This month's FitSnack was, once again, a ton of new products I haven't tried before. Of the nine items, I'd only received three in a FitSnack box before - Kala beans, Purely Inspired shake mix, and the Amsety bar. So not bad - I definitely wasn't disappointed.

If you caught my Facebook unboxing video last month,  you  might remember I talked about my new job and how it would help with work/life balance and motivation to become more active - and it has! I've been going to yoga twice a week and taking walk breaks. So I definitely feel like I am taking some steps towards a more proactive and healthy lifestyle. (Of course, I still get my Chickfila every Thursday!)

You may also remember I talked about wanting to give smoothie bowls a try - and look below, I received a smoothie bowl base packet. So yippee. I'll be giving that a shot later this month!

So keep scrolling to check out everything that was in my FitSnack box this month!
















What was in my box?

Salad Power drink in veggies + apple
Purely Inspired Organic Protein nutritional shake mix in french vanilla
Leap instant smoothie bowl in green revive
Ally's Bar in sweet potato with apple carrot ginger
Amsety Bar in peanut butter
Pasta Chips in garlic olive oil
Flavor Adventures buffalo peanuts
Kala Beautiful Beans in sea salt and  vinegar
Creation Nation Energy Bar Mix in oat yeah! chocolate chip








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How do you snack healthier?

Working full-time and going to grad school isn't necessarily the most relaxing way to live. Not to mention I recently switched into a role at the university I work at. So not only am I learning in the classroom, I'm also becoming acclimated to new job tasks and a new work environment. While life can definitely be hectic with work, school (and therefore lots of assignments), spending time with the hubby, and getting in enough sleep to actually function - it's so very important to take time to focus on my personal well-being.

So how do I make time to for me while also getting everything else done?

The short answer: time management.

Let's walk through my "average" weekday.


6:15 - 6:30  Wake up and get ready. Getting ready consists of brushing my teeth and hair, washing my face, and getting dressed (pre-sorted outfits I put together over the weekend for the week).

6:30 Head out. 99% I'm bad and grab breakfast and coffee on the way to work.

7:15 - 7:30 Arrive at work.

7:30 - 11:45 Work things - this varies. Right now, I'm doing a lot of training and learning, but I'll see be starting full-blown appointments with students in a few weeks.

11:45 Get ready for activity.

12:00 Get in some activity for 45 minutes to an hour, whether yoga, taking a walk outside, etc. I usually do low intensity activities, so I don't get too super sweaty. But I use my activity tracker to track my miles, calories, etc.



1:00 Eat something quick and delicious at my desk, like Frontera^Ⓡ meals which can be found at your local Kroger. My favorites are the barbacoa taco bowl (tender roasted beer, slow cooked with acho, guajillo and chipotle chiles) and the tinga taco bowl (seasoned, roasted tomatoes, chipotle chile, and slow-simmered chicken), but there are a variety of flavors to choose from. Frontera meals are premium meals with authentic Mexican flavor. These meals are great as is, or throw them into tortillas for a few quick tacos! To save $1.00 on any ONE (1) Frontera meal, click here to download this super cool deal before it's gone!





1:30 - 5:00 Get back into that work flow. If it's Thursday I check my email, then leave for class at 2:00 until 5:00.

5:00 Head home.

5:45 Arrive home. Read or watch tv for a bit alone - whatever I'm feeling.

6:45 Start dinner, then eat and watch tv and hang out with the hubby and kitty.



9:00 Work on school assignments, if I have any. Usually the hubby goes to bed around 9/9:30, so I get in school assignments so I won't have any distractions. If I don't have homework, I usually read for pleasure for a while.

10:30 Take a quick shower, then head to bed. 


What do I do on my weekends, you ask? Sleep. A lot. I get by knowing that I won't be taking classes next summer, I'll be through with my courses in the next few semesters, and I'll have a master's degree before too long. While Andre and I definitely adventure from time to time and we spend a lot of time together, our weekends are usually chill and full of a whole lot of nothing.






