Erin Condren Life Planner

FINALLY. YAS. YAY! I GOT ONE! WOOHOO.
When I saw that there was an 'immediate ship' option I bit the bullet and ordered a very cute, pretty expensive, paper planner. This option of the life planner comes with a coupon code to order a personalized cover set for free.
I have always loved organizing and school/office supplies. I mean, literally, as a child I would spend my allowance all in one trip to Walgreens on pens and paper and post-its galore.

I love how convenient it is to add appointments and reminders to your phone because you always have your phone with you, it seems like the perfect set up. Still, I rarely utilize this feature. To me, it takes too long to enter items and I never think to refer to my iCalendar. I think this is the solution.

Also.. have you seen all the Instagram posts?! There is so much planner inspiration out there in the world. Colors, stickers, pictures, oh my! Needless to say I also followed my planner purchase with an insane amount of sticker purchasing on Etsy (just slap me, someone). I think that having the colorful pens and stickers to decorate your monthly and weekly pages really makes it a fun thing to plan your schedule and also makes you want to use it and refer to it. I have left it at home the last two days and been kicking myself!

Now they have a ROSE GOLD edition! Le sigh. 

Get $10 off your first EC order!

https://www.erincondren.com/referral/invite/lizmiller0806

Original Beauty Box (YASSS)

You know when you just have one of those awful, terrible, no good days? That was me a couple of weeks ago. I decided buying this for myself was the answer. I have wanted and obsessed over an acrylic makeup organizer for years, doing days worth of research, comparing all the available options. So glad that I took the plunge because this Original Beauty Box is the answer to my makeup problems, friend! I am full-blown obsessed. 

I condensed three, 12"x12", entirely full plastic  drawers into this one box. Which also meant I let go of some older items that needed to be retired. Expired lip glosses, 3+ years old powders I never touched, dried up eyeliners... It felt so good to purge my stash! 

Besides the fact that this is shiny and beautiful on your vanity or bathroom counter, the best part of this is that you can see all of your stuff. I love that it makes me want to try different makeup combinations everyday, instead of reaching for the same routine products. 

The four bottom drawers have removal acrylic dividers in the center. 

The top drawer is smallest, with the 3 center drawers being the same mid-size and the bottom drawer being the largest of them all. 

Ohh-la-la-loving it!

I have my own acrylic lipstick organizers on top, that I got from the Container Store. 

Weekend Adventures

Thursday night I got to have a girls night with my besties + their very sweet co-worker at the Houston Rodeo! Miranda Lambert was so good and its always fun to go out to the rodeo and let loose!

Have you had this from Starbucks?! Pretty damn good. 

FINALLY got an Erin Condren Planner... post coming on that!

Went to MOD Pizza Sunday - the cutest little shop with delish thin crust pizza that comes in 3 sizes - from a personal mini, to a larger mini and then a size to share. You can order a pizza off the menu or make up your own (think Subway or Chipotle style) and no matter what, its no extra charge for toppings! I thought that was pretty awesome. 

Starbucks HACK: Matcha Green Tea

A drink from Starbucks for under $1?! Sign me the hell up. 

I was skeptical when I saw this on insta but it's TRUE, you CAN order this and I have paid (at different Starbucks) from 0.22 - 0.87 for a Venti Matcha Green Tea. 

Order - Venti iced water with 3 scoops matcha.

Magical. Wonderful. Delicious. Cheap. Caffeine. 

You're welcome. 

Feb Favs!

Jack's Special Grilled - Pepper Jack Stuffed Chicken Patties

I found these at Costco recently and they have been my jam. They may be processed and full of sodium but  it's a super easy way for me to add protein to a meal or even substitute for quick breakfast. 

Skinny Girl Popcorn

Also, not the cleanest option but low-calorie for those nights when you want something salty and crunchy! The back of the box pictures a Rosemary & Olive Oil flavor coming... OMG. 

First Aid Beauty Sleeping Cream

Picked this up in Sephora last month because I am always on the hunt for something new to slather on my face. This feels thick but my skin soaks to up so well that on some nights I add another cream on top. This is my first good experience with FAB - their other products did not agree with my ultra-sentive, dry, crazy skin. Two thumps way the hell up. 

