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Monday, June 26, 2017

foodie Friday-Instant Pot Lemon Dill Chicken and Veggies

This meal can definitely be filed in the category of sounds and tastes good, but doesn't really look that great. So, I didn't take pictures of the meal.
I've been a serious food rut lately. I can't seem to think of what to cook, and nothing really sounds good. The instant pot is my saving grace. The best part is you can basically dump everything in the pot and voila you have dinner.

If you are the cook that needs exact measurements, this "recipe" might be a little hard for you. I am bad about measuring, and literally just dump everything in. These measurements are by no means exact. A little more or a little less would be just fine.

Boneless skinless chicken breasts-I went against my better judgement and used frozen chicken because that's all that was available at the store. It worked out ok, but I still prefer fresh chicken. I used 5 frozen chicken breasts for this recipe.
Juice one large lemon
2-3 TBSP dried dill 
1-2 TBSP dried red onion
1-2 TBSP garlic powder
1 chicken bouillon 
1-2 c water
Cook on poultry setting in instant pot
Remove chicken and set aside
Keep liquid from cooking chicken
Quinoa-I dumped in what I had left in a bag which was probably a little more than a cup.
One yellow pepper and one red pepper (or any others)-chopped
1 small box of mushrooms
1 white onion
Repeat spices
Add lemon rind
Cook on manual for 8 minutes
Quick release steam
Add chicken back into pot
Set on manual for 0 minutes to let it simmer together. Voila dinner is done 

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Sunday, June 25, 2017

Wear it Wednesday-basic white t shirt

One of my favorite things to wear in the summer is a basic white v neck t shirt especially after a hot day at the pool. Cuff your jeans. Throw on a hat and some sandals and you're good to go. 



Target t, Joe's jeans, north face hat
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Weekend happs

Summer is my favorite! I love the warm weather and the pool and the summer carnivals/festivals. I love everything about summer-even the heat.

This weekend was the perfect summer weekend! I have quite a bit of use it or lose it vacation time at work so I am trying to take a little time off here and there. I took half day off on Friday to spend some time at the pool with Tiffany. It was hot and sunny and perfect.
After the pool we went to dinner and Fort Herriman days. We were probably the oldest people there. It was fun to walk around and enjoy the summer night.
Saturday started with an early morning run down emigration canyon through downtown to liberty park. The canyon is still so green and absolutely beautiful. It was probably the hottest run we have had so far and good prep for running the rest of the summer.
After running I hurried to pure barre to take the Pure Barre gives back benefit class to benefit a local family that recently lost their mother and youngest son. Class was so hard and so good.

Brittany and I met Tiffany at the pool for a few more hours of sun. We were all pretty toasty and completely wiped out after a few fun hours.

Sunday was the usual church, meal prep, laundry, makeup brush cleaning, etc.

How was your weekend? Any exciting happs?


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Monday, June 19, 2017

Blogging the bach 13.4 or 5 or something

We had one last Monday night tradish at Celsey and Shawn's last night. We had the bach playing, but we weren't exactly watching it. We were packing and organizing all night long to help them with their move. I spent most of the night in the pantry so I definitely missed almost all of the show. 


 
I did get quite a few group messages from friends including 
Wanting to make out with Dean because he looks like he would be a good kisser:)
Thinking Rachel would be our friend
Enjoying group dates

Basically I am as lost as I have been all season. I don't know if it's the season or what, but we're having a hard time getting into this season.

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Sunday, June 18, 2017

Weekend happs

The weekends seem to go by so fast. Really all the time seems to go by so fast. I have been working a lot lately so i took Friday afternoon off to go to the pool with Tiffany. The weather was perfect. We got some good sun and had a good time relaxing by the pool.

I didn't have any plans Friday night so I decided to be responsible and get some grocery shopping and cleaning done. It was good to be productive since I knew I wouldn't have much time to get things done on Saturday.

