I’m Changing My Life

So...

I did a thing.

A big thing.

I decided to take control of my health. I am on a quest to lose weight. 

But before we get into how, let's talk about my weight loss story:

I've lost weight in the past, but then I'd get back into old habits and back the weight would come. Even when I thought I was eating healthy, I don't think I was. My portions would be too large or too small. I'd skip meals. Also, I always lost weight for others (weddings, to please people, etc,) because my weight never bothered me; it bothered other people. 

But this year, I could see how choosing a non-healthy food lifestyle was going to hurt me in the long run. I was tired all of the time. My knee started to hurt going up stairs--I am constantly going and down stairs at work as a nanny. What if I couldn't keep up with the kids? What if they ran faster than me and I couldn't catch them, protecting them from danger? Reasons like those are why I decided to get healthy, to lose weight for myself and myself only.

I'm changing my life, and I've chosen Jenny Craig to help me.

Jenny Craig is a clinically proven weight-loss program designed to provide structure and support to help members lose weight and learn how to keep it off. That is exactly what I'm looking for!

The program takes a holistic approach to weight loss and weight management, focusing on food, body and mind. Jenny Craig members can expect to lose an average of 1-2 pounds per week, which is a healthy range of weight loss. 

Jenny Craig features prepared food, which is delicious by the way, portioned out perfectly. It features a meal plan, leaving the guesswork out of what to eat and how much. You add your own fruits and veggies. You get breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Pictured below is about a week's worth of food, minus the extra fruits and veggies that I add in.

Here's why I chose Jenny Craig--I don't like to cook. At all. I come from a family of amazing cooks, but I'm not one of them. I work long hours, come home and then work until midnight on my blog, waking up at 6 and working on blog stuff until my day job. It's easier for me get something from a restaurant than cook. Or eat a sandwich. Or cereal. Or be too tired to eat dinner and then wake up starving.

I don't like leftovers, either, to be honest. With Jenny Craig, there are over 100 options to choose from, created by 40 professional chefs. I like variety. Pictured above is the yummy chicken fajita bowl. There's no fork in the pic because I'm not sharing! ;)

I was worried I'd be hungry, but that hasn't been the case at all. Yummy options, like this cheddar popcorn help with that! 

Here's another dessert--sweet things are my weakness and I'm glad I don't have to give them up. This cupcake was so delicious, y'all. I'm happy to report the food is truly delicious and satisfying. 

Another reason I chose Jenny Craig--the amazing support system and knowledge from their consultants. I've tried to figure out weight loss stuff on my own, but I've failed. I was kind of embarrassed about losing weight and didn't want to make it this big THING, so in typical ME fashion, I kept it all to myself and didn't ask for help. I finally realized it's okay to get help from others. 

At Jenny Craig, they've made personal support the cornerstone of their program for 30 years. Every member is paired with a dedicated consultant who provides them with one-on-one support to identify their challenges and goals, and helps them to create unique weekly meal and activity plans.

Here I am meeting with my consultant, Ashley. She is a doll! Each week, she works with me on my menu, discusses any challenges from the previous week and determines a plan for the week ahead. Like for this week, I am currently working on drinking more water. I'm not where I want to be, but I'm doing better than last week! She also keeps track of my success with weekly weigh-ins and is teaching me how to self-monitor. She's been so helpful. I don't feel alone in this. I can call anytime I have a question. The staff has been so wonderful!

Don't live near a Jenny Craig center? They offer one-on-one support through consultations over the phone or via video chat!

I have been so pleased with Jenny Craig--enough that one of my friends has signed up too! I am not starving all of the time like I used to be, I have energy now, and I'm learning how to portion and make better food choices. I'm learning about incorporating more activity into my day. Losing weight is the icing on the cupcake...that I have occasionally! ;)

I plan on doing another post on my progress, but let me know if you'd like to see more posts about my journey!

If you're interested in checking out Jenny Craig, click here! 

Thanks for the support, y'all!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

I Tried Real Meal Delivery (Plus GIVEAWAY!)

Y'all, let's get honest here:
I am not a cook. I don't enjoy cooking, mainly due to my lack of skill and/or attention span.
Couple that with my crazy schedule of being a nanny, blogging, making videos, doing charity, and consultant brands on beauty product development and you've got one really busy girl.

