Hey y’all! I hope you are doing well given the circumstances. This past week I attempted to conduct a Q&A Session on my Instagram stories in order to write a blog full of questions from you all and answers from me. I think next time I want to use my CuriousCat instead because I know some people are shy. If you would like to ask questions anonymously, please see my CuriousCat here. For this round, I only got one question, but it was such a great one! Someone asked me for my “fave workout routines.” I’ve been trying to find my flow for working out at home for the last few weeks and I think I finally found some routines and a schedule I don’t hate. Full disclosure, my dad has always been a super-duper homebody and has some workout equipment that many people might not have at their homes and some of my routines do incorporate that. I also already own resistance loops for booty work and was able to snag some 10lb dumbbells and a yoga mat before things got super crazy, so I use those as well. Find a perfect substitution for you. I also want to say while I do enjoy working out, I am by no means a certified fitness trainer. The only format I am certified is MixxedFit which incorporates dance moves with body weight toning. These are just workouts that work for me, please make sure to look up how to do the moves properly before you attempt any of these routines.
Full Body Workout
I think if you want to get a good workout in, it always a good idea to have one longer workout routine that incorporates various parts of the body. When I was able to go to the gym, full body workouts were my absolute favorite and they still are now that I workout from home. This routine has become my go-to on the days I have more time to dedicate to working out and relaxing afterwards.
First things first, it’s important to warm up before you workout. For my full body workouts I usually workout this way:
Resistance Band Walk 30 Secs 2x
Resistance Band Hip Adduction 12 reps 2x
Resistance Band Kickbacks 12 reps 2x
After warming up I get into the workout:
Lateral Raise & Front Raise – Dumbbells (Superset) 10-12 reps 3x (click here for an example) (these are great for when you want to get more of a workout in but use less time)
Squats – w/ Dumbbells or Bodyweight 10-12 reps 3x (click here for an example)
Seated Overhead Press – Dumbbells 10-12 reps 3x (click here for an example)
Bent Over One Arm Row – Dumbbells 10-12 reps 3x each arm (click here for an example)
Plank 35 secs 3x
Abs/Core Workout Routine
I have a love/hate relationship with core/ab workouts because mine used to be really strong and I kinda took it for granted and let it fall to the wayside. I used to always skip my core days and just recently started embracing them. Core strength is important because it helps you with your balance in every other type of workout and your overall balance in general. I don’t have examples for these ones but they are all pretty well known in the fitness world.
3 Jumping Jacks or any cardio just to get your heart rate up
Side Bend – Dumbbell 10-12 reps 3x
Ab Wheel 6 reps 3x:
Side Plank 30 secs 3x
Russian Twists 10-12 reps 3x
Planks 35 secs 3x
Listen, I barely incorporated the ab wheel because I found one in my dad’s workout area and figured what the hell, I’ll try it. I could only do 6 at a time and couldn’t even go all the way out.. The next day I was sore as all hell! I have never been THAT sore in my abdominal area from a workout. This has given something to work towards during this time and by the end of 2020 I want to be able to use it effortlessly. I’m also currently working on my lower body/glutes routine for the days I have to recover from my ab wheel like I did yesterday! I tell my friends all the time I have until mid-2021 to build a booty or I’m gonna buy one and I haven’t decided if I’m kidding yet.
If you are interested in my glutes and lower body routine once I figure it out, leave a comment below and let me know. I will put it on the blog if it’s something people actually want to see.
I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed writing it! If you want to participate in my next Q&A blog (or first one rather) write a question on my CuriousCat or you can leave a comment with a question or any other feedback you’d like. Have a great day!
Hello my lovely readers! Apparently today is Galentine’s Day. Galentine’s Day is actually designated for February 13th. I really thought it was just an unofficial thing that gal pals celebrated on their own. That being said, this post is going to be about the holiday I knew the official day for…you know which one it is! Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day! Valentine’s Day makes a lot of people feel different ways. Some people believe it is a made-up holiday (aren’t they all made up?) only created to sell cards and candy (I mean probably true but all holidays have turned into a way to make profit so…). Others believe it focuses too much on romantic love and reminds them of their single life. Some people literally just dislike it for no particular reason.
