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.

What's In My Bag?

Y'all, I love a What's In My Bag post. Do you? It's like I can secretly be nosey since it's all laid out there.  But to be fair, I'm sharing mine today. It's been over a year since I've shared what's in my bag. And while I don't have a ton of stuff, there's quite a bit! Let's take a peek, shall we?

What's In My Bag--September--Starting on the left hand side going clockwise-ish in a spiral:

Black quilted bag with fluffy key chain thing (official name). Key chain also serves as toy for my pup Charlie

DIY Makeup Refreshing Spray--This must have fallen out of my makeup bag onto the floor in my car, so I threw it in here to take it back inside

Lip Balm--I'm trying to use up my many lip balms up

YSL Elle Sees Lip Stain--Because I always wanted my blog name on my own makeup. I wish this was my own creation! #goals

Sunglasses--because I always need them

Hair elastics--There was a clip, which I prefer, but apparently it was broken when I dumped out my bag for this post. Luckily I have these!

Let's zoom in closer:

Tin of solid perfume--I took an old lip balm tin and converted it to solid perfume. It's better than having a bottle leak in my bag.

Embryolisse cream--Just shared this on this post. I tend to use this on my hands when it's in my bag, but as a primer or even a mask when at home. But I only put lotion on the tops on my hands. Is that weird?

S6 Phone--#teamdroid, baby! Okay, I'm like the only one who is.

Frends Ear Buds--These are in their natural state of tangledness. No matter what hack I use or suggestion, they end up back like this.

Pink & White Striped Planner with Pen--to write down blog ideas and plan them! I don't do the stickers or anything cute; just the pen and paper.

My Business card--I still get shy giving these out!

Wallet--Contents are self-explanatory on this, right? This is in the bottom left corner.

Moisturizer/Skin Brightener with SPF--Usually put this on my face in the am but keep it in my bag for my hands and arms. Really good stuff. More info soon.

Let's zoom all the way in!

Random contact lens--My question: Where is the other one?

Lipstick--in a classic good ol' nude shade

Earrings--Did you know that you're supposed to remove the plastic disks on these? I keep them on anyway.

Mints--that fell out...no idea where the container went

Earplugs--because I'm the world's lightest sleeper and they are AMAZING for ear pressure

Penny--My late Daddy collected rare coins and would get onto ya if you didn't pick up a penny off the ground. I've always associated pennies with him and have even more stories. This one was found on the table after my nephew's birthday. Say what you will, but to me, it means he was there.

ZonePerfect bar in Chocolate Mint--Because I need to keep the "hangries" at bay. Y'all know what I'm talking about! These are really tasty and I got mine at the pharmacy section at Walmart. Sometimes I need that emergency snack when I'm stuck in Atlanta traffic, y'all. They come in other flavors, too, but this is the one I grab the most often.

Any bag surprises?

What's in your bag?

PS: I posted yesterday--did you see it?

I have been compensated by ZonePerfect for this post; however, I am sharing my own thoughts. All opinions are my own.

#ZonePerfectLittleWins #LittleWins

Over 20 Ideas for Empty Candle Jars!

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

Fellow candle fanatics, this post is for us! Do you switch up your candles for the season? I've mentioned it many times on here that I do. And since fall is around the corner, I headed to Walmart to stock up. I was immediately drawn to the American Home™ by Yankee Candle® brand candles display in the Home and Candle section:

I checked out all of the fragrances (of course!), and here's what I brought home with me:

These are a few different styles and sizes, but I bought the 12 oz. candles in Shades of Fall, Pumpkin Apple Harvest, and Banana Walnut Bread for $10.93. Remember to use candles with caution.

And I picked up this 2 oz. jar candle in Fresh Apple for $10.93. My house smells kind of amazing right now! But what to do with the empty candle jars at the end of the season? I've got a bunch of ideas to reuse them. First, I will freeze them for a few hours once I have burned the candle up. The remaining wax and cotton wicks will pop right out. Then I wipe out the inside and peel away the label. I wash and dry the jar and then it's ready to reuse! Check out over 20 ideas for empty candle jars:

Storage For Bathroom:

• cotton balls
• cotton swabs
• cotton squares or pads
• toothbrush and toothpaste
• small jewelry--great way to keep rings from getting lost

Beauty Storage:

• makeup brushes
• lipglosses, lip sticks, lip crayons, lip balms
• bath bombs
• bath salts (mine are the purple ones pictured below)
• nail polishes
• manicure kit
• bobby pins
• hair ties
• beauty samples

More Storage Ideas

• candy
• markers
• craft supplies
• crayons
• dog treats
• coins

Decorative Display:

• vase for flowers
• corks (I write the date and occasion on mine for memories)
• leaves, pinecones, acorns
• potpurri
• coffee beans plus American Home™ by Yankee Candle® votive in Buttercream Frosting $1.93 
• votive holder

I chose to take one of the empty tumblers and made an etched monogram:

DIY Etched Tumbler:

• Using a clean, empty candle jar, place your letter/monogram/picture inside.
• Take an etching cream purchased from the craft store and a small paintbrush and outline and fill in the letter on the outside of the jar/tumbler. Pictured.
• Allow cream to set for 5 minutes and then rinse away. Be sure to follow directions and use precautions as printed on the etching cream's packaging.

