A Few Of My Recent Purchases

It's no secret that I have a great love for Target. I think just walking into the store is a bit of therepy for me. If I am feeling down or recently, homesick, a trip just wandering through the aisles can make me more calm. Of course, I don't kniw about you but I am betting that like me, you have never left Target empty handed. It just doesn't happen. 

This past Saturday I had an awful case of homesickness. Maybe I am just missing my friends or maybe I just haven't found the "nerd community" yet (i honestly feel like it doesn't even exist but, let's think positive) either way, I just felt blah! I knew once I walked into Target I would feel just fine. I was right. After 2 hours and $42, I felt temporarily cured. 

Harry Potter And The Cursed Child Parts 1 & 2

This should be no surprise. It was the first thing I saw and I quickly placed it into my basket. Before I moved, I had meant to pre-order my copy but that never happened. Good thing I didn't and I waited...by purchasing at Target, I paid $16.38 for the book and got a free poster.  

Harry Potter themed socks

I will make no apologies for my #nerdside and for being a Potter fan. This will seem like an obvious thing to those of you that know anything about me. Fun fact: all of my socks are geek themed and are either Harry Potter or Doctor Who. If I find Sherlock ones then you bet I will add those to my collection as well. 

Sam & Libby Crossbody Bag

Ok enough of HP merch and onto the other bargains. Like I need another handbag, right? Truth is. I don't but, I have pared a good bit of my wardrobe, including shoes and bags down quite a bit. Like minimalistic-ish. Seriously. I tend to buy accessories and shoes in neutral tones to match anything and everything. By doing it that way I don't end up with a ton of handbags in hard to wear colors or prints and I also don't end up with 60 black bags....how many do you really need right?  This one is black and white and can be used as a crossbody or a clutch. it's also of pretty decent quality and at 70% off (originally: $34.99 clearance: $10.48) I couldn't pass it up  

Mossimo Sweater Tank

As I said before, I have pared my wardrobe down quite a bit. I stick to nuetrals and navy, pink and green. Obviously gray is a neutral so I picked this up. I also needed tanks since the south is not known for being cold. I like this because it can be worn as a casual top or could be dressed up with some nice jeans and heels or sandals. It can also be used for layering. A multi-purpose top for $5.38? I'll take it! 

I also went to Dollar Tree to pick up a few things for my classroom which are quite boring but I did want to show you my favorite ink pens and facial wipes. 

Global Beauty Care Makeup Cleansing Wipes with Retinol

These things are great!!! To be honest, I'm not really sure if these have actual retinol in them or exactly how much if they do but, I do know that my skin has greatly improved since using them. It's smooth and I have very little redness and, while I didn't have an issue with breakouts, my skin has been incredibly clear. I have been using them for about six months now and I did notice myskin improvement in a matter of weeks. As long as I can find these wipes (I generally grab a few packs at a time when I see them), I will continue to use them.   

Promars Ultra Fine Pen

I am pretty picky about pens; black felt tip ink pens to be be exact. I just like the way they write and they don't slip all over the place and they make my writing look neater and less like a scribbled doctor's note or a diner slip. I always pick up a pack of pens whenever I see them in Dollar Tree since they are pretty hard to come by in the three packs. 

To end this post I have a few questions:

1- Do you have your own sort of retail therepy or place where you decompress and get your thoughts in order?

2- Are you a Target fan like me? Why?

3- What are your thoughts on Harry Potter? (choose your response wisely) 

Target Beauty Box: June 2016

It seems that every company these days has their own version of the monthly subscription box. There are razor subscriptions, beauty subscriptions, fitness subscriptions, even subscriptions for your pet (hope Fido has a job to pay for his.). With so many monthly boxes coming to your door, it's hard to tell who offers the best deal. I took a gamble on this Target Beauty Box having no real idea what would be included (obviously beauty products but that's a bit vague). Let's see what Target had to offer for the month of June.

The Target Beauty box retails at $7 with no commitment meaning, if you want to skip a box or only want one box ever or, if you want to send one as a gift (i can give you my address btw.), you can do that. I have a Target REDcard and I get free shipping with this box also. If you don't have a REDcard, then you will also have to pay a shipping a fee but I'm sure it's not a ridiculous price. With this particular box, I received 11 items. It was a mix of cosmetics, and beauty products with samples, deluxe samples and full size products as well. When I opened my box for the first time, I was shocked at how much stuff was in my box. For $7, even if all the products were garbage (highly unlikely), that's a good deal.

L'oreal True Match Lumi Cushion  This was a sample size in the shade W3. There was also a $2 off coupon for any True Match product. I had been wanting to try this product since it first hit the shelves so I was excited to see it. The shade sort of worried me though as I am more of a neutral undertone but it actually matched my skin fairly well. It was easy to blend out and gave a dewy finish. What I did not like about this product was the "cushion" part. The product was a good quality product but using the sponge applicator in conjunction with the sponge filled with foundation, was just a nightmare. The product becomes absorbed in the applicator sponge and very little end up on your face. I also had to use a brush to blend out the product as the sponge applicator was not working very well. Final thoughts, I would probably buy another True Match foundation as I did like the product but I would not purchase the Lumi Cushion.


