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One of my favorite things is habit stacking. Essentially this means taking things that are already a habit to you or you do without thinking, such as brushing your teeth, doing your skincare, or going to the bathroom, and adding a second habit to the routine. That way if you're struggling to do Habit B, you know that anytime you do Task A, you'll now incorporate Task B. Slowly it becomes second nature like the first task and you can then add on Task C if you choose to. This method allows you to take advantage of something that is so deeply ingrained in your brain and take advantage of it by incorporating something new that will be equally ingrained in your brain soon enough. But remember to take it slow. Don't start right away by adding 3 new different habit stacking or stacking in 3 new habits because they likely won't stick. Start slow and once you start to do those items without thinking about it, you can start to add more. I actually love habit stacking and would love to create a whole collection of posts on different things I do to habit stack, how I built each, the advantage of each one, and taking a deeper look into each of them. Some of the things I do now are things that I've struggled to always do until I started to stack my habits, or are some I am trying out. Comment below if you'd be interested! But in the meantime, here is a list of the things I habit stack and some other ideas of things you could start to incorporate. Things I do Brush Teeth -> Squats Shower water warning up -> Calf raises Do AM skincare -> Take supplements Get to work -> Fill up water bottles for the day and take more supplements Eating breakfast -> Plan out food for the day Driving -> Listen to a podcast Other Ideas Before you go to sleep > Lay out your workout clothes for the next day Wake up > Drink a glass of water Get out of bed > Stretch for 2 minutes Open your curtains > Meditate for 1 minute Get in bed > Write your to-do list for the next day

I am a sucker for gym clothes. I have an entire drawer full of leggings, another full of sports bras, and I'm really starting to run out of space. But what can I say? I love cute gym clothes and it takes a couple of purchases to figure out the best leggings for leg day, ones cute that you won't squat in, and ones comfortable and supportive enough for a day running errands. I love it, so over time I've truly found ones that I will end up buying every color of because I am HOOKED. Below are my favorite leggings that are affordable and 100% worth it. OMKAGI Women Scrunch Butt Lifting Leggings Seamless High Waisted Workout Yoga Pants I love these leggings so much. They are genuinely so comfortable squat-proof, and they automatically sinch your butt and make your butt look so good. I have worn these on leg days, to go on walk, and I love them. They sell in a bunch of colors and in solid colors as well. These run true to size so I would get what you typically wear! AUROLA Workout Leggings for Women Seamless Scrunch Tights Tummy Control Gym Fitness Girl Sport Active Yoga Pants These leggings suck you in so well, the compression is really tight. These also sinch the butt but they don't show all the extra scrunch in fabric so they look a little bit more natural. The fabric is of such good quality, absolutely squat proof, and you bet I will be buying more colors of this. Due to the compression, you may need to size up for this one, particularly if you don't like things to be so tight or if you could be between sizes, but I stuck with my usual size and I feel very comfortable in them. Oasis PureLuxe High-Waisted 7/8 Legging Okay, these leggings are hands down my favorite weekend leggings. I have 3 of them and I am obsessed and need to make sure I have some readily available in my rotation. They have a bit of compression which makes me feel good even when I am in a crop top with them just around the city, but not too much where I feel like I can't breathe or struggle to get them off just to get to the bathroom when I wear them throughout the day. I am short hence why I choose the 7/8ths and I genuinely think it's so cute when we see a little ankle on people. They are the perfect balance of everything you would want which is why I always feel so comfortable in them as a cozy outfit with a sweatshirt, I can feel cute with a crop top on, and I can still wear them at the gym. You NEED these ones as your go-to wear anywhere basic pair. I absolutely love finding new leggings so if any of you have your own recommendations, drop your suggestions down below and I will give them a try and review them on my TikTok!

