Weekend Roundup.

So, hello again. I took a few weeks off to refresh and focus on circumstances that needed my attention. In return - I feel brighter, happier and ready to get back to what I was doing on here - meeting new friends (which is harder than I thought) + being transparent about myself in hopes of inspiring one person in the world .. or two ;)

So let's catch up on me from the past few weeks.

- Family: Chris + I don't really go on specific date nights all the time. It's a luxury kind of thing and when it happens - it's marvelous. We go out during the week after work and that's kind of our 'us' time. But this week - we changed it up - we tried out a new burger joint here in Winter Park, FL - Shake Shack. It's a burger joint from New York + it's super fresh and oh so deeelish. Everything is fresh and made to order. Every bite of my hamburger was incredible. Plus, the bacon on it - that was a bonus. :) Have a peek & try to not salivate..

- Family, round 2: My mom is one of my best friends. She has been active/fit her entire life and it shows - she is awesome. Recently, she became a certified personal trainer + I am her first client. We've been working out together for a month strengthening me and helping me get back on track with the fitness. 

I tried going it alone for 2 years to lose weight and I did lose 40 lbs but after the weight crept back up - I turned to the expert and let her in to help. I am proud to say I've lost 4 lbs this month we've worked together. & I am excited for the transformation that's begun.. :) So much that paired with my new IPhone - I bought myself a new gift to treat myself. 

This new pink purse from Kohl's is my first treat of many to keep working hard, to keep pushing hard + over time I will see the weight fall off. It's a fantastic feeling so far + I am excited to accomplish my first bigger goal in the coming months!  

I guess its a blessing my in-laws don't really do dessert so for Thanksgiving - I'll be making my mom's homemade mashed potatoes. I made them myself the first time tonight + I hit a pot o' gold. :) 

I must say that while I did catch up on Scandal this weekend -- I got some good cleaning around the house - cleaning out drawers, we can see our kitchen table again + its a good feeling goin into the week that the kitchen/living room is all clean. Laundry is done. Groceries are bought. It's gonna be a good week - excited for our upcoming time off + Thanksgiving overall. & Amazon's Black Friday deals. :) :)

What a great weekend! <3 Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll stop by tomorrow for my series on Mondays where my goal is to overcome Monday blues while inspiring + encouraging anyone who stops over. I'll be talking about perceptions from others. 

Weekend Update.

Huzzah, it's the weekend. While this week was short - wasn't sure if I would make it or not. But, lo & behold - I did. This am - my hubs & I used the $1 left on our Dunkin Donuts giftcard to score a BOGO on iced coffee/breakfast. Not the healthiest options but when the alarm went off - it was easier to get up before the sun knowing that iced caramel coffee and my all time favorite chocolate cake donut was waiting for me. 

Anyway - not sure if you're aware of the equally AWESOME organization that you can get involved with called: Influenster. They're similar to what I do with BzzAgent which is score pretty sweet swag and test it out, report on it and earn future projects. Well I earned a free #VoxBox which comes with goodies to try out. This one included scandaleyes Rimmel London mascara *you need to buy it.* This mascara essentially makes me feel as confident/cool/determined as Olivia Pope when she is all business on Scandal. The next awesome item in this box was a SoftLips cube. I've heard of this brand before but honestly wasn't too impressed but I have to say this product I got reinvented the brand for me. I absolutely love this chap-stick cube - there are several scents available and its a must have now. This product in turn made me switch from using all lip gloss to chap stick again. What's great about this chap-stick is that it not only does it smell awesome, it really hydrates your lips. Living in Florida, my lips get really chapped sometimes because its so humid and hot, and I am one that drinks water like a fish! My chap-stick cube is with me wherever I go and I absolutely love it! I cannot stop raving about it! 

 Another equally awesome part of the #SpringFlingVoxBox is that I received more Nivea firming lotion. I really enjoy this brand. The smell is heavenly but I really enjoy how it hydrates my skin. Most of my lotion comes from Bath and Body Works - I've noticed I love the scents but sometimes it feels I am just putting more on my skin to where it feels heavy. The Nivea lotion is incredibly powerful, it immediately refreshes my skin no matter the time of day. I absolutely keep it with me wherever I am. 

I'd say the not so great part of my #VoxBox is that I got french tip nails. I haven't worn these since I was in high school but I will give them a try since I cannot afford to pay for a mani right now.I will say the lovely part of my #VoxBox is that I received a free air freshener. 

All in all, I really have enjoyed my goodies from Influenster this week. *Please note, I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."

Thanks for stopping by & I'll see you back on here this upcoming week. Have a fantastic weekend. :)

BzzAgent Review: Coppertone Sunny Days sunscreen

Hello, friends! Hope you had a fantastic Memorial Day weekend. I spent yesterday feasting & swimming w/family at my parent's house. As previously mentioned, I am a BzzAgent - I spread "bzz" about products, share coupons and give out product samples I receive to friends/family so they can try it out. I also get the chance to try it out and I have to say - in my opinion, I am not a super big fan of this sunscreen. Personally, since I live in Florida, where it appears we're like 3 feet from the sun all day - I need more than 30 spf which is what this offers. This sunscreen gave me a scare as it appeared to give me a breakout of bumps on my arms. Otherwise - it was fine, very light - fit under makeup to make me feel confident & it absorbs fast!

