Selfie {unisex} here, $16.99
Mo Money {unisex} here, $17.99
Young & Wild {unisex} here, $15.99
I Woke Up Like This {unisex} here, $16.99
Enjoy Essential: Little Boys Graphic Tees
I decided to go with a more cohesive look for my website, Enjoy Essential. Luckily, I found the worlds cutest little boy, Roman, to model my clothes. I've known his mom for a few years now and she told me how outgoing he was, and she was so right. Immediately he said "Hi Cady, I'm Roman! I'm so excited about this!" which is basically anyone's dream come true when thinking about finding the right kid to show off your entire line of boys clothing. So here's a little glimpse of our shoot, and my way of pimping my products ;)
Hustler Haul: Cotton On
Last year I went to a fall basket exchange party and the girl who made my basket had included this gray knit infinity scarf that I literally wore all winter and into spring. She told me it had only cost $6 and that she had gotten it from a store in our outlets called Cotton On. I made myself a mental note to go visit the store and of course, never did. Fast forward to a year later, a friend of mine was wearing the best off-the-shoulder sweater ever and she said she had gotten it for $11 at Cotton On. I'm a HUGE online shopper and I love a good deal, so I instantly hopped on the computer and fell in love immediately.
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I headed to the sale section and found myself a fantastic haul of items for $60. Yes, everything you see above for $60, including shipping! Thats two knit sweaters, two loose tanks, a loose flow top, a scarf and shoes! I am such a hustler when it comes to online shopping. My husband hates it, but guess what- I don't! Ha!
Cady's Tip of the Day: For every item of clothing I buy, I get rid of at least one. So today when I head back into my house, I will be finding at least seven articles of clothing to get rid of to make room for these.
All of a sudden, winter fashion is exciting me!
Here are some of the items I grabbed for a super deal:
I headed to the sale section and found myself a fantastic haul of items for $60. Yes, everything you see above for $60, including shipping! Thats two knit sweaters, two loose tanks, a loose flow top, a scarf and shoes! I am such a hustler when it comes to online shopping. My husband hates it, but guess what- I don't! Ha!Cady's Tip of the Day: For every item of clothing I buy, I get rid of at least one. So today when I head back into my house, I will be finding at least seven articles of clothing to get rid of to make room for these.
All of a sudden, winter fashion is exciting me!
Here are some of the items I grabbed for a super deal:
great tank for wearing under sweaters and cardis
Yes you read that right! Three bucks!
I got this in gray and charcoal because they're so cute!
I didn't even need a coupon code for these great prices, but they usually give 30% off a purchase if you sign up for their emails... just saying!! Enjoy!
Hello Mrs. Blog Ladies in My Tees!
About six months ago, I randomly started following Alexa of Hello Mrs. Blog after finding her on the Three Bird Nest website... and Instagram... and Etsy... basically on everything they've ever posted. She's gorgeous! I loved her photos and very boho-chic style. She's great at putting together unexpected items and making them look super on-point. She started a blog with her other newly-wed friend Danielle, who shot her amazing wedding photos. This is definitely a primo-pair for great outfits and photos!
Last week I reached out to Alexa to see if she wanted to shoot some outfits, and she said it was perfect timing because Danielle was on her way into town for them to work on their blog! She picked out these shirts to match their styles, and because we're all in NorCal, they got their package just in time. And I am so glad, because I love what they've done with them so far!
Last week I reached out to Alexa to see if she wanted to shoot some outfits, and she said it was perfect timing because Danielle was on her way into town for them to work on their blog! She picked out these shirts to match their styles, and because we're all in NorCal, they got their package just in time. And I am so glad, because I love what they've done with them so far!
They will be posting more ways to style these tees over the next week or so, so make sure to check out their blog for more inspiration!
Pin-spiration: Baked Potato Bar
I am planning a huge "Girls Night In" and Winter Basket Exchange for next month and have been coming up with fun ideas for food. Because I have girls who are vegetarian, gluten-free and semi-paleo coming, I wanted to choose a dinner that worked for pretty much everyone. I mainly just need any excuse to make a super loaded bowl of chili so... I know what I'll be eating!
I scoured Pinterest for the best inspiration for this baked potato bar idea and stumbled across some awesome ideas! Enjoy
It may seem silly, but I have major trouble making baked potatoes. I always feel like they don't cook all the way through, or I burn them sometimes too! SO I had to pin this so I could do them perfectly the first time around!
I scoured Pinterest for the best inspiration for this baked potato bar idea and stumbled across some awesome ideas! Enjoy
The presentation of this one was amazing- so colorful and healthy!
