Tuesday, July 31, 2018

How to Feel Like a Million Bucks While Pregnant

I'm going to be honest, there will be times when you feel more like a penny stuck in gum on the sidewalk than a million bucks, but here are some simple ways to help you feel good about yourself even while your body is growing and changing and aching and barfing and just experiencing that roller coaster ride known as pregnancy.


1) Get your nails done
*bonus: you get to see my super sexy striped tan lines from number 4

This is a good feel-good-about-yourself tip for any time, not just while being pregnant. It's a quick pick me up to help you feel put together.
There are a few cautions when it comes to getting nails done while pregnant, but for the most part, you can enjoy this just as you can any other time! Let yourself relax and be pampered, and get your toes bright and painted by someone who (unlike you) can actually reach your feet!

2) Sleep

You're going to need wayyyy more sleep than you might think is reasonable. You might get frustrated with how tired you are and feel like you should just power through your work, but trust me, that ornery or overwhelmed feeling you get when tired is multiplied by a thousand when you're pregnant - it is much better to take a nap than to push through and have a meltdown.

3) Eat

This one goes with number 2 - you have to eat way more frequently when you're pregnant, and you might be surprised what sounds good. Of course you want to try to eat as healthily as you can, but my general rule of thumb is if it sounds good, eat it or drink it. Getting calories and nutrients is super important, especially if you're stuck in those nasty few months where almost everything makes you queasy. There are a few things pregnant women shouldn't eat or should be cautious about, but let yourself indulge in lunches out or in an extra popsicle.

4) Get Good Shoes

This makes a WORLD of difference, let me tell you. Comfort is key. So is being able to get them on easily without bending over. Trust me on that one.
These are the shoes that I have fallen in love with, and so has everyone else who has tried them! My mom, grandma, and boss all tried mine on and my mom and grandma ordered theirs that same day. I ordered another pair in another color too. Yes, they're made by Crocs, which may cause some involuntary cringing, but I promise they're AMAZING.




5) Get Your Glow On

You might have that "pregnancy glow" going, or you might feel like baby is sucking all your beauty out, leaving none left for you. Either way, here are some products I've been using to help me stay fresh and glowy!

The bane of my skin's existence is dryness, so I use these 3 products at least twice a day each:

Equate Daily Moisturizing Lotion

A nice lotion that is super hydrating without being heavy on my face. It works just as well as the Aveeno brand and is cheaper!

Aquaphor


This stuff has been a staple of mine for years. I mainly use it on my lips, which get ridiculously dry throughout the day and night, but I also use it on other super dry patches and my hands and feet - usually at night. AND I use it to remove eye makeup. It gets even the stubborn waterproof stuff and is super gentle and non-irritating, unlike literally all other makeup removers. Get travel sized ones for your backpack or purse and, if you're going to use it as much as me, invest in one of the giant tubs to keep in your nightstand or bathroom.

Bio Oil
Bio Oil, 2 fl oz
I've only recently decided to give facial oil a try, and I really feel like it's helped my face get glowy instead of flaky or ashy. I'll rub it in before I go to sleep, and I put it on after moisturizing my face where I would want a little extra dewy glow.

Bonus: Face Masks
Have a face mask night with some girlfriends (or in my case, with a sister-in-law and your hubby!) and you'll be amazed at how human it helps you feel. You get that social aspect as well as a lovely, smooth, hydrated, glowy face! Pair it with some binge watching of Nailed It! on Netflix, and it's a pretty awesome night.

I hope these tips help you feel like a million bucks!!



via GIPHY


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Sunday, July 15, 2018

The 5 Best Things I've Bought on Amazon


In case you haven't heard, Prime Day starts Monday afternoon, and I've been thinking about just how often I use Amazon, and how many awesome things I've gotten there. So, just in time to get killer deals, here are the best things I've bought on Amazon:


I started looking for some super comfy and supportive shoes when we made plans to go to Disneyland, knowing that my pregnancy would make the typical walking-around-all-day pains worse. I did some research, and most of what I saw were straight up old man shoes. BUT then I found these!! And let me tell you, they are like strapping clouds to your feet. My mom and grandma tried them on and immediately ordered pairs for themselves. They're THAT amazing.



My feet (the heels especially) can get a little...well...gross. And dry. And cracked. I bought one of these and OH MY GOSH what a difference it makes. I'm not even ashamed to wear flip flops anymore - my feet are silky smooth!


If you've never used a foam roller, you are missing out. This is THE BEST way to rub out tight muscles (aside from a massage from your sweetheart ;) ) - especially in your legs! If you feel a little lost, just google "foam roller for ___" whatever part of you aches. You'll thank me!

