beyond the clock
  • HOME
  • BLOG
    • DECOR
    • LIFESTYLE
    • TRAVEL
  • PODCAST
  • HOME
  • BLOG
    • DECOR
    • LIFESTYLE
    • TRAVEL
  • PODCAST
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

care . grow . strengthen

1/1/2020 1 Comment

2019 Year In Review

2019 Blog Posts

Picture
Creating A Productive Space
Picture
2019 Workout Guide
Picture
Master Bedroom Refresh
Picture
Balcony Design Ideas
Picture
DIY No Sew Blanket
Picture
New Puppy Starter Checklist
Picture
8 Spots You Forget to Clean
Picture
Why Take a Staycation
Picture
 Post Holidays Reset
Picture
Cake Decorating Fun
Picture
Style with Time Guide: Bedroom
Picture
There's A Rock In My Shoe
Picture
Add This to Your Morning Routine
Picture
How To Stop Forgetting Things
Picture
Workout Outfit Round-Up
Picture
DIY Glider Bench
Picture
Summer Cake Idea
Picture
DIY Step Stool
Picture
Amazon Prime Day Finds
Picture
DIY Trellis Wall
Picture
Updated DIY Nightstand
Picture
Tile Doormat for Under $15
Picture
6 Apps to Increase Productivity
Picture
Winter Activity Guide
Picture
Favorite Fall Candles
Picture
Living Room Update Ideas
For the last 2 years, I have posted my goals here as a way to hold myself accountable. As the third annual year in review post this year, I have mixed emotions. One part of me is proud of all that I accomplished this year, and the other part is hung up on some of the shortcomings. 

One thing I know for sure is that even with missing the mark on a few things, without writing them down, and aspiring for something big, I wouldn't have taken much forward progress and let me tell you 2019 was a year of huge forward progress for me (even if it was in areas that surprised me). 

Professional

2019 Goals:
  • Be more confident in asking for the things that will help me grow.  - I actually feel really good about this one. I started speaking my hopes and dreams to others and by doing that, it really helped me grow and others were excited to connect and empower me as well. 
  • Build maturity around product development and product launches/commercialization strategy. This is driven both by my full-time work in the cancer care industry as well as with Little Foodie. - This is another area that I got better at. I began putting strategic plans for launches and product pipelines and I think it helped bring focus to the businesses. 
2020 Goals:
  • Grow BTC Solutions, specifically in the bio-tech real-estate arena as well as with a bright and passionate team. 
  • Stay focused on what is important and avoid getting distracted by the next "shiny idea"

Decor

2019 Goals:
  • 20 DIY or Recipes - I ended up only doing about 8 DIYs with 3 redesign posts and although it was half of my goal, there were some really big projects I took on this year and a few others I did but never got around to writing a blog post on. Overall, with how busy this year was, I feel like I still made some amazing transformations in my home that I feel really good about. 
  • Expand my knowledge and use of Pinterest - Create a pin for every blog post - I did update my Pinterest account and do a post for most of my blog posts so that is win! Yay! I also learned more about how to use the platform. The next thing to work on is consistency. 
2020 Goals:
  • Create and share 15 DIYs and Recipes
  • Focus on consistency of creation and sharing. 

Wellness

2019 Goals:
  • Plan 3 weekly menus that rotate throughout the year - I think this way it will be more manageable to do but we will see. - I did end up getting 3 menus made but never quite perfected the amount to make. We would end up having way too much food for the week so I didn't use it as often as I liked. 
  • Add stretching and guided meditation at least once a week. Keep more intense workouts to 4 times a week. - Unfortunately, I never added the stretching or meditation in, but I did keep my workouts to 4 times a week for the most part and also gained more mental balance through spiritual reading. 
2020 Goals:
  • Workout 30 min everyday (4 x week with more intense workouts)
  • Read at least 10 min everyday and drink 60oz of water a day. 
  • Get help around the house for cleaning and cooking, like a meal service plan. 

Travel

2019 Goals:
  • Continue to document on Insta stories and incorporate more aspects into blog posts as well. - Well 2019 ended up being the year of very minimal travel. I did do a good job sharing our travels through stories but didn't turn them into blog posts since they weren't that exciting of destinations but hope that I can do better in this area next year.