I woke up extra early on Saturday morning to try to get a few extra miles of running in before everyone else came. It always seems to take a little while to get going so we didn't get as many as I hoped. I counted down to my next marathon last night, and it's definitely time for me to get serious.

We all hustled to finish running so we could make it to ReNae's dad's funeral. ReNae spoke and did a really nice job. The service was beautiful, but I am kind of done with funerals for a while.
Tiffany and I spent a little more time at the pool in the afternoon before heading up to help Laurann cater a wedding. It was a fun night and luckily not too crazy.


Sunday was the usual church, laundry, meal prep, get ready for the week.

How was your weekend? Any exciting happs?

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Friday, June 16, 2017

Girls Camp 2017

I went to 4 years of church girls camp as a teenager and never looked back. I never went as a youth leader, and I have always hoped I wouldn't have to go back as an adult leader. A few years ago I had to go back but only for dinner and evening activities-not bad at all. 

I'll be honest, when I got asked to help out this summer I was apprehensive. Taking the whole week off of work right now wasn't very feasible so I went up for the day on Wednesday. Going for 1 day (and no nights) was perfect. I did a craft with the girls and helped them with some of their fun activities (zip line and archery), made sure they stayed hydrated and cleaned up their trash, had fun with them, and left to come to my own house to shower and sleep in my own bed. One day is definitely the way to go:)




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Wednesday, June 14, 2017

wear it wednesday-spring to summer stripes

The weather this week has been all over the place. A few days ago it was hot and sunny and then cold and rainy and even snowy in the mountains. I guess it's not technically summer yet so a few transitional wardrobe pieces are a must. This denim jacket from old navy is a staple in my wardrobe and on total repeat lately. 

Dress and jacket old navy. Shoes-Birkenstock 
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Tuesday, June 13, 2017

beauty time tuesday-home teeth whitening and a confession

let's start with the confession. i have an obsession with my teeth! it's true. i brush and floss obsessively. i check them constantly to make sure i don't have food in them. i almost always have gum in my mouth, and i have a reoccurring nightmare about my teeth falling out. 
every time i go to the dentist i ask if i should whiten my teeth. the answer is usually the same-you can if you want, but you really don't need to. that pretty much means yes if you ask me.

my teeth are naturally pretty white, but i want them even more white. (maybe that should be part of the confession above). i have tried a lot of methods of whitening in the past from strips to toothpaste and even the stuff from the dentist. it all works ok, but it's kind of a lot of effort for not a lot of results.



enter smile brilliant-similar effort, much quicker results. it's pretty simple. everything you need comes in a box-the supplies to make the teeth molds, the envelope to send it in, the whitening gel and even a gel to help make your teeth less sensitive. i got the box in the mail and then #excuses and it took a few months to make the molds. once i finally made the time to do it, i instantly regretted waiting so long. it was so fast and easy. i sent the molds back and within a short time got my trays and started whitening. i noticed a difference in my teeth after the first few applications. this is hands down the best whitening product i have ever used. if you don't believe me, check out these Smile Brilliant reviews.

smile brilliant is giving 1 lucky winner a $139 credit to get their own at home whitening system. use this link to enter. giveaway open to US, Canada, Australia, UK. smile brilliant will pick the winner and email within 2 weeks. for everyone else use code aubreyzaruba for 10% off.

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*i received these products complimentary from smile brilliant for testing. all opinions are my own.
Home Teeth Whitening

Thursday, June 8, 2017

a little more beauty time-skin care

i remember being in my mid 20s and wondering why my skin was worse then than it had been in years. i was a pretty lucky teenage in terms of skin. i didn't have a lot of break outs or anything to complain too much about so i was surprised when my skin got worse as an adult.

Surprising Causes of Adult Acne
By Heather Brown

You know what’s surprising? Waking up with a face full of breakouts….as a grown adult. It’s annoying and embarrassing, too. We thought our days of pubescence and teenage insecurities were long behind us. But, you know what, don’t sweat it. It’s actually more common among adults than you think. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, over half of women over 25 still experience acne woes.
 
