Happy Friday!

What is everyone up to this weekend?! This weekend is a pretty easy going one for Chandler and I. Chandler's working tomorrow and I'll be at the barn on Sunday which is always fun. I do need to catch up on some laundry too. Doesn't that sound fun? Haha! I'd love to know what you're doing in the comments below!

This week's round up post features some amazing articles from some incredible bloggers. I would love to know which article was your favorite!

Food:

I have been seeing these Wasa Crispbreads everywhere lately! Samantha Bowers shared a delicious looking recipe on her Instagram this week that I would love to recreate.

See it here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BmgLVa2lnQU/?taken-by=samanthabowers

I love oatmeal! I've never heard of cauliflower oats before though. Lauren from Flora and Vino shared a recipe on her blog + a delicious fruity version on her Instagram!

Read it here: http://www.floraandvino.com/creamy-stovetop-cauliflower-oats/
See it here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BmgOvCkA4N7/?taken-by=flora_and_vino

I love tomatoes! They're definitely my favorite. I mean, they're the staple to marinara sauce, a.k.a. spaghetti haha! Any who, Love and Lemons shared this recipe for a Roasted Cheery Tomato Herbed Couscous Salad on her blog this week that looks amazing. I could totally see this for a fun summer cookout or dinner party!

Read it here: https://www.loveandlemons.com/roasted-cherry-tomato-herbed-couscous-salad/

This last recipe combines the best of both worlds: Greek food and mac and cheese! The second I saw this recipe I got extremely excited! Definitely check it out.

Read it here: https://www.skinnytaste.com/greek-mac-and-cheese

Entertainment:

So, apparently you can get paid to live on an island and take care of cats. When can I start? Haha!

Read it here: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a22698477/greek-island-cat-rescue-caretaker-job/

Yesterday some really sad news was announced. The great Aretha Franklin sadly passed away yesterday. Growing up, my mom and aunt always listened to Aretha and it wasn't until I was a little older that I truly appreciated/liked her music. She will always be a legend in everyone's hearts and minds!

Read it here: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/a22746824/aretha-franklin-dead-music-community-reacts/

Fashion:

I absolutely loved this blue dress that Rosie Clayton shared on her Instagram this week. She always has the prettiest outfits!

Read it here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BmZK3qeDDl9/?taken-by=rclayton

I feel like I had a love of polka dots this week because I found four blogger looks that I just love!
See it here: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmdo9rxgR9j/?taken-by=blaireadiebee
See it here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BmcUxp3ANkW/?taken-by=mariesbazaar
See it here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BmcjNRkH2Rk/
See it here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BmY07QfA_51/?taken-by=hannahstraffordtaylor

Every girl needs a little black dress, little white dress, and a little red dress! Whitney from Whit's Whims shared the cutest red dress on her blog this week plus a lot of other great options from a brand called Stage. Definitely check it out!

Read it here: https://www.whitswhims.com/home/2018/8/12/summerdresswithstage

It's no secret that I love the color pink! Melissa from Always Meliss shared the cutest pink jumpsuit from Vicidolls on her Instagram the other day. Is anyone else obsessed with Vicidolls? I love their clothes!!

See it here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BmgBelCBD-h/?taken-by=alwaysmeliss

Photography: Alondra Vega Photography

Get To Know My Trainer: Savanna

Happy Wednesday!

I have been wanting to do this post for quite some time now. However, Savanna and I's schedules are polar opposites, we haven't been able to meet up in forever just to take a photo together! Today I wanted to introduce you to this incredible woman who is responsible for my weekly workouts. Savanna and I met in college and have been friends ever since. She's that person where even if you don't see each other for a while, you can still pick up and have a great time together which is what I love!

Through Savanna's workouts I have already seen so much progress and I love the ongoing support from her. What I love most, is that my workout is customized towards my body and what it can do. One of my main goals was to strengthen my back and she makes sure that all of my moves will not irritate it along the way. Now that I've really talked her up, scroll down to learn more about her!

Q: How old are you? 

A: 24

Q: Why did you decide to become a personal trainer? 

A: I always knew I wanted to help people for a career and when I started becoming passionate about living a healthy lifestyle, I couldn’t think of any thing I’d rather do than transform people’s bodies, minds, and therefore their entire lives through exercise!!!

