New Year, New Me?

New Year, New Me. That's a statement that gets tossed around a lot in January, then after that its like- stay your slovenly self until next year! I actually started my New Me journey in August. As I mentioned before, I got a gym membership back in March, about a week or so before everything shut down. Part of me held off on doing anything at home because I thought things would open relatively quickly. That never happened, and while my gym did some shady stuff in order to open back up, I haven't felt comfortable going. My husband took up disc golf pretty quickly, but wouldn't let me go with him to play (still doesn't)- I felt angry and also bored, so in August I'd had enough and I planned out how my health journey was going to go.

First off- planning how things will go and how they actually go are two totally different things. Is an understatement to say that planning on losing weight once I started working out, but actually gaining it was shocking and discouraging. Normally that would have been enough for me to give up right there, but I didn't (at least right away).

I started in August with a few goals- drink 90oz of water a day, do one Blogilates workout three times a week (because I was horribly our of shape and wanted to ease back in), and drink the maximum of three sodas a day (they are my weakness and I can go all day without eating as long as I have soda). As each month progressed, I changed my goals a little bit (lowered the water intake to 60oz daily because I felt so waterlogged and disgusting), moved my workouts to four Blogilates workouts four times a week, and the sodas stayed the same (because I'm having a hard time with that). During all this I felt really hungry all the time. I tried to tone the hunger down with snacks like almonds and cucumbers (because I can't eat five full meals a day- that makes me sick just to think about it), and adding lemon to some of my water (because its supposed to be amazing for weight loss). I can't say that anything helped me, because like I said, I gained weight. November hit me really hard- my depression was at an all time high and I think the only goal I completed that month was my workouts. So I decided that I was going to take a month off in December. My heart wasn't in it, and I just needed a break. 

So its January now. I haven't started back on my workouts yet, but I've been getting prepared. Something I needed from the start was a yoga mat. I have wood floors, and blankets just don't cut it when you need to be on your knees or back. I really wanted one from Blogilates/Popflex Active, but I couldn't really afford it. But luckily(!!), she has a line at Target that launched right after Christmas. So I picked up a yoga mat and some yoga socks. Everything in the line is super cute and I'm hoping to get some more items. I'm also excited because Cassey (the owner behind Blogilates/Popflex Active) is starting a #21DayTone Challenge on January 4th. I use her Body by Blogliates app all the time and love it, so I'm hoping I can keep up with this. If you're looking for something to jump start your new year- I think this would be great. 

 Follow Cassey on Instagram and check out her website!

I get that you may be running the other way because I told you I have yet to meet my goals. Just because I'm still fine tuning doesn't mean that you shouldn't give this (whatever floats your boat) a try. Cassey's videos are really good, and her Instagram accounts are all really inspiring. 

Are you starting a health journey this month? Or have you been on one for a while? Share what you're doing in the comments- I'd love to try it out!

**Tiny disclaimer- I have a few affiliate links in here. None of them are to the Blogilates/Popflex Active sites, its just for Target. My default explanation page is here.**

I'm Loving It #2

 I have another list of great finds from Target! Mostly hair and skin stuff this time, because why not?

Loreal Elvive Wonder Water

My hair is shinier and feels softer whenever I use this. You're supposed to use it two-three times a week, but you would burn through a bottle pretty quickly, so I only use it like one every two weeks. The bottle is marked in 20ml doses (the recommended amount per use), so that makes it easier. 

Loreal Dream Lengths Collection

My daughter is ten years old and has never had a haircut. I know, it sounds ridiculous. She didn't really have any hair until she was two, and its been growing ever since. Since she isn't too keen on getting a trim anytime soon, she is prone to massive tangles. This collection has helped so much. It keeps her long hair smooth and manageable.  Shampoo, Conditioner, Cream.

Aveeno Baby Nighttime Balm

I use this because my skin gets crazy dry in the winter, or when I have to wash my hands in obscene amounts (thank you COVID). A little goes a long way, and its easy to rub in. I usually see results after one night of use. 

Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion

I use this one during the day if things are getting dry. Same as above, a little goes a long way and its easy to rub in. I like that its unscented too- my skin can be picky about scents sometimes. 

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lotion

Love this stuff so much! It smells great and works really well on dry skin (I use this after I shave my legs- makes them so soft). Definitely do this one in small doses, because it can be difficult to rub in. 

So these are my picks from Target for this week. What are you loving right now?

**This post contains affiliate links. For more info, click my explanation**

Lets Talk about Affiliate Links

Recently, I have started using Reddit (what?!? yeah, I'm way behind the times). One of the communities I like to check in on is all about people snarking on influencers. One of the things I've noticed the most is that a lot of the users are adamant in not using the links that these influencers post. It really kinda bothers me, honestly. Why would you follow someone, buy something they showed you, but not use their links? Is it jealousy? Bitterness? Just being crotchety? You aren't being charged anything extra, and you're helping the creator continue to make content that you can enjoy- or make fun of, its up to you. 

