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!

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: 

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).

I have to admit, this year, it took me a little bit of time to get back into the swing of things. Well to clarify, I was in full swing planning and goal setting, I tried a few new approaches this year that were really fun and effective in getting me to think about exactly what I wanted out of the year and how I can break that down into manageable chunks to get there. See the full posts here and here. 
 
So now that planning is officially finished, or at least the annual one (I like quarterly planning too, sorry it must be the project manager in me) I am taking action once again. One of the goals on my list this year is to do an intense workout 3-4 times a week, something that elevates my heart rate and burns lots of calories.
 
Fitness has always been a big part of my life, I was even a barre instructor for a couple years, so I’ve tried quite a few workout regimens/classes. I like to switch it up often (I normally stick to something for 3-6 months and then fall off/get bored so by switching things up I keep it fresh and coming back for more).

​Also, depending on my schedule, at home workouts are sometimes much easier to fit in then a studio class, so I incorporate those in as well. At the end of the day, I really hate being in a gym solo (even virtually solo). If you're like me and need someone talking you through the different postures and motivating you to work harder, then the list I've compiled here is for you.

These are some of my favorite spots, ranging from local San Diego treasures to national chains and home programs. I’ve tried them all and compiled a review for you to find the one that works best for you. None of these are sponsored, just a look back at my experiences, what I like/liked and what I didn't. 

These are just some of my experiences over the last couple years of training. There are so many other programs out there, both small and large and I’d love to hear some of your favorites to add to my list of workouts to try! Let’s hear it in the comments! 

​I’m really excited to share with you guys this amazing product I got to try out. As I got ready for the holidays, I was lucky enough to partner with Smile Brilliant and I have to say it’s one of the best whitening products I have ever used.
 
To back up a little, I’ve actually tried quite a few whitening systems. Growing up, to say I had some teeth issues would maybe be a bit of an understatement. Eventually my parents started calling me the “cha-ching child” because of how *unique* my teeth were. Before I was 16 I had 4 teeth pulled, an expander, braces, and professional whitening since I had some "miniature teeth" that needed to be bonded. Yes, I definitely was the butt of some jokes throughout middle school and early high-school (I also had a back brace but that's a whole different story)
 
As I got older, I knew the benefits of maintaining all the dental work, but in the laziness of everyday life I ended up drinking all the delicious things like coffee, tea, and wine and gradually wore my retainer less and less. I tried whitening toothpaste, whitening strips and even at home whitening kits so I’ve done my fair share of research and inevitably the product always had a horrible taste and made my teeth super sensitive that I ended up stopping early.
 
When I got my Smile Brilliant kit, I was surprised that they help you make professional custom-fitted trays. Passed kits I had tried used hot water molds to make the trays, like mouth guards, and never fit quite right. These impressions took less than 10 minutes to make and then I sealed them in a pre-paid label and one week later my custom trays arrived and fit really well. 
 
After that I applied the whitening gel for 45 minutes. I did it every other day just because I know that a slower process works better for me. I actually did it while walking the dog in the morning. It was so easy and then I’d switch out the trays to the desensitizing gel for 20 minutes while doing my hair and make-up for the day. I’d already had my breakfast and coffee before the walk so it was setting basically until lunch. It was so simple to incorporate into my morning routine, and the best part is that it had more of a minty taste unlike all the other products I’ve ever tried. Check out my results below after just 2 weeks!

It’s really amazing to see how far teeth whitening has comes since I first tried it and I’m thankful I finally found something that whitens the coffee stains away without making eating ice cream impossible from the tooth sensitivity.
 
To make things even better Smile Brilliant and I have partnered for a giveaway for one of you to get a kit that will start your new year off bright! 

To enter click here and enter your details, bonus points for sharing on social!
Also, if you don't win the giveaway, you can get 15% site wide by using the code beyondtheclock15

​Good luck and happy whitening! 

'Tis the season for gift guides! ​Lately, there have been a lot of gift guides floating through my feeds and I'm loving it! It is so helpful to see what other people are loving and what they have found to really add value to their lives. Although I find them super helpful for adding to my own Christmas list and/or a close family member, some of the suggestions are just a little out of my price point for gift giving on a bigger scale (i.e. friends and co-workers).
 
I love to give a little something to friends as I meet up for happy hour or coffee around the holiday season. Something that doesn’t break the bank but also shows love and care for having them in my life. The same goes for co-workers, in reality, I actually spend more time with them than friends so a thank you for a great year always goes a long way.
 
That being said, depending how big your circle of friends is, this can quickly become a much bigger expense than intended. I’ve been searching for these go-to gifts this season and rounded up my gift guide for affordable and fabulous gifts to share with all of you. To be fair, I may have overdone the personalization aspect of things, but a lot of time people love the personal touch yet would never get it for themselves so it really adds a little something extra to the gift. 

​And remember, no matter who the gift is for, a personal, handwritten, holiday greeting card goes a long way. 

​Happy shopping! 

You may have noticed I've been a bit quieter blogging lately - it's actually for a super exciting reason. I've been working late nights behind the scenes for a big launch of a new business! It's been almost a year in the making and I'm so thrilled to finally be able to share all about Little Foodie with you.

Health and wellness has always been something that I have been passionate about, although growing up I didn't really think of it as an "extra" thing. I played year round sports and my parents always cooked healthy meals so it was just part of the way I lived. When I started working, I began noticing how hard it was to find time to exercise and cook healthy meals. I work in the cancer industry and continuously noticed co-workers (and sometimes myself) fall prey to busy schedules and easy cravings. 

