My 2016 Review

It’s officially the last day of 2016, and I have no idea how we are here already! A lot of big changes took place this past year and I felt there was no better way to ring in the new year than to reflect on on my favorite parts from the past 12 months!

Obviously, the biggest impact that occurred this year was the love of my life asking me to marry him! WHAT! I’ve pretty much dreamed about this day since the very first time we exchanged “I love you’s” and it still felt surreal! The effort he put into making sure my family was there just really blew me away!

The next change was moving out of my very first apartment! And while it may not seem like that big of a deal, I was actually pretty emotional as I got closer and closer to moving day. That apartment was the very first place I ever had to myself & will always have a soft spot for it! But I’m excited for the adventure my new place will bring me & more importantly the 10 minute commute to work that gives me extra time to sleep in!

Two big/important moments of 2016 were the arrival of my 2 new nephews Jackson & Shane! The love that comes over me when new family members join the team can not be matched! Their sweet personalities are shining through already and it makes me excited for more years to come!

One of my New Years resolutions for 2016 was to go on more adventures/travel more. While I didn’t get to travel as much as I planned, Joey & I definitely put a lot more effort into how we spent our free time! From backseat picnics by the lake, spending the day in sunflower fields, and last minute trips back to Longwood University to retrace our steps to where we first met, we have built some pretty great memories with each other in the last year!

2017 has a lot to live up to, but it’s the year I hopefully get to marry my best friend, welcome a new little cousin, and another chance to live my life the best way I can! Get excited for the new year y’all!

Life Update!

It’s pretty much been a lifetime (or at least feels like it) since I’ve posted on here, so I thought it would be a perfect chance to do a quick, little life update! Here’s what I’ve been up to the last couple of months!

First off, I’m coming up on my 1 year anniversary of being a resident of Charlottesville, Va! How did this happen? And with that, I’m also moving out of my very first apartment which is beyond exciting (I can’t stand my neighbors) and crazy depressing (it’s my FIRST apartment)! I can’t wait to have a little more space, a shorter drive to work, and be closer to all my favorite shops and restaurants! But I will definitely miss this studio apartment of mine for sure.

On to some other life events, Joey & I each celebrated another birthday! This year had to be my favorite, as I was able to spend the weekend back home with a bunch of family at a Zac Brown Band concert! So good! It was just a much needed, relaxing trip where I got to see some of my favorite people! I then got to follow it up with a lovely day of sunflower picking, which was probably the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen!

Now for probably my favorite thing to happen in the last couple of months, I’m an Auntie to yet another adorable nephew! He is just the sweetest thing and it’s so hard not getting to see him everyday!

And for the more uneventful updates, Fall is back, so it’s no surprise that I’ve been taking advantage of it ever since October hit. From apple picking and pie making, to PSL’s and oversized sweaters, I’m a happy camper! And it’s all being documented on Instagram of course!

What’s In My Beach Bag!

What you bring to the beach is very important. Most of the time, you spend almost your entire day at the beach and need to make sure you are prepared. I am personally not one of those girls who likes to bring their entire lives with them, mainly because I don’t like the idea of carrying everything to and from the car. So I put together a list of what I put in my beach bag that is easy and keeps me prepared for a long, fun day in the sun!

Bag | Towel | Brush on Block | Aloe Mist | Lip Balm | Celebrate | Speakers | Waterbottle | Selfie Stick

First, you’ll need a really great beach bag! I like to get a neutral colored one as it will go with all of my swimsuits, that is just a personal preference. It looks really clean and usually makes it easier to search through. Next you will definitely need a towel! I have been loving round towels lately, I just feel that it gives you more room around you as opposed you just the length of your body!

Now sunscreen is a given, that should be in your bag everyday! However there are little beauty products that I especially like to carry with me to the beach. The first one being Brush on Block, it is a face sunscreen that soaks up any oil and also gives you coverage for days when your skin isn’t at its best! The next is Supergoop lip balm, which is SPF for your lips! It isn’t sticky at all so you won’t have to worry about sand getting all over it and it protects your lips from burning/chapping! My last must have beauty item is an aloe hydrating mist, it helps to cool you down when there are no clouds in sight!