2020 Goals:
  • I have decided that travel won't be a part of my blog as much but inspiration I get from my travels will get rolled into the Decor section of things. That being said, travel still brings me so much happiness so I will continue to share regularly on Instagram stories. 

Things I added:

This year I launched Beyond The Clock Solutions, a boutique project management consulting company focused on helping fast-growing companies with their product pipeline and infrastructure development. As part of this, I got to work on some really amazing projects this year including the buildout of a 33,000 square foot office and laboratory space. I was able to bring my expertise of the biotech industry and combine them with design and finishing touches for the space that made it really a dream come true. 

It always amazes me that we can have a vision or goal in mind and as we work towards it and continue to chip away, it evolves and changes in ways we could never expect. That is what makes life a continued adventure and I'm so thankful for that. I'm thankful for all of you being a part of this journey and friends, family, and colleagues who helped make 2019 a transformational one. 

2020 already seems like it's got some big things in store and I am looking forward to where it takes me abnd Beyond the Clock. 

​Happy New Year to all of you! 

xoxo,
Jessica

1 Comment

12/2/2019 0 Comments

Winter Wonderland Activity Guide

Picture
Picture
Picture
One of the things I love about the winter season is all the little details that people put up around their home, shops and parks to make this time of year feel extra special. No matter what holiday you celebrate, enjoying this time with friends and family and making traditions that everyone will remember is what makes this time of year so wonderful.

This time of year always seems to fly by too, but it’s so important to be intentional about making time to stop and smell the hot cocoa. My parents have always been so good about bringing us together through fun activities and unique family traditions and I’m so excited for what’s ahead this year.

As a fun way to be intentional this season, I created a winter wonderland checklist filled with traditions my family loves to do as well as fun community events and activities to explore and enjoy.

Below is my winter wonderland activity guide and the best part is you can screenshot it for your phone or print it out to have and check off. I hope your winter is full of fun and festive activities with all your loved ones.

xoxo,
​Jessica

Picture
0 Comments

8/18/2019 0 Comments

6 Simple Apps You Should Be Using for Productivity

Picture
How many times do you download and app, use it twice, and then forget about it after 2 weeks. Yup, that's me too! I'm always searching for ways to simplify and organize my life so I can keep all the moving parts actually moving forward rather than spinning in and endless cycle of whoops, forgot that. 

In the last 2 years, there are 6 apps that have made their way to the first screen of my phone (and integrated onto my computer as well) and have been game changers for time management, getting things done and feeling strong and balanced. I use an iphone so only know how these work from my experience (most of them are the built-in apps) but I'm confident android devices have similar built-in capabilities to use. No matter if you are working full-time, part-time, these apps help organize any busy schedule and get more items off your list. 
1. Reminders (built-in iphone app)
I use the reminders app to keep track of my to-do list. I went into detail about how I use it earlier this year, and it's still providing me the structure I need to ensure nothing falls off my plate. It's effective for me to track my action items from meetings directly on my computer (I use the cloud sync with my mac), or running between meetings via my phone, or if I think of something I need to add to my list while walking Stella, I can just add it onto the list. You can also use Siri to set the reminders too which is helpful while driving. 

Basically, I use the Reminders app as a dumping ground for all the things I .need to do and then either weekly or daily (depending on how long the list is) I prioritize the list. I keep the top 3-5 items on my "Hot List" and then keep the remaining items on a "backlog" list by category. 

This system has been a game changer in helping me remember things. I can write them down once and then check them off as they make their way up the priority list. Things as small as, order more dog food, or as big as, record podcast. I can keep them in one place and don't clog my mind with trying to remember those tasks that we don't want to do, but still need to get done. 
2. GoogleDrive
This is another one that I use on my phone and computer. You can download the GoogleDrive so that you can save files directly from your computer to the cloud and be able to access them from your phone from there. This is especially helpful for photos, but I also use it for updating and tracking excel or jotting down ideas for a post or project so they are always stored and accessible from multiple locations. 
3. Grammarly
Thanks to using autocorrect on my phone forever, I often don't catch a spelling mistake when I'm in a rush sending an email or writing a blog post. I recently discovered Grammarly and I LOVE it. It allows me to write my entire stream of consciousness and then identifies areas to improve spelling, grammar and syntax. I had no idea I was using so many shortcuts in my emails until I started using it and I feel like it just makes my writing seem much more professional and well thought out without me spending hours re-reading things. 
4.  Slack
Slack is an amazing communication tool for teams. It's basically like instant messaging but has search, file sharing, and gifs/emojis on turbo mode. One of my favorite things about slack is "Slackbot". I use slackbot to remind me to follow-up on emails, and best part is that it's free! 

