Staying Hydrated While Finding Balance with Nestlé Pure Life+

This post is sponsored by Nestlé® Pure Life®+ but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Finding balance in life can be a struggle at times, especially during this crazy time in our lives.

Whether we are trying to work from home just the right amount or adjusting back to life in the office again, while trying to devote the correct amount of time to our family, and searching for a moment of relaxation, while also occasionally reminding ourselves not to overindulge, and sometimes even just searching for motivation, etc... most of us are striving to live balanced lives in one way or another, whilealso searching for ways to help us live that ideal life.

While I don't have it all figured out and I'm also still seeking balance in many aspects of my life, I have come to realize a few things that are truly important in my life and that help me live my most balanced life and I figured I'd share them with you today:

We'll start with something simple, but so important. I personally know that I never get enough water. I mean, I only drink water (for the most part) but not always the "necessary" amount that I need so it's something I'm really working on. Making sure my body is hydrated is important to me for so many reasons, I mean, we are mainly made up of water so making sure our body has enough of it is VITAL. Some days are easier than others to get enoughin and most definitely some water is better than others, and that's why I started sipping on these amazing Nestlé® Pure Life®+ water beverages-I think they are the best drinks

These refreshing little bottles have unique minerals to help you get throughthe day and they taste pretty amazing too. With specific minerals and tasty flavor, I couldn't ask for more!

The best part is there's a Nestlé Pure Life+ made to meet your every need:

• You can get a little pick me up with the +revive with Magnesium. It is lemon flavered and helps with the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
  

• The Nestlé Pure Life+ active has potassium, with a delicious orange flavor, that helps with normal muscle function. This is my favorite go to drink whenever I'm doing a little backyard "hot yoga". I mean, you can't beat a little cold water during a good stretch!

• Feeling a little under the weather? Try Nestlé Pure Life+ protect, which comes with zinc-something we all could use to help maintain normal immune systemfunctioning and the blackberry flavor is pretty delicious too!

Not only are these beverages refreshing and delicious, I love that I'm able to stock up on all the delicious Nestlé Pure Life+ my heart desires while browsing Walmart.com. So go ahead and clickadd to carton a pack of Nestlé Pure Life+ while you are checking out with your summer essentials!

If you're wanting to try just one flavor first, I personally found an adoration for the Lemon flavor... but honestly, they all are amazing and have unique minerals for normal body functioning and each flavor is extra refreshing in it's own way, so you can't go wrong! Go ahead, add to your cart, and try Nestlé Pure Life+ today!

Beyond constantly trying to stay hydrated, I'm also constantly reminding myself that I need to try to stay present to truly find balance in my life. Playing with my daughter, on her level, and actually engaging is so important right now, to both of us. If you're a parent, I'm sure you understand how important it is to give our kiddos our undivided attention right now, more than ever. The time spent truly "playing" with our kids isn't just for fun, it helps them learn, cope, and feel at peace... and frankly, it helps me do the same.

Today we did a quick little project and I figured I'd share our results. These fun "paintings" were so easy to make and we had a blast making them! I'll be sharing the directions on how we made them tomorrow.

Another way I'm trying to achieve balance in my lifeis by intentionally practicing self-care. I've not always been the nicest to myself, I've been known to bash my looks, point out my flaws, and frankly, I've neglected what my body needs at times. But I feel like I've matured, I'm done with bashing this body, I'm taking the necessary actions to make sure I feel loved and pampered. I'm making sure I take the time to read, do yoga, design, and create, and it feels so good. I'm also finding joy in doing my makeup and just overall feeling more "me" again. It may sound simple, but this step is truly helping me find an inner balance I haven't felt in a long time.

So tell me how do you try and find balance in your life? I'd love to hear in the comments below!

The Low Down on What I'm Eating When I'm Always Eat[ing] after 7pm!

  This post is brought to you by our sponsor, “Always Eat After 7 PM”.

The opinions expressed below are my own.