The other reason you need not worry is that there are ways to prevent it, especially since the nature of acne in adulthood is different than that of our youth. In our teens, our acne was controlled primarily by a flux of hormones and, honestly, genetics. Hormones can still play a role as an adult, but external causes are more of an influence--which, thankfully, we can control. Some of the causes you may be practicing unknowingly. The things that cause oil build-up and that clog your pores might surprise you. So here’s a compilation of 8 surprising contributors of adult acne:

Cell Phone Bacteria

A big culprit is your dear little cell phone! These screens accumulate germs from oil, cellular debris, makeup, and dirt throughout the day. Think about it. All the bacteria that transfers from your fingers jumps to your face and vice versa. This contributes to bacteria and oil on your face and can exacerbate the skin of the acne-prone. A concentrated area of acne called acne mechanica can also occur when you have a phone pressed against your face, trapping oil and sweat for an extended period of time. You can try hands-free talking as often as possible to prevent this. Also, it’s a great idea to sanitize your smartphone at least once a day--an antibacterial wipe or damp microfiber cloth will do the trick.
 
Facial Hair Removal

I’ve definitely experienced this one first hand when I’ve gotten my brows waxed. Sometimes with the removal of hair follicles, you send acne-causing bacteria and dead skin deep into your now empty pores. So with your waxing, tweezing, depilatory creams, or shaving, use non-comedogenic cleaning products before and after hair removal. Oh, and refrain from touching, however tempting; the oils on your fingertips don’t help. When the skin becomes rash-like and itchy where you’ve removed hair, it’s different than true acne and just a temporary irritation of the hair follicles. You can apply a layer of 1% hydrocortisone cream afterwards to clear it up.

Your Significant Other

This one might surprise you. Ever heard of consort acne? It is acne that occurs through sharing skin contact. Gel from his hair or oils can transfer to your skin. He can be a hero and use non-comedogenic (formulated not to block pores) and oil-free hair products to save the day. Also, if your man has a beard, first of all, congrats; rugged men are hot. Second of all, he might be giving you some skin trouble. The friction of the scruff against your face stimulates oil production and can cause breakouts. Watch out for beard burn, too. You can pamper the both of you by massaging coconut oil in his beard to reduce the prickly friction.
 
Diet

Actually, is anyone surprised by this? What we ingest affects everything in our bodies, including our skin health. It has been found that carbohydrates with a high glycemic index predispose you to acne. Foods with high glycemic index are bread, pasta, rice, and sugary foods. Counteract this by eating less of those foods and more avocados (for their essential fatty acids), fruits, vegetables, and minimally processed foods. Also, changing your diet drastically can affect your skin. Something to keep in mind.

Travel

When we’re traveling, we’re experiencing different humidity levels, a different environment, and different weather patterns. Our skin’s oil production is not acclimated to these changes, so it may cause some breakouts. Also, hard water from different places may contain chemicals that your skin is unaccustomed to. It can also leave a mineral residue that will dry out the skin and cause oil-production. Try washing your face with bottled water if you can.

Stress
Of course, stress. We knew this from high school--prom, anyone? Stress hormones increase cortisol production, which then increases oil production and clogs pores. Even the good stressors, like getting married or a positive life change can exacerbate the skin. What a betrayal on your big day! Handle your hormones during stressful times with with breathing exercises, yoga, or positive mantras.

Hair Products
We spritz hair products all around our face or lather up with moisturizing conditioners on the daily. The silicone and synthetics are pore-clogging and are also just fillers, causing, you-guessed-it, acne. This special form of acne is pomade acne, and it occurs mostly along the hairline or where your bangs touch your face. The key again is non-comedogenic products.

