This weekend is one of my favorite weekends of the year, right up there with 4th of July. It is going to be filled with friends, family, and lots and lots of delicious eats. Whether you're having a BBQ with friends or enjoying the Memorial Day sales at the mall, here is an affordable, yet festive, look for the weekend.

Today is National Wine Day...a holiday I fully support. And as much as I enjoy a glass (or two...) of wine after a rough day to destress and relax, drinking red wine actually has several health benefits.

• Lower blood sugar
• Delayed growth of fat cells
• Prevents Alzheimers and Dementia
• Protects against cell damage
• Improves muscle strength
• Protects against chronic disease
• Fights cancer cells
• Lowers risk of stroke
• Lowers risk of heart disease

So raise your glass to celebrate National Wine Day and to drinking yourself to health and happiness! ;)

I finally took the plunge a couple of weeks ago and ordered an Erin Condren Life Planner. I have gone back and forth about it for a couple of years now, but always hesitated because of the cost. I often watch Plan With Me videos on YouTube and follow several planner accounts on Instagram. I am a big fan of lists, planning, and getting organized. When the EC planner went on sale, I finally decided to go for it, and I am so glad I did!


I have ordered many stickers to help me design the planner to fit my needs and I am excited for them to arrive. In the mean time, here is my current layout for this week based on stickers I had purchased when I ordered the planner. The first box focuses on what needs to get done that day, the second box focuses on my meals for that day, and the third box includes workouts, blog posts, TV shows, and any other less pressing events going on. Where I have goals listed I will begin to list what is going on in school that week. (Stickers are on order and I am just having syllabus week this week.)

I highly recommend an Erin Condren Life Planner to anyone who lives a hectic life and needs their order all in one place. I love that it can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. I also love that I can leave the layout as it is or I can go to town with stickers (like above) and make it my own.

For $10 off your own Erin Condren Life Planner, click this link HERE!

Wait…erectile dysfunction specialist is a job? I’d eliminate him on night one just so I don’t have the potential of having to tell people what the guy I am dating does for a living.

It's "Be A Millionaire Day". Yup, it's a thing. And being a millionaire sounds pretty dang fun. But at the same time, I don't think I will ever be able to experience the true feeling of "Be A Millionaire" day. However, if I were handed one million dollars right now, here are the top 5 things I would do:

1. Buy my own house.
2. Take a vacation to Hawaii. 
3. Go part-time at work. (I would be too bored unemployed and I love my job.)
4. Buy an iPhone. 
5. Spend the weekend at Disneyland with the VIP top of the line front of the line always passes. (I think this has to be a thing with enough money.)

FTC Disclosure: All items discussed in this blog post have been sent to me courtesy of Foxy Box. I have not been financially compensated for this review. All opinions above are true and my own.

I love mornings. Usually. When I follow these hacks to kick start my morning, I am able to really enjoy them. I love the quiet of the morning and being able to plan my day out. Here are some tips to make the most of your mornings.

1.) Don't hit snooze. Get up early when your alarm first goes off. Starting your day early increases productivity levels and allows you to start the day off calm and quietly as opposed to frantically rushing around.

2.) Drink 8 oz. of ice cold water. It detoxifies the skin and body, kick starts your metabolism and clears the mind.

3.) Set your intentions. Tell yourself it's going to be a great day. Reflect on what you are grateful for. The positive attitude will carry you through the day.

4.) Get moving. Working out in the morning increases mental clarity and keeps your body burning calories throughout the day.

5.) Plan your day. Knowing what needs to get done allows you to tackle it. Pick a couple things that are necessities to focus on and only tackle more when you complete the bigger tasks.

6.) Eat breakfast. Having breakfast does exactly what it's name says...breaks the fast. It provides you with nutrition and energy to get you through the day and vitamins and minerals to keep you feeling great.

7.) Crank the tunes. Blasting your favorite songs can boost your day and keep you feeling positive into the rest of the day.

What are your favorite tips for the morning?

Today I am thankful for...