I am a bit of an obsessed scheduler when it comes to blogging stuff (I have social media planned months in advance) but not when it comes to planning meals. Some weeks I am awesome at that and some weeks I kind of piece meal, well, a meal. Sometimes I end up working later than planned and don't feel like cooking and just want something fast. Or as a nanny, I will find that I will need to unexpectedly prepare dinner. And well dang it, sometimes a girl just wants a night off from cooking. I think we ALL can relate to that.

So when I got the chance to try Real Meal Delivery, I was REALLY excited. Real Meal Delivery is an Atlanta-based food delivery service. The meals are hot and ready to eat. No preparation is required. And delivery is FREE. Now you know why I had to try it! Here's the website:

My Weekend: Stubbs BBQ, Charlie Adventures & More

Hey y'all! Hope you had a good weekend. Mine was a good mix of busy with some relaxing.

He looks really excited, right?

Friday, my dog Charlie and I met up with some friends for dinner. A little girl and her dad came up to him and she kept asking me why he was so soft. When her dad told her it was time to go she said, "But I love him." Everyone who meets him feels the same way, kiddo!

Saturday my bff and I headed to the Atlanta BBQ Festival. They had live music, a bourbon experience (Kerri I sent you a Snap of it!), and of course, plenty of groups competing for the best bbq and they were selling samples.

Along with bbq, you gotta have a good sauce, right? I got to attend as a guest of Stubb's BBQ. You've heard of them, I'm guessing. If not, you've probably seen their sauces in your grocery store!

They're a bbq sauce (and more) brand out of Austin. Texas (I automatically equate bbq with Texas) started by the late C.B. "Stubb" Stubblefield. I'm pictured above with Rocky Stubblefield, grandson of Stubbs, and brand ambassador. He was so nice and explained me to all about Stubb's sauces, marinades, and rubs, pictured below:

 8 sauce flavors

 5 Anytime sauces

 4 cooking sauces

Plus Moppin', Liquid Smoke, and Wing Sauces

5 rubs

4 marinades

I mention all of these because they are free of high fructose corn syrup, contain NO artificial colorings, flavorings, sweeteners, or MSG. And they're the only national bbq brand to carry the Gluten-Free Organization seal and is certified NON-GMO. Did I mention they're tasty? More info here.

Sunday morning was quiet as I finished the September issue of In Style magazine--it's GOOD if you haven't check it out yet. I also cleaned out the Beauty Closet--it was getting out of control.

That was my weekend--how was yours???

DIY Mask For Exhausted, Stressed Skin

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SamsClubMag #CollectiveBias

Was it just me or did the holidays FLY by this year? The whirlwind of wrapping paper and family coming in and out has left me exhausted. And when that happens, I get sick. It happens every year.

So to combat that, I did two things: the first was to head to Sam's Club and get stocked up on supplies.

Sam's Club is the health and wellness destination for everything you need, whether it's free health screenings, otc meds (I like stocking up on my vitamin C), or the Pharmacy. You've got the convenience of shopping while your prescription is being filled. For more info on Sam's Club pharmacy, click here.

And the second thing I did was make my favorite DIY facial mask. If you've got stressed skin, if you're exhausted, do yourself a favor and make this. And if you're staying up late for New Year's Eve, you'll definitely want this the next morning. Trust me. PLUS, it's a great way to use up those leftover ingredients from the holidays. Here's how to make it:

You'll Need--

• 1/4 c plain Greek yogurt
• 1/2 c pumpkin puree
• 1/2 tsp raw honey
• sealable container (I used a glass bowl)
• spoon

Look at that drizzling honey!

I got all of the ingredients I needed at Sam's Club. Speaking of that, they have an online Healthy Living Made Simple Magazine. One of the articles that stuck out to me was on the benefits of pumpkin. Pumpkins are full of good things, like vitamins A, C, and zinc. Pumpkins are wonderful for skin that is inflamed.

To make this mask, all you have to do is pour the ingredients into the bowl and mix them well. 

Apply it to your skin and leave for around 20 minutes. Rinse away and pat dry. This is what it looks like after 20 minutes on the face. It feels so cooling and relaxing.