Don't forget to stop by your local Kroger and grab some Frontera meals for yourself. You can find them on the frozen food aisle in the single meals section - don't forget to use the coupon below for $1.00 off one meal.






How do you make sure to make time for the things you've got to do every day?

Y'all. They killed it with the IT remake. Seriously, I absolutely loved it.

I've been a fan of Stephen King literally my entire life. My favorite movie at age three was Pet Semetary - I kid you not. Age 13, one of my favorite books was Desperation. So learning a few years ago they were remaking IT, it was a no-brainer I was going to go see it.

Andre's not a fan of horror, so I scooped up my mom and nephew for a trip to the movies. I was pretty sure I'd love it - but you know, sometimes remakes are no bueno. But this remake knocked it out of the park.

The only thing I didn't totally love was the new Pennywise. Don't get me wrong, I didn't dislike him. I just prefer Tim Curry as Pennywise. In the original, he was less scary, which I think is pretty imperative. He's luring children in so he shouldn't be a scary clown upfront. Instead, he should be friendly and look like a fun guy. Remake-Pennywise is a little more terrifying from the start, but the good news is he's still a little corny and goofy, which I appreciated.

There was so much I loved about the movie, though. I really loved all of The Loser's Club cast. Bev is such a tomboy and portrayed in a much better light, I think. She's the badass of the group and I freaking love that. Richie is insanely hilarious, and I love that they chose Stranger Things' Finn Wolfhard to portray him. Bill's stutter is so believable compared to the original Bill in the 1990 adaptation. I just can't say enough about how well the actors fit into this film.

Speaking of Stranger Things, the 2017 adaptation of IT perfectly pulls off the 1980s setting in the era of modern-day and futuristic films. The jokes, costumes, and set are realistic and so spot-on.

Something else I loved about the film that a lot of people didn't realize is that this is just part one of the story. The original adaptation was actually a made-for-tv miniseries, which integrated The Loser's Club's stories as both adults and as children. This updated adaptation focuses solely on the stories from their childhood. Part two will showcase their stories as adults. I think separating the stories was a brilliant move on the screenwriter's part, and I can't wait to see part two - which will presumably be released in 2019.

I'm so pumped by the movie, Andre and I rewatched the original (and somewhat corny) version of the movie the day after I went and saw the remake. Honestly, I loved it so much, I plan to go see it again. I even picked up the book yesterday. Knowing Stephen King's style, the book can be expected to be even more terrifying than the movie. I can't wait to get reading.

If you can't get enough of Stephen King (it is that time of the year, isn't it?), you can grab his newest novel (for free) by joining Book of the Month now. Or you can stream a variety of film adaptations on Netflix and Hulu. Check out what's currently available below.


Netflix

Children of the Corn
Dreamcatcher
Gerald's Game (Netflix original out on September 29)
Mercy
The Shining



Hulu

11.22.63
Carrie (original)
Children of the Corn 
Cujo
The Dark Half
The Dead Zone



Other titles are available for rent on Amazon.










 

It's been two years since I married the best guy I've ever met. I'm so glad I get to live life with him each and every day. We've had our fair share of ups and downs, but the ups are always more abundant. There's no one else I'd rather do this life with. Here's to forevermore.


Five favorite memories from our second year of marriage:
1. Our anniversary trip to Asheville was a blast.
2. Attending Andre's office holiday party - how much fun!
3. Literally doing nothing for NYE - just hanging out at home watching stupid stuff on Netflix.
4. The impromptu trip to Chattanooga with the BIL.
5. Going to Medieval Times with the MIL. I didn't love MT, but I did love the time we all spent together.

Four hopes for our third year of marriage:
1. To take a big trip, hopefully to New York.
2. To start saving up for something big (maybe a house!).
3. To stop eating out so much.
4. To do less. We don't have to leave the house on the weekends. We're busy and can be okay just enjoying being at home every once in a while.

Three life changes during our second year of marriage:
1. I started a new job in my field of dreams - Academic Advising.
2. Andre started back to school, while also working full-time.
3. We hired a lawncare guy to take care of the yard a couple times a month. Sounds like no biggie, but it feels pretty grown-up to me.

