bad about this, but when I find new music I love I have the listening habits of a 14-year-old girl and listen on serious repeat. Lately I’m loving Mac Miller’s new album “Swimming” and the song “Give a Little” by Maggie Rogers.

Cuddling with my doggies

Our dogs are definitely our babies, and even though our furniture would look 5x better if they weren’t allowed up there, we can’t help but to enjoy snuggling with them every day. Russell, especially, loves to cuddle and most nights he sleeps curled up against my stomach.

Getting into bed with clean sheets

So, this technically only happens once a week, but I love starting out a new week with clean sheets. It’s such a calming feeling!

Morning quiet time

I’ll share more about this in a future post, but ever since I started carving out a bit of quiet time in the mornings I’ve felt so much more awake and calm going into each day. It’s such a nice way to ease into the day, and I love to sip on my hot lemon water during this time.

Having plants around the house

I love having a bit of life and greenery around the house, and am so fond of my house plants! I had one die last week and I’m so sad about that poor little cactus! However, it does give me the excuse to pick out a new one :)

Planning for an upcoming trip

Trip planning has recently become such a fun activity to me, and fortunately I have quite a few to research and plan over the course of this year! I love everything from researching beautiful spots to visit to finding amazing restaurants to planning out which outfits I’ll bring (and photograph). I recently started making Google Docs and Sheets for different locations so that when I happen to find something cool or see a great recommendation I can add it to my list for that destination! 

Having an entire evening at home with Trey

Even though we don’t spend every moment together when we’re both home, it still makes me so happy when we both get to be home for an evening! Even simple things like watching a tv show while we eat dinner or researching a trip together make me super happy! And the dogs love it when we’re both home too :)

Drinking herbal teas

This summer I’ve really gotten into a hot tea habit (probably a weird time of year for that!), and it’s a habit I’m really happy about! I find herbal teas to be so soothing, and many have wonderful medicinal purposes as well. You can read about a couple I love to drink here.

My nighttime skincare routine

I promise I’m working on a blog post where I’ll break down my skincare routine, but anyways… I really do find calm in going through this routine every night. Am I excited to get off the couch and take off my makeup? Not necessarily. But once I’m in the swing of things I find it really relaxing, and I especially love applying my favorite face oil at the end. 

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To make your Fall makeup shopping a little bit easier, I've teamed up with a group of bloggers to give you a chance to win an $800 Sephora Gift Card!

To enter: complete the steps in the rafflecopter below. The more steps you complete, the more entries you receive, and the better your chance at winning! This giveaway runs until Tuesday, September 11th at 12am PST. Winner will be announced here. Good Luck! *this giveaway is in no way sponsored by Sephora.

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How (and why) I Became a More Positive Person 7.27.2018

I used to be a Negative Nelly. No joke. I whined all the time, I found myself depressed and moody, I didn’t feel good, and looking back on that time in my life I just wasn’t the happy, positive, kind person I strive to be today. I think part of it was diet and lifestyle, part was not knowing how to take care of myself, but most of it was my mindset. I wasn’t putting in the effort to be positive or happy. So what changed?

When I met Trey I was blown away by how positive he was. He would go through adversity without getting down. He handled things with perspective and a positive outlook. I was blown away. 

I started to evaluate my life and how negative I was about the smallest of things. I didn’t like these qualities in other people, so why would I want to be like that? When I looked at the people who inspired me the most they had positive attitudes, and rarely complained. I had a pivotal moment in life where I decided I wanted to be more like this, and less like the negative, unhappy person I had been most of my life... I decided to change my entire outlook. 

Read on to see what I’ve done differently since then...

I’ve put in the effort to be positive.

I quickly learned that positivity is a daily choice. It’s not something you’re born with...it’s something you decide on and then work at. I started making myself evaluate situations and then find the good. I discovered what made me happier and calmer and did more of those things. I became more self-aware to help keep myself from complaining incessantly. 

I’ve surrounded myself with positive people.

Over the years I’ve gotten more selective with who I have in my close circle. Positive people only please! We’ve all had that friend who drags us down, and honestly life is too short to get sucked into someone else’s negativity. Surrounding yourself with positive people and role models is one of the best things you can do in life - at least in my opinion. Out with the bad, in with the good. 

I’ve established better routines.

