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Let's get straight to the point. I love makeup. Since elementary, I have played with so many different products, colors, and styles. I feel like over the years, I have truly found what I believe is the best of the best, and therefore I have compiled these into one place for you. Foundation - ColourPop Fresh Face Tinted Moisturizer I love this foundation so much. I bought this thinking it would be my quick makeup to class before my workouts but it turns out to be my all-time favorite for quick errands, everyday wear, night-outs, with my oily skin, or even during my dry Accutane skin. The moral of the story is, this is a must-have product. Comfortable, light, but yet a surprisingly good amount of coverage. Concealer (Cut Crease) - Tarte Shape Tape I have been doing cut creases very often lately and I found the Tarte Shape Tape concealer to be my favorite. It has a great coverage meaning it perfectly covers whatever layers of eyeshadow I had before while staying perfectly tacky acting as a primer for the new layers of eyeshadows and glitters. Concealer (Blemishes) - Jeffree Star Concealer This has easily my favorite concealer since the moment I first tried it. It looks so good on the skin and there's a very large range of colors, including color correcting ones. The reason why I love this concealer so much is because it has great coverage but it doesn't get cakey under or over foundation. Eye Primer - Urban Decay Primer Potion I have used this primer for YEARS. I am talking about 5th grade me brought this on vacation because I wanted to look cute at dinner and have my eyeshadow last all night. It is a classic for a reason and has remained my favorite despite the number of times I have tried others. Powder - Urban Decay All-Nighter Powder I tried this out about a year ago and I've been through three of these because I just love it that much. It mattifies my face so well, perhaps due to the waterproof claim on the product. I have not tried near water, but if it keeps my face set all day, that's all I need in a great powder. I equally love this with my Accutane dry skin. Bronzer - Hoola Bronzer This is another classic that I'm sure you've heard of. I was always scared of bronzer and for that reason I feel like I've tried so many hoping to find a less "scary" one. Over time, I've realized this one is truly the best. Whether you want to lightly dust your face or full-on contour, this is such a good one. If you're fair toned, I recommend having the Hoola Lite or the original shade. I have a trial-sized version of each shade and choose one depending on the look. Blush - Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour I struggle with blushes because I find so many to have too much glitter in it and much to rosey for my fair-toned pink-undertoned skin. That's when I discovered the Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush which I love, specifically the Shimma and Shake shade. It is between a peach and pink shade which perfectly compliments my skin tone and I think could on many other skin tones too. Highlighter - Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Luminous This was one of my first highlighters I have ever bought and then have since bought many other big-name highlighters that others have raved about. Turns out, this is the one I still go back to all the time. It is perfectly shimmery, you can add onto it to make it intense or lightly dust to make it seem like a natural sun-kissed glow. Eyeshadows (3 Favs) Now for this section, I have three of them. If you want just a good eyeshadow recommendation, I love the ColourPop Super Shock Shadows. Very inexpensive and such good quality for singles. If you want to adventure between neutrals and colors, I recommend James Charles x Morphe palette. It may seem expensive but for the number of colors offered, you will get so much use out of this palette. Lastly, if you want some more neutrals and perhaps just a little more adventure but especially experience smokey eyes and glitter, the Tati Volume 1 Palette has been one of my go-to's for sure. Those glitters are by far the best I have ever tried. Brows - Anastasia Brow Powder Duo I love Anastasia as a brand for brows. I have gone back and forth as to what I love, however I can say that I have tried many but keep going back to this one. I love that you have a lighter and darker shade in one. It lasts me forever, I have been on this one for almost a year now and I have not even hit pan yet. It lasts all day but still very easy to mess with upon application or easy to remove at the end of the day without feeling like I am just tugging at my skin. Lips (4 favs) This is another section that I had such a hard time narrowing down because I feel like I've truly found really great brands and products over the years. I have come down to the conclusion that if you want just a clear gloss that is great for natural looks or on top of a liquid lip, the Floss Clear Gloss is perfect for just that, I could not rave about this anymore. If you're looking for a great brand and line overall, I love the Buxom Plumping line. I cannot say I necessarily noticed a plumping effect as its not the reason I bought them initially. I do love the minty feeling after applying though. I love the glosses, creams, and liquid lips. Now another amazing gloss line is the Revlon Ultra HD Line, I have never found a shade or product I have not liked and is found at the drugstore for cheap. Lastly, the Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lip is such an amazing consistency with so many shades and formulas. I can't wait to buy more of them. Now that's all of my favorite makeup products of all time. I hope you find some of your new favorites after reading this. You will notice that I have not included a mascara on this list, but I have not found one I truly love and therefore decided to not add a random one to the list. If YOU have any recommendations, please comment below, I'd love to know you're own favorites!