Q: How long have you been in your profession? 

A: 5 years! 

Q: What's your favorite thing to do in your free time? 

A: If I say working out, will you think I’m crazy? Lol that plus laying by the pool/beach:) I love sunshine!

Q: Who is your celebrity crush? 

A: Hemsworth brothers duh. 

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? 

A: "Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life." So cliche but IT'S TRUE!

Q: If you were going to sing karaoke what song would you choose? 

A: Carrie Underwood Before He Cheats ;) 

Q: If you could have one super power, what would it be and why? 

A: To fly because then I could actually afford to travel all the time! 

Q: What is a pet peeve of yours? 

A: Loud gum smacking or chewing *gag*

Q: What's one thing you can't live without? 

A: iPhone... smh (we're all addicted) and Perfect Bars mmm. 

-Fun Facts-

1. I'm an only child and went to the same school in St. Pete, FL for all 13 years before moving to Jax for college!

2. Biggest childhood dream was to land a role on Disney Channel (even went to acting school as a tween!!)

3. When I'm not personal training or teaching group fitness, I'm either working out, stuffing my face with food, modeling, or drinking wine with my boyfriend. :) 

Now that you've gotten to know her a little better, head over to her Instagram and DM her so that she can create your own personalized workout plan for you!

Photography: Anna Carrano

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How Much It Costs To Own A Dog

Happy Monday!

Having any pet is a big responsibility. In addition to that, it can be very expensive. Having a dog isn't cheap, but it's one of those things that you need to know before you really invest in one. Never get a dog until you know you can provide, because it's not just your life anymore, it's theirs too. I know, I sound like a total mom but that's what you become. A dog parent! Below is a breakdown of the different costs associated with having a dog. Keep in mind that these costs can vary depending on where you are, what type of dog you have, etc.

