If you think I live a pleasant and calm life, you my friend, are sorely mistaken.  My life is just as hectic as the next person's.  I  have a full time job where my desk is in a location that gets interrupted constantly so mentally I'm always on edge and can never focus for more than 15 minutes. ((Seriously, I timed it once, and I get interrupted every 15 minutes!))  I have a house to keep clean and 4 dogs to spend time with and care for everyday.  I run a blog that requires daily work.  I am working on my fitness so I have to take walks often and make sure I get well over 10k steps a day on my Fitbit.  I also am being mindful of what I eat so I meal plan and cook everynight and I have to tend to my garden.   There's not yet been a day where I was "bored". 

So how do I do it all? How do I manage my stress on a daily basis so it doesn't get the best of me?  Well.....

[I Make Lists]

I have a list for everything.  There's a to do list on the kitchen counter for anything that needs done that night.  I have a work to do list that stays at work and ONLY contains things that are work related.   Lists help me see what I have to tackle and as soon as I write it all out I already feel like I unloaded a heavy burden from my shoulders.  When you only keep mental lists, that's a lot for your brain to have to carry around and it constantly keeps you in a state of "what's going on next".  For me, it's mindless.  I just look at my list and there are all my to do items.

[I Use Calendars]

I have a calendar on my desk at work, one on the fridge at home, and one in my Filofax organizer that is always with me in my purse.  When I make an appointment I put it on all 3 calendars, but I always make sure the first one it goes on is my Filofax because that is ALWAYS with me.   This way I never forget dates, appointments, and things I need to do.  My Filofax has a daily checklist of things I need to do on each day of the week in my calendar.  I know many people like to use the calendar on their phone but let me tell you, I just can't do that.  What if I lose my phone?  What if my battery dies?   Good 'ol paper and pen is more reliable for me than any of that.  Sure, it may take a few minutes each week to make sure everything is on all 3 calendars but that few minutes of work is a GUARANTEE that I have my bases covered.

[I Eat]

It doesn't matter how busy I get, I will never skip a meal.  Even if I can't eat my lunch, I have a protein bar as backup. I keep several at home in the pantry, and one in my drawer at work.  I also eat nutritious food, rather than processed foods that are packed with preservatives.  Salads, veggies, fruits, nuts.  These fuel my brain and my body throughout the day so I have the energy and brain power to remember things and get things done.

[My Home is Tidy]

I did the KonMari Method last year and thanks to that, my home is tidy and neat and organized. I know where everything is so I never have to scramble to find anything.

[I Run My Life on A Routine]

I wake up at the same time every weekday and the same time on Saturday and Sunday.  I eat at the same times, I have the same breakfast, lunch, and snacks.  I go to bed at the same time, I workout at the same time, and I run my errands on the same day each week. If something interrupts my errand day, I push it to a different day.  I revolve my life around the same schedule.  I wash my hair on certain days, do laundry on certain days, and clean the house on certain days.   I never feel like "I have so much to get done" because I always have a day designated for it.  Vacuuming and cleaning gets done on Sundays and Thursdays.  Hair Washing and workouts are Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Errands are usually Friday or Wednesday (if Friday is busy).  Meal Planning nights are Wednesdays where I make my grocery list for the next week too.

[I Schedule Me Time]

Since Mondays aren't usually packed with any "Must Do" items, I usually post up on the porch with a good book.  Also, each night I make sure all of my things are finished before 8 or 9 pm then I'm free to just relax and watch TV.  That's my me time.  Weekends I get a lot of me time because I do my errands during the week to avoid crowds.

[I Tend to My Body]

I get a fascia release massage once a month with the girl I've been going to for almost a year now.   When I feel pains in my body I tend to them right away.  I got these 2 amazing tools from Trigger Point Therapy.  The Nano Foot Roller is perfect for me because I am always active and on my feet and I used to suffer from Plantar Fasciitis.  I say used to because as long as I keep up with it now, it shouldn't come back.  When I sit in front of the TV I use this foot roller to help stretch out my achey feet.  It feels SOOOO good and reminds me of a foot massage.   The GRID STK Foam Roller is perfect for pretty much everywhere else but I love using it on the back of my legs.  The handles make it really easy when I use it on my back and shoulders and it really gives me a nice loose tissue feeling.  Taking care of my body is absolutely crucial for me to manage my stress level because if I don't feel good physically, I won't feel well mentally or emotionally either.