As a project manager, you are coordinating a lot of communication and follow-up to get the information is key. I used to check something off my list once I emailed someone,  however, I quickly learned that if they don't respond within a reasonable time and it's off my list....it gets lost.

I started using Slackbot to set reminders. You can ask it to remind you on a day and time to follow-up with something. The reason I like this better than the using the Reminders app on my phone for one is because it keeps the list of reminders you've set hidden. This way, you can keep the task related items on a list format like the Reminders app and keep the communication reminders/nudges hidden in Slackbot. This way they don't clog up your to-do list which really helps prevent that overwhelming feeling that your list is getting too long to deal with. 

Slack is another one I use on both my phone and computer. What can I say, I like to always be able to access . something! 
5. Podcasts (built-in iphone app)
For this, you can really use your favorite app for listening to podcasts such as Spotify, SoundCloud or any others. I typically use the Podcast app on my iphone and save my favorite podcasts in my library. The reason I love podcasts is that you can learn so much while multi-tasking. I listen to podcasts on my drive, walking the dog, or cleaning the house. I find so much inspiration for developing my business, my career, and making my family stronger. 

Also, I like to have a few downloaded before a long flight. The podcast app on the iphone will automatically download a few of the most recent ones from the podcasts you are subscribed to so it helps remove a step before packing for a big trip and I love not having to remember another thing! 
6. Beachbody on Demand
The final app for productivity may seem a bit counterintuitive since it isn't directly related to business, but I strongly feel that keeping an active body helps dramatically improve an active mind and keep you at the top of your game. I generally love going to a live class like barre or OrangeTheory (see my list of favorites here), but with a busy schedule, it's hard to make certain class times or to fight the traffic to get to a class. This is why I love the Beachbody On Demand program. I can use it literally anywhere, traveling, at home, or at the park and they have classes that range from 20 minutes to 1.5 hours, with and without weights. All these options readily accessible makes it nearly impossible to skip a workout (although I am human and it does happen). Once I have a workout done, I'm almost always recharged and ready to get more work done and that is why it made the list for productivity apps.
There you have it! These apps are about as simple as it gets but using them effectively can make transformational changes for your productivity and help make time management and getting things done so much easier. When you have big goals, you likely also have a to-do list either on paper or running through your head that is a million miles long, utilizing tools like these helps remove the feeling that you are missing or forgetting something, get it on paper, and create systems to help you remember, execute, learn, and feel good while doing it. 

xoxo, 
Jessica

0 Comments

7/15/2019 0 Comments

Amazon Prime Day Finds

Amazon prime is probably one of my favorite things of all time! I do a lot of online shopping and prime makes it easy to get things in fast so I can incorporate them into my design or if it's a quick fix item like a lightbulb or pillow insert. I even have a few items on subscription like razors, Emergen-C, and Nespresso pods so we never run out and I don't have to remember to order them. 

I spent the last few days gearing up for Amazon Prime and have filled the BTC store with some of my absolute favorites. It includes things that I've purchased and loved and few that are on my wish list. Shop by category below or shop the entire shop here. 

Enjoy shopping and thank you for supporting my blog by buying through these links! 
PRIME DEALS
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
PILLOWS
Picture
CANDLES
Picture
THROW BLANKETS
Picture
LAMPS
Picture
SHELF STYLING
Picture
BASKETS
Picture
AFFORDABLE FASHION
Picture
​P.S. Don't miss out on bonus tips and content by subscribing to the newsletter. CLICK HERE to learn more. ​​
0 Comments

6/19/2019 0 Comments

Mermaid Cake For Your Summer Party

Ever since I made my husband his leopard birthday cake earlier this year, he's been begging for another one. I was thinking for a while about what type of cake to make, so when Disney asked to help celebrate the 30th Anniversary of The Little Mermaid, I knew exactly what type of cake to make. It ended up tasting so good that it was completely eaten within 24 hours. 