Skincare Products
This one can be most surprising of all, especially seeing that these products are meant to protect your skin or keep it from aging. But, even acne-reducing products can increase acne when used in combination with one another, or if switched too rapidly. Your skin needs four to six weeks to adjust to a certain chemical combination. Avoid sebum-controlling products. Your skin’s natural balance can be disturbed, causing oil excess and acne aggravation. Try to find natural products to use on your face.

my skin really isn't that bad compared to many, but it drives me crazy. i want to have flawless beautiful skin. is that too much to ask?!? lately i have tried several new products including these products from 
mint pear beauty
pure tropix
forzea beauty

forzea night cream, kristen ess texture spray, victorias secret lotion, quick dry nail spray, probiotics, tumeric, mint pear eye cream and cleansar, pure tropix eye serum and mask, victoria's secret roller ball.

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*i received compensation and product in exchange for this post. all opinions are my own.

beauty time Thursday-May empties

I ran out of quite a few staples items in May. Sometimes it feels like all the staples run out at the same time although I usually have a stockpile of these staple items. 
Bath and Body Works foaming hand soap-the best soap ever
Baths and Body Works body cream-also the best. Anytime I try something else I always come back to this. 
Dove spray deodorant-I switched to spray a while ago. It works just as well and doesn't get all over my clothes. The scent is very mild which I like. Side tip-use it on your feet with flats/heels. 
Whole Foods foaming hand soap-not my favorite 
Amika dry shampoo-smells so so so good. Love having this in my rotation. 
Batiste tropical dry shampoo-one of my fave brands and scents
Intuition razor refills-I go through several of these each month. It's the only way to shave. I used a regular razor a couple of months ago and cut myself 3 times. 
Mary Kay velocity moisturizer-love how light this is. Admittedly I don't use a lot of face moisturizer but I'm trying to do better. 
Sebastian hairspray-just ok
Clinique eye cream-love
Bleeding lips secret liner-clear lip liner that I LOVE
Pink gel coat-LOVE 

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

blogging the bach 13.3

who's watching-celsey, shawn for about 5 minutes, amanda, megan

once again i didn't see the whole show. i came in late..again. the rose ceremony was on when i came in, but i'll be honest. i was starving so i ate dinner and didn't really pay too much attention to what was going on UNTIL waboom and lucas got the boot and started fighting. it was so embarrassing and also hilarious.

some other highlights of the night include..
-all the boys on ellen were the best
-fred losing his mind over rachel in all the ways. i knew she was sending him home when she called him to talk to him at the end of the group date even though she grabbed the rose
-was it really wise to bring 6 of your hot single friends on a date???
-alex seems to be getting some good attention
-we all decided brady is cute
-lee (is he the singer/songwriter?) is the new problem child which is bad for me. i have him as the winner

another week of to be continued...ugh!

celsey scored our brackets. we are all doing terrible. naturally shawn is winning again.


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Monday, June 5, 2017

one little word-june

the interesting thing about attempting to embrace this season of my life is that sometimes this isn't the season i want to be in. after a pretty crazy april, may afforded me much more down time-maybe more than i prefer. this season of my life is great because my time is all mine. I can do what i want with my time. sometimes that is really nice, and sometimes i wish i had someone else to plan my time with.
via she's just smitten

my overall goal and theme for the year is EMBRACE even though my monthly goals don't always match that theme.

YEARLY GOALS
*nightly gratitude journal-not good-i have re-committed to this
*do something that scares me/pushes me out of my comfort zone ✔
*attend temple 12 times-i went to the draper temple with brenna the first week of the month and also visited the draper temple again later in the month. i'm now back on track for once per month
*monthly journal-caught up the last few days of the month
*csatt goals-✔

MAY GOALS
*continue handlettering-✔ although i mostly did major catch ups
*finish blog catch up-still in process
*bed by 11:00 or earlier during the week-i try every single night, but my bedtime has not been good
*read the 4 agreements-

JUNE GOALS
*no purchased soda with meals during the week unless it is a combo or the only one of the day
*handlettering 3-4x/week
*pure barre 10 in 15 challenge (10 classes in 15 days)
*blog catch up-this is it. i really have to get caught up this month

how are your goals going? link up with us below.
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