Lifestyle

After these cold months, spring is finally here. With most people diving into spring cleaning their homes, I’m diving into refreshing my skincare routine. I’ve been wanting to update my skincare products and routine lately and figured now was more than a perfect time. With winter wreaking havoc on my skin I knew I was going to need products that hydrate my skin and give it that extra TLC it needs. I also wanted to make sure that the products I invested in were good for my skin as well. That brought me to finding LOLI. LOLI prides itself on quality organic ingredients that bring us closer to nature. Not only is LOLI good for my skin but they are also doing their part to be good for our planet with earth friendly packaging. I’m almost positive you’ll love these LOLI products just as much as I have and if you do, I’d love for you to get the items you love right here on this post! I have this new commerce tool by Fermat Commerce which allows you to buy products without leaving my page. I think it’s pretty convenient, check it out below! You’ll also get 15% off + FREE 2 day shipping by shopping directly through this post! Now, let’s get into the good stuff. I talked about needing products that hydrate my skin right? Well let me tell you more about them. So far I’ve been able to try the Date Nut Brulee, Chamomile Lavender Tonic, and Plum Elixir.  The Date Nut Brulee has to be one of my favorite products as it truly is a multi use product. I’ve been able to use this as a great oil based cleanser to remove makeup, dirt, and grim after a long day to then also be able to use it as a moisturizer for those extra dry areas like my lips or elbow. fermat.embeddedShop({partneredProductId: "10f293ac-d76e-4082-8a1b-0b5c955d83b9"}); Now, the Chamomile Lavender Tonic is a great two in one product that allows me to cleanse and tone my skin. As a busy mom I often rushed for time so this is a great product to have on hand.   fermat.embeddedShop({partneredProductId: "78141d17-6839-4ab8-8475-3d266d53700b"}); Lastly, my holy grail, the Plum Elixir is literally magic in a bottle. No wonder this is their #1 best selling product. Whether it’s my dry skin, lips, or hair, this elixir is my saving grace. It instantly hydrates without leaving me super oily and works perfect for my sensitive skin. fermat.embeddedShop({partneredProductId: "2e8708a8-a836-4272-a98a-84fbc264a070"}); If I haven’t convinced you already to do a spring refresh for your beauty and skincare products. I hope that when you do, you consider LOLI. Their multi use products and attention to clean ingredients make them a new staple on my beauty counter.

When you wear a lot of hats and have a million things on your to-do list it can get overwhelming. Here is how you can effectively schedule your week to maximize productivity and reduce stress.  Before we jump in... I want to say this before jumping in. It is okay to not have it all together or to not knock out everything on your to-do list. We are all human, we are not perfect. Sometimes we need to give ourselves a little bit of grace. Even as someone who has A LOT of different things going on and effectively schedules their week, there are days where I don’t get everything done and that is okay! Life is all about balance. How do I balance it all? I am a mom that wears a lot of hats. Outside of being a mom, I work in higher education, I am in graduate school, I run the largest mom group in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and I am a blogger & influencer (no they are not the same, no shade lol). Every time I tell someone everything I do, they look at me like I’m crazy and ask how I do it. First things first, as I said before, I don’t. Most days and weeks I can effectively schedule my week and maximize my productivity, but there are also those days and weeks where my life is a complete shit show. Let’s be honest here, I’m a mom to a toddler, that within itself is a lot to handle. I will not lie and tell you that I don’t have my off days. Having a lot of things on my plate has made me feel overwhelmed and downright stressed tf out. My traditional to-do lists and time blocking wasn’t working for me as I was trying to get as many things done as possible within a day. That’s when I came up with workgroup scheduling. What is a workgroup? A workgroup is a set of similar tasks that you need to get done in a week that you can group together to complete on a specific day. For example, any task that I need to complete for the week related to cleaning, running errands, and grocery shopping are combined to a workgroup. You can create workgroups for any type of tasks that you want. Here are some of my workgroups:Workgroup One: Household Chores, Errands, Grocery ShoppingWorkgroup Two: Drafting blog posts, creating Pinterest pins for blog posts, anything else needed for blog postWorkgroup Three: Shoot Content, Edit Content, Plan/Schedule ContentWorkgroup Four: Work on Grad School HW and papers, ReadWorkgroup Five: Schedule Next Week’s tasks, Plan Meals, etc.Again, you can make your workgroups however you see fit. However, the point of workgroups is to combine similar tasks together so when you are working on these tasks it doesn’t overwhelm you because the tasks are related and flow. You also add and remove workgroups depending on what you need to get done that week. For example, if we are taking a family trip one week then I will create a workgroup specifically related to packing, purchasing last-minute items, gathering passports, etc.  