Top Five: Products With SPF

Skincare is so important to me, and now more than ever (since my first dermatologist visit) is SPF essential for me. I know that most people understand the dangers of tanning and not using SPF, but I am still surprised at how many people brush it off and don't actually use it! I have tried more products with SPF within the past year, and I definitely have my favorites. So, of course I thought I would share them!

1/ Aveeno Ultra-Calming Moisturizer (SPF 15) - I really like this product because it is lightweight but it also helps to calm my redness, moisturizes, and gives some sun protection. Great for days when I don't want to wear makeup, but need sunscreen on my face.

2/ Jergens BB Protect (SPF 15) - This product is specifically for light skin tones but they also have one for medium-deep skin tones as well. This product is supposed to hydrate, provide SPF coverage, and enhance your skin's appearance. This product is mostly used on my legs, feet, arms, and chest on days when I am running errands. I love the way it makes my legs look even without self tanner! Of course I don't use this in place of normal higher SPF sunscreen, just on days I won't be in the sun for long.

3/ COOLA Mineral Daydream Primer (SPF 30) - I recently purchased this product and have fallen in love with it! It not only provides SPF but it hydrates, and reduces the appearance of fine lines and redness which is important for me. It makes your skin look dewy but not greasy at all. I also love COOLA because their products are cruelty free, and free from parabens and sulfates.

4/ It Cosmetics CC Cream (SPF 50+) - This is by far the most benefits and SPF coverage I have ever found in a CC or BB cream. This product is so hydrating and brightening. I bought it based on reviews on YouTube and I am so glad I did. My face is something that I have to make sure sunscreen is on at all times, because I do not want things burned or shaved off as a result of the sun. This would be my number one product if they had more shades available. I purchased 'light' but I feel that I probably need 'fair' to make it more my color, but that would get pretty expensive.

5/ Blistex Soft and Lush Chapstick (SPF 15) - You can't forget about your lips! I have went through so many tubes of this because it really is the softest, and it doesn't taste like it has sunscreen in it at all.

So there are my top favorite products right now that provide some coverage from the sun. What are some of your favorite products that I should try out? 

April in Review

If there was ever a month that went by so fast that I even forgot to blog -- it would be April. 

April was a whirlwind. I had to look back at pictures just to remember all of this month. Most of my time was spent hovered over my laptop, getting the majority of my major projects and speeches for the semester finished. Now that those are done, I am just a short two weeks away from this semester being done. I feel like I can actually breathe and take the time to read blog posts that I have missed so much, and maybe just draft a few of my own. 

Early April, we took a trip to Las Vegas. We went to attend the grand opening of the brand new T-Mobile Arena which just so happened to be featuring The Killers and Wayne Newton! We are all major fans of The Killers, so excited was an understatement. I was able to check out The Park which is new as well and located right in front of the T-Mobile Arena. I didn't want to come home, it was amazing. Check out the post I wrote on my top five favorite things to do in Las Vegas because I edited it recently to include this area of the Strip - it is my new favorite. 

I tried Shake Shack for the first time, and now I understand the hype - it's delicious! I also had to visit the Sprinkles ATM while we were in town, and got my mom and sisters hooked. Now they know why we had to go. We visited with family friends, but the trip felt too short. 

Last week, my mom and I took a day trip to Santa Monica and the Third Street Promenade for a little girls day. The weather was seriously perfect, and I cannot wait for it to get a bit warmer so we can lay out on the beach. 

For now - it's back to hustling to finish up these last few weeks of school. I have a few posts in mind so keep an eye out for those coming soon!  

Ten random facts about me

Since it is the new year, I decided it was time to do somewhat of an introduction post along with some random facts that you may not know about me. I recently realized that I've never actually done a post like this and I thought it would be fun. If you've never stopped by my blog before, please check out my about me page that I have recently updated and you can also learn more!

\ I was born in California, but moved to Los Angeles when I was 12. Then to Las Vegas when I was 13. We lived in Vegas until after I graduated high school until we moved back to my hometown in California where we still live today. Hopefully one day, we will move back!

\ I have to drink out of a straw (preferably a bendy one). Even drinking coffee. I blame it on my years of having braces and not wanting to stain my teeth.

