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SURPRISE!!!! I'm Moving

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SURPRISE!!!! I'm Moving

i have an extremly exciting announcement today ! i’m moving (grabs biggest belt buckle and cowboy boots out of my closet), to austin, texas!!! yes, you heard me right. this california native is packing her life up and moving more than 1,500 miles away to the lone star state. i absolutely adore san francisco, it’s been my home for more than 6 years now and it’s been a place where i was able to immensely grow both personally and professionally. in sf i’ve met some of the most amazing human beings and friends i could ever dream of having in my life, i’ve explored all of the best spots the city has to offer & i leave with so much gratitude for this magical place.

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Cheers To A New Year: 2019 Here We Come

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Cheers To A New Year: 2019 Here We Come

bye bye 2018, hello 2019! can you believe it’s 2019? i really do guess time flies when you’re having fun! or is it i’m just getting old? whatever it is, i’m excited for a new year. i’m not one for new years resolutions, because i’ve begun to believe that you shouldn’t wait for the start of a new year to start working towards your goals. i do, however, feel like it’s the perfect time to reflect on all you’ve accomplished, gone through, learned and grown from over the past year. here’s a bit of what I learned in 2018.

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the big 3-0

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the big 3-0

today i turn thirty and it’s not as scary as i imagined it may be. i’ve learned a lot (especially over the last few years) and i wanted to share 30 really important things i’ve learned in my 30 years:

  • loving yourself is the most important thing, learning to truly love yourself takes time and you should constantly be working on it

  • listening to podcasts frequently is great for constant passive learning, when you’re grocery shopping, sitting in an uber, walking to work, etc. It’s really helped me stay motivated.

  • making time for your workouts should be a priority- if you put others time before “me time” it will hurt you in the long run. working out helps clear my mind, keep me energized and de-stressed.

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Best Stocking Stuffers For Him & Her

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Best Stocking Stuffers For Him & Her

it can be tough to find the perfect, affordable stocking stuffers. we all love the socks and good ol’ toothbrush from our moms, but it’s time we snazz things up with items we actually want! here are my top picks for the ladies and gents in your life!

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My Holiday Wishlist

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My Holiday Wishlist

every year i get asked what i want for my birthday and christmas- and i draw a huge blank. i think it mostly happens year after year because the items i want are typically pretty pricey & i feel bad asking for things. however, it’s way worse when someone spends a ton of money on you and it’s something you definitely don’t want.

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It's That Time of Year

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It's That Time of Year

it’s that time of year! you know, the time of year where you feel like you’re drowning and can’t bring your head above water to take a big breath? i’m in the thick of it, and i feel like so many of my friends are too. if we are, then there’s a BIG chance you are feeling this way as well. i thought i’d pop on today to tell you a few things:

you’re doing the best that you can, the overwhelming amount of things you need to get done will pass and you’re going to get through this.

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November Fitness Challenge

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November Fitness Challenge

i had so so much fun pushing myself with the soul cycle #soulsurvivor challenge over this past month that i want to keep up the momentum. i found that since i had a goal to hit 20 classes, i checked in with myself weekly to see if i was on track with my workouts. having that goal also forced me to plan my workouts in advance and fit them in to even my busiest days. i feel so strong and motivated after this past month that i want to challenge myself again for the month of november. if you need a little extra motivation, i encourage you to join me. there’s something about working towards a goal with a crew who’s in it with you. you all prioritize, sacrifice and push through together- feels great!

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healthy pumpkin muffins

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healthy pumpkin muffins

i created this recipe way back in 2011 and i make it every year at this time of year. ever since i started making these my friends have begged i continue, so i hope you like it as much as we do. it’s a healthier version of a normal muffin recipe, but i swear you can’t tell it’s healthy. yes, you can trick your boyfriend and family in to thinking it’s just any normal muffin. i know this time of year i’m in the mood for pumpkin, but want to eat it guilt-free. if you’re anything like me then this is the recipe for you!