When laying on the beach all day, you need to keep yourself entertained! My go to is a book since my main reason for a beach trip is to relax! My favorite right now is Celebrate by Lauren Conrad. The images are beautiful and it has some really great tips for throwing different events! Next up is music, I can’t stay anywhere too long if it is silent. So, I always bring my small, portable speakers with me, it is great if you a small group but also won’t get too loud so you don’t bother anyone around you. Lastly, I always like to bring a selfie stick when I go with a bunch of girlfriends, it will keep you entertained for about an hour.

To keep myself hydrated throughout the day, I ALWAYS bring water. It’s usually the only thing I bring to drink since the sun is so draining. However, I only like to drink ice cold water, I can’t stand when it’s room temperature or hot. So if you’re like me, I suggest you get yourself a Swell Bottle. No joke, your water will be ice cold for 24 hours, it’s amazing! When it comes to a snack, I also try to keep it light. I almost always bring cut up watermelon, it’s filling & refreshing all at once. I also like to bring wheat thins for the same reason, they aren’t too salty so you won’t feel like you have a food baby afterwards!

Let me know of any items you have that are a must for a perfect beach day!

My Skincare Favorites!

If there is anything I am really passionate about, it is my skin and taking care of it! As a natural redhead, I have pale, sensitive skin that needs extra TLC. Unfortunately, when I was in high school & college I didn’t have those same thoughts. My goal was getting as tan as possible (shockingly, I can get a lot of color for a redhead…), whether it was laying on the beach for hours, covered in oil by the pool, or in the tanning bed (not a proud moment and never happening again!)

Now, I’ve grown up and realized my health is more important than having a darker glow. Mario Badescu, Josie Maren, and St. Tropez are my favorites for getting my skin in shape, and just how I like it! Mario Badescu is fresh and soothing for my sensitive skin but gets the job done! I see an improvement with every use! After washing my face, I can feel pretty dry due to my sensitivity, that’s where Josie Maren comes in. I love love love her Light Argon Oil! I put it all over my face before I go to bed, and mix it with a matte foundation during the day! It gives me a natural dewy look that is perfect for Spring & Summer!

To finish it off, since we are getting back into those pool and beach days, if the rain ever stops, I still like to have a nice glow! Usually 1-2 times a month I will go get a spray tan as it looks more even and it doesn’t rub off on my clothes. Then I will use the St. Tropez Bronzing Mouse between visits to keep up the color. It has a natural, brown hue, instead of the orange tint like most and it goes on easy with the mit!

| Photo by Anthro_Charlottesville on Instagram|

Keep It Simple!

When getting ready for the day, I like to follow the “rule of three.”  It’s a concept that makes looking put together a lot simpler and cut your dressing time in half in my own opinion. The “rule of three” basically consists of 1 top, 1 bottom, and 1 accessory piece (jacket, hat, scarf, etc.) The third piece of your outfit just completes the look, and it makes sense. It takes an outfit that falls flat, to an outfit that stands out!

Here are some of my favorite “3rd pieces” as of late!

Moto Jacket | White Vest | Leather Jacket | Necklace | Sun Hat | Scarf | Belt | Kimono

Power Snacks!

If you’re like me, then you’re probably in panic mode right now realizing the weather is warming up and swim suit season is coming! For the most part, I try to eat as healthy as possible as well as staying active throughout the day. And like most individuals, I tend to slack on both of those during the winter, also known as the holiday season!

But now that spring has crept its way back to us, I find myself pushing myself a little harder during workouts and and trying my hardest to not indulge in the foods that make my cravings happy! With that said, I sometimes can feel myself feeling tired & low on energy. So I’ve put together some of my favorite “Power Snacks” that keep me satisfied throughout the day and prep me for my afternoon workout!

1.  BANANAS & PEANUT BUTTER | These have been my favorite snack since the very first time I had them as a baby! They provide the perfect amount of sweetness, the good kind of sugar, and the all natural peanut butter provides protein to keep your energy up!

2.  FRUIT SMOOTHIE | I prefer smoothies to juices because the fill me up more and give a lot more energy in my opinion. My go to right now is peaches, bananas, kale, spinach, chia seeds, and water and it tastes delicious!

3. BELL PEPPERS & HUMMUS | This is a quick last minute snack that I like to keep with me incase I didn’t have time to make the best lunch during my morning schedule. All you have to do to prep is slice the peppers, hummus containers come in travel sizes with makes my life a lot easier.