\ My nails are always painted. And I mean always. Ever since I religiously started painting them around seven years ago, I just cant stop. My Essie collection is large and always growing.

\ I am still in college pursuing my degree. Moving back to California made me a "non-resident" for two years. Hence, why it has taken so long.

\ I am the oldest of my siblings, and the bossiest.

\ I've known my husband since we we're little kids, but we didn't start dating until the winter before we moved back to my hometown.

\ I could watch hours and hours of YouTube videos. I am obsessed with beauty and daily vloggers. While my husband watches basketball games, that's what you'll find me doing.

\ I keep a lot of water bottles on my bedside table. Every night before bed I grab another one, even though I have plenty already. Right now I count four. Not bad considering I just cleaned our room.

\ I don't understand the obsession with diet coke. I don't drink soda at all but if I did, it would be Dr. Pepper and it wouldn't be diet.

\ I am literally the only person in my family who doesn't need glasses. But...I had to have braces so I'll call it even.


There you have it, ten random facts about me! What's something people may not know about you?

c u r r e n t l y

Hi guys! I am back today, with a little catch up post. I hope you are all enjoying your Monday, or at least feeling productive! Here's what has been going on lately around here. 

Drinking | hazelnut coffee from my "coffee bowl" as Joe likes to call it. It's really just a huge mug from Target, and I love it. 

Dreaming | about our Vegas vacation in April. It can't come soon enough. We have a lot of fun plans while we are there, so I cannot wait!

Making | this recipe in the crockpot for dinner tonight. I've heard it is really good to use for meal prepping, so that's what I'm doing. 

Feeling | excited and anxious for this new semester of school starting this week. 

Writing | in my journal that I received for Christmas, and using my planner like I should be to keep me organized! 

Planning | out blog posts, so I don't accidentally go a couple of weeks without blogging! Oops.

Excited for | my husbands basketball games. He coaches elementary basketball on top of his day job, and he just started up again last week. He is coaching third and fourth grade girls basketball which is something very new for him. His team did so well last year so I'm very excited to go watch the games every week. 

Watching | all of the Pretty Little Liars that I got behind on last year. I am finally all caught up and am ready for the new episode tomorrow night. I must say that I am still so confused on quite a bit of it, but I really enjoyed the season premiere. It was nice to see the girls play people my age and finally be out of high school. 

Loving | all of the time I've been getting with my baby niece. I swear it's like if I go a day without seeing her I miss her like crazy. Plus, she is so close to crawling that I am anticipating seeing it!

Putting off | my workout that I should be doing right now. I've been loving the Tone it Up workout videos online. I personally like working out at home or outside, so these have been amazing. 

That's all I have for today, I'm trying to plan out posts better so that way I am on track! 

What are you currently loving or doing lately?

Purpose | My 2016 Word of the Year

Happy first Monday of 2016 everyone! I don't know about you, but today feels like a fresh start. Yesterday I was still in holiday mode, watching Making a Murderer on Netflix and eating Chipotle. But today, I feel ready to tackle this Monday and dive into my goals I've set for myself.

I started this post out as my new years resolutions but decided to change it up. I've written my 101 in 1001 list and honestly everything I want to accomplish is on that list. What I want to focus on is taking steps to bettering myself. That includes my health, my blog, marriage, finances, etc. I've seen many people talk about a word of the year, and after exploring more about what exactly that meant I kept thinking of the word purpose. I want to find purpose in the things I do this year. Remembering the purpose behind starting this blog and really digging deep to keep writing this year.

I often have a really hard time sticking to "resolutions" so I'm trying to find a way to keep me motivated. It's easy to say that I want to get healthy and workout, but really understanding the purpose behind it and its importance in my life I feel is going to help me.

How is the new year starting off for you? Are you setting goals or resolutions for yourself, or is there a word you are going to focus on this year? I'd love to hear your motivation!

2015 | A Year In Review

I absolutely love writing and reading these year in review posts. I feel like it's a time of reflection and to get excited for the new year. 2015 was a year of crazy ups and downs, and I am really looking forward to 2016 and the new goals I have for myself.

Here is what happened this year with a help of some blog posts..
January
I was still recapping our wedding and my husband got in an awful car accident.

