Not Another LA Blonde

Tag: life

Happy Birthday to ME!!
Alright y’all I went to bed last night thinking that I would talk about the newest BARKBOX I received over the weekend, but when I woke up this morning I decided to talk about myself a little bit on the blog today...

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Katie

Well here we are, another year, another birthday. Yesterday I turned 25. I’m half way to 50. I’m a quarter of a century old. I don’t know how many other ways to say it…I’m getting old.

Last year I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish in my 24^th year of life. Here’s the list I prepared a year ago from my “Nobody Likes You When You’re 23” post:

Things to do before I turn 25:
1. Get engaged (I know this one isn’t up to me, but I can hope right?)
2. Buy a new car – I have wanted a new one for a while as my current car is 10 years old
3. Save enough money to move out of my parents’ house – this one is a little unrealistic at my current pay scale but I’ll still put aside money
4. Travel to at least 5 places big or small – I can’t currently take time off with my new job because of a probationary period
1. Follow through on plans I make with friends (It’s always the same…”omg, let’s hang out” and then it never happens)
Here’s the FINAL verdict on my 24th year of life:

Get engaged: Ok, so for those of you who may not know, or just started following me…as of November 2016, I AM ENGAGED. After 5 years of dating and talking about marriage together, the big day finally happened! The proposal was absolutely amazing and everything I could have wanted! You can read all about my AMAZING proposal here.

Buy a new car: As of June 2017, I became a new car owner! This is something that I have been saving for with my own money for about 6 years now. I was previously driving a 2005 Ford Focus (which I loved, btw, but it was time for an upgrade) I had been looking at more luxury brand vehicles and decided (after much research) that I was between the Mercedes C300 and the Audi A4. I actually know a few people who drive Mercedes, but I wasn’t really impressed after sitting inside of it. The fiancé and I went to the Audi dealership and looked at the A4, but he was a little too tall and didn’t fit comfortably inside it. We then went and looked at the new 4-door A5. They are brand new to the US this year as they’ve only ever had the 2-doors here. Since I loved the idea of having something that no one else did, I was very intrigued by this particular model. I think it was fate because the fiancé did in fact fit into the A5 and we happened to get a once in a life time deal on the car. It was too good of a deal to pass up so a few days later (I had to wait for them to get the white exterior with black leather in) we went and picked up my NEW 2018 Audi A5!!! I absolutely love my car and wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Move out of the house: HAHAHAHA ok I’m done laughing now, I did NOT move out of my house this past year. In fact after getting engaged, I realized it was for the best if I stayed home and saved money for the next year and then move out as it gets closer to the wedding. While the fiancé still lives at home as well, we can both save as much as we can plus we’re not in any hurry to pay rent every month so why waste money right now when we can both stay home for about 10 more months? This is also hugely in part with the cost of living in wonderful Southern California (where 1 bedroom rent can be almost 2 grand a month and tear down houses in bad areas are selling for $800k).

Travel: I did in fact make it to 5 different places even though some were on the smaller side.
1. Boise, Idaho – September 2016 – My brother goes to school in Idaho, so my mom and I went for parents weekend and I got to check out all the cool scenery Boise has to offer. Boise was really cool because there were a lot of up and coming spots near Downtown. It was also really cool to watch football being played on the blue field.
2. Palm Springs, California – September 2016 – The fiancé (he was still my BF at this point) and I went to Palm Springs for a little weekend getaway. We just went for the night, but it was still nice to get out of our small town, plus we got a great deal at the JW Marriott. The weather was still hot and there are a ton of great places to eat.
3. Seattle, Washington – November 2016 – This was right after we got engaged. I have friends from college that live in the Seattle area, so Robert and I decided it would be cool to go and visit. We stayed with one of my friends and got to go to the Space Needle and have lunch at the top. We went to Pike Place Market, the gum wall and even went to a University of Washington football game (I enjoy a good PAC 12 game!). While we just went for the weekend, we had tons of fun and got to catch up with some of my friends.
4. Manhattan, New York – January 2017 – This was my weekend getaway to The City with one of my BFFs that I wrote about back in January; you can check it out here. I absolutely LOVE New York and if I could go once or twice a year, I would be a happy camper. I’ve been 3 times in the last 2 years (once in September and twice in the winter).
5. Avalon, Catalina Island, California – June 2017 – This is a small island about an hour away from the Port of LA (where the cruise ships leave out of). My family owns property over on the island so we try and go over at least once during the summer. This was just a little one night trip for my mom and I while my dad and brothers stayed longer. I’ve been going over since I was about 6 weeks old, so there’s nothing super new or exciting now. On this trip though I saw Bobby the Deckhand from Below Deck Mediterranean. He was very friendly and chitchatted with us for a few minutes.
Follow through on plans I make: Hmmm…this one is a little hit or miss. While I did follow through on a lot of my plans I made with people, I just can’t bring myself to go out every single weekend and some of my friends want to do exactly that! I like to go out, but after a long day at work, sometimes it’s nice to curl up with my fur baby and fiancé and watch our shows. So maybe this is one that I can continue to work on some more.

