Author: thecharmingjay

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Blog

5 Tips For An Easier, More Productive Week

Hi there, everyone! I’m back and cannot believe how quickly January has passed! I usually think January drags on and on, but not this year. This week, like every other, is full of things for me to check off my list. I’m working on my second blog post about Italy and my first installment, coming later this week, She’s Such A Jam Monthly Round Up. So be on the look out for more new posts this week!!

Today, I wanted to talk a little bit about little things I do each weekend to help my week be less stressful, more enjoyable, and productive. Yes, it’s possible! These 5 little things help me close out my weekend feeling rested and ready for the week, and really help me later in the week when I’m tired and can’t wait for the weekend.

+Prepping Meals-I don’t know about you, but I cannot prep meals too far ahead of time or for the entire week without getting tired of the same thing. I just do not want to eat meat I made Sunday five days later, that’s just me. I just can’t! However, I do do some prepping to make meals and especially dinner time easier.

  • Wash and cut/slice all of your fruits and vegetables and put them into containers. This will make them easy to access during the week for breakfast, lunches or dinner.
  • Plan your weekly meals ahead of time. I don’t know how you all do your grocery shopping, but I order everything online, drive right up and they load it into my car and I’m out of there. Online ordering also helps me plan meals for the week and make sure I have everything I need for a recipe. Taking care of this during the weekend helps a ton. And because it’s online takes 5-10 minutes max!
  • Prep a meal for your crock pot or instant pot, or both! This one is a lifesaver! It’s so easy to throw all the ingredients into your pot Sunday night, put it in the fridge, take it out in the morning or evening for instant pot and done! Nothing is better than walking into the house after a Monday and smelling dinner waiting for you. If you have both a crock pot and instant pot, make a meal for both and you instantly have two days of dinner meals ready to go.
  • Pack your breakfast and lunch the night before so it doesn’t hold you up in the morning. This also helps me plan for healthy eating throughout the day because I’ve packed my breakfast, lunch and snacks ahead of time. My go to breakfast foods: boiled eggs, cheese, yogurt, oatmeal, fruit. Usually my lunch is left overs from the night before.
  • Have snacks on hand and ready to go. Snacks I usually have on hand: boiled eggs, variety of string cheese, chocolate rice cakes, popcorn, fruits and veggies. Most every Sunday I boil at least 6-10 eggs. I use them throughout the week for breakfast and snacks. It’s easy and already prepared when I’m hungry or in a rush.

+Plan your outfits on Sunday night-I started doing this when my schedule changed and I started getting up at 5:30 in the morning. I cannot tell you how many mornings I was late leaving the house because I just did not know what to wear! I’d stand in my closest trying to decide and just waste time! Now, I plan all my outfits on Sunday, when the day rolls around I just grab my outfit and I’m good to go. No more debating, worrying about time, none of it.

I also make sure to pack a few gym outfits into my gym bag. Taking the think out of these little tasks helps me to just get it done or when I have unexpected time in between work, appointments, a friend wants to meet for a workout, whatever, if I have my bagged packed I can stop and workout because I already have all my necessities with me.

  • Pick out 5 outfits for the week. Hang at the front of your closet, put together, ready to go(top, bottoms, accessories)
  • Iron anything needing to be ironed and add to your items.
  • Throw at least 2 days of workout clothes into you gym bag(2 tops, 2 bottoms, 2 sports bras, 2 socks, hair ties, tennis shoes.)

+Make a To-Do List-If you know me, you know I love lists, like love. I really can’t help it. For one, I need help remembering little things I don’t commonly do thorough the week, so I need to write them down and secondly, I like the feeling of accomplishment when I cross something off, or finish the whole list! For real. Lists help me stay on track and productive throughout the week. You can go old school and write your lists out, I still do this at my office, or use your smart phone. There are tons of note taking apps you can download, I personally, just make a note in my phone and check off what I’ve completed. I like having my list in my phone because I have it with me the majority of the time and can reference it, add things, check items off. It’s handy and it works! If you’re not a list person, you should really give it a try.