Click here to find the fragrance for you!

Let me know your favorite candle fragrance or storage idea!

CAUSEBOX Review--Info and Why You Need It

all items opened and shown below...keep reading!

I'm a HUGE fan of sub boxes (give me all the things!) but instead of just makeup or jewelry, what if you had a box that actually gave back? What if you knew the products you were receiving were involved with charities or benefitted organizations? Sound amazing? It is! You need to check out CAUSEBOX. I'm sharing their Summer Box.

What is CAUSEBOX? Why Do I Need It?

The CAUSEBOX is a seasonal selection of socially conscious products for women. This means products that: 

• give back generously to underprivileged communities, 
• help provide jobs and sustainable income in underdeveloped areas of the world, 
• raise awareness for different charitable initiatives, 
• and empower people, help people, or otherwise make the world a better place. 

7% of every box sold is given back to charity, each and every quarter, which really adds up – and if you choose--you have the option to pick from several charity partners.

  

How Much Is CAUSEBOX?

Every box has at least $150 of retail value, and sells for $49.95/quarter. This box has $233 value! 

 
I think it makes an excellent gift for yourself or others!

What's In It?

Keepcup 6oz To-Go Cup $17 Value

The world's first barista-standard reusable coffee cup. Made from non-toxic BPA and BPS-free polypropylene with a splash-proof seal. I've enjoyed taking this with me on my daily drive to work.

Everly Hydrating Drink Mixes

How about a little something to put in that cup? I got samples of peach mango (my fave), pomegranate maqui berry, and green tea passion fruit. No additives, preservatives, or fake coloring — just better tasting water. AND they provide life-saving oral rehydration salts to treat sick children! 

Musana Bumba Necklace $36.00 R.V.

How pretty is this handmade necklace (and with barkcloth bag)? Musana is a nonprofit that aims to break the cycle of poverty in Uganda by providing stable employment and education for women. Musana means ‘sunlight’ in the local language of Luganda, and the artisans who crafted this necklace are truly a light within their communities!

Living On One Special Edition DVD $24

Follow along as four university students spend a Summer in rural Guatemalan living on $1/day to better understand the realities of poverty. Their videos about the experience went viral on YouTube and ultimately became this amazing, award-winning film. I can't wait to watch this. Have you seen it?

Love for Humanity Face Cream $58

Made with active botanicals that preserve collagen and elastin, which help to keep skin youthful and firm. This formula is organic, vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, and made in USA. Every product sold means a meal provided through Feed the Children. This smells amazing and gives me very soft skin.

Parker Clay Upcycled Wrap Bracelet & PArker Clay Headband $48 and $16

This bracelet was handmade out of Ethiopian leather and melted down bullets found in the Ethiopian countryside — what was once intended for harm has been transformed into something of hope and beauty.

This headband is handcrafted by a small team of artisans in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and is a must-have summer accessory.

Sevenly Lemonade Print $24

I don't have this framed yet, so I'm cheating and sharing a pic instead. I'm making lemonade here! ;) Such a fun, positive phrase and cute for summer. This print was one of the all-time best sellers in the Sevenly marketplace. 

I just want to thank CAUSEBOX for letting me sample their summer box. I love everything about this organization an hope you will try them. Want a free box of your own? If you sign up for an annual subscription, enter the code "ELLESEES03" at checkout to get a free Spring CAUSEBOX.

For more info or to order, check out https://causebox.sevenly.org/

What was your favorite item from the box?

Extra Elle:

• I'm back from vacation. The beach makes me so happy and calm. The laundry and sand everywhere? Not so much! ;)
• My #JALS challenge for the month has kind of come to a halt. I did buy a nail polish rack to jump start it again. No idea what I'm talking about? Click here.

How To: DIY Donut Sprinkle Nails!

How was your weekend? Mine was full of Season 3 of OITNB and GOT finale watching. There was also a spontaneous trip to a local, nice hotel for the night that ended up being disastrous (everything went wrong) but that made it hilarious. I had to laugh at it. On my mad dash back to my comfy home (that has working a/c, among other things) I grabbed some donuts. Speaking of donuts, you'll love this tutorial. It's super easy and cute.