All in all, I think that I met my goals that I made for myself last year on my birthday. I’m proud of the accomplishments that I have made (p.s. I’ve officially been at my job for a full year) and the things that I have done this past year. I know that 25 will bring a lot of change to my life, but it’s all good and exciting change. This will be a whirlwind year with planning the wedding, booking a honeymoon, and finding a place for us to live. I look forward to this coming year and know that I will continue to be blessed in every aspect of my life.

I’m grateful for the opportunities that have not only been given to me, but for the ones that I have worked hard for. I honestly couldn’t be where I am today without the support of my parents and my loving fiancé who continues to amaze me every day.

So CHEERS to 25, let’s make it the best year yet!

XOXO
July 17, 2017
FabFitFun Summer 2017 – The FINAL Box

Happy Monday y’all! Guess what time it is!? It’s time for me to share with y’all what came in my Summer FabFitFun Box. As you know, I subscribed to FFF about this time last year with the hopes that it would change my life and bring all kinds of goodies with it. (insert eye roll) But as you can see from my title, sadly, this will be the last FFF box I post about since I have officially unsubscribed 😦 I need to save some money, and let’s face it there are so many other subscriptions out there for me to try instead.

I was super excited when this came in the mail since it’s summer time and my box last summer had some really great things in it. I originally signed up for the yearly subscription, so I knew 3 of the items I would be getting. FFF has also started something new called Choice; you get to choose between words and then based on your selection they send you something that goes with it. This season there were 2 choices.

Ok, so here is what came in my Summer 2017 Box:

Michael Stars Ruana – Retails $54

This was one of the items that I already knew I was getting and was able to pick the pattern that I wanted. This is a limited edition FabFitFun x Joyful Heart Foundation product. This ruana is going to be the star of your beach trips. It is a multi-use item that can be worn as a scarf, sarong, or wrap. It measures 41” x 72”. There were 3 different patterns that you could have chosen for this: black tie die, tan with geometric shapes, or the blue animal print. This is really cute and I can’t wait to take it on vacation with me!

Kris Nations Mystic Bar Necklace – Retails $58

This was the 2^nd item that I could pick which color I wanted. The necklace came in turquoise with a gold chain, white with a silver chain, and peach/coral with a gold chain. The stones are hand-cut by craftsmen in India and each one has an attribute that helps your live every day with positive intentions. To be honest, this item was a lot smaller than I thought it would be. The necklace is adjustable and can be 16-18 inches long. The gemstone bar measures at less than an inch long. It came in a little glass bottle (think message in a bottle) and each card in the bottle says something different. I chose to be surprised on this option and received the White Howlite one. The Howlite enhances intuition and promotes calmness. While the necklace is super cute, it’s a little small for my taste and I’m not sure how many times I’ll actually wear it.

