It's not often that I write a review that I am excited about. Then again, this one could be the caffeine talking.

I live off caffeine. If it weren't for the stuff, I would be in a ball in the corner crying right now. Instead, I am chipper as can be typing away with my brain moving 4 times faster than my fingers can.

I have Mettle Energy to thank for sponsoring my life lately. Most caffeinated beverages are either disgusting or awful for you. Mettle Energy is neither. This powder is mixed with water (or in my case La Croix....I'm fancy) and then enjoyed when in need of a jolt. With 200 mg of caffeine, Mettle allows you to get things done without feeling the crash later.

My favorite of the flavors is Strawberry Lemonade, but there are many other options such as Lemon Lime, Strawberry Kiwi, Sour Blue Raspberry, and Green Apple just to name a few.

I can honestly say that I will be a life long supporter of Mettle Energy. I haven't had any other form of caffeine since I started sampling it two weeks ago. It is full of vitamins, including B6 and B12, which is something most energy drinks are lacking. Better yet, it only comes out to about 25 cents a serving, which beats the $2.99 I was spending almost daily on a Monster at the 7/11 by my work or the $11.99 I was spending almost weekly on K-Cups.

Mettle offers trial size products for those who are interested, but I know ordering such a small amount of product would be your only regret. Currently, Mettle Energy products are offered online. Be sure to get a stock in before finals!!!

Glambot is a resell website for high end makeup products. They are the best place to purchase limited time or discontinued makeup products from the best brands. The products sold on Glambot are checked for authenticity, eliminating the scam factor presented on Craigs List and eBay. Because these items are resell, they are offered at a cheaper price than retail.

For under $50, I received Benefit They're Real Mascara, Nars Deep Throat blush, Mac Private Party Lipstick. These high end products are difficult to come by and I am glad I was able to swoop them up for a low price.



As a fellow makeup hoarder, I am excited to check out the selling option on Glambot. I have trash bags full (I am not kidding...I just moved and packed it all up) of makeup products. Selling these unused items is a great way to declutter and make some extra cash. Money from sales can either be sent to you as cash or can be transferred into GlamBucks to be used towards makeup purchases, which allows the shopper more money for their sales.

The only downfall I find with Glambot is that you must sell at least 20 items at a time. While this would not be difficult for a true hoarder like me, I imagine it being hard to gather up 20 items to sell for any everyday person.

Head over to Glambot  for $5 off your first purchase!

Spring break is here for many people. For me, it is a couple more weeks away, but the weather is warming up and fun plans are quickly getting penciled in on my planner. Here are some tips for a fun and safe spring break whether you are traveling or staying local.

• Stay hydrated! Whether you are spending time outdoors or enjoying a couple adult beverages, dehydration can happen quickly. Remember to drink at least 64 fluid ounces, and add to that if you weigh over 150 pounds.
• Wear sunblock! Be sure to lather up with SPF. Reapply after a couple hours or spending time in the water. Try to avoid spray sunscreen as it can lead to inhalation issues and does not provide proper coverage.
• Watch your cash use! Do not carry too much cash on you at any given time. If on vacation, utilize the safe in your hotel room. If you are visiting an ATM, do not go after dark for obvious safety reasons.
• Do not drive! If you consume any amount of alcohol, please do not get behind the wheel. Convenience is not worth the price of a DUI or even worse the cost of your life or the lives of others. Walk to your destination or call for an UBER. For a free ride with Uber, use the coupon code h016x and safe yourself from the risks of a stupid decision.

I was horrified recently to learn about a website called Essay Pro. This service (which is really hindering others) writes essays for the students. While Essay Pro claims that many students do not have the time or skills to write an essay, I am appalled. Instead of encouraging students to upload their essay prompt and rubric to a website, enter their credit card info and wait, let's teach them the tools for success. Let's expose them to websites encouraging time management. Let's expose them to websites that allow students to upload their essays and receive feedback on what is great and what they could improve upon.

I hope the cost of Essay Pro is enough to keep the users away. I did a free quote (out of curiosity and for the knowledge of this blog post only) to see how much my upcoming case study due would be and the estimated total was $324. When I put in for the free quote I had to include my phone number. (I was stupid enough to put my real one, not thinking much of it.) Nearly daily since doing this a week ago I have gotten multiple calls asking for more information on my paper.

As if the concept was not crazy enough! From someone who is both currently a student and a teacher, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not utilize websites like this!

Sunday marks the first day of spring. I am excited to put away the boots and bust out of the wedges. Some trends for spring 2016 I am excited for are:

• open off the shoulder necklines
• ruffles
• wrap skirts
• statement shoes
• nonworkout leggings (Finally people are realizing that leggings ARE pants!)

My life lately is all about embracing the grind. Working full time, working on my Masters, co-leading a Bible study, blogging, trying to stay fit, spend time with my family and friends, and beyond is extremely exhausting, but well worth it. I have learned in this crazy time in my life that I have to surround myself with motivating people who are also working hard to chase their goals.

Hustle Crate is a monthly subscription box that inspires those chasing success. Each month Hustle Crate will send a book, advice from entrepreneurs, and a few other lifestyle items to help subscribers embrace the hustle.



For a monthly price of $29.99, subscribers will receive their own Hustle Crate and join the success club. The crate I received (seen above) had an estimated value of $46.80. That's a great deal for the price paid and it is vital on the road to success. It included The 7 Day Startup by Dan Norris, The 24 Hour Business Plan Template by Steven Fies, Cafe Santo Domingo Coffee, a note pad, and a pen.

I loved this because the books are motivating as I intend to eventually open my own behavioral therapy company (far down the road!) The coffee was perfect because I live off the caffeinated goodness. The pen and paper are always appreciated as my mind races 24/7.