Pound Workout

I saw this in a magazine and immediately went to their website to pre-order, like a crazy. Once I started using this at-home workout I fell in love. It has been easy for me to follow along and the workouts are usually 30 minutes, therefor easy for me to commit to. This is just plain fun and I am sweating after most of the workouts. Plus you get to play with drum sticks, yes please! 

My favorite, favorite thing

March 3rd.
3.3.12
My favorite day.

Today marks three years with Hubs. Three years that have been fun, difficult, exciting, challenging and rewarding. Three years ago today I spent all day with my favorite girls, married my favorite person and spent the night at the best party with all of my favorite friends and family. Today is, was, and will always be a good day.

Happy Anniversary, Hubs!

Weekend Adventures & Freshii

This is a protein cookie. It's called Perfect Cookie - at Whole Foods!

 Hubs and I went to the Galleria to run some errands and ended up eating lunch at Freshii in the food court. This place was delicious, affordable and stole my heart with the fact that they have green juice.

  I had the Mediterranean Bowl - quinoa, kale, feta, olives, red onion, cilantro, cucumber, tomato, almond slivers and chicken. Delicious!

We also tried out the restaurant at the new HEB on San Felipe - Table 57. You walk up to order and then it's a full service restaurant after your seated. They have cute outdoor seating with live music Friday - Sunday. What I loved most was that we needed to grocery shop and we needed to eat dinner so we were able to do it all at once - and then not shop while hungry (which is the worst for me!).

I had two sliders - beef and brie and pork with kimchi with a side of kimchi mashed potatoes for us to both try. Hubs had a cuban sandwich with a caesar salad on the side and loved his!

I am going to have a good week! It's our three year wedding anniversary and I have plans with friends to go to the Rodeo and see Miranda Lambert and we'll be rounding out the week with more packing. Oh well, it can't all be sunshine and roses!

Never Give Up

Things have been so off and on here at Southern Fit Liz and I wanted to give a little insight as to why. It's extremely personal and I battled back and forth whether I should share this. Maybe someone else is going through a hard time and this will help someway, somehow. 

I went through a tough time in 2014, suffering a miscarriage in late August. It really affected me in a big, deep way that I honestly was not expecting. I thought I was not ready for a baby - I am a worrier - I didn't have extra funds, extra space in my apartment, insurance, etc. I was stressed about it from day one. But each day I grew fonder of the idea of expanding our family. It seemed like everything was going to work itself out. I mean, who is ever, honestly ready?

So when I went in for my first 8 week appointment with Hubs I was excited. By this time we were talking about names, I was shopping for baby bags, I was in full on prepare-mode somehow. We saw the baby and heard the heartbeat and really, really liked my doctor. Everything was going to be great!

Sadly, that day when I got home from work I was bleeding and I knew what was happening. It was the most awful form of disappointment I have experienced to date. And I wish this on no one. To add insult to injury I had to have a nearly $3,000 D and C procedure. 

This lead to me having resentment towards Hubs (unwillingly), restarted a pattern of over eating and led to what I think to be clinical depression. I let all those things happen for months. Without the will or want to fight the bad in my life, I let it take over me. I was chronically late for work, oversleeping, overeating, over drinking, all to avoid feeling feelings. I didn't want to go through the tough emotions, as I never have. 

A co-worker commented on how 'miserable' I seemed all the time and something inside me clicked.  I started to realize that I can't waste my time acting this way. Maybe the things in our life are supposed to happen to us. Maybe I needed to go through this. Maybe I didn't... I don't know. What I do know is that every day that I am alive, with a job, with my health, with all of my limbs and my mind and my freedom I am living a life worth living. 

I swear I know how cheesy all this sounds but realizing that you are in charge of your life and your happiness (or lack of) is the most wonderful thing. I have the power every single day. I can make every day a good one, even though it's not easy everyday. I'm not happy? I can change it. I'm overweight? I can change it. I don't like my job? I can change it. 

I can do anything I want with my life. I have just never tried. 

So I am on a mission to make my life a good one. I can't control everything, I will always be short, with thin hair and have an affinity for animals in need. I want to be happy every day, so I am making a conscious effort. I want to be healthy, so I am working out and actually trying to make better choices. I want my marriage to work, which takes work, so I am trying to reconnect with my husband.