L'oreal Revitalift Volume Filler Day Cream  This was a deluxe sample and honestly I was a little hesitant about using it as my skin can be a bit sensitive. After testing it however, I love it!!! It is a thick cream with no SPF so I prefer to use it as a night cream. It is very moisturizing and does appear to "fill in" fine lines or rather smooth them out a bit. I think this product retails for around $20 for the full size and I will purchase this once my sample is empty.



elf Lip Kiss Balm in 'Bare Kiss' This is a full size product that I quite enjoy. It tints your lips to a more enhanced color of your natural lips. It is also rather thick like a true balm and moisturizing. The only downside to this product is that there is no SPF so keep that in mind if you will be wearing this to the beach or pool.


Pantene Intense Hydration Shampoo This was the only product in my box that I did not try. I use sulfate free shampoos so I did not want to even attempt stripping my hair and/or drying it out.


Laneige Water Bank Serum This. Stuff. Is. Awesome. OMG!!!!! It is a thin lotion consistency that sort of dissolves or melts into your skin. I put this on in the morning after cleansing my face and before my moisturizer. I feel like my skin is clearer and less redness. It's just in better condition. I will purchase this.


Soap & Glory Righteous Butter YES!!!!! This is another product I had been wanting to try and never got around to it. Best body butter ever!!! I mean it!! It's thick, it blends into your skin and leaves your freshly shaved legs, silky smooth! The only thing about this is, it does have a scent to it. Think your great grandmothers perfume...like a rose exploded in your face. Personally, I don't mind the scent but be warned if you do not like perfume smells, you may want to pass. Or get over it just to try this stuff!


SW Basics Exfoliant In a word, weird. I thought it was cool that there are only three ingredients in this product and they are ones you have heard of. It did work well as an exfoliant and, good thing the ingredients are edible (just saying). However, I don't think I would purchase this product as I could get the same ingredients fairly easily and make it myself.


Cotz Sunscreen  This is a face sunscreen that is tinted. It does not provide any coverage at all whatsoever. It does provide SPF40 but again, why tint it when it serves no purpose? Good sun protection though.


Pixi Mesmerizing Mineral Duo I believe this duo is called "Apricot Glow". Either way, I like it! I have never used any Pixi cosmetics so again, I was excited to see this. The shades are very easy to wear and suitable for every eye color. They feel very soft and almost buttery and the fallout is minimal.


SheaMoisture Weightless Creme Rinse I used this once and, never again. It's technically designed for natural hair but I figured, it's a conditioner so how bad could it be? Bad. It left my hair so dry, it was like straw!


Yes To Cucumbers Soothing Facial Wipes Again, another product that dried me out!!The smelled nice and were rather moist. They also took off a full face of makeup. What they left behind was a super dry face. My face was literally tingling because it was so dry.




All in all, I was pretty pleased with my June Beauty Box and I would like to purchase another one. It gave me a chance to try products I had been wanting to try and now I know whether or not they are worth my money. I also learned about new products that I may have not ever considered.

#awesomecon2016

awesome swag that i scored. some was free,

some i bought, all was necessary.

If you follow me on snapchat (if you are not following then take this as a hint to add me) then you already know that, two weeks ago I attended Awesome Con in Washington DC. I am sure most of you are familiar with Comic Con which is held every year in California. Awesome Con is basically the same thing except it's a three day even with shorter, star-studded guest list. This was my first time attending and while I learned tips to improve my experience for next year (oh yeah, i am definitely going!), I had a blast!


Some of this years guest list included Agents of SHEILD actor, Brett Dalton and actress Elizabeth Henstridge, Gotham Actor Robin Lord Taylor, Star Trek actor Karl Urban, Director/Producer/Actor Kevin Smith, Harry Potter Series actor Matthew Lewis (you know, Neville Longbottom. more on him later), former Boy Meets World actor Will Friedle (yep, Eric Matthews. no, he did not do a Feeny call), Hellboy and Sons of Anarchy star Ron Perlman, and Doctor Who stars Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman (both of whom i missed because i only attended one day).

A few things I learned from my experience:

Bring Cash. In order to have a photo op or gain an autograph with the stars, you must stand in lines that really were not long at all, and then pay the manager/publicist the pre-listed fee. I am not sure why I just assumed that everyone has square or carries around an Apple Pay device but they don't. While I was ready and willing to drop $150 to meet, get an autograph and a photo with Matthew Lewis, I could not. I was a bit bummed but hey, it's cool. I did get to see him from about 20 feet away and I was thrilled with that. Also, while I would love to show you a picture of his handsome self, I can't do that either but just trust me. I saw him.

No photos. Ok this is sort of a no brainer, but you cannot take pictures of the celebrity guests without paying their pre-listed fee. You also have to ask permission from fellow geeks and nerds to take their photos of their awesome costumes. I never got in trouble for this because again, it's pretty common sense but just letting you know.

Go big or go home. This is in regards to costumes. First, they are pretty strict about appropriate attire. Body paint does not count as clothing and the "Brute Squad" is not afraid to tell you to go and change. There were a few Princess Leia's who had to change and a Poison Ivy but for the most part, everyone adhered. Second, just wearing a Marvel licensed t-shirt will not do. You plan your costume, you dress up, and then you show up to fully embrace your nerd self and have a great time. I toned down my originally planned costume and, I dressed as a Tardis since I was worried about being "over costumed". Lesson learned. Next year, I'm going all out!