So I have my workgroups, now what? Well, this is the easy part. Now that you’ve created your workgroups, you just have to assign them to a specific day of the week. I personally keep my workgroups on the same day every week because it creates a routine for me and I know what to expect each day of the week. However, I know life is crazy and things can change so feel free to plan accordingly. What I love most about workgroups is that you can complete them when you feel the most productive or when you have the time. For me personally, I have a regular job that I work so I complete my workgroup tasks either early in the morning or after I put my daughter down for bed.For workgroups that may be more time consuming such as my workgroup one and three, I schedule those on a weekend or on my off day during the week when I have more available time.I hope you can see how creating workgroups and assigning them to a specific day reduces the need to get everything done at once, feeling disorganized with everything on your plate, and not knowing where to start. Workgroups for me have tremendously reduced the amount of stress I have when it comes to completing tasks.  I hope this can help you to complete tasks a little bit easier and have you less overwhelmed. Now you know how to schedule your week effectively to maximize productivity. But Wait, There's More! Come on yall! If you know me well enough you know I am not going to leave you empty-handed. Here is a FREE printable that you can download FOR TODAY ONLY so you start scheduling your workgroups and maximixe productivity! /*

So you’re here to learn about batch shooting. If you’ve been struggling to come up with content to post, don’t have enough hours in the day, or just simply lack motivation, batch shooting is something that can help! Here are my methods on how to batch shoot effectively to create content like a pro! Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and I receive a commission if you visit a link and buy something on my recommendation. Purchasing via an affiliate link doesn’t cost you any extra, and I only recommend products and services I trust. What is Batch Shooting? If you’re new to the whole blogging, influencing, content creation world, or even if you’ve been around for a little minute, I’m sure you’ve heard of the term “Batch Shooting” and if you haven’t let me put you up on game.To make things simple, batch shooting or to batch shoot is when you mass create content in a single day. This is done by taking photos, recording videos, or whatever your medium is and producing a lot of content in one sitting that can be used over a period of time. Check out my friends mini vlog on our most recent batch shoot! Why Should I Batch Shoot? Outside of blogging and influencing I work in higher education, I am a mother, I run the largest mom group in the DFW area, and I am in grad school. I simply do not have time in my day for blogging and influencing except for at night or early in the morning. So I have to be strategic in creating content. Batch shooting is the only way I can push out content as much as I do. You’re favorite bloggers, influencers, and content creators all batch shoot! Do you think we are sitting in our homes every day taking new picture? NO! We schedule days out of the month just for shooting just so we can get it all done and not have to worry about it later.So if you’re anything like me with a plate full of other things to do and looking for a new way to create content and take some stress off yourself, look no further. How to Batch Shoot Effectively to Create Content I’m sure you’re thinking, “taking weeks worth of content in one day, whew that must be a lot”. And to be honest, my first attempt at batch shooting was a DISASTER, but after many more long and disorganized attempts of batch shooting I finally got the hang of it. Batch  shooting is honestly super easy and something I enjoy doing. It just takes some planning, organization, and a friend or tripod!So here are my 5 ways on how to batch shoot effectively to create content! 1. Plan out your content How will you know what you need to shoot if you don’t know what your content is? If you have sponsored projects coming up, or if you plan on posting about an upcoming holiday, now is the time to start looking up inspiration on how you want to shoot that content. Also, think of your niche to help you come up content ideas. For me personally I venture in fashion, motherhood, and well lifestyle haha. So I try to take basic, non themed photos so I can use them for just about anything.  