I personally enjoy Valentine’s Day even though I do think it was created to sell candy and cards, it’s still a reminder to express love to our loved ones. I love LOVE. I decided to share my love with you all by giving you a playlist featuring some of my favorite love/love-ish songs. I will place a disclaimer that this is by no means an all-inclusive list of my favorite love songs ever. I tried to make one of those and quickly became overwhelmed! The amount of love songs in this world is insane. It’s probably one of the most sung about topics in the world. I decided to narrow it down to 20 songs that catch my current feels and vibes with romantic love.
1. Put It On Me (Remix) – Ja Rule ft. Vita & Lil’ Mo
Nothing like a good ol’ Ja Rule throwback to remind me of the days I wanted to date a gangster when I was younger. Who was I? Hahaha. Anyways, I like this song because it’s playful and cute and reminds me of simple times.
2. Best I Ever Had – Drake
This song has so many different love related memories for me. For one, I put the remix with Nicki Minaj on a burned CD (y’all remember those?) for my high school sweetheart. Secondly, I once gave some special to me a heart shaped pizza and wanted to write “you can have my heart or we can share it like the last slice” on the inner part of the box but it was a long distance thing and by the time I helped the worker figure out how to deliver the damn pizza to the man my 15 min break from work was over and I was over it. It’s the though that counts though, right? He still enjoyed the pizza.
3. I’m Sprung – T-pain
Honestly if you didn’t dedicate this to your middle school crush (in your head) then we are not the same. This song is a classic in my opinion. Listening to it takes me right back to that youthful innocence of confusing a crush for being “in love.”
4. Lotus Flower Bomb – Wale ft. Miguel
I really just vibe to this song very heavily. Wale and Miguel really made an amazing song when they came together.
5. Play No Games – Big Sean ft. Ty Dolla $ign & Chris Brown
Idk if it’s the beat or the music video tugging on my nostalgia but I really love this song! When it first came out I literally listened to it on repeat for like 2 days straight. It’s a cute lil rap song about being in love and not playing games…which sometimes people like to do entirely too much. But anywho.
6. The Way – Kehlani ft. Chance The Rapper
Kehlani was so young here omg. I love Kehlani and this is one of the songs that really made me love her love her as an artist (I was a little late to the party but I arrived). I also really like Chance The Rapper in this track as well.
7. Locked Out of Heaven – Bruno Mars
The lyrics “Can I just stay here? Spend the rest of my days here?” really sum up how I feel when I love someone. My top 2 love languages are quality time and physical touch and this song definitely sings about both of them in the perfect way that Bruno Mars knows how to.
8. With You – Chris Brown
Freshman year in highschool Mara wanted my “boyfriend” (not high school sweetheart, just to clarify) at the time to dedicate this song to me soooo badly. He never did and then went on to dump me for another girl. All of that aside, this song reminds me of the simple times in high school even though at the time they felt like the end of the world. It’s also a really cute love song, regardless of whatever other things have happened with Mr. Brown.
9. Catch Me – Demi Lovato
I sang this song to my first love after we went on a date or something. It is kinda cringe thinking about it now but at the time it was really sweet and he liked it or didn’t wanna hurt my feelings, both I fully appreciate haha. This song has always remained one of my favorite because I love Demi Lovato more than most people and it truly is just a sweet and pleasant song. It reminds me of being young and in love and care free.
10. Still Into You – Paramore
Okay first of all Hayley Williams is absolutely AMAZING and no slander towards her or Paramore will ever be tolerated. I currently have no memories attached to this song but it really is one of the greatest love songs to ever exist, in my opinion. Paramore did what the hell they had to do and showed the girlies how it needed to be done!
11. Dangerously In Love – Beyoncé
The fact that this is from BEYONCÉ’s DEBUT album is just…it leaves me speechless. This song is easily one of my favorite love songs of all time. Her voice is beautiful and this wasn’t even her final form as an artist. The talent is unmatched! The chorus is what I imagine when I think of true love.
12. Honey – Kehlani
Kehlani is one of the artist who just makes me feel better when she sings, no matter the topic. Regardless of if you can relate to this particular song, just listen to the lyrics. It is one of her most beautifully written songs. The video is also really cute. “I’m a beautiful wreck, a colorful mess, but I’m funny.”