Amazon's Black Friday Deals is one of the things I look forward to because it's that time you can finally splurge on something you've been contemplating for a while or treat someone to something you love and find it on sale right before the holidays. I've looked through pages upon pages of the deals and here are the items I will be purchasing or re-purchasing as gifts. Computer Stand I have one of these computer stands for my home and one at work and I love them. It truly makes spending hours on the computer much more comfortable and if you have a monitor, it helps you have the screens closer to the same level which is also a benefit. Chair Cushion If you spend hours on at a desk, you're going to want one of these chair cushion duos. I noticed that I started getting back pain from sitting at work all day and I finally got one of these and it helped so much. I already don't always sit well so I've tried to be more conscious and having these cushions has truly helped me sit not only sit correctly but also have a better posture and relieve some pressure on my back at work. Car Phone Stand If you don't already have a phone stand, get one. Especially if you use maps often on your phone, you're going to want one to drive safely. In my car, I also can never make my phone hold if I use a stand that holds in the vents, so having the option to suction to the dashboard is crucial. Solar Powered Rechargeable Charger I have always wanted one of these solar-powered rechargeable chargers because when you're on the go, it's so easy to find yourself with low battery, and getting access to the car charger isn't always possible and we all know that takes so long to see a significant charge. These are fantastic too because if you keep it out, you don't even need to remember to charge it because it's solar powered! You bet I am getting one of these this year. Phone Stabilizer & Tripod If you are into photography or trying to start taking your content creation to the next level, this phone stand and stabilizer tripod is a no-brainer. This tripod is small and perfect to throw in your bag. It is able to sense faces or movement to move the camera according to the subject you are trying to videotape and can keep the camera stable if you have a shaky hand. This one will be one I will be purchasing for sure as well. Renpho Smart Scale If you are starting your fitness journey and looking for a great scale, this is mine and I have loved it for the last 3 years. It pairs with an app on your smartphone and shows various biometric measures so if looking at the scale scares you, I love this scale because it can read my bone mass, muscle mass, water percentage and so much more. This has helped me so much because when I see the scale go up but I notice my body fat percentage go down and my muscle mass go up, I get so excited. JBL Speaker If you don't already have a speaker, I urge you to get one. I think everyone should have one really good speaker ready for them at home. Whether you're hanging out with friends and you're wanting to play some music, you're going to a party and someone can't find their speaker or your roommate's speaker dies during game night and you've got yours ready to go (aka us last week), you want one. JBL has a lot of speakers on sale right now at a huge discounted price so make sure to grab yours this holiday! SodaStream The last thing I recommend, but by far the least is a Sodastream. I got mine as a present about 2 years ago and I love it so much. I love sparkling water and ever since I got one I make so much of it. Not only can you drink sparkling water, but you can buy various drops to add to the water (SodaStream brand or not), you can make your own sodas with it, or even create sparkling water to use in your at-home cocktails. Over time I have bought more bottles and a few more oxygen tanks so that I can swap them out and refill them in a timely manner but up to you which SodaStream "package" you would like!

I have always had light eyebrows... I mean I'm a redhead so when the light shines on me, they're essentially gone. In college I used to get my eyebrows dyed professionally, but I never kept it up because it was so expensive and would last a max of 2 weeks. That's when I decided to learn how to do it myself, and I will NEVER go back to doing them professionally. The great thing about doing it yourself is that you can do it on your own schedule, you can know exactly the color you choose and the time it's been on so you can always go darker or lighter as needed. Over time, I've noticed I prefer to go a little darker than I would like because for the first 2-3 days its a little extra dark, but as long as I have mascara on, I really don't mind it and it ends up lasting longer. I swear by men's beard dye, specifically Just for Men Beard Dye Easy Comb-In. It's so much cheaper than regular eyebrow dye and I love this one in particular because you can reuse it. I've noticed many are one-time uses. This one also can't get darker than the color you chose which I love because I like to put it on and then wait it out, but if I get suddenly busy with chores, I like being able to just keep it on and not worry about it. I've used this exact method now for around 3 years and I love it every time. So let's go through the steps as today is eyebrow dying day! The first thing you'll want is your preferred dye, I specifically use the Just for Men one in color A-35. I also highly recommend getting a tiny brow brush. This help you have control of where you're applying the dye and these one seperate the brow hairs nicely so that the dye color can saturate your brows well. Steps to Dye Brows First, start off with a clean face. Make sure you have no makeup residue on your brows. Use your small brush and comb in the dye everywhere. Make sure to saturate the hairs. Comb from left to right, right to left, and up and down as well. Leave in brows for your desired length. I recommend starting with 10 or 20 minutes and if you think you want darker, go up to an hour. (Remember, this dye does not allow you to go darker past its formulation so you cnanot overdo it). If you would like to minimize excess on your skin, wipe around your brows with makeup remover and a Q-tip. Once done, clean out the dye very well. I recommend hopping in a shower so that you're opening your pores and removing any excess dye from your skin as well. Enjoy and repeat in a few weeks!