Getting on Accutane means you're about to experience a whole lot of side effects and have to basically change your entire routine in order to make Accutane a priority, and that's just the truth. I had a lot of questions while getting on Accutane and I knew I would get extremely dry, but I wanted to know more. When would I be dry? When should I switch out my products? Should I do anything before getting on Accutane? I hope this post can be exactly what helps you. On April 20th, 2020, I took my first Accutane dosage. The 5 days before this, I started slowly turning my routine into one for dry skin despite my skin being very oily before this. Week 0 – Preventatives I started putting baby oil in my nose every night to start moisturizing my nose. If you didn't know, a lot of people get bloody noses while on Accutane because every inch of your body gets extremely dry, including the inside of your nose. Some choose nasal sprays but I've never been a fan of them. Some choose vaseline but my friend who was also on Accutane said she hated the feeling of a thick Vaseline. I started directly with baby oil and I honestly love it. Easy to use, doesn't feel gross either. I will also make an entire dedicated Accutane essentials post once I am further along in my Accutane journey. Even if I wasn't dry yet, I figure I rather take all the precautions I can early and if it doesn't help so be it, but maybe I can in fact help reduce the dryness or prolong the time it takes for my entire body to become extremely dry. I continued to use my acne face wash and usual skincare routine, but I added a hydrating serum at night before I went to bed starting 3 days before I got on Accutane as well. I always have the habit of using a lip treatment or thick lipstick before bed so I kept doing this but I also ensure I used vaseline on my lips in the morning about 3 days prior to starting Accutane as well. Other than this, I kept everything normal. Week 0 - New Routine and Beginning Side Effects Routine Changes Starting from the first day of Accutane, I started using baby oil in my noise morning and night. I was previously using a stretch mark lotion as well on certain parts of my body and since Accutane thins out your skin and makes you dryer, I want to continue fulling hydrating my body while I am on Accutane both for my body but also in hopes of not increasing my chances to get stretch marks. Every morning and night I used the stretch mark lotion in the various areas and then added a hydration lotion for dry skin everywhere else on my body at night. As for the face, I swapped out my acne cleanser to one for dry sensitive skin, removed ALL acne or oily skin skincare products from my routine, and stuck to only hydrating ones. I will make a separate blog post once I feel like I have this fully down, but for now I am still experimenting with various products. Anyways, I swapped out my face lotion to a thicker moisturizer instead, and I started using chapsticks all day. Skincare/Makeup Hacks You also must wear sunscreen when you're on Accutane. Regardless of what I was doing I would start my day with an SPF 50, but if I knew I was going out into the sun I had my SPF 100 and a hat ready for me. I trick I found to not look like a ghost from such a heavy sunscreen - coming from a very fair-skinned girl used to sunburns - is to mix it in your sunscreen with your moisturizer. This helps the sunscreen actually absorb into your face rather than cause streaks and struggling to absorb in when you use so much lotion on your face. The last little hack I discovered that worked during this time was for makeup. I love doing my makeup. Not even to hide my skin, I just genuinely have fun with it. After one day of doing makeup and seeing signs of dryness I decided to take my beloved hyaluronic acid foundation but also mix it with a lotion. This helped my skin stay moisturized but also allowed the foundation to sink in more rather than sit on top of my dry skin. This helped a ton for my nose and chin but I did see a bit of dryness on my top lip. Beginning Side Effects On day 5 when I started using my makeup, I noticed I was starting to get dry on the top of my nose and around my lips and chin. I can't say I have noticed chapped lips... most people say this is the first thing they notice, but I've been really good with my chapstick. I will say that I constantly reapply because I do feel like my lips absorb it pretty quickly, but luckily I had no visible signs of dry lips at this stage. Week 2 - Routine Updates Routine In week 2, I stuck mostly to what I was doing at the end of week 1. Baby oil morning and night, every morning and night I wash my face with a gentle face cleanser. I decided to only use my Foreo Luna Facial Cleanser when I washed my face in the shower since I didn’t want my skin to become too sensitive simply from overuse of it but it does seem to work a soft exfoliator. In the morning I started applying my thick moisturizer and I use my sunscreen hack and still continued to apply makeup when I wanted to. At night I kept my same PM lotion, hydrating eye cream, and a layer of my thicker body lotion right before I get in bed, the same that I now use in the morning. I also always sleep with my humidifier on which I turn on about an hour before I sleep. Lastly is my lip treatment before bed has still been what I love forward to because it just feels good (even before Accutane). Skin Updates For being week 2 and having visible dryness mid-week the first week, I have been able to definitely calm this down. I don’t see any dryness both with or without makeup in my skin and my face doesn’t feel dry either both to the touch or when I move it around... there’s not that tight feeling. I will say my lips at time feel drying but they aren’t visibly chapped either. There was one day I started feeling just the outline of my lips feeling dry, so just remember to apply chapstick really well. Don’t try to apply it all prettily, coat your lips everywhere nicely, especially when you’re going to sleep. Lastly, I did start getting increasingly itchier on my scalp and my arms. Week 3 - Routine Updates Routine Week 3 had little changes, I started using lotion at night that is meant for eczema on my arms since this was the area that was irritating me, particularly shoulders. I also started making my own more concentrated spot treatment anti-itch lotion that I mention in my Accutane hacks post. I started using a special shampoo made for various irritated scalp conditions and a scalp treatment on day 1 of week 3 (Monday) and I literally was not itchy until Saturday of that week. Lastly, for skin hydration, I started randomly putting a lighter lotion on my face when I felt like my skin had fully absorbed the lotion I had previously put on. Skin Updates My itchiness was down significantly after I started using my scalp treatment and shampoo. I usually wash my hair only twice a week, however, I did this prior to Accutane as well as I had trained my hair quite well and work out often so I toss it in a bun and no one notices. As far as skin, I got visibly dry on my nose one day do that's when I chose to use my heavy cream day and night, I have once again, not been dry to the eye since. I still get occasional breakouts, but I do feel like from afar look so much better and my skin feels a more even color so far. Lastly, all the bumpy textures I felt on my forehead have decreased a great amount. Week 4 - Routine Updates Routine In week 4, the only thing I changed was ensuring I was consistent with my baby oil in my nose day and night since I had slacked the last 3 days and had done just once a day. Skin Updates My skin once again did not change too much during this last week of month 1. My skin has not dried out to a noticeable point to others or myself. My lips have barely dried out. Perhaps a tad more, but mostly I have gotten to the point of being so used to having lip balm applied that as soon as I do not feel a nice glossy finish of chapstick, I feel the need to reapply. The biggest update is that on the morning of day 1 of week 4, I decided to start to reapply morning and night my baby oil after forgetting a few days during the last 3 days and I noticed blood on my Q-Tip. I just ensure to apply a good layer of baby oil and by the night there was none in the back of my nose and there have been no bloody noses so far.