So what else makes this mask a must-make?
The Greek yogurt soothes, hydrates, and gently exfoliates skin, thanks to the lactic acid. The honey works well on inflamed skin. The honey is antibacterial, an antiseptic, and provides moisture.

I love keeping this in the fridge for up to a week. It feels amazing when it is chilled. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months, or just freeze the pumpkin for up to a year, so you can make it anytime.

Still not sold on this mask? I urge you to try this mask on just half of your skin. You'll be able to tell a difference! Here's to a happy and healthy new year!

Would you try this mask?

3 Cranberry Beauty DIY Tricks

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With Thanksgiving tomorrow (I'm celebrating with family but will be back here Friday) I thought I would share 3 of my favorite cranberry beauty DIY tricks. 

Cranberry is a natural preservative and an excellent exfoliant for skin. So before you make your Aunt Bea's famous cranberry sauce, save a few of them for these super fast (I know y'all are busy!) DIY ideas. You're going to love them. Tell me your faves!

Get ready for your skin glow and feel refreshed.

Frosted Cranberry Scrub

• This cold scrub will wake you up and your skin, too. Perfect for when you're up early.

DIY Cranberry Masque

• Save this for after you've survived Thanksgiving and Black Friday.  All you need is 15 minutes.

DIY Cranberry Toner

• 2 ingredients and perfect for acne-prone skin.

Which one of these interested you the most?

Extra Elle:

• Are you preparing the Thanksgiving for your family? I'll be bringing my most-requested dishes of Ice and Napkins. Oh yeah.
• Heading back home for the holiday, so safe travels all around, whether your trip is to the table or hours away!
• Happy Thanksgiving!

3 Quick Nanny Tips

If I'm not blogging, you can find me at my day job as a nanny. I take care of a 5 (and three quarters, very important, you know) year old and her baby sister. I recently celebrated my 5th anniversary of working for them! And over the years of being a nanny, I have figured out a few tricks. Here are 3 of them:

1: 1-2-3-Recipes

Kids LOVE to help you. But they are super impatient and have short attention spans. Knock out all 3 of these by using 1-2-3 recipes--these are recipes that have 3 ingredients or fewer. Think banana+egg=pancakes, frozen banana+blender=ice cream, and cake/cupcake/etc in a mug. Kids will learn skills such as teamwork, leadership, patience, and following directions, just to name a few. And if they get messy, that's part of the fun.

2: Shout^® Wipe & Go For The New Generation of Stains

Kids are messy, messy, messy (and adorable) humans beings. One of my jobs is to help with the girls' laundry. Kid clothes can be pricey, given how fast they grow, so you want them to look nice and last--a must if the clothes will be passed down to siblings.

Growing up, we had clothing stains like grass, ketchup, or clay. But today, it is totally different. Kids of this generation have those too, but they also have new types of stains like organic baby food (purple carrots with ancient grains anyone?), pressed juices, and kale everything. Luckily, I am a big believer in Shout® to help me out. Shout® is a trusted stain remover and is the only brand I rely on to pre-treat stains and treat stains on the go. The stains disappear and I feel confident I can handle any new stain that comes my way. When I'm out and about with the kids, I keep a stash of Shout® Wipe & Go wipes in my nanny bag.

3: Scrubs

Kids, especially babies, have accidents. The Shout^® Wipes are excellent for that. And they somehow always seem to have accidents ON YOU. This is where a pair of scrubs (like you'd see at a doctor's office) come in. Get a cheap pair and keep them in your car for such occasions.  I swear by this tip. Put on your scrubs, pre-treat your clothes with Shout® and throw them in the wash. You do not want to wear wet or soiled clothes for the rest of your work day. Trust me on this one. Shout^® gives kids the freedom to have fun and get messy, and it gives parents peace of mind knowing that stains will be gone with a few sprays. 

Visit Shout.com and check out Shout® on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more information! #ShoutItOut

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

My Go-To Recipe for Beauty Inside & Out

You love beauty products that make your skin look great on the outside but what about looking great via what you put inside? Look no further--you've got BOTH today. And you can find everything at Publix. They feature Allure winning beauty products from brands you love and trust like St. Ives--you'll be sure to find what you need to address any beauty concern. Combine them with healthy foods to create a beauty regimen and you will have a great recipe that will benefit you from the inside and out. My fave food and beauty combo involves Mandarin oranges--via a fab body wash and a tasty salad. Post Sponsored by Lunchbox. All opinions are 100% my own.