• Tone It Up. This community and the trainers have taught me the best way to workout and eat right without having to diet or obsess. I have never felt so great about my body.
• Weekends! I am so excited for the weekend coming up. One of my best friends is getting married on Saturday and I have fun plans with family on Sunday.
• La Croix water. It has helped me beat my Dr. Pepper addiction. I am doing what I can to not drink Dr. Pepper for a total of 10 weeks. I am on week 3 and doing great. Before that I only had 1-2 a week, but I want to eliminate soda completely. I am at the point where drinking a Dr. Pepper doesn't even sound good.
• FaceTime. It allows me to stay in touch with family across the country while feeling like I am there with them.

A big part of my testimony is finding my identity in Christ. I have learned that when I make my main identity be that I follow Christ, every other piece of my life falls into place and I am at peace. I am a sister, a friend, a daughter, a girlfriend, a teacher, a student, a writer, and so much more. But first I am a follower of Christ.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

"You are most like the 5 people you associate most with."

Throughout the years I have learned the fewer, solid friends is best. People are often self focused. The older I get the more I see it. By being cautious of who you surround yourself with, you are able to have control over the level of bull you have to deal with.

Check who your top 5 are. Do they reflect the kind of person you strive to be? If not, rearrange your social hour. If so, thank them and pay it forward by reflecting their goodness on others.

I admire my Mom most for her desire to serve others. She volunteers her time to others, cares for others, and was a nurse for 30 years. She exemplifies exactly what God calls us to do -- love and serve in His name. Thank you Mom for 23 years of loving, encouraging, and teaching me to do the best I can and leave the rest in God's hands.

Things making me happy today---

The week went by so fast. I didn't think we would survive SBAC testing. We did.

The weather is perfect. I love chilly, cloudy weather.

This week's Tone It Up workout "Tush It Good" was everything. New favorite workout.

Cellucor now makes C4 on the go. It's delicious and does the job.

Corn, avocados, and strawberries are now in season.

The Tone It Up Bikini Series 8 week challenge is nearing the end of week 1. It feels so good to be pressing towards my goals before 4th of July (my favorite holiday!) The more I workout the more I am interested in my workout attire. Here is an outfit I put together that is perfect for a summer workout. Most items are currently on sale (sale price listed) so be sure to snatch them up before they are gone!

Mother's Day is Sunday! If you haven't gotten a gift yet, you better hurry!

While I can't share what I got my Mom (I think she is reading. Hi Mom! Miss you!) I think this year is one of the better gifts. However, I do not think I can ever top getting her this necklace from an Etsy shop called The Olive Tree Designs. It has been a year and she still comments on how much she loves it and wears it nearly daily.  (Note: The shop does not appear to currently be selling jewelry, but check out her beautiful printables!)

I blinked and April was over. It was a busy month and looking back I don't even know what I did the past month. I celebrated a good friend's upcoming nuptials with her Bachelorette party and bridal shower. I went up to San Luis Obispo a few times. I finished my first semester of grad school. I started the Tone It Up Bikini Series 8 week challenge. It was a good month! Here are some things I enjoyed.

Beauty Product -- Sunkissed and Salty Lavender Coconut Body Scrub. I am big on lavender essential oils lately to help with calming, relaxation, and easing sleep. This scrub is perfect (and natural!) to use in the bath or shower before bed time. I massage it into my skin, rinse, and then feel rejuvenated from a long day and relaxed enough to fall right into sleep.

Fashion Accessory -- My new glasses from Glasses Shop! Not sure if I can count them as an accessory since I need them to be able to function, but I am obsessed. I haven't loved a pair of glasses this much in awhile. The best part about them is that I didn't have to leave the house to get them! I was able to order a pair online through Glasses Shop, enter my prescription info from my last ophthalmologist appointment and they were delivered to my front door step that next week!



Purchase -- This mug. Friends fans will get it.



Supplement -- Zaca Recovery Chewable, which is hydration in a delicious pill form. Great recovery from a long day, an intense work out, too many adult beverages, and more. It is full of electrolytes and helps to replenish and rehydrate the body.

Scripture -- Matthew 7:7



Blog Post -- How To To Do

Food -- Blueberry Bomb Smoothie from Tone It Up...it has been my go to breakfast the past week!

Thing I Did -- finish my first semester of school! One final project ended up being 27 pages long and the other being 22. Yup. That's a thing.

Song -- One Thing by Hillsong United