+Look at your planner-I’m a huge advocate of using your weekend to relax and rejuvenate for the week and leaving work at the office. However, I do find it helpful to glance at my calendar to see what I have scheduled for the week. A way of mentally planning for the week. With a full time job, my own business seeing clients after work, traveling, doctor’s appointments and all the usual life activities, I often store events in my calendar ahead of time and it helps to review what I have scheduled for the week. Also, if I need to throw something in my car I don’t usually carry with me, grab some documents off the desk, etc. I can do it on Sunday and it saves me time the day of.

+Turn your bathroom into a mini spa and relax-Although, it is super helpful to plan ahead and get things ready for the week, the most important thing you can do for yourself on Sunday is get some ME time in. Days and weeks get busy and even a few minutes of taking care of yourself can help you decompress and relax. Sunday night, turn your bathroom into a spa. Take a long shower or bath. And I’m not talking a quick in and out 5 minute shower! I’m talking a relaxing, I’m not going anywhere after this shower or bath. You know there’s a difference! Maybe light a candle or add some essential oil to your water if you have some. I make sure to deep condition my hair or use my sugar body scrub. Something I just don’t have time to do during the week. Finish with a quick face mask. I love sheet masks and every Sunday I use one either on my whole face, under my eyes, my lips, maybe both. Either way, I lay down relaxed and ready for a good night’s rest.

I hope your new year is off to a great start and these five little tips help keep you motivated, save you time and make your week easier. Talk to you soon, everyone!

Categories
Travel

Traveling Mesa Verde National Park

One of my favorite neighboring states to visit for a quick weekend or road trip has to be Colorado. I’ve explored Colorado from North to South, and there are so many beautiful cities, big and small, I will have to share with you all over the next few months. One of my favorite places to visit when I’m craving a weekend away is Southwestern Colorado, about a 3 hour drive from Albuquerque. Durango, Pagosa Springs, Telluride, Ouray are all some of my favorite places to visit in the Southwestern area. Quaint towns, filled with tons of natural beauty, outdoor activities, food, shopping and events. You name it, you can find it anywhere in Colorado!

Mesa Verde National Park is located in Montezuma County, Colorado. Just between Durango and Cortez, Colorado. I, myself, had never heard of Mesa Verde until I spent an extended time visiting and exploring the area. Ever since the park has been placed on my recommendation list for anyone visiting the area. The park protects some of the best-preserved Ancestral Pueblo archaeological sites in the United States. The cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park, suspected to have begun construction at the end of the 12th century, are reported to be one of the largest protected areas in the United States, home to over 600 cliff dwellings. Trust me, it is an amazing site to see in real life and if you are in the area, is a place you definitely should visit.

There are several options for exploring the park. You can begin by stopping by the visitors center, where you can purchase tickets, usually running $15-$20, grab a map to take along with you, speak with park rangers and park employees, and explore artifacts located at the the center. To best explore the park you can decide what option is best for you and your group. You can purchase a guided tour or just drive around to different looking points off the map and explore on your own, which is what I prefer. There are also park employees at most of the dwelling locations to answer questions and give you more information about the site.

The cliff dwellings are amazing!! With different view points marked off, you can park and easily hike to the nearest cliff dwelling. Along the way you will get a glimpse of some of Colorado’s stunning views. It is a great experience. If you love history, national parks, the outdoors or just adventures in general, this is an adventure for you!

For more information about Mesa Verde National Park please visit the following website: https://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm

Categories
Travel

48 Hours in Venice, Italy

I’m still recovering from my holiday in Italy. It was better than I could have imagined. Traveling during the December holiday kicked off without a hitch on Christmas Day, and was way less stressful than I thought it would be. Venice was unbelievable to see in real life and I am still looking back at my photos surprised by everything we were able to see and just how beautiful the entire city is. If you’re planning a trip to or have always wanted to go, here’s a few things you should know before visiting.

+Getting to Venice

There are several different way to get to Venice. You can fly into Rome or Milan(largest airports) or easily take the train into Venice, which is what we did. Coming from Rome, the train ride to Venice was about 3 hours., from other cities such as Milan, it is a quick one and hour train ride. There are several train companies running out of the train stations in Italy daily, We chose Italotreno.it for all of our travel and were able to book our tickets easily online. Depending on your ticket, you can watch movies, enjoy some snacks or snooze on your train ride into the city. It is also a great way to see what the country side of Italy looks like. Trains leave throughout the day, so you can best schedule the time of day which works best for you. Normally, for me, the best time, is after breakfast, not too long after check out, so I don’t have to carry my luggage around and can make it to the next city before sun down. Once you arrive in Venice, you will have to take a water taxi to your hotel or Airbnb. Water taxi tickets cost about $7 an can be purchased at water station upon arrival.