13. Mirrors – Justin Timberlake
I get so emotional when I hear this song. I will know if I my life partner when this song encapsulates how I feel about them. It’s long as hell but each minute is worth it. 20/20 Experience was one of my favorite albums when it came out and still gets some play pretty often.
14. All of Me – John Legend
Can you even have a love song playlist without this song? I feel like it that should be illegal but I don’t know. This song makes me get all up in my feelings and feel all lovey dovey. When John Legend sings “what would I do without your smart mouth…” I feel seen.
15. XO – Beyoncé
XO is An underrated gem on the self-titled album. Beyoncé raspy vocals on this song are everythingggg and it makes me feel like I’m at a carnival & having the time of my life with the love of my life. I really love this song so much.
16. All Me – Kehlani ft. Keyshia Cole
This song is the only newer song on this playlist but it definitely gives me a throwback love type of vibe. Kehlani was playing in our face by almost not releasing this full track but we overcame. The lyrics and vocals between Kehlani and Keyshia are just *chef’s kiss*. It almost makes me want to post a man on my instagram with the caption “when you see him know that’s all me.”
17. Adorn – Miguel
When I picture myself having a cookout as an older woman, this is a song I can hear being on the playlist as I ask my grandkids “What y’all know about this?” like I haven’t been playing it every get family together since they were born. This song also is just grown and sexy and perfect. Makes me wanna slow dance and give my partner soft kisses on the forehead while holding hands.
18. While We’re Young – Jhene Aiko *
I don’t want to sound crazy but this may be one of the best love songs released in recent years and I’m not just saying that because I really enjoy Jhene’s Aiko’s music. I find myself randomly singing this song every so often and I just feel good. This is definitely a feel good love song that makes me feel at ease. The lyrics speak to my young-at-heart nature and make me want to forget the world and run off with somebody.
19. Latch – Disclosure ft. Sam Smith
This song will be played at my wedding. I wouldn’t go as far as saying it will be THE wedding song but it definitely is one of those songs that are timeless. Everything about this song is perfect. I literally don’t have a single critique. As a matter of fact, I don’t really trust anyone who doesn’t like this song. Definitely any love song playlist I have would have this song on it.
20. Love On Top – Beyoncé *
Have you ever tried to sing this song? It is insane. The amount of breath control and skill it takes to sing this song is not what I currently possess, even if drunk me thinks I do at karaoke nights. All of that aside, this song never fails to cheer me up when I hear it. Similarly to what I said about Adorn, this song will be on my cookout playlist for years to come and will definitely also be played at my wedding. I might even do a dance to it for my husband and the rest of the attendees, we’ll see. The point is this is one of my favorite love songs EVER and you cannot convince me it isn’t one of her best songs of all time!
The Playlist
Here is where you can listen to the playlist if you have TIDAL (which I’ve had since Lemonade dropped, btw):
I hope you enjoy this playlist and that you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day, regardless of who you are celebrating with. Be sure to spread love and appreciate all different types of love in your life tomorrow!
What do you think of these songs? Do you have a favorite love song? Tell me some of your favorite love songs in the comments below!
In the last few years I’ve strayed away from watching TV shows and gravitated towards listening to podcasts. Whether I have a flight to catch or want something to listen while I’m grocery shopping, podcasts always come in clutch. This past Monday was International Podcast Day and I decided there was no better way to celebrate than to list some podcasts I’ve been listening to lately. These podcasts are listed in no particular order and you should definitely check out ALL of them after reading this post.
1. Slay Girl Say Podcast
The Slay Girl Slay podcast, a podcast for women of color, encourages WOC to do things to promote their own wellness, professional lives, and so much more. Slay Girl Slay is one of my favorite podcasts to listen to while I shop at Trader Joe’s on Sundays. Host Ashley Leggs always has a personal anecdote to relate to life’s greater messages and encourages her “queens of color” to level up! The topics of the episodes range from tidying up our spaces, being a woman of your word, getting your “ish together, and everything in between. Some days I don’t have the energy to sit through an hour long motivational podcast episode and the thing I love the most about the Slay Girl Slay podcast is that most of the episodes are 30 mins or less. They are perfect for when I wanted to hear something uplifting that is also short, sweet, and straight to the point. I listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts but it is available on many different places podcasts are listened to.