Some vendors are rude. There are tons of booths set up with comic books and licensed merchandise and generally really cool people. BUT, there are those vendors who are not so cool. Example: maneuvering through the aisles is sort of like walking through a flea market. So, while I was waiting for the line of traffic to start moving again, I ended up stopped in front of a comic book creators booth. What are you going to do right? So I began looking over his work. He asked If i was "really interested or just waiting for the line to move". (insert annoyed emoji here). I chose to simply say "no" as the line began moving. I didn't pay too much attention to it as generally, the other booths had nice people and the overall feel of the convention center was "one big nerdy family".

I posted a lot of pictures on my snapchat throughout the day (here's another hint to follow me) but I did save some for this post. #doitfortheblog

REVEIW: wet n wild megawear mascara

(this review is not sponsored by wet n wild and all photos and opinions are my own.)

Raise your hand if you are a impulse buyer. Now you may slowly lower your head in shame. You are prancing through the aisle's, grabbing things all willy-nilly as your bank account is screaming in agony. It's not exactly the best habit to have. Sometimes though, you find products that you never would have  given a second thought to otherwise. Hence today's post. 

I was in my local Dollar Tree store looking for a few classroom supplies. I found a few things and also this mascara. Before we go any further let me just say, I am extremely picky about my mascaras. I am just not ok with wasting my money on terrible mascaras. Bad foundations, lippie's, even nail polish, I take the loss but not mascara. My reasoning for this was "it's only $1." and that I am ok with. 

This is the wet n wild megawear mascara in "very black". 

(wet n wild is a cruelty free cosmetic line) 

"MegaWear Mascara

For all day wear! This mascara helps to enhance fullness while adding color. Contains Pro-Vitamin B5 (Panthenol) and Soy Protein to seal in moisture, helping to condition lashes and leaving them looking and feeling healthy!"

As you can see, the wand is a spiral, spoolie. Generally, I am a fan of silicone bristle mascaras but, I want to test it out. Let me start by saying, the claims on this ("...helps to enhance fullness while adding color.") are basically garbage. It does add color but not so much fullness. What it does do however, is add color, length, and definition. That's not exactly a bad thing but, if you are someone who wants fullness to their lashes, you may want to pass. It is unfortunate that the claims are not entirely clear. 

bare eye. no makeup on. 

after one coat of MegaWear Mascara.

after two coats. it looks a bit clumpy in the photo but 

it really was not that clumpy at all. 

This is one impulse buy I am glad I made. It is actually a fairly decent mascara and one I will wear. Is it my new "holy grail" or will it replace my everyday mascara? Probably not but it is a good back-up and for those days when my look requires a mascara that gives more definition than volume, it will be what I use. 

Choose to make today great!

xo -Jessica

Some Recent Favorites

I thought I would make some changes to the blog today and also sneak in a post without giving mention to my six month hiatus. Let's just pretend it didn't happen and move forward. For my first post in ages, I thought I would share with you a few things that have been favorites of mine recently.


My manicure of choice has been with OPI's "Don't Bossanova Me Around". It's quite a nice pinky-nude that is perfect for everyday and great for spring.




My shoe choice has been a pair of black t-strap flats that I snagged on clearance a few weeks ago at Charlotte Russe. They have been sold out but I found a similar pair here. Mine are solid black without studs and perfect for spring. They go well with dresses and jeans and I like the fact they are not suede so I can wear them in almost any weather.


I am rather picky when it comes to TV shows. The BBC and PBS are kinda my jam. Now that Downton has ended, I've been going through and re watching Doctor Who (seeing as how it will be 2017 before new episodes start. yes, i am bummed.). Of course, not the Matt Smith seasons (don't get me started) but the tenth and twelfth Doctors rock! I also absolutely LOVE Clara Oswald!! She may even beat out Rose Tyler as best companion for me. I think mostly because of her connection with the twelfth Doctor and, not to mention, she's beautiful!! I've also been watching re-runs of The Red Green Show. Since I saw Steve Smith perform two years ago, the show seems extra cool now. Of course, every weekend is Harry Potter weekend for me and honestly, I don't see that ever changing...and I am OK with that.



Lastly, I thought I would share a few songs and artists that I have been listening to. I don't really listen to mainstream, top 40 type music but rather, I jump all over the place. My all-time favorite band ever is Train. It took me awhile to get into their new stuff but Pat Monahan could sing to me forever. Their tour last year came within 40 minutes of me and I didn't go. However, this year, it's happening! I've also been liking "Deeper" by Meredith Andrews. I listed the link to the entire album but that song is just awesome. It's catchy, and yes, I proudly jam in my car, thank you very much.


So those are a few of my current favorites. I'd love to hear what some of yours are and if you are a #potternerd or #whovian I would really love to hear from you!


Choose to make today great!

xo- jessica

(my) Sunday Funday

Lately, Sunday has been my favorite day of the week. Why? To be honest, it's simply because I get to do nothing all day. During the week, after I get off work, I get a workout in, shower, catch an episode or two of Full House (have mercy!), maybe do my nails, and then it's time for bed. On Saturday's, I generally run all my errands that I did not have time for during the week (post office, bank, Target...you know, the essentials.). By the time Sunday rolls around, I just want to read or watch Harry Potter, or do both. It is sort of a relaxing, pamper day, for me to prepare for whatever life (or three year olds) throws at me in the upcoming week.  

