I have all ready addressed the importance of drinking at least 3 liters of water each day, but I have more to say.

Admit it, sometimes water just doesn't sound like the most exciting thing to consume when you're craving something carbonated, caffeinated, or flavored. Oh how our bodies are obnoxious to crave unhealthy things!

Here are 3 tricks to Enjoy More Water:

1. Drink from a fun water bottle/glass.

Why does drinking from a cool bottle make water taste better? It's not backed by any rule but I know it's true. Check out this adorable mason jar, paisley glass, turquoise tumbler, or monogrammed mason jar.

2. Add fruit to your water.

Go crazy adding fruit into your water! Soak the fruit overnight with the water to make the flavor more intense.

Adding lemons, mint leaves, cucumbers, ginger is just fun! Play spa day while at your office. Close your eyes a moment and breathe...ahhh.

3. Carbonated water.

Carbonated water can be confusing. Is it good for you? It's really not that hard though, carbonated water is just that, carbonated. water. It's water, it still hydrates. It's just added carbonation. Carbonated water has been my latest obsession. If you're trying to quit soda, carbonated water is a great way to slowly wean yourself off but still get that carbonation feel.


Other helpful ideas and tricks I use to get in more gulps::

• Chia seeds can hydrate quicker and keep you full. It's great for during a workout.
• Might as well add some competition. Challenge yourself in a drinking game. Every time you receive an email, chug for 5 seconds. Bahaha.
• Make it a rule to drink a full glass before you eat anything. If you really want that naughty treat that is tempting you, you must first drink a full glass of water.

How do you get in your water?

"Football Food" Dishes...in honor of the first OU FOOTBALL GAME! If you know me, you know I sure do love watching football...and how it has nothing to do with friends, food, beverages, and festivities ;)

Football season usually means beer and heavy football food. I like to find and make some healthy alternatives that will still be a festive option,  minus the overly greasiness that creates an uncomfortable stomach. Nothing quite ruins festivities, beverages and football with an untimely tummy ache.

This pulled barbecue chicken was an easy dish that tastes naughty, but is more nice. This barbecue sauce is simply mouthwatering! I had to force myself to let it finish cooking the whole time. It's quite aromatic!

Simply place chicken breasts into the crockpot and salt and pepper to taste. Cook on low for 5 hours.

I think Pooh was on to something. He always ate raw honey...


What is the big deal about raw honey versus honey? Should you really only consume raw honey or is it just one of the many health controversies floating around?

Many of the healthy recipes that I try always call for raw honey, not just honey. Sometimes I use honey instead of raw honey, because that's just the rebel I am.

Finally, curiosity got the best of me so I began to research the true benefits, or lack of, eating raw honey. Come to find out, it actually makes a large difference!

Lipstick can really polish a look off perfectly. So it's important to choose the right lipstick shade to complement your skin!

Your lipstick shade should liven your face and awaken your coloring, not overpower your features or wash you out.

Warm or Cool?

When you want chocolate, you want chocolate. Succumb to your desire with these Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins!

When my boyfriend jokingly asked me the last day that I hadn't consumed chocolate, I had to think a moment... I'm a choclahoclic. I truthfully answered, I have absolutely no idea!

I was unashamed to say I can't remember! I have been having chocolate every day for... let's just say a long time. Dark chocolate is good for you... within reason of course! Sometimes I may just have a couple squares for dessert, or other days I'll make myself treats, like the glorious recipe below. But looking forward to a square of dark chocolate every night isn't a crime :)

And why not sneak in some undetected healthiness?! Zucchini is perfect and blends in sneakily. It's taste is easy to override with cocoa. Seriously, I had my unenlightened reliable taste testers try the muffins. They had no idea until I told them there was zucchini in it. You can definitely detect something different than all the usual chocolate muffins, but trust me, it doesn't disappoint.


You can even get by with a little less honey, but I wanted to be satisfied so added a bit more than was probably necessary. Oops.

Ever since I can remember I have loved using any product with the scent of lavender, whether it is lavender lotion, lavender powder, or lavender oil.

When I was little I would always be quite difficult to put to bed... Sorry mom and dad. My mom would always sprinkle lavender powder on my chest and would tell me it would help me go to sleep in no time. It was a smart move that always worked and tricked my worried little brain into relaxing. What was I possibly so worried about at the age of 7?

To this day, I still think of this as "magical sleep powder." Not only is lavender used as a calming agent and stress reliever, but also provides many additional benefits.

Lavender oil has multiple benefits for you. Whether it is for health or beauty reasons, this essential oil packs many useful tricks.

Who says that sweatshirts can't be cute and comfortable? Sweatshirts can actually be styled to look dressy and fun, you just have to do it the right way. For instance...Skinnies, chunky heels, and a sweatshirt...tres magnifique! Mastering this look is great for when it gets cold, then you can do a night out in a cozy sweatshirt and not be judged for it.


The added detail in a sweatshirt is where lounging sweatshirts are transformed into a styled put together outfit. Incorporating lace, eyelet, embellishment, or any extra design element can change the whole feel and look while maintaining the comfort!

Research shows that one glass of wine, or two, has beneficial health benefits. Drinking wine can decrease risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimers, and even some forms of cancer. So naturally, you must buy wines for health reasons.