Picture this, its 12am and I want to bake. I've used the Kodiak pancake mix a dozen times but I want to try something different. So what did I do? I decided to bake the mix into a sheet pan as if it were a cake, unsure if it would turn out well. Well, it turned out way better than I thought it would. The recipe itself is super easy and you're bound to love this. For those who have never heard of Kodiak Cakes, you can find the mixtures at Target and Vons, and I'm sure at other grocery stores too. I've also logged all the ingredients in so if you want detailed nutrition facts, they will be at the bottom! Keep in mind that you can use water as the recipe suggests or sub for milk to add protein to the recipe. Feel free to sub into any form of milk but cow milk is what I use. I also add eggs to the recipe to add even more protein and I find that both together help the consistency become more like a cake as well. If you want to make this recipe healthier, add fewer chocolate chips, or you can ditch the chocolate chips altogether. I love this recipe as it batches my breakfasts for the week or two ahead. If you're worried about them going bad, just freeze them! I microwave them in the morning for about 30-40 seconds whether they come from the fridge or the freezer and its just delicious. So let's get on with the recipe! I love this recipe because it isn't hard to make whatsoever and I don't have to think about what's for breakfast for a while. Plus, for being a sweet breakfast, it is on the healthier side protein-wise! Of course, you can sprinkle fruits on top instead of adding chocolate chips, or again, you can just lessen the amount of chocolate chips used. But with that said, I LOVE this recipe and it has been a hit with my family. Hopefully, you try this recipe out and tell me what you think, I'd love to know how you adapt this recipe for yourself!

If you're struggling to workout at home, especially if you're used to going to the gym, it can be hard to feel inspired. Whether or not you're used to working out, you can get a great sweat in with little equipment. Here are my favorite ways (and apps) to workout. 1. Nike Training Club App I've talked about and reviewed this app for a reason, it's easy, free and you get a large variety of workouts. Most of the workouts are designed to need little to no equipment. You can sort the workouts by length of workout or by specific muscle groups you want to focus on too. It's also a simple app to use and well done. 2. Tone It Up Tone It Up required their membership, however you get access to a lot of different features. First of all, they host live classes that you can sign up for in advance to hold yourself accountable. These live classes means you can see who is joining the workout with you and they have many of them throughout the day. If you rather not signup for a specific time slot, you can simply play one of their many recorded workouts hosted by one of the Tone It Up team members. 3. Personal Training I love personal training, in fact, I made a whole podcast episode on my experience (click here to listen!) You may think that personal trainers are only found at the gym, however there are a ton of options for training online too! Personally, I normally meet my trainer at the gym, but with all that's going on, we have continued our weekly sessions but through Zoom instead. She still corrects my form, she has altered my workouts to fit the equipment I already own, and I still sweat my but OFF. This could also definitely be on option for you if you don't want to get a gym membership in addition to training or may feel intimidated by the gym. 4. Live Workout Classes There are a ton of gyms currently, along with other websites that offer live workout classes with some form of a subscription. This is a great option to feel like you're part of a class but in the comfort of your own home. Choosing this option means you can signup for the types of workout you want, from a gym/site you like, and you get the accountability of being in a class. PLUS, you can easily get your friends to join the classes too and make a hangout out of it. 5. Pinterest, Social Media... Guess what!? Working out at home means you also easily have access to the internet! This means you can easily search up various workouts on Pinterest, one of my favorite sites. I decided to share my workout pinterest board in case you wanted some right at your fingertips so feel free to follow since I update it regularly. There's also some great Instagram accounts and trainers that post various workouts directly on their feed or on IGTVs. I love Sarah's Day's as she posts workouts for the gym, at home, along with healthy recipes (plus you'll love her YouTube channel too). Working out at home isn't always the easiest, but hopefully you find a way that works for you after reading this post. Comment below your favorite way to workout, favorite fitness influencers or who/whatever helps you!