As menial as it sounds, creating better morning and nighttime routines has helped me feel more calm and happy in life. Even if my day is absolute craziness, I take at least 10 minutes every morning to quietly ease into the day by myself. I get my head right, I take part in activities I enjoy (hot water with lemon, reading or writing, diffusing essential oils, listening to a podcast), and fill my introvert’s cup. Instead of jumping straight into stress by rushing through my morning, I start my day with positive intention. At night I enjoy my skincare routine and getting into bed with Trey and the dogs. I no longer look at my phone in bed, and it’s become a peaceful + positive oasis for me. These routines put me in a better, more positive headspace! 

Where am I today? Positivity is something I have to continually work at. I’ve learned it’s a daily choice. I think I’m still a complainer by nature, especially when I’m talking to someone I’m comfortable with. But I’m always working to be self-aware and recognize when I’m being negative. I try to step back and look at situations with a positive outlook and make sure I’m keeping things in perspective. I try to start each day with positivity. And it all adds up! 

Any former whiners out there? What do you do to be a more positive person?

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bikini c/o LA Hearts  |  hair scarf  |  hoop earrings

photos by Jo Johnson Photo

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10 Ways to Practice Self-Care Every Week 6.25.2018

"Self care" is definitely buzzy right now, but this is a trend I have zero issues following. It seems like life gets crazier and crazier the older we get and as society changes, so I am absolutely here for any reminder to pause and take care of myself.

Stress is something we all deal with on some level, but it really is terrible for you. There are definitely times I use stress to my advantage and really "get shit done," but if you let it take over you'll end up with adrenal fatigue, weight gain, or other health issues. 

So, I'm here today to give you a friendly reminder to take care of yourself. Self care isn't girly or "hippie," it just means that you value yourself enough to care for your body and your mental health. I don't see a single negative to doing that.

While there are countless ways to practice self care and to customize it to you, here are 10 ways I practice self care and think are realistic for nearly every lifestyle. 

Quiet time before starting your day
Yes, this might mean getting up a tad earlier, but when I start my day with even 10 minutes of quiet time instead of diving into a whirlwind of getting ready, my day undoubtedly gets off to a smoother start. Your morning quiet time can be completely customizable to what you like to do and some ideas are reading, meditating, stretching, journaling, or even scrolling through Instagram or Pinterest. If it calms you and makes you feel happy, then it's a positive start to the day! I like to make my hot lemon water and curl up with my dogs to read or go through Pinterest for inspiration. Sometimes I'll write a blog post if I'm in a creative headspace. I personally choose not to watch or read the news first thing in the morning because it's usually not the most positive content and I don't like to start my day off by worrying about the world. Remember...calm and happy is what you're going for!

A regular workout class
I love a routine and having the accountability of a regularly scheduled workout class. Then I know if a week gets crazy, I'm at least getting in one or two quality, sweaty workouts. Having a workout class on the calendar will help you to prioritize it, will ensure you get in movement, and will de-stress you as well. Spin class is my consistent workout of choice, but the important thing is to find a workout or class that you love and actually look forward to attending each week.

A face mask on the weekend
Your skin is your largest organ (crazy, right?) so it's important to treat it well. I recently started doing a face mask or two every single weekend, and it's become such a nice self-care ritual. I'm currently loving this "radiance renewal mask" by REN Clean Skincare because it leaves my skin smooth and glowing, and helps with acne scarring and hyper-pigmentation. 

Sleeping in at least one day a week
I've always struggled with getting enough sleep and I don't prioritize it like I should. But it helps if I can sleep in at least one day per weekend and get my energy back. It's also such a great feeling to not set an alarm once in awhile! The to-do list can wait... give yourself an extra hour or two of sleep on the weekend!

Bringing water with you everywhere
Most of us are somehow coping with being dehydrated, but it's really an easy fix. Once I started bringing my reusable water bottle with me everywhere, I began drinking plenty of water and felt soooo much better. You can read about the 5 benefits I saw from upping my water intake in this post. Being properly hydrated not only keeps your organs functioning and cleanses your body, but it also increases your metabolism and gives you more energy.

