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).

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I have been wanting a dog for a looonnngggg time. When my sister lived with me, I basically acted like her dog, Winston, was mine too and lived vicariously through her. So, when Brad and I welcomed Stella into our family in October, I was beyond excited.
 
To be honest, I knew it would take some convincing to get Brad onboard (he loves dogs too, but just didn’t think it was the right time for us) and so I did a lot of research on what type of dog` would be good for an apartment, how we would fit it into our lives and the cost. I compiled it all into a PowerPoint and expense spreadsheet. I know it sounds excessive, but it was actually a great gut check to see if we really could take on the responsibility.
 
And so, when we decided on Stella, I quickly hopped online and made frequent trips to PetSmart and Petco to get all the goodies for Stella’s arrival (She flew to us through Delta Pet Cargo and they were amazing!)
 
I know a few of you are gearing up for your own puppies and I’ve been getting tons of questions on what to buy so I’ve compiled my complete checklist of what to buy for a new puppy before they arrive and few others you can get based on things you learn about their behavior after a couple weeks.

Some of the best places to shop and get discounts: Petco, Petsmart coupon books, PetFlow, Chewy. Also, remember almost all these places will price match if you ask. 

◊ Check out the Banfield Puppy Plan through Petsmart for amazing petcare at a great price
◊ Make sure you ask what food they are currently eating so you can get the same one
◊ Leash - I love the rope leashes, they are really durable and look cute!
◊ Harness - This one is really good. Stella didn't love wearing it at first but it helps a ton so that she doesn't slip out of her collar while on a walk. 
◊ Collar - I got both the xs and s that Stella needed in a sale bucket at Petsmart but found similar ones here and here
◊ Potty Bags - you can get these in bulk in Amazon.
◊ Potty Bag Dispenser - I like this one with the zipper so you can store some treats in there as well. 
◊ First Toy – This was seriously her favorite toy. We gave her the little whale baby as soon as she got out of the crate the first time and then put the blanket in her new crate so that she could have something that instantly made her feel like home. She still drags both of these all around the house and it’s the cutest thing.
◊ Food bowl - I loved the dipped ceramic look to go with the rest of my neutral decor at home.
◊ Water jug - This one is super helpful so that you don't have to fill the water as often 
◊ Bed - I got Stella's on sale at Tuesday Morning but here is one similar. She loves the lips on the side to use as a pillow for her head. 
◊ Crate - I really wanted to DIY her crate, but even DIY couldn't beat how affordable this one was. Maybe one day I'll still do a DIY but for affordability, this is the way to go!
◊ Crate Pad - to keep her cozy even in her crate. You can wash this too if there are any early accidents. I did keep a potty pad in her crate for the first few weeks just to be safe. 
◊ Training Treats - Stella is super food motivated and love these. 
◊ Puppy pads - We used these when she was a puppy and also again once she got spayed so she had an easy spot to go when she was out of it. 
◊ Fresh patch - We don't have a yard so we get these delivered monthly and keep it on the balcony so she has an easy spot to go. 
◊ Carpet Cleaner - literally the MUST have purchase while potty training. We traveled a lot while she was a puppy too so this came in handy in everyone else's house too. 
◊ Food Tupperware - I keep Stella's food on the kitchen counter so I really wanted a cute container. I love this one and then I keep her big 50Lb food bag in the pantry and refill it as needed. 
◊ Treat Tupperware - I love this one as a simple and fun jar that keeps her treats fresh.
◊ Brush - I like that this one has a soft side and a harder side. Stella was super sensitive to brushing at first so having the soft side really helped her get used to brushing. 
◊ Shampoo - I haven't tried any others yet but this one is great so far.
◊ Slow eating food bowl - Stella eats way too fast and almost inhales her food so we had to get these to try help slow her down. This is the one we got, but here is a more stylish one that I want to get soon. 
◊ Mini tennis balls - She LOVES fetch and these are perfect for a small dog or puppy
◊ Chew Toys - I mean, can a pup really ever have too many toys. This one and this one are her favorite. 
◊ Toy box - I hate clutter, so everyday, I put her toys back in the bin before bed. I love this one from ikea
◊ Antler chew – This is an amazing toy while teething or if you'll be gone for a few hours, it keeps them entertained and is great for their teeth too. 

'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! 

When it comes to holidays, my mom has always been the BEST decorator, cook and activity planner. She has done Easter egg hunts for us every single year (yup even as adults and even if we are on a family trip. One year she hid the eggs in the hotel room while we are at breakfast and we had the best time searching all the new hiding places).

Needless to say, I've picked up a few tips from her to make the best hunt possible. 

My mom would leave a little basket with a few socks, chocolates, and knick knack treats outside our door so that when we woke up in the morning, we had a sweet surprise and could also use the basket for the hunt that was soon to ensue. Whether bucket or basket, picking out one that can add great decor to a room after the fact is an added bonus!

First it's best to start with a good number of eggs, enough for each person in the group to be able to find at least 4-6. Once you have all your eggs packed with your favorite candy (we love Starburst Jelly Beans and Cadbury Mini Eggs) count the final number of eggs that you end up hiding. This way, once everyone thinks they are all done, you can know for sure and that way you don't find a less than fresh egg in October.

My sisters and I can be a bit ruthless when it comes to Easter egg hunts (what can we say, it's just tradition). We scurry all over the house trying to beat each other to the best hiding spots. My mom always would hide a few in plain site, like against the hallway baseboards, near the front door window, or next to a vase. However, she would also hide just a few in really tricky places like behind picture frames, in between couch cushions, and inside drawers. This was the perfect balance for excitement and problem solving to try and figure out where the last egg ended up. 

Our family tradition has always been eggs and bacon (with either toast or biscuits) cooked by my dad and hot cross buns that one of our close family friends always hand delivers on Easter morning. This was great for two reasons, first, after scouring the house for candy, it's easy to want to start eating it, especially when we were kids, but having a nutrient rich meal at the ready made it easy to say no to candy until a more reasonable hour. Second, it created a special moment to sit and eat together, having time to laugh, talk and enjoy our family time. 

Traditions have always been such a special part of my upbringing and I hope that you got some great ideas. What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?

Jessica