A few of you guys asked how to make it so I put together a guide for you. Hope you enjoy it for your next birthday party or summer soiree, it will definitely make a splash with your guests. :-) 
Picture
INGREDIENTS:
  • Funfetti cake mix (oil, eggs, water)
  • White chocolate rounds (I needed 2 bags)
  • Food coloring
  • White icing (here is one of my favorite homemade recipes)
  • Rice Krispies
  • Marshmallows
  • Butter
  • Sprinkles

SUPPLIES:
  • Parchment paper
  • Two 7" Pans
  • One 4" Pan
  • Cooling rack 
  • Icing knife - I also love having a turntable when decorating
  • Cake stand (I've linked all my favorites below)
  • Wooden dowel - ​you just need one, but I use the all the time in random projects

TIME:
About 2 hours hands-on time but lots of waiting steps in between. Prepare for 6 hours in total. 
STEPS:
The first few steps are super easy, just follow the back of the Funfetti box! 

Grease the bottom of the pans, and then place parchment paper at the bottom. This will save you from scraping your cake out of the pan, or worse, having it break as it cools. 
Picture
Next, follow the recipe on the back of the Rice Krispy's Cereal box to make a batch of Rice Krispy Treats. (I told you the first few steps were easy!) 

Let the mixture cool for 2-5 minutes. 

Cut the one of the wooden dowels in half, I used just a pair of scissors and rotated the towel around as I cut. This is what you will use to create the mermaid tail. 

Lay parchment or wax paper on a board or plate, take about 2 cups of the Rice Krispy mixture and start forming it around the wooden dowel in the shape of a tail. In order to make sure the tail stays full supported, I would keep it to a maximum of 4-5 inches at it's widest and 3-5 inches high. Place the tail in the fridge to cool for at least 6 hours, a full 24 hours would be great so that it doesn't melt when out the fridge and on your cake. 

Take the rest of the Rice Krispy mixture and place it in your favorite pyrex dish and cool for another treat later. 
Picture
Once your cakes are cooked, place the on the drying rack to cool for a few hours. You want to ensure that they are fully cooled before icing. (Otherwise, your ice will melt while you are applying it and none of your decorations will stick, they will melt too.) 

While you wait for the cake to cool, you can start making the "scales" of your mermaid body using the white chocolate rounds and some food coloring. 

Choose your favorite color combination. I used green and blue but you could do pink and purple or yellow and orange, so many fun possibilities! 

Put a teaspoon of food coloring in a disposable cup, (mine were not disposable and they now have a permanent color tinge to them, whoops). Then mix 2-3 tablespoons of water in and swirl until an even and smooth liquid. You want the color to be fairly vibrant in the cup since it will take some time to transfer to the chocolate chips. 

Most people suggest using oil food coloring instead of water based for chocolate, but since I wasn't trying to permanently change the color of the chocolate and rather give it a watery effect, it worked well for me and didn't change the taste of the chips. 

Next place the chips in the cups and let sit for 5 min. I did mine in batches of about do chips at a time, then I scooped them out with a strained spoon and placed them individually on a paper towel to dry. 

Let them dry for 10-20 min before applying to your cake. 
Now is the fun part where you bring all the little pieces together. 

Prepare your homemade icing, or use the store purchased one and ice your cake. I like to put about a 1/2 inch thick application of icing between cake layers. 

For the exterior icing, use your turntable and icing knife to get an even coat on all surfaces. It doesn't need to be too pretty since we will be covering it with chocolate,  but even and uniform will help. 

Then take your chocolate rounds and starting from the bottom, begin applying them around the cake. With each layer, offset the round so that the layer above hangs just barely over the gap between two on the layer beneath. 

