July was an eventful month! I saw Dierks Bentley play at the Greek in LA, I celebrated my Mom's 60th with my whole family in Denver, I managed to giveaway gifts to all you awesome people for 25 straight days, and I won my first Diet Bet! However, I'm glad this month is over. Work was rough the past couple weeks and I have a fantastic feeling about August....mainly because I get to go to BeautyCon! Woopwoop! Here are my favorites for this month.

beauty product: Clinique Acne Solutions Foundation...y'all have heard me rant and rave about the greatness of all things Clinique. I should be the face of Clinique by this point. I can't stress enough how amazing they are. To have my 60 year old mom use their products and only their products since she started wearing makeup in her late 20s shows what a great company they are.

tv show: Cedar Cove...my parents and I got hooked on the Hallmark channel show on Netflix. We're just about done with season 1 and will have to play catch up on the currently airing season 2. It's a wholesome family friendly television shows--something you don't see much of these days.


book: The Fault In Our Stars....check out my July 15th post...tears included.

song: You Should See Her When She's On by Chris Young....can't believe I got to see this guy live and he didn't even play my favorite song! :(


time: Dierks Bentley concert


purchase: Minnetonkas...the one year old I watch started a fashion trend. I followed. Can't wait to rock those bad boys all winter long (If LA even sees a winter this year!)

Here's to an awesome August!
What are your plans for this month?

I decided this month I'm going to be very cautious with my money.

I took Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey at my church several months ago, and while I retained the information, I didn't apply it. After hearing more and more Dave Ramsey success stories lately and looking sadly at my bank statements, I've decided I need to make this financial change...not only for myself, but for my future family.

Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University follows seven baby steps to bring each person to financial peace: 1.) $1,000 emergency fund. 2.) Pay off all debt using the debt snowball. 3.) 3 to 6 months of expenses in savings. 4.) Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and tax-advantaged retirement accounts. 5.) College funding for children. 6.) Pay off your house early. 7.) Build wealth and give!

This month I'm tackling baby steps 1 & 2.

I've set out a budget for the month of August and decided that I am going to stick to it! By cutting my costs for one single month, I will save myself an EXTRA $1,000. If I did this every month, it could save me $12,000 a year. It's not necessarily going to be a fun month, but I will find entertainment through time outdoors, Netflix, and reading.

How am I doing this? I've decided to only spend my income from nannying. Everything else I make will go into savings. I have given myself $20 a week for food. Through research and self control I know I am capable of this. My parents always have some sort of food in their house. I usually do my own thing, but this month I will eat whatever it is they are eating. My goal is to try to save that $20 a week for one special night out with friends. I am only allowing myself $100 in gas for the month. This means I have to be careful with my driving and can't just go for drives like I do sometimes. When I'm careful about how much I drive, I can make a $50 tank of gas last a couple weeks. I've set aside money for my bills, which include my credit card, phone, and student loans. However much I have left over at the end of the month of the nanny money, I am going to put towards paying off my credit card and student loans faster.

It's going to be a frugal month, but I know I'm capable, based on the teachings of Dave Ramsey and through strength from Christ.

For more information on Dave Ramsey and his financial wisdom, visit www.daveramsey.com or check out his books such as "The Total Money Makeover" and "Dave Ramsey's Complete Guide to Money."

This weekend I made some cheesy chicken lasagna, in hopes it would last me the week. It's delicious. It definitely didn't make it through the week though. :) Here's how to enjoy:


Ingredients:
-2 (12 oz.) cans of evaporated milk
-1 (1 oz.) package of dry Ranch dressing mix
-3 cups of cubed, cooked, chicken
-1/8 tsp pepper
-1 (16 oz.) package of lasagna noodles, cooked
-1 1/2 to 2 cups of grated cheddar cheese
-1 1/2 to 2 cups of grated mozzarella cheese

How to make it:
1.) Cook the chicken and noodles (separately, but at the same time.)
2.) Combine evaporated milk and Ranch dressing in a 3 quart heavy saucepan. Heat on low, stirring frequently, until all dry ingredients are dissolved.
3.) Stir in chicken and pepper.
4.) Simmer uncovered for 25 minutes, stirring frequently.
5.) Layer half of lasagna noodles, poultry sauce, and cheese in well-buttered 9x13 pan. Repeating layers.
6.) Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 35 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
7.) Let sit for 10 minutes until serving.