The First Two Seasons of Kim Possible



KP is the bomb. And she's not available on Netflix, soooooo...

This Pregosaurus Shirt


I mean, come on. How cute is this?? And it was a really fun way to reveal to my dance girls that I had a bun in the oven.


Happy Prime Day!



Advertising Disclosure: I may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links posted on this website.

Sunday, July 8, 2018

The Best Movies For Any Mood

No more wondering what you should watch. Here's a list of a TON of movies that I love (and some I don't) to help you out on your next movie night!



Kids Movies That Are Just as Great as an Adult:

Music and visuals are great, the post-stampede scene still brings me to tears, and how freaking powerful is it when Simba takes Pride Rock at the end??

Granted, I never saw this one as a kid, but as a dance teacher of kids, I've had the music requested over and over and heard it talked about nonstop. And it really is just amazing. The music is so powerful and has personally helped me find strength when I needed it most.

LOVED this movie as a kid and still love it as an adult. 

Honorable Mention: Ella Enchanted
Yeah, if you can get past the corniness and very 2000s outfits, this one is still pretty dang great.

Kids Movies That Are Even Better as an Adult:

Loved it for its humor and action as a kid, and I still love those factors as an adult, but the deeper themes and meanings make it so much more amazing now. I can't even talk about how much the plane scene gets to me now that I'm an adult. Bob was listening during all that!!! (sobs)

Funny as a kid, funnier as an adult when you get all the jokes that used to go over your head. Plus you gain a greater appreciation for this you're-already-beautiful-as-you-are twist on the beauty and the beast story.

Thought it was funny as a kid (and still do!), but now I just connect so much more to the realness of family struggles and how, in the end, no matter how much they drive you crazy, family is what really matters most.

Best Jaw-Dropping Plot Twists:

I don't want to spoil stuff in this section, but this movie has you gripped from beginning to end, and the best part is that the biggest jaw-dropping moment literally comes at the last second of the movie, making you want to watch it all over again.

Don't feel as bad about potentially spoiling this one, because I feel like pretty much everyone has seen it/knows the twist. Still, all I'll say is that the first time I watched it, I did NOT see that coming. And again, the best plot twists make you want to watch the movie over knowing what you do now.

I've always loved heist and how-did-they-do-it movies, and this one does an awesome job of pulling a twist that is monumental yet still believable.

Best Tear-Jerkers:

My heartstrings were not prepared for the tune this movie played on them. Literally have never cried so hard in one go over a movie.

This movie was so powerful, not only on its own, but in context of what has been going on in the world with refugees. Literally have never bawled so many times in one movie.

Whether you're crying from the beautiful story line, the powerful music, or Russell Crowe's horrible singing, this one will definitely make you tear up.

Dumb, Funny, and Quotable:

This is the worst lunch I ever had.
Chancho! I need to borrow some sweeeaaaats.
Get that corn out of my face!!!

I see you're drinking 1%. Is that cuz you think you're fat? Cuz you're not. You could be drinking whole if you wanted to.
Vote for Pedro.

Gonna make it...gonna make it.....
It's a sweater!!
Would you say that I have a plethora of pinatas?

Best Comedies:

Two conmen try to out-con each other. Hilarity ensues.

Can anyone listen to "Yeah!" anymore without doing the Q-tip move?

I love Robin Williams. And I love the hilariousness of how many things go wrong in this movie.

Best Movie Kisses:

So much has led up to this moment, and it is so windswept and romantic and the music and just HGlsdjgskdfsj.

The best marriage ceremony in cinema, the slow mo, time stopping in the middle of the battle - *sigh*

The music, the build-up, the finally making the right choice, the rain. Just all the feels.

Hahahhaahhahahahhahahhaha

Best Chick Flicks that Guys Like Too:

A classic with hilarious situations. The family conversations are by far the best part of the film.
"These mashed potatoes are so creamy."

Another quotable, this one is hilarious for its tangle of romances that somehow all work out in the end.

A blonde gets into Harvard Law - "What, like it's hard?" and proves over and over that her girlish ways do not make her a brainless bimbo, but a bombshell lawyer.

Honorable Mention: Ever After
One of (if not THE) best Cinderella re-tellings of all time. It has Da Vinci in it for crying out loud! Only reason it's an honorable mention is because this one is a bit more typical of a chick flick and doesn't necessarily offer as much for the dudes.

Best Religious Movies:

Such a powerful reminder of sacrifice, faith, and the blessings that come in spite of great sorrow and tragedy.

What I love most about this one is that you FEEL what it would really be like for Jesus to come. You're watching these two separate story lines, and suddenly Christ is there, and you can just feel how it will be when he comes again.