You may have read earlier that I have changed my lifestyle and I'm allowing myself to eat after 7, when I feel like it. I'm also allowing myself to indulge in carbs AND fat, without guilt, because I'm doing it wisely. I'm adhering to a healthy lifestyle change that involves intermittent fasting and keeping my body shape by eating meals that are going to benefit my body.

You may be wondering what exactly you can eat after 7 and I'm beyond excited to be able to mention a couple of recipes to you today and I hope you'll snag a copy of " Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion" for yourself so you can check these out and make them, I want to hear your opinion on the deliciousness!

From a decadent No-Bake Salted Caramel Bar to a spicy and delicious entree of Chili loaded baked potatoes, and a ridiculously tasty looking Fruit Tart, these recipes are definitely going on our weekly list so I can keep enjoying amazing food without any shame.

Speaking of shame, I'm taking this post in a bit different direction than the others I've written previously, mainly because when Joel Marion mentioned redefining who you are it really hit home for me and I thought I'd bring y'all on that little journey with me for a second.

Joel mentions his friend James Clear and how he stated "True behavior change is identity change." Then he goes on to mention how you can do the work, you can meet your goal, but once your goal has been met it's easy to creep back up or lose sight of why you were doing any of this in the first place. Joel then mentions that maybe instead of using a goal as our main motivator, that we could all be focusing more on being a healthy person and I can definitely get on board with that.

Do you want more of this wisdom or possibly more details on how to get a copy of "Always Eat after 7PM"? Get it here.

Weight Loss & Fitness Quotes to Keep You INSPIRED!

Weight loss isn't easy - it's not just about a diet or some quick fix, it's a lifestyle change. With that said, I'm embarking on a pretty strict change in my routine this week and in the spirit of staying committed to my weight loss I wanted to share with you some of my favorite weight loss quotes.

Feel free to pin to your diet Pinterest board or share on facebook - we all need a bit of jolly inspiration on occasion!

"A little progress each day, adds up to big results."

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 "You don't get what you wish for, you get what you work for."




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 "When I lost all of my excuses I found my results."




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"If it's important to you, you'll find a way. If it's not, you'll find an excuse."




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"If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results."




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"The body achieves what the mind believes."




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 "We won't be distracted by comparison if we are captivated with purpose."




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I'm learning everyday to let the space between where I am and where I want to be inspire me and not terrify me.



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Refresh Your Workout in 2019 for just $1 with Planet Fitness!

This post is sponsored by Babbleboxx & Planet Fitness,
regardless all opinions expressed here are completely my own.

As you may have read, in 2019 my goal word is REVIVE. I'm looking to refresh and renew myself in every way - physically, emotionally, within my soul.

On the same token, I'm learning to give myself a break. After all, life isn't perfect, but it is pretty great when I stop expecting perfection.

Instead of stressing about the little stuff, I've already started writing for fun again, I've spent time painting with Delainey, and I've created designs for my creative business that are outta this world. So I'm on the right track.

I've been doing everything I possibly can to have a renewed and grateful outlook on life and I'm learning to appreciate every aspect of it. I can already tell this refreshing disposition has made a difference in myself and the way I treat those around me. But if we are being real, another step I needed to take towards this revived and renewed me was making sure I'm keeping my body active. My mind can't relax enough to accept imperfection without a good workout, it's just who I am.

I've been doing my best to keep up with at-home workout routines, but sometimes a girl just needs a place to do some endurance or strength training and what better way to do that than in a judgement-free, easygoing fitness center like Planet Fitness!

With an environment for "everyday people" like myself, I love that I don't walk into a macho man zone - it's 100% the place for a girl like me to hop in and get a quick, relieving work out in without having to stress about who's watching me or if someone is going to linger too long and make me feel judged. It's like I walk in and I have a huge home fitness center, everyone respects each other and it's never a place I feel uncomfortable - which I can't say about other fitness establishments.

Speaking of uncommon things fitness centers offer... Beyond pizza night or lunk alarms, the reason I love our local Planet Fitness so much is the fact it went SOLAR! That's right, our St. Pete Planet Fitness is solar powered. How epic and eco-conscious is that?

