Summer Bucket List

I actually made this list when school let out just about a month ago, but didn't upload it until now because, as I said in my "Fifty Pounds" post, I didn't want to discuss my weight loss until I reached the 50 pounds lost mark. Because this bucket list mentioned that, I decided to wait to post it. Now that I've reached that goal, here it is! As I was studying for my finals, I kept thinking about all the fun and awesome things I wanted to do this summer, and decided I would write them down so I wouldn't forget. I've never really done a bucket list or anything like it, but why not start now?

You probably can't read that, but the list is:

1. Clean Room 

(and I don't mean just pick up, I mean cleaned from top to bottom, everything organized and in a proper place. I've been living at home now for over a year, and I don't think my room has ever been totally "clean".)

2. Hike Mt. Baldy

(this isn't actually a mountain, it's a huge sand dune. I haven't climbed it since I was little. There are nearly 300 stairs to the top, but the view over Lake Michigan is incredible.)

3. Organize Make-up Collection

(my make-up collection grows by the week and right now it's just piled in a huge basket. I keep the things I use most often in a make-up bag, but it's annoying to have to dig through a giant basket every time I want to do something new.)

4. Write 10 Blog Posts

(this blog post will be my 5th, so we're halfway there! Summer break started for me on April 25th.)

5. Jewelry Board

(I have had a pegbard that I've been meaning to make into a jewelry board for over a year now. Time to finish that up.)

6. Lose 30 More Pounds

(I have lost 18 pounds since writing this, so I'm more than halfway there!)

7. Go to the Beach at Least Five Times

(so far I'm at zero, but my dad just bought another house near the beach, so hopefully that will change!)

8. Go Kayaking

(I really like kayaking, but haven't gone in a couple years. Time to go!)

9. Visit a Friend

(I went and saw Sam last weekend!)

10. Get Some Sunshine

(I have a tendency to sit in my room and avoid the outdoors at all costs. Let's try not to do that this summer.)

11. Plant Vegetables/Fruits/Herbs

(I think it might be getting a bit late for this, so I better get on it.)

12. Go Berry Picking

(There's nothing better than fresh berries! And it's way cheaper to pick your own.)

13. Favorite Place

(This is my favorite place and I don't go there nearly enough. Luckily, this is where my dad just bought his new house, so I suppose that will be checked off soon.)

14. Visit Grandma & Grandpa

(They've been traveling and away all fall/winter, so I've missed them!)

15. See the Pacific Ocean

(Ideally I would like to also touch it, but that doesn't look like it will happen. All I care is that I can see it, even if it's thousands of feet in the air from an airplane window.)

16. Go to Chicago for the Day

(I really love visiting Chicago/shopping in Chicago, and it's only a couple hour train ride away. Not sure why I don't go more often. I also want to see the Chicago location of the store I work for.)

17. Get a Massage

(I used to get massages a lot because my grandma was a massage therapist, but I haven't had one in years. Standing up for hours every day can really take its toll on your body. I think I'mm due for a massage.)

18. Take Madison and John's pictures

(my niece and nephew love when I take pictures of them, so I promised I would do it again soon.)

19. Go to the Farmer's Market

(The perfect place to get cheap, healthy, locally grown food. Why do they have to be so early in the morning though? Haha)

20. Go to the zoo

(who doesn't like the zoo?)

June Birchbox

Haven't done one of these posts in awhile. I'm usually too excited to start using the products I get that I never remember to take a picture or make notes of what I thought when I first tried to products. This month, however, I decided that I was so excited that I wanted to share it. I knew the theme this month was going to be Jetsetter, which is perfect since I am traveling to California at the end of the month. In this Birchbox I got:

• Juliette Has a Gun Not a Perfume scent
• Melvita Rose Floral Water
• Stila Stay All Day 10-in-1 HD Beauty Balm (BB cream)
• theBalm Cosmetics Stainiac in Beauty Queen
• Modcloth headband

I don't think I could have picked a better box if I wanted to. I had seen the sneak preview to some of the products they were sending out this month (they were sampling over 40!) on their YouTube channel, so I had an idea of what I wanted. I knew I really wanted the rose water, which is just a spray that you mist on your face for extra moisture, which is perfect for someone like me who has dry skin. 

What I Thought

Not a Perfume - Despite its name, it actually is a perfume, but what makes it different is that there is only one note in it. It's just an amber scent and nothing more. I know that sounds boring, but, nooooo, it's incredible. I'm already a huge fan of any scent with amber notes, so when that's all there is, I'm in heaven. I put it on this morning when I got the box in the mail and now, at 5 pm, it's still smells just as nice as this morning. It is pretty pricey, though. It's about $85 for 50 ml of it (1.69 oz).