And to feed my inner fat kid... OBVIOUSLY this looks like heaven!
Brands I Love: Younique
Girl. Do you use Younique yet? If not, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! For real. Younique has THE BEST PRODUCTS- better than anything I've gotten from Benefit or Mac... and I am a big time cosmetics girl!
I discovered Younique on accident. My girlfriend Stefanie was hosting a Facebook party and I assumed it was one of those scam hosted parties what offer shitty quality makeup for a high price, but somehow found myself roped into buying a mascara for $32. When she dropped it off, I tried it and HOLY CRAP, was it worth it. My eyelashes were all of a sudden an inch long... literally. I measured.
Their lip glosses be poppin for sure too. Better than Mac, long-lasting, very pigmented colors and sheer colors too. The glittery pink one doesn't have granules in it so your lips aren't irritated by them at all. I swear by these products and I promise you- I am a customer, not a member of the network. I don't sell these products nor am I compensated by the company, I just love them.
Here's who I buy mine from!
Brands I Love: Twinkle Twinkle Lil Jar
I had the luck of "meeting" Lexi of @twinkletwinkleliljar back when she had a couple thousand followers, and when I checked her ig today, she was up to 11k! This thrills me because I really, really love her products and use them all. the. time.
She makes these gorgeous custom tumblers. Don't judge me on the "haters gonna hate" thing... I was going through some insta-bullying and was feeling like throwing a lil shade at the time of ordering! Haha! The other side has my monogram in hot pink and I just love it.
Clearly so does my dog- he's bowing down to the glitter tumbler queen.
Really, Crash? I don't think you need the caffeine bro.
Sorry, Lexi, I know this was totally not your intention for this to be used as a dog tumbler... but he's so cute right?! Anyway, she makes so many different options from this style of tumbler to coffee mugs, travel mugs, even baby zippy cups! And the best part is that the glitter DOES NOT COME OFF. It doesn't flake at all! Just don't put it in the dishwasher because you won't have any glitter left.
Freaking YUM: Kinda Creamy Orzo with Ham
If you know me, you know I like three foods above all else:
- Carbs
- Peas
- Meat
Combining them is like the best idea ever. So this recipe I threw together last night combines all the things I love in a far skinnier version of any "creamy orzo" recipe you'll ever find on Pinterest.
What You'll Need (I don't measure anything... sorry bout it!)
- Small ham from the meat section, cooked or uncooked- I still cooked mine!
- 2 eggs
- Half a bag of frozen peas... oh that's just me? Ok like a cup works
- Leeks (or you can omit these, I just love their unique flavor)
- Orzo (I am guessing I used about 1.5 cups)
- Chopped white onion
- Tbsp olive oil (I infuse mine for a few weeks with cloves of garlic... you're welcome)
- 1/2 a cup of half + half or milk
Get a pot of water boiling and start the orzo. Cook it al dente so it's not cooked all the way through. Then immediately run it under COLD water to stop the cooking process and set aside.
While the orzo boils, dice the ham to your desired size. The ham I bought was pre sliced which made my life so much easier!
In a small bowl, crack two eggs and beat until smooth. I like to toss my spices into this because it will really infuse the dish as the eggs make their way through the ingredients. I used pepper, a bit of dill and parsley.
Preheat your oven to 350.
In a skillet, heat the oil and cook the leeks and onions until translucent.
Add in the ham and cook on medium until ham is slightly crispy.
Add in your orzo and mix well.
Pour the egg mixture in SLOWLY while stirring. If you add in too fast, you will cook the egg and it'll look like fried rice with scrambled eggs... not that that doesn't sound good...
Add in a splash of the half + half or milk. I prefer half + half. And when I say a splash, that's seriously all you need. Mix well and remove from heat.
Pour into a baking dish and spread out evenly. Top with come parmesan if you want... and of course I wanted! Bake for 15 mins at 350, remove and eat! This dish made 4 meals for me this week and seriously is the BOMB DOT COM.
Our Grass is Dead.
Ten years ago, if you'd asked me what I wanted to do for a living, I always had a plan. Finish college, work for a magazine, be a traveling nanny, start a wedding planning business- it was endless. It was optimistic. It was exciting. It was daunting. It was so far away. Fast forward to five years ago. Ask me the same question and what was my answer? I wanted to work from home. That's it. I wanted to wake up, watch an episode of Real Housewives, answer emails from my phone, head to my home office and be my own boss. Five years later = today. Today, I am living my dream, and it is everything I could've asked for.