Today's Makeup Monday is another Get Ready With Me video! I promise this will be the last one for awhile. My old roommate and good friend, Courtney, and I hit up Taco Tuesday at a local bar last week, so I saw it as an opportune time to film a video a follower had requested. Enjoy!

This upcoming week I want to challenge each of you to join me in my workouts. A big part of my weight loss has had to do with planning. Before each week begins I decide what I'm going to eat and how my workout will go. Here is my workout plan for this week. If you have any questions, please leave them below. Also comment and let me know you've joined this week's challenge! I'd love to send each and every one of you personal daily motivation!

Sunday: 45 minutes of cardio

Monday: 30 minutes of cardio, 1 minute plank, 15 bicycle crunches, 30 second plank (right side), 15 bicycle crunches, 30 second plank (left side), 15 reverse crunches, 15 hip ups, 1 minute V sit

Tuesday: squats & lunges, 3 sets of 12 each

Wednesday: 45 minutes of cardio, 50 hip bridge with leg lifts, 100 donkey kicks, 100 glute kick backs, 50 sumo squats with leg raise, 100 side lunges

Thursday: 45 minutes of cardio

Friday: 30 minutes of cardio, tricep push, bicep & deltoid squeeze, deltoid back squeeze, right angle bicep curl, 3 sets of 10 reps each

Saturday: REST & HAVE AN ICE CREAM CONE :)

Here's my outfits of the week!







Sunday (Work):

• Shoes: Forever 21
• Skirt: Blush
• Top: Kohl's
• Locket: Angl
• Bracelets: Alex & Ani

Tuesday (Shopping):

• Dress: Forever 21
• Wedges: Reflections
• Purse: Louis Vuitton 

Wednesday (ESPY Awards):

• Dress: Kohl's
• Wedges: Reflections

As most of you know, I went on vacation with my family last weekend to Denver. We had a great time! We celebrated my mom's 60th birthday and enjoy lots of laughs and delicious food. I flew in Friday morning, and met my family for lunch. Then we went shopping at 16th Street Mall. That night we went to my Nonnie & Poppo's house for dessert and games. It was a blast! Saturday morning the guys played golf, the ladies got massages, and I went shopping. Then we walked around Pearl Street in Boulder, got drinks, and then had a delicious dinner. On the way home from dinner my mom and I stopped at park near our hotel and watched Father Of The Bride on a big screen. That's our favorite movie and it was a special time. Sunday I went home. It was a quick trip, but SO worth it.







While on our trip, we did a lot of snacking on this month's Nature Box treats. Today I've teamed up with Nature Box to give a free month of boxes to THREE of you.

I first heard about Diet Bet back in April, when Shay Carl was doing a Shay Loss challenge directed at his followers. Participants have to lose 4% of their body weight in 4 weeks. That sounded like a lot and that was way too much work for a fatty like me. I got back on the Diet Bet website in June and saw that you didn’t have to be invited, you could join a random group. As a total tight wad, I decided I would join. I wanted my $20 buy in back (and then some) so I knew it would keep me committed. I joined and I won. But it wasn’t always that easy.

Growing up I was always very skinny. In high school I was thirty pounds lighter than I currently am and looking back at pictures I find myself appearing disturbingly unhealthy then. I would eat an apple for lunch and then whatever my family was having for dinner. When I did eat a lot, it was absolute junk, such as a whole bag of potato chips or a box of mac n cheese at 11 o clock at night. I thought this was okay since I appeared skinny. After quitting the track and cheer team, I put on weight, but still looked very skinny.

I started college at 118 pounds. I finished my sophomore year out at a solid 147 pounds. I had partied too hard, stopped working out, and eaten the greasy, readily available dorm food. I hated the person I looked at in the mirror, but I dealt with my lack of confidence by eating more and drinking more.

After finally deciding I needed help, I stopped drinking and started focusing on my own happiness. I lost 7 pounds within a month. I soon got off track and gained the weight back. In the 2 years since then I’ve gained the weight, lost the weight, gained the weight, and lost it again. This time I’ve lost the weight, but refuse to put it back on. That’s something I never did previously when losing the weight.