Continue applying until the cake is covered. Lastly, take your tail out of the fridge and place it in the top of the cake. Apply sprinkles or for a bit of a glitter effect and get ready to party! 
Picture
Picture
Picture
To me, every cake looks better on a cake stand, so I rounded up some of my favorite cake stands below. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Can't wait to see how your creations turn out and thanks for following along! I'm so glad you are here. Make sure to  subscribe  so you never miss a post or giveaway and tag #beyondtheclockcreation so we can check out all your masterpieces! 

xoxo,
​Jessica

0 Comments

5/25/2019 0 Comments

There's a Rock in My Shoe

Picture
​It was a perfect 75 degrees and sunny, a slight breeze that was just enough to keep me from breaking a sweat as I walked through the park. I had the Good To Be Home podcast on listening to the benefits of a digital vision board, when I felt it. That annoying rock stuck in between the tread of my shoes.
 
I ignored it at first, thinking that it would shake it’s way out, I mean it happens sometimes and I’d rather not stop and deal with it right now. Then it just became too annoying that I stopped, lifted my foot.  Much to my surprise, there wasn’t just one rock in my shoe, but the treads had tons of rocks, both big and small and only one was causing the irritation, and it wasn’t even the biggest one. P.S. why do shoe company’s make it so easy for pebbles to get stuck in there, I feel like that could be avoided #productidea.
​

Anyway, as I sat there and cleared my shoe from the mini irritations, I took a few deep breaths some of frustration and others from the big hill I’d just climbed up. Then I placed my foot firmly on the ground and started walking with renewed energy.
 
It’s utterly amazing to me how our bodies have a way of telling us to stop. Sometimes we don’t know all the things that have been weighing us down but whether it be an injury, a bad cold, or that blah feeling we get when we are feeling unfulfilled, we are forced to sit, reflect, and heal.
 
While we often wait for that rock in our shoe to trigger this rest, it’s really all the little pebbles which we ignore that causes the breakdown.
 
That pile of clothes that has been sitting on the ottoman in your for a week while trying on 18 outfits just to find the perfect look for a random Tuesday.
 
Those shoes that have needed to be repaired but you keep wanting to wear them so you walk around with a horse-like click clack. Trying to take small steps to minimize the sound, but you can’t help but think it’s the loudest thing that everyone can hear and it definitely doesn't sound like the lady boss strut you are going for.
 
That friend you’ve been meaning to contact, the appointment you’ve been meaning to make, the recipe you’ve been wanting to try. The list goes on and on and as the list get’s longer, the stress begins to build and quite literally with the pebbles, weigh us down.
 
So how can we remove the pebbles on a daily basis, rather than waiting for “the big one” to slow us down?

  • Start with the 60 second snaps

If something comes on your list, or you see it as you walk down the hall and it will take you less than 60 seconds to do, then do it right there and then. There is no point to adding this one to your to-do list whether it is a physical list or the list floating in your mental load.  Just take care of it right away and then it won’t be nagging at you for who knows how long and taking up mental space and time that is much more useful for the heavy hitters.

  • Slim it down

This is not saying do-less. I’m a firm believer that we are able to do it all, however, what it is saying is slim down your daily list. Write down all the things (longer than 60 seconds) that you need to do and keep those recorded, so you don’t forget them, but then on a daily basis, take some time to narrow your list to the top 3-5 things. The things that MUST get done that day.

  • Clear it out

On a monthly basis, go through your long list and ask yourself does this really need to get done? If it hasn’t made the cut for the top 3-5 for a month, maybe it isn’t as important as you thought. Our perception of what is important changes and evolves as we do. You know that pillow you “had to have” and 6 months later you were so over. We do the same thing to ourselves with our to-do lists, so let those expired items go.
​ 
There is no magic wand for taking stress out of our lives, we always have it in some form. But what we do have, is our ability to take control of how it impacts us by the little actions we do each day to manage it. The number one way to manage stress is by not ignoring it but by dealing with it head on whether it’s the 60 second snap or a bigger item.
 
This isn’t to say you may step on a big rock occasionally that makes you pause no matter how well you manage it. It is saying, however, that you won’t have to face that rock everyday if you deal with the little pebbles instead.
 
Every day I work on these same things. Not every day is perfect, but with a system to fall back on, I find that I can focus and keep things moving. Much like the first step of my walk after the cleared out rocks in my shoe.  
0 Comments

4/29/2019 0 Comments

Sometimes Projects Fail...That Doesn't Mean They Are a Waste of Time

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
You know that feeling where an idea comes to your head and it's super clear, super achievable, and you think, "I got this!" 