So there you have it.. my secrets to keep myself sane!  What do you do (or what SHOULD you do) to manage stress on a daily basis in your life?

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How I Prepare for My Bold Moments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser.  All opinions are mine alone.  #MyBoldMoments #CollectiveBias

I used to live a calm but pretty boring life.  I didn't mind it at the time, but as I got older I took on more responsibility and I now find myself always busy and always stepping out of my comfort zone.  You see, aside from caring for my house, tending to my pets, working on my fitness, and my relationship I also work full time and I blog.  At my full time job I have to deal with a fast pace of work coming in and conversating and interacting with A LOT of people and sometimes it's out of my comfort zone.  I will say that I love my life the way it is because the more challenges I take on outside of my comfort zone, the more bold and empowered I feel. 

I love taking people through a day in my life for all different reasons and this time I want to show you my routine for how I prepare for my bold moments each day not only physically but mentally and emotionally!

I start my day by turning off my alarm, taking my vitamins, and feeding the dogs.  I then go into a quiet room, shut the door, and sit quietly for a few minutes to meditate and focus on clearing my mind. 

After I feel centered, which can take anywhere from 5-10 minutes, I brush my teeth and wash my face to get all of last night's "stuff" off of me so I can start fresh with my day. 

Of course I can't skip breakfast so normally I have a bowl of protein-packed cereal to give me energy.

Of course a good outfit helps me feel confident in any meetings I have.

Before I leave the house I use LISTERINE® Antiseptic (Cool Mint variety) to freshen up my mouth so I don't have to worry about what people may think when they approach me for a discussion. Brushing misses 75% of your mouth but  LISTERINE® cleans virtually 100% so it gives me that extra reassurance I need.  It kills 99.9% of bad breath germs! That's pretty good if you ask me!  Freshening up makes me feel so awake and invigorated and ready to take on my day. 

By the way, you can find LISTERINE® Antiseptic at CVS in the oral hygiene aisle! 

As I leave my house I know I'm going to do a great job with whatever comes my way!   Throughout the chaos of the day I make sure I refuel with healthy foods like nuts.  

When I get home, I can finally unwind and be proud of how well I handled the chaos of the day.  If you ask me, I think I'm pretty bold!

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10 Ways to Keep Your Home Safe When You Go On Vacation

Tis the season for vacations and weekend trips with friends and family.  Unfortunately, tis all the season for burglaries and vandalism when you are away from your home.  Before you head out for the week, make sure you follow some of these tips for keeping your home and property safe.

[1] Notify Police
It doesn't matter where you live, you can ALWAYS notify the police when you go away so they can do a house check.  Every day or two they will come by and walk around your house to ensure that no one has broken a window or busted through a locked door. 

[2] Notify Neighbors You Trust
Hopefully you have one or two neighbors you are close with that you can give a heads up that you are going away.  This is always a good idea because they are the best people to keep an eye on your house and they are more likely than anyone else to notice any unusual activity. 

[3] Manage Your Mail + Newspaper
If you have a trustworthy neighbor, consider asking them to take your mail and paper inside of their home each day so it looks like YOU are home.  You can also request to have your mail and paper held during the time you are gone.  The worst thing you can do is have packages at your door step for a few days.  It pretty much makes it obvious that you aren't there plus it's risky in case someone decides to steal your deliveries!

[4] Leave the Lights On
While it's a good idea to safe electricty when you're gone by turning off lights and adjusting the thermostat, you should always keep a light or two on.  If you have a nightlight you can put near a window or a kitchen light you can leave on overhead, definitely consider doing that.  Also, porch lights can be a good deterrant (although sometimes people know someone's away if the light is on everyday when it's normally off).  You can even get a timer for the other lights in your house so it looks like you're there for a few hours here and there.

[5] Invest in a Camera
Wifi cameras are the best. Not only can you monitor them in real time but they can easil record anything that goes on.  Seriously, consider a wifi camera not just for when you're on vacation but ALL the time.

[6] Designate a House Sitter
If you have a trustworthy friend or family member consider asking them to stay in your home while you are away.  Obviously having someone there is one of the best detterant to burglaries.