Recommended Episode: “Be A Woman of Your Word”
2. Dique! Podcast
Sarah Vega, a Dominican Afro-Latina, started this podcast and her own media company of the same name. I discovered the Dique! podcast after I started listening to The PlotTwist Podcast. The PlotTwist Podcast is on the Dique! Network. I can’t remember which episode I listened to first but I remember being blown away by how honest Sarah was about everything she’s gone through in her life so far. One of the things I value in my own life and brand is being upfront without oversharing and I feel that Sarah also approaches all of her work this way as well. Listening to the Dique! podcast feels like gettin’ put on game by an older homegirl who has been through some things in life and keeps it real with you. She holds no punches and sometimes I get a gut check when she’s not even talking to me. I listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts as well.
Episode I Recommend: “This is what I learned…” Series Introduction. This is the most recent episode of the podcast and it gives you just enough to know what Sarah delivers in her podcast.
3. Tea with Qwns Podcast
I went to college with hosts of this podcast and I love what they’re doing with their platform. Hosts Jerralyn and Janine are two sisters who weigh in different topics from pop culture to politics, self-love to sex, and whatever else they feel like having candid conversation about. The ladies sometimes bring different guests into the conversations as well which often leads to an even more likely listening. While the podcast is titled “Tea with Qwns” it isn’t just targeted towards women. As the ladies say a qwn is “a fierce and fabulous individual who overcomes adversity and keeps their head high while strutting every step of the way.” This definitely a podcast that 20-somethings want to check out.
Episode I Recommend: “Episode 2.2: The Tea on Friend Breakups”
4. And That’s Why We Drink
I always have a podcast I listen to that’s a bit of a palette cleanser from listening to self-help/get your shit together type of podcasts I listen to and And That’s Why We Drink is currently that podcast for me. This podcast is a Paranormal and True Crime podcast and honestly I’ve been obsessed since the later half of this past summer. Em tackles the supernatural while Christine Not only do I love spooky things but the hosts Em and Christine’s banter is hilarious. There are some episodes I literally can’t listen to in public because they will have me cracking up out loud (when LOL actually means laugh out loud and not “hahaha”).
Recommended Episode: Just start with episode one and work your way through it. They reference previous episode topics sometimes and you don’t want to be out of the loop.
Podcasts have honestly become of my favorite things. Sometimes I like to give my eyes a break and just listen to something entertaining that’s not music. I’ve also thought about starting my own podcast but that’s a whole other blog post hahaha. Hopefully you find your new fave podcast from this post! I like to think I have good taste.
I’m always looking for new podcasts to check out. Are there any that you love to listen to? Drop the names of them in the comments!
Long ago the only option for a commute to work or listening to something on your down time was the radio. Now, we live in a world where there are many different things you can listen to on your drive. One thing that has been gaining popularity is podcasts! In case you don’t know what a podcast is, a podcast Is basically a radio show mixed with a television series (only without the visual aspect, so maybe not a television series haha). Anyways, listeners can subscribe to them and download them on their devices. In this post I will be talking about some of my most favorite podcasts, why I listen to them, and what is my favorite episode.
1. Behind The Brilliance—Lisa Nicole Bell
I love this podcast very much! I believe it might have been the second or third podcast I ever listened to in my life. I’m not going to lie and tell you I have listened to EVERY episode (I mean, she has over a 100!) but EVERY episode I have listened to I have learned something new and informational. One thing I admire about this podcast is the Lisa (who is a well accomplished genius in her own right) also interviews other amazing and accomplished professionals in various fields for many of her episodes. She describes Behind The Brilliance as “a weekly podcast featuring funny and smart conversations with accomplished innovators, fascinating creative, and mission-driven entrepreneurs.” Her solo episodes are always a great listen as she talks about new things she’s tried, books she’s read, and sometimes even gives advice in Q+A’s. While the reason I was drawn to this podcast is because Lisa is a fellow Black Woman, her guests range in ages, races, professions, and everything else! There is literally many episodes that everyone can learn from. My current favorite episode is Episode: 8 for 2018. This really helped me get myself ready to go into 2018 working towards my goals. However, I must note it was really hard for me to choose a favorite episode because all of the ones I have listened to are great. Give Behind The Brilliance a listen now on iTunes!