The last year has been so easy. Which is strange to say because I never realized how incredibly HARD my life was until I made the choice, along with my husband and family, to move away from the people I was allowing to make it so hard. And suddenly- I felt free. Like I could do anything without fear, without judgment, without asking for permission or acceptance. I rekindled friendships with girls I hadn't talked to in years. I took chances on new female friendships that have become the strongest support system I've experienced. But most importantly, I took a chance on my dream.
Sometimes you have to close a door and open a window. For me, a door needed to close on a chapter of my life that was part of a lifetime I now can barely remember. I needed to let go of people not only for my sake, but for theirs. Sometimes you outgrow people and it's not a bad thing- it's just the universes way of saying "they've taught you what they were meant to teach you. Now on to the next lesson." The next lesson was learning who I was with other people, and I love that person. I love the person my friends describe me as. I love finding out their dreams and goals and helping them achieve them the way they helped me achieve mine. I am so genuinely grateful for them and the fact that they forgive me when I text back... Three days later... At midnight. And even moreso for my husband, who eats dinner when it's finally ready at 8pm, listens to me bitch endlessly about crappy customers, and believes in every single one of my harebrained schemes.
For the first time in my life, I feel like God has given me the chance to do exactly what I was meant to do. To hustle, to create, to share myself with the world. I get to wake up and work from bed every morning and when it's time to actually "go to work," I just walk upstairs. My life is fully supported by people purchasing something I made. It blows my mind every second of every day that God has blessed me with this opportunity and I do everything I can to show Him he made the right decision. 
The funny part about the quote is that when we filled in our pool and had our fence built, our grass got destroyed. So I am literally too busy watering my own grass to notice who else's is greener! But I hope yours is. I hope whoever you are reading this, that your grass is green and your heart is happy. I know mine is.
xo,
Cady
Guess Who's Back!
Hooray! Thanks to some convincing from sweet readers, I'm going to start blocking out more time to blog again. It's a nice release and also a way to share all the things I love (and hate) without clogging up my Instagram feed!
With Enjoy Essential now being a major Instashop, I have very little time for blogging but now that I have two assistants starting next week, I hope to schedule in some time to make this thang happen. So much has changed in my life in the past 6 months and I can't wait to share my life with you!
I will be posting my new skincare regime and favorite products for skin soon, as well as a post about my hair and how I got it to grow 6 inches in just a couple of months. I have so many new makeup products I want to talk about too... Hopefully I don't get too ahead of myself!! If any of you have requests for posts or things you want me to talk about, feel free to email my marketing coordinator with ideas! She will be putting together my blog content calendar in the coming months.
marketing@enjoyessential.com
Can't wait to get back with you guys soon! Xo
Why I Quit Deodorant.
Gross. No deodorant?! I know what you're thinking- stay farrrr away from this chick! But trust me, I have my reasons.
After seeing so many tv shows about the "breast cancer gene" and about people getting cancer from hot water bottles left in the car too long and my own family history of breast cancer and so many girls I know who've had cysts, I got scared. Even though my breast exam seemed normal, I still decided to take measures into my own hands. If you've been reading long enough, you know about my absolutely MISERABLE experience with facial oil cleansing (do not do it!), and I've also tried oil pulling (I'll post on that if I can ever stick to it), so cutting out deodorant seemed like a natural next step for me.
What's wrong with deodorant?
The active ingredient in deodorant is aluminum. Basically, deodorant and it's active aluminum-based ingredients from a temporary plug in the sweat glands to keep sweat from coming to the surface of the skin. By applying this chemical so close to our breasts, there has been research that shows the aluminum can travel into the glands around our breasts and stimulate estrogen which in turn stimulates breast cancer cells. Not cool. It is so hard for me to fathom the idea of GIVING myself breast cancer, so it's time to put a stop to the nonsense.
I read a bunch of articles about alternatives, but none of them every said "I smell amazing even though I'm not wearing deodorant." So that's kinda scary. Nevertheless, I'm doing it. We have a local store called Eco Chic that promotes chemical-free EVERYTHING. I knew these ladies would be the right ones to ask, and they recommended Funk Fighter by Pure Pursuit, a local vendor. I checked it out and the main ingredient is coconut oil- not too shabby. Not a chemical to be found! They told me I would likely detox for a couple weeks, so I prepared myself for the worst.