I say, wherever you are - you must use sunscreen. I recently took part in a Twitter party with Neutrogena & Crowdtappers, and both Kerry Washington (Scandal!) & Jennifer Garner shared some insane facts about the dangers of not keeping yourself protected in the sun. Allow me to share some with you: 

Even on a cloudy day, about 80% of the sun's ultraviolet rays could push through the clouds. (!!)
After suffering as little as 1 major sunburn as a child, this still raises the chances of you getting skin cancer.
Did you know?! It’s been estimated that more than 76,000 new melanomas will be diagnosed THIS YEAR ALONE #ChooseSkinHealth #NTGSpokesperson
ANOTHER FACT more than 90% of the visible changes commonly attributed 2 skin aging r caused by UVexposure #ChooseSkinHealth #NTGSpokesperson

That's all insane facts. I also learned that if you're in FL - depending on what activities you're in such as shopping, apply twice/day. If you're out in the sun at the beach, apply every 30-60 min. For those who want sunscreen that protects against humidity, you can check out sports versions of sunscreen.

Regardless of what sunscreen you use daily, I hope you'll stay protected and use it everyday!

*Are you interested in trying out products for FREE to use your voice? Feel free to stop by www.bzzagent.com and register for a new account. They're opening new campaigns all the time!

Take care & see you back here tomorrow! ~ Jessica

Five on Friday! :) :)

I am a little late on this but Happy Friday! I am blessed to work for an university that recognizes the hard work and service of the students who are veterans. Growing up, I never understood what Memorial Day really was. I knew it was military related but since being promoted to my military team, I've gotten to learn first-hand exactly the sacrifices that these men and women have endured. Being in the military is a real deal - you have a LOT of responsibilities, sometimes on very little sleep -- but at the end of the day, you are keeping all of us safe. Today at our Memorial Day ceremony, our keynote speaker mentioned what his version of what a veteran is -- it was roughly a billion degrees outside but from what I remember - People sleep quietly while the men and women are standing outside their door keeping the peace. Something to that effect. I was thrilled that I got to enjoy Chickfila & Jeremiah's Ice while downing bottles of water. Turns out I also got a tad sunburned, which is going to be a super fun tan. Alright - time to celebrate my week and be glad it's the weekend.

1. I think the best part of the week is that my baby seester finished her last day of finals for middle school. She's officially a FRESHMAN in high school! #classof2019 Goodness, I am slightly feeling pretty old. :) :) (far right - this is an older pic).

2) I have absolutely fallen in love with the flavor of anything and everything Birthday Cake. It comes in m&m's, ice cream. It's an incredibly rich flavor. I had some iice cream just now because that goes perfectly with my Scandal marathon and I licked the bowl like my pups would. 

3) Tomorrow is a busy day. My hubs is going to the dentist, I am finally going to Goodwill and donating EVERYTHING that I've been wanting to donate for the past few YEARS. I keep saying I am going, but then I don't and its just accumulated. I don't mean to insult or make fun of people who are on the show 'Hoarders'. But I kind of feel like all this stuff is quickly heading in that direction. Another awesome fact is that I get to go on a mini golf double date with my hubs, my bestie and her mister.. Yay for Groupons & Taco date :) :)

4) This week I took a hard look at my #weightloss goals and came up with a new workout routine. It was hard, sweaty and I downed an entire bottle of smartwater in a short time span. I tell you what - the guy who does Zumba Expert level resembles Channing Tatum in Magic Mike. & Jillian Michaels after those 40 minutes? Brutal! 

But worth it. Just reminded to take it day by day. :)

5. I think the best part of my entire week is this week was crossing off a lot of little to - do's on the bigger to-do list. I watched the next big talent win the title of "The Voice" this week. We've been working on painting the room that will be for our future babies. It's the planner in us. It helps keep the dream real that this condition of mine after I lose all the weight for my #BiggestLoser moment hopefully by next fall -- won't give us any issues trying to start our family. 

This week had its ups and downs but all in all - its important to keep the spirit and momentum up as high as possible. I need to keep working out, even on days when I want to crawl up and keep my dreams on top of my sweet tooth. I worked hard and while tonight's reward was ice cream and a Scandal marathon --  Mind you, this is just a pep talk for myself but sometimes I need to be transparent and honest about my goals instead of keeping them on Post-It Notes.

Off to measure for new shelves while keeping on with this Scandal marathon! I'm thinking since tomorrow in Central Florida will be 96 degrees - I will need to get my hands on Publix Sweet Tea! :) 

Thanks for stopping by & I'll see you back here tomorrow! You stay classy, planet Earth ;)  ~ J

25 Things You Don't Know About Me.

Happy Sunday, friends! :)

Hope you had a fantastic day. We went to the new church plant and am excited to go again. Everyone was really friendly, the message felt a big long but overall a positive experience. When we came back, we bathed the pups to get them ready to go bye byes (always an exciting time for our pups) to get their heartworm test/meds. They weren't excited but they did it without yelping like that tiny chihuahua in front of them. The real excitement comes when we have to get them to take their heartworm meds every month - anyone with dogs have good ideas for this?