Then as you begin to dive into the details of what it takes, you start losing confidence, doubting that it's possible and doubting yourself altogether.

These are typical feelings when doing a DIY project, well honestly, they are typical feelings for any project. Even in my full-time job doing project management, the same feelings build and fall through the lifecycle of any endeavor. 

Most of the time, the lows are outweighed by hard work, momentum, and a cheer at the end of a successful deliverable. Every now and then, however, even after hours of painstaking troubleshooting, fixes and adjustments, the end product just isn't what we hoped for and that ominous word, "failure", breaks through in a sentence filled with disappointment and a hefty, burdensome feeling of time wasted. 

This recently happened to me in one of my DIY projects. If you've been following along on Instagram stories, you know over several weeks, I have been working on a PVC pipe, collapsible clothing rack for Little Foodie events. 

The original design called for just a tall rectangle with a couple feet that were perpendicular at the base to make it stand. After round 1 of working with the PVC pipes, I realized it wasn't going to be sturdy enough so I went with 4 legs and more of a 3D rectangle to give it more structure and stability. It worked, it seemed mostly stable and ready for action. 

Then I decided to paint the standard, marked up white pipes a copper finish to give the illusion of a copper pipe stand. Well I didn't take into account several things. 1) After painting the individual pieces, the joints didn't fit as tightly together so the holes that I had drilled "exactly" for the wood pieces didn't quite line up perfectly anymore. 2) The paint made it 10 times harder to take a part and left a bad residue on your hands every single time! 

By the time we got this display up for it's first show, the paint had chipped in several places and although it looked great and gave us some good height at the booth, I also was worried about 85% of the time that any large gust of wind or slight bump from a customer was going to send the whole thing into full on TIIIMMBBERRR! 

Here's the thing, although I have come to accept that this was a DIY fail, what I also have reflected on is all the good that came from it. 

1) I learned how to cut PVC pipes (shout out to Tim at Home Depot for showing me the ropes)
​2) I learned to always buy an extra can of spray paint.
3) I learned that PVC pipes don't join to the exact same place every time you take them apart and but them back together and even the smallest changes at each joint can greatly impact the rest of the structure. 
3) I got the dent in my bumper fixed while at home depot by a serendipitous mobile repair shop in the parking lot. 
4) I cleaned out the inventory/supplies closet and storage unit to make room for the new display.
5) I confirmed that the height for the Little Foodie events really helps our display and although this wasn't the long term solution it was a great prototype to show what would help make our display better. 
6) I had fun sharing the process with everyone on Instagram stories and getting your feedback along the way. 
7) I realized that over the course of the last year, I've done 15 DIY projects and this is my first "fail" so I'd say that it's pretty good odds. 

It may not have been the blockbuster success of a DIY that I was hoping for, but it still brought many lessons and will give me knowledge and patience to be able to think through the next project.

So whether it's a project at work, at home, or a project in the community, remember, that problems will always arise. You will battle through some to victory and others will end with a less than hoped for outcome, but either way there is good to be taken away, lessons to be learned and growth to be had. 

Most importantly, don't let the failure of one project stop you from pursuing others. No matter how many times you face failure, the biggest failure you can have is not trying again. 


Do you have a project that didn't work out as planned? What did you learn from it? I'd love to hear in the comments what "failed" project you were able to turn into promising lessons learned for the future!

xoxo,
​Jessica

P.S. Don't miss out on bonus tips and exclusive giveaways just for subscribers. CLICK HERE to learn more. ​​​
0 Comments

4/13/2019 0 Comments

Workout Outfit & Well-being Round-up

Picture
At the beginning of the year, Brad and I sat down and did our annual goals planning. We decided to do things a little differently this year and not only do it once at the beginning of the year, but also check-in every 90 days and reflect on our progress to make sure we are still on track and have our priorities in the right places. 

Health and well-being is important to both of us, in fact, between physical and mental health, our 90 day planning template has 2 entire sections dedicated to health. This weekend, we spent time planning our next 90 days and in doing so, I reflected on how my health was over the last 3 months and here is how it shook out. 