There ladies, I said it, so refer to above sentence when/if ever questioned for enjoying wine.

It's important to know what you like in a wine to help you choose the best cheap bottle. Some days, I really want to try a new wine but then get anxious and stick with a more trusty wine that I know I will like because sometimes you may find an incredible discovery and other times you may just find cheap wine... no one likes to test those odds.  However, I do test out new ones when I'm feeling especially crazy, so thought I'd share the knowledge!



I have combined my trusty cheap wines that I like into a list for you to refer to when wanting to try new wines but feeling a little nervous to steer from your usual. Let me know which ones you like best! Trust me, I put a lot of effort and time into this research just for you.

Short bangs, side bangs, wispy bangs, full bangs, thick bangs, blunt bangs... there are an alarming amount of options when it comes to bangs. I'll even go as far to say that deciding which type of bangs you want can be crazy overwhelming!

Remembering my first stunt as a hairstylist... I took some shiny scissors to my doll's bangs...it didn't turn out well and I was seriously upset. My next move was literally taping her hair back onto her head. It was atrocious. Needless to say, you can't do that to your own hair...so get a stylist to do the trimming!

And as we all know, it's difficult to hide bad bangs. Therefore, it's important that you find the most flattering bangs based on your face shape before chopping. You can't hide out in your house like you did as a child after you chopped your locks and were properly scolded. You have to go save the world, not hide a bad bang trim.

This weekend flew by, as most of them do, in a whirl. But something especially fun happened, I finally got to see James Taylor perform! Let me tell you, happy feelings fluttered all around me. When I was a little girl, my dad would always play some James Taylor around the house, so I can't help but get those good feelings when I hear his voice. Comforting, you know?

Summer concerts are also always a fun opportunity to dress up! Simply adored these new blue and white striped shorts. Topped them off with a fun bright yellow and nude wedge. This outfit definitely owns that summer concert feel and look.  I panicked the other day when I realized how many coordinated summer outfits I had yet to wear! Get all that good wear out of your summer clothes before you are packing them away for next year. Fall is almost here, y'all!

  

Smores are such a guilty pleasure of mine! I mean what's not to love about marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers coming together in perfect harmony? And what better excuse to make my favorite Smores dessert than National Smores Day?!

These treats are a great way to get the Smores campfire taste sans campfire. This delightful chocolatey, marshmallowy, graham crackery dessert is perfect  to bring to outdoor gatherings or football game tailgates. Trust me, they'll be sure to be a hit and gone quickly.

I originally used this recipe from Rachel Schulz post on Baked Smores Bars and have since then made a couple adjustments based on my own personal preferences.

How could you not make these delightful treats after looking at these pictures?!

Working out is great. Working out in the right workout clothes is even greater. There is a definite extra umph I put in when I'm feeling sassy in a workout outfit. The difference I feel may even be a little bit silly. However, when you catch yourself in the mirror wearing a rockin' workout outfit you can't help but push a little harder, work a little deeper, and hold a little longer. When you're swimming in baggy t-shirts and loose Nike shorts, it just isn't as motivating.


When I know that my body is actually showing, I work to push my belly in further when doing ab circuits, and hold the tummy in with every little move. Sometimes when I really want to challenge myself I wear my dreaded, yet encouraging, slightly sheer, white workout top. It shows every, I mean every, possible curve. If that's not motivation, than I don't know what is!

Fish is super delicious and healthy for you! It's a great alternative to other meats while still getting the necessary protein for your body. Fish is high in protein, low in fat and has a large range of benefits for your body! 

White fish (like orange roughy) is lower fat than any other protein from any animal.  Eating fish provides your body with the essential omega 3s. Your body can't make enough of this particular essential nutrient by itself so...let's eat more fish!

This recipe is super simple and delicious! The fancy look will fool any dinner guests that you were in the kitchen sweating for hours! But between you and me, it's complete and on the table in about 30 minutes.  You could make this in a complete daze and it will still taste heavenly.

But be careful, watch the fish! Nothing ruins fish like overcooking. If the fish cooks too long the texture becomes too rubbery. You want to have a flakey texture.

Check out my findings!

Let's face it, when you are desperately wanting to lose some fat or simply tone up, you'll try anything and everything! The latest craze has been going gluten free, never mind if you have celiac disease or not. People who aren't gluten intolerant have been trying this in masses as a new form of a diet.

Now, I understand wanting to eat healthy by limiting sugar, carb, fat intake... but is completely swearing off gluten truly a viable option for you? And does it truly make you feel better in your body?

So I decided to test this whole gluten free thing out for an entire month to see, and then, share my results with you.

I'm proud to say it really wasn't as challenging as I had thought. Especially with all of those "gluten free" alternative products that have been fully stocked onto shelves in the last couple months. My grocery store has an entire row dedicated to gluten free options now. Sounds like the food brands have caught on to this trend.

I ate a lot of quinoa, veggies, fruit, chicken, eggs, beans, nuts, salmon and a whole ton of nut butters. Too much nut butters. The most challenging time was definitely when my month fell on Fourth of July weekend. Meaning, no beer, hamburger buns, tortilla chips, cookies, pastas... basically everything you would want to eat that day. But I did it! I didn't want to jeopardize giving you the accurate results.