If you know me, you know I absolutely love skincare. I love washing my face every morning and night, sitting down at my desk, opening my skincare fridge, and applying all my cooling products to my face. The only thing with skincare is that it can add up so fast. One minute I need a face cream and makeup remover replenishment, the next I somehow spent $40+ dollars. Don't get me wrong, I still love to splurge and sometimes those pricey products truly are worth it, but if you're trying to ball on a budget, this one's for you. These products are ones I've repurchased at least once and have truly loved, researched, and still keep using to this day. For those curious, I currently have acne-prone skin that can get a bit oily in the T-zone, but I do get dry during winter. So let's get this list started. Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser I bought this cleanser as a makeup remover one time on a whim because I wanted a cheap makeup remover I could bring with me to the gym when I needed it. I always prefer balms/cleansers because they are so smooth on your skin and not needing a cotton pad is much better for your skin, your allotted skincare space, and the environment. This one is so soft on the skin, instantly hydrates my skin, removes any makeup, and about $5 everywhere I look. The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque When my skin used to be full of breakouts pre-Acutane era, this face mask was the only thing that would calm down my skin. Ever since I was done with Accutane, this is still my go-to. It's a 10-minute mask made of one of the best ingredients for acne-prone skin, salicylic acid. I apply it either all over my face if I want to do a full-face or sometimes I'll use it as a quick treatment when my skin randomly goes off the rails, and I immediately notice a difference the next morning. This product will never not be in my face mask drawer ever again. CeraVe Cleansers CeraVe's cleansers are one of those that you hear about constantly and you may wonder if it's just hyped up or if it's really worth it. Let me tell you right now, WORTH IT. I've used these for years. When I had incredibly oily skin, I'd use their oily skin formula. Ever since Acutane though, I find that as long as I keep up with my acne-prone treatments, I love to add hydration wherever I can. My dermatologist once told me, "use hydration products as early and for as long as you can". That has truly stuck with me so I would opt for the hydrating cleanser unless you incredibly need the oily skin formula, then use the Foaming Facial Cleanser. Burt's Bees Overnight Intensive Lip Treatment I contemplated adding this product in because for a lip product, it's a tad bit more, but usually falls between $8-10. With that said, I've lost count of how many times I've repurchased this, at least 4 times. I use this anytime my lips start being dry, nighttime or not, and my lips will re-moisturizing back to normal within 1-3 uses of this. It's the only thing I've found that truly re-hydrates my lips without needing to constantly apply chapstick all day long. It feels so good and if you apply it at night, you can be sure you're waking up with moisturized lips. In fact, it was part of my Accutane holy grails blog post and that's how you KNOW it's a winner.

If you're looking to finally working out but for whatever reason, you need to work out from home, you've come to the right place! Whether you can't prioritize a gym membership right now, don't feel comfortable at the gym, or can't find time to get there and make it worth it, you can still get killer workouts from home. Of course, there are so many workouts you can do with zero equipment and only bodyweight or household items, but if you are looking to invest in some equipment, I'll share with you what I recommend. I've worked out at gyms for years and have worked out at home for almost 2 years due to the pandemic, but I'm honestly obsessed with my home gym situation and workouts. Here are the items I recommend from absolute basics to progressively a bit more extra but totally worth the investment. Yoga Mat Let me tell you right off the bat, I almost forgot about this one and then automatically bumped it first. Whether you have hardwood floors, carpet, or need to work out outside on the grass or concrete, a yoga mat gives you a designated place to work out in comfort. Depending on your workout type and yourself you can buy a standard or a much thicker mat too. I find the thicker mats to be so comfortable and easier on the joints but require so much more balance when it comes to holding any kind of pose or getting into positions (aka lunges). Foam Roller If you're working out in any way, you need to have a foam roller. There are so many different lengths of them and some are designed to have various patterns and pressure points but honestly, as long as you have one out of foam, you're already doing amazing. Spend just 5 minutes before a workout if you know you're already sore or 5 minutes after if the workout kicked your butt and you'll thank me later. Dumbbells/Kettlebells Dumbbells are the most basic items you can buy that can also make a tremendous difference in your workouts. Start light and over time you can go heavier. If they are pricey, simply buy just one and do one side at a time. I'll always prefer dumbbells over kettlebells if you only invest in one because I prefer hand positions on kettlebells but either is totally fine and kettlebells are great for heavier weights and certain exercises. Jump Rope I've said it (at least) once and I'll say it again. I love jumping rope and I'll recommend it to everyone. I've written an entire post about the benefits and a few sample workouts you can do. You really don't need any fancy jump rope either, I would just recommend it is adjustable so that it can be fit to your height but most are! Glute Bands Glute bands are such an easy tool that can elevate any workout. If you think bodyweight exercises are feeling easy and you're tired of just piling on more reps, try adding a glute band. Works so well for glute bridges, lunges, squats, and is even adaptable for arm workouts or to improve pushup techniques! The rubber ones are cheap but I'll always prefer the fabric ones as they won't snap, are more durable, and they tend to not roll down. I also recommend packs with 2-3 sizes so that you can move up or down in bands depending on the exercise. Resistance Bands In the same idea as the glute bands, resistance bands are amazing to help elevate any workout you're doing. The great thing too is that these can actually replace dumbbells if you don't want to spend money on physical weights of different amounts. Simply add, remove, or interchange the bands as needed to make the resistance how you need to feel a burn. A set like this is also amazing because the different handles allow you to do variations of exercise from simply being able to grab onto them, hooking them onto places in your home, or putting it over the door (but make sure you test out the safety of your door and the direction it opens before you do this!). Pilates Bar This one is definitely more of an investment but I've loved it and have used it every week since I bought it 6 months ago. Essentially, if you can't afford or don't have the space for a squat rack (rightfully so!) then this is such a great alternative. You can load up the resistance in the same format as the ones above, and if you find it too easy, you can even buy more bands to add to the collection. The one thing I missed like crazy going from the gym to at home was loading up a bar for my squats, split squats, and lunges, and now I finally can again. That's everything I recommend and everything that has gotten me through years of working out at home, but especially the last year and a half. If anything starts getting easy, just add more reps or add more resistance/weight. You really don't need a gym to get workouts that burn, you don't even need all of this equipment, but sometimes adding equipment diversifies your workouts to keep it fun for every new workout plan you come up with.