1. Vet Visits
1. Usually, a regular visit to the vet costs anywhere between $35 to $45. That is the cost for the vet to just see the dog before adding anything extra. That can include medicine, shots, or anything else that could have come from your visit.
2. In addition to any random vet visits you may have, every animal (dog or cat) has an annual check up. This includes yearly shots plus regular tests like checking for heart worms. In order for you to get any kind of flea prevention (which we'll go into next), they have to be tested for heart worms yearly.
2. Flea/Tick Prevention
1.  Each month your dog has to take flea prevention medicine. Now, there are multiple types out there, but the best in my opinion are: Sentinel (flea, heart worm, round worm, hookworm, whip worm, and tapeworm prevention), Trifexis (all of the previous minus tapeworm), Bravecto (flea and tick prevention). We used to just have Diesel on Trifexis, but now he is on Sentinel + Bravecto for that added tick prevention. The Sentinel pill is once a month and the Bravecto pill is every three months. Usually the total cost for both is over $100 but the cost is really determined by how many pills you buy. Most vets only carry a certain amount of dosages and online you can get more. You can almost always get a rebate if you buy a certain amount online too! Plus, the price of the pills are determined by weight, which can make it more expensive for some dogs than others. 
2. NOTE: Not all dogs can be on the same flea prevention. Some dogs actually get upset stomach's from certain brands. It could be trial and error but you'll find out what works best for you, plus your vet should have a good recommendation!
3.  Spay/Neuter
1. If you adopt a rescue dog, usually they'll include the cost of the spay or neuter with it (if not already done), or they'll give you a certificate for when you can do it later on. If you buy a dog from a breeder though that is not included. Some counties offer spay/neuter programs that can really bring down the cost of that. Usually the cost for this procedure is determined by the size of the dog and to spay a girl dog is more expensive than to neuter a dog (more complex of a procedure). The cost for these can vary from $100-$400.
4. Food
1. This cost really varies on what your dog likes. However, JUST BECAUSE THE FOOD IS SUPER EXPENSIVE DOES NOT MEAN IT'S THE BEST FOOD. I can't stress that enough! You will see some dog food out there that costs like $60-$80 a bag. Sometimes it's worth it (if you know what to look for) but most of the time it's just overpriced. Similar to flea prevention, it could take a few tries to figure out what your dog likes/doesn't react to. Diesel has a somewhat sensitive stomach, so it took us a few tries to figure out what he likes. Plus, some dogs can actually get bored of their food and will stop eating it because they're tired of it. We had that happen once too and one of my mom's dogs does that a lot. Currently Diesel loves Nature's Recipe's Grain Free Chicken, Sweet Potato and Pumpkin recipe. I actually did a blog post about it here. 
5. Toys
1. This cost is also determined by how destructive your dog is haha! Some dogs actually enjoy their toys and will make them last. For those types of dogs, you can get a decent plus toy for $10 or less. Some dogs hate toys and they just give you this look like well, what do you want me to do with it? And then there's dogs like Diesel who don't let toys last longer than one minute haha! A lot of big dogs are destroyers. Most of Diesel's favorite toys start at $10. Also, most big dogs need bigger toys so that they won't choke on them and the size of the toy also is factored into the cost. Definitely know now that any toy that says "indestructible" is a lie. You can still try it and know that it probably will last longer than a regular plush toy, but they'll still get their teeth through it at some point.  
6. Treats
1. This kind of goes back to the dog food but it's slightly different. With treats, you do pay for quality most of the time. I will say though that most good dog treats are not cheaper than $7 a bag and that usually isn't the biggest bag. However, I like to keep those types of treats for training/extra good dog purposes and for regular things, I have a giant box of large milk bones that I get from Sam's Club. We always give Diesel a milk bone before we leave the house for work everyday just so that being home all day isn't seen as a really bad things since he gets a cookie. 
7. Beds
1. I will say this now: if you have a smaller dog, this will be cheaper. So many things about smaller dogs are cheaper because they don't require as much fabric for collars, or bedding, etc. Even when you go to buy a crate, a smaller one is cheaper. However, for this you also pay for quality. Diesel has a $30 dog bed from TJ Maxx that he LOVES, a $40 dog bed from Sam's Club that he loves, and a $100 orthopedic (a.k.a. better than my bed) dog bed that he sleeps on daily too. 
2. Dog crates can be really expensive. However, depending on how big your dog gets, you may only buy one crate in your life, or you may have to buy two or three. Either way, it's an investment that you should get at the beginning because crate training is key when you first get a dog. If you ever have to board a dog, travel with a dog where a crate is required, leave them in a crate while you go somewhere, it's important to have that skill mastered from the beginning. If you're looking at bigger dogs, most dog crates start at like $50 to $60 and can go all the way up to $200. Again, this could be a one-time investment though!
8. Grooming
1. Depending on what type of dog you get, you may have to pay for grooming. Dogs with shorter hair like Diesel or a boxer, can get away with a cheap curry comb that gives their fur a good brush and spreads around the good oils in their fur. If you start getting into Labrador Retrievers, you will need to invest in either a furminator brush or something that gets into the undercoat of the dog. Those types of dogs really shed (year round but even more in the summer) and this is something that needs to be done to keep them cool and to help keep the vacuuming down in the house from two times a day to one haha! If you have a longer coat dog like a Wheaten Terrier (Diesel's best friend Neville) or even a poodle, you will have to keep up with the grooming since their fur gets so long. I know Neville's owner usually gets Neville groomed every few months or else his fur gets in the way of his sight, and since we live in Florida he can get too hot. 
9. Puppy Costs
1. Now, if you decide to get a puppy, not only do you have all of the above, but puppies require multiple rounds of shots at the beginning before they can be around other dogs, be taken our in public (where they can be exposed to things almost like babies), etc. Every vet does it different, but the series of shots lasts between 6-16 weeks of age. This can also vary on how old they are when you get them since some shots might have already been done. Always ask when you get them what they already have/what is still needed! 
10. Accessories
1. Every dog needs a collar/harness and a leash. The price of the collar depends on the brand, size, and what it's made out of. Similar to the leash. The bigger the dog the more expensive the collar (but the price usually only goes up by a few dollars as you increase size on a collar). If you have a dog that doesn't go after the leash when you walk them, then you can usually get a pretty cheap leash for under $10. If you have a dog like Diesel, who likes to play with the leash as he walks and is a toy destroyer, you might need something a little tougher. If you don't, he could chew through it and who knows what could happen next. We invested in a paracord kong leash from Petsmart for like $30-$35 when he was a puppy and it was the best investment we ever made. We've had it ever since!
11. Training
1. There are many options out there for training. You can invest in personal dog training (more expensive) or you can do dog training at places like Petsmart or Petco. Each round of training at Petsmart was about $100. If you enjoyed one class and wanted to continue with more, they usually have a discount for your next class. I prefer dog training that is done in groups like Petsmart because it teaches the dog how to learn with distractions and it socializes them at the same time which is extremely important. 
12. Lots of love!
1. Luckily this is free and will be your favorite investment. Dogs are so loving and caring and only want to shower you with tons of kisses! If you give them a ton of love, you'll get a ton of love back!