A powerful testament to the angels that surround us everyday and a reminder that our loved ones, both alive and passed on, are never far away.

Honorable Mention: The Other Side of Heaven
LOVE this movie. The true story is so inspirational and the music is incredible.

Best Action Movies:

A good villain is key to any good movie, and this one does not disappoint. The film kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time and really had some emotional moments too!

Hilarious, fast-paced, and exciting from start to finish, this is a classic that I can watch over and over again without getting tired of it.

Plot-wise, this is not stellar. But it's worth it just to watch the giant robots fighting giants alien monsters - especially on a big HD screen with surround sound. And it has basically the best pep talk in the history of movies.

Honorable Mention: Star Trek: Into Darkness
Say what you want defending the original Khan character etc., but I think this movie is great and Cumberbatch makes an awesome villain. And no, of course my crush on Spock had nothing to do with this choice...

Kids Movies You Loved that are Actually Kind of Terrible:

Such bad acting. Such terrible jokes. Such cringe. Still gotta admit that I freaking loved this movie as a kid though. And the other 2 as well.

Don't get me wrong, I'm ready to sing "Hey now!" at the top of my lungs as much as the next girl, and I have. But watching this movie when I'm older makes me realize a few things that aren't so great: first off, Lizzie is in MIDDLE SCHOOL when she goes off to Rome. She sneaks out in a foreign country with a strange boy she just met (have you not seen Taken??) and doesn't let anyone know where she is. And sure, she gets grounded, but only after becoming a fabulous pop star and miraculously not being kidnapped or raped. Plus, you've gotta admit that Hilary's Italian accent as Isabella leaves a lot to be desired.

Classic Disney Princess Movies
I freaking love Disney and like to pretend I'm a Disney Princess all the time, but you've got to admit there are some flaws with the old classics. 
"But Daddy I love him!!!" Oh my gosh no. You're obsessed with him and don't even know him. Stop whining please.
And some of the older princesses are a bit too helpless for my taste.

Best Lesser Known:

This Bollywood gem is one that somehow manages to capture humor, sadness, inspiration, music, and more into one movie. So good.

Rednecks take on a big heist. It's as funny as you'd think.

The real struggles of new parenthood, made more complicated by the fact that the parents, well, aren't exactly parents. Gives me all the family feels.

Honorable Mention: Water for Elephants
The fact that I adore elephants probably is a big reason why I like this movie as much as I do, but it really does tell a good story with adventure, love, corruption, and the triumph of gentle goodness over harsh evil.

Best Inspirational:

A true story of strong women who push against prejudice and change the world in the process? Sign me up.

We all know how much I love this movie and how much it gets me feeling like I can do anything.

YOU GO AFTER YOUR DREAMS GIRL! That final routine too - gah!

Best Horror:

Lolololol no. I don't do horror.

Best Adaptations:

Gerard Butler as Phantom. Do you even need another reason to clear your throat and sing/shriek like a pterodactyl?

The book is amazing and the movie is amazing. Tears, feelings, and a determination to change the world. You is kind, you is smart, you is important.

Confession time: I still haven't read this book. But I hear that it's a really well-done adaptation, and no one can deny that this movie freaking rocks.

Best Christmas Movies:

I honestly think Jim Carrey nails the Grinch in this one. And the never-ending supply of hilarious quotes just makes it all the better.

This is such a well-done movie that really captures the beautiful story of the first Christmas. It makes Joseph and Mary so real and just puts you right in the story with them. Brings me to grateful tears every time.

I just had to include this son-of-a-nutcracker in here. Hilarious, gets you into the Christmas spirit, and quotable as all get out.

Movies I Love That You Might Hate:

It's no secret that I love this movie. The music, the dreams, the wonderful blend of fantasy and reality - it's amazing. Some people think otherwise. (They're crazy).

New Star Wars Movies
Some people don't like the new ones as much, but I really love them. And the spin-offs like Rogue One and Solo.

Should they have stopped making these? Well, yeah I guess. But I just love mermaids a lot, okay??

Movies I Hate That You Might Love:

Sorry, but never been a fan. I think I just eye-rolled through the whole thing.

For both the book and the movie, I really liked it up to a certain point, and then it just left me with a bad taste in my mouth and a frown on my face.

Hate is way too strong of a word here, and I will cry at that opening montage just like you. But every time I watch this one, I'm disappointed that it wasn't as good as it seems like it should be. First 10 minutes? A+ The rest? Meh.

Hope this helps you out at your next movie night!!

What are some of your favorites that I missed?

Advertising Disclosure: I may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links posted on this website.