First up--the outside. Get your skin soft and smooth with St. Ives Even & Bright Pink Lemon & Mandarin Orange Body Wash. This smells incredible and invigorating. Plus, it exfoliates to polish away those little imperfections--it's made with 100% natural exfoliants and is paraben-free. 

And now, the inside. Let's get your skin glowing and amazing with this yummy Salmon + Mandarin Orange Salad. Feel free to modify this for your tastes. It's effortless and you can make it for lunch tomorrow! EVERYTHING in here is good for you.

You'll Need:

• Salmon
• Spinach
• Mandarin Oranges
• Almonds 
• Oil + Vinegar
• Optional: Goat Cheese Crumbles, Salt + Pepper

Place the spinach in a bowl--add as much as you want--and then begin the dressing. Squeeze some of the Mandarin oranges and mix in a little olive oil and vinegar. Add a dash of salt, pepper, and olive oil to the salmon and then grill it until done--around 3 minute per side. For some crunch, throw in a small handful of silvered almonds. For sweetness add some Mandarin orange slices, and finish with a few crumbles of goat cheese.

And that's it! Now your skin is ready to be tremendous, inside and out! When you like the Discover More in Store Facebook Page you can find their recommended beauty product and food combinations that to keep you looking and feeling beautiful inside and out! And by visiting, you'll keep up to date on the latest offers at Publix and awesome beauty tips all year long.

What’s your favorite beauty product and food combination? 

Share your answer as a reply on the Discover More In Store Facebook Page post for a chance to win a $50 Publix gift card! 

Extra Elle:

• Fastest weekend ever--some of my family came up to visit the aquarium. I joined them and saw my nephew (the oldest one) and my 4 month old niece (the youngest one). My nephew had such a good time. Then I went a pool party--so much fun until the rain started. Rain=late afternoon nap. Woke up and it was dark. Yikes! How was your weekend?
• Follow me on Snapchat--I'm ellesees on there--I promise I'll add you back. :)

#FabFitFun Fall Unboxing!

Hey you! How was your weekend? Mine flew by--I went to a PopSugar event, played around with my camera in manual mode (yes!), went apple picking and I made a video for you! Today I am unboxing my #FabFitFun box. Have you heard of this subscription service before? Click here for a past review or here for another one. For $49.95 (these are delivered once per season) you get a box full of goodies. This box was over $200 in value! Let's see what I got in the video below:

Can't view the video above? Click here.

Tip: C&P the link into Google Translate to watch at work! ;)

Here's what I got:

• Jessie Steele Apron--polka dot pattern
• Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster
• Gramr Gratitude Co. Thank You Card Set, Sealing Wax, & Wax Press
• Great Soles Pink Ribbon Ballet Barre Pad
• Beauty for Real True Color Lip Cream "Always There"
• CHI 44 Iron Guard Spray
• The Honest Co. Hydrating Shea Butter Cleansing Bar
• LaNatura Travel Size Body Butter in Matcha Tea
• FitFusion 3 Month Digital Subscription
• Mary's Gone Crackers
• Numi Organic Tea
• Overall, this is my 3rd box and I have really enjoyed them!

--Be sure to check out the video for more details on each item--

CHECK OUT THIS MONTH'S BLOG SPONSOR: The Grits Blog

My Sandestin Trip!

I'm back from the beach, and am sharing a few (ok, a LOT) of pics from my trip. Get comfortable and come along with my on my trip to Sandestin! My favorite time of year for the beach is in the fall. Always has been--think smaller crowds, 80s temps, and plenty of fun in the sun. This is going to be so hard to narrow down my pics!

Thanks to my recent trip, I'm rocking the salty beachy wavy hair and have a little sand still on my shoes to prove it. I was going to just share pics of the beach, but had such a great time doing other things that I had to share (almost) all of it. I got to stay at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in South Walton, FL, and it was spectacular. I want to go back riiiight now. You will too.

First off the beach: the water was gorgeous--several shades of sparkling blue--and the sand is the softest I've ever walked on--like powered sugar. The Florida Panhandle has the prettiest beaches in the US, hands-down. Love that Emerald Coast.

