Those April showers brought me 5 new favorites, here they are:

1. My Hydro Flask – I love this water bottle. I actually purchased it a few months ago, but I am still obsessed with it and use it everyday. I don’t even drink out of regular cups anymore. These bottles really do keep your drink ice cold for hours on end. I have the 40oz bottle with the regular lid – I don’t love straws on my water bottles. You can purchase them online at the link above, or you can also find them at just about any sporting goods store.

2. Dark Chocolate Oreo Thins – These are my new addiction. The last time we went to the store Sean suggested that we try them…they were gone in 2 days. They are delicious – thin, crispy, and easy to eat – I also LOVE dark chocolate so these are the perfect treat! I’ve also seen them in original & mint flavors, which I will have to try.

3. Lululemon On the Fly Skirt – This is one of my favorite articles of clothing. In high school I practically lived in Nike shorts and a t-shirt year round, but now that I’m older I want something sporty and comfy, but also versatile and more fashion forward. This skirt is just that. I can wear it with a cute sweatshirt and tennis shoes or a nice graphic tee and sandals. It is perfect for lounging around, for running errands, or for a casual dinner with friends. Unfortunately, it isn’t sold anymore, I purchased mine on a killer sale just before they sold out. Thankfully, there is another option – the On the Fly Luxtreme Joggers – these are made out of the same material and can create pretty much the same look! I purchased them in the cute “Tidewater Teal” color for my birthday last month and I love them just as much!

4. Magnolia Table: Volume 2 – This is Joanna Gaines new cookbook and let me tell you, I have already flipped through it and marked all of the incredible recipes that I want to try. My sweet mom-in-law gave all of us kids a copy for Easter – such a perfect gift. I practically idolize Joanna Gaines so I could not have been more excited for this. Now that I have both of her cookbooks, it looks like it’s time for us to plan a trip to the Silos!

5. Outer Banks (Netflix Series) – Sean and I binge watched this series about a week ago and it was amazing. It is set in a beautiful location, the acting is great, the storyline is thrilling & exciting. There is a bit of unwanted/unnecessary language & a couple intense scenes (the reason for the TV-MA rating) but other than that I highly recommend it. I linked the trailer above if you want to check it out – maybe it’s your type of show!

See ya next month with May flowers & more favorites!

*All products are linked above

Sean and I are celebrating our 10 month anniversary today! I’m not sure if that still makes us newlyweds or not but I thought it would be fun for us to share a few things about ourselves with all of you!

1. Who is older? Sean (26) – Liz just turned 23
2. Who has more siblings? Liz (5: 4 brothers & 1 sister) – Sean has 2 brothers
3. When you met, who made the first move? Sean (of course) – more on that story later!
4. Who is the better driver? Liz (not a question)
5. Who is more creative? Sean
6. Who said “I love you” first? Sean (that is a funny story…)
7. Who is the first to say “I’m sorry” after an argument? Sean
8. Who pays the bills? Liz
9. Who initiated the 1st kiss? Sean – while watching the movie Coco at his apartment – romantic
10. Who is the social butterfly? Sean
11. Who is more organized? Liz
12. Who has better style? Liz – but Sean is not far behind (he begs to differ)
13. Who has better taste in music? We pretty much have the same taste in music…
14. Who is more likely to drop their phone in the toilet? Liz has actually done this, but honestly either
15. Who is the better cook? Liz – but Sean does a surprisingly good job too!
16. Who wears the pants in the relationship? Liz…come on
17. Who is more adventurous? Sean
18. Who eats more junk food? Liz…oops, called out
19. Who is funnier? We would both say ourselves first & then say each other
20. Who takes longer to get ready? Sean…gotta make sure all that hair looks perfect!

There ya have it, 20 things about us that maybe you didn’t know before! If you have any other questions for us, leave them in the comments below and we will answer them there! We’re almost to 1 year – can’t wait to revisit these questions in a few years and see how the answers have changed.

More posts about how we met and our wedding coming soon!

Ready to turn that lockdown frown upside down?