I also accepted the fact that the scale name isn’t that important. I’m not the 118 I was when I went away to college. And I never will be if I want to be healthy. When I started college I looked like I hadn’t hit puberty yet. I had an A cup. Seemingly overnight while away at school, my boobs grew along with my belly, thighs, and cheeks. I assumed it was all fat, but after losing the weight, I realize I was just a late bloomer. I can’t weigh 118 again simply because I carry other weight (healthily) in new places.

The financial commitment of the Diet Bet was what got me from quitting, but it is my own personal strength that has kept me going. I refuse to have to put my fat jeans on again. Some days I have an extra cookie. Some days I indulge in too much television and skip my run. And that’s okay! Losing weight isn’t about the number on the scale, it’s about your level of happiness and confidence.

I encourage everyone to decide how they can become their happiest and healthiest. If you need an extra boost, joining Diet Bet is a great way to do it. The people involved become great friends and amazing supporters in a short 4 week period. When you are having a rough day, they push you. They’ve been the ones to get me on the treadmill after so many long tiring days. But I couldn’t have done it if I didn’t truly want it and wasn’t ready for it.

That being said, would y’all be interested in doing a “Kick Back With Cate” family diet bet? It would consist of 4 weeks of us all pushing and supporting each other to become the best versions of ourselves. The buy in would be $20 and if you lose 4% of your body weight you get all your money back, plus you split the money of those who didn’t with everyone who did. I would do personal giveaways for all involved in the Diet Bet. Comment below if you are interested!

Giveaway #21

Panera Gift Card

1.) Follow my blog

2.) Watch my GRWM ESPY video

3.) Comment below with what other GRWM videos you would like to see

GIVEAWAY ENDS JULY 23 AT 4PM PST.

It's travel time for me. I'm off to Denver to celebrate my mom's 60th birthday with family and friends. My carry on bag is from Target. My purse is Louis Vuitton. I'm bringing my Angels drawstring backpack to put waters and snacks in on our Sunday morning hike. My swimsuit is from Target. The dress outfit is for my mom's birthday dinner. The dress if from Cotton On, the shoes are Tory Burch, and the necklace is from a second hand store. My workout outfit features shorts from Forever 21, top from Old Navy, and Nikes. My Sunday flight outfit includes pants and tank top from Kohls and shoes from Reflections.

I love doing tag posts & videos, so in honor of #throwbackthursday, I'm doing the Throwback Tag! I tag each and everyone of you to follow suit and do the throwback tag on your own blogs and YouTube channels. Here we go....

What a week it has been! I've felt like quite the busy bee between working 3 jobs, running my blog, spending time with friends and family, preparing to start school again, and all that fun stuff. I couldn't be happier with this chaotic thing called life that God has blessed me with. I thank him for vitamins, exercise endorphins, and ice cold water, because without it I'd be wiped out by 11am everyday like I used to be 20 pounds and lots of depressed feelings ago. I have a lot of awesome projects in the works for y'all and today I'm going to the ESPY's, so I hope you don't mind a laid-back post....don't worry there's still a give away!

I've been wanting to do a post about all the different makeup products I own. I didn't realize until I pooled them all together in one location for this post just how much crap I have. I have so many products I've only used once or twice or that I haven't even opened. Honestly if you see something here that you like and don't mind it having been used once or twice, let me know. If it's something that I don't use, I'll happily give it to you.

• wreath (mine was heart shaped!)
• wooden letters
• paint
• paintbrushes
• ribbon
• flowers

The guys on this season of The Bachelorette haven't impressed me. Every season I'm able to pick the winner (or at least runner up) on the first night. This season, my streak is still intact because Josh M. is still around. I have a gut feeling he's going all the way. If he doesn't, I call dibs. The guys this season are so vanilla and make for B O R I N G tv.

Here's my order of my favorites, of all 25 this season, ranking from least to most snoozeworthy.



25. Nick V
This guy is a certifiable nut job. He's manipulative, and thinks he's strategic. Andi has fallen for his charm and good looks, thinking that he's so in love with her, but I think he's got serial killer eyes. I have a feeling he'll be in the final two, let's just hope she doesn't get stalked and murdered by him if he isn't the one to get down on one knee. If I hear one more time how we wants to be alone with Andi...no. His outfits make me want to slap the douchebag out of him.