BKR Bottle in Rosy Pink – Retails $35

This was the 3^rd color option that I got to choose. The options were Rosy Pink or Romeo Blue and with pink being my absolute favorite color, you can guess which one I chose. This is a 16oz/500ML glass bottle with a silicone wrap around them. This Little size is perfect for on-the-go; I can throw it in my work bag and leave the house without feeling like I’m being weighed down! They are dishwasher safe which is a huge plus! This product is perfect for summer and something that I was really looking forward to getting in the box! I’ve been using it since my box came and I love it!

Juice Beauty Smoothing Eye Concentrate – Retails $29

Moisturize and soothe any dark circles and fine lines with this eye cream. It has certified organic grape and carrot juices blended with essential fatty acids to hydrate and nourish the eye area. Normally I’m not a huge fan of putting an extra step into my morning routine, but this is worth it. My eyes feel so refreshed and don’t look like I stayed up WWAAAYYYY past my bedtime the night before. Will I buy this on my own? I’m not sure yet.

Eau Thermale Avene Ultra-Light Hydrating Sunscreen – Retails $24

Protect and nourish your skin with this sheer, lightweight sunscreen. It contains broad spectrum SPF 50+ UVA/UVB filters and is enriched with powerful antioxidant and soothing Avene Thermal Spring Water. The formula is fragrance and oil free. It has a completely sheer finish and is great for under makeup. I used this over 4^th of July weekend and it was great; I didn’t even feel like I had any sunscreen on my face and I didn’t get that oily feeling I sometimes get. While $24 is a little on the steep side for sunscreen, if I don’t get burnt using this, it could be worth it.

Cargo Cosmetics Cargo_HD Picture Perfect Highlighter in Bronze – Retails $30

Glow, girl, glow! Formulated for high definition filming, this highlighter will give you a radiant, picture perfect finish, every single time. Its lightweight, velvety powder formula goes on flawlessly yet remains invisible to the camera. I actually don’t use highlighter so I really can’t tell you if this is good or not. All the reviews say wonderful things about this product, but I think I’ll see if one of my friends wants it.

Way Of Will 03 Soothe and Cool Massage Oil – Retails $29.50

Tough workout? Chill out with this post-training cooling massage oil. A base of sweet almond, apricot kernel and jojoba oil helps skin retain moisture and improves the protective barrier function of the skin. Jojoba oil increases hydration, elasticity, and suppleness, while German chamomile cools affected areas. This is a cool idea, but you would have to have someone to massage you. I tend to get sore in the back area due to so many years of gymnastics and cheer, so I would need help rubbing this into my skin. The combo of peppermint and chamomile smells really good.

Understated Leather On the Road Again Travel Set – Retails $28

This is currently SOLD OUT online. Pack your bags and hit the road in epic style with this gorgeous passport cover and luggage tag set. The metallic vegan leather duo featuring printed lettering will have you traveling in style. This is super cute and perfect for traveling. I can’t wait to use the passport holder the next time I go out of the country.

BONUS ITEMS:

Vital Proteins Marine Collagen Peptides – SPONSORED

Vital Proteins Marine Collagen is an unflavored drinkable collagen powder that can be easily added to any beverage, hot or cold, for a healthier complexion and a life of vibrancy. Gluten free, sugar free, and non-GMO, the Marine collagen Peptides contain 10 grams of natural collagen protein in each serving. You can buy this in a 10oz container for $49 or single serve box of 20 for $48.

THE COST:

The subscription is $50 a box sent every quarter (if you pay in full when you subscribe, it’s a little cheaper). The total value for the box I received is $287.50 not including the bonus item. For the price of the box, it comes out to be a really great deal! I’m really excited to continue using some of the items in my Summer box, but I can honestly say that I won’t be continuing to subscribe.

If you would like to subscribe to FabFitFun AND get $10 OFF, use my referral link to get in on all the fun that FFF has to offer!!

FFF is great because if you decide that you no longer want to receive the box, you can unsubscribe at any time!

XOXO

P.S. Let me know your thoughts on the Summer Box! I can’t wait to hear about your fav product!