2. ANGCODE
While I do love a good motivational podcast, sometimes I like to listen to podcasts that will have me cracking up. ANGCODE is that podcast. It does not matter what episode I tune into guarantee Ang and her guests will have me damn near crying laughing. On ANGCODE she addresses various topics in pop culture, as well as women and their sexualities, double standards in society, self-confidence, and more while also never forgetting incorporate her naturally hilarious opinions on these topics. Ang holds no punches and isn’t afraid to get real with her guests or her listeners. She has a segment where she takes questions from her listeners via an anonymous curiouscat (sometimes, some very WILD questions) and her and her guests answer them, no matter HOW crazy the question is. If you need a good laugh go check out ANGCODE like RIGHT NOW. My favorite episode is: Episode 21: Ladies Night- Sliding into DMs, Body Shaming & Spirituality. P.S. Did I mention Ang is my sorority sister? Make sure you listen and rate the podcast on iTunes, like right this minute!
3. Think N Grow Chick Podcast—Courtney Sanders
The Think N Grow Chick podcast was the first podcast I ever listened to. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was cleaning dorm rooms at my old job one summer when I got tired of listening to music. Now don’t get me wrong, ya girl loves music but this was before I had any streaming service and was rockin’ with Pandora and I ran out of skips and I was like, hmmm let’s give the podcast thing a listen. I googled “black women podcasts” (representation is important for me sometimes, y’all) and she appeared on a few lists of must listens for Black Women). I played one episode and I was hooked! Courtney has an amazing story about how she went from being kicked out of college and in debt to being a successful entrepreneur (she was also recently featured in Forbes: check it out here!) She shares her own personal life tips as well as tips for being an entrepreneur and she is always dropping gems. My favorite episode is: Are You REALLY About This Life? The 3 Keys to Programming Your Mind for Success
4. The PlotTwist Podcast
I can admit I have a preference to listen to podcasts hosted by women; The PlotTwist Podcast is an exception to the rule. Hosted by Daniel Coronado, PlotTwist is a podcast that has a little bit of everything! The topics range from serious topics like the Rescinding of DACA and Self-Care to more light hearted things like the worst date Daniel and his fraternity brothers have ever been on. I like PlotTwist because I never know what to expect when I press play, which I’m sure is one of the reasons the title makes so much sense. While many of the topics are serious, Daniel has a naturally funny and rambunctious personality that gives and interesting spin to the discussions of the show. Daniel and I have been friends for 7 years now and each year he gets more and more hilarious. Go check out PlotTwist! My favorite episode is: S. 1 Episode 5: Toothbrushing, Our Daily Purpose, Staying In Your Lane, & THE SEX TALK. Hurry and give PlotTwist a listen on iTunes.
These are 4 podcasts that I love to listen to right now! If you are in need of a new podcast, check these out. You will discover some major life tips, good books to read for self-development, catch up on pop culture, hear about social justice topics, and much more.
I’m always looking for new podcasts to check out. Are there any that you love to listen to? Drop the names of them in the comments!
One thing I have enjoyed in my post-grad life is the being able to go back to leisurely reading. When I was a kid I absolutely adored reading for fun. As I got older school started assigning me so many books that reading for fun just wasn’t a priority anymore. After I graduated I started reading more and I actually made it a goal to read 2 books a month in 2017. While I underestimated how difficult that would be working 2 jobs and studying for the LSAT I was able to read 10 new books! Some of these books had a greater impact on me than others so I decided I would re-read them this year to refresh myself on what they taught me or what I liked about them.
My current favorite genres are self-help/self-development and poetry so the books on this list will be fall into one of those categories.
Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy
This book is one of the shorter books I read last year but make no mistake, it teaches you a lot in less than 200 pages. What I really enjoyed about Tracy’s book is that it does not have any fluff and gets straight the point. Often times in self-development books they take many many words to say something that could be effectively understood in less words. Tracy does this and that’s why I decided I must re-read this book again just because it was so good at teaching me something. I honestly couldn’t put the book down and finished it in only 2 days. It’s based on careers and business but you definitely can take the concepts and apply them to any area in life. If you need help to leave procrastinating as a thing in the past, check this book out!