To get your hands on your own Hustle Crate, visit their website and be ready to embrace the grind!

Recently I have come to notice that Easter has been so commercialized for Easter bunnies, Easter eggs, and candy. While this is fun, it is not what Easter is about.

Gari Meacham and Ally Evans are a mother-daughter duo who have a YouTube show, Shine With Gari & Ally! They share craft ideas, recipes, and advice, all centered around their relationships with Christ and their ministries that they are a part of. They recently posted a video on their channel sharing 3 ideas for Easter that are Christ centered. As a mother of 2 little ones, Ally (and their grandma Gari) share fun ways to keep the holiday about the Resurrection.

Enjoy!

On Sunday I will be moving out of my current home. The past two weeks I have been going through all my belongings trying to decide what to throw, what to keep, what to donate, and what to store. I have realized what a hoarder I am and how much junk I own. (To my defense I may need that tiny piece of paper hiding in the back of my closet one day!)

Here are a few tips I have utilized the past week that may help you in your spring cleaning:

1. If you're unsure of whether to keep or get rid of something, think about the last time you utilized the item. Think about the next time you will utilize it. Can't do one or the other? Get rid of it!
2. Instead of going room by room, go item by item. This way you can see how much of an item you have. For example, I keep shoes in my bedroom closet and in the downstairs hall closet. When decluttering this gives the illusion of owning fewer shoe than I actually do, which leads me to hold on to them, when I shouldn't be.
3. Make a list. Often times when spring cleaning it is easy to go hard fast. If you're like me you'll take everything out of the closet and then be over it, leaving yourself with an even bigger mess. Before beginning make a list of everything you want to organize and then prioritize items and write out a plan of attack.
4. Pump up the jams! The better the playlist, the better job you'll do. Studies prove that music increases productivity levels. Handcraft a playlist of music you love that will get you moving!

Apple Cider Vinegar is nasty. Whenever I drink it, I practically yack. However, the health benefits far outweigh the couple minutes of acid lining my throat and stomach.

When ingesting Apple Cider Vinegar (I usually fill a shot glass first thing in the morning) it can:

• regulate blood sugar
• suppress appetite
• detoxify the liver
• break up mucus
• aid in digestion
• clear your skin

Reese Witherspoon has always been one of my favorite actresses. I have never seen something of hers I did not love and her style has always been one of my favorites. Many times I have walked into the hair salon with a photo of her as a reference for what I want. In honor of her turning 40 this month, I have decided to center this Look For Less around her!

Loved + Blessed is a Christian subscription box service with a goal to help women share their testimony. For only $10/month, each box includes a mini poster, reminder sticker, scripture card, and small gift. 

I enjoy receiving the Loved and Blessed Box because it provides me with encouraging reminders to remain strong in my faith. It is different than any other box I have received. It is full of meaning, heart, and joy. Place your order quickly to receive your own box of encouragement next month!

FTC Disclosure: I received these products complimentary from Loved + Blessed for testing purposes only. All opinions above are true and my own

I had the pleasure of attending the Gluten Free Allergen Free Expo sponsored by Send Me Gluten Free at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on February 20th and 21st.

The expo hall was full of gluten free and allergen free vendors as well as courses offered to learn more about various aspects of living gluten free.

Among the many vendors, there were four specific companies that stood out to me most.

1. Daura Damm Beer - I love myself an ice cold adult beverage and giving that up with gluten has been difficult for me. This beer is available at Whole Foods and tasted no different than a regular beer, with alcohol content varying from 5% to 7% alcohol.
2. Milton's Crafter Bakers - I had tried these before from Sprouts, but did not know that their company went beyond crackers! Milton's also offers delicious gluten-free chips and cookies. My favorite thing I sampled were their Snickerdoodle cookies! I was disappointed that they were not available for purchase at the expo and will be keeping an eye out for them as I grocery shop. (Sprouts is a bit far for me, but next time I am in the area I will have to pop in and see if they have these cookies!)
3. Rickaroons - Besides founder, Rick, and his son, Grant, being two of my favorite people I met at the expo, their "dessert fuel" is great. This cross between an energy bar and a macaroon are a great pre and/or post workout snack. My favorite was the chocolate blonde. Another item that is not local to me in L.A., but is to San Diego, and I will have to keep my eyes peeled for.
4. Spinato's Pizzeria - This is the best gluten free pizza I have ever come across. My mouth is salivating thinking about it. (No joke.) The sad part is that they are not yet sold in stores (Get it together every grocery store across America!) I would actually consider a road trip to Phoenix for their pizza. It's the bomb. Besides mouth-watering pizza, Spinato's also makes gluten free sauces and dressings.

Today is Read Across America Day. This day, which also happens to be Dr. Seuss' birthday, promotes a love for reading in children across our nation. As an educator, I heavily promote this day, but as adults, I believe we put reading on the back burner.

We scroll through emails, news feeds, and text messages, but when was the last time you sat down and enjoyed a good book? We instill the importance of literacy in our youth without being examples of readers ourselves.

Some benefits of reading as adults include: mental stimulation, increased knowledge, improved focus, stress reduction, and free entertainment. Lately I have been enjoying audio books on my morning commute, which although not technically reading, still allows me to get creatively lost in someone else's words and often leaves me inspired.

3 Books I'm Loving Lately:

• Move On: When Mercy Meets Your Mess by Vicki Courtney
• Bulletproof by Maci Bookout
• The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer

My goal for February was self awareness. I wanted to focus on my emotions and relax when I felt overwhelmed. I wanted to get organized, express gratitude, and stick to my guns with how I feel. I'd say I got a good start to that in February, especially since my favorite thing I did this month was kick up my feet on a Friday night and binge watch Fuller House. This month there was a lot going on and it was a rough month, but I have learned to "center my chi."