Here are a few things that Sean & I have been doing to have fun & stay sane during this wild time. I realize the opening line might have you questioning how sane I actually am…nonetheless, here are 10 things to do while quarantining:

1. Play Games – we have been playing so many different games – apps on our phones, apps on our TV, actual board/card games, and it has been so fun! Some of our current favorites are…
   • Golf Battle – an app that is seriously addicting. It is one that you can invite friends and family to play as well. Sean & I have been playing with my little brother who lives in Florida, which makes us feel connected even though we are far apart. (Free in the App Store)
   • Jackbox Games – we have different party packs downloaded on our computer as well as on our TV. We play with Sean’s family who is spread out in a few different states. Our favorites to play together are Fibbage & Quiplash – these are hilariously fun – I am sometimes left crying with laughter over the answers everyone comes up with. (You can purchase party packs or individual games, which vary in price)
   • Board/Card Games – Sean & I have a basket of games in our living room that we are finally getting to play together! Some of our favorites are Sequence, The Game of Life, & Bananagrams. Others that we love, but that are meant for larger families/groups are Clue, Jenga, & Codenames.

2. Chat with friends & family – it has been so nice having more time to connect with family & friends during this time. Sean & I normally FaceTime our families but I have also been able to talk to all of my girlfriends from back home so much more too. We pick a day & time to jump on a Google Hangout together and we have the absolute best time catching up! I have found that I am also interacting with friends on Instagram more, even ones that I have not talked to in years or even met in person. I always make sure to ask them how they are doing – this is a difficult time and I think it is important to check in, even if we aren’t super close. This is the perfect time to let others know that you are thinking about them & that you care.

3. Read a Book – I have an Instagram story of some good ones if you need a recommendation! I am currently reading the second installment of a church series titled Saints – No Unhallowed Hand.

4. Find a Youtube channel that interests you & watch a few videos. Anyone that knows me personally, knows that I probably watch more YouTube than TV…I just love it.

5. Start a new TV series or watch a movie you’ve never seen before. I can’t lie, Sean & I have already binge watched Gossip Girl in its entirety because I love it & he had never seen it. We’ve also rented a couple new movies on Amazon Prime – Just Mercy & Little Women – both were fantastic!

6. Go for a walk/drive – Sean and I have done both. We even had a little date night where we ordered takeout and then drove to a park and ate in our car with the windows down because the weather was nice. We also love to drive around and look at houses in the evenings, dreaming about the future.

7. Try delivery – dinner or a sweet treat – we have definitely had our fair share of DoorDash deliveries during this quarantine. If you live near a Crumbl Cookies…they deliver delicious cookies right to your door (this is the company Sean designs for so I shamelessly promote it any chance I get).

8. Test a new recipe – bake some banana bread – the surprising treat of choice right now or try something new for dinner – like the easy crockpot meal I posted a few days ago!

9. Scroll through Pinterest – create a board of post lockdown outfits or find inspiration for your future dream home. I have even found some fun Q&A questions that I want to try out with Sean – might turn that into a post of its own, who knows…

10. Take a deep breath & relax – as cliche as this sounds – don’t feel like you have to do anything. I haven’t worn makeup or put in my contacts in a month. I also spend most of my time in pajamas. Whatever you need to do to preserve your mental & physical health at this time, do it. I have a bad habit of comparing my life to the lives of others & I convince myself that I am not doing enough. If you are like this too, stop. Talk to your family, drink some water, try to go to bed at a reasonable hour…now I’m starting to sound like your mom, but really, just embrace this weird, hopefully once in a lifetime, season of life, cry a little if you need to. The entire world really is in this together.

Can’t wait to hug all of ya when this over, shoot me a message if you need anything, except toilet paper cause we’re almost out…

First, I have to make it undeniably clear that I am no finance wiz…

The only math courses I took in college were statistics (twice) & a family finance class. I’ve also read one of Dave Ramsey’s books…that’s it. The extent of my financial knowledge is relatively limited.

However, I’m 23 years old, married, and my husband and I are completely financially independent.