+Where to stay in Venice

There are several hotels in Venice but we opted for an Airbnb as we wanted to stay close to the Rialto Bridge and have easy access to the attractions we were hoping to see. Looking back, I would have booked my top choice Airbnb, that seemed to be located a little farther from the attractions but was larger with newer features. After visiting the island, you realize it is quite small and you can walk or taxi to every end of the island easily and you do not necessarily have to stay by the main attractions. Venice is an old city, there not many “new” Airbnb’s or hotels, at best they are remodeled, so choose where you will be most comfortable and then walk or taxi to the locations you most to visit.

+What to see in Venice

My best advice when visiting Venice is to just get lost in the city! Honestly. The island is small, you will wander through streets and wind up at the attractions you were hoping to see. Make a list of your must see’s and as you wander you can look up areas you haven’t yet run into and are important to you. We walked from one side to the other, were able to see everything we set out to during the day. After a nice dinner we took a water taxi back to the stop closest to our Airbnb. Easy and much appreciated after a long day of walking and exploring. In one day of exploring we were able to see all we had set out to.

  • Rialto Bridge
  • Grand Canal
  • Ponte dell’Accademia
  • St. Mark’s Square
  • Palazzo Ducale
  • Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
  • Punta della Dogana

+What to eat and buy in Venice

Venice is known for it’s seafood and most every restaurant has a seafood special or fish of the day. If you love seafood this is the place to try it. It’s fresh and you are able to find it most any place you go. Also, the island closet to Venice, Murano, is know for it’s glass making and you can find beautiful glass trinkets and jewelry across the island. This is a great item to buy on the island, as there is lots of items to choose from and for the most part it are small enough to pack and bring back with you. There are many shops, from high end department stores to locally owned storefronts, for you to enjoy plenty of shopping while exploring for the day.

Truly, Venice is so different than any place I’ve ever been before! The water way system, was amazing to see and understand how it works. Although the island is small, it is dense and there is so much to see. You can easy see everything you need to in a little over 24 hours.

Categories
Blog

Building Healthy Habits||Planning to Achieve in 2019

Happy New Year, everyone! I’m back in the country and have recovered from my holiday travel, mostly. I don’t know about you but I always come back from vacation so tired and wishing I had time to rest, but for me, usually I am back to work the very next day. This vacation was no different and I jumped right back into work, made it through my post vacation work week, and cannot wait to share with you all the adventures I had in Italy! So stay tuned, I will definitely have some posts up soon.

With each New Year, I have always enjoyed writing down what I want to accomplish and work on for the next year. I find so much satisfaction in being able to look back at year’s end and see what I was able to accomplish over the year. It also helps me not loose vision of what my intentions for the year were a few months from now.

+Blogging-My biggest goal comes with my blogging. I’ve learned so many things over the past year, and over the last few months I’ve found my groove and can really see a future for my blog. I’m excited about the ideas I have and know writing my goals down is the first step in making them happen.

  • Sharing more about myself, making sure my blog is more personal and really shows you all who I am.
  • Consistent posting. Aiming for 2 posts each week.
  • She’s Such a Jam Monthly Roundup.
  • Increase WordPress followers.
  • Monthly newsletter and email list.
  • Increase social media following.
  • Upgrading my blogging equipment(camera, computer, editing programs.)

+ Health & Fitness-2018 was not my year for focusing on my health and fitness. I did practice lots of self-care, taking time for myself to do the things I enjoy to recharge and have successful days, weeks, and months. I will definitely continue my self-care but I need to pay more attention into my health and fitness. I use to practice a good balance of 80/20 with my eating, but last year I indulged, and baked a lot! I also, didn’t put much effort in preparing my meals the night before for work, which saves me tons of time, but also, ensures I eat mostly well throughout the day. So more of all of these things this year!

  • Get back to activities I love (Dancefit/yoga) at least 3x/week.
  • Start 20 minute Beachbody program.
  • Workout before work at least 2x/week.
  • Weekly meal prep.

