Archive for July 2022

As you all may know from my post about my traveling plans, I am preparing for a getaway to Florida next month and I want to make sure I have everything ready. I've been doing more shopping than usual as a result and since every month I try to recap on my favorites, July is full of goodies that you'll want to try!

* This post may contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. See disclosure for more details.

* This post is not sponsored.

Lately I have been super busy that sitting down to write a post has just been so hard to do; I'm so looking forward to getting away! With my side business picking up and taking more of my time than I thought it would, down moments are hard to come across but cherished even when they do make an appearance.

I'm grateful for it all nonetheless and spend everyday expressing gratitude for it. If you're ever in need of good meditation music, I highly recommend listening to this YouTube video for at least an hour every day. Every since I have been listening to it daily, so much for me has manifested in my life that I can only pass on the good vibes to someone else.

With that said, lets jump into July Favorites!

Toms Recycled Canvas Slip On

Two years ago I bought my first pair of Toms and I loved everything about them except for the fact that they were too small. Since I have small feet (I'm small in general) I bought a size 5 and while they were snug on my feet, I assumed the fabric would loosen up as I walked in them more. Nope. I had to throw the pair out during my trip and it really sucked. Fast forwarding to the present, I decided to buy a bigger size this time in the same design and sure enough - they fit like a glove!

Japanese White Chocolate Kit Kat

Inside the Mall, there was a new store that had just opened up that I was excited to check out. They sell international snacks and I really wanted to try the Matcha Kit Kat but unfortunately they were all sold out. I decided to buy the next best thing which was the White Chocolate ones. Now, I am not a white chocolate fan - but these were amazing! Dimitar and I devoured them because they were so good. Also, I feel like the Japanese Kit Kats aren't as sweet as the American ones which probably explains why I liked them so much.

Vega Protein & Greens Powder

Since doing Keto, I've noticed a few things changing within my body, not including weight loss. First, more of my hair falls out and second, my periods are always late. This may seem like a red flag to anyone just starting Keto but it's quite normal and fixable; sort of.

I've read that hair loss could be a result from not getting enough protein on a Keto diet so I went to my local BJ's and bought a big container of protein powder from Vega; It's Keto friendly and very tasty. I enjoy a shake first thing in the morning for breakfast or right after a work out. As for my late periods, I normally just take vitamins and eat dark chocolate and it normally triggers my period!

Soda Buckle Sandals

I've always wanted a pair of espadrille sandals but never got around to looking into them. I feel like they're the perfect sandal to wear during the Summer time because they practically go with every outfit! Since I don't care too much for heels in general, these sandals give me the best of both worlds and I'm so happy I finally bought a pair. They fit perfectly too and come in a variety of colors so I may just go back and buy the black pair as well!

Sun Bum Heat Protector Hair Spray

I have spent that past two years repairing my hair and it has been such a long process! Now I make sure I do everything I can to keep my hair healthy and protecting it from the sun is a big must! I came across Sun Bum's heat protector spray and since it protects hair against UV rays, I decided to give it a try. I've used it twice so far and I'm absolutely blown away by how smooth it makes my hair. I can now style it and be in the sun without worrying too much that my hair is going to get fried!

Kawaii Bee Keychain

Another new store in the Mall opened up and to my surprise they actually sell Kawaii stuff! I was so happy to discover this store and it was really hard to stop myself from buying everything! I decided to buy a cute bumble bee key chain along with a multi-color strawberry pen. I love them both but I really can't get enough of my keychain. It's the cutest thing ever - just look at the bee! I tried to find a similar keychain on Amazon, but unfortunately it seems to be pretty exclusive.

Spaghetti Strap Summer Dress

Since I've lost a lot of weight, I've been meaning to update my wardrobe to celebrate. I've heard that Florida is going to be very hot and humid so I wanted a dress that was cute yet breathable. I searched for so long to find the perfect dress and I finally found one that I like and bought a black one and white one; one for the evening, and one to wear during the day. The dress has a very low cut - something I am not used to - but I still like the dresses and will wear them!