I just feel like I have discovered some secret in life - you really can have what you want, you just have to work for it. But, as they say, nothing good comes easy.  

Costco Haul

Hope you all had a lovely Valentine's Day <3

This weekend I went to Costco to get some no-cook basics for the week.

• Naked Kale Blazer Juice, $6
• Pineapple, $3
• Chicken Tikka Masala, $12
• 12 Organic Honeycrisp Apples, $13
• 10 Stuffed Chicken Patties, $12
• 12 chocolate strawberries that were devoured before the photo shoot, $12 

I really love Costco for some healthy-ish, mostly organic, quick options. Plus, samples. Yum. 

Stocked up on some gum to sooth my sweet tooth. 

Look how cute this is! 'Soul Mates' blushing bronzer in the shade 'Carrie & Big' - I DIE.  

My two first crushes - handsome and funny, oh my! Loved the 40th SNL Special. 

Rawfully Organic Co-op

Rawfully Organic Co-op is an all organic food co-op in Houston that I have been wanting to try for years now. The company was founded by Kristina, who is still there to greet you with a hug when you're standing in line and explain the process to newbies like me.

The co-op requires that you place your order by the night before pickup and pay online. You can choose a full share, a half share, or a fruit share. They also have produce available for purchase while you wait in line and their wonderful fresh juice - Fully Raw Juice. Every week an email is sent to subscribers to give you an idea of what produce will be in that weeks box. 

I split a half share with my bff, just to dip our toes in the co-op water. It was $48, which means $24 per person - which is very fair pricing for organic (some local) produce, compared to Whole Foods.

Our box with some juices we picked up!

Creepin'. Our half share box included bok choy, baby bok choy, cucumber, cauliflower, 7 bananas, romaine lettuce, kale, pint of baby tomatoes, avocado, bag of carrots, 2 grapefruits, 2 tangelos, oranges, pears, apples and pineapple. Taste the rainbow, folks!

We were so happy overall with the experience, the fresh produce that we got, the price and the experience! It was fun to have a reason to get out and about on that beautiful Saturday morning!

That's me, in my robe, room a mess, drinking my juice this morning! It. Was. Amazing. The juices are $8 each and raw, cold-pressed, fresh juice. The green juice above reminded me of 'green aid' from Whole Foods if you are familiar - but better, fresher, just so good!

We also bought a juice called Cotton Candy which was pineapple, ginger and apple. It was, without a doubt, the best juice I have ever had in life. So good - sweet but not too sweet. Delicious! Perfection! Can't wait to go back and get more. 

New Year, Fresh Start

At the first of the year I purchased this Suja 3 day cleanse from Costco. I thought that this was a great deal, since it was $20 and I buy mine at Target for $3.99 each. This boxed set came with 9 juices and a meal plan guide for your detox - this was not a cleanse without food, hooray!

The meal plan included encourages you to eat 3 clean, healthy meals during each day and even comes with several recipes, which I really liked. Now I am not going to lie - I totally did not follow their food guidelines but instead placed these into my regular meal plan, replacing some snacks with these juices.

The box it comes in at Costco with the included meal plan and directions. 

Suja Organic Spicy Lemonade - Drink upon waking 30 minutes or when you get hungry. This was way less spicy than I thought it would be and pretty sweet  but it was easy to drink and pretty good - like lemonade sweetened with maple syrup and a dash of spice. I had no problem starting my day with this juice!

Suja Organic Green Greatness - Drank 30 minutes before lunch or mid-morning snack. This was by far my favorite of all the juices - I just love the fresh, 'green' taste - like 'Greenaid' from Whole Foods almost. I drank this at about 11 every day before my lunch. 

Suja OrganicVanilla Nutz - Drank 30 minutes before dinner or as afternoon snack. I should preface by saying that I hate bananas. That being said, I did choke this down on day 1 and then gave the other two to my friend. It tastes like sweet banana milk and there is really no other way to describe the distinct flavor. 

Bottom line: I don't think this is a crazy, super detox but I do think it's very do-able for anyone. Anyone can commit for 3 days. Anyone can eat 3 meals and 3 juices. And while you might not loose 10 pounds or be stuck on the toilet, eating clean for 3 days straight is good for everyone no matter how you slice it. I love this because it encourages good, healthy eating habits!

Have you tried a juice cleanse?