fab 4 smoothie

30 October 2017

fab 4 smoothie
Every morning without fail I drink my Fab 4 Smoothie. I've talked about this a couple times on Instagram so I wanted to share not only the recipe but what exactly a Fab 4 Smoothie is! 

BACKGROUND: A couple months ago I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts and Kelly LeVeque came on to talk about her new book (which you need in your life) and all things health and wellness! Ever since this podcast things have dramatically changed for me in the health department. I was trying to lose weight, it was kind of working but not really. Enter in @bewellbykelly and things started to click with me. Diets are not our friend, a HEALTHY lifestyle is. One thing that Kelly suggests starting off with to ease things into your healthier lifestyle would be to start drinking your Fab 4 Smoothie every morning! Don’t ever miss it and just by adding this small thing you’ll notice some changes. 

What is a Fab Four Smoothie you might ask? Well this is what Kelly says about it on her site: 

"The #bewellsmoothie is a formula to help you develop a blood sugar balancing meal replacement shake in any flavor with enough protein, fat and fiber to keep you full. Many juice shops, grocery smoothie bars and smoothie recipes are loaded with sugar, specifically fructose sugar from excess fruit. Fructose sugar stores as fat 20-30% faster than glucose. The #bewellsmoothie limits fructose to 1/4 cup.”

Here is the recipe she suggests for the smoothie but I don’t usually do the fruits: 

#FAB4Smoothie : Protein (20g min) + Fiber (10g min) + 1 Tbsp. Fat + Handful Greens + 1/4 Cup Fruit + Superfoods + Liquid


Now for my actual recipe for the smoothie that I drink every morning: 
1 scoop of Vanilla Plant Based Protein(I use the Tone it Up) I switched to plant based, I was originally using Whey but I noticed it was making me bloated. 
Handful of Greens(I use spinach)
1 Tablespoon of Almond Butter
1 1/2 Tablespoon of Chia Seeds
1/2 Teaspoon of Coconut Oil
3/4 Cup of Water
4 Ice Cubes

I drink this smoothie after I do OrangeTheory anywhere from 8-9am and it keeps me full until 12-1pm! It's so amazing because I really don't like to snack on things! The smoothie is balancing your blood sugar and that in return is what is keeping you fuller for a longer period of time.

But there you have it! I seriously love this smoothie so much, and if you're looking for a good way to start living a healthier lifestyle try starting with drinking a Fab 4 Smoothie :) 




no such thing

01 May 2017

no such thing
There is no such thing as too many floral prints in your closet. There just isn't. I have a mad crush on floral prints. I just think they are so girly and so fun to wear. I absolutely love this white dress with blue florals, it's too perfect for spring and it's light weight which is always good! It's from Tobi, which has a great selection of dresses PLUS a crazy good discount going on right now, you can get 50% off site wide with the code SD50. This dress specifically is only $34 with the code! 

I paired it with my favorite denim jacket I thrifted last year in Spain and this dress looks great alone or with some denim. I also added this fun hat which always makes you look put together, which I think is amazing because if you are having a bad hair just add a hat ;) So it's officially May, it's dress season and floral season so stock up because there are so many different ways to wear them! 

Outfit Deets:

Dress: Tobi // Hat: Nordstrom // Shoes: Nordstrom similar here // Denim Jacket: Thrifted similar here  // Purse: Rebecca Minkoff  

outfits from my cruise

28 April 2017

outfits from my cruise
Cruises are probably one of my favorite ways to travel. So relaxing and I get to dress up some nights since they have formal nights, and that's always fun. Also fun fact about me, I have a serious obession with swimsuits, every season I buy way too many because I just want them all. It's hard for me to wear a swimsuit more than a couple times haha. It's terrible, Matthew hates it, but I can't help it. So I put together links and photos from the outfits I wore on my cruise. Most of these photos were taken with a phone, so the quality isn't the best and I'm sorry. I wasn't worrying about outfit photos, but I wanted to show y'all what I wore! 
Bikini: Asos (top) (bottom
Bikini: Asos (top) (bottom)
Swimsuit Cover Up: Asos 
Denim Shorts: Asos // Top: Topshop
Dress: Sheinside // Shoes: Nordstrom 
Dress: Sheinside(only $14!) // Wedges: Nordstrom
Dress: Sheinside(only $15) // Wedges: Nordstrom 
Dress: Nordstrom // Heels: Zara(old)
Dress: Nordstrom // Heels: French Connection


















all about the neckline

25 April 2017

all about the neckline
I'm back from a cruise with the hubby and it was a much needed break from our busy schedules. I'm going to be sharing what I wore on the cruise later this week, along with our travel vlog! 