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Q & A: With My DAD, World Champion Cyclist & Faja Of The Year

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Q & A: With My DAD, World Champion Cyclist & Faja Of The Year

i’m trying something new on my blog today and interviewing one of the most inspiring people i know, my dad! not only has my dad been successful running his own financial consulting business, but he juggles being a world champion competitive cyclist, a dad/grandpa, along with a social life and being married to my mom. although balance is something we all have to always work on, i think he juggles everything pretty darn well & we could learn a thing or two from this old guy (he just turned 60 last week)!

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Headed To Austin for ACL

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Headed To Austin for ACL

i’m off! i’m headed to austin for the acl festival and i can’t even wait- i feel like i’m headed to disneyland. for starters, austin is just one of my favorite cities in the US. the food, the music, the heat… i love it all! on top of that, two of my favorite human beings in the whole wide world brittany (my best friend since kindergarten) & cody (my little cousin) live there. and of course, i cannot wait to see all the bands and enjoy the festival with all my friends. my best friend in SF, kate, is coming with and we are meeting up with a huge group of friends- it should be a real treat.

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Trying Something New with MNTSTUDIO

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Trying Something New with MNTSTUDIO

a few months ago i fell in love with MNTSTUDIO. i started to religiously go to their pilates reformer classes and the reformer bootcamps (what a booty kicker). i love that i started to see a change in my body and my balance and seriously have been loving it ever since. i have to admit to you though, i was scared to take their other classes that i was less familiar with. MNT pilates bootcamp and MNTbarre, because i’ve always seen myself as an athlete but not an dancer. i have tried a few barre/mat pilates classes in the past but they weren’t my jam.

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Why not WorkInYourWorkout with Athleta

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Why not WorkInYourWorkout with Athleta

you all know i’m a city girl and since my new office opened in san francisco my life has completely changed (for the better). i’ve always dreamed of walking to work, walking to lunch, getting coffee mid-day and going to the gym after work. it sounds so simple, but for five-and-a-half years i sat on a bus to and from work (which would total to over three hours a day). now that i have the opportunity to live and work in the same city, i take full advantage.

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Productivity Hacks Every Boss Babe Needs To Know

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Productivity Hacks Every Boss Babe Needs To Know

many people have recently asked me how I am able to make time for a blog, work a full time job all the while maintaining a social life. my response is usually, "i make time for things that i love" but what i really mean is "i organize the shit out of my time to be as productive as possible". i want to share some organizational tips that help me be productive and i hope that you learn something new that you can apply in your day to day.

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My New Found Love For the Pilates Reformer at MNTSTUDIO

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My New Found Love For the Pilates Reformer at MNTSTUDIO

since i grew up as a competitive athlete life changed dramatically after i stopped playing competitive sports & it was really tough for me to find a new routine that worked for me. i was so used to having my days mapped out around my practices & the lifestyle change of not having a set routine scared the heck out of me.

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My 5 Favorite Podcasts & Why I Listen To Them

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My 5 Favorite Podcasts & Why I Listen To Them

if you follow me on instagram, then you've seen me more recently post my podcasts with a "swipe up" for you to enjoy whatever it is i'm listening to. i noticed a while back i have down time where i either have silence in the background or music playing, and if i just easily swapped in a podcast i could learn while i have down time.

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Let's Talk About Apps

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Let's Talk About Apps

i get asked a ton of the time how i organize, plan and keep up with my blog & instagram. there are a ton of apps i use to make sure i have my $h#+ together. if you're a blogger or small business owner trying to stay organized this post is for you, if you just really want to have an awesome & cohesive instagram feed than this post is for you too. i will start with the photo editing apps i use & what i use them each for, then i will go in to the organizational apps i use (for the blogger/business owners).

 
via thea Best Apps I use for my blog & instagram
 

photo apps 

instagram

i mean this one is pretty self explanatory, but i use instagram daily. i try to post 1-2 photos a day and do some stories daily. i have read a ton of research on engaging with your audience, and if you want your following/impact to stay stable or grow then consistency is key. i am very active online and i often times create posts in bulk & save them to my drafts, so when i need to post my content is already created and ready to go.

unum 

ever wonder how bloggers keep their feeds looking so beautiful? how all the photos seem to flow really beautifully? well, there's an app for that. UNUM is an app that i've been using for about a year and a half to plan out my photos. i upload my photos to UNUM and then can simply move them around and organize them to look good together. for example, if i just posted a pink backdrop, the next photo i post will likely be one with a pink flower, pink top or pink earring- to ensure my content looks cohesive. this app is perfect for anyone to use to plan out content. i also love using it to keep dibs on when i'm running low on content & then i can remember to schedule time with my photographer.