Stretching
Most of us don't stretch nearly enough, and it's so healthy for our bodies! It relieves stress and tension, elongates the muscles, improves flexibility, and helps to prevent injuries. What's not to love? You can do a few simple stretches every day or every time you workout, and/or set aside 15-20 minutes on the weekend to do some deeper stretching. Yoga is a great way to get in some stretching too!  

A daily green smoothie
I love to have a green smoothie for breakfast every morning because it's an easy way to fit in a full serving of greens in the morning! Since there's no other way I'm eating a cup of spinach at 7:30am, a smoothie a day has been the perfect solution for me. In my smoothies I also pack in protein, fiber and healthy fats, so I'm getting steady energy all morning (no more shaky, hungry mornings). This is my current favorite recipe! 

Exfoliating
Exfoliating is not only good for your skin, but it's also good for blood circulation. Plus, who wants dry, rough skin? It's much better to be glowy and smooth, and your skin will thank you! I like to dry brush once a week and then use my all-time favorite body scrub (well worth the price!) in the shower. 

Make your phone off limits in bed
Scrolling through your phone in bed can be a tough habit to break, but it's well worth it. Parting from your phone is a clean break from the day, and your sleep quality will be better when you're not being exposed to the light from your device, which can prevent your brain from releasing melatonin). Try it out for a week and see what you think!

A random act of kindness
Okay, so this doesn't seem like "self care," but I wanted to include it because when I do a small act of kindness it always makes me feel sooo good. Not in a "wow, I'm an amazing person" kind of way, but just in the fact that I got to brighten someone's day or benefit the earth and overall just put a little more positivity into the world. I recently got a shirt that says "be the energy you want to attract" and I believe in that mindset wholeheartedly. This doesn't have to be anything crazy or expensive, but some ideas are: texting or calling a friend just to check in or encourage them, sending someone a card/note, paying for the coffee behind you, doing one of your significant other's or roommate's chores "just because," remembering to recycle, picking up trash when you see it in your neighborhood or in a parking lot, or even just giving a stranger a sincere compliment. Put out good energy and it will come back to you!  

romper  |  hair scarf  |  shoes  |  similar bag  |  earrings  |  necklace

How do you practice self care each week? Is this something you prioritize in your own life?

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10 Things I Did to Streamline/Improve my Life This Year 12.12.2017

As I've been reflecting back on this year (how it's gone so fast I have no idea), I made a little list of positive changes I've made and good life hacks I've found. It's crazy how those small changes really add up! 

Now, I'm far from perfect and my house really is messy a lot and I'm usually stressed. BUT... it's important to always try to learn and grow from where you are. My goal isn't to be perfect, but to be happy, positive, productive and successful in day-to-day life. 

So, I thought I would share these changes I made, and how they impacted my year!

I Cut Down on Push Notifications

We get so used to constant notifications, that we forget how disruptive and distracting they are. Since I manage multiple social media profiles for work, for my blog, and for personal use (5 on Facebook, 2 Instagrams, 3 Twitter accounts), I can't cut out push notifications completely. However, I did make an effort throughout the year to go through each app's settings to really pare down what I needed to see on my phone.  

I Cleaned up my Cleaning Products
I make such an effort to eat clean and organic as much as possible, and realized that I needed to apply that mindset to more areas of our home. The more I learned, the more I didn't want bleach and nasty chemicals being used in our home, especially if they could harm my kids pups. As I ran out of products I replaced them with green + clean alternatives. Our home smells better, and I also feel really good every time I clean. I still have products to replace and much more to learn, but I made big headway this year. 

I Started Using a Timer to Get Stuff Done Efficiently

I've always been a rather inefficient person. Don't get me wrong, I work really hard and am constantly busy with something, but I'm not always the most proactive. I've always needed to work smarter, and not harder, but that doesn't come naturally to me. One way I've gotten my act together around the house (which tends to be messssyy) is to set a timer! I got the idea from this post on Somewhere, Lately, and it's been a game changer for me. If I have 10 extra minutes on my lunch break or before the gym, I set a timer and hustle around the house getting something done instead of looking at Twitter or Instagram stories. After dinner, I often set a timer for 20-30 minutes and I get the kitchen and dishes cleaned up, and pick up around the house and do other small cleaning tasks. During this time I don't look at my phone and don't allow for distractions. It keeps me on task, and I like the challenge of doing as many things as possible before the timer goes off. My house looks so much better (and isn't a shit show by the weekend) + it gets my lazy ass up and off the couch, and makes me feel so much more accomplished/less stressed. Now I just need to do this every single day with no exceptions!