2. Salt by Nayyirah Waheed
This was my favorite poetry book that I read this year. My only regret reading this book was that I hadn’t read it sooner. This book was on my wishlist for quit sometime and I barely got around to reading it sometime in the middle of last year. I was severely late to the Nayyirah Waheed party but now I have seen the light. Her style of writing is beautiful and I especially enjoy how her poems are simple yet contain so much emotion that we can feel as readers. The topics range from relationships to self-love and white supremacy and she tackles all of these artistically and with raw emotion. If you only have time to read one poetry book this year I would recommend Waheed’s Salt and I can’t wait to re-read it this year. I’m also excited to pick up her other book, Nejma.
3. You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero
I really enjoyed reading this book. I think Sincero does a good job of making herself appealing to younger aged millennials like me by writing about self-help in a very relatable and basic lanuage. I found her book hilarious because she has a knack for cursing and anyone who knows me knows that’s my MO as well. I found this book a little bit more exciting than other books of its genre. Sincero is very good at narrating her life experiences and teaching concepts from them. While there were some parts of it that I didn’t necessarily agree with, (I do not like the way some modern self-help books discuss things like depression) the overall concepts of the book were extremely helpful for me during my post-grad journey last year. This is definitely a book to pick up if you want to get into self-help books and have a wild sense of humor!
Honorable Mentions of Books I Might Re-read
The Alchemist
The Four Agreements
The Fifth Agreement
These are books I would recommend for everyone. I will probably re-read The Alchemist and only skim through The Agreements Books, only because I re-read them last year and reading them once. Reading a good book can truly be therapeutic and good for the mind. Just because you aren’t in school anymore doesn’t mean that you can keep learning and expanding your mind. This year I hope to expand out of my self-help/self-development and poetry comfort zone and truly expand my horizons.
What are some books you are re-reading this year and highly recommend? What are some books you’ve never read before and plan to read this year? Let me know in the comments!
Last Month I reviewed January’s Box on my blog and since I’m somebody who is aiming to make consistency a theme in my life this year and STILL a planner addict, I have to review this month’s box as well!
January’s box was definitely a tough act to follow! I loved the pink, gold, and sparkles that last month’s box contained and I was waiting for February’s Box from the moment my calendar read February 1st. Okay, I may be being a bit dramatic but I was highly anticipating February’s box after loving January’s Box so much.
Overall Review: This month’s box was a good box, but I definitely think I loved January’s Box a tad bit more. I think that’s just due to my own hang-ups on Month’s and their respective Holiday’s. I would have love to see more pink and red but then again I can respect TPAB for not giving us the typical cliché February theme. This month’s theme was “Planner Love” and they most certainly delivered on that aspect. I think my problem with this month’s box is that it had quite a few things I can’t personally see myself using but I can see how they would be useful to other planner addicts. This month’s TPAB included: Journaling Cards, Sticker Mini Kit, Washi Tapes, Stamps, Pen, Planner Stencils, and a BONUS: Planner Tips Card
When it comes to my planner, I’m all about stickers and washi tape for the most part. Things like stamps and stencils don’t particularly interest me because for one, I don’t own an ink pad, and for two I don’t have the patience to use stencils. However, that doesn’t mean that somebody somewhere won’t love them. While I wasn’t all in love with everything in February’s box, I do believe that TPAB does an excellent job of trying to accommodate to the different types of planner enthusiasts there are in the world. My personal favorite this month were the two washi tapes, the sticker mini kit, and the bonus item: planner tips card. I also thought the pen was realllly cute because it was pink and gold, which are seemingly my colors of 2017.
I appreciated one of the washi tapes because although it wasn’t red and pink Valentine’s Day themed, it was heart-themed and I can always get behind that for the month of February. The other washi tape felt kinda similar to one of the one’s from last month so I wasn’t all googly-eyed over it.