At this point in time, the world is going through some major changes and most of us are stuck on lockdown inside our homes with plenty of free time but little ideas on what to do. I mean not being able to leave your house for activities can be very hard so I want to share some things I have been doing. The good news is you likely have a lot of these supplies or opportunities at home, but if you don't, there's always good ol' Amazon to help you out a bit. Creative Outlets I have been loving taking some time to just be mindless and create various art pieces. It doesn't take much and you don't have to be good at art to do it! I like to just use what I have, but I've also been having so much fun that I have been exploring in new areas. So here's what I've been using. Acrylic Paint - I love painting. I think it's so fun. If you're not good just paint on paper! For this kind of paint, thicker paper is better so that your paper doesn't wrinkle or bleed, but it's just fun! I tend to have a collection of blank canvases and I've already been through 4 of them. It's an entertaining pastime, plus you can have cute new pieces for your house. Adult Coloring Books - I like this option because you really don't have to be creative. I mean you're not drawing things yourself, you're literally just drawing in between the lines. If you do consider yourself more creative, I like to stick to color schemes or patterns when drawing, but I can literally do this while watching Netflix because it requires little brain energy. Watercolor - I technically haven't started this yet, but I have supplies being shipped as we speak. I love the look of watercolor art and the fact that I can just easily paint on paper and then collect those or insert them in cute frames is why I was drawn to it. I think it is harder for people to know what to buy when it comes to watercolor, but I just bought some supplies off of Amazon. I have some paint that was highly rated, some mixed-media paper which is thick to prevent that wrinkling or bleeding I was talking about earlier (but especially now that we're incorporating water), and I was a little extra and bought some watercolor pencils that allow you to sketch or add details while merging into the rest of the watercolor art. Plus these pencils are on sale now! Acrylic Nails - I know you read that and thought I was crazy, but listen. I've always loved to paint my nails. Heck, I have a whole nail polish rack in my room. I also love the look of acrylic nails but I rarely get myself to pay for them because it adds up! Welp, I decided that during this time, I will learn how to do them. I bought all of my items off of Amazon and I've already been successful and I can't wait to see how much I will improve. For now, I can apply acrylic powder pretty seamlessly and not too thick snd I can shape the tips pretty much how I want them. The next goal is to have them last a long time but for now, it's definitely fun for a week or two, I just need to properly prep my nails and that's the learning curve I need to get through. So what you need... and I personally love everything I have. I got an e-file, acrylic powder and monomer (which I happened to find in a cheaper set), the brush to apply it, and I chose to add to the mix a nail prep and primer to remove oils from my nails and stick. Staying Connected to Friends/Family Being away from my friends for so long has sucked to be honest, and I know I won't see them for even longer. In fact, I was supposed to be visiting my friend this week. So what have we been doing instead? Facetime - I have been facetiming my friends literally every day. If one of them is busy, I facetime someone else. Going a day without talking to one of my lovely friends just sucks to say the least. We facetime even when we have nothing to say. I have facetimed them while doing quick grocery runs, painting (paint sesh virtually!), or playing video games. It's like you're together just doing your own thing and I love it. Netflix Party - Netflix just released a Chrome browser extension that lets you host watch parties. I love this because it allows one person to pause/play or rewind and it will do the same to everyone else's screens so that you're all on track. You also have a chat on the right side which is fun because it means it's like you're at the movies with them except for that you can talk to them without being shushed. Video Games - You really don't need to be a gamer to have fun playing when you have nothing else to do. My friends and I will log into Sims 4, Club Penguin Rewritten, they've played Toontown Rewritten (my computer had issues downloading it but I used to love the rewritten too), and I know a lot of my friends are playing Animal Crossing as well. Routine-Based Activities & Other Ideas I also want to ensure that during this time, I somewhat stick to the routine I had before I was on lockdown. For this reason, I have continued to do the following... of Work Out - Let me tell you, not being able to go to the gym sucks but working out at home is possible and you shouldn't stop your gym performance just because you no longer have the right weights or machines. If you do have small weights, the easiest way to make it harder for you is to increase the reps, shorten the rest time, superset them with something to work out the same muscle groups, and use a glute band if you can! I personally have just 2 sets of 5lbs weights at home and a single 8lb dumbell but I sweat my butt off every time. If you are willing to purchase anything for your workouts. I highly recommend glute bands (these are by far my new favorites since they don't slip). They make your exercises harder and could help you with your form such as while doing squats or glute bridges, win-win. Blogging and Podcasting - It's no surprise if you keep up with me, but I have continued podcasting every week and have prepped a few blog posts! I do not want to fall behind in my podcasts no matter what so I am still at it. Blogging, on the other hand, I have trouble between work and school to consistently post, but guess what, now I have time to prep some! I have a couple of drafts that I can now continue working on. So if you have some freelancing or hobbies you can do, do it! Don't stop! I know it can be hard, it's been harder for me to be creative being stuck at home all the time, but spend some time brainstorming and make yourself continue regardless of what you're doing. Go Out on A Walk - Just because we're all on lockdown, you can still go out (at least in my area) as long as you keep your distance from others. So go on a walk, a run, ride your bike, skate, just get out. Parks and beaches might be closed but you can still walk around your neighborhood. Games - I'm a sucker for card games and board games, so grab your roommates or family and make it a fun game night! Everybody choose their favorite game, play some music, make it fun! These are only some ideas that I have, but there's so much more and I want to hear about what you've been doing too! Comment them down below so that we can all help each other not be bored. Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions posted on Bold Centennial are my own genuine and honest thoughts and reviews. Based off the affiliate link, I will receive a small commission. Thank you!