Rose Floral Water - Like I said, this was what I was most excited about, and it did not disappoint. It reminds me of Urban Decay's setting sprays (which I use every day), but this just moisturizes and does not help set your makeup. It smells really nice and fresh, and I'm sure will be perfect to help with the dry air on the plane. $22 for a 6.8 oz bottle, which you can also get in orange blossom or lavender as well as the rose. 

All Day 10-in-1 HD BB cream - I actually just hopped on the BB cream bandwagon a few days ago when I picked up the Garnier BB cream. I wasn't sure how I was going to like BB creams because I'm not typically a huge fan of tinted moisturizers, but they're pretty much nothing like a tinted moisturizer. Or, rather, they're everything a tinted moisturizer should be, but never is. I may or may not do a review of the Garnier one when I've tried it out a bit more. This Stila one is pretty great, but I would still stick with the Garnier one. Stila does not give as much coverage, but it's a lot more refreshing and cooling on the skin. I think the Stila one may be better for a day at the beach or something similar, while the Garnier one might be great for just everyday wear. For the price, though, I'd just stick with the Garnier BB cream ($11 for 75 ml), because the Stila BB cream is $38 for 45 ml. It also does not offer an SPF, whereas the Garnier one offers SPF 15. 

Lip/Cheek Stain - I really like stains, because I think they give you a more natural look, plus you can build them up to the point you want or leave them at a more natural look. This one is great, has a really nice natural lip and cheek color to it, and has no taste. The other great part about stains is that they'll last you forever because it only takes a tiny bit. This is $17 for .3 oz and comes in this red color that I got, plus a light pink color, or a brown/nude color. 

Modcloth headband - Other than the pattern, which I am not a fan of (it's red with white polka dots), I really, really like this headband. This is the one I received, and, although I'm not a fan of the bright color, I think I may look into buying one just like it but in a more toned down color or pattern. The wires in it help it stay in place and makes it easy to mold. Plus, a free $14 headband? I'll take it. Especially when I only pay $10 for the whole damn box! 

If you want to sign up for Birchbox (and I highly recommend it!), click here. Not only does it only cost $10 a month (and you always get at least that much worth of stuff, and usually more), but you also earn 10 points per product that you review (usually there are 4-5 products to review each month from your box), and after 100 points you get $10 off an order. So basically every other month is paying for itself! 

Healthy Grocery Shopping Tips!

One thing you should know about me is that I love grocery shopping. I loved it when I wasn't particularly eating healthy, but I enjoy it even more now. In my opinion, the grocery store is where health begins. I promise you that once you start focusing on and taking care of yourself, you will be so much happier. It truly affects every aspect of your life. Just stick with it, even though it gets hard sometimes, and I promise you will start to see things change. They might change slowly, but they will change. While grocery shopping this past weekend, I made little notes as I went through the store and took pictures to give you examples of the things I buy. It's important to note that everything that works for me may not work for you. You have to experiment and find what you enjoy. The biggest key in being successful is to make it feel like you're not losing anything. So many "diets" fail because people feel like they can't have the things they want. Remember that you can have anything you want, so long as it's in moderation. Once you figure out that it's all about balance (not starving yourself, or eating only green things, or avoiding chocolate at all costs), you're golden. 

• When I go to the grocery store I always start in the fresh produce section. You're more likely to fill up your cart with these goodies if you're not already thinking "Well, crap, I already have $80 in groceries, I can't really afford all these veggies!". 

• Look for new things. When I go shopping, I always make sure I walk out with one new thing. I try to keep it within the fresh fruits and veggies, but sometimes I pick up something else. Never tried pomegranates? Pick one up! What about those weird shaped fruits they sometimes have? Get one! Fruits and veggies often don't go over $1/each, so it's not too expensive to do this. It will open your mind to new things and find things you might never have tried otherwise. Veggies are a little harder, but if you pick something up you've never tried and don't want to eat it plain, look on the internet for a healthy recipe that includes the ingredient you picked up. Other than that, any fruits and veggies are good. Pick what you like. Don’t get something just because you feel like you “should”. I personally just don’t like apples that much. Yes, they’re healthy, but I know I won’t eat them. There’s no reason to waste good food or good money if you know you don’t really want it. Don’t force yourself to eat something you don’t like. There's really no going wrong in this area though. Peppers are fantastic for flavor, cucumbers are great for dipping in hummus and are seriously low in calories, watermelon is great for a sweet tooth, bananas are awesome with some natural peanut butter or as a substitute for sweetener in oatmeal, and strawberries are the perfect snack.
• Keep an eye out for deals, especially on fresh produce. When it comes to deals in the other areas in the store, unfortunately it's not often on healthy food. I know 2 boxes of Cheez-Its for $5 is a fantastic deal, but try to resist. For example, I love to stock up on blackberries when my local store has them on sale for 5/$5. If you have the money to do so, you can also stock up when there are deals like this and then freeze the fruit. 