2. Set a date & time Pick a date or two out of the month that you can dedicate solely to batch shooting. If you’re going to have a photographer, friend, or partner shoot your content, talk with them on what day and times work best and make arrangements.For me personally, I batch shoot with my friend who is also a blogger/influencer in the same niche as me. This works best for us because our content is similar and we work together to get the best content. I also batch shoot with a photographer, but only when my budget allows it. I batch shoot on Sundays early in the morning. My friend and I chose Sundays because weekends are usually best for us since we work and we can always have our husband, boyfriend, or family member watch our little ones. We also like shooting in the morning because less people are out and about, which means less people ruining our shots. Plus, the lighting is better in the morning versus mid day when the sun is right above you. Talk about horrible shadows.  3. Pick a location LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION!Location is everything when batch shooting. Try to pick a location that has a ton of different areas that you could shoot at that are also walkable. When we pick a location, we look for areas that have cute murals, nice solid backgrounds from buildings, and even cute shops and restaurants. This way we can get a variety of shots all from one central location. Try and think of fun little areas around your city where you can go and batch shoot, maybe downtown, an arts district, or an outdoor shopping mall. You can also batch shoot in your home, my boyfriend is the king of shooting my content at home. From your living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, front yard, and backyard. You have endless options if you aren’t able to leave home. Make sure to set up each area so that its perfect for when its time to shoot! 4. Plan your outfits You have your date set and the location, so now you need to plan those outfits! Since I batch shoot twice a month I opt for 3-4 outfits each time I batch shoot. However, I also bring items like blazers, cardigans, and jackets to accessories like hats, purses, and sunglasses. This way I can maximize each outfit into multiple outfits. That way if I take one picture in a specific outfit with my hat and blazer, I can take another picture in same outfit without the hat and blazer, and maybe throw on a different jacket and some sunglasses and it’s a whole new look! 5. Take a ton of pictures I hope this goes without saying but take a ton of pictures! Don’t just take one good picture in that outfit or with that background. Take a ton! I say that because you want to have a lot of options when you go back home and edit those photos. I don’t know how many times I thought the picture was good from looking at the tiny display on my camera and then when it came down to looking at it on my computer it was horrible. Luckily I had 10 more frames of the exact same shot that looked better. There are times where after I batch shoot I come home with upwards of 500 photos taken and I only come out with 10 good ones that I’ll even post. Imagine if I only took one or two pictures of each outfit or location. I would have nothing. Also, taking mass amounts of photos allows you to have options so you can use later. I know you see your favorite influencer post a photo and then two weeks later or maybe around the same time next year they post something that looks pretty similar. Well that’s all from batch shooting! And if your caption is relatable, it doesn’t matter how many times you repost the same outfit or shot location! ...but wait there’s more! Now the 5 tips I gave about how to batch shoot are great when planning your shoot, but what about when the time actually comes. Here are some things you might want to invest in or think about bringing when batch shooting! 1. Portable dressing room This right here is a game changer! If you plan on doing outfit changes you need this! Avoid changing in your car, or finding a business and using their dirty restrooms and get yourself a portable dressing room that you can pop up and change anywhere!  2. Clothes organizer These are a must!! Now most people who batch shoot take luggage or duffle bags to keep their clothes and accessories in but every time I did that my clothes ended up all over the place and all over my car. Having these organizers allow me to pack and separate my clothes by outfit. This is probably my most favorite item to have because I also use it when traveling! 3. Blotting tissue Blotting tissues saves lives! I know there are a ton of brands that sell blotting tissues and powder, but this is honestly the best one around. Shooting content is hard work and you will work up a sweat and get a little oily. Instead of dabbing on more powder or slapping on more makeup (ew). Just grab a pack of these. Super inexpensive and work super well! 4. Toiletry bag Just as I mentioned before, batch shooting is a lot of work. I always keep a little toiletry bag in my car just in case I need something like contact solution, tissues, or hand sanitizer. Throw some extra deodorant and some wipes in there too so you can freshen up between outfit changes. 