Sunday, November 8, 2015

8:53AM...wake up (don't judge. i was on Youtube until 1AM)

9:25AM...get out of bed (what? i had to check social media. we all do it.) 

9:30AM...breakfast and then cleaning house.

12:30PM...finally time for a shower now that the house is cleaned. (took me longer due to Instagram)

1:00PM...and it's lounge time! manicure, pedicure, face mask, little reading, little Pinterest-ing, LOTS of Instagram-ing. All while enjoying my comfy Harry Potter lounge pants. 

I hope you enjoyed your Sunday as much I did. Sometimes it's nice to just relax and not do a single thing. Choose to make today great!

-Jessica

Get To Class: PE

Ahh, time for PE or gym class. I know, I know, I used to be the girl who dreaded when my gym period came around. Even worse was, in junior high (my school district had elementary, middle AND junior high and then high school. kinda ridiculous right?) when I had gym at the very end of the day. By the time I reached 10th grade, (my last year of needing a PE credit) I actually enjoyed it. I even ran the mile twice during the spring, in an attempt to shave some time off. Once I graduated and started having adult responsibilities, things weren't so easy or simple. Growing up, there was never a focus on active lifestyles or being healthy. Once I moved out on my own, I realized that being healthy and active, was how I wanted to live my life. Below, I have listed some items and tips and tricks and even people I follow on social media for motivation and inspiration. I feel that even if you are not a student who is required to complete PE, you can still benefit from this post.



Invest in a good pair of shoes. And by good I don't necessarily mean that they have to be expensive. Just find a shoe that fit your activity style, whether it's running, walking, or lifting. They also need to fit your foot and be comfortable. Here's where things get opinionated. I personally prefer Nike's. They are comfortable, durable, fit my activity style and they are pretty reasonably priced. I guess the biggest piece of advice I can offer you on this is, do not fall into the brand trap. Don't feel that you have to buy a specific shoe just because it is a well known brand or it is "preferred" or represented by someone. Everyone is different so, be blind to brands and find what works for you.


Invest in appropriate gym attire. This is similar to my shoe rant above. You really need to make sure that what you are wearing is comfortable and allows you plenty of movement. i realize that if you are in school, you might me limited to the fact that you have to purchase your schools gym uniform (yuck. i feel ya. don't worry, I've got some solutions for that too) but, if you are not in school, keep this in mind. Similar with the shoe rant, brand does not exactly matter. However, keep in mind that, while fit and comfort are important here, quality is equally important. You don't want to have a pair of gym shorts that fall apart after one wash. I personally like to wear leggings in the gym (NOT COTTON. let me repeat/rephrase, DO NOT WEAR COTTON LEGGINGS TO THE GYM/WORKOUT.)  and my brand of choice are the Adidas Climalite leggings (similar here). They are comfy and breathable and they fit really well. As for tops, I'm not so picky here except that I prefer tanks over tees. Just more of a personal preference really as I cant stand to have sleeves bothering me in the gym. You have many of options here and I have a collection of both breathable mesh and cotton.


Invest in a gym bag that suits your needs. This is sort of my downfall. I am still searching for a gym bag that works for me. I'm finding that what I need is more or less a duffel bag style. I have used backpacks, tote bags, even a yoga style bag and nothing seems to work. I am pretty minimalistic when it comes to a gym bag, I really just need one big pocket or opening to hold my clothes, locker lock and deodorant. It also has to be of good quality and be durable. I think, this again, is a personal preference and finding what works for you.


Don't forget your socks. Been there, done that and all I will say is, thank goodness it wasn't my cardio day. Socks are socks so just make sure you have them on or with you in your bag. Also, for you PE kids, this is where you can get creative. Stock up on knee-high or tube socks in a cool pattern or print. They even make collegiate ones or you can coordinate your school colors. It will be like homecoming or spirit week everyday. Heck, if I wore shorts to the gym, I would totally do this.


Find positive sources of motivation. The key word here is "positive". Will looking through a Victoria's Secret catalogue motivate you to eat healthy and get to the gym? No doubt about it! However, it's not very positive. If you are on Instagram or YouTube I HIGHLY SUGGEST you check out my buddy Dave from Dave Does Weightloss. This guy is incredible! Every Sunday, he has a confession series where he tells you where he is and what's going on in his weight loss journey from the previous week. If you are more a blog reader or you need a podcast to listen to during your workouts, then I also HIGHLY SUGGEST Nia Shanks. She is the founder of the "Lift Like A Girl" guide.  She even has a podcast that you can download straight from her site and iTunes. Her podcast is a very no-nonsense show that focus on different aspects of healthy living. She even has a segment titled "Stuff I Think Is Awesome" (the title is self-explanatory) where she tells you about a product or item that she thinks is awesome. Her podcast is very informative and motivating.



I hope that you found these tips and suggestions to be helpful to you. I am always curious as to what people use for motivation so please, leave your tips in the comments below.


Choose to make today great!
xo- Jessica

A Post About Job Interviews.

(We interrupt the scheduled "Get to Class" post series for this exciting(?) post.)
(I wasnt sure exactly what to title this blog but, "A Post About Job Interviews" pretty much sums it up.) 