My armpits are pretty sensitive, always a place I tend to cut or find ingrown hairs. Immediately upon trying the Funk Fighter, I felt them become softer, and for the first time ever, I could exfoliate them a little after a couple of showers. The first week I smelled totally normal- I had expected to detox right away! But I guess those "aluminum plugs" took a couple of weeks to make their way out of my skin and BOOM! Right in the middle of my Hawaii trip, beginning of week 2, the detox started. I had to apply the Funk Fighter 5+ times a day in order to keep the fresh scent going. I've never, ever been a bad smelling person and the one day I didn't have a chance to reapply, my husband said "Babe... You really need some deodorant." Kill me. So embarrassing. So I ran up to the hotel room and applied like five layers immediately. Major detox happening.
So here I am, week three and I smell... Pretty good. I'm thinking the worst days are over but who really knows. I feel better knowing I am actively contributing to bettering my health. While $9 may seem expensive for "deodorant" I highly recommend you at least try it. You can buy thru EcoChicLife.net and also check out mypurepursuit.com for more awesome info! She also shares her homemade shampoo recipes- that's my next project! Pinterest has make-at-home recipes too ;)
Juice Plus Review: Part One
If you've followed my blog for awhile, you know I am willing to try just about anything when it comes to health and beauty. I've done it all (not surgery, yuck) and am always open to new products. So when a girlfriend called me and gave me the spiel about her new job with Juice Plus, I was immediately willing to try it, but not willing to pay over $200 for a 4 month supply. I wanted to give it the ol college try before committing to it, so I will start with the disclaimer that Juice Plus is sponsoring these posts, but that all opinions are my own- I am 100% unbiased and will promise to be brutally honest about my thoughts on this product. So let us begin...
My girlfriend became a distributor after trying Juice Plus for 6 weeks because she loved the product so much! But I am alllllways skeptical of any account that this fine by someone who sells the product. I'm in sales! I know how it works. Which is why I did my research before commuting to work with JP.
What is JP? Basically, it's a bunch of organic fruits and veggies, flash dried and ground up and put into capsules. Sounds pretty good! There's no chemicals or fillers, which is great. So for someone like me who is a meat and potatoes kinda gal and never gets enough fruits and veggies in her diet, these sound like a winning situation.
What do they offer?
More energy, naturally. Weight loss. More nutrients. A balanced diet.
What did I find online?
I went on Amazon and kept seeing all kinds of reviews saying "Juice Plus is cool, but Juice Festiv is a knockoff and works just as well. So what did I do? I spent the $20, ordered the Juice Festiv knockoffs and took them for a month and literally nothing happened. I looked at the ingredients and they contain gelatin (which the capsules themselves are made of) and a bunch of fillers too. I'd been swindled. Crap.
So my girlfriend said, try Juice Plus for free for four months and I promise you, you will love it. She was so sure it would be a wonderful, lifechanging thing for me and was willing to prove it by sending me the product to try, and share with my followers.
So now the journey begins. I will document everything as I go, and I hope to see changes in my weight and in my energy levels as well! I desperately need more nutrients in my diet and if JP helps, then I'll be one happy lady! Have any of you ever tried JP??
Wearing it for Charity.
Since I started my clothing line, I have been super inspired by bloggers who have reached out to me for help in bringing awareness to different causes. I did a little fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (tanks still available here) a couple months back. I am doing an Alzheimer's Walk team tee design in honor of my grandmother in New York (another of my grandparents diagnosed, so scary!), and I am currently working on exclusive designs for bags and tees for Breaking the Silence, which is a group working to bring awareness to domestic violence.
But this weeks design is also very special. This design is in honor of little Brenna, a two year old living with ichtyosis, which is a horrible skin disease causing her body to produce skin at 10x the normal rate, forcing her to consume that many extra calories a day so her tiny body can keep up. The condition requires her entire body be coated with Aquaphor every couple of hours and then daily exfoliation. You can tell by their photos that the family is incredibly positive and uplifting and doing the best they can to raise their little lady as normally as possible given her health conditions.
To find out what life is like for Brenna and her family, here is a Q&A her mama did for her blog, Blessed by Brenna.
None of this would be possible without the help of Go Shout Love, a blog launching in June that is dedicated to helping children in need of fundraisers, research and awareness. Check them out here.
If you have a special cause and would like to do a tee fundraiser, please feel free to contact me any time. Let's make it happen! enjoy essential [at] gmail.com
MEET BRENNA
To find out what life is like for Brenna and her family, here is a Q&A her mama did for her blog, Blessed by Brenna.
None of this would be possible without the help of Go Shout Love, a blog launching in June that is dedicated to helping children in need of fundraisers, research and awareness. Check them out here.
