Setting goals is the most important way for me to determine my success. Teaching my students how to set goals is an important part of my job. Helping them learn what they want and how to go get it is far more beneficial than teaching them linear equations and sonnets.

When setting goals I like to look long term and break it into smaller groups. For example, if I want to lose 20 pounds in 6 months, I will break that into 3.5 pounds per week and then set goals to reach the mini goal. For example, hitting 10k steps per day, following my Tone It Up meal plan, and working out 5-6 days per week. Goals being set should follow the SMART goal method: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely.

For example: Lose 10 pounds by September 23.

This is specific because I know what I want to accomplish and have a time frame to achieve it in. It is measurable because I know the necessary progress and target date to reach my goal. It is attainable because it is important to me and I have the necessary skills and attitude to reach it. It is realistic because that calls for me to lose about 1.5 pounds per week...totally doable. It is timely because I know when I want to lose the weight by and it is not too far off to lose sight.

What are your current goals? What are you doing to reach them?

This weekend was something else. I headed up north for vacation and have loved every minute so far (minus getting my hand slammed in the car trunk and having half my toe nail ripped off.) In just two days I have been to two concerts (Blake Shelton & Tim McGraw), spent time with friends, and enjoyed quality time with my boyfriend.

I am looking forward to a week of relaxation and am going to kick it off with a giveaway to keep the good vibes coming!

This week I am giving away a $25 Starbucks gift card.

To enter -
Comment below with a post idea for August/September.
For an extra entry, share on social media.

Giveaway closes on Friday, July 29 at 12pm PST. Winner will be announced in July Faves blog post that day.

What keeps you up at night? For me, I struggle to turn my brain off. However, developing a proper night time routine has helped me get my sleep schedule back on track. Some things I do to help wind down--

1.) Make a to do list for the next day. This will allow you to clear your brain of everything that needs to get done.

2.) Shut down. No cell phones, electronics, or bright lights prior to bed time. Instead of watching YouTube prior to falling asleep, I have been listening to books on audio.

3.) Drink tea. Sleepy time tea is helpful in winding you down. The chamomile and lemongrass are calming, reduce anxiety, and help fight illness.

4.) When all else fails, take ZzzQuil. This nighttime sleep aid has diphenhydramine which produces sleepiness. It is non-habit forming and not used for flu or cold.

• Bubbly by Colbie Caillat
• Shut Up & Dance by Walk the Moon
• Fast Car by Boyce Avenue
• Take The World by Johnny Swim
• Maggie May by Rod Stewart
• Think of You by Chris Young and Cassadee Pope
• Humble & Kind by Tim McGraw
• Hey There Delilah by Plain White T's
• Viva La Vida by Coldplay
• Hey Soul Sister by Train
• Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars

Today is National Ice Cream Day! A perfect holiday to celebrate on this hot July day. As I type this it is 9am and already nearing 80. And while I want to celebrate this great holiday, I also do not want to throw away my great run I had this morning.

Halo Top has become my go to for a sweet treat in the past couple months as I continue on my health and fitness journey. Halo Top is a healthier ice cream that is low calorie and high protein. It is made with all natural ingredients. And while all of the above makes it sound like Halo Top probably tastes like iced dirt, it tastes just as good as regular ice cream. Depending on the flavor (my favorite is Mint Chip) a pint runs between 240 and 280 calories, with 24 grams of protein.

Visit Halo Top's site to figure out where you can get it in a store near you!

*Note: This is NOT a sponsored post. I just love Halo Top that much and had to share this health hack with you!

I love this because I need to sample beauty products for a couple days before I shell out the money to buy them. I have sensitive, acne-prone skin and like to make sure I won't break out before I purchase a product.


Makeup used to achieve this look:

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water
Maybelline Pure BB
Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup
Benefit Posietint Cheek Stain *
Hourglass Lip Gloss HG Canvas *
Smashbox O-Plump Intuitive Lip Plumper *
Nars Dual Intensity Blush *
Urban Decay Naked Palette: Buzz, Trick, Factory, Darkside
Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara *
Hourglass Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss *
Smashbox O Plump Intuitive Lip Plumper *

*products from So Choix

What do you believe in? Is it what you truly believe? Or is it the beliefs of those who raised you and the community you grew up in?

For Claire Hoffman, it was a combination of all of the above.



Greetings from Utopia Park: Surviving a Transcendent Childhood is a memoir from Hoffman about growing up in a meditation community with her Mom and brother after her father walked out on them. Originally agreeing with the Maharishi philosophies, Hoffman began to withdraw and headed west for California.

Although she left the isolated community in Iowa, Hoffman recounts for the effect it had on the rest of her life. She discusses what utopia really is and gives reader a shot at looking through faith through another set of lenses. Hoffman focuses on searching for your own truth in a world where everyone else is telling you what the truth is.

Claire Hoffman is a journalist. She has written for Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times, New Yorker, and many more periodicals. Hoffman holds the byline for the most viewing article on the Los Angeles Times website, exposing Joe Francis, founder of Girls Gone Wild.

I often hear people saying that they have a difficult time balancing everything. This is something I have struggled with too. However, now that I have a system down, I have no problem tackling whatever is on my plate. (As long as I stick to the system and stop watching so much Gilmore Girls!) The best way for me to balance life is to keep lists, calendars, and notes about what needs to get done. It helps me see everything big picture and not overbook myself...something that I would do a lot a couple years ago when I was babysitting for multiple families at the same time. While I use an Erin Condren planner to keep tabs on most of my life, the daily pages are small and I often need an extra list or two for the day to keep everything in check.

Recently I stumbled across Paper Works, a design shop that creates calendars, menu charts, and other printables to help you stay organized and inspired. Each month they put out new printables to help you stay organized. They also include monthly extras, such as valentines in February and place cards in November.

I love quotes. I have many hanging around my room and follow many quote accounts on Instagram and Twitter. I love the motivation and inspiration they provide me for whatever extra push I need. Recently I found a journal full of quotes that I had compiled in 2012. Here are some of the favorites I found!

"That was how you knew love. My mother had told me that. All you had to do was imagine your life without the other person and if the thought alone made you shiver then you knew." -Alice Hoffman

"For every time you have been unjustly punished there has been another time when you unjustly went unpunished."

"The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes their way."

"Don't fear failure so much you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of a life contains could have, might have, should have."

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." -Reinhold Niebuhr

"I never understood the point of being sad when I could choose to be happy." -Megan McCafferty