I have been on a few job interviews in my short "working age" life. Not an excessive amount but enough to sort of know what I'm doing when it comes to interviewing. Although, that could be the first tip: interviewees never know what they are doing. Sure, you can be prepared (which i will help you with) and muster up all the confidence you can but, you never really know exactly what they are going to ask or the scenario questions you will face. Since I have a number of interviews this week (i'd appreciate prayers), I figured I would show you what I wear and how I prepare.


One of my interviews is at a day school that is fairly laid back. It's a bit like a Montessori school, with a huge focus on hands-on learning. Since this is a somewhat casual environment, I decided to forgo the business attire and create a more classy, casual outfit.

  

TOP: JCPenney
CREAM SKINNY PANTS: Belk
NECKLACE: Ross
SHOES: Target (thanks to cartwheel they were less than $5!!)




I also have two other interviews for two public schools in the same school district. They are for the same posistion but, one is at the elementary school and the other is at the middle school. After a bit of reasearch on both of the schools as well as the high school, it became clear that the mascot colors were red and black. Now I could practically write an entire book on the fact that red is my absolute, hands down, no bones about it, least favorite color. Ever. However, I digress. In an effort to show some school spirit and possibly earn some bonus interview points, I purchased a red blouse. That's right, I dislike the color so much that I have absolutely nothing red in my closet. Furthermore, since the color disgusts me, I wasnt looking to spend many of my hard earned dollars on it. Problem solved. Thank you Walmart, for my $3 blouse.

TOP: Walmarrt
SKIRT: K-Mart
(i have owned this simple, cotton black skirt since middle school. 10+ years. it has served me well) 
BLAZER: Nordstrom
SHOES: Walmart? (also realized during this outfit construction that i have no black flats. i do not know why)





Now, along with my well-dressed and confident self, I will have my resume and my letters of recommendation with me.

I have used these report covers before but, I needed more and, though it pained me, I bought them in the coordinating school color and just a basic black for my other interview. I highly recommend these. I know some people may not even take their resume with them (not sure why you wouldnt) and some people bring their resume just stapled together (wrinkles? rain? mystery stains?) but, I prefer to set a standard for myself and what my potential employer can expect from me. Plus, I just feel it's nice and neat and more professional looking. And if you're not totally convinced of the power of a report covered resume, all of the families I interviewed with for nanny positions, commented on how my resume presentation set me apart. I also got each one of those jobs. Coincidence? I dont think so.





The biggest thing I can tell you is, to be confident. You really need to sell yourself. Be calm. The best interviewee had lots of practice. Which by practice, I mean lots of interviews. Even if you dont get a position, being able to go through the interview process is well worth it. So, have the mind set of "I know this and I've got this. If I do not get chosen, then I will at least have added to my interview experience".




Choose to make today great!!!

xo- Jessica

Get to Class: Supplies

Well, I regret to inform you that, it seems the education system has taken over our rights to a nice long summer holiday. Yes, it's time for heading back to school. Every year it's the same thing: Independence Day ends with a bang (punny) and then....the shelves appear with pencils and paper and suddenly your long, lazy days are coming to an end. In an effort to make the transition from, carefree days to exam, stress filled days a bit easier, I have compiled a few of my must have essentials to help you (somewhat) happily "Get to Class".

Today is the first of three (possibly even four. I'll let you know) posts in my "Get to Class" series. This particular post is focusing on school supplies.

• PENS......I feel like this is a no-brainer but, having the best writing utensil just makes things so much better. Now, everyone has their own preference. Some people like fatter, chubby pens and some people like thin, smooth pens (there really is a science to it). My personal favorites? These and these.

• PEN CASE......When I was in middle school, it was considered "nerdy" to have a pencil box or a pouch to hold all of your pens and pencils and highlighters. Instead, the cool thing to do was to store your pens in the spiral rings of your notebooks. (pause) I kid you not. Apparently, having beat up notebooks with pens jammed in into the pain inducing metal rings, was far more "in" than being neat and tidy. I still don't quite understand why and I never bought into that logic. The pencil pouch is a neat (punny again) way to express yourself. One of my absolute favorites is this one by Tyrrell Katz. In fact, the entire site has loads of cute pencil cases so, browse a bit. Even using a cute makeup bag can serve this purpose as well (btw, Tyrrell Katz has makeup bags too). You can also check out the one my friend Tori, from Prep For A Day found at Target. 

• NOTEBOOKS......Here again is where you have some options. There are tons of notebooks to choose from. Once you figure out if you prefer wide ruled or college ruled (college ruled for me, thank you.), then your choices are endless. Jadelynn Brooke just released notebooks like this one, this one and this one. The patterns are cute and preppy. Also, for preppy notebooks, Lilly Pulitzer offers a few patterns as well as a mini size and a large size (let's not also forget about the agendas, which you should already have by now). You can also find collegiate and pro team printed notebooks all over amazon. Of course, Target will always provide an abundance of cute notebooks. 

