I'm back this week with my questions regarding last night's episode of The Bachelor. As boring as this season is, I am still watching it. I am trying to switch up my Bachelor related posts (like last week) and get some previous Bachelor contestants on here. I am in talks with one so far and hope it works out. I am also happy to announce that my bestie and I took the plunge and are headed to Vegas in June for the Reality Steve Fan Appreciation Party. If you are a hardcore Bachelor franchise fan like me and enjoy his spoilers, be sure to check out his site for all the information.

1.) Is Taylor on this show as a form of research for her thesis paper or something?

2.) If her emotional intelligence is so high, why is she on The Bachelor?

3.) If her emotional intelligence is so high, why does she have to keep reminding us that her emotional intelligence is so high?

4.) How is Raven already in love with Nick?

5.) Between the nanny, dear diary entries, and tattling on Taylor for "basically calling her stupid," is Corinne a modern day Billy Madison?

6.) How do you make a voodoo doll specific to a person? I'm asking for a friend....

7.) What is with all the "To Be Continued..." this season? What happened to the good old fashioned layout of ending each episode with a rose ceremony?

Sometimes I look up at the end of a day and wonder what I have gotten done all day long. Managing time can be difficult if we are not intentional. Especially lately I have been struggling to tackle even the most simple of tasks in my day. I know it's because I'm lacking motivation, but also because I'm not appropriately managing my time. Here are three tips for how to manage your time.

1. Create a to-do list and prioritize things in this list. I tend to do this the night before so that I wake up the next day with an idea of what I need to get done. I try to clump things together that need to get done in the same vicinity. I promise that making a to-do list is the first step to success.

2. Learn to say no to others. If you can't manage what is already on your plate, do not add more to it if you do not have to. If you continue to pile more onto the to do list, especially when it is avoidable, you will dig yourself deeper into the no time cycle.

3. Remove distractions. Put your phone on silent, stay off Instagram, and don't hang out with friends when you're trying to study. Set up a plan with yourself and stick to it. One hour of studying? Let yourself scroll through your Twitter feed for ten minutes, but then get back to work. Stay honest with yourself about being distraction free.

Super Bowl is next weekend and the x and the x are facing off. While I am disappointed that my Broncos will not be in the game, I am excited for some solid football and hilarious commercials. Super Bowl food is always one of my favorite parts of the game, but can be a day where calories add up really quickly. Finger foods, drinks, and desserts are a plenty and often difficult to resist. The best way to help with this is to be the person who shows up to the party with a healthy, but delicious treat.

One of my favorite football game treats is wings. However, they are often fried and doused in ranch dressing. A healthy, delicious way to cook wings is to bake them with lemon.

This season of The Bachelor is a total snooze fest, if you leave out Corinne's whipped cream antics. This is mainly due to Nick's chances at love being beat to death with four sticks and him being extremely vanilla. Because I haven't felt like watching this show is a top priority on my never ending to do list, my posts about the show have gone on the wayside. Here are five men I would prefer to see as the bachelor lead:

1. JJ Lane: My #1 love of Bachelor franchise history. He's a Colorado man, single father, and enjoys a nice outing for Pokémon Go. Although portrayed as a villain, I feel like he is a good man and would make for a great season.
2. Reality Steve: Who better to star on the show than the man who spoils it all. I am sure ABC would never allow this to happen, but I know views would be high. I appreciate his Doctor Reality Steve advice he gave me last week and I look forward to attending his fan appreciation party come June.
3. Chris Harrison: I know he has dated contestants in the past (Selma and AshLee) and he knows the ins and outs of the show. ABC could have him self narrate it for a weird effect. I always thought Harrison and Andi would be a cute couple, but I am not sure if he is even single after seeing him at SunLife Organics recently with a young, hot blonde.
4. Wells Adams: He did not get nearly enough air time on Andi's season and his drunk snapchats during the show are epic. Rumor has it that he recently hooked up with Amanda in Nashville. She could make her third appearance on the show and they could have a Kaitlyn/Nick type storyline.
5. Chris Soules: Brad Womack round two. Boring, but beautiful.

Shows I'm loving lately (besides The Bachelor) --

Timber Creek Lodge Viewers go behind the scenes of a mountain lodge concierge service in Whistler. It follows the fiesty, often clashing staff, and their high maintenance, zany clients. This show airs on Bravo Mondays at 10pm. It reminds me of Below Deck, on the slopes instead of on the sea.