In January and half of February I was really good about tracking my progress and was hitting my goal more than 85% of the time. Then, after I got sick in February, I took some time off and although when I was feeling better, I got back to working out, I didn't get back to tracking it. So although I think I was doing well at reaching my goals, I have no way of actually knowing.  

Tracking our actions can be really overwhelming. First of all, it's one other thing to remember, to actually record what you are doing and secondly, it forces us to hold up a mirror of reality right to our faces at the end of the week or month. There are countless times when I end the week, craving a pasta dinner (it's my favorite Friday treat) thinking, "I was pretty healthy this week, I can totally have pasta for dinner." Then I sit and think back on the week and it's more like, "Well I guess I had ice cream after dinner last night, oh and that extra latte on Tuesday, and oh shoot, also that glass of wine on Monday night, and now that I think about it... I only worked out twice." Well shoot! I thought I was completely on track but now not only am I frustrated with myself, I'm also thinking what the heck should I have for dinner now. 

I know it happens to all of us, but as we laid out our goals for the next 90 days, I'm re-committing to not only doing the work, but also tracking it so that I can hold myself accountable and actually achieve what I set out to do this year, not only in my health, but all the other goals I have. (Cue downloading the  Boost Action Planner  for Q2 now). 

So whether you are tracking workouts, water intake, meditation or any other form of well-being, I've rounded up my favorite workout outfits and well-being treats to help us all get motivated, keeping each other accountable, and ready for summer! 

​What's one of your favorite things for staying healthy?
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

xoxo,
​Jessica

P.S. Don't miss out on bonus tips and content by subscribing to the newsletter. CLICK HERE to learn more. ​​​
0 Comments

3/23/2019 0 Comments

8 Spots You Forget To Clean... But Should Do More Often

Picture
Picture
Picture
Guess what, I got it from my Momma! In my family, my mom is known as a super cleaner. We joke that she “loves” to clean, when in actuality she just loves a clean space. Now, however, all my sisters and I know exactly what she meant all those years. Having a clean home seriously makes any bad day feel better.
 
The fresh scents, clean counters, and neatly organized drawers makes things easier to find, take stock of and just overall keeps me smiling. I need to look into the psychological effects of a clean space because I swear, there is something to it.
 
But the counters and toilets are not the only things you should be cleaning. Try incorporate the 8 things below into your cleaning routine. These ones don’t have to be weekly cleanings, but things you should do every 1-2 months to keep even the darkest corners feeling fresh.
 
  1. Light switches – We touch these probably more than door knobs so keeping these fresh keeps the germs at bay, sticky free from any dirty hands that touch them, and your walls looking fresh.
  2. Base boards – This is like a dust collection monster or a shoe scuff’s favorite spot. A magic eraser sponge does wonders here. 
  3. Drawer/Cabinet crumbs – No matter how much I try to keep things in organized tupperwares or their sealed packages, there always seem to be crumbs, especially in the junk drawer. So every time you clean, try to dump out one drawer or cabinet and wipe it down. And then overtime, you’ll keep those crumbs under control.
  4. Dishwasher filter – I always forget about this one and then wonder why my dishes aren’t looking as clean. The first thing my mom says, “did you clean the filter” and every time, that is the reason. One day, I’ll remember, and now all of you can too :-)
  5. Kitchen cabinet faces – Whether it’s a little cooking grease that accumulates or dirty hands hitting them as they pull the drawer open, these can sometimes start to look a little sad. Taking a quick spray and wipe down makes your kitchen stand out even more.
  6. Door knobs – Seriously, we touch these all the time and so does everyone else that comes to our home..
  7. Fans – Dust accumulates up there, especially during summer months when our doors and windows are open more.  Wipe them down with a damp cloth and keep a bag nearby to wipe the dust into so it doesn't fall on the floor or your furniture. 
  8. Under the bed – turn your mattress while you are at it. To keep your mattress lasting longer, you should actually rotate it often so that you don’t end up with too deep of indents on any particular side. So, while you lift the bed to get all those dust bunnies, take a mattress rotation too. 
How often do you guys clean these spots? Any other nooks and crannies that need some extra love and attention on your list? I'd love to hear them in the comments!

xoxo,
​Jessica

0 Comments

2/27/2019 0 Comments

How to Stop Forgetting Things

Picture
Picture
Inevitably we forget things. I think we all have the best intentions to not forget, but no matter what, it happens. And if you think about it, it makes sense. Did you know that we make over 200 decisions a day around food alone? 200! I only remember maybe 6 of those a day. Our brains are certainly impressive, keeping track of things we don’t even realize for all our projects and tasks, all while keep our foundational systems running to help us stay alive.
 