• TABLET CASES......I realize if you are a middle school or high school student, you will probably not be taking your tablet with you to class or study. However, if you are a college student, you may very well be. There are a ridiculous number of tablet cases available and it usually comes down to how you use your tablet and personal preference, that determines the one you choose. I highly recommend my case (I have the one in gold but there are several colors). Not only does it hold my iPad (which is obviously essential) but, it also has slots for business cards (nifty for interviews and internships), a loop for a pen with stylus (highly recommend. you can purchase these anywhere), an SD card slot and a pocket to hold a small legal pad which, is handy for taking notes. 

• BAG......Of course you will need a way to tote around all of your supplies. You can certainly go the original backpack idea OR you can use a canvas or leather tote. If you are also on a sports team, I suggest maybe using a tote or a duffel bag instead of having multiple different bags to lug around. The bag that I use was a limited edition at Target but you can find a similar one here. Mine is sort of a creamy, sand color so it's nice and neutral and matches just about everything. I like it because it's a bit classy and nice and, not only does it have handles but it also has a cross body strap which comes in handy when my bag gets weighted down with junk.

So that's my list of school supplies. Of course I'm sure your teachers and professors will require way more than this but, I hope I have given you a few cute and fun options to make sure your year is awesome. 

Choose to make today great!

xo- Jessica

  

You're Invited...

I am sure by now you are wondering what exactly you are being invited to. It's my birthday!! Ok, well, technically, my birthday is September 13 and, although it would be wonderfully amazing to have an actual birthday party with every single one of you, that's not entirely possible (i know, i'm bummed too). So, instead, I am hosting a virtual birthday party and everyone will be able to "attend". I was inspired to do this by my friend Cathleen. She hosted her virtual birthday in which I happily attended, and then asked for her suggestion on what I should host for mine. So, thanks to her suggestion, the concept is simple: all you have to do is post a picture of yourself with a cookie variety of your choice and, make sure you tag me in your post. That's it. Simple, huh? The choice is yours on what type of cookie you choose, peanut butter (yum!), Oreo (yum!), chocolate chip (yum!), whatever you want. You can leave your RSVP in the comments below or on Instagram (@polishedandpumped). Also, I'd love to hear what your cookie picks are or your favorites. 

Choose to make today great! 

xo- Jessica

Time Management

Can you guess the theme of today's post? See, I have already wasted about three seconds of your day to ask a question that we both already knew the answer to. As well as another five seconds explaining it. OK, enough. Yes, today's post is about time management. It seems a lot of people like the idea of managing their time better (who wouldn't?) but, most people either, don't go about it the right way or, don't know how to go about it. I am here to offer my knowledge and tips and tricks on this subject. 

Make a daily schedule.
Start with a blank sheet of paper and write down all of the hours you are awake in a day. Leave spaces in between the time slots to fill in what you need to be doing or have finished by that time. I would recommend making a couple of different versions of your daily schedule based on, days off, weekends, etc. You also want to make sure you are not booking yourself to tight. Leave room for mishaps or a case of the Mondays. We all know they will happen.

Get a planner.

Once you have your daily routine down, it will become habitual. You will find that you do not have to refer back to your daily schedule as often. You do want to save them though in case you fall off the wagon. The next step would be to get a planner. The options are truly limitless here. There are monthly, weekly, and daily planners of all types that you are sure to find the one that works best for you. For instance, if your schedule stays pretty consistent, maybe a monthly planner is for you to plan trips and dates and such. Likewise, if you are a student, you may find that a weekly or even daily planner works best because of your schedule changes. Also, if you are a tech-y, you can always use your phone as your planner. It is personal preference really. Personally, I prefer to actually write down my schedule and "pencil things in" rather than put something in my phone. The important thing is to find what works best for you.

Knowing what to schedule.

This is where things can get tricky. Everyone is different and knowing what you will actually remember and what you won't, is based on the individual. For me, I will remember when I have a lunch date with my dear Aunt but, cannot remember to drop a letter in the mailbox. I would say to start off big and write down everything. As you get used to planning, you will find out what you do not need to write down and what you need to write down, and highlight, and circle. 

Avoid clutter.

When it comes to planning and time management, the biggest enemy is clutter. If you have a planner that is full of event programs, or tickets, or loads of unnecessary stickers, chances are, your time is probably not being utilized as efficiently as it could be. It can be helpful for some people to color code their planners. Especially for students who may have a variety of different events in one week or even a day. Just make sure you know the color code and try not to use anymore than 5 different colors. As far as stickers go, I never use these in my planner but, they may be helpful for birthdays, anniversaries or holiday events. The preference is yours but try not to go overboard. Avoid clutter.

Just do it.

(I wasn't sure if I should have that line trademarked or not but, since I am not talking about sneakers, I think I am OK.) This is my last tip: if you have a task or job that you really would rather not do, just do it! There is no sense in putting something off until the last minute when you know it needs to be completed in the first place. Honestly, I would rather get it out of the any instead of spending my day thinking about it and dreading it.  Not to mention, if you get the difficult or boring stuff out of the way first, think about the satisfaction you will feel once it's complete. 

I hope that you found these tips to be helpful. If you have any additional tips or strategies you use to better manage your time, please share and, list them below. Also, if you have any questions about schedules or planners, you can also list those below. Let's all take control of the time that we have! 

Choose to make today great! xo

-Jessica

Summer Sweet Tea

Last week I posted this picture of my summer fresh, sweet tea on Instagram. I thought I would take the time and share the "recipe" with you. It is really simple and quick to make and tastes like you're sipping summer through a straw. So without further ado, I give you my summer, yummy, blueberry-goodness, sweet tea (if someone has a better no-fuss name, I am open to suggestions).