+Lifestyle & Travel-I always put lots of work into my daily life, working on projects, planning trips, scheduling time with family and friends. This is the fun stuff for me and usually happens without much thought, but I still always like to write down my hopeful plans and ideas to see what comes to happen each year.

  • More time with family, especially my mom.
  • Visit 1 new country.
  • Visit/Sleep in one new state (USA.)
  • Explore a new place in my own state (New Mexico.)
  • Girls trip!
  • One great concert.
  • Finish upstairs loft.
  • Outdoor patio completed.
  • House paint update.
  • Less spending more saving.

I hope this list inspires you to write down some of the things you hope to accomplish this new year, for yourself. Here’s to planning and achieving new things this year! 2019, the year we make it all happen!!

Categories
Lifestyle

My 5 Favorite Beauty Products of the Year

As the year comes to an end and I am preparing for an out of town trip, I was quickly reminded of my favorite beauty products I have found over the last year that have become staples in my beauty routine. This is not an add, all words are my own and the products were selected based on my own likes and trials while using these products. Without further ado, let’s break down my five favorite beauty products of the year for you all!

Foreo Luna Facial Massager and Cleanser- My number one, top beauty product of the year, hands down,  goes to the Foreo Luna Facial Cleaner Brush! This brush is amazing and is the reason I have gotten rid of my regular facial spinning brush. It honestly is that good! This sylacone cleansing brush gently cleans and massages away make up, dirt and oil and leaves your face feeling smooth, refreshed and is gentle enough to use daily. One of my favorite things about the Foreo Luna is how tiny and convenient it is for packing and taking on trips out of town. This is my top beauty find of the year and a product you will always find in my beauty bag. 

Pixi Glow Tonic-My second, top beauty product of the year, I came across by accident with a sample when I ordered another product online. I was excited to try it and loved the fact the sample size fit easily into my beauty bag and I was able to take it with me on vacation. After two weeks of being away and only having the The Pixi Glow Tonic to use this toner quickly became my go-to toner and has replaced my much more expensive brand of toner. The Glow Tonic deeply cleans pores and although highly concentrated, is gentle enough to use every day. I’ve noticed the difference on my skin, with brighter, clearer skin. Not only is the toner great but it is very affordable and you can buy it at Target or Amazon, which makes purchasing so easy. I love this toner and would recommend it to anyone, especially anyone with oily skin trying to fight breakouts.

Tarte Maracuja C Brighter Eye Treatment- My third, top beauty product of the year can easily be rated as my first when I think of all the benefits I have seen from using this product. The Tarte Maracuja C Brighter Eye Treatment is a game changer. I have very sensitive skin and had to stop using several eye treatment creams because they were too harsh and I would often have an allergic reaction. This year, blame it on age, less sleep or whatever you may, I started to notice dark puffy circles under my eyes in the morning. I search and read reviews about the top products on the market and this eye treatment was ranked among the best. The reviews did not lie. I never wake up with dark puffy eyes anymore, seriously, never! My skin looks refreshed, rested and nice and plump. The eye cream is gently and I have never had an issue with it being too harsh or having a reaction to it. If you or someone you know is looking for a new eye cream this is one worth trying. 

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion- My forth, top beauty product of the year, comes from a brand I had been familiar with, Mario Badescu, using several different products but I had never used this drying lotion. I decided to give it to try to see if it would help speed up my breakouts and get my skin back to normal. The drying lotion, made with salicylic acid and calamine is easy to dap onto skin with a q-tip and significantly helps to reduce swelling, effectively dries out your breakout spot and helps get rid of the spot much quicker than letting nature take it’s course. You would think because the drying lotion is so good at drying out breakouts it may be harsh on your skin or cause your skin to dry out, but it does not. One of the many things I love about it. This is the lotion you use if you have a blemish pop up the day before a big event! By morning you will notice a significant difference and will be glad you tried it . 

Tarte Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 -My fifth, and last top beauty product of the year, goes to another Tarte product I cannot live without. I do not like putting foundation all over my skin and will usually just spot treat any blemishes and discoloration in my skin. This tinted moisturizer is awesome. Not only does it moisturize while providing sun protection but it is light and really helps even out my complexion without feeling thick or greasy. I love my tinted moisturizer! I can not tell you how many mornings I rub a little on my skin, add a little mascara and I’m out the door. If you want a light coverage with some sun protection this is definitely a tinted moisturizer you should try. 