Two things you can probably find us doing if you stopped by our house randomly:
1. Binge-watching tv shows.
2. Our own thing (Andre playing video games, me reading).

One thing left to say:
1. Happy second year of marriage! I'll eat you up, I love you so.

There was recently a whole lot of hoopla surrounding The Glass Castle because it was being made into a movie, so I chose it to fulfill my 2017 reading challenge prompt for "a book that's becoming a movie in 2017." I'll say that while the book was interesting, it wasn't something I thoroughly enjoyed. In fact, it took me close to a week to read it, because it was just very slow-paced.

Brief synopsis: Growing up, Jeannette had a difficult life. Her father an alcoholic. Her mother perhaps a bit insane. The Walls family moved around a lot - throughout the desert, across the country. They were oftentimes sleeping in the back of their car, or a home that was truly dilapidated. The Walls' kids had to grow up and fast, and truly learn the hard way how to survive on their own in this world. Jeannette and her siblings only really had each other to rely upon. The Glass Castle is one of perseverance and dedication to finding a life that was worth living.

The thing about memoirs is it's typically hard to believe that the story you're reading actually happened to someone in real-life. I'm a big believer that everyone has their own truth (see: my thoughts on the James Frey controversy), but sometimes that truth can be a hard pill to swallow. Reading memoirs usually reminds me of how privileged my life has been - how easy I've really had it in life. The stories being told are of course interesting, or they wouldn't be written into best-selling books.

From living in the desert to dilapidated buildings in small towns, to being bullied by teachers, to becoming an adult before she even hit the double-digits, Walls certainly had an interesting story to tell. As a reader, it was difficult to not pity her and her siblings - but I have a feeling she would hate being pitied.

The story is a heart-breaking one, but it's also incredibly inspirational. The story was one that needed to be told, however, I did find it to be a little slow, which isn't my usual interest. While this is a book a think a ton of people would be in love with, it wasn't my favorite - not because it wasn't well-written or anything; it just wasn't my style.

If you enjoy inspirational memoirs, or stories of struggles overcome, The Glass Castle is for you. Or if reading's not your thing, the movie is in theatres now.

I have thing for striped shirts. I buy and wear a ridiculous amount of them. Black and white stripes are my go-to, but sometimes I'll buy other colors, too. Every once and a while, I end up a little bored with the shirt or wanting something new without having to actually buy a new shirt.

I'm super into aliens, and have wanted one of these Brandy Melville tops for a while, but they can be difficult to find (especially in my size). Zumiez carries a similar shirt, but they are always out of the size I need. So I took matters into my own hands with a shirt I already owned and an easy iron-on patch.

So, it's easy enough to do - however, if you plan to take this route, make sure to read any directions that come with your iron-on patch and adjust your heat settings per your iron.



What you'll need:

Tee (either new or used, but still wearable of course!)
Iron-on patch (or patches)
Iron
Cardboard/thick paper (I used an old gift box I had lying around.)


How to make it:

1. Figure out where you want to place your patch(es). I put my shirt on to figure out where the patch would lay while wearing it. Make a mark to know approximately where your patch with go. I used the lines on the shirt to line mine up.
2. Turn on iron and set on medium-low setting (refer to your iron-on patch directions).
3. Place cardboard separator inside shirt and lay flat on a solid surface.





4. Place patch on shirt and gently press patch with iron for approximately 10 seconds. Make sure not to hold the iron in one place for too long, or you could burn your shirt or patch.
5. Gently smooth iron back and forth over patch paying close attention to the edges of the patch.
6. Let cool for about 30 seconds.








7. Flip shirt inside out and place cardboard separator back inside the shirt.
8. Feel for the patch and gently press iron onto the patch (from inside the shirt) to make sure the patch is safely adhered to the shirt.
9. Repeat steps 2-8 as many times with as many patches as you want.
10. Flip shirt right side out again, and voila! You're ready to wear your new(ish) shirt!