I liked the stickers because like always they matched the two washi tapes provided and when it comes to a cohesive monthly spread or weekly spread, having a sticker to match that is great. They have definitely gotten the “functional sticker” part of planning down and each month I consider adding a sticker addict box to my planner addict box. I probably will once I start working but I’m not sure because I have two sticker booklets from Michael’s with over 2,000 stickers! What can I say, I’m a sticker addict too.
My final thing I loved about this month was the Planner tips they included. While many of them seem like common sense, I really liked them because the card served as a reminder to me to check my planner more often. I can’t count how many times in the past I have decked out my weekly spread only to let a day or two go past without even glancing at the thing (that may also be because I was unemployed and didn’t really have a strict schedule to adhere to but still). By keeping the tips visible on my desk I was reminded how to use my planner more effectively every day.
All in all, I liked this month’s box and will definitely put everything I loved to use. After this month’s box I’ve decided I’m going to start picking random people to send my unwanted items from the box to (if I don’t feel like taking the effort to utilize them ever). Stay tuned for a potential giveaway!
What is your favorite way to decorate your planner? Are you obsessed with washi-tape and stickers or are stencils and stamps more in your lane? Answer in the comments!
I was on twitter one day minding my business when one of my sorority sisters asked me if I watched Shameless. At the time I was trying to study for the LSAT in December so I had been purposely avoiding Netflix because once I find a show I like I can’t have peace until I watch every episode of every season. I decided to watch it and I was hooked. I could not stop watching it and shortly finished the first four seasons within a couple of weeks. I was an unapologetic member the Shameless fan club!
Shameless is a show about the Gallagher family and their crazy ass lives in Chicago, Illinois. Frank Gallagher, the father of the bunch is an alcoholic drug abuser who comes and goes as his pleases leaving his daughter Fiona to take care of her 5 younger siblings. Fiona doesn’t do it alone. She also has the help of her neighbors, her best friend V and V’s boyfriend Kevin. They help Fiona out when they can. The show takes us through Frank’s never ending antics that fuck up his children’s lives due to his own drug and alcohol problems and his problems with their mother Monica, Fiona’s love life (one that makes me feel particularly relieved for my own) and struggles of raising her siblings, Lip and his struggles being an douche-bag genius with self-destructive tendencies, Ian and his struggles with his sexuality, Debbie and her desperate need for feelings of love and acceptance, Carl and his bad ass (seriously this little guy will burn up all your shit) and his growth, and Liam with his average of 2 lines a season (luckily in the final season they give the little guy some more to say, and Veronica and Kevin’s life as a couple.
The reason I love this show is because it is sooooo different from any show I’ve ever watched and from most of the shows I usually obsessed over like Gossip Girl and shows of that nature. Shameless is refreshingly real life look at living in what others consider to be a “bad neighborhood” and poverty and all the things that come with that. Even in its sometimes emotionally heavy story lines it often offers comedic relief to its viewers through the characters and their personalities and how they cope. If you pay close attention to the show you notice it touches on issues in society such as mental illnesses, drug and alcohol abuse, homosexuality, toxic masculinity, gentrification, the prison/parole system, LGBTQ issues, polyamory and so much more all while being the one of the most non-glamorous straight-in-your-face shows I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching. I loved it so much after I finished all the seasons on Netflix I downloaded a free trial of the Showtime app and binged watched season 7 which is not on Netflix yet because it just finished sometime in December or so.
Do yourself a favor and watch Shameless if you’re looking for a new show to binge watch on Netflix. You won’t regret it!
What are you currently indulging in on Netflix? What are you top 3 shows you love to watch on Netflix? Gimme some suggestions in the comments!
The concept of a Subscription Box has always been so interesting to me! For those of you reading who might be unfamiliar with them, it’s basically like a magazine subscription but instead of an issue of Cosmo or Vogue arriving in your mailbox once a month, you get a box full of goodies to enjoy. It’s like a monthly mini-Christmas and I, for one, am totally here for it. When I moved back home I discovered that my mom was subscribed to Graze and would receive a box of 100 calorie snacks at her job every month. I was telling her how back in undergrad I had wanted to subscribe to a box titled “The Planner Addict Box” which I believed to have been made specifically for ME but I was too broke. I left the living room to go do something else and thought nothing of the conversation. Anyone who knows me well knows that I am obsesssssed with my planner and the box literally was meant to be with me. Well my mother knows me very well and she decided to gift me a monthly subscription to the Planner Addict Box (isn’t she the sweetest?)