I Took my Dogs on More Walks
This really should be something we do every day, but we haven't always been good about it. This year I made an effort to take the dogs on a walk (beyond just walking around our yard a few times a day) nearly every day. It's healthier for them and for me, and Russell tends to be better behaved when he can get more of his energy out too (he's a naughty & hyper little guy).

I Started Using a Planner Again
Ever since I've worked at my current job, I've used Google calendar for everything, but always missed having a paper planner. I bought a Ban.do planner  + some fun pens over the summer and am absolutely loving having a place to jot down my thoughts and blog ideas/dates! I'm using my planner for my blog and Google calendar for work and photography scheduling, but even just using it for my blog has been so so good. It's also such a cute planner (with stickers!) so I look forward to writing in it! 

I Got into a Regular Workout Routine

When I lived in Springfield (Missouri) before Trey and I got married, I had an awesome gym membership and took workout classes after work 4 days a week. I also did Kayla Itsines' Bikini Body Guide before our wedding, and I was killin' it! I was super lean and overall in such a good routine. Then came getting married and moving to a small town and two years went by without a workout routine or regular classes. Woof. I wasn't healthy and didn't have muscle, and therefore was super sluggish. I'm sad I wasted some of my good years that I could have looked really good and felt better! In the fall of 2016 I joined a spin class, and then over this past summer and fall I got really into it and now absolutely love it (I go twice per week). Over the summer I also added in barre and yoga classes (which I haven't been able to go to lately, but will be resuming soon). I also got into the routine of doing some toning exercises at home on my non-class days so that I'm at least doing something. Having a routine has made such a difference for me! I don't know that anyone can even tell a difference in my photos, but at least I feel WAY better about myself. This year I'd like to add in a little more strength training, and maybe tackle BBG again. I want to be super toned and proud of my body before the kid/pregnancy conversations start to come up more!    

I Listen to Podcasts While Getting Ready in the Mornings
This small and easy change has been so positive for me! It gets my days off to a good start - either with some good laughs, something entertaining to wake up my brain, or something educational and inspiring. I shared some of my favorite podcasts in this post, and will make sure to share more in a future post! 

I Doubled my Veggies
I don't know this officially because I don't track my food, but I truly feel like I've at least doubled my vegetable intake! Most days I'm eating at least one serving (if not two) of veggies at all three meals. I have a smoothie nearly every morning (I follow the Fab Four smoothie formula by Kelly Leveque), which always includes a big serving of greens (usually spinach for me). At lunch I'm eating leftovers, which include a veggie, or eating something simple (like scrambled eggs) along with veggies + hummus and a kale salad on the side (massage the kale with your dressing and it's 👌). At dinner I've been trying to plan my meals around my veggies and protein to place a greater emphasis on vegetables. Cook a veggie + serve a salad (loaded with extra veggie toppings), roast a pan with a variety of veggies, or make a soup loaded up with vegetables. I feel better and leaner, all of the fiber is SO healthy (listen to episode 90 of this podcast!), and I don't feel guilty satisfying my teenage boy appetite when I'm eating a ton of vegetables.  

I Stopped Looking at my Phone in Bed
This was a terrible habit that I developed back in college and continued into adult life. It's soooo tempting to get cozied up in bed and to scroll through social media. However, not only was I sleeping less, but I also learned that looking at all of that light before bed is not conducive to healthy, deep sleep. I also used to sleep with my phone next to my pillow, but now it's out of the way on the nightstand and I tap the "do not disturb" option after I set my alarm. I do this while I'm still standing and once I set my phone down I get into bed and don't look at it again. Obviously there have been exceptions, but I really have been good about it and it's been good for me to fall asleep right away since I don't get much sleep as it is!

I Scheduled "Shoot Days"
I've always been a fly by the seat of my pants kind of blogger, and still kinda am. But this fall I made it a point to schedule a block of time to photograph multiple outfits and posts at a time. Being able to plan ahead more has been AMAZING for my content and my sanity. Now, I still throw in a last-minute outfit or lifestyle shoot here and there, but I really have gotten better at this, which has made blogging still possible for me, even though I'm busier than ever.   

