Hana Hair Dryer!

A little while ago, I was contacted by Hana and they wanted to give me a hair dryer!

Of course I said YES YES YES!

The first time I used this beauty...

...was amazing.

If you are in the market for a new hair dryer-- seriously, look no further!

I washed and conditioned my hair just like usual...brushed it out straight before I dried it...and I used the brush they sent me (along with lots of extra goodies, including chocolates...ladies!!), and it made my hair much softer than usual.

Not only did it make it soft, it cut down my normal hair-drying routine by about 3 minutes. Which is a lot since my hair only takes about 10 mins (tops) to dry!

Cons: its VERY powerful, so use the brush along with it to be sure your hair doesn't tangle.

Pros: its amazing, and SO lightweight. It also comes with different attachments for curly hair! It left my hair feeling much silkier than usual!

Perfect gift for any of your friends!

If interested, you can find them online at Misikko, and Hana Salon! They even sell hair straighteners, and I'm trying to hook myself up with one of those, soon!! I've heard great things!!

*I was offered a free Hana Air Hair Dryer in return for my honest opinion on their product(s). All opinions are my own.

Tid & bits!

Its Friiidaayyy, friends. As if you needed a reminder.

I hope your weekend will be full of fun like mine will be. Tomorrow we are supposed to have pretty great weather which means Caleb and I can finally utilize the pool! But you know a pool date isn't complete without E&J! So we plan to lounge, and I'd like to pack some healthy(ish) poolside snacks for us!

Breaking news; Caleb and I finally went grocery shopping last night. Seriously, cucumbers at Aldi were 25cents. This made me waaayyy too excited.

Another exciting thing? Some of our amazing friends are trying out a new diet and literally gave us like ALL the frozen meat in their freezer. It will basically last us a month...and we are SO grateful for them. Being strict on a budget means you don't say NO to free things. I think I was WAY too excited about it...I mean we basically went grocery shopping in their pantry, and I loved it! Call us cheap, we don't care ;)

I'm linking up today with the adorable Alycia for her Friday "tid & bits" link up!

1. My man and I on our first boat outing together!

2. A ring shot from a recent wedding I did.

3. Gift cards...my love for these bad boys is beyond words.

4. Erin & I celebrating the 4th of July in styyylee.

I am excited to report that my first full week on My Fitness Pal was a HUGE success. Was I perfect? Nope...but did I log everything? You betcha. I even made a few new friends from my motivational post.

Enjoy your weekend, and remember...stay happy!

Quick Thursday thoughts.

Caleb and I have been SO good on our budget...and pretty great on our "healthy eating" for the most part. But we kind of neglected to go grocery shopping since we were in Arkansas over the long weekend...so when I woke up this morning I realized there was NOTHING for breakfast.

Great.

So what did I do? Left my house a few minutes earlier...whipped out my "play money" (no, its not monopoly money...remember the envelope system??), and headed to Panera before work to get me a $2 scone. Get back in my car and head for work.

Waaddyyaaa know was waiting for me in the office?

FREE. PANERA. BAGELS.

Areyoukiddingggmeee?!

So I think its safe to say that was a sign for the universe to next time save my money...and the calories.

Yesterday's post was all about motivation...and that I will not give up. I will do it this time. So guess what I did? Took a few small nibbles out of that scone and threw it away. Most would call me an idiot for basically throwing away $2, but I know some of you will applaud me ;)

Tonight we are going grocery shopping...and I'm super excited to fill that fridge up with HEALTHY HEALTHY HEALTHY stuff. I've started a new board on my Pinterest called "Healthy eats!" because I realized yesterday that my "yummy edibles" board is literally full of greasy, fatty, sugary foods. SO that was somewhat of an eye opener. Time to make a new board...so I did. Anybody have any good (successful) recipe pins they'd like to send my way? Pleeeeease?!

*Not at all awkward transition into a new topic entirely*

Isn't free stuff amazing?

If you know one thing about me...its that I sign up for EVERYTHING. Literally. Go to a restaurant, next thing you know I'm on their mailing list. All my favorite stores? Send me coupons everyday. I'm signed up for survey websites called Paidviewpoint and iPoll (thanks E&J!), which are REAL websites that give you REAL cash for taking simple surveys. Know what else is nice? Even though Panera played with my mind this morning...they do load a free pastry, drink, or menu item onto your "My Panera Card" almost every month. So, that is totally worth it. Get out there ladies, get yourself some freebies!!

That is one thing I love about Caleb...boy loves to shop. He also loves getting a good deal...which means when we need something big, HE can do the negotiating! Which is another part of Dave Ramsey's program...never buy a big purchase at full price!!

I know this post was entirely too random, and probably ridiculous, so I apologize. It just needed to be done. This post should've been titled Brain Dump Thursday. Can that be a thing?? ;)

Tomorrow is FRIDAY, friends!! SMILE!