I used to think that if I just focused more or worked harder on remembering things, I would be able to stay on top of things. That may work for some of you still, but, after letting myself down time and time again, I realized that I needed a system to help me. I started with just pen and paper to-do lists, but I ended up leaving them between work and home and not getting much actually checked off.
 
So, slowly but surely, I implemented little things to help me get better. It started out with my hot list to do system (all about it in this post in case you missed it) and as I started getting better from that, I added in other aspects like the Boost Action planner to help keep myself accountable not only to one off tasks but also to consistent habits that help me improve my health, well-being, and specific intentions for the year. 
 
Every Sunday I spend 5-15 minutes reviewing my Boost planner and setting myself up for the week ahead. I realized that I was naturally doing a few other things on Sunday’s to help prep for the week (although not consistently) and when I did, I felt so much more on top of it and was able to reflect on a weekly basis on how well I was doing. That way if, by chance there was anything I forgot, it didn’t go months and months before getting the attention again.
 
I love this system because at the end of the day, the only way we can stop forgetting things is to keep ourselves accountable to our Intentions and actions. If not for ourselves, then for those around us, because if we don't hold ourselves accountable, for many of the things on the list, we don't just let down ourselves, but we also let down someone or some grand goal or vision down as well. 
 
This month's March Boost action planner includes my week start checklist to help you set yourself up for success each week. It will help keep you refreshed, focused and grounded in your intentions so that you can reset and keep moving toward them each week. CLICK HERE to download your template. 

This year, I plan on sitting down and doing a similar exercise for a personal quarterly review. I've included my template in the March Boost Action Planner (click here to get the March Boost Action Plan)
 
Here is how I break it down: 

1. Review Your Intentions

What did you tell yourself at the beginning of the year that you wanted to achieve or improve one.

2. Reflect on Your Progress

Where were you in January? Were you only working out once a week and where are you now?
If you’ve been using your Boost Action planner, use metrics! (i.e. I used to do 1 workout a week now I am consistently doing 2 a week) or I’ve been achieving 75% of my goals so far. (i.e. drinking 60 oz of water 22 days out of 30).

3. Improve: Set Your Next Progress Intentions

Where do you want to be at the end of next quarter. It’s ok if the answer is keep up with the improvements I’ve made and maintain consistency. It’s also ok to say, one of your intentions is no longer something you want to prioritize next quarter. Think about what you really want to get in the next 90 days to get you to your big goal you set out to achieve this year in this category and make your new intention for the quarter.
If you have missed the previous Boost Action Plan templates, click here to get the full template and remember it’s never too late too start!
 
This is the system that works for me, I’ve tweaked it along the way and there are probably a million more ways to adjust it so that it works for you. Try it out, see what works and evolve it. The system only works to help you if it’s working for you. The best way to stop forgetting is to start a system, so put a system in place for you and see where it goes. You can make adjustments along the way.
 
If you want to talk about how to improve your system. You can always shoot me an email. I love talking productivity and how we can integrate into our individual lives to work for us.

xoxo, 
Jessica

P.S. Don't miss out on bonus tips and content by subscribing to the newsletter. CLICK HERE to learn more. 
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Archives

    January 2020
    December 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018

    Categories

    All About Beach Boost Action Planner Clean Eating Cleaning Cookies DIY Easter Energy Bites Family Family Time Fitness Fourth Of July Gift Guide Gifts Growth Healthy Healthy Snacks Holidays Home Hosting Kitchen Lifestyle Little Foodie Local Spots Morning Routine Mother's Day Must Reads Organization Personal Care Personal Development Popsicles Productivity Protein Bars Puppy Recipes Reviews Routines San Diego Season Picks Snacks Style Summer Tablescape Talents Tips Traditions

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.