5. More props Accessories are always a fun prop, but take it up a notch and bring some extra things to  shoot content with based on the location you’re shooting at! This could be your laptop and bringing it to a coffee shop to get some cute content or maybe some fresh cut flowers to pose with outside. Props are always a fun way to add something different to your shots, and give you something else to talk about. Props are also a good way to help you when you have no idea how to pose or what to do with your hands when they’re empty.  Remember, batch shooting makes things easier, but there is always a learning curve anytime you try something new. It took me a of couple times to get the hang of it, but now it’s something I love doing and can do it with ease.  I hope this helps you in your content creation. Let me know below if you already batch shoot or if you’re planning on giving it a try! With Love, Julianna

Weight loss can be a struggle. Adding a quarantine to the mix and being stuck in our homes for months certainly doesn’t help either. However, I managed to lose 20+ lbs during it and here is how. My Struggle With Weight If you’re anything like me, weight has always been something I struggled with. I was always on the chubby side as a kid and through my teenage years. Even though I was in sports regularly and my mom cooked pretty healthy meals, I guess you can say it was just in my genes.It wasn’t until college after breaking up with a toxic and absuive boyfriend (another story for another time) where I started to get control of my life and my weight. This was around 2014 and I was a whopping 175. I know to some this might not seem like a lot but for someone that is 5’2 is was too much. Within 6 months I got to my goal weight of 130 and was able to maintain that weight for almost three years.Then I met Josh and 9 months later I got pregnant. A combination of that “relationship weight” and having a baby really put a toll on my body. I never hated my body, I am proud of what it has accomplished and gone through. However, the extra weight really affected my way of life and confidence. Once Jordy started walking I realized I couldn’t keep up anymore and I was getting winded within 5 minutes of playtime. This was not okay. So around May of 2019 I started on my new weight loss journey. I think I lost maybe 10lbs, I honestly don’t even recall my starting weight, but the weight loss was short lived. It lasted maybe two months and I put it all back on and then some. After that I kinda gave up. Fast forward to March of 2020, we were hit with COVID-19 and placed under quarantine. I don’t know if something just finally clicked, or if I felt the need to come out of quarantine better than I came in it, but I got my shit together. This was the same feeling I got back in 2014 when I lost a lot of weight.I started out weighing 188lbs in March. I was unhappy, I had super low confidence, and I wanted better for myself. Today, I weigh 165lbs and have lost 23lbs and went from a size 14/12 to a size 10! I feel stronger, happier, and a lot more confident and this is only the beginning. I know many of you are wanting to know how I did it and could go without the story, but I felt it was important to know where I came from and how I got to where I am today. So without keeping y’all waiting any longer. Here is how I lost 20+ pounds during quarantine and how I’m continuing to lose weight! How I Lost 20+lbs During Quarantine I just want to note that I am not a medical professional. These are things that I did that worked for me, however they may not work for you.  1. Low carb/ No added sugar For me carbs are my guilty pleasure. I love them in all forms. I cut out all processed carbs like breads, pasta, beans, and potatoes. I also cut out added sugars. We as humans consume a ridiculous amount of sugar and carbs daily. Way more than what we need. Just look at a nutritional label or that Starbucks drink you have every day. Natural sugars are okay, like those those that are found naturally in fruits and such, however I also cut out sugar alternatives like honey and agave. I used stevia and monkfruit sweetener when I needed to sweeten my coffee. But I primarily didn’t consume much sugar or processed carbs. 2. Eat whole foods This ties into #1, but I rarely ate processed foods. I primarily ate just meats, vegetables, and fruits. This can be easily done by shopping the perimeter of the store and staying out of the aisles where the processed foods are. *Note: having a toddler does make that difficult. I did still buy Jordy her snacks like goldfish and fig newtons, however it did take me a lot of willpower not to consume them.  3. Drink WATER I know you hear this everywhere, but it makes the biggest difference. I try to drink at least 4 bottles of water a day. I could tell the difference in days where I didn’t drink any water versus when I did. Not only did it help me stay full during the day, but it hydrated my skin and aided in digestion!*Pro Tip: get a reusable cup that has a straw. Something about drinking your water through a straw makes you consume more. Also stay away from those big jugs like hydroflasks, and clear cups. Having large quantities of water and being able to see how much water you need to consume, makes it harder for you to consume it. Stick to a 22 fl oz reusable cup with a lid and straw! 