You'll Need--

• base and top coats
• pink polish 
• polishes that match the sprinkles (I chose to match them all, but choose what you'd like)
• disposable/recyclable paper plate or scrap cardboard
• toothpicks or paper clips

You'll Do--

• Paint nails with clear base coat to protect the nail and allow to dry. 
• Paint nails with pink polish. I used a darker pink and then added a thin pale pink polish to match exactly. But pink is fine.
• Pour out a little of one polish color of the sprinkles. Dip the end of a toothpick into it and place the tip on the nail. Lift up the toothpick to reveal your "sprinkle." See pic above to reference. You can also dot it to replicate round sprinkles. Repeat on all fingers.
• Pour your second color and repeat using the opposite end of the toothpick. Repeat for all colors. I prefer to do one color at a time on all nails. You may have to use a few toothpicks for this.
• I find that at least four fingers will allow for 2 sprinkles of each color.
• Seal with a clear top coat.

I used the toothpicks here, but have also used craft paint brushes and paper clips to achieve the same effect! "Donut" worry (sorry, I had to) if your "sprinkles" aren't perfect. In the pic below, the real sprinkles vary in size and direction too.

If you don't have a lot of polishes, check dollar stores for them. I've seen packs of mini polishes in packs of several colors for under $5.

Eating of donuts is optional, but definitely encouraged for research! ;)

DIY Snow Cone Sugar Scrubs

Hey you! Do you have any fun plans this weekend? Speaking of fun, I've got something adorable to make. These will brighten up any summer day and the kids can help too. Enjoy!

Need:

• 1 c sugar
• 1/4 c carrier oil (I used coconut)
• 1/2 tsp soap colorant
• 3 drops essential oil or flavor oil 
• sealable plastic bag
• snow cone/shaved ice cups (optional)
• ice cream scoop

Do:

• Add sugar, oil, soap colorant, and essential oil to bag. 
• Seal the bag and squish around to mix it. Kids can help with this part--no mess!
• Use ice cream scoop to place "snow cone" in the cups. 
• Display as desired or store in a container.

Tips:

• Feel free to adjust the recipe as needed. 
• I would avoid using food coloring as it stains. I easily find soap colorant in craft stores, like Michaels, but online is always an option.
• I find it easiest to remove the top of the soap colorant to add it to the mix. While usually around 1/2 tsp worked for me, some colors needed much less, like blue, and others needed more. 
• Sugar scrubs are excellent exfoliants for the body and the oil softens skin. You can switch out the sugar for salt. I love using a salt scrub before shaving my legs or self-tanning.
• Please do not consume. Keep in an air-tight container in a cool spot for up to 3 months.

PS: Check out my 7 DIY Summer Scrubs! Want more DIY ideas? Click here.

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!

DIY: Fall Starbucks-Inspired Body Scrubs

Happy fall, y'all! It is seriously my favorite season of the year. My birthday is in the fall! I love the weather, leaves, scarves, s'mores around a fire, pumpkins, and of course, those annual fall drinks from Starbucks. Are you a fan? Today I'm sharing some Fall Starbucks-Inspired Body Scrubs. These look good enough to drink, but instead are great exfoliators for your body. Enjoy.

Pumpkin Spice Latte Scrub
1 c sugar
1/2 c pumpkin puree (I used canned, but freshly pureed sugar/baking pumpkins works too)
1/4 c sweet almond oil 
1 tsp nutmeg
 Mix ingredients. Store in an air-tight container. Stir before using.

*For presentation purposes, I used whipped cream and dusted cinnamon and nutmeg on top.

.

Salted Caramel Mocha
1/2 c Kosher salt
1/2 c brown sugar
1 tsp powdered milk
1/4 c vitamin e oil
2 drops hazelnut toffee essential oil (optional)
2 drops caramel essential oil (optional)
Mix ingredients. Store in an air-tight container. Stir before using.

*For presentation purposes, I used whipped cream, drizzled caramel, and dusted sugar and sea salt on top.

Vanilla Cream Latte
1 tsp powdered milk
1 c sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla essential oil
1/2 c melted coconut oil
Mix ingredients. Store in an air-tight container. Stir before using.

*For presentation purposes, I used whipped cream and sprinkled vanilla bean seeds on top.


Notes:

• While these are sugar and sugar-salt scrubs, feel free to substitute used coffee grounds for a bit more of an authentic smell. 
• These store for up to six months in an air-tight container. Contents will need to be stirred before using. 
• I recommend these scrubs for the body only. 
• Due to the slippery nature of the oils, use caution exiting the tub/shower. 
• Please substitute oils or other ingredients for others if allergic. 
• This post is not affiliated with Starbucks. 
• I'm doing this again with the winter drinks! 

Want More DIY Recipes?

Pumpkin Facial Mask
Gingerbread Sugar Scrub
DIY Beauty on the Go at Starbucks


Hungry? Try These Real Recipes:

S'Mores Cupcakes
Pumpkin Bread
Pumpkin Spice Latte
PSL in a Hurry
Fall Cocktails