Not sure if you've gotten into the Winter Olympics or not - I started watching them after my surgery but I didn't get real into it. I was more sad that my shows were on hiatus until after they ended. I started getting excited thinking it was this week they were coming back but lo & behold - next week I am excited for these shows specifically: Scandal & Parenthood!

So - here's what I wanted to do on my blog tonight. When I used to read those celebrity mags - they'd have this section that the celebrity would share these unknown facts. So I thought why not share 25 facts about myself? Here we go.

1) When I have a bad day at work, I go HERE or over HERE for a belly laughin good time. 

2) I am a coupon clipper - but not like the extreme hoarders who take it a bit too far.

3) Sometimes I don't update Facebook for more than a week!

4) My Instagram & Starbucks are good friends of mine.

5) I make a mean batch of tacos, they're my husband's favorite meal.

6) I invented his second fave meal on accident, try them yourself - recipe HERE! :)

7) After having my favorite scent @ Bath & Body Works for over a decade - I just switched to my new scent - Sexy Dahlias! 

8) My favorite times in college were going to Barnes & Noble, finding a comfy couch with Sbux & reading James Patterson mystery novels. Perfect way to relax my mind.

9) My favorite ice cream sandwiches are Market Pantry from Target!

10) Most of the ideas from my wedding were DIY projects: centerpieces, guestbook, etc.

11) Cadbury Creme Eggs & Peeps are my favorite candy. 

12) Cracker Barrel & Waffle House are my favorite roadtrip restaurants.

13) My favorite thing to do is peruse the Kitchen aisle at Target or Walmart. 

14) Every year I treat myself to a Krispy Kreme donut for that fix. 

15) I'm a 'card' person. I grew up giving people birthday cards & sending Christmas cards. My husband didn't. I think his family gets confused when I send them each year.

16) I get excited about trips to Target. Especially when the clearance section is involved.

17) I enjoy flipping the calendar every 1st of the month. Especially with our vintage Disney 2014 calendar.

18) I'm addicted to Smart Water.

19) My brother & I have an arrangement to where on his birthday, I am allowed to spoil my nephew more.

20) Every year on March 5th & September 10th - I make a big fuss about my dogs' birthdays.

21) I am the most creative at JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby or the crafty section @ Walmart.

22) I am addicted to the taste of Buffalo -- especially Mac & Cheese (Market Pantry).

23) I love looking up recipes of Pinterest. Especially for my crock pot.

24) Our bakery that made our wedding cake - the top layer was Root Beer flavored.

25) When I got married & tried to change my name on Facebook - they required me sending a copy of my marriage license first!

Hope you enjoyed those facts. Time to take some meds to feel better, still recovering. Hope your Monday is awesome, I am picking up my long awaited Girl Scout cookies from my sister. :) ~ J

Whew.

I'm so glad tonight is Saturday because if it was a Monday, i wouldn't be mentally okay with that. So, I had a great show tonight for Pampered Chef & I booked another party! My host is also getting a lot of outside orders so it will end up great. Hers is a fundraiser & . I don't think people realize how much work goes into a show for the host but also for the consultant. You have to set up your demo table, pre-make some dishes for faster expediting, and get ready to be on your feet for hours. I love it but boy does it feel like my feet may fall off soon.

After a long day like this-- I needed to clear my head and make a post. *Disclaimer: Random posting.*

Friday- I had my dentist appt & while I thought it was just a cavity it could also turn into a root canal depending on how my tooth reacts to the filling itself . So please pray that I just need a filling as a root canal/crown is too expensive & time consuming. Not the best news but thankful I have the dentist I do.

2nd weigh in of the year: Lost 4 lbs this week :) MyFitnessPal gladly told me I've lost 36 pounds since starting my weight loss journey in April 2012. Hoping to have lost a great amount by then :)

When my husband & I are at home on the weekends (or mutual days off): we love to kick back & watch some movies. This weekend so far: Happy Gilmore *love this movie*, Vegas Vacation, Wayne's World & currently Longest Yard.

Friday before my dentist appointment: I received a (rather misleading) email from Sallie-Mae that 'Congratulations your loans are paid in FULL!' Now, I got excited as if you think grad school is cheap, you're kidding yourself. I got a lil excited but then I realized that they send you an official congrats email when you pay off one loan or all of them. The loan in question? I paid off an unsub loan, yay. Amount: $126.11! Woot ;) I feel accomplished there. But one less loan to worry about.

But all in all today was a great day, I got to sleep in, got to cuddle with my doggies, relax with my man & enjoy a day, partly full with Pampered Chef/making triple layered brownies.

Excited for tomorrow- with coupons in the newspaper, yep I'm a coupon clipper & I love it. Supposedly my 'rest' day for working out but I will probably end up getting back in with Zumba.

& I finally plan on watching Parenthood & Scandal's episodes :) YAY. Love these two shows.

Hope you have a great rest of your weekend/see you next week :) ~Jessica