We rent a 1 bed/1 bath apartment near Salt Lake City, we have a car payment, we give 10% of our income to our church as tithes, and we pay $1000 a month towards my student loans so that they will be paid off within the next year. Thankfully, we have $0 in credit card or other debts and we have invested and saved a little bit on the side.

We both work normal hour, full time jobs and we still get to have some fun and eat at good restaurants.

BUT, none of that would be possible without a budget.

I live and breathe our budget.

I check our bank accounts pretty much everyday, even if we haven’t purchased anything, solely for the purpose of knowing where we stand financially. I evaluate all of our expenses monthly, while factoring in any potential new expenses, and then I alter the categories & allotments in our budget as needed.

Here’s how I do it:

I typically fill in our categories like this…

1. Tithing – top priority for us – 10% – it gets paid before anything else – it is also easy to calculate and the amount does not change much from month to month.
2. Housing & Utilities & Renter’s Insurance – our 2nd priority – again, these amounts do not change from month to month – other than our utility amounts that fluctuate with the seasons by a few dollars here and there.
3. Car payment – another essential payment that is the same every month – catching the trend – static amounts come first – they don’t change so they are the easiest to fill in first.
4. Other payments that fall in the static category – Phone bill, my Orange Theory membership, and entertainment platforms like Disney, Apple, & Spotify. They are easy to fill in, then I move on.

Next I move to the trickier amounts – these are completely subjective, they can change from month to month & it is up to me to decide how much to allot for each.

5. Student Loan – this is something we are hustling to get rid of. We have chosen to allot $1000 a month to pay off this loan so that it can go away. The minimum monthly payment is much, much less, but we choose to pay more.
6. Transportation Costs – Sean typically takes a train to work – he hops on at the station right across the street from our apartment and it takes him pretty much all the way to his office, which is about 30 minutes south and even longer during rush hour. The train takes a little bit longer but this way, we save on gas & he avoids awful Utah drivers…I mean traffic. I thankfully work 10 minutes down the road from our apartment so I take the car and barely use any gas. The train fees are static but the amount we allot for gas changes, depending on where we choose to go. Hint: we don’t spend that much on gas so this allotment is low.
7. Food – this is the hardest part of our budget – one of our favorite hobbies as a couple is going out to eat. Don’t get me wrong, I like to cook and try new recipes, but sometimes it is just easier & more fun to go out. Our food budget accounts for groceries & restaurants combined – depending on the month, the amounts for each change. Compared to our other expenses that are mostly static and easy to stay within budget on, this category is a work in progress & in the beginning, felt like a total guessing game.
8. Savings – this is a tricky one too – if you are a die hard Dave Ramsey fan you would know that technically we are not even supposed to have this as part of our budget due to the fact the we are still making both student loan & car payments (he likes you to throw all of your $$$ at those debts before you save)…however, I like to be prepared for anything, so we still save a little.
9. Lastly, a miscellaneous category, this is however much is leftover after all of our other expenses – typically just a couple hundred dollars that ends up being spent on more food…that’s pretty much all we buy, can anyone else relate?

And that’s it my friends. A basic budget to keep you sane.

Other helpful tools include Dave Ramsey’s books, website, & Instagram page (@daveramsey) – can you tell that I love that guy?

We also use the Mint app – just sync all of your accounts and it will categorize all of your expenses for you and tell you how much money you are really spending – the food amount shocks me every time…we’re working on it.

Again, a budget is just a way for you to be in control & know exactly where your money is going. It can show you where you need to cut back or maybe where you can even spare to spend a little more. It is fantastic for planning out how you are going to eliminate debt or for achieving financial goals, like saving for a home or vacation.

I absolutely recommend, and I think our pal Dave would too…

Happy Budgeting!

Guys, this is seriously the easiest & most delicious recipe – 5 ingredients & a crockpot and you have an amazing dinner!