Ghost Hunters TV Show

Back in early 2000's, I remember obsessing's over a show called Ghost Hunters. I waited every week for the show to air and it was literally the highlight of my week. I even bugged my dad to buy me the first season! Well, I ended up forgetting about the show until just recently and it's such a throw back. Whether the show is real or not - it doesn't matter - as I still enjoy watching it for history aspect of it. If you like paranormal stuff, this show will keep you entertained!

Kdrama Nevertheless

I've been so busy lately that I haven't had the chance to find any new Kdrama's to watch. I had a slow evening one day though and discovered a recently aired drama and I ended up watching it the entire day! I loved all of the characters too as the show portrays the importance of self-love and trust. If you're looking for a romantic Kdrama show to indulge in, watch this one!

Well this completes my July Favorites for this month - August will be a crazy month for sure but I should have some more goodies to share with you all by then! Stay tuned for my YouTube video also which you can watch below.

Until Next Time! xoxo - Sarah

There used to be a time long ago where I unintentionally surrounded myself with people who didn't have my best interests in mind. They would constantly ignore my boundaries because I was too scared to establish any. As time went on, the patterns of toxic people around me grew even more to the point where I had no choice but to face reality; If I didn't develop some kind of standards in my life, I would never be happy.

The hardest part about being honest with yourself is realizing that once you take a step forward, you can't go back. Once you raise your standards and realize how liberating it truly is, you will never be able to approach your life the same as you once did before. As my relationships began to crumble because of the pressures I was forcing myself to carry, I did my best to bottle up my concerns and not express myself. For me, it was better than starting a fight because I had been around too much of that growing up.

It took getting hurt many times by friends, partners, and family members, for me to reach a tipping point. It took going in an out of depression, isolating myself to figure out my own inner truth just to grow into the woman that I am today. For majority of my life, I felt like I didn't have a choice or the right to disagree because I grew up being the youngest amongst three sisters. Whenever I wanted to do something my own way and my sisters didn't agree, they would turn against me which always made me question myself. I had a fantasy of living my life exactly as I wanted to and this thought reassured me that I'd get to one day. Years later, I was able to do just that.

When I moved to Baltimore from Texas for the first time at the age of 19, I was scared out of my mind. I only had a few thousand dollars in my bank account and I was moving to a state I had never been to - I didn't even have a place to stay. I just saw one picture on google that impressed me and I decided that I was going to move there. As scary as it all was, it was the best decision I had made for myself in a long time and one I will always cherish. Living on my own and building up my own worth made me realize once and for all that I had something to offer this world.

It was this point where I learned to welcome going out of my comfort zone. I took advantage of my own independence by doing things I had wanted to do like trying new hobbies. I made an effort to speak my mind more often, even if it was just to order at a café I had never been too. The more I dipped myself into this new world where I was the rising star, the more I enjoyed my life. Many around me criticized me for being impulsive or distant even, but I was finally living my life and I was actually happy.

Going out of my comfort showed me who I really was. It pushed me to try new things, but also showed me how valuable my own company was. I gained confidence within myself, I improved my own spirituality, and life just overall started to become much more enjoyable. I came to realize that trying new things and giving myself new experiences made me feel free. If I was faced with an issue constantly, I'd push myself to face it. If I wanted to do something badly enough to where I couldn't stop thinking about it, I'd push myself to finally try it.

I came to see my life as a big game that I could only win if I at least tried to play. For majority of my childhood, I felt like I was constantly being cornered, only existing in someone else's shadow. Going out of my comfort zone felt like an internal battle (because it was) but when I saw how much happier I was in the end, I wanted more. Slowly, my fears and insecurities drifted away and I became eager to improve myself. I wanted to learn more about this girl hiding within me and watch her grow into someone I could admire and present to the world proudly.

So leave your comfort zone if you want to see how exciting your life can truly be. Empower yourself to be your own best friend and you will always feel supported in everything you do. Be the best you can be no matter how much criticism or judgement you get from the outside world. Your life is your own and it depends on you to be there every step of the way. After all, even stars shine against the darkest night.

