Happy Friday! I hope you've had a great week! We don't have any big plans this weekend but I am really looking forward to family time... and a mimosa flight. Today, I'm sharing my weekly roundup of what I'm currently loving. I have added lots of new fall pieces for my wardrobe and I can't wait to put them to use when the weather finally feels like fall... but it looks like we will be hanging on the eighty degree temperatures where I live.
Which of this week's picks is your favorite?!
1. S W E A T E R | This is the sweater of my dreams! I absolutely love this sweater and even though it's pricey, I think it would be a closet staple that I would wear for years to come.
2. B R O W G E L | This is one of my new favorite beauty products! I use this brow gel in the shade brown daily to fill in my brows and keep them in place. I love that it has the perfect, small brush!
3. P E P L U M T O P | How cute is this top?! It comes in tons of colors and it would be great with leggings and a bralette for a cozy, comfy look.
4. J E A N S | I own and love these super affordable jeans! I bought them last year and they are still one of my favorite pairs. The fit is true to size.
5. M U L E S | These shoes are another item that I already own and love! These heeled mules are so comfortable and perfect for fall. I have already worn them with a dress, jeans, and a jumpsuit. They run slightly small so I would recommend sizing up a half size.
6. B L A Z E R | I bought this blazer last weekend and it's definitely one of my favorite recent purchases. I don't own anything like it so I'm really excited to style it!
7. N E C K L A C E | I've had my eye on this necklace for awhile now and it's finally on sale for less than $20! I think I need to add it to my ever growing circle necklace collection.
8. C A M I | I have a few camis in this style and I can't get enough! This dark pink color is my absolute favorite for fall. I love it!
Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Happy Wednesday, y'all! This is my last week off from work and I'm so excited to go back! If you're new around here, I work at an afterschool enrichment program for at risk youth in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. We received a new grant this year so my title has shifted to STEM Coordinating Facilitator (I think that's right, lol) and I'll have another STEM teacher working with me this year. I formally taught third grade for four years but as of Monday, I'll be starting my seventh school year at The Dream Center! I can't believe it's been this year but honestly, it's my dream (no pun intended) job! I'm so thankful for a rewarding career!
Today, I'm sharing my weekly roundup from Instagram. I'm basically still living in black, white, stripes, and leopard pretty much every single day!
Hobby Lobby has the best mirrors! I am currently hunting for a great mirror for my bedroom and I am really loving this one.
I love mixing lace and distressed denim together! It's such a fun, unexpected combo.
See, I told you I was loving black and white right now! I love wearing sneakers with skirts and dresses. This new pair is so comfortable, too!
I wore this outfit to the playground with my girls last week and I was certainly the only parent on the playground in distressed denim. It's okay to stand out!
I clearly also really love this bag! The leopard scarf tied on makes it even better.
I was the crazy person taking photos of faux flowers in Hobby Lobby last week. But, they all looked so real, lol! I love flowers... even fake ones.
Thanks so much for visiting! Have a wonderful day!
Happy Tuesday! I hope you all had a great weekend! Ours was fun and productive, which if you ask me, is a winning weekend combo. Today, I'm going to share three things from the weekend!
1. T A C O M A M A | In the notes on my phone, I have a running list of restaurants that I want to try. This is big for me because I am such a creature of habit. Just ask my husband, I always want to go to the same Greek place to eat because I know I love their food. Friday night I was in the mood to try something new so I went to my list and found Taco Mama. I had seen a few local bloggers share about this place so I was excited to try it out! First of all, I thought the name was adorable and secondly, the decor was so good! Also, the food and drinks were amazing. Delicious tacos and yummy margaritas! My husband and I both gave this place two thumbs up.
2. T A R G E T T R Y O N S | I ordered the blazer pictured below online at Target to pick up in store since my size wasn't available for shipping. I wanted to try it on before I took it home with me so I just threw it on over what I was already wearing. I have never considered myself to be a blazer person because my overall style is super casual but I loved this blazer, especially with a cami and distressed denim! I love that it can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. I tried on the size two but I took home a size four for a little extra room in the shoulders. It's such a great quality piece for a great price! I think I might be a blazer person now.