Ingredients:

1 Family Size can (22.6 oz) of Cream of Chicken soup

1 container of Whipped Philadelphia Cream Cheese (8 oz of any cream cheese works, this just melts/mixes easier)

2 Packets of Zesty Italian Salad Dressing Powder Mix (I always use the Good Seasons brand)

2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts – cut into bite sized pieces (the amount of chicken to add is up to you)

Rice or Pasta of your choice

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients other than the rice or pasta in a crockpot
2. Cook for 3-4 hours on high – stirring occasionally
3. Serve over rice or pasta

It is so unbelievably easy and a crowd pleaser, for sure. I had my mom make this for me for just about every birthday that I can remember growing up and now I make it for my husband who loves it too!

This recipe serves up 4 hearty servings – but growing up we always doubled it for our family of 8.

Enjoy!!

I am no beauty guru, but I do have a bag of products that I love and want to share, just in case anyone is looking for a new item or two to add to their own collection!

Face

Foundation – I have a few different products that I love depending on the occasion. I apply using a brush or a sponge, depending on how much time I have.

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($45)

I love this tinted moisturizer for every day wear. I do not wear makeup every day by any means but when I’m just running errands or meeting up with friends, this is what I go for. It’s light and breathable while still giving me just a tiny bit of coverage to even out my skin and provide a good base for anything else I choose to add on top. Plus, it has SPF already mixed in! Currently, I wear one of the lightest shades – Finland (Light 1) – thank you winter.

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation ($40)

This foundation is one that I whip out for special occasions – nice dinner with the hubs, best friend’s wedding, etc. It is considered a medium to full coverage foundation, but one layer of this is full coverage enough for me! Again, I wear a fairly light shade in this as well – Porcelain. Too Faced does have about 35 shade options in this range though, which is impressive. It leaves you with an amazing natural canvas that lasts all day without becoming dry or looking “cakey” as the beauty gurus say.

Concealer

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer ($5)

This is an amazing dupe for the pricier NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. It is smooth & doesn’t crease, while still giving the extra coverage you might need after a late night or in case of those random pimple pop ups. I love highlighting my under eyes to look more awake than I really am as well. I use the shade – 10 (Fair) normally & the shade 15 (Light) during the summer months when I’m “tan”.

Bronzer

Nudestix Nudies Matte Blush & Bronze – Bondi Bae ($32)

I absolutely love this cream bronzer stick & the Nudestix company in general. This bronzer really is creamy and blend-able, seriously one of the easiest products to use to get a natural warm glow. I don’t personally use the buffer brush on the other end of the stick, but the packaging is genius. So easy to roll up & down, throw in a bag, and take on vacay. I will definitely be trying out more products from this amazing company in the future.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Matte Waterproof Bronzer – Hotel Heiress ($30)

This is a bronzer that I have used since high school & all through college so it must be a favorite. Over the years I have learned to use a lighter hand with powder bronzers like this one…it definitely fulfills all of its bronzing purposes, sometimes a little too much if I’m not careful. It pairs perfectly with tanned summer skin! It is also my most used eye shadow product as well. It is so easy to just throw in the crease & all over the lid for a natural eye look.

Blush

MILK Makeup Lip + Cheek ($15)

This is a product I was sent as part of my Sephora birthday present. Being that it is a cream product, I knew I would love it. It is the cutest little twist up blush I have ever seen! Although it is small, it is pigmented. It gives a gorgeous natural rosy flush to the cheeks and is an amazing & nourishing lip color as well. I have the shade – WERK – and you better believe it does.

Milani Powder Blush – Romantic Rose ($7)

Another amazing drugstore product that I love. Romantic Rose is the perfect shade. Although it’s a powder it still applies smoothly & gives a little bit of coral glow. Milani also has amazing packaging that is affordable but feels high end. I have also always wanted to try their gorgeous baked blushes, I might have to get my hands on one sometime soon!

Eyes

Eyeshadow

Tartelette in Bloom ($40)

This is a gorgeous palette! I used to have the smaller 6 pan version years ago but recently upgraded to the larger 12 pan palette. It is filled with amazing warm neutral shades that can create both everyday & glam looks. Again, amazing packaging with a huge mirror.