Finding a good breakfast or satisfying snack can be super tricky. Especially on days I am rushing out the door, I want something I can make quickly that doesn't impose too many calories or mess up my macros too much for the rest of my meals. Not only this, but I also love my caffeine in the day but this usually entails a coffee with some sort of sweetener and cream/milk and unless I am treating myself to a special cup of coffee, I tend to opt-out. My favorite quick snack is a protein shake but I can get tired of those fast, especially if I drink one a day. It simply becomes a chore and I don't want that. That's when I decided one day to just mix to blend my favorite chocolate whey powder into a shake, then another day I added coffee, and I've since played with this recipe multiple times and it's become my daily breakfast. Today I will share 3 options, a more plain version, a lower fat option, and a higher fat depending on what you're watching out for and your flavor preferences. Coffee Whey Protein Shake This option is the most plain of the versions but delicious. You can also use it as a great base for whatever else you choose to add in. I usually do this option if I'm a little extra hungry or I don't have too much to fit into my macros. It becomes like a fancier protein shake with, let's be real, the extra caffeine that I probably need to get through the day, Almond Butter Coffee Whey Protein Shake Now, this is my absolute favorite and what I do almost every morning. It's also great if you're in the mood for almond butter or you're missing healthy fats in your food. This remains my favorite of the shakes, and on days I really am lacking healthy fats, I get to add an extra tablespoon of almond butter which tastes INCREDIBLE and much creamier. You can also sub peanut butter if you're not an almond butter fan because it does in fact hold similar healthy fats, but almond butter always has that little extra flavor without being too nutty to me. I use the Costco brand of almond butter and this one has remained my favorite for years, ever since I had to use it for a job I used to do. Peanut Butter Coffee Whey Protein Shake If you love peanut butter, but your fats are limited for the day, adding PB2Fit is my next favorite option. This is a great option depending on your preferences. I've also recently discovered Barney Butter Chocolate Powdered Almond Butter which is the same concept of being way lower in fat content so I'm excited to try this one too. This is probably my favorite option for days where I need way less fat but want something more special than the basic coffee protein shake recipe I first shared. But there you go! Those are my absolute favorite recipes lately. I thought I'd compile them in one post for it to be easy for you guys. If you recreate any of these, let me know and I'd love to know what you think and how you modify them!

Cafes are my favorite thing. You can work there, people watch, bring friends and catch up, or just take a great drink to go. I've always loved teas, boba is my guilty pleasure, and iced lattes are my new favorites. To find a good place, they need to offer tasty drinks at a location that has great vibes. I've been trying a lot of new places since I started college and here are my favorites so far, in no particular order. 1. Tapioca Express This place is always so popular and there's a reason for that. The drinks absolutely delicious and they have a pretty large variety of foods you can snack on while you're there. They have a lot of locations (Convoy, College Area, National City...) so you should be able to find one not too far from you. My absolute favorite is probably the mango green tea with their classic boba. 2. Up2You Cafe This place is such a gem. They have two locations, one in Convoy and one by Linda Vista. The Convoy location is smaller but has recently been redesigned allowing for more seating. They always have a little game cabinet so it's cute to bring friends or family and enjoy a drink. The one by Linda Vista tends to be quieter and I enjoy working at this location. My favorite drink is their strawberry black tea or caramel latte. They also have one of my favorite boba. This said, if you leave without trying a dessert, it would be almost a crime. I strongly recommend their waffle or brick toast which you can customize in dozens of ways, however there are literally no bad choices here. 3. Cali Banh Mi This place opened up in Pacific Beach a few years ago and has been one of my favorites by far since their opening. The place gets a little busy during lunch hours or after the local schools end, however, it isn't overwhelming. This is my favorite place to do homework. They have outdoor seating perfect for warm days or when I want my lil dog to tag along. I love their passion fruit green tea. Their Vietnamese iced latte is so delicious too. Their boba add-in isn’t my all-time favorite, however I still order every time so I'd still recommend giving it a try and see what you think of it; either way, I love their coffees and teas even without boba. Doing work here is also great because they have such great food ranging from sandwiches, Cali bowls, acai bowls. salads, spring rolls, and so much more. They also have a lot of little snacks. Spending 5 hours working on my classes and blogging is so easy to do. 4. 85°C Bakery Cafe This is such a cheap yet delicious bakery with great drinks. Their menu changes out here and there so I used to always order their lemon black tea however since it swapped out for new fruit teas, I’ve been a sucker for their passion fruit green tea. Their iced sea salt caramel coffee is absolutely amazing and was the first coffee I fell in love it. As a new coffee drinker, I was surprised by how fast I loved this drink. They also have dozens of sweet or salty pastries that are usually $1-3. They also have various locations around San Diego, and all the ones I've visited had a good seating area for me to do homework at. Tan-Cha My friend recently showed me this new place that opened about 6 months ago. They have a ton of coffee and tea choices that are absolutely delicious. They have some drinks with tiramisu foam, cheese foam, and matcha foam with plenty of different coffee options as well. They also have milk teas and fruit teas which I love and I can’t wait to try their Japanese fluffy pancakes.