• The second area I hit up is the dairy section. I have never met someone who loves cows milk quite as much as me, but I have almost completely cut it out of my life. It's not exactly bad for you, but there are alternatives that are much better for you. Try alternatives to cows milk. Coconut, almond, and soy are the usual options. I have tried all three and genuinely enjoy all of them, and I think they all have uses. I really enjoy coconut milk with my cereal, almond milk is perfect for oatmeal, and soy milk is great as a substitute in any recipe that calls for milk because the taste is the most similar. I usually have all three in my refrigerator, but experiment and see which one you like best. Soy milk, in my opinion, is the best place to start. Aim for the unsweetened. 
• Let me tell you about my favorite thing in the ENTIRE WORLD. Yes, I said it. The entire world. It's Chobani's Plain Non-Fat Greek Yogurt. Forget I said the word yogurt though. It tastes nothing like the yogurt you've probably been eating your entire life. I personally think it tastes like sour cream, although I've heard people say they don't get that at all. I use it for so many things. I use it as a substitute for mayo on a sandwich, as a substitute for sour cream on tacos, as a dip for veggies or chicken, etc. In fact, there's a whole conversion chart just for this product. I'll include it below. It can be used for so many things, packs a ton of protein, and has minimal calories. Also try other Greek yogurts by Chobani (or whatever brand your store carries). Super great for pre- or post-workout snacks or breakfasts. They're much more filling than regular yogurts and taste just as great. They are, however, a bit more expensive.
• Stay away from canned foods. The only time I would say to pick up something that’s canned is if it’s beans, and then only if it says “no salt added”. My store only carries one brand that has beans with no salt added and it’s a bit pricey. I usually keep one can of kidney beans, one can of black beans, and one can of garbanzo beans in my cupboard so they’re ready to go if I’m in the mood for beans (they’re packed with tons of protein and a great alternative to meat). I also keep bags of dried beans because they’re much cheaper. Dried beans, however, take a little more planning ahead because you need to soak them first.
• Always read the ingredients. If you see “high fructose corn syrup”, “partially-hydrogenated oil”, “hydrogenated oil, or “nitrates” in the ingredient list put the product down and find an alternative. You will be shocked by the amount of food products that contain these things.
• Don’t be fooled by packaging. “All Natural” ≠ organic, “Multi-grain” ≠ whole grain, “Organic” ≠ healthy. 
• Everything you buy that is made with grains should be whole grain. Don’t take the packaging’s word for it. Make sure you check the ingredient list. The very first ingredient should have the word “whole” in it. If it doesn’t, find something else. Multi-grain is really irrelevant and doesn’t matter. It doesn’t particularly matter how many grains something has, so long as they’re whole grains.
• Stay away from granola bars. I know, I know, they sound healthy, but they’re not. They’re often loaded with sugars and are basically candy bars with some granola added in. Granola alone can be good for you, but I don’t recommend buying it. If you’re anything like me, once you have a little bit, you want more. Granola is packed with calories and the serving size is very tiny. It will only leave you wanting more and that’s just annoying. 
• Oatmeal oatmeal oatmeal! I used to hate oatmeal, and now I have it almost every single day. You can do so many things with it, it’s super filling, and super great for you. There is no significant difference between quick oats and old fashioned. Old fashioned is a little less processed, but it’s so minimal that it’s pretty insignificant. Avoid the pre-packaged oatmeals at all costs. They’re packed with sugars, calories, food coloring, and artificial flavoring. 
• In general, avoid anything that is marked “low fat”, “fat free”, “reduced fat”, or “diet”. Unless the product is naturally low fat or fat free, these words are usually signs that chemicals have been added in to make up for what was taken out. You’re usually better off getting the regular product or avoiding the product all-together. I personally make an exception for this on things like non-fat Greek yogurt, reduced fat shredded cheese, and low fat cottage cheese. Some things are better than others, just make sure you’re checking the ingredient list.
• Stay away from pop/soda. Just don’t even go there. There is no such thing as a healthy pop. Diet pops are loaded with cancer-causing chemicals and regular pops are loaded with sugar (which your body turns to fat when you are unable to digest all of it and also just wrecks havoc on your body in general). If you must have a carbonated drink in your life, try flavored carbonated water.
• Be picky about the bread you choose. The bread should be whole grain, contain at least 5 g of fiber per slice, and be 100 calories or lower per slice. One of my favorites is Brownberry Health-full 10 Grain Bread. Again, make sure the word “whole” is in the very first ingredient. 
• Nuts! Almonds or pistachios are great. They’re packed with healthy fats (yes, there is such a thing!) and are super filling. Watch your serving size, though, as the calories can add up fast. My pick is pistachios because you have to actually work for them which prevents you from eating more and also because the serving size is a bit larger.
• I genuinely love red meat. I will pick a steak or a hamburger over any white meat any time, any day. That being said, red meat truly is not that good for you. Pick white meat instead. White meat is things like turkey, chicken, and fish. I love to get extra lean ground turkey. It’s perfect for spaghetti sauce, tacos, or turkey burgers. It also doesn’t have a large flavor so you can flavor it to your liking. For fish I recommend tilapia. It’s low in calories and also doesn’t have much of a flavor. You can truly do so much with it. I think you’ll like it, even if you don’t like fish. Another tip: If you buy packages of fresh chicken, turkey, or fish, separate them into individual serving sizes when you get home and then put them in the freezer. They’ll last much longer and you won’t have to thaw the entire package when you want some. 
• Frozen foods are the way to go. Frozen chicken is one of the best things in the world. Most grocery stores offer large bags of frozen chicken breasts for around $10 a bag. I recommend going for the chicken breasts that are already cut into tenderloins because it is much closer to a serving size. The whole chicken breasts can often be 2-3 servings in one. Defrost the chicken in the microwave for about 3 minutes and you’re ready to go (if you don’t have a defrost button, do 50% power). Frozen fish, turkey, fruits, and veggies are also fantastic. I buy the majority of my fruits and veggies frozen. Make sure you look to see that they were flash frozen so you’re getting as many nutrients as possible. Also make sure the only things in the ingredients are the fruit or veggie and water. Occasionally with meat, you’ll see a solution, just make sure it’s not added salt. 
• Check the per-ounce price! If your grocery store is like mine, next to the price on the shelf, it will have a per-ounce price. This makes it easy to see which product is giving you a better deal. If it doesn’t have the per-ounce price listed you can find it out by taking the price of each item and dividing it by the number of ounces.