Eyeliner

L’Oreal Paris Infallible Matte-Matic Mechanical Eyeliner ($7)

I have used this eyeliner in the shade Ultra Black for as long as I can remember. It is pigmented, matte, and so easy to use. Eyeliner can be a nightmare, but this pencil makes it a piece of cake to get an ultra thin, natural line, just the way I like it. Plus, it’s $7 – can’t beat that price.

Mascara

L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Mascara ($7)

Mascara is the most important product in my makeup bag. I love having long, full, black lashes that almost look fake, but that are not clumpy or spidery. I have tried mascara after mascara, drugstore & high end, and this is the best I have found. I just use the original blackest black non-waterproof version. It’s so good that I have even had strangers ask me about my lashes & what mascara I use. This is it my friends!

Brows

Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil ($14)

I normally do not touch my eyebrows. However, I also received this brow pencil in my Sephora birthday gift last month so I figured I would give it a try. I didn’t really think it made that big of a difference but then my friends all noticed and said they loved how full my brows looked, so now I’m hooked. I have the shade 3.5 – neutral medium brown, which is perfect for me. It is the tiniest little pencil which is perfect for creating fine, realistic brow hairs at the ends and for filling in lightly in the middle.

Lips

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask ($20)

This lip mask is incredible. I normally have severely dry lips and this has saved me. I use it all the time, not just at night. I even love to use it as a gloss to complete my makeup routine. I have the version that comes in the small pot, which for some reason feels more high end to me than a squeeze tube. I’m not sure of the logic behind that since the tube lip balm version would keep my hands cleaner, but either way, this stuff is amazing and smells deliciously fruity.

And there you have it…everything I use for a full face of makeup or just a few staple products to grab on the go! I love that there is a mix of drugstore and high end, without going designer like Chanel or Marc Jacobs – I am all about affordable beauty! I hope you will give 1 or 2 of these a try and let me know what you think!

*All products are linked above

Whether you are looking for a new skincare routine or just a couple new products, here are my top 5 essentials for clean & clear skin!

1. Cleanse: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser ($21) I have used this facial cleanser off and on since high school and in the last couple of years it has claimed a permanent spot in my skincare routine. I have normal (not oily or overly dry) but sensitive skin and this cleanser is gentle but still gets the job done.

2. Cleanse: Vanity Planet Ultimate Skin Spa Facial Cleansing System ($50) I have used this brush almost everyday since I purchased it and I really believe that it has made all the difference in the clarity of my skin. This cute brush comes with a storage case and 4 interchangeable brush heads. I use the silicon brush head which is designed for sensitive skin, but I have also used the other two facial brush heads when I felt like I needed a deeper scrub. The set I am linking above also comes with an amazing body scrub brush head as well.

3. Moisturize: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration – Honeysuckle ($34) I am obsessed with this moisturizer from First Aid Beauty. Again, it is formulated for sensitive skin and can be used on both the face & body. It comes in a surprising number of scents on their website, but my personal favorite is the Honeysuckle (it smells like Fruit Loops). It is creamy and luxurious and really hydrates my skin, which is saying something since I practically live in a desert.

4. Tanning: Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Drops – Medium ($49) Up until a couple of months ago, I had never experimented with self-tanning products. I had always heard horror stories of streaky applications and awful fading & residue after only a couple of days. Then, I heard about these tanning drops and decided to give them a try and I have to tell you, they have changed the game. I use about 4 drops in my facial moisturizer once a week and they leave my skin radiant and evenly tanned. It also fades naturally and assists in color correcting previously uneven skin tones which I love.

5. Mask: Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay ($17) This is one of those Amazon best sellers that I had to try to believe. It is deemed the “World’s Most Powerful Facial” and is supposed to give you a deep pore cleanse. It lives up to the hype. Despite having sensitive skin, this powerful mask gives me a deep clean without irritating my skin. I use it a couple times a month & it leaves my skin feeling majorly fresh!

I’m all for a clean & simple routine with minimal products & minimal price tags. Let me know if you give any of these items a try!

*All products are linked above