I also tried on this striped cardigan because cardigans and stripes always get my attention. It's so soft and so comfortable plus it has pockets. I tried on a size small and I found the fit to be true to size. It also comes in pink and gray, which I love as well.
3. B O T T L E A N D C A N | On Saturday, one of our favorite local places to hang out, Bottle & Can, celebrated it's one year beer-versary! My husband and I are both big fans of craft beer so we love visiting Bottle & Can to try out new beers. It's also family friendly, which is a must for us because we pretty much take our kids with us everywhere. The atmosphere is laid back and they have such a great variety of beer plus they also have wine available as well. We love this gem in our town!
Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great week!
Happy Friday! I hope you've had a great week! Today, I'm sharing my weekly roundup of what I'm currently loving. All of this week's picks are super budget friendly finds and I already own most of them! Summer is holding on tight in North Carolina but I can't wait to put some of my fall pieces to good use once it cools down around here.
Which of this week's picks is your favorite?!
1. T I E F R O N T T O P | I owned a similar top to this last year but this one is in a much more affordable price range. I had to order the gray one! So cute for days when you want to look put together yet comfortable at the same time.
2. E A R R I N G S | I've shared this exact pair of earrings in a currently loving roundup before but they are worth sharing again! They are lightweight and comfortable to wear. One of my very favorite pairs to wear on a daily basis!
3. D R E S S | This dress is the perfect transitional dress to take you from summer to fall. I absolutely love the flattering, swing style! I can't wait for this to come in the mail.
4. L I P T R E A T M E N T | I usually get dry lips during the winter from the cold weather but my lips have been so dry lately so I started searching for a lip treatment to get some relief. I found tons of expensive options that had great reviews but I wasn't paying crazy amounts of money for a lip product. I found this lip treatment for under $10 and it's fantastic! It also comes in a smaller container at Target for around $3! It goes on like a lip balm but lasts so much longer and leaves my lips super soft. Yay for a budget friendly find!
5. B O O T S | I always get a new pair of ankle boots this fall and my search for a new pair led me to this affordable pair. I love the neutral color, the stacked heel, and the overall design!
6. J A C K E T | Every woman needs a great denim jacket in their wardrobe. It's a closet staple! I already own a super similar one and I always love the quality (and fit) of Old Navy's denim jackets.
7. T O T E | Can you believe this adorable leopard tote is only eight dollars?! It's such great quality and so perfect for toting your things. I got mine to use a reusable bag for shopping. Also, sign up for J. Crew's reward program (it's free) to get free shipping on all of your orders!
8. S H I R T | I always love a raglan tee and I love the colors of this one! I think it would look so cute styled with shorts now and under overalls later.
Thanks so much for visiting! I hope you have a great weekend!
Hey y'all! Today is all about my first six weeks of intermittent fasting. I'm going to explain what it is, how I do it, when and what I eat, and answer your questions that you asked over on Instagram.
Before I begin this post, I wanted to remind you to always check with your doctor before you start any sort of new diet program. Also, be sure to do your own research as well. This is simply my own experience and journey so yours may look different.
W H A T I S I N T E R M I T T E N T F A S T I N G?
I heard another blogger mention intermittent fasting and I had no clue what it was. I had never even heard of it so I immediately looked it up. I stumbled upon this articlethat was published literally a day before I first heard of IF. It does any excellent job of simply explaining what it is...
"Intermittent fasting (IF) is an eating pattern that cycles between periods of fasting and eating."
Super simple, right?! There are many ways to go about fasting but the most common methods are fasting for 24 hours, twice a week or the method I chose, fasting for 16 hours, everyday, How this works for me is, I stop eating at 9pm and then I break my fast at 1pm the next day. So basically, I fast while I'm sleeping and in the morning. This method worked best for me because I wasn't a big breakfast eater anyways. I rarely ate much before 11am prior to IF.
