Lifestyle / Recipes

6 Trader Joe’s Items I Can’t Live Without

01.05.24

Trader’s Joe’s is my playground. I always go in the mornings so I can really take my time and not feel rushed in the cheese section by aggressive after-work people trying to grab ingredients for dinner. Because of all the new products they bring in that are so fun, I like to try as many as possible. Some things I’m not a fan of, but others become staples in my home.

This list has a few old faithful products on it and it has new discoveries that I’ll never tire of! Give them a try next time you shop. And if you want to see more of my favorite TJs items, check out this blog post, My Trader Joe’s Staples, arguably one of the most popular blog posts I’ve ever created (however, it’s a bit outdated so I’m due to update it). Enjoy!

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Lifestyle / Real Talk

My Ins & Outs for 2024

01.01.24

I really love this trend that’s all over social media because it’s a simplified way for us to make conscious decisions about what we are leaving behind and what we feel called to step into.  Resolutions seem to come with a lot of pressure. Goals need to be measured and well crafted. Intentions carry an invisible weight and we often don’t get granular enough with them. So I love the “Ins & Outs” exercise. It’s no bullshit and it’s specific.

I’m really excited to be writing this blog post right now, on January 1st, as my first post back to the blog since 2020! I really really love to write down my thoughts and share everything that I feel has made an impact on me and my life. So it feels natural to start off my first “In” with…

WHAT’S IN FOR ME IN 2024

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Real Talk

13 Ways To Advocate For Anti-Racism

06.11.20

I am keeping this post short and to the point, and if you’d like to hear more about what I have learned during this movement, listen to this episode Better Off Said Podcast.

I have compiled a few resources to help you educate yourself on the Black Lives Matter Movement and then advocated for the black community. My friend, Mary Myles, helped me with compiling these resources as she put together a 150-line Google sheet of resources and media to consume. She is amazing. Thank you Mary! If you’d like her full list, you can DM her here.

  1. BE AWARE OF YOUR PRIVILEGE. Understand that you likely didn’t even think twice about these rules black parents have to engrain in their children.
  2. Understand that #BlackLivesMatter isn’t just about the loss of life, it’s about the lack of consequences when blacks lives are taken at the hands of police. It also is not about saying black lives are more important that white lives, asian lives, mexican lives, etc; it’s about bringing light to the fact that black lives have been victims of institutional and systemic racism in a society that is designed to segregate them and hinder their opportunity in neighborhoods, schools and education, jobs, obtaining loans, etc.
  3. Check if your local police department requires that officers wear body cams. If you find that they do not, write a letter to your representative and chief of police to advocate for it.
  4. Watch this video about “black-on-black” crime.
  5. Stand up to friends and family members who speak of or demonstrate racist words or actions or jokes. Or even just feel completely indifferent.
  6. Support and donate to your local Black Lives Matter chapter.
  7. Support black owned  businesses, creatives, advocates, etc and follow them on social media to diversify the content you consume.
        • @killermike
        • @rachel.cargle⁠
        • @ihartericka⁠
        • @nowhitesaviors⁠
        • @iamrachelricketts⁠
        • @mspackyetti⁠
        • @ckyourprivilege⁠
        • @austinchanning⁠
        • @moemotivate⁠
        • @thegreatunlearn⁠
  8. Educate your children.
  9. Educate yourself!
  10. Pay attention to how your child’s school is teaching slavery, the Civil War and the Jim Crow Era and stand up to your school and teachers if there is limited, incorrect or biased information.
  11. Arrange for cultural student exchanges in your child’s school and participate in them.
  12. Encourage the black community and people in your life to respond to the US Census Bureau. Make your place in our world KNOWN.
  13. VOTE. According to the US Census Bureau, the black voter turnout rate declined for the first time in 20 years in a presidential election, falling to 59.6% in 2016 after reaching a record-high 66.6% in 2012. Here’s how:
Lifestyle / Recipes

SUR Inspired Goat Cheese Balls

05.18.20

TWO WAYS MIGHT I ADD!!

I had tested out three different ways to make these cheese bombs and I couldn’t pick just one. Thor’s favorite were the corn flakes and cayenne and mine were the walnut and rosemary.

Also––the whole point of this post––it’s the season finale of Vanderpump Rules! Eight whole seasons. Pretty impressive.

Before I get into the recipe, I have to just say that this season was a snoreeeeee. It’s the first season they really tried to shake things up with cast members and I can’t say it did the show any favors. Now, I am a die hard Pump Rules fan, but it’s losing it’s luster. And fast. Sad to say, I think it’s time to face the music and end the show. Or at least find a way to create a super intriguing spin off. Maybe with Stassi and Beau? They seem to be the only ones who have legs to stand on with a potential spin off.  And I need more James. James makes me laugh.

Needless to say, the show needs to stop now while it’s ahead. In honor of that, here are my goat cheese balls!! Read More

Lifestyle

How To Increase Your Daily Productivity

05.14.20

I bought a Productivity Planner at the beginning of this year and wow, it is a game changer. While I love my planner that holds my calendar, to do lists, notes, the productivity takes all of that, and teaches you how to organize it, prioritize and get things done in a productive and focused amount of time.

I bought the Productivity Planner by Intelligent Change. It’s just $26 and it’s completely based around two things:

      1. The pomodoro technique
      2. Ivy Lee’s prioritizing and productivity method

The one thing that I knew I needed to do before diving into using this planner, was read the front of the book that explains these three things I just listed. I am the queen of just doing and not reading the instructions beforehand haha. But the whole point of purchasing this was to be efficient, so this blog post is going to round up the first 30 pages of this planner so you don’t have to read them when you buy this planner! Let’s dive in…

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