This Is Us This immediate hit follows the lives of three siblings, two twins and their adopted brother, in the past and present. I love the writing of this show, as well as the character development. It reminds me of a cross between Gilmore Girls and Parenthood, with the added factor of seeing the stories of the past. This Is Us airs Tuesdays at 9pm on NBC.



Scientology and The Aftermath Leah Remini hosts this startling revelation about the Church of Scientology. She exposes the dark cult and the extremeties the members must go through. Remini interviews former church members on their experiences and pains of their life as Scientologists. Remini reflects on her past experiences in the church, as well as opening the eyes of it to those who do not know about the actions occuring behind closed doors. This scary docuseries airs on A&E Tuesdays at 10pm.




Are You The One? This "reality" show follows 10 men and 10 women as they try to find their perfect match on a private tropical island. If they are able to find their perfect match after 10 weeks, the whole cast splits $1 million dollars. The show has entered it's fifth season and while none have been as enjoyable as season 1, I really enjoy watching it. The cast this season features someone from Valencia, Calif., where I lived for awhile, and I recognize her from my frequent mall trips. Are You The One? airs Wednesdays at 9pm on MTV.



Outdaughtered This show follows the life of The Busby family in Houston, Texas. Adam and Danielle Busby are the parents of the only all-girl quintuplets in the United States. At this time the quintuplets are 20 months old. The Busby's also have an older daughter, Blayke, who is 5 1/2. Usually I am not a fan of TLC shows, but I really enjoy watching this family and their crazy, chaotic life. They are genuinely good people who are doing the best they can with what God has given them. Outdaughtered airs on TLC on Tuesdays at 9pm.

Many times on Outside the Huddle I have featured the wives of football coaches. However, recently I have stumbled upon Alexa Re' Garcia, a YouTube vlogger, blogger, and baseball/volleyball coach's wife. I have enjoyed watching Alexa throughout the past couple months on YouTube and am excited to expand Outside the Huddle's horizons with her.

Alexa is a creative soul who loves writing, blogging, and filming YouTube videos. Along with this, she also works for Erin Condren...so jealous!

Alexa started YouTube as an outlet for anything she was going through and a form of practicing what she was learning while working on her mass media degree. However, with time Alexa began to see YouTube as a platform to connect with others around the world.

One of these platforms is Project TEN27. On October 27, 2013, Alexa's mother died in a car accident where she was the drunk driver. Instead of this date having a negative connotation for Alexa, she decided to make it something positive. Although Alexa's mom fought her own demons (as we all do!) she taught Alexa how to talk about what she was going through. Alexa has created Project TEN27 to give other women a safe haven, hope, and a place to talk.




For those of you are just coming to Kick Back With Cate for the first time, along with Outside the Huddle, I do Bachelor recaps. A fun fact about Alexa is that Raven Gates, a woman on this current season of The Bachelor, caught the bouquet at Alexa and Greg's wedding! Could this be a sign of what's to come for Raven this season!?

This week's plan with me using stickers from the Create 365 sticker packs. I love this layout. Purple is my favorite couple and it adds some brightness into the often gloomy weather in January. A couple extra stickers were included from leftover Glam Planner kits. Here is this week's spread, before the ink:

Colder weather often leads to dry skin. While the cracked lips and wind rashed skin is bothersome, it can be prevented and treated.

1. Find the right moisturizer. Just because one works for you in the summer does not mean it will work in the winter. Find one that is oil-based because it creates more protection and retains more moisture. However, be sure it is a non clogging oil such as primrose oil or avocado oil.

2. Use a humidifier. (This one is my favorite!) When we have the heater turned up high, it feels great, but dries out the skin. Use a humidifier to prevent the skin from drying out. For an extra benefit, add lemon essential oil to the humidifier for an antibacterial effect during flu season.

3. Turn down the water temperature. A hot shower or bath feels great on a cold night, but it breaks down the lipid barrier in the skin that retains moisture. Be sure to take a lukewarm rinse and apply lotion immediately after to lock in moisture.

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Each month I receive a box of love and encouragement on my front porch. This month's Loved and Blessed theme was cultivating contentment, and it is my favorite box to date! The insert featured in each box explaining it's purpose reminds subscribers to just be happy. We need to stop comparing ourselves to others, go after what we want, and trust in God. I love this reminder. So often we can get caught up in this Instagram/Pinterest world that we lose happiness in trying to catch up to everyone else. 