If you're starting in your fitness journey, you may have heard of BCAA (branched-chain amino acids) which is the combination of 3 different essential amino acids: L-leucine, L-isoleucine, and L-valine. BCAAs are given their name because they have branched-structure which is found in high protein foods. BCAAs are burned during high-intensity training and at the end of long-distance events due to particularly L-Leucine, which helps increase work capacity and due to their protein aspect, they help with muscle building. How they work is they help your body preserve glycogen, which is the main form of fuel used by muscles. So what are their benefits? BCAAs have been found to increase muscle growth due to their ability to stimulate muscle protein synthesis, however, should not be taken instead of protein-rich foods or whey protein as these kinds of foods contain all nine of the amino acids rather than just the 3 present in BCAAs. By increasing your muscle growth, you can help your body become leaner as your body will therefore burn more calories due to the increase of muscle on your body in addition to being helpful for those looking to start bodybuilding, requiring the maintaining of muscle mass while become more After exercise, particularly new or strenuous exercises, you may experience soreness. BCAAs can help with the soreness as well due to their ability to decrease muscle damage. There have been studies suggesting that this could be due to the BCAAs decreasing protein breakdown that occurs while exercising. In the same idea, since BCAAs are used during exercise, your BCAAs in your blood decrease resulting in your brain releasing a chemical causing fatigue. BCAAs can help your mental focus by decreasing your fatigue effect from low BCAAs during exercise. The reason why BCAAs are loved is the fact that it helps your body sustain muscle and help them safeguard, meaning you're likely to get more out of your workouts. They help as an energy source, meaning you can perform better during your workouts, build your muscles, and stay lean, with the benefit of protecting your muscles from soreness. To ensure you're getting a quality BCAAs, ensure there is a higher ratio of leucine to isoleucine and valine. My favorite BCAA is by Kaged Muscle as they have a 2:1:1 ratio and are vegan and non-allergenic source so I never worry about the potentially dangerous or questionable ingredients included in their mix. So when should you be consuming your BCAAs? If you're using your BCAAs to optimize performance and muscle growth, you should be drinking them before your workouts as a form of pre-workout. It has also been shown to give athletes an extra boost in their workout when drinking it throughout the workout. In fact, for those with an endomorphic body type, drinking your BCAAs throughout the workout may be the best period to do so. BCAAs can also be used post-workout to further improve muscle protein synthesis. For those looking to build their muscles, taking BCAAs prior to working out may be the best period to reduce muscle breakdown throughout the exercise if you're doing so in a fasted state, however otherwise post-workout may be the best option. In the end, BCAAs have great benefits for the body, and when you should be taking them depends entirely on your goals, timing, your consumption, and the duration of your workouts as well.

Let's just get right to the point. I want clear skin. I mean who doesn't. So I decided in February 2020 that I wanted to get on Accutane. Background A little bit of background on my skin. I've never had too bad of acne after 5/6th grade. It was never perfect but it was never a huge concern of mine. Fast forward 2 years ago, starting my first year of college, my skin decided to go crazy on me. I decided to start tracking my skin through pictures and I had terrible acne around my chin start in March 2018. Then a year later in March 2019, my chest started to fully break out in what seemed out of nowhere and this completely worsened in January of this year (2020). I was OVER IT. I take my skincare seriously but just nothing ever worked. I've been put on on so many prescription drugs, antibiotics, and tropicals, I've basically tried anything you could. I even decided to use more natural methods like cutting out dairy entirely and using natural ingredients like tea tree oil. Nothing worked. So in February, I decided to find a new dermatologist as I had given up on my old one about 6 months ago. I then made a whole list of things I have tried (which was just depressing to see at the end) just in case the dermatologist wanted to prescribe me more. I mean who knows what kind of resilience to antibiotics I have built up over time. First Appointment & iPledge On March 16, 2020, I had my first appointment at the dermatologist and her last sentence to me basically sums it up: "You've exhausted an impressive list of things". So she told me Accutane was the last thing I should try, and to my relief, I didn't have to "beg" her myself to be on it. I should tell you that I am absolutely terrible with needles. I swear, I have PTSD from a situation with a doctor when I had the swine flu and now I can't stand shots and blood tests. To my luck, my dermatologist did things a little differently. During that appointment, I peed in a cup to ensure that as a female, I was not pregnant as Accutane can cause serious birth defects if you are pregnant a month before, during, or up to a month after (I was in the clear). Most others I hear get their blood tested for this step. I then received the booklet of information from iPledge which is a program you must enroll in where you promise you won't get pregnant during your time on Accutane and use two types of birth control methods. For all the females concerned, Accutane has no risk for you or any future children as long as you do not get pregnant before a month after your last pill is taken. The next day, I got a call saying that I was indeed not pregnant and that they would enroll me in iPledge and I could sign in afterward to complete registration. I then waited 30 days to get back in for April 16, 2020. Second Appointment & Getting Accutane On April 16th, I had my second appointment. This appointment was very quick. I once again peed in a cup to verify I wasn't pregnant