But here's the most refreshing part about joining this judgement free zone this year --- now through January 15th, new Planet Fitness members can join for just a $1 enrollment fee, then it's just $10 a month with no commitment. That means you and I both can start our journey to a new, refreshed, revitalized us for just a $1 this week! Who wants to join with me?

Visit your local Planet Fitness to Get Down with Your Judgement Free Self!

My Curves Weight Loss Update & Some Perspective for Those Also on a Weight Loss Journey

Thanks to Curves International for sponsoring today's post, regardless all opinions expressed below are completely my own. Are you ready to get #CurvesStrong?

It's time.

You may remember around 3 weeks ago I officially owned up to my faults. I admitted that I've been slacking on the work outs and decided to become a member of Curves and change my lifestyle.

Not only am I excited to tell you that I've lost 8 lbs in those 3 weeks, I'm stoked to say I feel better about myself and more confident now as well... and it's not just the few lbs I've shed, it's the new lifestyle. *Curves Fitness members on average lose 5 lbs. over a 20‐week period. I received promotional consideration.

There's just something about how fresh the air feels after a great class or a nice little walk with Delainey and the way I feel after eating a healthy, satiating meal, there's no way to really describe it other than refreshing and with each bite I know my food is more nourishing than any fast food ever could be.

It's funny how just changing a few little parts of my day can entirely change the way I view the world. Although, life is all about perspective isn't it...? Well, so is weight loss and today I wanted to share a few pointers on perspective when it comes to weight loss, things we all need to hear!

1. Strong, not skinny - I constantly have to remind myself to focus on the end goal, you likely should be doing the same. We aren't working towards being tiny, necessarily, we're working toward a long, healthy future. I'm sure we all want to be around to see our kids graduate, but that obviously involves leading a healthy lifestyle and taking care of our bodies. Aim for a strong, healthy, balanced lifestyle and your life will flourish.

2. Food is for nourishment, not satisfaction - Speaking of flourishing, as we know, food is one those things in life that is absolutely necessary... but here's the thing, it doesn't always have to be super flavorful and insanely tasty. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love pumpkin pie as much as the next lady, but making sure you're supplying your body with what it needs via your diet means cutting back on carbs and sugars and allowing your body to process the foods you are eating. Make sure you're focusing on the content of your food and not always just following your taste buds.

3. Working out is fun, if you let it be fun - This one is hard for me to always remember, especially on my "lazy days"... but once I'm at Curves and in my routine, I always feel great... and that rush you get post work out proves to me I always make the right choice when I choose to get up & active.

4. Rome wasn't built in a day and I didn't gain all this weight in one day either - Simply meaning, we can't expect all of these extra lbs to just fall off when we're ready to shed our baggage. It's going to take work and dedication to meet (or exceed) our goals, but it'll be worth it in the end. Smalls goals are just as exciting to celebrate as big ones, so today I'm celebrating 8lbs and soon I'll hopefully be celebrating a more substantial weight loss!

So tell me, do you have any weight loss tips or advice on keeping things in perspective? I'd love to hear it in the comments below!

Admitting The Truth & Four Steps Towards a Healthier Life for Me...

Thanks to Curves International for sponsoring today's post, regardless all opinions expressed below are completely my own. Are you ready to get #CurvesStrong?

I'm going to be frank with you all, I've gotten rather round around the middle lately. It's not something I'm particularly proud of, but it's the truth.

Now that I've admitted I'm getting a little round, let's get to the point - I'm doing something to change that... again. You may remember when I lost a good chunk of weight in 2015, before Delainey was in the picture and I documented some of that progress along the way... well, I'm doing the same thing again this year and I'm going to look fan-freakin'-tastic come winter/spring - that's my goal, anyways!

How do I plan on losing all this "extra"?

Step One: I just signed up with Curves and I'm beyond excited about it. I love that it's a ladies only gym that offers circuits, I can get in a quick work out a few times a week before my other half heads to work and I'm left to tackle daily duties by myself.

Are you ready to take on a new adventure and increase your strength while losing weight with me? Find out about Curves nearby you - I'm loving that it's all about no makeup, no men, and no mirrors! It's a gym without the drama and I'm loving the team-like atmosphere and the fact I'm in and out, feeling impowered, in just 30 minutes.