It's the new year and one of my resolutions is to continue working hard at the gym, push myself more, go in more frequently, switch up my workouts... anything I can do. Between going from work or class to gym, weight lifting or swimming, I also have to make sure I have my core gym essentials. After a few months, I feel like I've perfected my gym bag... or bags. To be honest, I always have two bags prepped, and I pick one or the other depending on the day. If I am going to the gym with no plans afterward and can head home right after, I will bring my blue drawstring Nike bag. If I have plans immediately after or am doing a swimming sesh which means I'll shower at the gym, I take my Fila duffle bag. So let's start first with the drawstring bag. THE DRAWSTRING BAG... These items are very basic as I am just running out the door. 1. I will always bring an extra sweat towel no matter what, just in case I forget my favorite towel. This just helps when I'm a little extra sweaty, or even for helping decrease the pressure on my knees, wrists, or arms when doing exercises at the gym. 2. It's necessary for me to bring some form of salicylic acid- or benzoyl peroxide-based- wipes to wipe my chest and face post-workout. This helps my skin not to absorb the oils after working out before my pores close and get home and wash my face. A little prewash cautionary action which I truly believe has helped a lot. I am testing out these pads as I got them in my Fab Fit Fun box, but I will definitely switch to for acne-prone skin wipes later. 3. Of course, I have to bring my wallet and water bottle too... and the days where I forget either one, I am in big trouble. That's why I like this very thin wallet, keeps my essentials together and easy to throw in my bag and to lock up in my gym locker. For water bottles, I like something on the smaller side as I don't like something heavy at the gym and I want them to fit in all the gym machine cup holders. THE DUFFLE BAG... Now onto the duffle bag. These duffle bag doubles as my swimming bag and my "I need to shower and get dressed again" bag. For this reason, there's a lot of just-in-case items. 1. As usual, I have my sweat towel, but I also keep a prepped full-size towel for when I shower. I also have a hair wrap which I only use post-gym shower that way I can try to get my hair as dry as possible before leaving the gym and going on with the rest of my day. 2. I usually keep an extra one-piece swimsuit as well because on days I end up being really tired, swimming tends to be my favorite activity. For this reason, swimming tends to be a more last-minute workout idea. Any athletic one piece that ensures I feel comfortable and nothing will slip is the perfect swimsuit for me and I usually alternate between two of them I have. I also have this super-thin towel I love to just wrap around me after I get out of the pool or sauna. 3. With the swimming and showering activities, I always have my goggles and a pair of cheap flip flops on my side mesh pocket. Goggles for a pretty obvious reason... and for those of you who have never showered in a public place, flip flops for sanitary reasons in the shower and from/to the pool. 4. I will also prep a workout outfit at all times, so this is self-explanatory. Generally leggings, socks, sports bra, sneakers, and a short sleeve. Then I need clothes to get dressed again, and I usually try to keep it as close to my original outfit as possible so that I only have to add perhaps a jacket or a long sleeve if I know I will get out of the gym with colder weather and perhaps a new pair of shoes. 5. The last things I have are skincare items and makeup. I keep usually all my makeup samples in bags so I use those samples for post-gym makeup sessions. I also keep face wash, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, perfume, and face/body lotion. This may all seem like a lot, but it helps me stay organized and not stress about forgetting anything. Usually, with this method, the only thing I may forget if I truly failed is one of my two full-size towels, my AirPods (I still hate working out with my wired earbuds), and perhaps my sweat towels... but none of these are the end of the world. Of course, I try to bring my wallet and bottle as well. But that's all! Let me know what you love to keep in your own workout bag! I like listening to what you all have to say and it might give me new ideas on how to better organize myself!

Trader Joe's is by far my favorite grocery store. When I'm being a responsible adult and decide to buy my own groceries, this is the first store I will go to. The unique thing about Trader Joe's (or as I like to say, TJ) is that they mostly have their own line of items. This means that if you're looking for a delicious healthy pesto or gnocchi - more on this later - this is the only place you can get it. NOW, here are my top 10 must-have items to buy. 1) Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto This delicious pesto tastes just like the real thing, except for I know I am making a much healthier choice. I struggle with finding good condiments or dressings for my meals, however, this has turned into a go-to. 2) Reduced Guilt Chunky Guacamole This delicious guacamole is mixed with greek yogurt which gives the guac a creaminess, unlike others. I love chunky guac as well. It tastes like the real thing but better, especially that I know I will likely go well over the serving size for guacamole, so at least I have this variation. 3) ANY of their Frozen Gnocchi When I say any of their Gnocchi's, I mean it. I first started off with their Gnocchi alla Sorrentina (aka with tomato sauce) and it's so good. I recommend with any of the gnocchi's to cook them 2-3 minutes less than it says, or just enough for the frozen sauces to be melted. I became obsessed with the Gnocchi Gorgonzola. As a person not a fan of strong cheese, I was surprised at how addicted I became. Recently, Trader Joe's launched their Outside-In Stuffed Gnocchi which is basically tomato sauce and mozzarella stuffed inside the gnocchis. I love this with the pesto mentioned earlier or even with more tomato sauce, or on its own with a little lemon and olive oil. If you're a fan of cauliflower-based products, you'll probably love their Cauliflower Gnocchi, I don't know one person who hates it. I personally hate cauliflower, but I think these are alright for a healthier choice. 4) Quinoa and Black Bean infused Tortilla Chips I'm absolutely in love with these chips. They taste just like tortilla chips... but better if that's possible. There's just something about these chips that make me be able to just eat them without even any salsa or guac if I was too lazy to take them out. Plus, just like a lot of my other products, I'm happy to know that even on the items I'm treating myself with, I'm choosing a better alternative. 5) Chile Lime Seasoning Ohmygod, love this. Think of this is a more lime version of Tajin that has a little more versatility. As a girl with a weird obsession with Tajin, this was an amazing find. I love to sprinkle this on an at-home pizza, chicken, pasta, or even watermelon if I'm out of Tajin. This is a delicious seasoning and for those who find Tajin to strong, the Chile Lime seasoning may be your best friend. 6) Frozen Bananas and Strawberries If I am craving a dessert after my dinner, you bet this is my first choice. I've had the frozen bananas for years, however, I recently found the strawberry versions. The strawberries are great if you're looking for a little extra sweetness compared to the bananas. Pop a couple of these frozen goodness and you're set. You need these now. 7) 70% Dark Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt Bar I've recently been obsessed with chocolate, a whole lot more than usually. My mom pointed out that dark chocolate with a 70-80% concentration will probably be my recipe for perfection, and she wasn't wrong. This chocolate is delicious, the sea salt is used sparingly but perfect in the bites that have it, and there is a melted chocolate-caramel mix in the middle that's just delicious. One square of this is all I need to satisfy a chocolate craving. 8) Creamy Pink Primavera Pasta Sauce This pasta sauce is so delicious, healthy, and pink! This marinara sauce alternative includes beets, tomatoes, chickpeas, and cauliflowers. For a picky eater like me, this is the perfect way to get in more veggies without even tasting a difference. Unfortunately, it is a seasonal item, but as soon as you see it, pick up a few jars! 9) Everything but the Bagel line Trader Joe's has released a line of different everything but the bagel products after their seasoning was a major hit. I love to combine the seasoning with my eggs or on avocado toasts. The greek yogurt dip is so delicious too. Spread it on a piece of toast and it makes for a great spread. Apparently they have smoked salmon too now! 10) Chicken-Less Mandarin Orange Morsels Out of the whole list, this may be my oldest favorite, but a goodie. Made out of tofu, this is a great alternative to your traditional uber-fried orange chicken. They are easy to make and the sauce isn't too sweet... just perfect. I have so many more things I could add to this list but if you're looking for something new at Trader Joe's next time you're shopping, pick up one of these items! What are your favorites?