February 
I celebrated turning 23 and blogged about my birthday weekend. We also bought a new car!

March and April
We had a very hard two months and I took a month long blogging break.

May
I didn't blog much this month, but I did share my favorites and planned a baby shower for my sister!

June
We took a trip to Las Vegas for my husbands birthday and it was much needed.

July
My sweet baby niece Allison was born and this was definitely the highlight of my year! This girl has me completely wrapped around her finger and has made this year so much better for everyone.

August
I wrote about my life lately and shared my first dermatologist experience. Definitely not what I expected.

September 
I made a fall to-do list and did almost everything on the list.

October 
We celebrated ONE year of marriage. We ate our year old wedding cake, and it was not good at all.

November
I made my 101 in 1001 list and started a new job hunt

December

I didn't blog much this month, but I did link up our Christmas Card and shared a recipe. 

I hope everyone has an amazing New Years Eve/Day and is able to spend it with people you love! What are some of your plans for tomorrow night or goals for the new year?

Talk to you all in 2016!

Christmas Cracker Toffee

AKA Christmas Crack. This stuff is hands down one of the most delicious things I had in a very long time. It's not safe in my house (because I will eat it all) so I am forcing myself to send some over to my family's houses to resist. The Christmas season for me means a lot of baking. It's one of my most favorite things to do and sharing sweet treats with my friends and family makes me really happy.

This is one of my favorite recipes because I literally had everything in my kitchen, and you just might too. It requires very little time, so it's great for a last minute holiday party.

What you need:

2 Sticks of unsalted butter (1 Cup)

1 Cup of Light Brown Sugar

1 1/2 Cups of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

1 1/2 -2 Sleeves of Saltine Crackers

Cooking Spray

How to make it:

-Line your baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
-Preheat your oven to 425 degrees
-Line up all of the saltine crackers to fill the entire sheet.
-Place your butter and brown sugar in a sauce pan and heat on medium until boiling, while stirring.
-Place the heat on low and cook about 4 minutes, still stirring occasionally. Be very careful during this step not to burn it. Once it is thickening, it is done.
-Pour the mixture over the crackers and spread out evenly.
-Place the pan in the oven and bake for about 5 minutes or until it is bubbling.
- Let cool for 3 minutes and then pour the chocolate chips on top of everything and let sit until they melt.
-Spread the chocolate chips evenly with a butter knife.
- Place the whole pan in the fridge to cool for about 1-1/2 hours.
-Break apart the toffee with your hands and store in the fridge!
If you have sprinkles or chopped nuts you can place them on top to be more festive as well.

This would be great to bring to anyone during the holidays, even as a gift. It's that good!



I hope you enjoy!

Our 2015 Christmas Card | A Link Up

I was really on top of my game this year and ordered our Christmas cards on Black Friday when all of the deals were going on and I'm so glad I did. We used Shutterfly again this year, and let me tell you it was so hard to pick just one style for our cards. Since we did a vertical card last year, we decided to go with a horizontal card this time and I really love the way they turned out.
P.S I had them all sent out before the middle of the month!

This picture is a major win because we were all three looking at the camera. Pepper was in his cute little sweater which makes him look so preppy. Thank God he puts up with my shenanigans.

I'm not really a fan that Shutterfly puts their logo on the bottom of the cards but I got over it. I left some room at the top for any personalized messages we wanted to put to our friends and family. I think Christmas cards with pictures are so special because you can collect them each year and look back. We have ours from last year in our Christmas bin from our first married Christmas. It's just so special to pull it out this year and think back on our first year of marriage.

Oh, and there is my Starbucks ornament. I have a hard time saying no when I see them out in the bins this time of year. They are just too cute.

I am linking up with Macy and Mary today for their Christmas card link-up!

December Goals from my 101 in 1001 List

It's officially my favorite month, and even though I feel permanently cold I am so happy! We have our tree up and Christmas decorations are decking the halls. This month I decided to really commit to my 101 in 1001 list by making my smaller monthly "goals" stem from that list. I want to be actively checking things off as I go so I think this will be a good way to keep participating each month.

Here are the ones I will be focusing on this month

1. Finding a new job. I am actively searching for a new position in a new field so wish me luck!

2. Fitness - I will be tracking my water intake all month, and raising my Fitbit step goals and trying to meet them daily.