We can do this.

Its about as simple as that... but WHY is it so hard to stick too?

We wanted it SO bad in that moment...to be a healthier version of ourselves. So why is it so stinking hard to say no to that donut, cookie, or salty treat?

Suddenly that sweet long haired Starbucks Queen turns into a demon staring at you in your car, pulling your steering wheel towards her entrance doors sending you into a caloric coma.

This has no relevance to this post, aside from pure awesomeness.

just this one cookie...that's all I'll have. Until I had 7.

I could never understand why I can't just say no!

Until I stepped on the scale Monday morning and realized after an amazing, carb filled four day weekend, (and being married about 6 weeks)...I had gained about 7 pounds.

Seriously?!

So while we were in Arkansas, we all were huddled in the living room just chatting away. We stumbled on the subject of our own health. One person said they wanted to lose x amount of pounds, another said they wanted to workout x amount of times per week, another said their goal was to simply eat healthier..and suddenly, we had ourselves a 7 week challenge.

Why 7 weeks, you ask?!

Well, 7 weeks from that Saturday that we challenged ourselves to this, is a wedding of a close family friend that we'll all be in attendance for. So we decided to make that our "goal date".

August 24th, 2013.

In under 7 weeks...I want to lose a few pounds, yes... but more importantly? I want to treat my body better. I want to not put so much garbage in my body like I usually do. Yes, I'll still treat myself, because if I don't...well, frankly, I'll go crazy. Girl loves Oreos. 

-I want to start waking up earlier...eating a real breakfast. Not a bag of dry frosted flakes at my desk at work.

-I want to start running again, because I WILL do that half marathon I've been dreaming about.

-I want to start cooking, so I feel successful in the kitchen, and so I know what I'm putting in my body.

-I want to have my self confidence back like I did when I was 18.

-I want to be a happier version of myself, because who doesn't love a happy person?

Workouts suck...but if they didn't, we wouldn't get the results we want. I WILL stick to this. I have started using My Fitness Pal again, brushed the dust off my amazing pink water bottle and am drinking 8-9 full bottles a day, pulled my Nike's out of my closet and plan to get some good use out of them. Caleb and I run together...and now we're talking about taking walks after dinner together instead of sitting in front of the TV like zombies. 

I know I've talked to a lot of you who are wanting to get fit...so join with me, friends. We can do this. Yes, it will be hard. I saw a funny quote about motivation yesterday that made me laugh;

I'm excited...I'm motivated.

I will do this.

Who's with me?!

My fourth.

We (along with our faves!) made the 11 hour trek up to Arkansas as our first trip to see Caleb's parents over the extra long weekend. It was so awesome seeing them, they had so much fun planned for us!

Right when we got there, we ate a delicious lunch (Caleb's mom spoiled us!)...and then we piled in one big car that evening and drove to their towns 4th of July festival. Did I mention their town only has a population of like 1,500 or less?! Its insane.

Yes, Ashley...thats the necklace! ;)

Skydivers kicked off our night! Seriously, how beautiful?! For a small town...these folks sure put on a good time!

We ate too much greasy food...

Sang along with their local church's choir...and just had a blast.

Excuse me while I act really cool.

The next day, we had a great freaking time. I mean...who doesn't want to sit on a boat on the lake ALL DAY?! But first, we had a fun time exploring a lookout before we headed to the beach.

Camera bag from here. Slightly obsessed.

Oh and Erin and I pretty much tore UP that lake.

The guys took their turns flying off the top of the pontoon!

& yes Caleb and I pretty much did amazing too!

That evening, we grabbed some yummy dinner at a local Sports Bar...and fell asleep at home, we were all SO exhausted from the sun.

The next day, we ate some of the yummiest donuts ever, and then cleaned up to go to the dirtiest, but most awesome flea market ever!

See those gorgeous green cookie jars? I made them mine!

After driving around for another half hour, we found a local burger joint and it did not disappoint.

 After, his parents took us to a town called Smackover...yes, its real...and yes, they only have ONE traffic light.

& guess what was right across the street from that? The most amazing antique store ever!

We truly had the best time. It was such a blessing being able to see them and spend some quality time with them. Sunday, we made the 11 hr trek straight through...and I think we played every "car game" in the books. It was a blast!

What did you do to celebrate the 4th?

Goodbyeee debt.

This is a story about us, our money, and a HUGE reality check.

Literally just a few days after we got back from our honeymoon, we sat down at our dinner table with an Iron Man notebook, pen in hand...and all of our student loan paperwork in front of us. We didn't want to talk about it, but it was time. Time to talk about that awful, dreaded D word. Debt.

We'd both taken Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University, TWICE in the last year...and were waiting until after we got married (since we had that whole wedding-thing to pay for) to implement it in our lives for real.