2019 has been year of being introduced to podcasts and I have since listened the almost every day. Whether you're an avid podcast listener or trying to find a good one to start off with, these are my best recommendations for you to start 2020 right! 1. The Health Code This podcast was started by YouTuber Sarah’s Day and her boyfriend Kurt. Their dynamic is so cute and they seem like such genuine people. Their focus is similar to Sarah’s YouTube videos, meaning the focus is on fitness and nutrition, however there are a few episodes about relationships, productivity, and other aspects of life. They have interviewed a couple people as well. This podcast is perfect for those who want to balance their lives better, especially to live a healthier life mentally and physically. 2. The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Podcast I honestly didn’t think I would get so into this podcast but I’m hooked. Lauryn Evarts, creator of The Skinny Confidential blog and Michael Bosstick, serial entrepreneur, share tips on not only how to grow a business, but also interview various influencers to get different perspectives Each podcast is about an hour long is based on answering questions from the listeners. The content ranges from business topics such as blog-specific tips, how to reach your audience from your business or platform, and when to launch, to much more. They also cover events on their personal lives from their wedding and weekend getaways, advice on relationships, moving in with your partner, and so many other aspects. This podcast is a great well-rounded podcast. I love that even if you aren’t into their personal lives, their format makes it easy to either skip to the next episode or you can skip to the next question. 3. Adulting Oenone Forbat is a 20-something podcaster who talks about anything that you might be wondering but are too scared to ask anyone. She interviews many influencers in different fields and covers basis on health, sexuality, love, addiction, trends, and so much more. I’ve learned so much about different topics that many people wouldn’t want to ask others or it is a taboo subject in most cultures. She isn’t afraid to say what she’s feeling or admit to her own misunderstandings and mistakes. She speaks her honest truth and asks just the right questions to understand more about people, various industries, and new topics. 4. The RISE Podcast The RISE Podcast is hosted by Rachel Hollis and talks most commonly about self-help and lifestyle topics along with business-related topics. With over 100 episodes and interviews in nearly all of them, there is no way you don't acquire bits of new knowledge on every episode. There is something for everyone and hearing from strong leaders in the community helps to find motivation in your own goals and to understand where each person comes from. Rachel Hollis has been hosting conferences as well and I can't wait to see what she has to say this summer! These four podcasts have truly have been so important to me in the last year. Whether I am working out, driving, or just walking my little fur baby (@mrtjboy), you bet one of these podcasts is playing. Let me know if you begin listening to any of these and what your favorites are!

If you've ever heard of blue light glasses but have not tried them, you may not know of the benefits that come with wearing these. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, sit tight, and learn. If we're going into the science, blue light is a type of visible light spectrum that has a short wavelength meaning it is a high energy wavelength. Blue light is found in a lot of areas, most commonly talked about today is from the many devices we use, however, the sun contains this wavelength as well. In the human body, blue light alerts the body that it is daytime by suppressing melatonin and in turn waking up the body. This is also why the use of devices at night can disrupt your sleep schedule. In addition, digital devices can cause eye strain, something I've been experiencing in the last two weeks. Due to the type of wavelength of blue light and it being high-energy, this causes the eyes to not easily focus and when looking at screens a lot and being exposed to blue light every day (which is unlikely to avoid), it can hurt the retina and cause eye strain. The retina is the back portion of the eye that is highly sensitive to the eye. Using glasses that block out blue light can help protect the retina in the long run. New research says that this damage to the retina can also cause vision loss over time. As I mentioned, I've experienced eye strain for the last two weeks. How it feels is like I have to blink more than normal and in a strange way, it feels like I need to "stretch" my eyes because they feel almost sore. It's truly a hard sensation to describe. I had a pair of blue light glasses when I was younger but never really used them, so I decided to finally start wearing them again. They have helped so much. On days I wake up automatically feeling like my eyes are "sore", I wear my glasses all day. Other days that are busier or if I'm at one of my jobs at a cafe, wearing glasses is harder. I usually end up wearing my glasses if I have a night class or any time I'm working on my computer later at night, I always wear my glasses. I also notice working on computers at night keeps me feeling energized yet my eyes feel exhausted. In my opinion, wearing glasses to prevent temporary eye strain, lessen my risk for permanent risks in the future, I will gladly wear my glasses. It's a fix for those who currently experience eye strain and prevention for those who haven't or don't want to damage their eyes in the long-run. The glasses tend to be ever so slightly yellow-tinted in order to cancel out the blue light, however, this tint is barely noticeable. If you guys are curious about what glasses I have, I found my fav two-pack on Amazon for less than $20 or this pair for $15. The fit is nice as it's not oversized and swallowing my face and not too small that it looks like they're children sizes. Since it has two glasses as well, I keep one in my backpack (for class) at all times and one at home that I can carry with me outside at home if I'd like as well. I hope I informed you guys of the effects of blue light and that you try a pair for yourself. If you have any more information or experience with these glasses, please comment them down below! I'd love to acquire new knowledge on this topic.