I don't have a huge following, and I don't do swipe ups or anything on Instagram, so I guess I don't completely understand how it all works. But I do have affiliate links that I use here and other social media. I make my I'm Loving It posts mainly with things I can use links with (but not always, and I will always say when there are). As the holidays draw near, I will be making gift guides and other types of posts, and I imagine there will be affiliate links. I hope it isn't off putting to you- and if you see something you like, I do hope you click my link. Being a stay at home mom, I don't have any way to make money (and yes, I have been trying to change that, but the job market isn't so hot right now), and the commissions from these links really add up. On my old blog, I did weekly inspo posts with affiliate links (they were all for Mod Cloth), and all the sales I received through there were so appreciated. I never made thousands like I guess some bloggers/influencers do, but what I did make meant so much to me and really did help me out a lot. 

I link this list every time I give my disclaimer, but I thought I'd post it here too. These are all of the places I have affiliate or referral links to. Anything else at that I link that's not mentioned here is affiliate free :)

Affiliate Programs

*Amazon

*Target

*Share A Sale (Erin Condren, Cricut)

Referral Programs

*Shopkick

*Rakuten

*Ibotta

*Lively 

*Overtone

Support content creators if you can. This has been a rough time for everyone, and every little bit helps. I appreciate it, and I know others do too. 

I'm Loving It #1

 Here's a list of some things that I'm currently loving, all available at Target:

Revlon Salon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer

I saw so many influencers on Instagram using this thing, and I almost didn't want to try it because I thought if its being pushed that hard, something must be wrong, right? No- definitely wrong! This really helps my hair perk up (it can be very, very flat) and look smoother. It dries about as well as my regular hair dryer does (also a Revlon dryer), so that was an added bonus. 

SkinnyDipped Lemon Bliss Almonds

I am a huge snacker- and I really love these because you don't feel obligated to eat them all in one setting. The lemon gives it a nice tart flavor, and the coating isn't thick at all (you don't have to hunt for the almonds!). I haven't tried the other flavors yet, but they all sound delicious. 

SmartSweets Peach Rings

Another yummy snack! So these are a little expensive for the amount you receive, but they taste so good! And its another one of those snacks where you don't feel like you need to eat them all at once. I also really like the Sour Blast Buddies (a must try if you love Sour Patch Kids), and there is more in that bag than the peach rings.

Colsie Ribbed Seamless Lounge Leggings

If you can find them- buy these immediately. They are very comfortable and very flattering. They're good enough to wear around the house, or to run a quick errand or two. 

Found anything good at Target lately? Let me know in the comments!

**This post contains affiliate links. For more info, click my explanation**

Read/Reading #1

When things started going sideways in March, I thought I'd be spending my homebody energies on reading. I have a massive box full of books needing to be read. I used to mitigate my depression by spending money that I didn't really have. Books and the crap from the Dollar Spot at Target were my items of choice. Eventully I stopped (although its been very hard), but I have a lot of books as a result. 

The reading thing didn't really happen though- not until about July. Before then, I kept thinking that quarantine wouldn't last very long, I was dealing with bored children that wanted to go back to school, and about a million other things (depression doesn't go away my friends, even though my ways for coping did).

I will try not to post spoilers (even though all of these books are super old), but if it happens, I'm sorry.

I didn't read through the box. Only two came from there, two were new purchases and two were rereads (comfort books are a thing you guys).

The Box Books:

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. I bought this book beofre they announced the teevee show, fully intending to read it before that became a thing. That didn't happen (obviously), and I have to say, I like the show better than the book (don't hate me!). I mean, books about schools and scandals are fun, but I just felt like the show did it better. There are some serious themes in the story that I felt were glossed over a little bit in the book, but fully addressed in the show. 

Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick. I like Anna Kendrick as an actor. Her Twitter account is fun, so I figured why not. The book is what you would call a beach read- nothing super deep and you can finish it in a day. The stories made me realize that we are porbably closer in age than I realized, which made it more relatable. The only really annoying part of the book was that she went so out of her way to let you know that shes not the typical douchey actor that sometimes she came off as a major douche.

The New Buys:

The Body Reset Diet by Harley Pasternak. So I have gained some COVID weight. I always liked the episodes of Revenge Body when Harley was a trainer, because he didn't throw his clients straight into rigorous workouts, and they seemed to lose more than the participants that had to. Admittedly, doing this will be too hard as is, since I have a whole family to feed (and I'm sure they don't all want to drink smoothies for days). I am hoping to do a modified version of it soon though. 

Until the Twelfth of Never by Bella Stumbo. Did anyone else get obsessed with Dirty John: Betty Broderick like I did? Yes? Well, this book takes you on a deep dive of the whole thing. Some reviewers said this book was too sympatheic to Betty, but I didn't see it that way. Its just that shes alive to tell her side, and the friends/family of Dan and Linda would never be able to give an unbiased opinion of them (or Betty) since they were murdered by Betty. It really makes you think about gaslighting though, and how someone so seemingly normal can break at the hands of loved ones who are manipulating them (and the court system). 

The Re-Reads:

Fat Girl Walking and The Clothes Make The Girl (Look Fat?) both by Brittany Gibbons.  These are my comfort books. Brittany is so funny and upfront about things, reading her books are like talking to an old friend. Its hard to write anything about these other than- if you're struggling with weight or body image, these are needs. They aren't to help you lose weight or anything, they help to put the things you're feeling in perspective. 

Have you read any good books lately?

**This post contains affiliate links. For more info, click my explanation**