Tee sizes 6m-4t, $17.99
100% of profits go to the FIRST Skin Foundation.
Purchase HERE
If you have a special cause and would like to do a tee fundraiser, please feel free to contact me any time. Let's make it happen! enjoy essential [at] gmail.com
Fresh Powder
We got to experience fresh snowfall for the first time last weekend. Big snowflakes falling- and quickly! We left the hotel and walked one block to Stateline Brewery and I was covered in fresh powder!
It seriously was one of those moments in life when you're like "WOW, Mother Nature, you are truly amazing." It's not every day that you get to see snow in California, let alone see it actually falling from the sky. I won't forget this trip purely for that moment when my husband stared at the snow and said "I've never seen this before. It's like a movie. This is so freaking cool." And it was.
Locally Grown.
I haven't had a chance to share some of my fun new successes on here recently, but a quick update: I am retailing in two local stores, both of whom are carrying exclusive designs for their customers. It's so exciting and fun! This is one of my favorite designs, printed on high quality toddler tees. Available at Eco Chic in Vacaville in a variety of colors, or online at enjoyessential.com if you're not local. Plus, we can change the state up for ya!
Winter in April.
And now for my raspberry sorbet vodka and 7up 10 cocktail while my honey sips his jack and coke, laying in bed in our hotel because we're too lazy to get dressed and wander the casinos. This is my bliss.
Spring Style Giveaway
HOSTED BY:
A Beautiful Exchange Blog//The Samantha Life//Bell Bliss//The Piccolo Pixie//Army Ever After// HI AND LO// Alix Hamilton//Enjoy Essential//A Sorta Fairtytale
Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win!
Open to US residents only
Must be 18 years or older to enter
The first verified name to be drawn will be the "first prize" winner and the
second will be the "second prize" winner
Prize distribution the responsibility of A Beautiful Exchange Blog
Winners will be contacted within 48 hours giveaway ending
Winners have 48 hours to respond to contact or new winners will be chosen
Operation Smile
I think it's so important that we take time every now and then (and as much as possible) to think about the people less fortunate than us, who struggle every day for acceptance and can only dream of a day thats not hard as hell.
When I was approached by Operation Smile, I thought to myself how incredibly lucky I am to be able to look in the mirror every day and see a smile not flawed by scarring. I seriously take that for granted every day. I hate the little crooked tooth on the bottom, or how I wish my upper lip was just a little fuller. So many babies are born with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities and most of the time, their parents can't afford to pay for the help they need for reconstructive surgery. A baby born with cleft is twice as likely to die before his or her first birthday. They often can't eat, socialize, speak, and are shunned for looking different. Every child deserves to live a full life, and one where they aren't treated differently because of how they look.
Operation Smile has been able to perform over 200,000 surgeries, free of charge to families. They treat children all over the world and believe that "Safe Surgery Saves Lives," which means they adhere to the highest medical standards no matter where the surgery is performed. They continually educate and train their staff and volunteers to provide the best possible care for all of their patients and communities.
One in seven children have no access to healthcare. That is so scary. Let's so everything we can to change that.
Even a couple bucks makes a big difference- especially in underdeveloped countries. I just made a donation to Operation Smile here, and you can too.
When I was approached by Operation Smile, I thought to myself how incredibly lucky I am to be able to look in the mirror every day and see a smile not flawed by scarring. I seriously take that for granted every day. I hate the little crooked tooth on the bottom, or how I wish my upper lip was just a little fuller. So many babies are born with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities and most of the time, their parents can't afford to pay for the help they need for reconstructive surgery. A baby born with cleft is twice as likely to die before his or her first birthday. They often can't eat, socialize, speak, and are shunned for looking different. Every child deserves to live a full life, and one where they aren't treated differently because of how they look.
Operation Smile has been able to perform over 200,000 surgeries, free of charge to families. They treat children all over the world and believe that "Safe Surgery Saves Lives," which means they adhere to the highest medical standards no matter where the surgery is performed. They continually educate and train their staff and volunteers to provide the best possible care for all of their patients and communities.
One in seven children have no access to healthcare. That is so scary. Let's so everything we can to change that.
Even a couple bucks makes a big difference- especially in underdeveloped countries. I just made a donation to Operation Smile here, and you can too.
Women's Outfits of the Week
It's no secret I am obsessed with online shopping. But lately, I've been turning towards supporting small businesses rather than my usual online Amazon splurge or Target spree. I was playing around with some new outfit ideas last night and thought I would share them with you guys!
I'm not a mama, but I am obsessed with Loved By Hannah & Eli.