Step Two: I'm eating Keto.... well, kind of. I'm watching my macros and limiting my carbs and I'm already noticing a difference! You really are what you eat, my body proves that...  so my best advice to those looking to lose weight with me is to be mindful of your food choices!

Step Three: I'm snoozing more. Instead of staying up late to try and get in a Netflix binge or some extra work completed, I've made a real effort to get some extra zzZZz's and I think it's paying off. Sleep is important, yet sometimes I forget that.

Step Four, the final step: I'm staying accountable. I'm using an app on my phone to keep track of my calories burned and my caloric intake. I'm paying attention to the macros in my food and my friends and I are working out together - that way I'm forced into getting up and going to the gym... even on the days I don't want to.

And that's really all I plan on doing to lose some weight, but I'm certain it'll help. If you're interested in keeping me accountable then be sure to check out the blog over the next few weeks... and months, for dieting advice and maybe some updates on my progress along the way!

As I mentioned above, today's discussion was sponsored by Curves International, but the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Moms Don't Get Sick Days: Why I Chose to Ask an Expert Today!

Today's conversation is sponsored by Samsung via MomTrends.

It was bound to happen... and for the first time since I had D, it happened today.

Y'all... Today, I woke up with a sore throat, a scratchy feeling in my ears, a slight fever, and an overall BLAH feeling. Oh, freaking no. My life is busy, as is, there's no time for being sick. Moms don't get sick days! It's just like an unspoken rule or something, we literally can not be sick.

I wasn't sure what I was going to do... but I knew I had to act fast. I'm sure you can relate, mom life doesn't leave much time for contemplating decisions. With a toddler bouncing around in bed with me and growling like a wild animal, I knew it was time to start the day... whether or not I felt up to it or not. So I made my plan and executed it, almost flawlessly, may I add.

The first thing I did was gargle with salt water and make myself a cup of honey-lemon tea.

Next, I knew I had to see a doctor, but wasn't sure how I was going to swing that with Miss Crazy Pants in tow. Then I remembered, I can just use my phone! Samsung Health makes it all easy as pie.

So...instead of trying to get myself and D dressed & put together for an in-person Doctor's visit, I was able to consult with a qualified physician from the comfort of my couch using Ask an Expert on my Samsung S6 Edge. I can't even begin to tell you what a relief this was.

I didn't have to worry about D catching something while waiting for me to be seen at a local urgent care, because we were literally able to watch her shows while I waited to be "seen" by the doctor.

I love how convenient Asking an Expert was, I literally just pressed a few buttons, chose who I would see, and then waited a few minutes until it was time... and of course, D had to say hello and help me discuss my symptoms.

Then... He told me to take it easy, get some rest, and make sure I'm getting plenty of Vitamin C. HA! And while I wish I could do all of that, it simply isn't going to be happening any time soon, at least while I have D in my care. So I amped up the vitamin C and we did our very best to take it easy today, which still included lots of time playing and chasing my tiny boss around the house.

While I'm not feeling a hundred percent myself yet, I think I'm on the road to recovery and I'm thankful I was able to Ask an Expert and confirm it was just a common cold without even having to leave my house.

Are you feeling a little under the weather or maybe your sweet pea is breaking out in a rash? If you're a Samsung user, here's some good news (even though I'm sure you're stressing):  you can see a doctor easily, just like I did! PLUS, I have a discount code you can use, save $10 when you use the code 'SAMSUNG24'! But just so ya know, this expires 3/31/18.

Disclaimer: Compensation for this post was provided to me by Samsung via MomTrends. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Samsung or MomTrends. Ask an Expert (Online Doctor Visits) is a service offered through Samsung Health that helps you easily connect to medical and wellness experts from your phone. Samsung Health requires a compatible Android phone and a Samsung account. The Online Doctor Visits service is available in the U.S., except in Arkansas. The service is not for people suffering from medical emergencies or serious life-threatening conditions.  If you have a serious medical concern, please call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency department.