Hat (c/o)  |  Similar Jacket  |  Tee  |  Jeans (c/o)  |  Boots

I hope you enjoyed this post! It was a good way for me to reflect, and to keep me motivated as we roll into a brand new year soon! Again, I am far from perfect and am not the girl that has my life all together. Who knows if I'll ever get to that point. But I made some really positive gains this year that I feel really good about and want to continue building upon. I hope some of these inspired you!

I'd love to know if you made any of these same changes this year, or implemented something else, so please share below or with me on social media! xx

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My New Glasses 11.22.2017

No, this post isn't sponsored (I wish!). I'm just really, really obsessed with my new glasses! After losing my old glasses for a few weeks, I finally had the push I needed to get new glasses after four years... I had had the same glasses since before I was married! I had never loved a pair of glasses before because none of them felt oversized or bold enough for my taste. But I'm low-key obsessed with this pair from Bonlook (a collaboration with the A Beautiful Mess sisters)! Not only were they affordable, but the quality is fantastic and they're cute enough to be a fashion accessory.  Bonlook also has some unique and frickin amazing color options! Not just your standard black and tortoise (some "rose" color frames are next on my list)...

So yeah, nothing sponsored or gifted, I just wanted to rave about my new glasses and tell you guys about Bonlook because I had such a positive experience! 

As for my outfit, you may or may not recognize my sweater from this post, but it's been my most-worn sweater so far this fall! I love that it's thin enough to tuck into jeans, that it's a warmer cream color that doesn't wash me out, and that the bell sleeves make it more interesting than your average basic sweater!

Sweater  |  Jeans (c/o Lulu's)  |  Boots  |  Backpack  |  Hat  |  Glasses (my color is currently sold out)

PS - these photos were taken in a parking garage in Columbia, Missouri and I freaking love them!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Enjoy the family time! 

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Early Sales That are Hella Good (Plus an Outfit) 11.21.2017

I was shocked when I woke up this morning and saw so many amazing sales in my inbox already! So today, instead of simply an outfit post, I'm also giving you the info for some of my favorite sales I've seen so far, as well as some picks! I'd like to knock out some Christmas shopping and "me" shopping today to take a little pressure off of Black Friday since we'll be at a football game!

Shopbop Tiered Sale | 20-30% off Your Order with Code MORE17

I of course have to share when Shopbop has a sale a) because it's one of my favorite places to online shop and b) because now would be a great time to combine some goodies for you and for gifts to get a great discount! You can get all of the sale details and exclusions here. Some of my favorite brands to shop at Shopbop are Free People, BB Dakota, and Moon River. They also have an awesome gift shop this time of year!

Urban Outfitters | 20% Off Your Entire Purchase for Rewards Members
I always look to Urban for unique clothing and gifts, and you can get 20% off your entire order today only if you're a rewards member! 

Express | 50% off Sitewide + Free Shipping
I don't shop at Express super often, but I do find awesome stuff there sometimes, and their sales are amazing! I've included some picks below, and I'm pretty sure I'm ordering this cozy half-zip because it looks like the sweatshirt of my dreams!

Frasier Sterling | 40% Off VIP Sale (Sitewide) w/ Code BLACKFRIDAYVIP
Frasier Sterling is a new-to-me jewelry brand that my friend Bri introduced me to! I have this choker, and their customized necklaces would be a super cute gift idea too. 

H&M | Up to 60% off Winter Wardrobe Pieces Today
You all know that H&M is one of my staple stores (love it both online and in-store), and they have some amazing deals going on all week! Today they have a ton of winter wardrobe pieces for up to 60% off! They also have a lot of great guys and kids stuff if you're shopping for presents, Christmas outfits, or outfits for family photos.

 

Jacket  |  Similar Tees here + here  |  Similar Jeans (mine are old H&M)  |  Ankle Boots

This is one of those outfits that I threw together with stuff I've had for awhile, but I really, really like it! Sometimes I struggle to come up with outfits to blog when I don't have a bunch of new stuff, but there really is something to be said for shopping your own closet and coming up with unique pairings!

Also, how amazing are these peachy-pink walls on a random office building in Columbia?! They're giving me alllll of those pretty millennial pink vibes 👌  

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