Mama Bear tee by Loved by Hannah & Eli // Ripped Jeans by Target
Sandals by American Eagle // Bag via DSW (obsessed)
This outfit is perfect for a baseball game. I like a little bit of edge because I've never been much of a tshirt and jeans kinda girl, but I would totally wear this to a Giants game.
Baseball stitch tee via EnjoyEssential only $16.99 // Sunglasses from Target
Tennis Shoes are Vans // Hat via Buckwholesale
Cash Giveaway!
we have a treat du joir for you on the blog today.
i have been struggling lately with motivation. that's no secret. i need to get motivated to move my boo-tay. i need to get motivated to stop putting complete garbage food (read: canned frosting, nutella, whipped cream, etc.) in my face.
do you know how i like to get motivated?
i buy myself new goodies. it's shameful trickery and it works every single time. i'm simple-minded like that.
maybe you want to buy some new music? workout clothes? an iPod? options people…we have options.
we have options because we have $$ up for grabs here. $130 of cash. cha-ching!
feast your eyes on these tasty licks. all of which i'm eyeballing…especially those leggings. i'm a sucker for leggings that hide my love handles.
and when you've finished up drooling over these goodies have a looky-lou below because we've got some more eye-candy for you.
the wonderful ladies who've brought you this glorious fitness-inspired giveaway.
the good news is the giveaway is cash. so if getting motivated to sweat isn't your thing…buy yourself a starbucks and something from j.crew and call it a day.
we're all winners here, people.
 |
| ashlen | aimee | karli | amy natalia | dollie | enjoy essential | libby brooke | meagan | felicia | noelle |
show some love and get busy on your entries. there are quite a few so make sure you have about five minutes to dedicate.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Great Expectations.
Do you ever feel like you're just doing exactly what you're meant to do? I do. For the first time in my gypsy life, I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing, with the people I'm supposed to be doing it with.
Did I ever expect to start a hobby in November that would turn into an incredibly successful business by February? No. Did I expect to be running this amazing business from the comfort of my own home? No. Did I expect to connect with other business owners who are always open to collborating and supporting each other to lift each other higher? Hell no. But I did. And life is so good.
This weekend I received three seperate emails from women I've never met asking for marketing and sales advice. I received four emails from bloggers reaching out to ME- not the other way around. I received emails from two websites asking me to write sponsored posts on their products/services. Here I am thinking I'm slacking on my blog, and I'm actually doing just fine! My mind is blown- the tables have turned and I'm the one giving advice, not seeking it. I must be doing something right.
As I sit here at the coffee bar of my favorite specialty grocery, typing on my broken iPhone and sipping my ever present iced tea, I have to take a deep breath to remind myself how dreams really can come true. How God led me to this place where I was able to leave my career to create a new one. How hard work and constant dreaming can lead to a happy and successful life. Dreams are always free but the hustle is sold seperately. When I say hard work, I mean it. Nights til 3am. Emails at the dinner table. Customers who hate everything even if it's made of gold. A husband and two dogs who look at me praying I have fifteen minutes to go on a walk. Amazon shipments that don't arrive until the 23rd hour.
But you know what makes it worth it? When a blogger emails me and says "I literally just found out I'm pregnant. I haven't told anyone yet. Can you make me a onesie for my pregnancy announcement?" Or "We've lost three friends to cancer. I can't wait to wear this tank in support of them." It's those moments that make everything worth it. Being a part of people's lives in a way no one else can be.
Being where you're supposed to be is the best feeling and I wish I could share it with you. It's that feeling of complete comfort and also the feel just before you get the chills- that deep breath of complete and total satisfaction without a drop of anxiety to spare. And let me tell you, this chick right here knows all about anxiety. At least... I used to.
Tanks for Charity.
Enjoy Essential is partnering up with two young women who have decided to run the San Francisco Nike Women's marathon this fall, and in order to do so, they will need to raise money for the charity of their choice. We have designed kids tees and women's tanks to support their cause, and all proceeds will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Here is some info about Arianna and Jenn and how they encouraged each other to start running and training, and why:
"Along with our decision to run came a decision to pick up a mantra. When we thought about why we were choosing to run we could have thought up a few different reasons; bonding, fitness, the Tiffanys necklace waiting for us at the end, to shed the final few baby pounds, but what seemed to hit home for both of us was "I'm worth it." Because we are. We deserve something that is good for us and makes us feel good, something that motivates us, a win. Everyone deserves a win, because we are all worth it. We also decided to take up a fundraising challenge to sweeten the deal. We both partnered with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, committing to raise money to fund research and for the care of patients and their families. Who is more worth it then people fighting cancer, their support systems, and the people fighting to find a cure. We are both personally connected to this cause with multiple family members that have survived blood cancers. If we are worth it, they are worth even more. Purchasing a shirt means that you are coming along with us for this crazy training, fundraising and racing journey. We so appreciate Enjoy Essential supporting us with this fundraiser. We look forward to seeing people sporting their new shirts and supporting a great cause as well!"