We took a deep breath, and whipped out the calculator.
I just knew how much debt we had.....

or so I thought. We put it down to the PENNY, and the outstanding balance I saw in front of us made me nearly sick to my stomach. I was angry. So angry that I wanted to scream. It was in that moment we decided not to let our debt consume us forever, and that we also would NOT spend 15 years paying these off.
We set a tough goal... 2 years. In two years we want to pay off EVERYTHING we owe. It's a lot of money...but I know we can do this.

So what does this mean? BABY STEPS! Following A REAL budget. Like...a zero balanced budget, with pen and paper. If I don't tell my money where to go, it would tell ME where it was going (trust me, if I had a dollar for every Chickfila run I've ever made...I'd be rich). We took a step back and started first thing in June, looking at how much extra money we had at the end of each week that we NORMALLY would've spent...it was amazing and disgusting at the same time.

Part of Dave Ramsey is using cash, for everything. So, we did just that. It's called the "envelope system". Luckily, I've never owned a credit card in my life...so I never had the fun time of slicing them up with an oversized pair of scissors...but Caleb did. When we got engaged, he cut his up like an overgrown fern and quickly paid his off.

We give ourselves a small "play fund", and we also have a grocery fund, a gas fund, and a tithe fund.

Speaking of groceries...Caleb introduced me to Aldi  last month. HOLY COW. You're missing out if you haven't been yet. Everything is cheap...like dirt cheap. I am addicted.

Baby step 1) Save $1,000 up for your emergency fund. Your emergencies won't seem quite as bad when you're prepared for them, trust me. Oh, you mean I have the $500+ for that dreadful car repair?! Awesome!

Baby step 2) -- what we are currently working on. Paying off ALL our debt with DR's "debt snowball"...we'll be stuck on this one for a while, but we're at least working on it!

Caleb and I are getting intense about this, like gazelle intense (watch that, seriously!)! In the weirdest way, it gets me so pumped.

So what are we doing to pay off so much debt in so little time?
-We currently have the most basic internet plan possible.
-Eating pb&j's for lunch/dinner more often than we'd like.
-We plan to start car pooling to work to save gas.
-We have no cable, thanks Hulu!
-Caleb's working OT at work
-I'm picking up extra photography jobs where I can.

Somehow, its sickeningly fun getting free lunches at work, scoring a free sample, finding a new way to lower our monthly expenses, etc. Not spending money on ourselves is a huge money saver as well. We both pack lunch nearly every day...and what keeps me going? I know this isn't forever, its only temporary.

Proverbs 22:7; The rich rule over the poor, the borrow is slave to the lender.

Dave's main line; Live like no one else now, so you can LIVE (and give) like no one else later. I can't imagine when I have wealth and am able to rock someone's world with my giving. That has to be the greatest gift of all. To HELP people.

I know...I'm a total nerd and you all had no idea. But seriously--this stuff will CHANGE YOUR LIFE. Take my word for it. Think about if you saved all the $$ you spent at Target, Starbucks, or your favorite clothing store...just how much $$ you'd really have, and how little debt you'd have left to pay off.

I'm so excited to post about our progress...along with these posts, I plan on doing a "Cheap Date" series. You won't want to miss it ;)

Staaay tuuuned.

Today is my Friiidayy.

I am preparing myself to have the best 4th of July one can possibly have...especially now that I'm a MRS. Which I know is irrelevant...I just like saying "I'm a wife", as much as possible. Moving on.

It's almost the fourth! Woo! Everyone whip out the sparklers, hot dogs, and american flags...cause its a holiday everybody likes to celebrate!

Taken with my self timer in Destin last year. Yes, I know the S is screwed up.

Before I even got engaged...I'd read blogs about home decor, and all of those from the DIY queens; "How to decorate for 4th of July", etc...and thought that will SO be me. Ha! Riiiight. Tell 'em sweet Brown.

I sat on the couch watching a movie with Caleb last week and realized we have yet to decorate. I blame that on the fact that we've been busy with plans more than we've been home to relax, and all of our boxes aren't even unpacked. There's always next July, I said. & you know what? I'm right...there will ALWAYS be something to decorate for. Maybe I can get more creative when the first day of fall officially gets here. Which is reason enough to celebrate...sorry summer, you're too darn toasty sometimes!

Where was I?

Oh that's right...THE FOURTH. Today is my last day of work for the week and you better believe I'm peacin' outta here as quick as possible today! Why, you ask? Well aside from the obvious (that work is just that...work), we are hitting up some festivals and watching some skydivers kick off the holiday weekend early...throw in some sparklers, cotton candy, hot dogs, extra fireworks, and we've got ourselves a fantastic LONG weekend planned.

Taken last year as well. Yes those are hand painted denim shorts ;)

Hope you guys all have a fantastic 4th, and please - stay safe!