3. Organizing all of my photos and baby pictures into albums. I have purchased the albums and now I just need to get them all organized!

4. Journal all month. Journaling has been something that I have wanted to do for such a long time and I never have made it a priority. So as of December 1st I am going to try and journal as much as I can, hopefully every day.

5. Go on a fancy date. We have several things this month that I think will be fancy enough for me to cross off. We will be celebrating our six years of dating anniversary. Yes, we are still celebrating that even though we are married. We also have Joe's company holiday party that is really fancy and I can't wait to see my husband in a tux again!

Of course, I hope to cross off more things this month, these are just the goals I am choosing to focus on.

What are some of your goals for this month?

Volume 1| On my list

Happy Wednesday friends! I am showing up late to the blogging game this week, but that's okay. I am planning posts for the next few weeks so that is motivating me to get them actually finished! We have finally entered fall weather here in California and I couldn't be happier. The fact that Black Friday ad's came out this week is making me super excited for the weeks to come.

....Finish my 101 in 1001 list for Macy's linkup on Monday.

...Making a Black Friday plan. I always like to have a set list of things I know I definitely want to escape with and finding the best deals.

...Planning our first Thanksgiving in OUR home this year. This is a big deal because we always do Thanksgiving at my moms, but this year it's our turn and I'm excited/nervous. I want everything to be perfect. That's where Pinterest comes in to save the day.

...Finding more Ebooks to read! I loved Leah Remini's book Troublemaker so much that I read it in a day. I need recommendations. P.S I actually love reading on my iPhone, it is so convenient and it's easy to do in bed!

...I have an Ulta wish list so long that it seems I'm always adding something new. Right now I am lusting over This Tarte Holiday Set and the Too Faced's Born This Way Foundation

...To give Vanderpump Rules one more shot. I watched this show when it first started, but it didn't stick with me. After hearing so many good things, I'm gonna give it a go again.

...To buy Justin Bieber's album this Friday. I know... you either love him or hate him and I just happen to really love him.


What is on your list lately? 

Weekend Things: Pumpkin Patch

This weekend pretty much summed up what I love about fall. Painting and carving pumpkins, visiting the pumpkin patch, a corn maze, and eating apple pie. All that was missing was a Halloween movie. Which by the way I still haven't watched any...not one. I should probably get on that since Halloween is next weekend. I haven't watched Hocus Pocus in years so that's a must. The weather is almost cool enough to wear boots and order a hot drink from Starbucks. I'm hoping this week will really start to feel more like fall. Anyway, on to the weekend...

On Saturday we painted and carved pumpkins at our house. It's pretty much become a tradition at this point and I don't think it will matter how old we get because it's just so much fun.

On Sunday we went to a pumpkin patch that was near by and it was so much fun. I'll let the pictures show how cute this place was but it is a family farm and they had a petting zoo and corn maze. It kind of makes me wish I lived on a farm. Basically taking my niece anywhere means taking a ton of photos because she is that cute. I'm not biased or anything, but really shes adorable.

The rest of Sunday was spent watching football, reading blogs, and eating roasted cauliflower which is my new favorite food. I'd say it was a really good weekend. Someone please give me last minute costume ideas because I am completely lost. I hope everyone had a great weekend! 

What is your favorite Halloween movie??

Marriage, One Year Later

Guys... I have been married for an entire year (yesterday). How does time go by so fast? October will always be one of my most favorite months even more so now that it holds our marriage anniversary date. I am so excited to celebrate with my favorite guy on one year of marriage down and the many, many more to come. I know I've learned so much just in this one year I can only imagine the years to come.

|We have learned to compromise, agree to disagree, and love each other during our worst. Nothing makes me happier knowing I have someone who will love me unconditionally.

|As much of an independent person as I am, I need Joe in my life. He is my partner and other half. I'm completely okay with knowing that I need this person in my life to be a better version of myself.

|Never speaking about personal things (you know your spouse would not want you speaking about) regarding your spouse with friends. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard awful things come from someones mouth about their husband and it makes me cringe. That is the most intimate relationship you have, I feel like it should not be slandered like that.

|Knowing that through the ups and downs of life I have that one person to always rely on. This year has been hard. With health, job, and school things that have not been easy, it's always nice to come home to someone who makes me feel better. Or let me cry on his shoulder.

|We both appreciate a good Netflix marathon. We have finished many of series in our first year of marriage and it's one of our favorite things to do after work/weekends.

|You really get to know someone once you're married. I mean, we've been together for almost six years in December, but now that we're married I feel like we are even more connected. It's really the best feeling ever.