Also, you don't have to dive right into trying to fast for 16 hours. You can do it gradually. My husband is actually doing intermittent fasting with me and this is how he started out.
W H A T A R E T H E B E N E F I T S?
The personal benefits that I have noticed the most are increased energy and concentration. I was completely surprised by both of these because I assumed I would struggled with them both since I wasn't eating. But, the opposite happened! The first two weeks this wasn't the case but after I got past the those first fourteen days, I felt so much better and my body had adapted to it's new way of eating.
Other benefits are: weight loss, improved fat burning, reduces inflammation, and lowers your risk of heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.
C A N Y O U H A V E C O F F E E I N T H E M O R N I N G?
Yes! I would actually 100% recommend coffee in the morning. I feel like it definitely helps curb your hunger and gives you a boost of energy. During my 16 hour fast, I don't go completely calorie free. I do add protein to my coffee, as well as a packet of stevia. My coffee cup is 75% black coffee and 25% protein. I personally love Premier Protein (the caramel flavor is so good in coffee). I like mine as an iced coffee and it's delicious! Even with just the little bit of protein in my coffee, it keeps my hunger under control in the morning.
W H A T D O Y O U E A T W H E N Y O U'R E N O T F A S T I N G?
Since I'm only eating eight hours out of a 24 hour period, I have to be strategic about getting in my calories and making sure that I am eating the right kind of foods. Back in July, I gave up pretty much all bread and pasta. I do eat corn tortillas, all potatoes, cookies (of course), ice cream (but Yasso is a great substitution plus it gives you a serving of protein) and I never say no to a slice of cake. But, everything in moderation. My normal meals also consist of a lot of protein and I feel like this especially important because of my exercise regimen but it also helps give me energy. So, this is a sample meal plan for the week:
Lunch is pretty much whatever I can grab on the go. I eat a lot of cheese, yogurt, nuts, salads, eggs, fruits, and raw veggies at lunch time since it's quick. I also make sure to eat at least one snack between my lunch at 1pm and my dinner around 7pm. I usually eat a high protein snack around 3pm and I usually have another healthy snack (or Yasso frozen yogurt bar) around 9pm to finish the day.
Dinner is more planned out since I buy our groceries according to what we are having for dinner that week.
Monday: Salad Night
I buy a bag of chopped salad mix then add chicken, eggs, and avocado.
Tuesday: Taco Night
Ground beef with taco seasoning served with black beans, avocado, salsa, shredded cheese, and sour cream. I usually serve this in a bowl with tortilla chips.
Wednesday: Italian Night
Ground Italian sausage served with lentil pasta (my kids don't notice the difference), marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and ricotta cheese.
Thursday: Stir Fry Night
Shrimp and chicken cooked in extra virgin olive oil (seasoned depending on my mood that day) with mixed vegetables and cauliflower rice.
Friday-Sunday
We typically dine out with the exception of one meal that is always breakfast for lunch or dinner (I always make bacon, eggs, and Kodiak protein cakes). Chipotle is also one of our go-tos because it's easy to get a quick, low carb meal. I get salads a lot when dining out and always skip the bread and opt for lettuce when ordering a sandwich or a burger. I do splurge on pizza occasionally but only for really good pizza, lol.
It's super important that you don't over indulge during eating hours. It can be so tempting to say since I have to fast the next 16 hours, I'm going to eat whatever I want but that's just not a good idea. You should always be mindful of fat, sugar, and calories.
W H A T D O Y O U D O W H E N Y O U G E T
H U N G R Y D U R I N G Y O U R F A S T?
The first couple of weeks, I honestly didn't think I was going to be able to do this. I definitely thought about quitting a lot during those first two weeks because it was rough even for someone like me who wasn't a breakfast eater before. However, once I got past those first two weeks, it was so much easier. I focused more on what I was eating during my eight hours and realized the first two weeks that I wasn't eating enough. Getting in enough calories and protein during your eating hours is essential.