4.  DARK CHOCOLATE ALMONDS | I think the biggest struggle a lot of people have when trying to eat healthy are the sweets cravings. This snack helps maintain those cravings with the dark chocolate, which is good for your heart when consumed in moderation!

5.  AVOCADO TOAST | Another quick and easy snack that doesn’t require a lot of ingredients. Just sprinkle with pepper and it’s good to go!

Spring Fever Must Haves!

As of yesterday, it is officially SPRING! I have been waiting for this day since the first snow hear in Charlottesville. Spring is the time of year where there’s fresh flowers everywhere, sundresses, and outdoor activities that last more than 30 minutes!

Spring style is my favorite because it is so effortless, you don’t have to wear 5 different layers. You can throw on a dress, necklace, and pair of sandals & be good to go! So I’ve decided to list some of my favorites from UOIOnline.com to give y’all some spring inspiration! Also, if you use the code KERRYMAR online, you will receive 10% off your entire purchase!

Happy Shopping!

Pink Dress | Grey Dress | Bracelets | Top | Skirt | Lace-up Flats | Lace-up Sandals

Easter Treat: How To!

Coconut Macaroons are one of my all time favorite desserts! They are so simple and the coconut is just delicious! Another reason I love them so much is they are very easy to get creative with. For Easter these last couple of years, I’ve been making these little bird nests that are so adorable! They are perfect for the easter season and they take under an hour to make!

I N G R E D I E N T S 

4 Egg Whites | 1/2 tsp Salt | 16oz Sweetened Coconut | Cooking Spray | Chocolate Chips | Egg Shaped Candy

I N S T R U C T I O N S

-Preheat oven to 300 degrees

-Combine egg whites, salt, and coconut until blended.

-Spray mini muffin tray with Cooking Spray and drop 2tbsp of mixture into each muffin cup.

-Place thumb in center of each drop to make an indent and pack the sides and bottoms around the muffin cup.

-Bake 30 minutes or until lightly golden on the edges.  Let cool in muffin cups for 10 minutes and then remove to cool all the way.

-Melt some chocolate chips and pour into center of each nest. Place egg shaped candy of your choosing and you’re all done!

Apartment Tour Pt 1!

I thought since I moved into my apartment back in October it was time to do a mini tour of the place! It isn’t any wear near completed, but it’s definitely improved since my last update (you know, having furniture now and all that)! I love my little place and all of it’s natural light from the giant windows— I took these photos during a thunderstorm and it is still just as bright! So here is a peak at my living area & kitchen!

|Excuse the missing knobs, they won’t stay attached so I’m in search for all new ones|

Meatless Fridays!

It’s that time of year again! If you didn’t already know, I am Catholic and participate in Lent, which means I can’t eat meat on Fridays. This really isn’t all that difficult for me, considering I try to limit my intake of meat for the most part, but sometimes I struggle with making a full, meatless meal that has tons of flavor & fills me up. So I decided that this year I would plan ahead and share the recipes that I found to be super delicious for each meal of the day! Let me know if you have any recipes that you swear by!

B-R-E-A-K-F-A-S-T

Banana Berry Bowl!

1 large frozen banana, peeled
¾ cup frozen raspberries
½ cup blueberries
1 teaspoon açai berry powder
30g (about 2 scoops) vanilla pea protein powder
1 cup water
1 teaspoon chia seeds

L -U-N-C-H

Better Than Tuna Vegan Sandwich

2 15oz cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained (or 3 cups cooked chickpeas)
1 shredded carrot
2 stalks celery, finely diced
1/2 small red onion, finely diced
Just Mayo or alternative vegan mayonaise, approximately 1/4 cup
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper

D-I-N-N-E-R

Spicy Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers

1/2 cup quinoa
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 large sweet potato
1/2 cup diced red onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 jalapeno, seeded and diced
1 teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoons spicy cajun seasoning
1/4 gluten free oat flour (regular oat flour or oat bran will work)
salt and pepper, to taste
olive oil or coconut oil, for cooking
6 whole grain hamburger buns (gluten free, if desired)
Sprouts
For Avocado-Cilantro Crema:
1/2 large ripe avocado, diced
1/4 cup low-fat sour cream or plain greek yogurt
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon lime juice
dash of hot sauce, if desired
salt, to taste