[7] Be Strategic with Windows
Closing all your curtains may be a good idea but it also can make it obvious you're not home.  If you have upstairs windows that people can't look in, maybe leave one or two of those curtains open just slightly.  You can also ask a neighbor to open your curtains in the morning and close them at night. 

[8] Don't Go Too Public
While it's nearly impossible to not upload beach pictures when you're on vacation, try not to broadcast your vacay ahead of time.  It's fun to brag that you have 3 days left till you leave for the beach but can you really trust everyone on your Facebook or social media pages?  Consider not posting your beach photos until after you get back. And if you have pets, and anyone on social media asks what you did with them... lie and say you have someone staying at your house. Trust me ;-)

[9] No Vacation Recordings
I think the worst idea ever is leaving an email or telephone message that indicates "We are on vacation" or "We are out of town".  That's wayyyyy too much info.  

[10] Car Placement
If you are a multiple car household, consider leaving one in the driveway that you normally park in the garage.  Make sure it's locked obviously but just know that it can help deter potential burglars from assuming no one's home and breaking in.

Of course a security system could have been on the list but sometimes we don't have the time or money before our vacation to get one.  So just know that these tips are designed for someone without a security system.

Happy Vacationing!

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Beginning Tips for Backyard Vegetable Gardening [aka] Learn From My Mistakes

So in case you haven't seen all of my posts, I have a garden.  It's actually two raised garden beds on the one side of the house and containers on the other.  A vegetable garden is a wonderful asset to pretty much anyone.  Not only are you eating healthier things but it's a great hobby to have.

This is my first year trying my hand at gardening and of course I wanted to give you guys some beginner tips in case you want to do the same.  Of course these tips stem from the mistakes I've made. 

[1] Do Your Research
I went ahead and did some googling AS the beds were being made.  I felt rushed because it was already spring time.  If I had just read a gardening book or two BEFORE I started this, I'd probably have done a lot different.  So invest in a few gardening books and read up.  Even though several books may have similar information, there's something about reading the same info multiple times that makes it stick.

We LOVE peppers so a container garden of pepper plants is perfect for our household.

[2] Figure Out What You Want
When I started my garden I planted a bunch of things just to see if they'd actually grow.  It turned out to be stuff I won't even eat like radishes and beets.  Make a list of the vegetables you like and use THAT to determine what you want to grow.

[3] Learn the Calendar for Your Zone
Each part of the country is a different zone.  There are different times to plant different veggies so once again, get a book and read up.  This way you can plan things out well in advance.

While it's not too bad, next year I will make sure to leave more space between certain plants.

[4] Be Mindful of Space
For some ridiculous reason I didn't pay attention to spacing.  I guess in my mind, the seeds were so tiny that even though it's recommended (on the back of the seed packet) to leave a foot between each seed, I left mere inches.  Fast forward a month and there were some MAJOR crowding issues.  Leave plenty of space for your vegetables.

Yup, these butternut squash totes should have been thinner because there are 3 in a row.

[5] Don't Be Afraid to Thin
Thin the seedlings, thin the plants.... everyone says to do that.  But for some reason, I didn't listen.  A lot of my plants were growing practically on top of each other.  By the way, thinning the seedlings means that when you plant three seeds in the same spot and they all sprout, after a couple weeks you pull out 2 of them and leave just 1.  It seems barbaric to kill what you've just created but it's very necessary.  Don't let it feel wasteful or anything.  

[6] Pay Attention to the Sun
Some parts of your yard will get a lot of sun and some will get too little.  Knowing what plants need what amount of light is key.  Before you create an in-ground garden, raised garden bed, or container garden, make a little "blueprint" of where everything should be based on where the sun is.  Ideally, plants need 6 hours (at least) of sunlight a day. 

[7] Know How Much Water Your Garden Needs
If you have containers like I do, they dry out much quicker than in ground gardens, so during times when it doesn't rain, they need watered daily. 

[8] Learn About Natural Pest Repellants
So of course every insect out there will know about your garden, like they all gossip about it or something and then head your way.  But there are plenty of ways to control that.   There are lots of herbs that deter insects so you can plant them in different spots in your garden.   I have sage, mint, and rosemary.  Also, birds are fabulous.  They eat bugs, duh.  So I have several bird feeders in my yard and I've been very appreciative because I notice some of the regular birds swooping into my raised garden beds and grabbing some sort of bug.  Also, google what you're not sure of.  When my lettuce first came up I saw ants on it, yet none of the leaves were eaten away at.  So instead of just trying to spray something around to kill the ants, I looked it up.  Apparently, ants feed on aphids so they were simply there to save my lettuce.  Nature is so cool sometimes.