I can't wait to see what this next year holds for us. What is your best advice you give to newlyweds or what works for your marriage?

Simmered in Tradition With Ragu

Thank you to Ragu for sponsoring today’s post and inspiring me to remake a family recipe!

Keeping traditions with my family as we get older is so important to me. My family tries to make a great effort to have dinner with each other at least a few times a month. Now that I have a brand new baby niece it is even more important to keep family traditions. We are a huge fan of pasta dishes, so my sister and I decided to get together and cook dinner for everyone.

I love the story behind Ragu and what a strong woman Aussanta was. On their website you can find their story along with awesome recipes and the many different flavors that Ragu offers. We honestly use Ragu every time I make pasta dishes because there are so many different flavors you can get, and it's a bang for your buck.

Reasons to believe in Aussanta, her sauce and her story: 
+Her Italian Heritage
+Ragu’s Commitment to Aussanta’s High Standards
+The Process – Stemming from a family recipe, Slowly simmered to add layers of flavor
+No.No.No (no artificial flavors, no artificial flavors and no high fructose corn syrup)
+Farm Grown ingredients
+Affordability

_______________________________________________________________________________

Stuffed Shells featuring Ragu Marinara Sauce

Ingredients
Jumbo pasta shells (We used the whole box in case any broke)
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp fresh garlic

12oz skim-milk ricotta cheese

1 cup shredded skim-milk mozzarella cheese
4 cups fresh spinach chopped
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 egg
1 tbsp fresh basil - chopped
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp freshly-ground black pepper
1-1/4 cups Ragu traditional or marinara sauce

Directions

+Cook the pasta as directed on the box

+Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. 

+Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the garlic and cook until it begins to brown. +Add the spinach to pan, cook for about four minutes

+In a large mixing bowl, stir together the rest of the ingredients except the pasta sauce.

+ Pour 1/2 cup of the Ragu sauce into the bottom of a baking dish.

+ Stuff each shell with a spoonful of the mixture and place in the dish.

+Cover with the remaining sauce and bake covered with aluminum foil for 25 minutes. 

+Remove the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes. 

Recipe adapted from this
one_______________________________________________________________________________

Needless to say, this dish was a huge hit!

Visit the campaign landing page to discover the Ragu heritage story.

What are some of your family traditions that you will keep for years to come?

Fall To-Do List

Thank you sweet Jesus, it may actually start to cool off here in California. I am a huge fan of fall so August and September are always spent anxiously awaiting that cooler weather so I can bust out the boots and scarfs. Every season I try and make my to-do list on everything I want to do that is only seasonal, so here is my list!

In less than two weeks we celebrate one whole year of marriage and I cannot believe it! Having things to look forward to and just making this list made me so excited for the next few months. Oh, and then of course the greatest time of year is just around the corner. Now that my niece is here, I cannot wait to do fun things with her this fall. Joe and I are already planning a fall photo shoot at the pumpkin patch with her very soon. We're just a little bit obsessed with her.

What things are on your Fall bucket or to-do list?

Five Things This Week + A Giveaway!

Happy September everyone! I hope you all are enjoying your Labor Day weekend! I can almost taste the pumpkin spice...but not quite because it's still in the high 90's here in California. Here's hoping it cools off soon.

+I am back in school and I start student teaching on Tuesday. This means I will work three days a week at my normal job and student teach on the other two days. On top of school. Even though I can already tell it will be a lot I am actually really excited to get in the classroom!

+ All three of the moles that were removed and biopsied were in the mild dysplastic stage. That means they were benign, but it also means that it was a really good thing they were removed. I guess it makes me higher risk for the cells to morph into melanoma after time. Basically, I will have full body checks more often and keep track of my other existing moles.

