The Dream | Lifestyle

Hello loves! I hope that today finds you well. I wanted to share a little piece of my heart with you in hoping that it inspires you. All my life I have loved writing stories and daydreaming about all kinds of things. Teachers could never get me to concentrate and I would spend hours in my room filling spiral notebooks with my thoughts. The thought of being a writer was so interesting and luckily the curiosity I found for it still intrigues me to this day. Over the past 10 years I would say that I have started about 100 different stories but never finished any of them. Every few months I will set down again and try to create something else but I always get stuck or get in my head about an idea. Up until now I never really had a direction with it but I think I'm finally getting some clarity. So with that said, I'm going to try to write again. Don't ask me what it's about because I don't know and I probably wont know for a while. I will however keep you updated! I will say goodnight and sweet dreams. XO, Erica

Get To Cleaning | How To

FORGIVE ME!! I feel like it's been ages since I was able to sit down and actually blog. MY schedule has been insane full. How are you love muffins?! Do you know what you're going to be for Halloween?! I'm still going back and forth between a couple of them. I love getting to play around with makeup around Halloween! There are so many good how to's on youtube now days that you can pretty much transform yourself with everyday makeup. The only thing I really need to do before I use them is clean all of my tools. When I found this cute how to I knew I needed to share it with you! XO 

The downside: you shelled out a pretty penny for all those brushes and beauty tools. And unfortunately in the year 2013, self-cleaning makeup tools have not risen to the top of technology’s greatest innovations (a girl can dream, right?). The upside: you can pin this handy dandy infographic and have a how to clean anything cheat sheet available to you at all times. That’s right, ladies, no more excuses! 

How to Clean a Makeup Sponge

1. Wet. Run the sponge under warm water.
2. Lather. Using a few drops of mild soap or gentle shampoo work any product out of the sponge with your fingers.
3. Rinse. Rinse the sponge until the water runs clear.
4. Dry. Wring it out and pat dry with a clean towel. Allow the sponge to air dry, or if you prefer to use it damp, go ahead and put it to work.
5. Repeat. Makeup sponges should be cleaned after every few uses or once there is no longer a clean, unused section. Rinsing the sponge with warm water after each use will also help keep the germs away and your sponge in good condition.

How to: Clean Your Makeup Brushes

1. Rinse. Rinse the bristles, always with water streaming down–you want to avoid running water directly into the base of the brush, which can weaken the glue and shorten the lifespan of your brush.
2. Cleanse. Work a small amount of gentle shampoo (we prefer to use baby shampoo) into the bristles. Lather, rinse, and repeat until the water runs clear.
3. Disinfect. Now that your brushes are clean, it’s time to disinfect. Mix a solution of 2 parts water and 1 part vinegar in a shallow bowl. Swoosh the brush around in the bowl for a minute or two (again, trying not to submerge it fully). Rinse with fresh water.
4. Dry. Reshape the bristles and lay clean brushes flat on a towel overnight to dry.
5. Repeat. Clean your brushes every other week to keep the germs away from your makeup and off your skin.

How to: Clean Your Hairbrush

1. Prep. Remove as much hair from the bristles as you can. Using a comb or toothpick can help you grab what your fingers may miss.
2. Soak. Fill a bowl with water and add a few drops of clarifying shampoo. If your brush is plastic, soak it for three to five minutes. If your brush has a fabric head, do not soak it, but dip the bristles in the water a few times.
3. Scrub. To get those bristles good as new, take an unused toothbrush, wet it with the soapy water and give it a good scrub. Rinse with fresh water.
4. Dry. Lay the brush bristle-side down on a towel to allow water to drain out of the base. Leave it to dry overnight.
5. Repeat. Give your brush a bath once a month to prevent product buildup from comprising the quality of your lovely locks.

How to: Clean Your Metal Tools

1. Wash. For metal tools like tweezers, eyelash curlers, eyebrow trimmers, cuticle nippers, and nail clippers, wash them down using water and antibacterial soap. Pat dry with a clean towel.
2. Sanitize. Thoroughly wipe down the tool with an alcohol-soaked cotton ball. Allow it to dry for a few moments. If the tool comes in contact with your face, rinse it with water (no need to rinse your nail tools). Pat dry with a clean towel.
3. Repeat. Ideally these types of beauty tools should at least be washed with soap and water after each use, if not sanitized as well. Aim to give them the full treatment every two weeks. Store your tools in a clean container to safeguard your hard work.

When was the last time you cleaned your makeup tools (be honest!)?

Why You Shouldn't Care What People Think | Lifestyle

Ahhhhh, this quote makes me smile

It feels good to say and good to think. A lot of times, we care waaaaaay too much what people think. We accept the status quo and work hard at pleasing others, often at the expense of our own happiness or true desires. We care how doing certain things will make us look, what people are saying about us behind our backs, what our friends and family will think of us, how we are being perceived, etc etc. But when all is said and done and we do the expected thing we “should” do we aren’t usually that stoked on life. What’s up with that?

 

Living in a way that takes what other people think into the utmost concern before our own personal dreams/goals/desires is a terrible way to live. Not being true to yourself and living out of accordance with your purpose is exhausting. Being a follower because it’s the “safest” and most comfortable way to be slowly but surely chips away at our sense of self and confidence.   About 3.5 years ago, I dropped out of law school. The only reason I really ended up there in the first place was that my dad is an attorney and I wanted to please him and do something he would be proud of and deem acceptable. Plus, that’s just what people do right? They go to college, get a degree, go to grad school, get another degree, go to work, provide for their family, save for retirement, retire, and die. Sounds fun yeah? Yeah….sure. And do they do this because they love what they’re doing or because they’re fearful of what will happen to their life if they don’t? For a few, the former will be true, but for the majority, it’s the latter. And as we know, all of our decisions are made from fear and love.

 

When I dropped out, I cared SO much what people would say and think about me that I just didn’t tell anyone. My parents didn’t know, my friends didn’t know, and nobody other than my school advisor knew. I needed space and time to come to terms with it without judgment or pressure. It all happened when I was studying for finals in the library after months of being completely miserable with my chosen path and started breathing heavily and sweating. I quickly realized I was freaking out. In the middle of the library I was having a full blown panic attack and I couldn’t control how quickly I was losing my cool and feeling totally and completely swallowed up by fear and panic. I got up and made a mad dash to my academic advisor. I asked for withdrawal papers as I was snotting and tearing up all over her. She looked part alarmed/confused/and pitiful of my state and within 10 minutes I had signed my own release forms from law school. My entire direction changed in an instant and all of my hard work was blown to pieces. I walked to my car with an eerie sense of calm and for the first time in months and months, a little hope.

 

The next several months were a blur. I had no sense of direction, so I woke up everyday, got dressed in work-like attire, and took my laptop to Coffee Bean at 8:30am to map out my new life. Did I want to go back to school for something else? Did I want to move back home? How and when would I eventually tell my parents? Should I go to Europe and somehow tell my parents it’s a study abroad for school so they would pay for it until I figured out my next move? Should I get a retail job to kill time and make some money? It became exhausting TRYING so hard to just be happy and figure out what I really wanted my life to be. So, I finally stopped trying and just starting doing what felt good. And that was tons and tons of yoga. I went to classes all day everyday, and 2 months later I was enrolled in a teacher training.

 

I began working at the studio teaching some classes and working the front desk. I always had my cold pressed juice at work because I had started juicing many years ago to deal with the effects of Celiac’s disease and it was an important part of my diet. Celiac’s is an autoimmune intolerance to gluten that I dealt with my entire childhood in the form of eczema, an autoimmune skin rash all over my body. When I was finally diagnosed, I had a lot of digestive trauma and malbsorption issues from consuming gluten for so long without knowing it was the root of my health problems. I began juicing as a teenager to heal my digestive tract and absorb nutrients in an easily digestible way with minimal digestive labor or abrasion. I saw my health take a major turn for the better and was fascinated with nutrition and the healing power of food from then on.

 

Fast forward a few months working at the studio and a guy named Eric walked in to take classes. We were both drinking juice and struck up conversation about it. It turned out he was a raw food chef and we had a major shared interest in nutrition. We geeked out about all things health and quickly became best friends. Over the course of the next year, we built up a home delivery juice business throughout San Diego, and got the attention of 2 investors (now our partners). That home delivery business is now the Suja you know today. When Suja hit shelves, I finally told my parents I hadn’t been in school for quite some time. And nothing ever felt more relieving. It was like I had removed the mask and was showing who I really was. The jig was up and I was free.

 

So, what’s the point? The point is, I could tie up what I’m doing with my life with a pretty pink bow and make it sounds so nice, but that wouldn’t be the true story. I didn’t just graduate, know I wanted to start a juicing business, and run off into the sunset happy as could be. I had NO IDEA I would end up doing this. Sure I had been juicing and extensively researching nutrition for years, but I never thought I could actually make that my “job”. That’s just not typical and not what people do. That was a hobby, not a career. Or so I was raised to believe…

 

The reality is, we are a tiny speck of existence in the big scheme of things and nobody will know our names in 100 years. And if they do, we won’t be around to enjoy it. So why do we care so much what people say or think about us and actively participate in creating our lives in accordance with what’s acceptable or admirable based on society’s standards? Nothing really matters when you realize how small our lives are and how quickly they go by. We can all really do whatever we want. The reason we are here is to live in accordance with our purpose. We all have those things that make us excited, inspired, and invigorated and for some reason we tend to feel they aren’t worthy of becoming our life’s work. I remember being a child and thinking I really wanted to be an artist but believing I couldn’t realistically do that. Because art wasn’t a safe desk job that would provide for a family unless you were a Monet or Picasso. And I couldn’t be like them because I was just average like everybody else. They were famous and special. So, I set out to be like my parents and everyone else around me. And I ended up miserable until I undid it all and got back to me and who I really am and did what really makes me tick.

 

If you love something, do it. If you have a dream, chase it. Don’t be scared to jump. You have to dive in headfirst if you ever want to swim anywhere fun, exciting, and beautiful. It’s for sure uncomfortable and scary to step into the unknown and do things against the grain. And it’s definitely a little tough to brush off what people say or think and the expectations placed upon us. But who really cares what they think? They don’t have to live your life. They don’t have to wake up and be you everyday. So what they say or think doesn’t really matter. How you feel does.

 

If you’re struggling in a situation that’s not right for you or searching for something you feel missing, don’t ignore those feelings. Listen to them closely and take a good look at your life, the choices you make, and why you make them. Is there anything wrong with being a doctor, a lawyer, or an accountant? No! If that’s what you love, do whatever it takes to be that and don’t stop until you’re there. But if you’re doing something because you think you should be doing it, you will never be truly happy in that place. I urge you to stop trying so hard and let the things you’re passionate about take over. Don’t be afraid to make changes and follow your heart. Let judgments, expectations, and negative comments pass right by you. Only you know the right direction for you.

Have you ever let the opinions of others dictate your actions? Do you still?

12 Tips For Starting a Business in College | Re-Post

This month, Her Campus is celebrating its fifth birthday. It's now the number one global community for college women and college marketing firm — and its founders got there with no money, no experience, and absolutely no business education, all while still in college. Here's how they did it.

1. Follow your passions (and ignore the haters).

If you do what you love and immerse yourself in industries you're passionate about, you'll be the best 
person to see where holes exist that you can fill. The three of us met as undergrads at Harvard while 
working on a student lifestyle-and-fashion magazine that we transitioned online. While some of our 
fellow students thought our site was "fluffy," we realized we had hit on something that had huge 
potential, and we got the idea to launch Her Campus. We knew we could bring it to that full potential, 
because we were passionate about serving college women — and nobody else was engaging that 
demographic in that way at the time.

2. Create a killer team.

It's very difficult to start a successful company all by yourself, from a skills perspective (no one person 
possesses all the skills needed to run a company), a time perspective (there are only so many hours in 
the day!), and a morale perspective. Starting a company is tough and comes with lows only a 
co-founder can dig you out of. It's important to find co-founders whose skills complement your own 
and whom you absolutely love to be around!

3. Pump out a business plan.

When Harvard's business-plan competition came around, we decided to use the competition to turn our 
ideas into a reality. Entering a business-plan competition is a fantastic way to force yourself to flesh out
 your idea and to give yourself a hard deadline. It doesn't matter if you win the competition (although 
it's certainly nice!), because the exercise of writing a business plan is so valuable in itself. We won the 
Harvard business-plan competition and got free office space as part of the prize, which became the 
very first Her Campus office.

4. Find good mentors.

We knew pretty much nothing about any aspect of business, so we set out to find mentors who did.
 Whether it was going to hear relevant speakers at Harvard or connecting with anyone and everyone we
 had met through past internships, we made a point of networking like crazy. While being young can 
absolutely be an advantage, being young also means you're way behind the competition as far as 
knowledge and skills go, simply because you don't have the experience that more seasoned people do.
 Seek out people you admire, and be ballsy about meeting them, introducing yourself, and following 
up, because it will pay off. Find mentors in a variety of areas you know you'll need help with (for 
example, web, marketing, and fund-raising), and make a point of asking for advice from them when 
you run into something you haven't seen before.

5. Put the pressure on yourself.

We spent the summer after winning the business-plan competition living together in a tiny, horrible 
apartment in New York City, each holding internships while working on Her Campus on the side in 
order to launch that fall. We had a completely crazy few weeks and nights leading up to the launch,
 including a last-minute all-nighter, but we did it and HerCampus.com went live on Sept. 16, 2009.
 Give yourself a deadline, and find a way to hold yourself to it, like we did with preprinted flyers!
 Otherwise, you can spend forever planning and researching and literally never launch — or a 
competitor will beat you to it.

6. Associate yourself with big names.

Our first client, Juicy Couture, signed on to advertise with us before the site had launched, thanks to 
Windsor's repeated cold calls to their marketing department! The money we gained from that sale was 
more than enough to cover our initial start-up expenses, so we were profitable before the site had even 
launched. Even more valuable than the advertising dollars we got (which were still pretty minimal) 
from Juicy Couture? The name recognition that came along with it. Once you have one big name 
onboard, that brand's competitors will take notice and want to work with you too. Our first advertisers, 
although not high-paying, allowed us to create powerful case studies that showcased our unique 
marketing capabilities and made Her Campus look legitimate by association with these big names.

7. Use whatever resources are available.

During our senior year at Harvard, we tapped into every possible resource we could to get our business 
off the ground. We had free office space through the business-plan competition and free legal help 
through a program at Harvard Law, and we had friends of ours writing for us for free. The business 
was going well enough that by halfway through that school year, we had decided to pursue Her 
Campus full-time after graduation. It didn't matter that we didn't have investors, capital, or many 
resources. We took advantage of what we did have access to in that year to allow our business to grow.
 Most colleges have resources that can help you; you just need to be resourceful and dedicated about 
seeking them out!

8. Fake it 'til you make it.

Over that first year out of college, Her Campus continued to grow, and we were lucky to be named to Inc.magazine's 30 Under 30 Coolest Young Entrepreneurs, among some other key press mentions.
 Regardless of the internal state of things, we promoted the heck out of every piece of press we got, 
every new advertiser we signed on, and every new partnership we secured in order to portray the 
image that our business was on fire. There can be lots of ups and downs and uncertainties when you're 
running a startup. However, it's critical to make everyone on the outside think you're doing amazing, 
even though you know that on the inside, things can feel like they're on the verge of falling apart at 
any moment.

9. Frugality is key.

Even after we graduated and the company started making a little more money, we stayed practical 
financially. Keeping your money in the business allows you to hire more people and invest in resources
 that will lead to much larger dividends for you long-term. This mind-set is one that we still adopt 
today even now that the business is doing much better financially, because once you start to just spend,
spend, spend, you're no longer running a lean business and you're poised to drive your business into 
the ground.

10. Exercise self-discipline.

As time went on, the business started to run more and more smoothly. Our traffic and campus-chapter 
numbers kept climbing, our editorial system ran like clockwork, and brands were consistently reaching
 out to us, wanting to advertise. At that point, we needed to give ourselves a schedule and deadlines so
 we could be sure not to let the business stagnate and coast. As an entrepreneur, you don't have a boss,
 so it's on you to make yourself work (at least!) a full workday every day and to hold yourself and your
 cofounders accountable.

11. Show patience and perseverance.

Over the next few years, our traffic, campus chapters, and revenues all continued to grow, we brought
 on bigger and bigger clients, and we hired our first employees. But there will always be ups and
 downs, even once your business is well off the ground. There were months when we had to defer our
 salaries, instances when huge projects and partnerships completely fell through, and times when
 something we put a lot of effort into totally bombed. And when things are going well, you can't get too
 comfortable in your success or else things will stagnate. You have to keep challenging yourself,
 creating more work for yourself, always looking toward what's next, and continuously setting higher
 and higher goals for yourself and for your company as a whole.

12. Start today!

Five years after we launched, Her Campus now has more than 250 campus chapters, more than
 3.5 million monthly readers, and our own beautiful office. Our last tip is to start today. You'll always
 be busy, and you're only going to get busier and have more "real" things to worry about as time goes
 on, so just get started on your idea now and let the momentum carry you forward! And don't think that
 you can't do it just because you're still in school or because you're not a business major or because you
 don't have enough in savings — because you can! But if you wait around forever just thinking instead
 of actually doing, you'll never get started. Just start now! We can't wait to see what you accomplish.

3 Day Cleanse | Healthy & Fit

Hi guys, its Allison from Team LC. The first time I heard about juicing was about four years ago. I had read about this age-old diet approach in several health books, including Fit for Life, Skinny Bitch, and Crazy Sexy Diet, to name a few—and it sounded almost too good to be true. Drinking freshly squeezed fruit and veggie juices will detoxify your body, give your skin a glow and boost your immune system? “No way,” I thought to myself. But when I started hearing about juice bars popping up all over the Southern California coast, I was tempted by the accessibility and popularity of this rumored miracle cleanse.

I decided to take my first dive into the world of juicing by attempting a 3-day pressed juice cleanse from my favorite neighborhood juice bar. There were ups and downs, moments of euphoria and moments of major irritability. Throughout the cleansing process, I documented what I was feeling and going through just so I could share my experience with all of you lovely LC readers. Without further ado, here is my 3-day detox diary…

Pre Cleanse:

• I wanted to make sure my body didn’t go into extreme shock when I started to feed it only 6 bottled juices a day, so I did my homework before starting the cleanse. I read that it is best to eat a mostly vegan diet for three days before the cleanse, as well as the three days afterwards. So…
• I stocked up on fruits and veggies, vegetable soup, lentils and brown rice, and even picked up some green juices to get my palette accustomed to the taste. I weaned myself off of my morning coffee and opted for green tea instead.
• I also made sure to get 8 hours of sleep the night before I started my cleanse so I wouldn’t feel tired or groggy. That way, my coffee cravings wouldn’t creep up on me on the very first day.

Day 1:

• I started my day by waking up at 7am and walking to the juice bar down the street to pick up my 6 juices and 2 flavored waters. Afraid of feeling exhausted during the day, I didn’t want to workout while cleansing. Since I usually head to the gym in the early morning before work, I decided that taking a brisk walk was a nice cardio substitute.
• My first juice was a delicious blend of green veggies, apples, and lemon. This gave me tons of energy and I didn’t even miss my cup of coffee.
• By about 3pm, my energy levels were starting to crash a bit and I felt like I needed something with protein. Luckily, my fourth juice was a mix of figs, vanilla bean, and almonds. The protein from this almond milk was filling and it gave me the boost that I needed to get through the rest of the day.
• By about 5pm, I felt pretty darn good. My eyesight was clearer and I felt really proud of myself for not succumbing to the vegan cupcakes one of my fellow LC bloggers brought into the office (they were red velvet!).
• I kept busy at night to stave off any sweet or salty cravings. After doing laundry, a little late-night blogging, and reading for a bit, it was already time for bed. I made sure to finish my last juice 2 hours before I settled in for bed so that I would sleep through the night with no disturbances. I gave myself a mental pat on the back and drifted off into a very deep sleep…

Day 2:

• On day 2, I woke up before my alarm even went off feeling so refreshed and rejuvenated. I walked to pick up my day 2 juices, and instead of craving coffee or breakfast, I was excited to start my day with the green juice.
• I figured out how to space out my juices perfectly. I learned from day 1 that I should drink one juice every 2 hours in order to have my last one finished 2 hours before I went to sleep. I enjoyed the taste of the fruits and veggies even more on the second day. I also noticed that my taste buds were more in-tune to the flavors that popped out in the different juices.
• By about 2pm, I started to crave solid food. I was working on a project on Pinterest and in the future, I would NOT recommend going on any food blogs (or Pinterest) when you are cleansing. It was torture! I saw photos of blackberry crisps, margherita pizzas, and butternut squash ravioli. The magic feelings I had been experiencing from the cleanse suddenly disappeared and I realized I was starving. But was it enough to make me break my fast…? I grabbed my root veggie juice and by the time I finished it, my cravings had passed and I did my best to focus on anything but food.
• When 5pm rolled around, I felt hungry again. I was noticing food all around me—restaurant advertisements, food photos on billboards on my drive home, I even felt a pang of jealousy when I saw people walking into my neighborhood Whole Foods. But I had come too far…I was almost done! I made sure to get to bed early in hopes that sleep would cure my solid food cravings.

Day 3:

• I woke up on day 3 feeling rested and unaware of the hunger pangs I experienced the night before. My skin was glowing, my eyes were sparkling, and I felt light and lean. I was excited about having my green juice for breakfast and I couldn’t believe I was already on my last day of the cleanse…24 hours to go!
• The day went by quickly and I felt so good that I almost extended my cleanse for another 2 days. My energy was good and my body had learned how to regulate energy levels while juicing.
• That evening, I had no late-night cravings and I felt satisfied by my evening juices. In fact, I decided that I would walk to the juice bar for a green juice the next morning since I had come to love my routine so much.

Post Cleanse:

• I felt so good after I completed my cleanse, and I even continued to drink juices in the morning for a few days afterwards. I stuck to a vegan diet for the 3 days after finishing the cleanse and eventually went back to my regular, healthy diet. But I definitely felt cleaner and gained a sense of accomplishment.

Pros & Cons:

Now that you’ve read my detox diary, here are some of the good and bad things I learned from my cleanse.

• Cons:
  • Cleanses are a bit pricey. If you are trying to pinch your pennies one month, it might not be the time to splurge on a cleanse, which can range anywhere from $45 per day to $75 per day. Instead, look into buying your produce from local farmer’s markets and juicing yourself! Check out this kale smoothie recipe to get you started…
  • Bottled juice cleanses like the one I tried have a ton of sugar in them, according toEveryday Health,. Even though fresh fruit juice is natural, it will still send your energy levels on an insulin rollercoaster. This is why I crashed in the late afternoon! Having a protein drink like my almond milk will help regulate your blood sugar, but it is still not healthy to have this much sugar.
  • Working out is difficult. I couldn’t get my cardio fix because I didn’t have enough energy to do my regular workouts. If you remember my post about how to fuel your workout, you might remember that I love running, hot yoga and weight training. I also can’t stand missing a workout, so I felt a little rusty getting back into the swing of things after the cleanse.
  • Cleansing is not a solution for long-term weight loss. If you are looking to shed a few poundspermanently, then a juice cleanse is not the answer. Drinking juice all day might help you to loose some water weight, according to The Huffington Post, but you might gain those pounds back post-cleanse when your body starts retaining calories from solid food again. Instead, give one of Lauren’s fitness + meal plans a try. These are my favorite: Get Fit Plan, Bikini Boot Camp, and 7 Days to Skinny Jeans Plan.

• Pros:
  • I have never felt so hydrated! When I wasn’t drinking one of my juices, I was drinking a ton of water. I made a goal to finish a 1.5 liter bottle of water each day in order to feel full and flush out any extra toxins. This probably has a lot to do with the glow I saw in my skin on the third day.
  • Cleansing gives your body a rest from digestion, according to Livestrong. Our bodies are used to breaking down and digesting food all day, every day, for years and years. So once in a while, it’s nice to give your body a break by only consuming nutrient-rich fluids. Especially if you are a junk food junkie, a cleanse will help reset your system and flush out tons of toxins. (Just make sure to eat mostly vegan in the days leading up to your cleanse or else you might be in for a pretty harsh change.)
  • Because most bottled, pressed juice cleanses use fruit juice along with vegetable juice, I found that I wanted nothing to do with sweets when I finished day 3 of my cleanse. My sugar cravingswere gone!
  • One of the biggest benefits I found from completing my cleanse was that it motivated me to stay on a healthy path for weeks afterward. Mentally, I was so rejuvenated by the 3 days I spent cleansing that the last thing I wanted to do was throw it all away. I continued to replace my morning coffee with green juices and green tea (sometimes even an apple), and I noticed major negative side effects whenever I ate something unhealthy, like pizza or cookies (oops!).

Overall, my juice cleanse was a positive experience for me and I plan on trying one again sometime soon. I think that cleansing for 3 days is plenty of time—I would not suggest doing a longer cleanse because, according to Women’s Health, your body goes into starvation mode after about 4 days. The next time I cleanse, I plan on going to a gentle yoga class or spending a few minutes in a steam room to sweat out additional toxins. But enough about me! Let’s hear what you have to say…

Have you ever tried a juice cleanse? If you have, what was your experience? If not, is it something you would be willing to try?

Leave your stories, reviews, and experiences below. I’d love to see what you guys have to say about “getting juiced!”

Healthy Snacking | Re-Post

How is it Sunday night already? I think this last week only consisted of 2 days. Seriously though - this time of year fly's by so I try my best to take it all in as much as possible. Obviously my priority for today was football! Now it's time to catch up on some laundry, and going over my schedule for the next couple of days. I feel so great about where my life is right now and what the future holds. With that I will let you know that I have new yoga routine that will be starting in the morning. Yoga, I have missed you in my life! Since healthy lifestyle has been on my mind I figured I would share with you a post I read a couple days ago over at Katy Gracefully. She is a student on a budget so I love that she shared some easy, healthy snacks that are budget friendly. I will be sharing my new yoga routines soon! XO, Erica

Finding cheap food in college isn’t hard. You can subside solely off of Cup Noodle and 89 cent tacos at Taco Bell and ta-da, you’re pinching pennies. But you know what else is pinching? Your waist band as you struggle to avoid the Freshman 15 while eating 3x the sodium and fat that a normal human should.

The eternal struggle is finding food that is actually cheap enough to buy (sorry, Whole Foods) and isn’t coated in questionable chemicals and sugars. My Grocery List on a College Budget is a start to meals, but I have also compiled a list of snacks that don’t even cost you a dollar. Peace Taco Bell.

Note: Obviously, prices/availability will vary depending on where you are. A lot of things you could get cheaper depending on if you shop at farmer’s markets or if you have coupons, while some may be pricier in the area you are. 

1. Edamame $0.50 for 1/2 cup serving
2. Carrots w/ Hummus $0.90 1/2 cup serving carrots,1 of hummus
3. Peanut Butter Oat Bites $0.20 per snack (recipe here)
4. Frozen Grapes $0.75 per 1 cup serving  (my favorite!) 
5. Boom Chicka Pop $0.83 per 3.5 cup serving
6. Oranges $0.50 each
7. Pears $0.85 each
8. Watermelon $0.30 per 1 cup serving
9. Bananas $0.20 per banana
10. Apples $0.50 per apple
11. Yogurt cup (greek or regular) $0.95 per cup
12. Pumpkin seeds $0.50 per ounce serving
13. Peanuts $0.50 per ounce serving
14. Almonds $0.60 per ounce serving
15. Sauteed broccoli $0.50 per 1/2 cup serving (w/ olive oil/spices)
16. Cauliflower $0.50 per 1/2 cup serving (same as above)