I know it sucks, but most of us are about to go back to school. I am personally on my last year of college (WHICH IS CRAZY!!!!!!!) as I am graduating a year early. After going through most of high school refining my backpack and then the last two years of college wanting to have the least amount of items possible to be the most prepared, I think I've mastered the backpack essentials. Here is a list of items that I will be starting this school year with, and just remember, you may choose to remove, add, or replace any items in this list. Backpack - This year, I have decided to splurge and spend on a good backpack. It may seem counterproductive as it is my last year, however I use a backpack so often. I have had a nice Jansport for almost four years now and I wanted one more good one. I use them when I go travel, go to friends' or family's houses, the gym, and much more. I went for the Fjällräven Kånken Classic Backpack in Graphite and I'm obsessed. My friends had one the last year and they kept raving about it and how it only gets better with age, so I'm splurging and getting one. Pencil Pouch - I will use any pencil pouch or even a makeup bag as a pencil pouch, so I'm not going to recommend any specific one, however the contents of this is what I'll focus on. I like to keep things minimal, however I do like to take color-coordinated notes. I recommend 2- number 2 wooden pencils so that you always have a sharpened one during exam season. I would also get one push pencil. I've always loved the Paper Mate Clearpoint Mechanical Pencils. They simply feel more comfortable in your hand. I also write in pen 99% of the time, so I will always carry a blue, black, and red pen, along with a few miscellaneous colors. If you have never tried Sharpie Felt Pens before, now is the time. I don't have them in the picture because I left them in my gym bag as I knew I was doing homework post-gym (sad). They don't bleed through paper and write thinly, and since it is a marker-like tip, they stay very inky. Lastly, I like to keep 2 highlighters, a good eraser, and white out. Now I will say, I've always loved the Magic Rub Erasers, they erase any last bit of pencil and don't leave that weird eraser residue like most. I don't bother with a pencil sharpener as I always keep a backup pencil in my pouch and I can just sharpen them when I get back home. I also usually like to keep one chapstick with me in this pouch. Binders, Folders & More - I've used the Fivestar NoteBinder since high school and I really recommend them. The reason why is that they're soft like a notebook but they'll keep your notes organized with the traditional 3-rings like a binder. I usually start the year with half a pack of college-ruled paper in it and a few dividers for each class. One I start taking notes I put them in the right section, or if I took notes on my laptop, I'll print them out and put them behind the corresponding divider. I usually also start off the year with one folder, just your classic plastic kind. I like to keep one for those loose papers that I may randomly get at the end of class or just don't have time to take out the binder and sort it. I also usually start off the year with a planner, but there's no guarantee I'll stick to it. I usually alternate between a traditional planner, keeping everything on my phone's calendar, or creating an excel file with all the assignments from all my sillabi (sigh). Laptop Sleeve - As far as school supplies, bring my laptop in a laptop sleeve is my last essential. I've ordered from ProCase on Amazon for years and they truly have durable products. This particular sleeve is great since it has a zipper in the front allowing me to put an extra pen or pencil and my laptop charge. In fact, on exam days, I'll usually just bring this with me and no backpack. I can stick my pencil and eraser along with a scantron and I'm set. It also has a felt-like interior to protect my laptop and the outside is water-resistant. I temporarily lost and I better find it before classes come or I'm about to order the same one again. Glasses - If you're college campus is outdoors, you need a pair of glasses. I love a pair like mine from Quay that look stylish and I feel good in them, but if I lose them, at least they're not as pricey as my Ray Bans. Water Bottle - You guys are probably tired of SoCal students raving about their Hydro Flask, but this water bottle has become popular for a reason. It keeps my cold drinks cold for the entire day, or my hot drinks hot. On sunny days, I'll add ice to my water and that ice will still be there by the end of the day. I like to bring a 32oz with me as it does hold a hold but it doesn't weigh me down too much. If I get frustrated with in my backpack, I'll usually hold it by the top (just like many others do). Point is, bring your favorite water bottle with you since I don't think you want to spend an extra few dollars every day for water or scavenge your campus for the next water fountain. Wallet and Emergency Pouch - The last thing in my backpack is that I always have my wallet (for obvious reasons) and then another pouch which I both keep in the front pocket of my backpack so that I can easily reach for them. This pouch usually contains hand sanitizer, a few extra hair ties, a nail clipper - I hate getting a hangnail in the middle of class and then being stuck with it until I get home - and a few tampons and liners. I often carry oil blotting sheets, powder, and lipgloss as well. These are just good backups to have just in case you have a full day on campus and are not able to head home easily. That's pretty much everything I will be starting this year off with. I like to say it's not too much, but rather essentials at the beginning. As I start heading to class and figure out truly what I will need, I might bring an extra folder or a notebook dedicated for a particular class. I just always say, bring the essentials at the beginning and sort through what you need later. Just make sure you have your writing tools and laptop (if you like to bring yours) to the first week and you can always figure out the rest as you go. I hope you found something you are missing in your own backpack and I hope you have an amazing time meeting all your new professors and seeing your friends again.