and then the doctor just told me some of the effects Accutane could cause and what some of her recommendations. After this, I was set to pick up my prescription. Before anytime you pick up your monthly dose of Accutane, you must answer some questions on the iPledge website to make sure you know what you're doing. These questions are very easy such as are you allowed to become pregnant on Accutane and what kind of contraceptive you use. Once you answer them, you have a week to pick up your prescription. I had some issues picking up my prescription. For one, Accutane is very expensive and I was not prepared as to how much. Obviously, this depends on your insurance, but with my insurance, if I had picked it up like originally planned at CVS, I would have paid $275. Not at all what I had in mind. I then learned that if you pick it up at different pharmacies, prices vary. My mom and I never knew this but this is valid for any prescription. We then transferred the medication to a Safeway/Vons Pharmacy and it was $175 with a discount we found on GoodRX. I highly recommend going on the site and entering your prescription and dosage (mine is 2 pills of 40mg) along with your store and you can find some pretty good discounts. A friend of mine also on Accutane found a local pharmacy that had cheaper prices and with her insurance, she paid between $5-30 depending on the brand of Accutane she got. So be prepared for the price but if you find a local pharmacy and your insurance helps you out, this can be a great thing for you. I, therefore, got on Accutane 3 days later. Month 1 on Accutane Before I officially got on Accutane, I chose to do some preventative measures in hopes to help reduce the amount of dryness. I have a separate post on what I did prior to getting on Accutane along with going in-depth on my side effects and my routines and changes during this first month. Overall though, I started getting dry in only a few areas during the first week and I tried to moisturize whenever possible. I am prone to sunburns too, and whether or not you are, you NEED to wear sunscreen every day. Even if I stayed inside all day, (which I started this Accutane journey during a quarantine so it was easier to stay inside a lot) I still have a window right at my side. The reason I mention I sunburn easily and am used to it is that I basically treated my skin as if I was spending a week at the lakehouse my family usually goes to every year. Moisturize like crazy every night to replenish my skin, wear sunscreen every day, and a higher SPF and a hat if I go directly in the sun, and moisturize my skin in the morning as well. At the end of month 1, I started having a small "purge" but nothing major. The last symptom was occasionally having signs of a bloody nose when I'd apply oil in it with a Q-tip, however, it never turned to actual bloody noses, I'd manage them before they became a "big" deal and I'd never notice if it wasn't for moisturizing my nostrils. Month 2 on Accutane I started month 2 with a blood test to ensure I was staying healthy and there were no major issues since being on Accutane. I also did my required monthly pregnancy test and iPledge questions. Now as far as my skin, my purge continued but it wasn't anything major like how my acne was before I got on Accutane. It was mostly just acne on my T-zone. With that said, all my side effects almost completely went away on Month 2. My arms and scalp were no longer itchy, my face had not had a dry spot since the start of Month 1, and the rest of my face was getting clear. I had some redness on my arms and face towards thee and of the month, By the end of Month 2, I was getting compliments about how clear my skin looked. The main issue in month 2 was getting the medication. They had sent the prescription to the wrong pharmacy which causes a major delay in my getting the medication which resulted in my not getting the medication for about 4 days. I would strongly recommend checking in with your dermatologist and the pharmacy as early as possible to make sure the prescription is ready and at the right location. Month 3 on Accutane I started off the month with the usual pregnancy test plus iPledge questions and getting the prescription was a breeze. My face was still getting rid despite rarely being in the sun and applying sunscreen, however, I am quite fair and Accutane thins out your skin so even walking a few blocks to work could be the culprit. My face was never dry visually however by the end of the night I would feel my skin getting a little tight around my mouth. That was usually when I would decide to wash my face for the night and apply moisturizer. I have kept up the same skin routine from the start so I will dedicate an entire blog post to my skincare routine while on Accutane here. The major symptom this month was my upper arms being dry and having dry spots to the touch, however, they were not itchy and barely visual (unless I pointed them out). The tops of my hands get irritated here and there as well and very try so I attempt to remember to wear hand lotion as much as I can. The last thing is that my arms are scratch up so easily, likely due to my thinning skin during this time. I can itch myself a little too much and I end up being scratched so I am pretty careful about that. Month 4 on Accutane During this check-in my dermatologist let me know she thought that I would more likely be on Accutane for just 5 months, meaning I had just 2 months to go at this point. My face had remained cleared and my back was only a minor issue but it cleared it all out too. The day before the appointment I started to get a rash on my chest which at first worried me as it looked mildly like when I would get an outburst of acne in that area, but it went away entirely after about 3 days which therefore was confirmed to very likely just be my body's response to Accutane or the dryness linked to it. I think month 4 was the month I saw the most dryness. My upper arms were pretty dry the entire month, sometimes visible as it got a little red on those dry patches but other times no one would even notice. My arms would also get itchier and I noticed it got particularly itchy if I had a bit too much sun or I had a tight long sleeve around them. The best thing I found was to use the anti-itch cream