+ I won tickets to a huge beer and wine festival in my town! It's this weekend and I am needless to say very excited to sample different wine and beers along with all the free food. I will definitely blog about this, and hopefully I will remember to take a lot of pictures. I'm pretty much a lightweight when it comes to drinking so let's just say it will be really interesting.

+ I finally got my hair done and let's just say that I'm not posting a picture quite yet because it really needs to be fixed.

+ After watching Helene's webinar on how to get paid for blogging, I am feeling so motivated! I love seeing bloggers come together to learn how to improve their blog and get paid to do something we love.

I joined in on a giveaway this month and one lucky winner will get $180 to Amazon. Amazon has everything so you wont want to miss this! Enter below and good luck!

Becca • Lindsay • Vivian • Jae • Helene • Rachel • Sabrina Kelly • Rebekah • Hillary • Michelle • Krista

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Five Things

o n e | I made an appointment with a dermatologist per instruction from my doctor. I made this appointment about three months ago and the soonest they could get me in was last week. I went in thinking that I would get checked and walk out with nothing to worry about. I ended up having three moles removed to get biopsied and now I'm playing the waiting game of getting the results. I can't believe that that I would wait so long to get checked. I'm pretty fair skinned and have quite a few moles on my back so I didn't suspect anything. Definitely get checked even if you don't think you are at risk!

t w o | Buying books for college can be REALLY pricey. I always check Amazon first to see if they have it cheaper and most of the time I rent my books through them and its usually more than 60% off of the price than my school bookstore. This isn't sponsored or anything I just know how expensive buying books can be and Amazon has saved me a ton of money. I found my book for this semester and it was one hundred dollars cheaper!

t h r e e | I have been using the new Essie Gel top coat and I am pretty surprised in the results. I picked it up at Target to try out since I needed a new one anyway and I really like it! It gives great shine and thickness *almost* like gel nails.

f o u r | I feel like I've been a bad dog mom because I've been posting so many pictures and spending time with my new niece but this past week he has really stepped up his cuteness game (not that he wasn't the cutest already). He already does his standard tricks like sitting, standing, shaking, and rolling over, but now if you tell him to lay down he comes up to me and lays flat. I'd like to think he's giving me a hug. Now I sound like a really crazy dog mom. Sorry!

f i v e | What kind of aunt would I be if I didn't share another picture of the sweetest girl ever? So here you go!

It's my first day back to school and my class is after work today so wish me luck! I'm going to need all the caffeine to get through today. Happy Monday!

Avoiding Life's Uncomfortable Moments

Thank you to U by Kotex® for sponsoring today’s post and inspiring me to try the U by Kotex panty liners!

It is officially back to school week for me! Being comfortable and confident is a must when you head back for a new semester. Staying dressed in comfy clothes and being prepared are my top tips for heading back to school.

I am an over-packer by all means and I am always prepared for emergencies, this means preparing for that time of the month as well. My school bag is pretty much stocked with anything you could need. Avoiding life's uncomfortable is pretty easy when you have all of the necessities packed. I keep the U by Kotex Curves Liners in my school bag as well as my purse for those lighter days. I am a sucker for packaging and these are definitely the cutest liners I've seen!

You can win!
U by Kotex is offering an exciting opportunity to win amazing monthly prizes, including one grand prize with #BringComfyBack Contest. Visit bringcomfyback.com and upload a creative picture of your uncomfy face.  You can also score $1 off coupons for UbK panty liners!

Every month U by Kotex will choose a winner based on creativity and LOL factor! $200 Urban Outfitters gift card, a Go Pro Hero 3 white camera, a $100 Sephora gift card and U by Kotex products are up for grabs. Not to mention ONE winner will receive a trip to L.A. with a friend, a U by Kotex photo shoot to be their new social star and $2,000 spending cash!

Enter HERE for a chance to win!

Confessions

| I have been binge watching Criminal Minds on Netflix and now I look at everyone on the street as if I need to analyze their behavior. And then I have scary nightmares.

| I cannot get enough of my baby niece. She's actually the cutest thing in the world. This video from Buzzfeed describes me exactly lately.

| I haven't gotten my hair in almost three months! Don't judge me though...I am debating finding a new hair dresser and possibly doing something new to my hair.

| I have five episodes of Pretty Little Liars on my DVR. Last night was the finale and I really need to catch up before everything is spoiled for me.

| I walked into Ulta last weekend....only to buy the one thing I really needed!

| I am one of those people that is beyond ready for fall. Sorry if it bothers you, but I can't take the triple digit heat anymore. Bring on the scarves and boots please.  Plus, I miss baking.