Beauty DIY: Cranberry Masque for Glowing Skin

So Thanksgiving is this week, and that can cause a lot of stress, whether you're cooking the big meal, hosting the dinner, or dealing with family. That stress can definitely show on your skin. Today I've got a quick masque that you can use before (and after) the guests arrive. This masque moisturizes and gives you glowing skin. I bet you already have the ingredients on hand, so carve out 15 minutes, get ready to relax, and let's make this masque!

N e e d:

• 1/2 c washed, whole cranberries (I used organic)
• 1 tbsp plain yogurt
• 1 tbsp honey
• blender, small bowl, small spatula

D o:

• Blend the cranberries, yogurt, and honey into a blender. It should blended to a pulp, just like in the first pic. It doesn't look appealing, but it works!
• Pour into a small bowl. Apply to face and leave for 10 minutes. Wash away masque.
• Keeps in fridge up to a week. 

T r y:

• The cranberries give you that glowing skin, the honey moisturizes, and the yogurt moisturizes, helps prevent breakouts, and brightens skin.
• If your skin is really oily, switch out the yogurt for clay. You can buy powdered clay from a health food store, or Queen Helen Mud Masque Pack. If using powdered, add 1/2 tbp. of filtered water or 100% pure cranberry juice.
• Be sure to use yogurt that is Greek or not fat-free.
• Try using a small hair highlighting brush, from the beauty supply store, to apply the masque.
• This masque is edible, a little tart, but edible!

Here's another recipe to try with cranberries:

• DIY Cranberry Toner

PS: More links you might have missed:

--$100 Giftcard--ends 12-1

--$50 Giftcard--ends 12-18

--GE Reveal Lightbulbs Giveaway--ends 12-1

--I finally joined the rest of the world and started a Facebook for the blog. Add me if you like.

Toast It and Post It With Tiziano! Win The Ultimate Party!

I love to entertain, and yesterday I had a little get together with three of my girlfriends. All of us are big UGA football fans, and the UGA vs. FL game is one of the biggest of the year, so it was a perfect occasion. I didn't want it to be a like a regular football party. I wanted it to be a relaxed, fun evening, with light hor d'oeuvres. Luckily, Tiziano Wine sent me some Piniot Grigio and Prosecco to try. They've got an awesome contest going on, which I'll get to in a moment. Onto the party! This took me a few minutes to prepare and I was able to do this very inexpensively.

First, I started with decor. I used autumn as my inspiration, and purchased these cute napkins and plates that were on clearance. I grabbed an autumn mix of flowers for a couple of dollars, and used a wine decanter as my vase, fitting with the Tiziano wines! I used trays from the dollar store to display the food.

For food, I served filo cups strawberry cream topped with a strawberry slice, and cups with black pepper and chive cream cheese. There were crackers and cheese cubes, which went well with the Tiziano Pinot Grigio. Of course, there had to be a reference to the South, with boiled peanuts. Have you ever had them? I also had veggies and hummus. I purchased mini brownies that I topped with sea salt for dessert. The brownies were a perfect companion to the Tiziano Prosecco.

Pinot, cheese, crackers

Sea Salt brownies and Prosecco

Food and drinks!

We all loved the Pinot and the Prosecco from Tiziano. They were delicious! The latter received the highest score in the entire sparkling wine category! You can find where to purchase Tiziano here.

About to start the party! And time for dessert!

But what about the game? After a great lead in the beginning, it became a nail-biter at the end. Luckily, the Dawgs squeaked by and WE WON! Charlie was worn out at the end, as you can see in the bottom right photo. Also, note me supposed to be smiling, but distracted, as usual!

How they arrived--so gorgeously packaged! 

My #TiztheMoment wine stopper, and info on the contest!

Tiziano has a contest called Toast It and Post It, that ends on November 7, so HURRY! All you have to do is follow @TizianoWines on Instagram and post a photo of your favorite Tiziano Wine Moment on Ig or FB. Be sure to hashtag #TiztheMoment. And that's it! Extra points are given for featuring Tiziano in the photo.

So what are you waiting for? 

Post your favorite Tiziano Wine moment and good luck! 

Contest ends November 7!