Step One: Boil your tea brewing water. You can do this with a stove top kettle, or an electric one or, if you have never been much of a hot tea fan and don't own a kettle (ahem), you can heat some water in a saucepan. Bottom line, do not, I repeat, DO NOT heat your water in the microwave. I mean you can at your own risk but, bleh! You want the water to be hot. Boiling hot. Not this "tepid nonsense" (Dame Maggie Smith used that phrase to describe how Americans make tea in "The Second Best Exoctic Marigold Hotel". I'd say she was spot on.). 

Step Two: While your water is boiling, you can fill your tumbler with ice and frozen fruit. I prefer blueberries in this particular tea blend but hey, the fruit choice is yours. Just make sure it's frozen. Also, depending on the type of fruit you use, you can use a diffuser if you have one. I don't really find it necessary, nor do I own one but, citrus fruits tend to not freeze very well so keep that in mind. 

Step Three: Now, you will need a mug to steep your tea in. I like to sweeten my tea a bit but, based on your fruit choice and taste preference, this is optional. If you do decide to sweeten it, I like to place about a tablespoon of honey in the bottom of my mug. This way when the hot water hits it, it will dissolve right into the tea water. After you have added your honey (or not), just pop your tea bag (this is the tea I use with frozen blueberries) into the mug and, once you have boiling water, pour it into the mug over the tea bag. 

Step Four: Steep. Do not dunk your teabag like a carnival game or like you're casting a fishing pole. This is tea. It's delicate and not for playing with. Just pour the boiling, hot water over it and leave it alone. Depending on the type of tea you use, the steep times will vary. The box or packet will tell you suggested steep times. Typically, most tea is steeped for 3-5 minutes depending on how strong you want it. For me, I usually let this blend steep for about 5 minutes. Between the ice, honey and fruit, it will dilute it a bit so I want to make sure I am tasting tea. 

Step Five: After your desired steep time as passed, just strain your tea from the tea bag and pour the tea from the mug directly into the ice and fruit-filled tumbler. By the time you screw the lid and straw onto your tumbler, your tea will be chilled to drink. If not, just give it a swirl or you may want to add more ice. 

Now you can enjoy your [insert catchy summer tea name name here]! 

COLLAB: Casual Summer Outfit

One of the reasons why I like summer is that, it creates an endless amount of wardrobe options (ok there are some things you cannot wear, such as wool, but I'm willing to compromise). With wedding and barbecue season happening within the three months of Summer, you get to plan quite a few "special occassion" outfits. But what do you wear on a random June Wednesday? This is something I tend to have an issue with five days a week. Luckily, I was recently invited to do a collab post on a casual summer outfit and, it caused me to do a bit of work. I selected a very basic and totally interchangable and customizable outfit that works for me and my type of everyday. The girls I collaborated with, Tori, from Prep for a Day and  Katie, from Chic in Carolina, did the same. I invite you to check out each of their posts and see the outfits they came up with. Here's what I worked out and why...........

A Basic Tee.- I chose stripes because well, I like it and stripes are trendy. I picked this top up at Ross and it does not appear to have a brand listed (I find quite a bit of their items don't. hmm?). You can pick up striped tee's anywhere though, Target, Old Navy, anywhere really. If you don't like stripes, don't buy stripes. A bright solid color like a nice green or pink or turquoise would look nice and summery as well. Also, I should mention, this is more of a blouse type tee, not a cotton crew neck. I wanted to be comfortable yet stylish and not too laid back. 

Cotton Shorts.- Here again is where you have a few options. I chose white because it matched, and they have a summer vibe to them (plus, white acts like a filter for your legs to make them look more tan.). I highly doubt I would ever wear white to work but I would on the weekends as long as no rain is involved. Even on a weekday, this look could work with any color chino or cotton short or even denim. Plenty of options based on your own collection and style. In case you were wondering, these shorts are from Walmart  and they are pretty inexpensive and comfy. Most of my shorts are from Kohls however. 

Topsiders.- I suppose you could wear a nice pair of sandals with this and, that would look nice. I chose my Sperry's because 1- you never know when a thunderstorm is going to appear and, a downpour plus sandals, is an injury waiting to happen (for me anyway), 2- what if your day happens to take you to a place that requires more structured footwear like, say, a park or any place with gravel? Sandals (or basically any dressy or nice shoe) and gravel do not mix. With topsiders, you can take on the rain and whatever outdoor activity you want really. Plus who doesn't like the classic look of them? They pull most any look together. I have gold colored topsiders from Target and these Sperry's I bought from Belk (FYI: on black Friday, they tend to have a nice sale price on certain styles). 

Pearl Earrings.- For a casual outfit, I wanted to keep accessories to a minimum so, I chose the classic pearl studs. Obviously, these are faux but they still work and who really cares, right? I don't feel like these are a must have with this type of outfit but it does add more of a dressy casual feel to the look. You can pick these up at practically any deparment store. Mine came in a pack of three different sizes from Target. 