Until next time! xoxo - Sarah

It's quite common to become dehydrated on a Keto diet, mostly because of how our bodies change from within; going from relying on carbs for fuel to burning fat instead is a big deal for anyone aiming to lose weight on Keto. Because of the changes your body is undergoing, staying hydrated is key to a successful Keto experience, especially now that Summer is here.

* This post may contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. See disclosure for more details.

* This post is sponsored.

To have a successful Keto experience, it's important to understand how our body changes on a Keto diet. That way, we can better take care of our body and prevent what's commonly referred to as the Keto Flu, or other complications as a result of dehydration. Since I plan on doing Keto for the rest of my life, learning the ins and outs gives me the confidence I need to achieve my fitness goals and it will help you succeed with yours as well.

When you first start Keto, your body is not used to burning fat for fuel, but instead it relies on carbs and sugar. Once you've done Keto long enough to put you into a state of Ketosis, your liver starts to produce ketones. After this, your body shifts to becoming fat adapted as it starts to target the fat stores in your body, which will then help you lose weight.

For as long as your body is in a state of Ketosis, your body has a good amount of sodium within it due to the high levels of ketones. Because of this, staying hydrated will not only help remove the excess sodium from your body, but it will also prevent your body from holding onto excess water too, often known as water weight. Whether you're working out, spending time in the sun, or you're on certain medications, doing Keto isn't just about eating fewer carbs, but also about staying hydrated to avoid dehydration.

Here are some common signs that your body is dehydrated while doing Keto:

Constipation
Dry eyes
Dry mouth
Water retention
Brain fog
Headaches
Body aches or spasms

To prevent your body from becoming dehydrated, you can do any of the following:

Drink plenty of water daily
Eat plenty of vegetables
Drink smoothies
Take electrolyte supplements

Since I personally like convenience, I use supplements as a way to ensure my body is being properly hydrated. Even with a proper Keto diet, drinking plenty of water, and working out every other day, supplements simply give me an ease of mind that my body is being cared for. One product that I personal enjoy using now that summer is here and I am sweating much more, is by Perfect Keto and it's their Daily Electrolytes supplement.

Perfect Keto's Daily Electrolytes

Perfect Keto's Daily Electrolytes comes in a 10.6 oz container, giving you at least 46 servings; that's a lot! You can choose from many different flavors, but I chose the Black Cherry flavor since I wanted to try something new for a change. I found the flavor to have a subtle sweetness and tang to it but you choose their other flavors that meet your taste buds or even flavorless capsules. To enjoy the Daily Electrolytes powder though, I use one scoop of powder with about 10-12 oz of water and mix it using a Blender bottle.

46 Servers per Daily Electrolytes container

I love Perfect Keto's Daily Electrolytes because it really makes it easy to keep my body hydrated. Sometimes on my workout days I feel pretty tired and restless but by taking this supplement right afterwards, I find myself not only less sore but more energetic; I hardly get the Keto Flu too! With it being extremely hot outside now, I notice how much better I feel and how regularly I even go to the bathroom just by taking this supplement.

Shown above: Black Cherry flavor

Additionally, daily Electrolytes is formulated specifically to offer maximum hydration so that our bodies can be at their best while on Keto. It's formula has a combination of sodium, chloride, Potassium, and magnesium. It even has Vitamin D in it; a vitamin I have come to adore taking because it keeps my mood boosted and keeps my immune system strong. Last but least, Perfect Keto's Daily Electrolytes has no sugar, no carbs, no calories, and all natural flavors; giving you one less thing to have to worry about!

So, whether you're a beginner to Keto or you're more experienced, you will definitely find your daily routine much easier with Perfect Keto's Daily Electrolytes. To stay hydrated this Summer and look and feel your best, Perfect Keto is offering $10 off their Daily Electrolytes supplement from July 18 to July 22; so be sure to head on over to get your favorite flavor and use promo code "SALTY10" during check out ( $30 in cart minimum).

$10 OFF Daily Electrolytes - 7/18-7/22

Until next time! xoxo - Sarah

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