When one of my previous colleagues, Dena (also in the biotech space and an amazing entrepreneur), approached me about joining forces to try and combat unhealthy habits from a young age, I was super excited to jump in. After nearly a year of late night email threads, weekend brainstorming coffee dates, and tons and tons of learning about the food industry, we decided the perfect way to start making a difference is by making healthy eating FUN! 

So today, I'm so excited to present to you the first collection of Little Foodie. A collection of onesies and toddler t-shirts featuring adorable, brightly-colored fruit and vegetable characters with a memorable message for healthy eating. Stylish, comfortable and 100% cotton, it's the perfect culmination of all my passions, design, health and family.

Take some time to browse the collection and if you know of a cute boutique in your area that these would be perfect for, please reach out! You can always grab one for your next baby shower gift while you are at it :-p. 

Can't wait to hear what you think and thank you for helping spread the word! 

Jessica

It's funny how you can connect dots once you look back, but while you are in the thick of it you sometimes feel lost. 

I've always wanted to be an entrepreneur. I don't know where it came from, but the yearning to run my own business has been the center point of my dreams for as long as I can remember. I entered college as a pre-med student and day dreamed during organic chemistry about my private practice dermatology clinic. One that would be far different from the rest. We would have manicures, pedicures, and massages while you waited for your appointment and upon check-in you would be greeted with champagne and a signature chocolate to start your appointment. Today, these are fairly widely known as Med-Spas, but at the time, there wasn't anything like it out there. 

I realized that although I loved what medicine could provide through helping people, I wasn't as excited about treating patients as I was about the experience they could have to make them feel better, stronger, and pampered by their surroundings. With that, I switched my focus to business. At the time, I felt a bit of a failure. I mean, I had chosen to go to USC specifically for the 8 year Undergrad/MD combined program. Changing from this path felt like a risky move. Would my career choice change be able to fund my student debt? Would I be able to find the right job? So much new unknown was introduced and to play it safe I stuck close to the medical field and upon graduation made my way into biotech. 

I loved what I did! Working in the cancer diagnostics space, I felt a big impact on the technology we were building. Yet, there was still a slight tug that I wasn't doing exactly what I should be. The projects I had the most fun on, were the ones that involved designing custom storage boxes for our freezers and improving workflows and placement of equipment to streamline operations. This was definitely my hearts way of trying to show me the direction of my future, but my logical brain routinely shut it down. 

As I continued to learn amazing business techniques by day, I hustled at all hours beyond the 9-5 clock,to test my passions and improve my capabilities. Barre instructor, Marketing Specialist...I even started my own health and wellness accessories company with a versatile laptop/gym bag as the signature product. I took online courses in sales, social media marketing, advertising, public speaking and so much more. I wanted so badly for my side hustle to become my main hustle and with each sleep that I didn't strike gold overnight, I grew more and more frustrated.  

After letting all the side hustles settle for a while, I tried to narrow my focus and thought what am I actually good at that I can help people with. I woke up one night with the idea to start a blog called "Beyond The Clock". I told my husband, that the one thing that I know I am good at (because I'd done it so many times) is trying new things. I may not know up front if I will be good at something, but I always give it a shot. The blog was set to feature things that I loved  to do outside of my 9-5, like travel, health and wellness, family and my long lost passion for design. At the time, I didn't know that this would become my main focus. I just wanted to have a place, with no expectations of anything but expressing the things I love in my own way. 

Now looking back at how Beyond the Clock has grown, I see all the stepping stones that brought me one step closer to my passion. In fact, taking it all the way back to a kid, I would constantly rearrange my room, trying new ways to place the bed or hang the art. There are so many pieces of this company that I still want to expand and grow, but for now, I'm loving the feeling of late nights that never feel late because I'm absolutely loving what I am doing. 

Thank you so much for being a part of this journey with me and your continual support. There is no greater feeling than the feedback I get daily from all of you about the tidbits of inspiration you get from my blog and instagram. I'm excited to share all that is ahead with you. 

Jessica

I’ve always preferred baking over cooking. Maybe it’s because of how sweet the treat is at the end of the process. I even made my two tier wedding cake from scratch (everyone at work loved all the practice cakes leading up to the big day). Anyway, as much as I love baking, I still cannot beat out my husband Brad’s chocolate chip cookies. He has mastered the perfect crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, extra chocolatey chip cookies. There are not many people he shares his recipe with, but I convinced him to let me share it with all of you. Hope you enjoy these classics as much as we do.

• 4 ¼ cup All-purpose flour
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• ½ cup of granulated sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks of butter)
• 1 tsp of salt
• 1 tsp of baking soda
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups (1 bag) of chocolate chips

 
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F. Mix flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt and baking soda in a bowl. Ensure the butter is soft at room temperature. If it’s straight out of the fridge, put it in a microwave safe bowl and melt just barely (20 sec) to keep it soft. Next add eggs, butter, and vanilla extract to the bowl. Mix it so that everything is mixed in and a consistent golden color. Lastly add in the chocolate chips and mix evenly. Chill in the freezer for 10-15 minutes for the dough to firm up a bit (try not eat all of the cookie dough before bakingJ) Place 1 inch balls on cookie sheet. You should be able to fit about 12 per sheet. Cook for 8-10 minutes. Enjoy warm with a glass of milk or let them cool and keep them in you cookie jar for the week!