I know I am late with my Bachelor post. I don't have cable right now and unfortunately ABC does not live stream in my area. BOO! After watching Monday night's episode, I just have some questions (mainly for Corinne) that maybe a reader can clarify...

1.) Who are all these women? I recognize maybe three of them from the last two episodes.

2.) Does Corinne want to be known for anything with clothing on?

3.) What is planned dancing?

4.) Isn't cheese pasta just mac n cheese?

5.) Why is a 36 year old man in a bounce house?

I had to prep it the night before by letting my family know and posting my online Bible study for the following day. When I woke up in the morning my immediate thought was to check my phone. However, I resisted the urge. As the morning went on I needed to work out. However it was so windy out that I could not go outside because I knew I would end up with a sinus headache. I gave myself a pass to use my computer for BeachBody On Demand and did Country Heat. A couple hours later I checked my phone and had several text messages. I guess I have done this to myself by constantly being on my phone and responding so quickly to peoples messages that I feel obligated to respond instead of ignoring them. Later in the afternoon, I went with my parents to the mall. This was the week of Christmas and extremely overwhelming for me. I realized how difficult it was to split up from them at the mall without having my cell phone. When I got home, I realized I rely on television and cell phone games to detach from the chaos of life. I spent a lot of my free time during the day working on a puzzle.

While I did not survive the day 100% technology free, it made me realize that I am in need of an occasional break from being at other people's beck and call, scrolling through Instagram, and upping my lives in Candy Crush, and I encourage you to do the same.

Kristin Cavallari has been popping up a lot lately as she works on her new cookbook. She is someone whose style I have always admired since her Laguna Beach days. This look of hers is beautifully layered for transitioning from winter to spring and has been recreated for under $100.

Last year I had the joy of attending the Gluten Free Expo in San Diego. It was a weekend of delicious food, informative seminars, and getting to know companies that have similar views with mine. This year I am excited to announce that I will be back at the Gluten Free Expo, February 11-12 at Del Mar Fairgrounds.

The event is from 10am-4pm on Saturday and 10am-3pm on Sunday. Please note parking at the Del Mar Fairground is $13. Some of the seminars being offered this year include Chef Amy Fothergill with how to make simple paleo dishes and Nadine Grzeskowiak RN, BSN, CEN with how gluten and other foods can impact all aspects of health.


Tickets are currently on sale and can be 20% off with the code ADVANCE through February 10th. However, I have the exciting opportunity to give FIVE tickets away. The first 5 people to send me an email will be sent a free one-day entry ticket, good for either Saturday or Sunday.

Last night was the 2nd episode of The Bachelor and it was extremely underwhelming. Wells Adams' drunk snapchats were far more entertaining than this episode...as they always are. In case you missed it due to the much more exciting National Championship Game (Go Clemson!) here are 5 things you need to know.

1. In case you had not heard, Corinne kissed Nick. And she's totally going to do it again. She also got topless on her first date with Nick. Which was a group date. And her Dad is totally proud.
2. Raven kept it real by saying if Nick is just here for the naked girl Corinne it's no wonder he is on round four of this...or something like that. Way to keep it real Raven. 
3. Liz confessed to Christin about how she slept with Nick. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. I really like Liz but this move got her sent home. What bothers me most about this situation is how Jade was being attacked on Twitter last night for being friends with Liz.
4. These people drink. A lot. Mostly Corinne. According to Reality Steve, Corinne was passed out for nearly every rose ceremony because she drank so much. I'm not surprised.
5. Alexis and Nick celebrate her fake boobs first birthday with cupcakes and a song.

Today is National Clean Off Your Desk Day. Another weird national "holiday" but a great way to kick off the year. Whether at work or at home, desk clutter can stack up quickly, and create an unproductive work environment. Here are 5 tips for cleaning up your desk.