I'll be in Texas this next week and I'm just loving every second of it. I miss living here so much. I'm enjoying the weather and spending time with family. I found this dress in a Nordstrom Rack in San Diego and I knew I needed to have it. The floral print was so perfect for spring but the key hole neckline is what sold me. I love the fun necklines that are being incorporated into blouses and dresses lately. Plus it's less than $50 so that's always a good deal for a dress! These neutral sandals have been on repeat the minute I got them last summer. They go with so many things and they are actually really comfortable. Now onto these earrings that I'm literally obsessed with surprisingly. My mom took me to the Kendra Scott store to get me something for my birthday and she convinced me to get these rose gold drop earrings, I didn't think I would wear them a lot but I've basically worn them every day since I've gotten them. I love Kendra Scott jewelry, every piece I've purchased it quickly becomes a favorite. That's it for now, but I can't wait to show y'all some more details of my trip later this week! 

Outfit Deets:
Dress: Nordstrom Rack // Shoes: Nordstrom // Purse: Mansur Gavriel // Earrings: Kendra Scott 

9 must-sees in San Diego

11 April 2017

9 must-sees in San Diego
A couple weeks ago I went to San Diego for work and I quickly fell in love with it! I had been there before but really hadn’t ventured out of downtown. San Diego is so beautiful! I would legitimately move right now if it wasn’t so expensive ;) I put together 9 must-sees if you’re ever down there! It’s definitely the perfect stop for a relaxing and fun weekend.
1.   Gaslamp Quarter- First up is the Gaslamp Quarter, this is a great place for going out to eat, night life. It’s such a vibrant and fun part of downtown. You have so many options to choose from! I only had breakfast here but omg it was good! It was at Breakfast Republic, and I loved it so make sure to check that out!
2.   Pacific Beach- This is really great place to go to for so many reasons, lots to do and a great place to relax on the beach, rent a bike and take a bike around. And tons of great places to eat! My friend from college who lives there recommended The Fish Shop and it was so good! So that’s definitely a must while you are over in that area!

3.   Balboa Park- Head on over to Balboa Park, where you will find a massive 1200-acre urban cultural park situated in the middle of the city. You can explore the open space areas, gardens, and the several museums! The park features beautiful architecture and it’s definitely worth checking out!
4.   Little Italy- This is a fun place to get some yummy food and also is a great stop!
5.   San Diego Zoo- I think everyone needs to go here at least once. It’s really an amazing zoo and there’s so much to see!   
6.   La Jolla- I LOVED this area! You absolutely have to go to La Jolla Coves, I didn’t know I would love this area so much! We probably were there for at least four hours. You can see sea lions and seals up close and it’s so fun, and the views are incredible!

7.   Old Town- This was one of my favorite little areas that I went to. Old Town is the historic centre of the city, there is so much cultural influence here and it’s the perfect place to experience a little taste of Mexico. You can wander the streets and explore the historical sites such as, the Church of the Immaculate Conception, the Alvardo House and the Whaley House. There are also lots of fun little souvenir shops! But most importantly make sure to get some very yummy Mexican food while you are there!
8.   Sunset Cliffs- I thought this was a beautiful place to relax and see the sunset! Make sure to stop by a little early before sunset because parking could be hard to find. It’s so beautiful here and you’re sure to get some amazing photos and views!
9.   Seaport Village- We stopped here on one of the nights after my conference and I loved this little area! It has some good seafood restaurants and little cute shops. It’s a fun place to walk around and relax! 