Women's tanks and kids tees can be pre-ordered exclusively here, for only $15.99:
All profits will be donate to the charity and will sponsor Arianna and Jen running for the greater good. Grab a tank for you, a tee for your little one, and show the world you're worth it!
Going out in public without makeup.
Guys have it so easy. It takes them five minutes to get ready and they never ever have to worry about make up. For women, we feel like we look completely different without makeup, and that may be true, but I started realizing in the last few years how much work it is to get ready just to go to Starbucks drive-thru.
As I have mentioned before, I have been fairly lucky with my skin. I don't often break out, but when I do I'm always on high alert. It makes me absolutely crazy to have as it pop up in the middle of my otherwise well-cared-for face. Right now, I'm on your high alert because I have a few things on my face that are really pissing me off. But I know that putting makeup on top of them is only going to make them worse, so I have resorted to not wearing make up the last couple of weeks.
If it were up to me, I would also be sporting yoga pants on the regular. Who am I kidding, I totally do that. I hate wearing jeans because they're so uncomfortable, and I am just so jealous of the girls who wear workout clothes and look clean and thin and well put together. When I leave the house I'm somehow always covered in dog hair, my black yoga pants have faded, and I look like I just rolled out of bed. Hot.
But I'm still boycotting. I'm finding ways around getting ready on a daily basis. Working from home definitely helps with this, but not wearing makeup is tough! And I'm not even the type of girl who wears a lot of make up! But I think it's so important that we learn to like ourselves for what we look like without makeup, and that our men do too. Mine sees me without makeup more than with, and always make sure to tell me how beautiful he thinks I am. So on those nights when I do put makeup on, he thinks I'm a supermodel! I just hate the fact that as women, we are expected to look fantastic every second of every day, in case we run into that girl we really don't like the grocery store, or an ex-boyfriend at the mall. Screw it. I'm not wearing make up.
Ok... Maybe a little concealer.
Life with Dogs.
Its 12:47am and I'm in my usual routine: just came down from my office after slaving over Photoshop for the last five hours, crashed onto the bed and I have Scandal paused because God knows I'm gonna miss all the tiny important details if I'm over here blogging away.
I'm listening to our puppy attack something in the backyard. We've had some trouble with him lately. I'm not naturally a dog person- I truly believe there's nothing like the love of a cat- but when we got Lucky, our old man last year, he was so sweet and loving and EASY. So I figured a puppy would be no big deal. Oh, it's a big deal. A big shitty deal. Ok, it could totally be worse. He could rip our couch apart or shit in the house but knock on wood, we haven't experienced that as of yet. However, my life is dogs. They're everywhere. And if they're not with me, their hair is. Mainly Crash's (the puppy). I swear I have never in my life seen clumps of hair just appear somewhere the way they do not. And he's not even a super shed-y dog!
And don't even ASK about our floors. He chewed through the cord to my brand new Shark floor steamer (literally brand new. I had just bought it.) and then decided "screw my parents, I'm gonna track mud in on an hourly basis. Kill me. Thank God for hardwood floors or the dog might be dead right now.
I am definitely not taking life as a dog owner well, but then I look at how happy they make my husband and it seriously warms my cold, frozen heart. Just a little, but it does. Sigh. Crash is attacking our bedroom door now. Gotta go.
Where in the World Have I Been?
Great question. Horrible answer. I've been here all along. Literally with my phone in my hand working nonstop on my shop, with little contact with the outside world. You'd think that because I'm always on the phone and computer, I would be caught up on social media and texting and blogging but the truth is, I spend upwards of 14 hours a day answering customer emails and filling orders and have little time for anything else. And I'm not good at turning my brain off! It's been a crazy ride, but I'm happy to announce I am officially doing this full time! This little piece of glorious equipment has saved my life!
I left my job in marketing and sales when my shop became so successful that it was paying all the bills- and more. But when I resigned, they offered me a new, remote position as Social Media Coordinator! A whole position created just for me! Could anything be more perfect? I can't wait to really delve in and watch their numbers and internet referrals grow. But balance is something I must practice to keep it all together, because right now I am a hot ass mess.