1. Remove everything. Take everything off the desk and start fresh as you go through everything.
2. Find an organization system that works for you, whether that be drawers, shelving, or a file system. This file system is one I use at work and I use beautiful, floral folders to add a little brightness into my day.
3. Be honest about what you don't need. I tend to keep things that I don't need, but purge! However, do be sure to keep pay stubs, tax information, and important receipts. Be cautious about shredding any sensitive information.
4. Take a minimalist approach to improve productivity. Less is better. Keep your desk cleared and decluttered. If you don't use it several times throughout the day, keep it in a drawer or somewhere else nearby. Too many things on top of your desk can distract you as you work.
5. Schedule regular cleaning time. Make it a point to declutter your desk every 1-2 weeks. For me, I tend to clean off my desk at the end of the work day on Fridays, so that I come in Monday morning with a fresh space to get going at.

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Last year I participated in the 2016 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge. It was fun, but I definitely did not complete it. This year one of my goals for the new year is to actually complete the challenge. This challenge suggests 40 different "genres" of book to read, such as "a book with multiple authors" and "a book set in a hotel." Pop Sugar also added an advanced extra 12 books, for those who complete the list early, which would come out to one book per week.

I like that this challenge adds variety into your reading list. It really allows you to read whatever you want to read, as long as you are exploring new choices. For anyone who wants to join me in the challenge, you can find a printable of the full list HERE.

I have never been so unexcited for a season of The Bachelor. I feel like Nick has had his fair share of chances to find love via Chris Harrison and I don't think his history of crashing and burning will change much this time around. However, just because I am not excited for the season, doesn't mean I won't be watching the train wreck.

In it's premiere night we were promised by Chris Harrison that this would be "a season unlike anything you've ever seen before." Doesn't he always say that? While it was a super basic episode, there were a couple funny things that went on.

1. Whitney Bischoff tweeted "Why is Chris giving advice?" Wow girl. For someone who is now "happily" engaged to another man, the shade is real.



2. Speaking of Chris giving advice, when him, Ben, and Sean are giving advice to Nick, they're seen at a bar in Westlake Village called Bogie's. Little does The Bachelor disclose that this is locally known as a cougar and swingers bar. I had a friend in college be offered a hefty amount of cash from an older woman at this bar to go home together. Maybe next season stick to man dates at Chick-Fil-A.

3. Alexis stepped out of the limo in a left shark costume. But she claimed she was a dolphin and ran around the house making dolphin noises. She was persistent on being classified as a dolphin. Poor thing.



4. Nick has already slept with one of the contestants. Liz was Jade Roper's maid of honor in her recent nuptials to Tanner Tolbert. That night she "danced on over to Nick" and then danced on up to his hotel room. When Liz stepped out of the limo, Nick gave her a look that said he should probably know her name, but can't remember from where.

5. Corinne has a nanny. Yes. She's 27. And she has her own nanny. I get having a personal assistant, especially since she is supposedly running a multimillion dollar company, but what does a nanny do for a grown adult? Peel the skin off her apple slices?



As far as the rest of this season, I will not be making predictions because I have already read on Reality Steve who wins. However, the girls I like are Christen, Liz, Sarah, Vanessa, and Rachel. I'll see you next week for another rose ceremony.

The holidays can be a hectic time for everyone. Traveling or visitors, erratic schedules, and stressful situations. Now that the year is getting back to normal, it is time to get back on track and destress. Here are 4 tips to have you feeling more mellow:

1. Pamper yourself. Enjoy a bubble bath, paint your nails, and kick up your feet.

2. Go for a walk. Enjoy the fresh air and get your endorphins pumping.

3. Get sleep. Late nights with family and friends can create stressful days. Be sure to get in bed early when you can and stick to a sleep schedule of 7-9 hours per night.

4. Create a bedroom retreat.

5. Accept that not everything will get done. Don't pressure yourself to catch up on all the cleaning, cooking, and present returns in one day. Let yourself ease back into the routine to prevent more stress than the holidays created.

This year I am focusing on grace. I want to live in the gratitude of knowing God has blessed me with grace, share His grace with others, and have a happy, helpful heart.



"His mercies are new each morning. Great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:23

Some other goals I have this year:

1. Complete the 2017 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge. (More on this in an upcoming post.)

2. Weigh 125 pounds. (I lost a ton of weight in 2015-2016, and put all back on halfway through the year. I am disappointed, but I can get it back.)

3. Get plugged in with other believers.

4. Be consistent with family quality time.

5. Put myself out there more socially.

6. Fall back in love with my career.

7. Be debt free (minus student loans.)

What are you hoping to achieve in 2017?