lightroom

i'll be real with you, most of my photos are shot and edited by my amazing photographer and really good friend Shannon Righetti-Strom. when i shoot my own pics, i often throw her preset on my photo to ensure the editing looks similar to hers. if you love the preset i use you you can DM her to purchase for yourself. i use lightroom to edit my photos on my computer (thank god for Shannons preset), but i also got lightroom for mobile so i can edit pictures on my phone. this tool is my go-to for photo editing.

VSCO

if you feel like lightroom is too much of a challenge to figure out (it took me a bit). vsco is the easiest photo editing app i've used to date. pick a preset that you like & you can favorite it to use it over and over again. my personal favorites are M6, A6, KE1, KP2, HB1, HB2.

facetune

i won't lie, i use facetune to smooth skin in some of my close up pictures. i do think people can go overboard on the editing here, so i try to keep it mild and do a quick "smooth" over any areas that look discolored. you can also use this smooth tool to remove shine, etc.

canva

i use canva to add any text or images over my photo. i use this app a ton over my photos in instastories and it's such a quick self-explanatory app that is perfect to add fun text to your photos. i also used canva to make all my images for my highlighted instagram stories on my profile.

photos (on iphone)

this isn't an app- but it's a fun feature i use all the time on my phone. if you look at your photos in your photo album on your phone, you can heart your photos which will "favorite" them. i favorite any photos i love and want to post later. in order to do this you go to 1. photos 2. favorites - then you can see all the photos that are ready to post.

organizational apps (for bloggers/small biz owners)

squarespace (blog app)

sometimes i feel like writing blog posts when i'm on my phone and my computer isn't around i use the squarespace app. i write posts a lot when i'm on planes, trains & busses. this app is great for text posts, but i do have still have to hop on my computer to add images before posting. 

squarespace (analytics)

i use the analytics app for to my blog to gather any data i might need to share when working with brands. telling brands you have X amount of followers is great, but they love hearing about engagement. blog analytics and seeing your reach (outside of instagram is key)

rewardStyle & LIKEtoKNOW.it

if you're a blogger you most likely use the rewardStyle & LIKEtoKNOW.it app. i love these apps and love that they change daily. you can link all your outfits with the rewardstyle app and hunt down tons of other bloggers outfits with the liketoknow.it app. i love that they also have informational blogs, hashtags and other useful information in both apps. if you have a brand, be sure you monetize it by using these apps.

asana

asana is a great app if you are working on projects with timelines and tasks that you may need to send to others (an employee, biz partner, etc.). i love checking things off a list and this app helps me stay super organized. i can keep some projects to myself and share some with others. i love having personal and group projects all in one place.

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Concert Style: Everything you need to know to be concert ready

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Concert Style: Everything you need to know to be concert ready

the weather is heating up and it's just about time for outdoor concert season. whether you're a festival goer, an amphitheater picnic-er or a country line dancer- it's time to start styling yourself for the fun events ahead. it's my favorite time of year for fashion. there's something about dressing up for events that makes getting ready so much more fun. grab your girls and let's get to styling.

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5 Ways To Practice Self-love This Valentine's Day

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5 Ways To Practice Self-love This Valentine's Day

On this day many people feel resentment when spending this day alone, but what most people forget is the relationship you have with yourself is the most important than any relationship. If you're single, why not spend the day "doing you" and prioritizing self-care and compassion.

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5 Major Tips for Staying Motivated This Year with Old Navy

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5 Major Tips for Staying Motivated This Year with Old Navy

Starting the New Year with big goals is always exciting. It can also be a bit daunting if you're jumping in full throttle & you've never been successful at achieving your goals thus far. When it comes to fitness, I see people start out strong every year. The first week after New Years the gym is packed and it's hard for me to find a spot where I can workout, but by week 6 the crowd is usually gone. Motivation isn't something you can just bottle up & sell, if it were that easy everyone would be motivated and there the 6th week after New Years. Here are five of my biggest tips to help you get and stay motivated.

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