3 Day Rome Itinerary

06 April 2017

3 Day Rome Itinerary

Last summer Matthew and I went to Rome, Italy for three days before heading to Spain and we both completely fell in love with the city, with the Italian culture, literally everything! This city is not only gorgeous, you could just get lost in the streets because they are just so beautiful, but there is so much history! The city is completely walkable which I love, I literally walked everywhere, which makes seeing the city completely easy! Even though we only had three days there, I still feel like I was able to see everything I wanted, would I go back? Heck yes! I thought I would share my complete itinerary with y'all, this worked great for us! I'm also sharing some tips with y'all that can be helpful. 

Day One: Colosseum/Roman Forum Day
 8:15am: Head to the Roman Forum/Palantine Hill 
---I'd say to do this as soon as it opens so you can beat most of the crowds, and really spend as much time as you want there and you won't feel rushed if you head there first. Another tip is to buy your tickets in advance for this! It was really nice to not have to worry about getting in line, and I was just ready to go!
10:00am: After roaming the Roman Forum/Palantine Hill make your way over to the Colosseum (they are right next to each other) 
11:30am-12pm: Take a Lunch Break
--Relax, eat pasta, drink some amazing Italian coffee, try the pizza. Literally the food I had in Rome was some of the best food I've ever had! Some tips locals gave me were actually really helpful. Never eat at a restaurant that has a menu with photos, and make sure you see a kitchen in the restaurant. Apparently a lot of restaurants there just heat stuff up in microwaves? So to guarantee that you will be eating fresh Italian food, make sure there is a kitchen ;) 
1pm: Pantheon 
2pm: Trevi Fountain
--I went to the Trevi Fountain so many times because I passed it to get to and from places from my hotel. I suggest going in the day and night to see it because it definitely looks different, and honestly you can never get tired of seeing it! Don't forget to throw a coin in! 
3pm: Capuchin Bone Church
5pm: Take a break before dinner
--take a nap, rest up, you deserve it
8pm: Dinner
Day Two: Relax and Live the Italian Life 
10am: Get some breakfast and get an espresso and some yummy Italian treats
11am: Spanish Steps and Shopping
--Not only is this area gorgeous but there is some pretty amazing shopping, yes this itinerary has time for shopping, I did a lot of damage there. I bought my first Louis Vuitton there and let me tell you why I'm a huge advocate of shopping in Europe, let alone buying a designer bag. You HAVE to utilize the VAT refund. Read all about that here. But it's a basically a European tax refund that you receive upon departure. It's typically done at the airport. Just make sure to have your passport with you when you are shopping. I always do the refund in cash, I think it's a lot easier to not worry about. By doing this, you can save a lot of money, especially on big purchases! 
3pm: Piazza Navona and Lunch 
--Head over here for some amazing relaxation, take in the amazing gorgeous views and enjoy this square and you must eat lunch here! There are so many good restaurants and you will just love it! 
6pm: Gelato Break
7pm: Take a break before dinner
8pm: Dinner
10pm: Head back on over to the Trevi Fountain 
Day Three: Vatican Day
7am: Head on over to the Vatican area
--Get there early for several reasons, gorgeous light, but most importantly not as crowded! Okay so my biggest tips for the Vatican: don't buy your tickets in advance haha. Before I went all I read was do it before, but I'm so mad I did because I didn't realize that by buying my tickets in advance I had a specific time slot and it's really strict. Plus it was without a tour guide. I didn't realize my tickets were no good until I got there late and they take the time slots very seriously. But once we got to the Vatican and there are tour guides everywhere(that are legit, they will have badges) and they are not only selling tickets but a tour which is SO needed! This place is huge, really overwhelming, you can't truly see it in a day. So get with a tour guide that is guided. I am SO glad I did this. They gave us headphones so we could hear and our guide was great! And another huge plus of doing it this way is that you can SKIP the huge ass line! Because it's huge, at least when we went haha! One last thing, is to dress appropriately, they have a strict dress code! I wore a shirt with sleeves, and jeans just to be safe. 
8am: Vatican, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica 
12pm: Castle St. Angelo 
1pm: Explore Trastevere and eat Lunch 
4pm: Cross over the Isola di Tiber and into the Jewish Ghetto to explore 
5pm: Campo di Fiori
7pm: Head back over to the Piazza Navona for dinner
--you can really have dinner wherever you like, we just really liked this area. 
9pm: Gelato for one last time :) 

Here's our Rome Travel Diary: