Is FabFitFun Worth It?!

A few weeks ago, I was out with some friends when the topic of the well-known FabFitFun subscription box came up. As a loyal FabFitFun subscription fan, I sometimes think that everyone knows just how awesome it is like I do. BUT, I was long and behold WRONG. By this time, most of us have heard of FabFitFun from somewhere along the rainbow. At the same time, many of us may not know what it is exactly and decipher whether or not it is worth it to buy. Many of us fellow influencers LOVE and know FabFitFun. For others, it may be unfamiliar territory. So, I will be breaking down all the facts about the FabFitFun subscription box. Hopefully by the end of this post, YOU can decide for yourself whether or not FabFitFun is worth it for YOU!

***Now, before I get into ALLL the details, I wanted to disclose that this is not a sponsored post. All opinions within this post are mine and mine only. Additionally, I am a loyal FabFitFun lover and subscriber. Although I will probably continue to share my love for FabFitFun throughout this post, it is important to note that a FabFitFun box or even subscription may not be for everybody. Everybody has a different financial situation and/or desires for the products that they want to try, too.***

What is FabFitFun and how much does it cost?

FabFitFun is a subscription box that is customizable to its customers. It is a seasonal subscription box that delivers right to their customers’ doorsteps four times a year – Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. The products within each box are full-sized and only come at a cost of $45-$50/box (depending on which plan you choose). There is also an option to add-on as many items as you so choose at an additional cost: one that is approximately 50%-70% off the retail price of the item. At the same time, the FabFitFun site also offers year-round flash sales where all members can purchase new items at up to a whooping 70% off!! As a member, I also get updates all the time on the latest and greatest when it comes to FabFitFun, whether it be brand-new flash sales, sneak peeks at items to put into my customizable seasonal box, or customer surveys to help determine what items should be options in future seasonal boxes.

FabFitFun has a variety of plans that their members can choose from. Personally, I chose the Seasonal subscription where I get billed $50/box. I get 4 customizations per box and up to 8 products. The Annual subscription, on the other hand, allows for one’s entire box to be customized with up to 8 products, but one is billed on an annual basis at $180 which is $45/box. With both plans, one must pay for their Add-on’s separately and at each seasonal billing period.

What brands does FabFitFun offer?

Y’all are going to probably get a major feel for who I am as a person when I say this, BUT I purchased my first-ever FabFitFun box last Winter 2020 when they featured a Lilly Pulitzer mug set. LOL – yes, I purchased a whole entire FabFitFun box just for the Lilly Pulitzer mugs! Luckily, I ended up loving the FabFitFun box anyways. As for the brands that FabFitFun offers, I have listed some of the many brands that I have seen FabFitFun carry products in, either as add-on’s or a customization option within their boxes below:

  • Lilly Pulitzer
  • Rae Dunn
  • Kate Spade Home
  • Summer & Rose
  • Nanette Lepore
  • BCBG
  • Alice + Olivia
  • Frye
  • Draper James
  • Quip
  • & MANY MORE!

I will say that, brand-wise, there is most definitely something for everybody!

Why do I LOVE FabFitFun?!

As an affordable and budget-conscious shopper, FabFitFun allows me to try out and purchase products from those name brands that I LOVE at a fraction of the price. Essentially, guilt-free shopping! Well, maybe not fully guilt-free shopping, but essentially Black Friday FOUR TIMES A YEAR!!!! I love that I can pay $50/box and get 8 items that are full-sized and at a fraction of the price. Not to mention, I am obsessed with the artwork on each FabFitFun box! It is super fun to be able to receive the box each time and see all the fun artwork on it – they are oh so photogenic (that may be the influencer in me talking, though!). Moreover, FabFitFun allows one to buy and try some super fun products related to each season that it is in at a fraction of the price. Most definitely worth it all!

Now, onto to BIG question of this post – is FabFitFun worth it to YOU?! Only YOU can say! However, If the answer is YES (which I hope it is), then check out the plans here.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Bright Work from Home Essentials

Working 9 to 5! Work is probably the most productive and time consuming part of our days. When working, it can be pretty tiring to spend the 9 to 5 timeframe doing solely work, yet it must be done. Since having to do most of my Senior year of college in a virtual setting, I am going to be sharing some of my work from home essentials – most of which I used during my virtual “Zoom University” days!

As always, I will share where I got some of my work from home essentials, and where you can get these essentials too! Please note that not all of these items will be the exact item that I use on a day to day basis.

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

My Work From Home Essentials!

Pouches & MANY Pouches! – I use them for a variety of purposes, ranging from carrying pencils, pens, erasers, pencil lead, etc., feminine products, toiletries, caffeinated Crystal Lite, and makeup. Shop some of my most recently purchased and primarily used pouches below:

Coffee Mugs – Yes, coffee mugs are my ALL DAY EVERYDAY essential. There is NO WAY that I could kick off my days without a good old cup of Keurig-brewed coffee. It is, indeed, the only way I will wake up and put my all into my work. Mugs are also a super fun way to show off some personal flair. I have a massive mug collection and a coffee section in my apartment simply dedicated to my mugs and *of course* Keurig. You can shop some of my favorite mugs linked below:

Hot Coffee & Iced Coffee – If you can’t tell by now, coffee is my holy grail work from home essential! I always enjoy both a freshly poured Keurig-brewed cup of coffee each and every single morning to kick off my work days. Then, by the mid-morning-afternoon, I enjoy a cup of iced coffee, too. My favorite brands for K-Cups include: Kripsy Kreme, Folgers, and The Original Donut Shop. Personally, I get whatever is cheapest at the grocery store of those 3 and whatever is one sale *ballin’ on a budget am I right?!*. I regularly and loyally used Delight’s Fat Free/Sugar Free Carmel flavored creamer. Meanwhile, for iced coffee, I always go with Delight’s iced coffee in either the Carmel or French Vanilla flavors! I get all of these items at my local grocery store.

Caffeinated Crystal Lite Packets – Likewise to coffee and iced coffee, I also have another favorite caffeinated drink of mine – Crystal Lite packets! My mother introduced me to these and I was hooked! Yes, Crystal Lite has caffeinated packets that you can put into your favorite water bottles or tumblers and stir in/shake once you add some water to it. These Crystal Lite packets are extremely low in calorie AND are caffeinated. They come in 2-4 different flavors and are great for a nice refresher that is on the go and low in costs and calories, too. The boxes are around $2.50 each for a box of 10 packets which is about 25 cents/drink and can be found at your local grocery store where I get mine weekly – take that Starbucks!

Tumblers – Now that you know I have an addiction to iced coffee and Crystal Lite, then you must know that I also have an addiction to adorable tumblers that I drink my addictions out of! My tumblers have been an excellent way to show off my personal flair, very similar to a coffee mug, but with a super fun straw, too. You can shop some of my favorite tumblers linked below:

Fun Notebooks – Since starting my new job, I have become an avid notetaker. I honestly feel like a brand-new intern in Grey’s Anatomy at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital with my pen and notebook frantically taking notes but make it on Zoom – haha! Call me first day intern Meredith Grey I guess!! Anyhow, on another note, I have linked a few of my favorite notebooks that I have enjoyed using:

AirPods – Recently, I decided to take the plunge and *finally* invest in a pair of AirPods! Let me just tell y’all – these are a GAME CHANGER! They’re great not only for working at home, since they’re super easy to use and charge, but they are will be great for when I have to go into the office as well.

Erasable Pens – Let’s just say that erasable pens are literally my new hero! Confessions: the concept of erasable pens is SO cool to me to the point of where I literally write things just to erase them – hah! In high school, I was always that girl with the color coded notes and notebooks, so now having the luxury to erase with my pens is an extraordinary plus! Shop them here: https://rstyle.me/+LxykNqypcuLTggpujT2klA.

Planner – If you know me, then you know that I am an Enneagram Type 3! For those who don’t know much about Enneagram Type 3’s (confession: I seriously only read up on my own Enneagram Type and Wing – I’m a Type 2 Wing! – whoops), we are extremely planner-focused, future-oriented, and always always always productive. I use both digital planners and a paperback planner and have tried both the Lilly Pulitzer planners of the large and jumbo sizes (jumbo size is my favorite, though) and the Erin Condren planner. Personally, Lilly Pulitzer’s planners work best for me practically speaking than the Erin Condren planner. Though, I will note that the Erin Condren site has a customizable option for planners and a wider array of stickers than offered on the first pages of the Lilly Pulitzer planner: a trait that some may prefer than not. Digitally, I use the app Evernote (free version) on both my phone and laptop, but primarily my laptop and LOVE it. Since some planners work best for different people, I will link both the Lilly Pulitzer and Erin Condren planners down below:

Throw Blankets – Throw blankets are honestly my holy grail!!! They have been getting me through these long long long days made up of Zoom. Throw blankets have been an excellent way for me to stay comfy and cozy while still being productive. Typically, I purchase mine from Home Goods (specifically the hot pink or flamingo printed one’s) or Vera Bradley in the clearance section or at their outlets. I will say, though, that Kate Spade has some pretty incredible huge throw blankets that are great, too, and they’re usually always on the shelves at any local Home Goods storefront in all colors and a few prints (mine is in hot pink *surprise!*).

TI-84 Plus CE Calculator – This may just be a Math major thing, BUT my TI-84 Plus CE calculator has become a vital part of my working days. I use it for a variety of things, whether it be simple math problems/calculations (because y’all us Math majors don’t just know the multiplication tables in our heads at the click of a mouse) or for budgeting and other adulting things. It’s really nice to have right there and handy and not have to Google up a calculator when I need one.

Mason Jars – I found that there is so much benefit in having Mason jars right there at your workplace front. Mason jars are an excellent use for storage, especially for desk essentials. I use mine to store pens, pencils, highlighters, scissors, and even old motivational quotes that I wrote on sticky notes. All in all, mason jars are a pretty handy and photo pretty way to store your desk essentials. Not to mention, mason jars are pretty affordable too and can be found in packs for under $10 at Walmart or Target or even $1 each at none other than The Dollar Tree.

Working from home may not be ideal for some, but having the right essentials at one’s fingertips can make it much more bearable and perhaps even fun!

XOXO – Katie <3

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DC Diaries – Part 6

Transitions, adjustments, and changes, oh my! These three words describe some of the hardest pills for people to swallow. Case in point, my move to the Washington, DC area, my transition into the workforce, and changing up my blogging schedule a bit to accommodate my new work schedule. When changes come into our lives, it can be challenging to accept them and move forward, whether they’re good or bad. Transitions, adjustments, and changes are tough at times, but they can also allow us to grow and excel in our lives the ways that we are meant to.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

Personally, I feel that making transitions, adjustments, and changes to our lives is important. I believe that there is a plan for each and every one of us in this thing called life. Whether or not you identify with a religious faith, I personally identify as a Christian. My Christian faith has projected my belief system in that I see how God has a plan for each and every single one of us. God or whatever higher power(s) that you believe in have set aside a plan for your life and that plan involves many many many twists and turns and ups and downs. Whether you have a liking to those plans set aside just for you or not, is up to you. But, whatever may be put in your way is there for a reason and leading you to be the person that you are meant to be in life, if it is for a stage in life or something more.

Case in point, when I moved to the Washington, DC area, there were a lot of transitions, adjustments, and changes that popped up along with the move. However, there is a reason for them all and they have made me and will make me into a better person – the person that I am meant to be.

My move to Washington, DC has been an exciting times. I have found it hard over and over and over again to talk and even touch on the tough subjects in life. But, they have led me to truly be able to enjoy my life in the nation’s capital. The hard parts in life are what always lead us to the greatest things that have been yet to come.

At this moment, I have been able to adjust successfully to my new life in Washington, DC. Although there are still some transitions, adjustments, and changes to come, I know that I am where I am meant to be. It all happened the way it was meant to and making me into the person that I am meant to be thanks be to God (or whatever higher power that you believe in). Today, I will leave you all with one of my favorite Bible verses – Deuteronomy 31:6 – “be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you.”

XOXO – Katie <3

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Pantry Organization for Under $25

In my college apartment, the best version of a pantry that I had was my bar cart right beside the ledge at the end of my kitchen space. Now, in my post-grad apartment, I have been lucky enough to get a tiny pantry of my own! Starting out, I knew that I did not want to spend a lot of money on organizing my pantry. But, Pinterest would have told me otherwise – haha! Influencers such as loyal Dollar Tree lover Kathryn of Do It On a Dime have presented ways to organize and still have a gorgeous pantry while keeping it on a budget. So, taking inspiration from others and channeling my own personal home decor style, I uncovered my own pantry organization and did it affordably, too!

As always, I will share where I purchased each product used in my own pantry to organize it and links if applicable. I will not be sharing the grocery items that are in my pantry. If I do not share the exact product, then I will share a similar one or where to buy it for yourself.

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

My Pantry

Where I Shopped

  • Over the door rack: The Dollar Tree
  • Polka Dotted Apron: Kate Spade Home
  • Navy & White Apron: My Grandma’s
  • White Apron: A Childhood Design
  • Pink Wired Can: Family Piece
  • White Plastic Milk Bin: Walmart
  • Pink Plastic Milk Bin: Target
  • Teal Tray: The Dollar Tree
  • Teal Ice Bucket: The Dollar Tree
  • Seashell Jars (3): Family Piece
  • Hot Pink Locker Bins (4): The Dollar Tree
  • Aqua & White Chevron Cubbies: Amazon (different style here!)
  • Clear White Storage Containers: Family Piece (similar 4-set here!)
  • “Crunchy” Canister: Rae Dunn
  • “Treats” Canister: Rae Dunn
  • Pig Bag Clippers: The Christmas Tree Shops

I am oh so excited about my pantry AND how little money I spent on it! Hopefully, y’all can find some affordable ways to stay organized in your own home and pantry, too.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Bright & Preppy Office Space

After over 2 months of having this place not fully set up, I can *finally* say that my Office Space is fully set up and ready to go! But, as they say on The Bachelor, wait … there’s more! My Office Space is not only my Office Space, but it is also a lounge area, closet space, makeup space, and, most importantly, it’s practically a Lady Cave. Here we go!!!

As in the past, I would link items where I could. However, this time I will not be since there are A TON of things. Most though have been purchased in the past at places like Ikea, antique stores, Target, Walmart, Home Goods, Lilly Pulitzer, Hobby Lobby, Kate Spade, Rae Dunn, and much more!

Happy Lady Cave is a Happy Lady!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Housewarming Party!

Love me a great party!!! I have always had a passion for hosting. In fact, I hosted quite a few parties at my college apartment. However, unfortunately, due to COVID-19, I was not able to host there much during the final year and a half of college. So, given that COVID-19 has subsided and I have moved into the Washington, DC area, I decided to host my very own Housewarming Party! Today, I am giving you ALLL the details on it!

For my Housewarming Party, I decided to host it out on my patio (you can check out my Patio Reveal here!), especially since I was dog sitting. For food, I served chips, crab dip, queso, soft-serve pretzels, shrimp, and *of course* strawberry margaritas. As for decor, I got the majority of it at The Dollar Tree, unless I had it from before. Below, I will list where I purchased ALL the items used.

Where I Got My Decor!

  • Bar Cart: Home Goods
  • Luau Banner: The Dollar Tree
  • Gold Scalloped Ice Bucket: Kate Spade
  • Miniature Flamingo: The Dollar Tree
  • Flamingo Pink Cups: Home Goods
  • Silver Duck Ice Bucket: Family Antique
  • Aqua Bucket: The Dollar Tree
  • Pink Tablecloth: The Dollar Tree
  • Aqua Serving Bowl: The Dollar Tree
  • Pink Bowl: Home Goods
  • Pineapple Plates: The Dollar Tree
  • Luau Straws: The Dollar Tree
  • Flamingo “Welcome” Sign: NC State Farmers Market

Here’s to hosting many more gatherings very soon!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Guest Write: Megan & Emily of Sundae Sisters Co!

If you haven’t seen the most adorable sister duo, then look no further than Megan and Emily! Megan and Emily co-founded their own sticker line where they sell their stickers on Etsy and locally within the Raleigh-Cary area. Megan has become one of my good friends at Meredith College, she is also my best friend Laurie’s Lil Sis through Meredith’s Big Sis/Lil Sis program! I have also learned a lot about her sister Emily who has Down syndrome and is breaking barriers everyday as a person with the disability. Today, I am letting both Megan and Emily take the wheel as I will be interviewing them about their journey with Sundae Sisters Co, life as sisters, and future aspirations for their business.

Tell me a bit about yourselves!

We are Sundae Sisters Co! I (Megan) had the idea to change my old Etsy shop to better include Emily. With Covid, she did not get as much work experience through her school and was also having trouble finding a job. Individuals with special needs are already severely un-employed, but adding a global pandemic on top did not help. So I started designing stickers and Emily does all of the packaging. We started around Mid-May and have sold over 250 stickers!

Megan, I know you are currently in college. What school do you attend and what are you studying?

I am a rising Sophomore at Meredith College in Raleigh,NC and I am studying Child Development in hopes of becoming a teacher.

Emily, I know you recently just graduated from high school – congrats! What are your next steps?

I will continue packaging for Sundae Sisters Co, which I love doing. I check everyday to see if I have new orders to package. I was also recently hired as a volunteer for Esteamed Coffee in Downtown Cary,NC! I will start training this summer. I also love participating in Gigi’s Playhouse Raleigh programs such as yoga, ballet, and social skills. I am also on a competitive cheer team at Inspire Athletics, we are called the Superstars.

Share a fun fact about each of y’all!

We share this fact because we are both huge Disney fans! If you ever are going to Disney World or Disneyland, contact us for tips! Megan’s favorite rides are Everest and Flight of Passage. Emily’s favorite rides are Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Flight of Passage.

Tell me a bit about Sundae Sisters Co and the mission behind it!

Our mission is to spread happiness and kindness to others through our designs while also showing the importance of employing individuals with special needs. Many businesses don’t employ people with special needs because they don’t see all or their abilities, so we want to show people that they are valuable employees.

What made y’all choose to start Sundae Sisters Co?

I (Megan) have always loved being crafty. I already had an Etsy shop but kind of sold very random things. I also knew Emily was graduating soon and with Covid, she was going to have trouble finding a job. So I rebranded my Etsy to better include her with something she could easily ship, but also something I love to sell! It’s a win-win for both of us because we both have an outlet we enjoy within the business.

So, tell me about y’all’s design process – how do y’all brainstorm your super fun and adorable designs?!

 We get a lot of requests which we love getting, please send them in! We also get lots of inspiration from social media and pictures we take. We love taking pictures of plants and different landmarks.

Speaking of designs, please tell me both of your favorite designs!!!

Megan’s favorite design right now is the Retro Van Sticker because she loves the colors! Emily loves the Lucky Few sticker which is a symbol for Down Syndrome!

Stickers from the Vaccinated Line releasing this Tuesday July 13
Stickers from the Collegiate Line releasing on July 27

I know you both work together as a team to execute both designing and sending off stickers to their new homes. How do y’all make the magic happen?!

Megan handles designing the stickers, printing (which we do in house), listing each item, and keeping everything organized. Emily is in charge of all shipping which includes writing each thank you note by hand, gathering the stickers for each order, packaging, weighing, adding the stamp, and putting it in the mailbox! She also will sometimes prep things like envelopes or supplies for our vendor events.

You both have visited local farmers markets, such as in Cary, to showcase your business. Do y’all have any dream markets that y’all want to showcase at?

There are lots of different markets in the Triangle, it’s overwhelming sometimes. We loved being at Food and Flea in Downtown Cary in June, we hope to be back a few more times this fall just in time for the holidays! We would also love to have our stickers sold in local stores in boutiques, that is something we are working on now!

Megan & Emily selling stickers at Food and Flea in Cary, North Carolina

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that y’all donate some of your profits to a different charity each month. Giving back is SO important. How does charity play a role in Sundae Sisters Co’s mission?

So many charities have benefited our family, such as North Carolina Down Syndrome Alliance, Gigi’s Playhouse Raleigh, Miracle League, Esteemed Coffee and more! We think it is so important to give back to the community as they have given to us. We are trying to donate every month as well as have a sticker that donates profits to a specific charity each month.

I am so inspired by y’all’s business! What would y’all say to someone who is looking to start their own business someday?

 Just go for it! Take it slow and don’t over-invest so you don’t get in over your head. Then re-invest the money you make or a portion of it back into your business to help it grow.

Y’all are both strong advocates for inclusion and acceptance of everybody. Tell me about your experiences as advocates!

I think our parents have always instilled in us that it is important to fight for what is right and to be inclusive of everyone, no matter their walk of life. Everyone is different and that is what makes us unique individuals. Being apart of the disability community is fun and exciting, but it can also open doors to show the hard parts of having a disability. This has made us want to fight even more to share the message that everyone should be included and given the same opportunities. For example, I (Megan) was inspired by NC State’s Victory Day game that they did with Gigi’s Playhouse. It was an inclusive night where individuals with  Down Syndrome got to experience practice and a game of football with the NC State Football team. So, I created my own version of that at my High School. Inclusion events like these become a ripple effect to show others that individuals with special needs are just like everyone else, they just want to have fun and make friends!

What is in the oh-so exciting future of Sundae Sisters Co?

Well, we hope to get lots more orders. Just these past few weeks, our orders have quadrupled. We would love to do more markets and maybe have a few more friends with special needs help us. If we grow even more, we would love to have others help us with packaging so they can learn work skills too. We would also love to have our stickers available in stores, this way we could get our designs and mission out to a larger community!

Lastly, if you each could tell yourself one thing before you started Sundae Sisters Co, then what would it be?

I think we both would never have imagined it being as successful as we have been in our first month of being open. We are so thankful to each and every person who has supported us; whether it was just a like, comment, sharing us on social media, placing an order or visiting us at a market.

I cannot wait to see ALL that Megan and Emily do moving forward and I hope you do, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Guest Write: Ainsley on Holistic Living!

Hey y’all! Today, I have my first-ever guest writer on the blog – my good friend Ainsley! Ainsley and I met at Meredith College through social media and my blog of all things during my Senior year! She is a Sophomore at Meredith College studying Business and Theatre and a consultant at Arbonne who strives to share the importance of healthy living and empowerment for all. Today, Ainsley will be talking about her daily life holistic living experiences and how you can practice it, too. Let’s welcome Ainsley!!!

Hey everyone! I’m Ainsley- I met Katie through school and we’ve become good friends since! I’m so excited to share with you all today about something very dear to me and part of my daily life- holistic healthy living. 

8 years ago, my step-mom came into my life, and she had just started her own business as an Arbonne Independent Consultant. With that, she introduced me to this whole new way to take care of myself in body, mind and skin. Before I was introduced to Arbonne and their approach to living well, I had never given thought to taking care of the largest organ in my body or taking care of my gut to help my mental health and skin clarity.

Holistic healthy living is about taking care of every part of your body to feel your best. Everything is all connected- what you put on your skin absorbs into your bloodstream; your gut health has a huge impact on your serotonin production and your skin clarity level. Living well this way allows you to take care of every aspect of yourself so that you can be your best self for others. It’s also about doing this self-care daily, and that’s where Arbonne comes in.

Arbonne has been around for 40+ years globally; we’ve been 100% vegan since we were founded, completely cruelty free because everything is scientifically tested on humans (the clinical trial results are available at arbonne.com), and we ban over 2,400 toxins and chemicals where the US only bans 11-15 and Europe only about 1,500. Arbonne is also a certified B Corporation meaning we are a force for good for people and the planet; not only are we committed to environmental sustainability in product packaging, but we also sustainably source the best ingredients from around the world. As a B Corp, we also have legal accountability, customer, and employee welfare programs. This company has continued to impress me with their products, service, and sustainability and accountability measures over the 8 years I’ve been around this. I love it so much because Arbonne provides pure, safe, and beneficial products as tools I need to help integrate healthy living into my daily routine.

For example, when I get up in the morning, I always do my skincare routine, and then I have a nutrient-dense smoothie as a part of my breakfast along with my B vitamins in the energy fizzies. To make my smoothie, I get 8oz of water and put in 2 scoops of the Arbonne FeelFit Pea Protein Chocolate Flavor, which not only has 20g vegan protein, but also has a blend of 24 vitamins and minerals that my body can easily absorb into my bloodstream. I also add a scoop of the BeWell Superfood greens because I struggle to get my greens in, and this has 37 different fruits and veggies all blended together! I then add a banana, peanut butter, and ice. It’s delicious!! So smooth and creamy and tasty 🙂 Having an EnergyFizz is also a morning essential for me. It only has 55 mg of caffeine from green tea and guarana, and only 2g organic cane sugar! The main ingredients are actually B6 and B12 vitamins to help my body generate natural, sustainable energy and help my brain function. My favorite is the Strawberry flavor!! I just mix it up in water and it’s delicious 🙂

After breakfast, I take care of my skin using the Re9 Prepwork skincare. This is my fav skincare because it’s super fast in the morning! Taking care of your skin is a really important part in holistic healthy living because what you put on your skin absorbs into your bloodstream; plus, it’s the largest organ in your body.

However, your skin clarity is only going to be as good as your gut health- which is why I also have the GutHealth digestion and microbiome support to give my gut an extra boost. It’s got prebiotics, probiotics, and digestive enzymes to help your body break down the crap sitting in your intestines (yes, we all have it- usually anywhere from 6 to 21 pounds of it just sitting there! yuck!). If you’re just getting started with holistic healthy living, I would highly recommend the GutHealth as something to help your body get started in healing itself. Using that to help you along with tuning into the messages your body is sending, moving your body daily, and starting to take care of your skin will help you establish daily habits for taking care of yourself.

Ever since I started taking care of myself this way, I’ve seen a huge difference in how I look and feel- some people have told me I just glow differently in a good way! This has made such a difference in my life and been a huge gift to my family, friends, and everyone I’ve encountered that I now have my own business as an Arbonne Independent Consultant and District Manager.

I’m so grateful that Katie has invited me to come and share some tips for holistic healthy living with you all today! Taking care of your gut by fueling yourself properly, getting enough rest, tuning into the messages your body is sending, moving your body regularly, and surrounding yourself with good friends and a positive mindset will take you so far!

If you want to shop any of the products I mentioned to help you out as you get started on living well holistically, here is my website link: www.ainsleymengel.arbonne.com

Thank you, Ainsley for your wise words. Hopefully we can ALL learn a bit from Ainsley and her empowering holistic living experiences!

XOXO – Katie <3

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DC Diaries – Part 3

My move to Washington, DC has been a whirlwind of emotions – happiness, sadness, excitement, grief, and so much more. Moving to the big city has been OH SO exciting. However, what is even more exciting is the fact that I am finally moving into my new place and getting my feet off the ground and, yes, it is exciting!

The past few weeks, I struggled to feel as if I had my ducks in a row. You know, the feeling when you feel as if NOTHING in your life is in place?! Yep – that feeling. I have been living in a guest room for the past few weeks as I wait to move into my apartment and for it to be ready for me to do just that. Having my items literally in suitcases and boxes has made me go a bit crazy and feel as if my ducks are anything but in a row. Naturally, I do not know many people who enjoy living out of a suitcase unless they’re traveling, and it can feel overwhelming and exhausting for sure. I feel very fortunate that I do not start my job until July 26 and that my company wanted me to have 2 months off before even starting to work. It has been such a blessing, and I cannot thank them enough for giving me this time. So, I am very excited to get settled in and get prepared more so for my job.

Although I will not share too much about the company that I am going to be working for and prefer to keep that information private, I will tell y’all that I am extremely excited to be working there! The company culture and everyone I have met there are extremely kind, driven, and willing to learn and grow. It is such a great place!!!

In the past few weeks that I have been in the Washington, DC area, I have missed having friends to hang out with. As I have mentioned before, it is most definitely weird to not have my friends living in the same apartment complex as me or even within the same exact square mile – something that my readers currently in college and/or graduate school and living with college friends need to savor every moment of!!! Never did I ever think I would download Bumble again, I tried multiple dating apps but they are just not for me and I currently want to focus on my career and love being single, but I did.

Hold your horses, though, I downloaded Bumble BFF NOT Bumble dating, and, yes, there is a version of Bumble where you can meet friends and ONLY friends. Let me tell y’all, I LOVE Bumble BFF! My friend Claire told me about it and how she met some pretty cool folks on there, so I decided to give it a try, too. Bumble BFF is pretty fun and it has been a great way to meet friends who are also looking for friends and starting out in the Washington, DC area, too. I am also pretty lucky to have a few friends back at home from high school – shoutout to Wyatt, Haley, Violet, Laura, and so many more – as well as fellow influencer Talia of Dresses and Democracy. I am also a new member of The Blogger Union’s Washington, DC chapter and I am going to an event with them along with Talia and I cannot wait to meet other influencers in my own backyard. Through and through, it is always nice to make new friends as well. Like I said, the more the merrier!!!

While these next few weeks will be crazy, my life in Washington, DC is also getting crazy exciting! AND, my ducks are beginning to *finally* feel as if they are getting in a row. Cheers to a great week y’all!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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What I Wish I Knew Before My Post-Grad Move

Moving can be tedious and stressful! The only moves I really remember experiencing were moves to and from college but mostly to my college dorms and apartment. But, I never experienced moving post-graduation and let me tell y’all there are quite a few differences AND things that I wish I knew! So, I will be sharing some of the many things that I wish I knew before my post-graduation move.

What I Wish I Knew Before My Post-Grad Move 

  1. There is sometimes a holding phase – Yes, there is a period of waiting when it comes to post-graduation moves. Well, occasionally. Many of us post-grads move back home either for a few weeks, months, or even years before moving into our own apartments. The holding phase also known as the waiting period can suck! But, it is what you make it – taking time to enjoy with family is so important as you probably will not have times like these again. The same can go for seeing friends in your hometown or your favorite hometown spots. Although it can suck at times, having experienced the holding phase will make you so much stronger and more resilient in the end!
  2. Do your packing before your potential helpers come – With a big move like your post-graduation move, there is a lot of things that you do need to pack before you move! I made the mistake of not packing enough before my moving helpers aka my family came to help me move out. Any work you can do on the front end to help mitigate the moving out process will not only help yourself but those who are also helping you move out.
  3. Determine if there is anything that you don’t want or need anymore – if you know you do not need something anymore or there is no place for it, then sell or donate it! At the same time, if your things will be in storage for some time, then it is definitely worth seeing if there’s anything that you do not want/want to buy new when the time comes to get it out of storage and sell it. Having less stuff to move out is always a bonus!
  4. Make a list of things and its place within your new place – Whether or not you will be in a new apartment right off the bat, knowing where you would put some of your things in your new place is always the way to go. That way, if you need to store things, then you can determine what goes in storage and what doesn’t and arrange it all accordingly. The same concept can go for figuring out what things to get rid of and which to keep. Lists most definitely help!
  5. It WILL be Emotional! – Yes, moving out of your home away from home to wherever the road may take you next will be emotional. Whether or not you loved your college experience, it is always emotional to move onto the next phase of life. That being said, be sure to have some support by your side and take some time for yourself when needed (more on that in the next bullet!).
  6. Take time for YOU – Through it all, moving is stressful AND emotional! Above all else, remember to take time for yourself during the moving process. Whatever that may be for you, be sure to take the time to do something for YOU!

Through it all, the post-graduation move is HARD! It can be tiresome, emotional, and stressful. However, through it all, you will ultimately end up where you are meant to be.

XOXO – Katie <3

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