Let me just tell you, if you've never had an internship, get one. If you're debating of getting one, get one. If you don't think you need one, you're wrong and get one. I've recently finished a 3-month internship at a marketing agency and it was the best decision I could have made. Now here's a little backstory on me. I am 19 years old and just finished my sophomore year at San Diego State University. By the end of this summer, I can now graduate a year early as well. I randomly decided last March to get an internship. I mean.. obviously a 30 hours a week of work and a 15-unit semester was not enough. So like many decisions in my life, I decided one minute to the next to start applying. A few days later, one of the few I applied for called me back to come in for an interview. I came in with my beautiful resume and I felt confident. They probably had many others applying, but my goal was to show them that I had the drive and the confidence to make me a better candidate. I wanted this internship because I wanted experience in the field, help me figure out my likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses, plus I wanted to have more experience than others around me. So I interviewed, got it, and was part of the team. This internship taught me so much more than I thought possible. I thought I would learn a few things, be there my 20 hours a week and work hard, but I just did not think I could learn in about 130 hours of my internship the amount I learned. This internship helped me figure out that marketing could be a field for me, it reassured me that my post-college path is in fact probably in line with my ideal future. But not only this, I had so many tasks to do. As a Content Creator and PR Assistant (and Intern), I wrote content on the site and blogs of dozens of clients in many fields from law, real estate, solar, retail, and food. I learned how to successfully create a social media planner and execute it, the basics of Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. I learned how to create social media advertisements and email marketing campaigns. Each day, whether I was there 4 hours or 8, was constantly filled with tasks. It got tiring, but it kept me engaged and entertained. That's how I knew I was in the right direction for figuring out my future career. Now, what about you? I'm telling you now, you need an internship. It helps you master previous skills you knew. It helps develop experience where you had little to none before coming in. It helps you determine what you need to work on in the future to improve your skills for your next internship, job, or career. It helps you figure out if you're on the right career path in the first place. It helps build your resume so that you can show future employers that you have the experience they are looking for. You also get to meet people in the company such as coworkers and managers. If you're dedicated enough and ask your employer if you can keep or share the documents or project you work on, you can also create a portfolio with proof of the skills you've acquired throughout the time. The time you spend at your internship can give you so much, if you're dedicated to it and work hard the whole time. There are times where maybe the internship isn't working out. I've had friends who've had bad experiences with their supervisors or they simply weren't learning. If that's the case, LEAVE! Find yourself a place where you love what you're doing and the supervisor(s) believe in you now and see the possible growths during the time you will spend with them. If you find this, you're golden. You'll be taught well, gain new knowledge, and have a great time.

As a disclaimer, this post is about The Super Sponge version 1, I have a review for the Super Sponge version 2 found here! Super Sponge is supposedly the new best thing since the beauty blender. It has been in process of development for two years and is basically like a beauty blender, but the top 2/3 is silicone-infused. Why? Because they claim the silicone allows for less makeup absorbance into the sponge which also means it's easier to clean. It has been on preorder for a few months now, meaning you could get it at a discounted price of $19.95 instead of $29. I was so excited to try this out after a few good reviews by popular makeup artists on YouTube, but that excitement died rather rapidly. I first opened it and read the back of the pack and instructions on the website. It said to wet the sponge, keeping the non-silicone part down as you squeeze out excess water. Easy, just like the beauty blender. I applied my primer and then got started. It then says to use the silicone-infused section to apply the makeup in a gliding motion. It seemed weird, but I'm open for something new. I soon realized it caused slight streaks in certain areas, but other areas such as my forehead did look pretty good. The major problems occured on my nose and my cheeks. All of the foundation was getting gathered in my pores, having very obvious dots of makeup-filled pores on me. Ew..... The instructions online say to use the back to the sponge (the non-silicone area,or the perfector and eraser side) to perfect the makeup once you had applied it. Well, this caused my makeup to come off. I had to go to work and decided to just use my normal brush and fix it all, but those dots would not come off without excessive force. Now you might be thinking, Sandy, you didn't apply your primer well enough or your sponge was too wet. Okay, fair point. I tried it on Day 2. The next day, I chose to wait for my moisturizer to properly dry and I did not apply any primer, just to give it a fair chance. I also made sure to remove all the excess water very well. Maybe my makeup won't last as long, but at least there's an even application. Welp, same thing happened. The dots on my nose were even worse. The cheeks were maybe a tad better, but the light streaks were still apparent. I followed the instructions and used the rounded side to pat it all in and perfect my look. Well, it sure did perfect the look of obvious pores. I can say this quite honestly, I will not be using this sponge again, much less buy one again. I was really looking forward to using a new sponge and it all sounded amazing. I have not tried cleaning it yet, so maybe it does clean well, but my foundation looks terrible so it's not worth a good clean. If you guys have any tips on how to use the sponge, surely comment them down below and perhaps I will change my mind about the sponge. For now, there's no way I can continue using it. My trusty Real Techniques Sponge is the way to go.