Categories
Lifestyle

FabFitFun Winter 2018 Unboxing

As most of you know, I am a FabFitFun box subscriber and always love all the goodies I get each season. This season I am extra excited because I am now a #FabFitFunAffiliate!!! I’m so excited! Over the past year I have discontinued every other box subscription except FabFitFun, and I’m so happy with this being my only subscription box. By far the items I receive are the best of the best. It’s like Christmas every time I have a box waiting on my doorstep. Not to mention, all the awesome Christmas gifts and stocking-stuffers I was able to get this season.

*NOTE: This post contains my Fabfitfun referral link. All words and thoughts are my own. 

Let’s recap for those of you who are not familiar with FabFitFun. As a FabFitFun subscriber, you pay a quarterly (4x/year) member subscription of $49 and you receive your seasonal box full of full size goodies. They also have several options for members, such as customizing items in your box before your box ships, add-on’s for only $10 and priority shipping for VIP members. If you don’t already get their boxes, you can sign up using the code SANTABABY at FabFitFun to get $10 off your box!

PUR Be Your Selfie Palette

Let’s get started on the all the cozy goodies in this winters box. The most cozy of them all the BEARPAW Headband and Pop-Top Glove Duo. I’ve been looking for warm accessories for holiday travel and this combo are perfect! Cute, warm and not too bulky.

Next up, I’m in love with this PUR Be Your Selfie palette!! The shadow colors are gorgeous and are perfect for the holiday season. My New Years look is coming from this palette for sure.

To add to your eye glow, the winter box, also had the Thrive Causemetics Brilliant Eye Brightener. I tried it out, I liked how easy it was to put on your skin and the light glow it adds to your under eye, but with my oily skin I didn’t love the way the product blended and I’m thinking this might not be the product for me. However, I have several friends who have tried this product and love it, so don’t knock it till you try it.

The beauty item I was most excited to receive and try was the Sherrie Matthews Acupuncture Jade Stone Roller. Stone rollers are all the rage and I’ve been wanting to try one out but had not splurged on one yet, so getting one in the winter box couldn’t be more perfect. I’ve been using it for the last few weeks and I can’t say I’m seeing results in such a short time, but I do love the way the roller feels on my skin. It is so soothing and relaxing. I am definetly adding the jade roller to my beauty regimine and hoping for all the benefits it promises to keep my skin looking young.

My favorite item for the home in this seasons cozy box, is the Mark and Graham throw. Members had a choice of two color options, the grey and white I chose and a tan and white. This throw is so soft and light and is perfect for my loft. I’ve been cuddling up with it and watching the Christmas tree lights every evening.

Another house item was the Way of Will essential oil set in eucalyptus and sweet orange. I use a diffuser every day in my office and I’m never disappointed with new oils.

If you remember, all members have the option of customizing their own box and for my winter box I chose the Orbie Gold Lust Dry Shampoo, I love this dry shampoo and I needed a new bottle to take with me on my holiday travels, so I’m throwing it in my suitcase and it honestly couldn’t have come at a better time.

A new item I had never tried was the AHAVA Hydration Cream Mask. A few boxes back I received the AHAVA Hand Cream and loved it, so I was excited to try another product from this brand. I’ve tried this mask a few times over the past few weeks and although I was worried about how it would work on my sensitive skin, I have had no issues. The cream itself is very light. The best part is it leaves my face feeling super soft. I love to wear it all day on my no make up days, my face feels amazing the next day.

I also selected the BLAQ HydroGel Eye Mask with Hyaluronic Acid, to use before my holiday trip and also to take with me. I had never used the BLAQ eye masks before but I have several BLAQ products and love them. I tried these eye masks for the last few weeks and they are so good! They stick to the under eye better than most and take any puffiness away from my eyes. I will definetly be ordering more of these eye masks.

Thank you @fabfitfun for introducing me to some of my all-time favorite products. #FabFitFunAffiliate There’s something nice about having all of the season’s essentials delivered to your door without having to lift a finger! If you don’t already get their boxes, you can sign up using the code SANTABABY at FabFitFun to get $10 off your box!