4. Intermittent fasting Intermittent fasting for those who have never heard of it is when you fast for a period of time and you only eat during a small window during the day. I currently fast from 8pm at night to 12-1pm in the afternoon. This means I skip out on eating breakfast and my first meal is lunch. I then have a snack between lunch and dinner, making dinner my last meal. There are different way to do intermittent fasting, however the 16-8 method is what works for me. 5. Exercise 30 min a day 4-6 days a week This was probably the easiest out of all the things I did. I work out 6 days a week for at least 30 minutes. My workouts usually consist of 30-45 minutes HIIT workouts and strength training and then I leave one day for yoga and then one day to rest. However, there are days when I don’t feel like working out. So on those days I go for a walk with Jordy around the neighborhood for at least 30 minutes. Moving your body is important. So even if its just a quick 30 minute walk, move your body! 6. Fasted cardio This ties in #4 and #5. I do most if not all of my workouts during my fasting period. I workout everyday around 11am before my fast is over and I can eat lunch around 12-1pm. There is research on doing workouts during a fasted state claiming more weight loss. This is due to the fact there is no food in your system so your body has to burn fat for fuel during the workout. I am not sure how much of it is true, but it is something that I have been doing. I prefer to workout in the late morning/early afternoon because I have more energy, however when I have to go back to the office my workouts will be in the morning, yet still during my fasted state.  7. Burn more than you consume Regardless of whatever diet you want to follow, you wont see much progress if you aren’t burning more than you consume. This is standard science, you have to burn more calories than you consume. Whether it be on a daily basis or a weekly one. The best way to do that is through tracking what you’re eating and burning. I can honestly say that when I wasn’t tracking my food, I really thought I wasn’t consuming as much as I was, even though I was eating healthy. Too much of a good thing can still be bad. I love the lifesum app, it is visually appealing to me and is user friendly. I use it to track all of my meals and water intake. I also use an Apple Watch to monitor to my fitness and the data automatically uploads to the lifesum app to show me what I’ve burned. There are tons of apps out there, definitely check a couple out to see what works best for you! 8. Get enough sleep Every time I would see sleep on a list for weight loss tips I would roll my eyes, but getting enough sleep is so important. Outside of the health benefits for getting your necessary recommend hours of rest, it has a huge affect on your mental state the next day. When I don’t get enough sleep I am more likely to eat bad and not workout. I am usually in an irritated mood and I don’t get anything accomplished that day. So sleep is a very important part in helping you stay on track! 9. Don’t focus on the scale Listen y’all, the scale isn’t the only way to measure how far you’ve come. I know this post is how I lost 20+ lbs, but I’ve lost way more than just pounds. I’ve lost inches, I have more stamina, I’ve gained more confidence, all these things the scale could never show me.I only look at the scale maybe every two weeks. The best way to see physical progress in my opinion is through pictures. Every Monday in the morning when I wake up I take a picture. That is where I found happiness in my progress when the scale wouldn’t move.  Also, be kind to yourself. Our body is constantly changing so don’t beat yourself when the scale goes up a little or you look a little bloated in one picture. Just keep going, because I promise you the before and after results will blow you away! 10. Don’t let one slip up ruin everything This is a major key right here! We are all prone to bad days, mess ups, and cheating on our healthy lifestyle habits. For me personally I was one to dwell on it and allow it to ruin all my progress. You know what I’m talking about…You eat some french fries and instead of just moving on you feel bad about it and spiral out of control and eat bad for the rest of the day and then the rest of the week, and then all your progress is lost. DONT DO THAT!I never feel bad about straying off course or eating something I shouldn’t have or missing a workout. If I want French fries I will eat some damn French fries lol, but I wont let that ruin my entire day. I know my next meal will be something more aligned with my new eating habits. If  i miss a workout, I will make sure to do better the next day. Give yourself some grace. Don’t let it ruin all your progress. Just hop back on track for the next meal or the next day! I hope this helps someone during their journey. Just know you are not alone. If you have any questions on anything I did or want some guidance feel free to drop a comment, send me an email, or DM me on Instagram!