I hope this post was insightful and that it helped you prepare for you future best friend! If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments below and I will do my best to answer them! Thanks for reading. :)

Photography: Alondra Vega Photography

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Weekly Round Up

Happy Friday!

Ya'll, this week has been tough. Chandler and I had some hard news that we had to deal with and it kept both of us pretty tense. I shared on my personal Facebook yesterday that "being an adult sucks. Don't do it." I don't post on my personal Facebook a ton but on that post I got a ton of likes and comments. I was like well, this post was super sad but it was really relateable haha!

Alright, I'll stop being depressing and move on to the good stuff: the weekly round up articles! I hope you all love everything that is shared below.

Food:

Every Sunday I try to meal prep for the week ahead. I usually try to prep some rice, meat, and more. I absolutely loved this article from Simply Recipes. She shared 6 things to prep that will make your week easier and she shared recipes that you could use those 6 things in! This post is a total win-win!

Read it here: https://www.simplyrecipes.com/6_things_to_make_on_sunday_for_easier_weeknight_meals/

With a lot of kids starting back to school these next few weeks, that means that it's time to start making school lunches again. But, we're not going to be making amateur school lunches. No! We're going to make delicious and nutritious meals with the help of Kristin from Live Simply. Check out the two links below for multiple healthy lunch ideas!

Read it here: https://livesimply.me/2018/08/07/real-food-lunchbox-inspiration-two-weeks-of-easy-school-lunch-ideas/
Read it here: https://livesimply.me/2018/08/09/easy-real-food-school-lunch-ideas/

Chandler's favorite breakfast food is pancakes (or waffles will do too). Unfortunately, pancakes aren't the healthiest option out there. Unless you're living your Kate Spade life #eatcakeforbreakfast haha! I found this interesting recipe from Making Thyme For Health (seriously how cute is that blog name?!) for Zucchini Oat Protein Waffles. They had me at waffles but they had me curious at the other ingredients. I am wondering how this turns out, so if you make it before me, please let me know! I do want to try it sometime!

Read it here: http://makingthymeforhealth.com/zucchini-oat-protein-waffles/

Going back to the meal prepping really quick, I also found this recipe on Cafe Delights featuring a ton of chicken breast recipes. Chicken is a staple in our household because it's one of the leanest meats out there and it takes on the flavor of pretty much anything! Let me know if you try any of these recipes and which was your favorite!

Read it here: https://cafedelites.com/chicken-breast-recipes/

Ironically, this last food post has everything I don't like: chocolate and wine. Again, I know I'm weird. However, it did get me thinking about how fun it would be to have a dinner party sometime. There's so many different types you can do and they're always such a fun time. Check out the post from Pizzazzerie below for a fun chocolate pairing party idea!

Read it here: https://pizzazzerie.com/courtneys-faves/host-a-chocolate-pairing-party/

Entertainment:

Ok, who else was team Blake on The Bachelorette? I liked Garrett too but there was just something about Blake! Now, while we all watch the drama unfold on Bachelor in Paradise, we have to start thinking about who is going to be the next Bachelor! I'm honestly not sure at all. Below are the top predictions for the next season and honestly, I can see all of them except Ben. I honestly feel like it should be someone else's turn at this point. That's just my opinion.

Read it here: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/a22674550/next-bachelor-season-23/


I love watching award shows. They always have the best performances! The artists for the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards performances have been announced! I won't reveal them all, but I can't wait to see Post Malone and Ariana Grande!