I don’t know if it has been conveyed enough in the posts I currently have on my blog but I’m truly a Planner Addict. I obsess over my planner. I like planning, decorating, writing, drawing, washi tape, post-its, pretty pens you nameeeee it! I’m in multiple Facebook groups dedicated to planning and my Passion Planner. Anyone who knows me well would not be surprised to find out I had a subscription to “The Planner Addict Box.” Needless to say, I was anxiously waiting for my first delivery. The idea of getting more washi tape alone was enough to get me excited. So far I have received four boxes.I got my October Box and November Box while I was in Ohio and my December and January boxes in Vegas, where I will be getting the rest of them.
I will admit when I first got my October Box I was a tad bit underwhelmed. I was cursed due to my expectations from seeing previous boxes on Instagram. This box didn’t look as nice as those and one of the sticker sheets had been printed on regular paper. The company later fixed the issue by sending me two sheets of the stickers instead of one which made me happy but it did delay my planner decorating. However, the box did have some decent items. I decided not to cancel my subscription and see what was in store for the following. Luckily for me, the November Box was amazing and definitely reassured me that subscribing to “The Planner Addict Box” would not be something I felt bad about. The December box was great as well. Now for the Box I will be reviewing!
This is my January Edition of My “The Planner Addict Box” (being referred to as TPAB from here on out) and the first box of the new year! Isn’t it gorgeous? I’m going to review the box overall and then list my favorite items from this month’s delivery.
Overall Review: I loved this month’s box! The theme was “Let’s Party” in honor of the New Year and I think the people over at TPAB did an excellent job of putting it together. By using colors like pink and gold, this box was quite beautiful to look at and even more fun to use. It included: die cuts, a sticker mini-kit, TWO washi tapes, a golden paperclip that reads “YAY!”, a pen, and mini-calender sheets for the first 6 months of the year. Without a doubt I can see myself using every single one of the items in the box for many months to come. I especially love how they changed the color and shape if the boxes because the new boxes are so cute. Another thing they added that I appreciate is a card with a list of everything that is in the box. Without further ado I will be talking about what I enjoyed the most this month.
Here are some of my favorites from this month’s delivery:
Black and White Polka Dot Pen w/ Gold and Giant “Diamond”: As soon as I opened the box I was obsessed with this pen! I love how it looks and how it incorporates many of my favorite colors and my birthstone. I have been told that I’m “extra” more times than I can count and I feel that this pen is as extra as I amThe Stickers: I really enjoyed these stickers more than I expected myself to. My favorite ones were the To-Do List heart shaped ones. I didn’t realize I needed so many functional stickers in my life until I started my TPAB subscription boxes. The color scheme of this month stickers was beautiful and included light pink, pink, golden yellow, dark blue, and white!
3. Washi Tapes: Okay so it’s not a surprise this made it on the list because my washi-tape addiction goes hand in hand with my planner addiction. I really liked this month’s patterns and will more than likely use them more than I’d like to admit in the upcoming months. This is the first time in my time receiving TPAB that we received two washi tapes instead of one and I was so excited about that! One was pink and white with gold splatter and the other was a confetti pattern. The confetti pattern one would totally be perfect for outlining birthdays in my monthly spreads or at the top of someone’s birthday in my weekly spread.
I’m happy that my mom decided to gift me a subscription to TPAB. It has taught me a lot about myself as someone in the planner community; I have learned that I need to step my planner game up before I take to posting it on Instagram and using hashtags. I will be reviewing next month’s box right when I get it so stay tuned!
Are you subscribed to any subscription boxes? If yes, which ones? If no, which ones do you wish you were subscribed to? Answer in the comments!
The Stickers: I really enjoyed these stickers more than I expected myself to. My favorite ones were the To-Do List heart shaped ones. I didn’t realize I needed so many functional stickers in my life until I started my TPAB subscription boxes. The color scheme of this month stickers was beautiful and included light pink, pink, golden yellow, dark blue, and white!
The Musings of Mara 