24. Andrew
He's racist and flirted with other females off camera. If he was there for Andi, he wouldn't have been picking up on the waitresses out at dinner. This isn't 1954, so referring to Marquel as "blackie" doesn't fly. He may have found it funny, but no one was laughing. BYE FELICIA.

23. Eric
I know I should rank him higher because he passed away while the show was still being filmed in a tragic accident and the season was dedicated to him, but Eric just rubbed me the wrong way. He rudely attacked Andi, accusing her of being fake. I'm glad she didn't waste a rose ceremony on him.

22. Jason
Who the hell is Jason?

21. Rudie
Rudie went home in the first episode, so I really know nothing about the guy. He has creepy eyes and seemed old. I would've sent him home week one too.

20. Patrick
Another guy who I know nothing about. I'm surprised he made it to the 5th episode, but was not surprised he went home. Handsome dude, but yawn.

19. Josh B.
This guy was WAY too devastated when he got sent home. It was the first week. Tears don't need to be shed over a woman you've known for three hours.

18. Bradley
Creepy opera singer. No other words.

17. Nick S.
Creepy killer eyes. I know nothing about the guy. I can see everything in these guys eyes though. Andi should have consulted me on night one.

16. Craig
Craig looks like a really annoying guy I had law class with in college. If I was Andi and any guy on the show drank the way Craig did, I'd send him packing before he was sober.

15. Carl
There's nothing I know about Carl except for that he's a firefighter, and that's enough for him to get a few points in my book. It was obvious in the first episode he would be the token boring guy to go home quick.

14. Steve
I don't remember who Steve is. Big impact he had on my heart.

13. Mike
Go away Bruce Jenner.

12. JJ
I'm sorry, but WHAT is a pantsapreneur?

11. Brett
He needs to come out of the closet. Andi was looking for love, not someone to do her nails and hair.

10. Cody
Cody meant well, he really did. He had a good heart, but he looks like he's pumped full of steroids. He got a tad creepy in the final episode as Andi was trying to send him home. She was crying and he STILL wouldn't stop talking.

9. Ron
I really liked Ron. He was handsome and kind, but every season has to have a guy who leaves because of "personal reasons." This season belonged to Ron. He left in the third season and I think he would've made it til at least episode 6 or 7.

8. Emil
Emily was so handsome! Those eyes, those muscles, mmmm. I never saw him going far, but I did expect him to last until the final 8 or so.

7. Marcus
I really don't have thoughts on Marcus. He's another one who flew under the radar this season, but his hometown strip tease creeped me out.

6. Brian
He's so sweet, handsome, and genuine. He seems a little immature though. The fact that he's afraid of pickles adds to his adorable factor. Overall I think Brian is a great guy, but Andi needs someone who is more take charge and has life figured out.

5. Marquel
What's not to love about the cookie monster? Marquel was a genuinely sweet guy who has a heart with a big capacity to love. He just didn't have the chemistry with Andi. He is what my friends would call a H.A.A.M. (Hot African American Male)

4. Dylan
Besides the fact that he looks like Lord Farquad from Shrek, Dylan is a good dude. He's had a rough life, but isn't letting it ruin his future. He has a good head on his shoulders, wants to start a family, be a great dad, and has a successful career.

3. Tasos
They didn't even give him a proper rose ceremony. What the heck! I thought Tasos was my kind of guy. He's charming, sweet, handsome, and fun. I'm not sure why Andi didn't want him, but if I ever move back to Denver, I call dibs.

2. Chris
I like me a cowboy! His secret admirer notes melted me heart, and I did not expect them to be from him. Watching his hometown date made me want to pack up all my stuff and move to Arlington, Iowa. However, Chris has DUI arrests on his record and that is something that would be a deal breaker and then some for me.

1. Josh M.
Josh is my dream man. He's beautiful, honest, family-oriented, sweet, charming, and the definition of perfect. His family bothered me a bit in the hometowns, but they grew on me once the conversation transferred from Aaron's pro day to Josh and Andi. I picked him in episode 1 to take the whole season, and I stand by this thought.