So anyways, those are the basic ground rules that I should have followed.   Well, some I did follow but I just didn't understand them at first.  So hopefully if you plan to start a garden these can help you!

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Embracing Beauty Everyday

This post was sponsored by Vera Wang Frangraces as part of an Activation for Influence Central.  I received complimentary products to facilitate my review.

There are so many things that happen everyday in our own towns and in the world that can really put a damper on things.  This year, I decided to make it a goal and a daily habit to focus on feeling beautiful everyday so that it can boost my mood and allow me to keep a positive attitude. 

For the longest time, I stopped wearing makeup, perfume, and doing anything special with my hair.  I would get up and brush my hair and teeth, wash my face, and head to work.  I never wanted to take the extra few minutes to pamper myself with a spritz of perfume, a dusting of bronzer, or a cute hairstyle.  I rushed myself out in the morning and it was never a good way to start my day.  As the day went on, I was always focused on things that were going wrong or a flaw with how my hair or face looked when I'd glance in the bathroom mirror at work.  The way I took care of myself was definitely affecting my mood and the mood of those around me.  That's no way to live, but like they always say - happiness and positivity begins INSIDE of YOU. 

So one day out of the blue I decided to wear makeup.  It was insane how much it actually made me feel beautiful and actually improved my overall mood.  I think it's because it gave me confidence and made me feel more like a beautiful fabulous woman.  All I do is put some mascara, liner, and foundation on.  I'm not covering up my natural self at all, I'm simply highlighting it.

I also started wearing perfume, specifically Vera Wang Marigold and Gardenia fragrance from the Vera Wang Embrace Collection.  It's amazing how much confidence I feel when I know I smell good.  I feel so beautiful in my own skin and I walk with way more confidence than I ever have.  It reminds me of being in a relaxing breezy field of flowers with the wind blowing in my hair.  That vision reminds me to actually do those things now - enjoy the simplicities of everyday life - the smells, the sounds, the beauty.  Life is so precious and everyday should be cherished and embraced.  I will no longer waste time beating myself up and thinking I don't look good or that I'm not beautiful.  Each morning when I spritz on Vera Wang Marigold and Gardenia I am celebrating myself.  The fruity burst makes me smile and remember that everywhere I go I should walk with confidence and know that I am beautiful.  

Vera Wang Embrace Marigold and Gardenia is available for purchase in-store and online at Kohl's for an ARV of $29.99.

I-C is hosting a contest for the Vera Wang Embrace fragrance collection pack where my readers can enter for a chance to win one of ten fragrance kids (ARV $75).  That means you get all 4 of the following fragrances:

Green Tea & Pear Blossom

Rose & Vanilla

Periwinkle & Iris

Marigold & Gardenia

The contest runs from June 20th-July12th, 2016 and you can enter by choosing a social media sharing option from the social media tool below!

Vera Wang Embrace Fragrance Collections

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Stella + Chewy's 30 Day Challenge [Final Thoughts]

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I introduced you to Stella + Chewy's Dog Food earlier this month and gave you a status update on how it's going.  So today I want to give my final thoughts on the food!
So as you know, I've had Rocky eating this for a whole month and man am I ever impressed.   I knew this would be a great food because it has such high quality ingredients and is all natural.  It's packed with vitamins and nutrients that my little guy needs to stay happy both inside and out. 

I will absolutely be feeding this food to him from now on!!

He has amazing energy levels and his coat is soooo shiny and smooth.  He has always struggled with keeping weight on and MAN oh MAN has this food helped with that because HE LOVES EATING NOW!!

I also noticed that his poops are more regular and they look very very healthy. He used to struggle to go and he would have to strain to get them out but not anymore! That's a big relief for me since I worry about every little thing with this special guy! 


I highly recommend Stella + Chewy's Food for anyone that has a picky eater dog or even a dog that doesn't like chewing on hard kibble.  I've seen a complete turnaround in Rocky's eating habits so I plan to continue feeding him this food!

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