Some items I recommend picking up:

• Spinach (excellent replacer of lettuce in your life. Almost the exact same taste and texture, with tons more nutrients. Has almost 0 calories.)
• Cucumbers (cucumbers with hummus is one of my favorite snacks. They’re also great to add to sandwiches or wraps)
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes (any kind that you like)
• Sweet potatoes (seriously, if you don’t have these in your house, you need them ASAP. Loaded with nutrients and super delicious with a little honey.)
• Bananas (doesn’t everyone love bananas? They’re perfect for everything.)
• Lemon juice (so many uses and super cheap!)
• Low fat cottage cheese
• Non-fat plain and flavored Greek yogurt
• Reduced fat shredded cheese
• Natural peanut butter (I recommend Krema Smooth & Creamy. Ideally you want the only ingredient in your PB to be peanuts.)
• Whole wheat wraps (lower the calories, the better)
• Whole wheat English muffins
• Whole wheat spaghetti 
• Oatmeal
• Simple spaghetti sauce (Keep it simple. You should be able to recognize ALL the ingredients, and I don’t mean recognize them from science class.)
• Beans! (Specifically: Black, kidney, and garbanzo/chickpeas)
• Whole grain bread
• 99/1 Extra Lean ground turkey
• Chicken breasts (Ideally tenderloins and frozen)
• Hummus 
• Eggs (whatever your preference is fine)
• Frozen blueberries/strawberries/mangoes/whatever floats your boat
• Frozen broccoli/edamame/peas/also whatever floats your boat

I’m sure I’m forgetting quite a few things, but I’m trying to remember them quickly. I’m also sure I forgot a ton of tips that I’ll think of later, but that’s okay. This will at least give you an idea. I have a few other tip posts ideas I think I will post in the next few weeks or so. It’s important to note that I am nowhere near a professional, I just enjoy learning about these things and getting healthier for myself as well as sharing it with other people. I hope some of these tips help some of you. Also remember that the number of calories in a food does NOT determine how healthy it is for you. It is NOT all about calories, but about being good to your body. Counting calories can be helpful, but don’t let it take over your life. Diets don’t work, lifestyle changes do.