I had been using and in the shower, I would use the shampoo on my arms as well as it was formulated for major itchy and dry scalp. My hands stopped being so dry during this month which was positive. My nose still never actually had a bloody nose but there were a lot of times I got lazy with my coconut oil in my nose to moisturize it that I would notice a bit of blood on my Q-Tip but I seemed to always resolve the issue before it really became anything. Other than this, no dryness on my face but once again, I was very good about staying on top of my skincare routine. Month 5 & 6 on Accutane As usual at the start of both of the appointments, I would take the pregnancy test, and once cleared, they would give me my prescription. Both my last months were so much easier. The only thing in terms of symptoms was my upper arms becoming very dry and you could definitely see the dry patches on them if I didn't properly lotion or if I didn't reapply through the day, but my body was never itchy due to dryness. My nose was still dry and I would notice it particularly in the mornings but I would add the same oil and it would be fine. My skin remained cleared too, no other breakouts/rashes on my chest, it was honestly the easiest of the months. On my last appointment, they also let me know that my skin was responding super well to the medication and that it would in fact be my last month. I took the rest of my pills as normal and I didn't have to go back to the dermatologist after the last of my dosages. 3-Months Post-Accutane I am now 3 months post-Accutane and I am so happy with my skin. I rarely have any breakouts and when I do, they are super small and usually around my mouth which I think is due to the masks I wear during these Covid-19 times. My arms have remained quite dry but it isn't noticeable. I try to remember after I shower to lotion them up but I will be honest and say I often forget. Other than that, I've noticed my nose is very slight stuffy most mornings. I talked to my friend who was on it as well and who finished a few months before me and she mentioned it was the same for her. I think it's the body still trying to compensate for being dry for so long, but it usually goes away on its own and it's only caused me to actually blow my nose a few days. The one thing I do love is my clear skin and I still don't need to wash my hair too fast. Prior to Accutane, I could get away without washing my hair for 4-5 days as it was trained, I am back to that and glad. Overall Thoughts Honestly, Accutane was a great experience for me. I'm not sure if it was the preventative measures I took, perhaps doing it over the summer so it's hotter and in theory sweatier, or if my body agreed with it more, but I would definitely do it over if I had to. I definitely skipped a few pills here and there but it didn't have much of an effect on me, the worse I got was the itchiness on my arms and scalp mostly in the beginning and then the dryness on my upper arms caught up to me by the end. I've heard that for some people Accutane can wear off almost and later in life you may need to do it again, and don't get me wrong, it would suck if I had to do it again, but I'd also do it over in a heartbeat if it means clear skin again in a time where I could break out constantly again.

Let's get right to the point, you need a jump rope, it's going to be your new best friend. Ask for one for your birthday or Christmas. Need a stocking stuffer for a beginner workout buddy or your avid gym-goer friend? Get them a jump rope. I absolutely swear by a good jumping rope routine. Why? There are incredible benefits to it. I love adding in a jump rope sesh to my client's workout routines because it's just that good. Benefits Price First of all, if you don't already have one, they are incredibly cheap. I love this one because it's less than $10, has a good and comfortable grip, plus you can shorten the jump rope as you need (#ShortGirlProblems). With that said, there are so many good ones out there and you don't need to get a fancy one. If you've been jumping rope for years there are weighted and tech-implemented options, but you definitely do not need this to get in an amazing workout. If You're Doing it, You're Doing it Right Next, onto the health side of fitness, there are so many benefits. For one, most anyone can jump rope. It does not require you to have a certain form, and therefore you do not have to worry about doing it the "wrong" way. If you're jumping, you're doing it right. Practicality & High Cardio Next, it is one of the best cardio options out there in which you can easily do from home, at the gym, outside, or practically anywhere (you can even throw it in your suitcase when you leave town!). Did you know in an hour of jumping rope you can burn 1000+ calories? In fact, jumping rope compares to running at a rate of 8mph. It also burns about 30% faster calories than treadmills, 60% more than high impact aerobics, 135% more than resistance training, and those percentages keep getting higher depending on what you do. What that means is that just 15-20 minutes of jumping rope can outweigh a lot of options you have if you want to keep in shape, making it one of the best choices for aerobic conditioning. Less Stress on the Body Another great thing about jumping rope is that it is actually much less stressful on your Central Nervous System (CNS) than other forms of interval training you can do. It also poses less stress on your muscles and connective tissue too. In addition, due to the muscles developed and the strength gained in your feet and ankle joints over time, you are decreasing your chances of injuries in both of those areas, a particularly great benefit for those who play other sports. Other Benefits Need some more convincing? Not only does it burn a high amount of calories making it a time-efficient activity with less stress on your body, but it also tones your entire body and creates lean muscles in all major muscle groups. It also helps you with your overall cardio, endurance, agility, coordination, and fat-burning. As you jump rope, you will be able to be faster with your feet, and if you choose, start doing tricks with the jump rope to entertain yourself and in turn, develop further coordination. The more you jump rope and develop