Right now I am working on creating an Instagram content calendar for the shop. I am trying to buckle down and follow in the footsteps of Freshly Picked and Little Hipsqueaks, two brands I greatly admire and aspire to be like. They are both run by successful, independent women who love what they do and started out just like me! Proof that dreams really can come true.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor on the footer of our store, here are our stats:
Instagram followers: 7200 as of 3/19/14, up 3,000 from 1/19/14
Facebook fans: 800
Bloglovin followers: 210
Twitter followers: 250
Site views: 750/day average
Please email me at enjoyessential@gmail.com
If you are interested in advertising with us. I am offering very low introductory pricing this month with the launch of the new site!
Blog Hop!
Welcome to the Let's Be Friends Blog Hop!
A blog hop is a set time frame for current or aspiring bloggers to find new blogs and quality content. It is a great way to make new friends and find inspiration! It is also a fabulous way to promote your own blog and posts.
Dear Friends,
What a day to celebrate! This is the 57th week of the Let's Be Friends blog hop! Thanks for joining us on this special day. Chelsee and Tiffany are extremely delighted to see the way this hop has grown and love to see your faces each week!
Join us every Tuesday at 7am (MST). This blog hop focuses on content. LINK UP YOUR FAVORITE POST from last week in this fun content-sharing blog hop! I love the idea of blog hopping, but I love the idea of reading posts and quality content on new blogs I've never been to even more. Instead of simply linking up your blog button, you are now able to link up your favorite post you recently wrote. Have a delicious recipe to share, DIY tutorial, or heartfelt post? Share it with us! All hosts and co-hosts put up some unique and fun content from the past week. Make sure to check them out. P.S.- you may still link up your blog button and blog name, but it is encouraged to link up your favorite post instead. You will get more page views and interest if you do so! Some of the most successful blog hops I have participate in focus on content rather than just exchanging follows. You never know who will become a loyal follower or pin that delicious new recipe you posted!
The BEST part of this blog hop? Each week there will be a WINNER! That's right, each week we will choose one lucky blog to feature from the previous week's hop. This hop receives thousands of page views every week, so your blog will have the chance to be center stage for free. You must follow all the hosts and co-hosts in order to win. Only those who link up a specific post are eligible to be featured! *You must follow all the hosts and co-hosts in order to win.
The last exciting change is that the co-host spots will now be available to all sponsors of The Dwelling Tree or Southern Beauty Guide. If you are interested in co-hosting the blog hop, email Tiffany or Chelsee about sponsorship opportunities and how to co-host the weekly hop!
There are a couple of great giveaways going on right now at Southern Beauty Guide and The Dwelling Tree. Go check them out! :)
Let's Be Friend's Blog Hop Guidelines
1. Link up your favorite post from your week.
2. Follow your hosts and co-hosts.
3. Grab the button and post it on your blog so we can share the love.
4. Visit 3 other blogs and follow them along!
5. Tweet about this blog hop, using #letsbefriends
6. Pin the button on pinterest so we can spread the news!
***Once a week, one blog will be chosen to be the featured blogger from the previous blog hop.
Meet your hosts:
The Dwelling Tree: Blog, Bloglovin'
Southern Beauty Guide: Blog, Bloglovin'
and your co-hosts:
Cady from Boughtin Baby and Bride
Megan from All That Glitters
Micaela from Mind Your Madness
Kendra from Open Spaces
Suzanna from One Hoolie Mama
Jenna from The Year of Life
***This weeks featured post from last week's hop:
Hi Loves! This is Chelsee this week! I had the pleasure of picking a winner this week and I must say it was a hard choice. Each of you linked up fabulous posts that I enjoyed reading. I do want to mention that you must link up and actual post and not just your blog to win. Now onto the winner!
Elizabeth is a Army wife living in the great state of Hawaii. I knew the moment I saw the picture in this post that I had to try this recipe. I found that Elizabeth gave easy to follow instructions on how to create your own delicious Shrimp Scampi. I live on the coast and love some seafood, so finding recipes like this is pure treasure. I find scampi sometimes to be quite difficult, but when I saw this post I knew that it was a great one.
So if you like what you see above or just want to read this great love story, check out this awesome post. I have to say that I love reading all of your posts and can't wait to see what you all link up next week!
Keep posting awesome content! You make it so fun for me to read all your posts! If you can, please link up a specific post. It makes it easier for us to come and visit!
*Remember YOU can be next weeks winner! :)
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