That's all I have for today!

The Good Things.

What a crazy few weeks it has been! I haven't had the time or energy to blog and for really good reason. Hint: a new baby! It's a new month, and one month closer to finally having fall weather. Hopefully we only have to endure a few more weeks of temperatures in the 100's fingers crossed. I missed blogging so one of my goals this month is to not completely neglect this little space.

What I've been up to lately...

| Spending lots of time with my new niece! She was born on July 30th! It was an entire week of waiting for this sweet thing to be born, but she finally came and it was all worth the wait. She is the most cuddly little baby which makes me want to go snuggle her all the time. Oh, and yes I had to get a picture of her in this bib.

| My new planner is getting me motivated to set goals this month and stick to them. I picked this one up from Target last week and I am loving it so far. I'll be filing it up with soon with my new school schedule that starts at the end of this month and oddly I'm ready to be busy and perusing my goals.

| I am a little bit addicted to subscription services. I just signed up for the Alexa Re' subscription bag to try out this month and I cannot wait for it to arrive. I am also loving my subscriptions to Beauty Box 5 and Ipsy! I probably have enough products to last a very long time but it's something I just can't give up.

| Taking time to go out with my husband and family. Any excuse to have margs / chips and salsa is a good time in my book. I'm hoping to get myself to the movies this week to see the new Vacation movie as well as Southpaw with Joe.

P.S - add me on Snapchat: vivianstonee it's been my favorite app this past month!

Television Binge Recap

Lately, I've been watching a lot of television shows. On my days off I have been catching up on my favorite shows and I'm not ashamed. It's been too hot to do activities outside, and since we got back from our trip to Vegas I've been a bit of a lounger. Also, I lost my fitbit charger and haven't purchased a new one yet, so my steps wouldn't count anyway..right?? Here are my thoughts on the shows I've been watching recently.

Shark Week I watched more this year than I ever have before, and let me tell you that I loved every minute of it. It made me anxious, but watching those people get in those cages and let huge sharks push them...I will never understand. Best for me to sit at home and watch them do it.

Teen Mom 2 is back and the season premier was this past week. This is a show that I just can't quit no matter how awful it gets. I felt like Leah was such a mess last season and it seems to be the same so far. I really didn't like the whole fight between Kail and Javi at all..I would never fight with my husband like that in front of our friends, but to each their own. Javi was being a big baby and should have sucked it up, got Issac, and let her go to the concert. But it seems they don't trust each other, so there may be more to that. I think this season will be good!

Big Brother is always a must every summer. My family has been watching since season 2 and I love it. I must admit that I get sucked into the twitter pages that tweet every single update. I personally am not a fan of Clay and Shelli at all. I really liked Da'Vonne because she wasn't about to suck up to anyone and I think Jason is hilarious. I am also a big fan of the twin twist, even though everyone already knows.

Real Housewives of New York I am obsessed with this season! I quit watching New York after Bethenny left the show, so of course I had to watch since she came back. I love her, and I feel like the rest of the ladies are crazy! I love that LuAnn is much more relaxed since her divorce. These women have no care in the world how they speak to each other and it makes for great TV.

Real Housewives of Orange County The last episode I watched was where Vicki's mom passed away. I cried of course because I could not imagine. I think it was great that the girls came together to support her even if they may not all get along. I have always loved Vicki and Tamra's relationship and I hope they continue to work on their friendship. Also, not sure I like this new housewife one bit. She seems very dramatic and entitled. I'm pretty sure I am going to be so jealous when we see Heather's new home once it's done because it's going to be huge! Oh, and I don't particularly care for Shannon even though I feel bad for her.

Pretty Little Liars is one of the only shows that I watch weekly that I have left on my DVR. I'm really annoyed with this season so far and I'm sick of this entire story line. I kind of wish they would wrap everything up and end it. I'll catch up when I have time but until then...I'm not impressed.