your health and stamina through conditioning, the better you'll become with your breathing as well, meaning other aerobic exercises such as running or swimming will appear easier and you'll feel out of breath less often. So what I'm saying is, the more you jump rope, the better you'll be both a jumping rope, but also in all other aspects of your fitness or non-fitness life. PLUS, did I mention it's FUN?! I'd much rather jump rope than do many other forms of cardiovascular exercises. The Workouts So how should you jump rope? If you're just starting out, I recommend following a good interval training format which you can slowly improve every week as you get better. If you're feeling up for it, after you're interval training, do your own thing with your jump rope until you hit a 20 minute-timed workout. I usually love trying new tricks, see how long I can go without taking a break, or just challenging myself in different ways. It's your workout, so make it fun for you. Cardio First-Timers 30-second jump rope 1-minute break Repeat x6 A Little Challenge 45-second jump rope 45-second break Repeat x6 You Love Jumping Rope 1-minute jump rope 30-second break Repeat x5

Alright, so I have always loved owning plants and taking care of them. When I was younger I received a cactus as a goodie bag present in 3rd grade and I held onto that plant until senior year of high school when my mom overwatered it... rip my beloved cactus. I have been accumulating plants a bit since, but specifically, So as I have all my plants doing well right now, I feel like I have some great beginner tips for those new to owning plants but wanting them to thrive. If this sounds like you, then keep reading. Get To Know Your Plants First off, do research on your plant. Figure the amount of water needed, how much sunlight it needs, and what kind of soil it needs (cactus soil or a more nutritious potting soil). If you want to be extra, figure out the PH of the soil as well. All of these will help to determine what kind of soil your plant should be in, where to place your plant in a room and perhaps in which room will better suit it, and how often to water. The easiest in my opinion is buying indoor potting soil which you can find for fairly cheap, and if you are growing herbs, you can find soil for organic plants. Monitor Your Plants It can be really hard to properly monitor your plants. My friend and I realized that we were both really underwatering our plants at the start and that's why our plants we're growing at a proper speed or starting to droop a little on certain plants. The best thing I did was buy a moisture, PH, and light meter. Basically, you stick the rod in the soil at the level of its roots and it determines how dry the soil is, along with its PH and light. Most will give you a chart as well with many common plants so you know their levels, but most commonly, you want your succulents to stay in between dry or with a little moisture and periodically when it's completely dried out, thoroughly wet the soil again. For other types of plants, you'll want the soil to be more on the wet side, making sure that in 2-3 days it doesn't fall right back to dry, otherwise you're not watering it enough. Watering Tactics There are two main ways to water your plants. Either you pour in the water right at the roots, you don't want to pour it directly on the plant itself if you can avoid it, or you let the plant soak up the water. So method A, you just pour the water in and when water starts coming out of the drainage hole, it should be good. Method B is you place your plant with the drainage hole in a saucer with water and let the plant absorb the water. You're done watering when the top of the soil starts becoming moist. If you do have a tropical plant, these often like to be lightly misted with water as well on their leaves to keep them moist like the rainforest humid weather. Pot Choice, Repotting, and Fertilizer When choosing a pot, the main thing to remember is that it should have a drainage hole at the bottom, it makes it so much easier. If your pot doesn't at least place a plastic pot in it that fits perfectly in your chosen pot that way it can drain out of the plastic pot into your chosen final pot. If you really can't do this, you can place small pebbles or marbles at the bottom and then your potting soil on top, but this isn't the desired way to go if you can avoid it. The next thing is to make sure to choose a pot that isn't too big for your plant. You should only go up in pots in small increments allowing the plant to get fully rooted and have space to grow, and then repotting once it looks like it has no more room to grow. A good way to notice this is if your plant leaves start to droop a bit and/or it hasn't grown in a while. Make sure not to pack the soil too tightly as well, a good trick is to grab a from and use it to fluff up the soil after you've planted your plant. Another trick is if you have leaves turning yellow, gently take them off of your plant, its stealing nutrients from the rest of your plants as they won't turn back to its healthy green color, so feel free to remove them to let the rest of your plant grow. The last thing is that your plant does need new soil occasionally. When the soil starts becoming a little crusty, doesn't seem clean or fresh, it's probably time for new soil. There are two ways to do this. Completely swap out the soil, or you can fertilize your new soil and properly take care of it to be able to reuse the same soil. You can easily find ways to do this online. Either way, you should use fertilizer as it acts like plant food and helps your plants stay healthy and grow. Slow-release plant fertilizers may be my favorite as they require little attention and will keep fertilizing your plants for a few months at a time. Easy Starter Plants These are my personal favorites or easy ones my friends love too. Do your own research as well, but these are different ones I'd recommend. • Philodendron (My fav hanging plant) • Snake Plant • Devil's Ivy • Spider Plant • Cactus • Aloe Vera • Red Pagoda • Basil (the easiest herb imo) Those are all the tricks and tips I have for you! If you have any other tips, comment them below for others to see it, or feel free to ask any questions and I'll make a whole new blog post on it!