I actually got through a good bit of books this month compared to how it's been going lately. September isn't looking to be too promising with school being back underway and our two-year anniversary trip planned for the end of the month, but we'll see how it goes. See what I was reading in August, below.




The Guineveres by Sarah Domet* - Four girls, all named Guinevere, find themselves in a convent during American wartime. As they formulate plans to escape the convent, they come to find out what is really important to each of them. (full review here) 2/5

Fitness Junkie by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza* - In a world where everything is put out on display, there is always a reason to be skinnier and prettier than the next girl, right? This satirical comedy takes a dive into the crazy world of fitness trends. I seriously couldn't stop laughing out loud, and I couldn't put this one down. (full review here) 4/5

A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena* - From the author of The Couple Next Door comes the latest domestic thriller. When a modern "housewife" gets into a amnesia-causing crash on the same night a murder takes place, she becomes the ultimate suspect in the killing. But she can't be the murderer, right? A book with switched perspectives from the housewife, the husband, the neighbor, and the detectives, this is a classic case of unreliable narrator. (full review here) 4/5

The Shark Club by Ann Kidd Taylor* - One of my favorite reads of the month, The Shark Club follows Maeve, a woman who was bit by a shark as a child and now has a crazy obsession with them. When she comes home to the hotel she lives in with her brother and grandmother, she runs into a blast from the past. This is a novel of bravery and romance - Maeve is a women we can all admire. (full review here) 5/5

All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda - Told in reverse order, this thriller is sure to keep you on your toes. When Nic returns home 10 years after her best friend's disappearance, another woman goes missing. Is this pure coincidence, or is there something more to the story? I loved this one so much, I wished I'd never read it, so I could experience for the first time all over again. (full review here) 5/5

The Goddesses by Swan Huntley* - After her husband cheats on her, Nancy and her family pick up and move to Hawaii (cheating husband in tow). Nancy's determined to start anew, so when she meets a woman who is exactly what she needs in a friend, it seems too good to be true. Half chick-lit, half thriller, this novel is definitely a different take on both genres. (full review here) 3/5

Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker* - After going missing several years ago, Cass shows up on her mother's doorstep. The problem? Her older sister, who went missing at the same time, isn't with her. In a story narrated by Cass with alternating chapters from forensic psychiatrist Dr. Winters, this story is sure to keep you on your toes. There's a twist at the end that you just may not see coming (but unfortunately, I did)! (full review here) 4/5




What did you read in August?

Brief synopsis: Daniel Wilkinson was once Deming Guo. That is, until his mother disappeared and he was adopted by two kind White parents. This novel is told mostly from the perspective of Daniel, with some chapters from the perspective of his mother, Polly. The Leavers is a story that demonstrates difficult choices and the struggle of being an immigrant in America.

The Leavers is not my typical genre, but more and more I'm reading outside the box of what I deem to be typical for my reading style (aka thrillers). What The Leavers is though, is a story of love, loss, and bravery. It's a story that speaks about doing what is right and what is easy.

I was particularly drawn to the story in this novel because it talks about what it's like to be an outsider. It shares a story of White privilege and a story of being treated different via microaggressions and political policy.

I am only a minority as a woman, but I was born with the privilege of being White. People of Color face struggles everyday. While I advocate for Black lives, I also advocate for Asian lives, Hispanic lives, Native lives, etc. The Leavers is a story that gives the slightest bit of input on what it's like to not be White in America - and what it's like to be an immigrant caught within the country.

I appreciated getting just the tiniest bit of insight into a life of someone that faces struggles that I do not. While this is a story of fiction, I was moved by this novel and the truth it holds for so many.

One of the things I didn't like about this story was how it jumped around a bit (timeline-wise), which was sometimes confusing for me. I would have to flip back to make sure I was understanding what I was reading and where exactly I was within the story. Additionally, the novel was pretty slow-paced; not necessarily a story full of excitement or very climactic. Regardless, the novel was beautifully written and told a story of bravery. I am glad I read it.