July 10, 2017
The Ring Boxes – A Box for the Bride-to-Be
Happy Wednesday y’all, We’re about half way through the work week!! Ok, so remember when I posted about having my blogiversary a few weeks back and I talked about how I would be starting some new subscriptions. Well here we are, I’ve found a new subscription box for myself!! The Ring Boxes was created in January 2017 so it’s still pretty new. This box is the perfect subscription for the bride-to-be!

“Who doesn’t love flaunting that fiancé title and flashing your new fabulous bling! You always want to have all the newest and cutest bride to be goodies when you’re engaged and The Ring Boxes gives you just that, one big box full of all the most popular and fabulous bridal products each and every month leading to your special day! Each month we arrange a new box packed with full sized custom gifts, wedding décor, beauty and spa products as well as date night perks! Giving our brides the ultimate bridal experience.”

The Ring Boxes features handpicked bridal items delivered right to your door each month. You can choose from monthly, 3 month, 6 month or 12 month packages. The price varies depending on which subscription you choose. Since my wedding is exactly a year away, I chose the 12 month package which brought my pricing to $35/month or $420 for the year. A single box costs $40.

This was my first month getting the box and the theme was: SWEATING FOR THE WEDDING!

Here is a BREAKDOWN of the JUNE GOODIES:
1. Comfy Tank Top by Mush Made – Retail Value = $24.99
Show off your up coming wedding workout goals with this comfy racer-back! While I couldn’t find this exact tank top, I’ve linked one that is very similar from Etsy. I’m really excited about this tank because I’ve been wanting to get a tank like this, but didn’t want to actually buy one haha I can’t wait to wear this while I work out. I’m sure there are a lot of girl out there like me, BUT I love having items that announce to the world that I’m engaged and this tank is perfect for that!
1. Custom Headband by Mavi Bandz – Retail Value = $14.99
This adjustable non-slip custom headband is the perfect accessory to your cardio set. This headband was custom for the box, but here I’ve linked the plain one without the writing. This headband is a little too expensive for my taste, but it’s cute enough that I will wear this one while I work out. I love the bright colors on it and I hope that it stays in my hair during my run.
1. Custom Water Bottle by Before The Rings – Retail Value = $15.50
Another must have for any gym sesh! Stay hydrated with this custom water bottle. I couldn’t find this exact water bottle online, but I’ve linked one similar to this from Amazon. For some reason, I LOVE water bottles so I was really excited to see this in my box! I love that the back tells me how much I’ve drank so far. This is a plastic bottle, so I don’t know that I would pay almost $16 for a bottle like this, but it was great that it came in my box.
1. Custom Gym Towel by Mush Made –Retail Value = $11.99
How many times do you go to the gym & realize you forgot a gym towel!? Here’s your own custom bridal towel to keep you dry! YES, I love that this towel is pink (my favorite color). I don’t have a gym towel currently, so I’m really happy that I got this in the box. Now when I go workout during lunch, I’ll have a towel to wipe my sweat away with.
1. Natural Handmade Soap by Lizush –Retail Value = $6.00
This All Natural, Vegan, Non GMO, Essential oil handmade soap will help you to cleanse after your workout while keep you relaxed & smelling heavenly. This soap smells divine. I love the way it feels on my body when I shower and the way it leaves my skin smelling like lavender. I also love that this product is all natural and that it comes in an affordable price.

BONUS!!!

The box also came with 2 recipe cards. One was a Recipe for the Bride to Be and the other was a Recipe for the Perfect Date Night. One was lightened-up shrimp scampi and the other is for a marinated chicken. They both come with a recommended wine pairing. I think that this is such a good idea for the soon to be bride to have a collection of recipes to make. I can’t wait to try out both of these recipes!

THE VALUE

The value of this months box is $73.47. Since I got this box with a new subscription discount, it was only $31. While I wouldn’t pay that much for each item in my box, I felt that the value was really good. The cost of the box was half of what the whole box was worth, so that was a win in my book.

I think this box is a great for the bride-to-be and I can’t wait to see what the rest of my year subscription has in store for me! After my year is up and I’m married I will cancel my subscription but only because I will no longer need a bride-to-be box delivered to my door every month.

XOXO
June 28, 2017