I pretty much always feel some hunger around 11am every single day. It's like clockwork. When I get hungry, I either drink a bottle of water (because a lot of times you when you think are hungry, you are actually just thirsty) or I pray. I have used this time of fasting as a spiritual reminder that I need Jesus so I talk to Him instead of focusing on my own desire for food. It always work for me. Sometimes I get to 1pm and forget that I can eat.
C A N Y O U E X E R C I S E W H I L E F A S T I N G?
Yes! If I don't get my workout in before 11am then I will never get my workout in because of my schedule. Working out at night just doesn't work for me. I was a little nervous to workout while fasting because I had always had at least a cup of yogurt before working out. But, I was totally fine! Be sure to drink water before, during, and after your workout to make sure you are hydrated. Also, the adding protein to your coffee really helps you sustain your energy through exercise. This is also why I eat a lot of protein packed snacks during my eating hours.
H A V E Y O U L O S T W E I G H T?
This was by far the most asked question! And the answer is YES! When I started this journey, it wasn't just about losing weight, it was about health but losing weight is definitely an added bonus. I rarely step on a scale because who likes doing that but for the purposes of IF, I did weigh myself at the beginning and again after six weeks. I lost a total of eight pounds! Most of this weight was belly fat that I was just holding onto after babies and bread, lol. However, I don't recommend anyone standing a scale. Pretty much ever. I usually judge my overall health and weight on whether or not I can fit into my favorite jeans, you know the ones that just make you feel good when you put them on.
Your worth is never found in the number on a scale.
Happy Wednesday! I hope your week is off to a great start! My kids finally went back to school today after being out since early Thursday afternoon. Our area endured so much rain and a lot of flooding during Hurricane Florence. My thoughts and prayers are still with everyone affected by the storm! I was so happy to finally see some sunshine after so many cloudy, rainy days. You forget how important sunny days really are until it's gloomy for way too long!
Today, I'm sharing my weekly Instagram Roundup. Denim and neutrals continue to be the theme of my wardrobe because they are staples! I love being able to mix and match pieces in my closet easily. I have also had fun incorporating some prints and patterns into my outfits. I am currently loving stripes, polka dots, and of course, leopard!
I just got these new Adidas kicks and they are taking my mom uniform up a notch! They are super comfortable and perfect for the woman on the go. I sized down a half size for the best fit.
Black is my go-to when I don't know what to wear. It's just easy! Throw on a black top with denim and you are good to go. I love how the scarf tied on my bag brings this look together.
I wore this outfit on Saturday to get out of the house. I wanted to look cute but I always had to gear up for the massive amounts of rain we were getting. A comfy dress was the perfect solution! I threw on my rain jacket and boots to stay dry.
There's just nothing like fresh flowers in the house. I rescued this pretty hydrangea before the store started on Friday. Flowers make me happy!
Freshly washed hair always equals a happy hair day but I do not enjoy washing my hair. Read yesterday's post "How I Go Four or More Days Without Washing My Hair" for my tips and tricks for going as long as possible without washing your hair!
This little lace trim cami was a great Target find! I love the fabric and fit (runs true to size with adjustable straps). It will be a great layering piece for fall and it's under $15!
My girls did their first Target try on session while we were there this past weekend. They were too cute in their videos! In case you missed them, you can check them out here!
Stripes and camo are one of my favorite pattern mix combinations. I used to be all about crazy pattern mix combos! I would literally mix two to three patterns in any given outfit but I'm more about simplicity now. Less is more but I do still love a good pattern mix every now and then but I just keep the rest of the look simple.
When the temperatures are officially feeling like fall, this is going to be my outfits! These pieces are my fall staples and I can't wait to put them to use. Mules, leopard, stripes, denim, tortoise, and my favorite black leather tote!
Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you have a wonderful day!
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