Here is the outfit all together:

So if you want tips on how to take the most awkward full-body selfie ever, read on. You should wait until your sunlight hours are limited. You should also make sure that the mountain view and pool backdrop you had planned, is full of rowdy college students. For that added touch, make sure your photographer is busy fullfiling another of his job titles, mechanic. Also, make sure the only camera you have available, is an iPhone and set your self-timer to 10 seconds. Any longer than that, and you might actually have time to properly pose and get a good shot. On another note, I did quite enjoy staring aimlessly toward the sun. 

As you can see, my take on the summer casual outfit is, basic yet stylish. I feel like most people have all the componets of this already in their closet. I will definitely be using this "model outfit" as a template for the next Tuesday morning that I have nothing wear. I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I did creating it and, I hope you will check out Tori's outfit as well as Katie's outfit!

Choose to make today great!

-xoxo

Jessica

Things to do in Old Dominion (AKA Virginia)

In case you are new here (welcome, by the way!) or you just had no idea, I am from Virginia. Sometimes I claim it, sometimes not. I always tell people that my body may be in VA but my heart is in SC, Charleston to specific. Virginia is certainly not a bad state, I have just lived here all of my years and I want to do some 'sploring (Lucy had 'splaining to do, I've got 'sploring to do.). Anyway, with it being almost summer and vacations and roadtrips will be had by many, I thought I would give you some options and insight to my home state. I should also mention that, this idea was inspired by my friends Cathleen and Katie. Katie is from North Carolina (lucky gal!) and Cathleen, is from South Carolina (even luckier gal!). I will link their state posts here  and here.  Now, onto Virginia!

In case you are not so familiar with my state, I'll give you a bit of a fourth grade geography lesson. Virginia is split into three regions: Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and Tidewater. The Blue Ridge region is home to the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains, and has lots of Civil War history. The Piedmont region is the middle section of Virgina and, the land is closer to sea-level than the Blue Ridge. This is where you will find our capital city, Richmond. The Tidewater is coastal Virginia. This is where you will find colonial cities such as Williamsburg and of course, Virginia Beach. 

Blue Ridge:



(Image from www.visitskylinedrive.org)

• SKYLINE DRIVE

The Skyline Drive is a scenic road that runs through the Shenandoah National Park. If you love nature, this is a must see!! Animals such as deer and bear, are a frequent sight. The road itself is 109 miles long with a speed limit of just 35mph. Sure, it will take you awhile to drive the entire thing but, there are also several overlooks and hiking and biking paths. The Appalachian Trail actually runs through the Shenandoah Valley and you can access the trail through the Skyline Drive. 



(Image from www.stonesentinals.com)

• CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELDS

Any good Virginia elementary school student will tell you that, they are already sick of hearing about the Civil War. The reason is, this is a state that had quite a bit of involvement with the "war between the states". Thus, Virginia history and studies is a big deal. All throughout Virginia, you will see Civil War trail markers, like those pictured above. There are several battlefields in the state worth checking out and below I have listed a few:

1. Battle of Bull Run
2. Battle of Cedar Creek
3. Chancellorsville Battlefield

Piedmont:

(Image from www.riponsociety.org)

• MOUNT VERNON

You know that guy on the one dollar bill? He's the same one on the quarter too. Guess what? That's George Washington or, "the original G-dub's". He was a Virginia man. Mount Vernon is an absolute MUST SEE when coming to Virginia. It is a field trip hot spot for every elementary school in the state and, it's the first presidents estate for crying out loud! You can also visit Ferry Farm which is where Washington lived as a child and supposedly cut down a cherry tree. Fun Fact: Including George Washington, there have been eight total US Presidents from Virginia. 

(Image from www.monticello.org)

• MONTICELLO

You know that guy (deja vu?) that's credited with the Declaration of Independence, the Louisiana Purchase, having his face stamped on a nickel (and a near extinct $2 bill) and also the third president of The United States? He was also a Virginia man! Thomas Jefferson's Monticello is magnificent!! Like Mount Vernon, this is also a must-see and a huge field trip destination. Jefferson actually designed Monticello after inspiration from his travels to France. The architecture and landscape design is absolutely stunning!




Tidewater:

(Image from www.williamsburgwaterfront.com)

• HISTORIC TRIANGLE

In case you were not aware, Virginia is loaded with history. In the Tidewater region, you can visit Virginia's Historical Triangle. Williamsburg is known as being the first state capital of Virginia. It is one of my absolute favorite cities! Downtown has colonial buildings, reenactments, and tours. The entire city has a very southern, colonial vibe...very welcoming. You can also visit Jamestown which is known as being the first Virginia settlement in 1607. Of course you could just watch Pocahontas and learn absolutely no truth about the real Jamestown or the real Pocahontas....cute flick though! Lastly, there is Yorktown. This is where the British troops surrendered, to none other than GW, to end the Revolutionary War. It's sort of a big deal.


With the Tidewater region being coastal, there are next to a million things to do in this area of Virginia. Below I have listed several worth checking out:

1. Busch Gardens (If you do nothing else in VA, go here. Trust me.)
2. Virginia Beach (I don't really recommend the beach itself but the nightlife and live music is worth checking out.)
3. Virginia Aquarium
4. Virginia Air and Space Center

So there you have it. A bit of Virginia history and places to go and things to see when you come for a visit. Be sure to let me know when you do, I can hook you up with a list of the best places to dine! 




Choose to make today great!
-Jessica