Read it here: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/tv/a22690571/mtv-video-music-awards-2018-performances/

I love Missy Elliott! This week Cosmo shared the best video ever. Missy shared a video of this older woman rapping her song work it in a park for whoever wanted to listen and trust me it's fantastic. I'm pretty sure this will be me when I'm older because it's definitely me now haha!

See it here: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a22677061/woman-sings-missy-elliott-work-it/

Fashion:

I love the color lavender. Any pastel is in my closet. Hunter Premo shared the most gorgeous lavender maxi dress that she wore to a wedding. I could totally see myself wearing this on a casual or dressy occasion depending on which shoes I paired with it.

See it here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BmPGicjniwg/?taken-by=hunterpremo

I love color! Anything that's bright and pops is my style. Jenn from Cranberry Tantrums shared the most gorgeous blue suit on her Instagram this week and trust me, blue is her color! As I was scrolling through my feed this photo instantly caught my eye and I just loved it.

See it here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BmQ9cSaA5BH/?taken-by=cranberrytantrums

I love lace and crochet details. They instantly make anything elegant and beautiful! Kylee from whine to wine shared the most gorgeous white lace dress that I really want in my closet!

See it here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BmPccXeBRIo/?taken-by=whinetowine

Last but not least is this gorgeous tiered white maxi dress from Vicidolls that Jessica shared on her Instagram. This dress could easily be dressed up or down for any occasion!

See it here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BmO0sakgeUS/?taken-by=jesshogancrum

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Photography: Alondra Vega Photography

12 Facts About Me

Happy Thursday!

I haven't done an about me post in a long time and so I thought I would share some fun facts with all of you so that you can get to know me a bit better!

1.  I LOVE pasta! It's my all time favorite food. Maggiano's, Olive Garden, all of the above are places that I can't live without!
2. I have a dog named Diesel and two cats named Oscar and Felix. I have had Diesel since he was 2 months old and he's now a year and a half. Oscar and Felix I have also had since they were kittens and they are now 14 years old! I can't even believe that. I get sad sometimes thinking about how old they are but they're still pretty frisky! 😉
3. I have always wanted to get my pilot's license. I used to have a fear of getting on a plane. So I thought maybe if I am the one in charge of the plane (a.k.a. control issues haha) I would have nothing to worry about as long as I know what I'm doing. Now I'm not afraid of flying but would still love to get my pilot's license one day if I can afford it.
4. I do not like chocolate. I know, let the rants begin haha!
5. Ford is my favorite brand of car and more specifically their Mustang model. I had a 2000 Ford Mustang until last July when I decided to get a new car. I originally planned on getting the newer model, but some brindle puppy (I'm not going to name any names...Diesel) decided to keep growing and not fit in a mustang anymore. I settled on a Nissan SUV which I do love but one day I will have another mustang.
6. My dream is to have two stables on my property. One with actual horses (maybe 1-2 max) and the other (my garage) filled with every make and model of Mustang that I love (67, 99, 2005, etc.). I want to call it Mustang Stables. 
7. When I was little, I got our five dogs to jump through a hula hoop all at the same time. Don't ask any questions, just accept it. 😂
8. I have been singing since I was little. I have done Phantom of the Opera, some Latin music and more.
9. I LOVE otters! Like SO much. When we go to the zoo, unless someone gets me, I could stare at the otter exhibit for over an hour. There's a place in San Diego where you can swim with them and one day I hope I get to. 
10. I ride horses! I started riding this January after Chandler gave me 4 lessons for Christmas. I've loved horses since I was little (first favorite animal, then otters) and have always wanted to learn how to ride. It's pretty expensive so I can usually only afford 2 lessons a month, but besides blogging, it makes me incredibly happy. 
11. I love SALSA. I'm a pretty picky eater most of the time (I have gotten better though) but I could eat my weight in salsa. I will try pretty much any salsa as long as it's not too spicy. 
12. I think Dinosaurs are so cool. When I was five I think, I had this giant book of dinosaurs and I could name every single one. I also loved Godzilla! My dad and I would watch all of the movies.

Now it's your turn! I would love to hear as many fun facts about yourself as you would like to share in the comments below. I'll be looking! 😊

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Photography: Alondra Vega Photography

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