ACCOUNTABILITY IN 2020

As we get ready to wrap up another year, I can’t help but get so excited for 2020. Perhaps it’s my love for even numbers or just the fact that I love the feeling of a fresh start, but either way it inspires me to set goals for myself. I know we should never wait for a new year to set intentions or goals, but I feel like it’s always a good idea to reflect and see what else you can do differently to make yourself proud. Here are some of mine!

  • travel out of the country once a quarter/season
  • call one friend I’ve lost touch with just to say hi at least once a month
  • use a recipe from a cookbook once every two weeks
  • sleep for at least 8 hours a night
  • go on at least one solo trip
  • see a therapist
  • take a new workout class once a month
  • cook for a friend once a month
  • give myself one day off at least once a week (no flying, instagram, emails, etc.)
  • shop at the farmers market at least once every two weeks
  • stay in a treehouse
  • volunteer at least once a month
  • give myself enough time to meditate and journal every morning (even if it’s just for a few minutes)
  • go to at least one concert every few months
  • take mom to italy
  • read one book a month
  • take a lesson in something

This next year, I really want to focus on my growth. I have noticed that I’ve plateaued in my learning and I want to devote more time to learning new recipes, workouts, languages, cultures, activities. As much as I think we should honor where we are today, I think it’s also healthy to set attainable and measurable goals to challenge ourselves. Change can be so good, if we let it. I’d recommend making some small attainable goals of your own. Remember to be specific so you can hold yourself accountable and that way, it’s not as overwhelming too. And remember that less is more! All the love!

GIFT GUIDE FOR EVERY SPICE IN YOUR LIFE

The holidays are just around the corner and what better time to create a gift guide than now with all the hot deals going on? Here are some of my favorites for every spice in your life.

SPORTY SPICE

  1. adidas by Stella McCartney Yoga Bag ($110) // This collection is insanely gorgeous and one of the best things you could get someone is something they might hesitate splurging on. Save $20 using coupon code “SCORE”
  2. Healthy Human Life Stainless Steel Bottle 32 oz ($34.99) // These bottles are such amazing quality and I take mine everywhere with me. And I love that there’s every color under the sun! Use coupon code “STOCKUP” for 20% your purchase.
  3. The Balance Collection Textured Roller ($21.97) // I just recently got one of these and it changed my life! The textures on the foam roller gives you a more intense massage than your standard foam roller. You can find this baby at Nordstrom Rack and save some moolah!

HEALTHY SPICE

  1. Bulletproof Brain Octane ($23.50) // Just one of those things you aren’t sure about but would secretly squeal over if found under the tree. I once was skeptical but this stuff is amazing. And now, you can save 20% off sitewide!
  2. Pearl Butter ($19.99) // These adaptogenic butters are not only great for you, but you can also release your inner Jackson Pollock using them too! I’ve seen some pretty sick creations on Instagram and am dying to get my hands on them myself! Use coupon code “GRATEFUL” for free shipping or my friend’s code “ANDAPINCHOFLOVE” for 20% off!
  3. Sun Potion Adaptogens from ($25.57) // These adaptogenic powders will give your smoothies, coffees, matcha lattes, etc. an extra UMF. A little pricey (but worth it) so it’s always exciting to receive! My favorites are ashwaghanda, cordyceps, reishi, and chaga! And guess what? They’re currently all on sale!

GIRLY SPICE

  1. Cocokind Holiday Basics Beauty Set ($49.99) // Gift sets make for the perfect gift come holiday season because you end up saving so much on these bundles. Cocokind is a brand I discovered via some of my favorite bloggers and since using their products, I’ve never looked back. Their products are all organic and natural. And you guessed it. The gift sets are all on sale!
  2. Glossier Cloud Paint Quad ($55) // Glossier has been a cult favorite in the online beauty community for a little while now and with reason! I love that they believe in skincare before anything else. I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about these Cloud Paints, helping you achieve that natural blush all while being hypoallergenic, dermatologist tested, paraben free, fragrance free, and cruelty free. Currently 20% off and free shipping sitewide!
  3. Julep Beauty Box ($39.98 for two months) // Fun fact: I used to work at Julep! I always loved the concept behind subscription boxes and Julep is unique in that you have the option of logging into your account and picking out your goodies every month. I’ve always loved that about Julep because how many times have you received a subscription box and gave away half of it? With Julep’s monthly Maven box, your girly spice can pick out what she wants! No sale, but seriously so cool.

JETSETTIN’ SPICE

  1. Fresh Nourishing Naturals Lip Duo ($25) // As a flight attendant, I especially know first hand how drying traveling can be. Your jet setter will appreciate you so much for this. Valued at $36, this is a steal!
  2. ClassPass (starting at $50) // I’ve been eyeing ClassPass for quite some time! I absolutely love the concept and get this – your traveling pal will get to drop into any classes offered in the system in ANY city with no extra charge! How cool is that?
  3. Amazing Grass Effervescent ($47.94 for a pack of 6) // I discovered these at the checkout stand at Whole Foods and it’s now one of my holy grail items. In just one tablet, you’ve got one serving of fruits and veggies. So convenient to just pop into your water bottle and get those nutrients in, especially when it’s not as easy to when you’re on the go. I love the berry flavor and plan on restocking with this sale they’ve got going! Currently on sale for 40% off plus free shipping using code “FRIDAY40”. Comes out to $4 a tube versus $10 at Whole Foods!

MAMA SPICE

  1. Groupon // I had my bestie in mind writing this. She’s going to be a new mom pretty soon and the first thing I thought of? MANIS AND PEDIS. Anything to make her feel special and give her a little break, even if it’s just an hour to herself. Purchase your vouchers on Groupon to save tons of money this holiday season.
  2. Sun Basket (starting at $80) // Takeout for new parents has got to be the best invention ever, but Sun Basket makes it easy to stay healthy while still cutting a lot of the time. They offer diet-friendly subscriptions whether you’re a vegetarian or paleo, there’s something for everybody. The best part is, these meals take only 30 minutes to make! Any new parent would appreciate this so much. Use code “BALANCED” for $35 off your purchase, courtesy of The Balanced Blonde!
  3. Everly Grey During & After Maternity Sleepwear Set (on sale from $67.38) // HOW CUTE IS THIS?! I don’t think there are truly any words for how precious (and maybe cheesy but whatevs) it is to see mama bear matching with her cub. These sets are currently on sale at Nordstrom.

I absolutely love shopping for my friends and family, especially this time of year. Hope this gift guide helps you in some way, even if it’s just planting an idea in your head with fun subscription boxes or introducing you to some of my favorite brands! Til next time, loves.

I BE UP IN THE GYM JUST WORKIN’ ON MY FITNESS

Oh hi! Remember me? I know, it’s been a little while, but I really didn’t want to make blogging a chore anymore. Unfortunately, I got stuck in the idea of writing for the mere purpose of having something to post. It wasn’t out of joy and passion anymore. But since launching flylittlebirdy, I made it a point to only write when I felt inspired and when I wanted to. No more scheduled posts. No bullshit.

So, what sparked my interest today? The sun was shining, peeking through my window and I can’t tell you how happy it makes me waking up naturally to sunlight. I woke up with a really positive mind, took my time getting out of bed (sometimes you just need that), and went for a 7 mile run. IT FELT SO GOOD. I hadn’t ran outside in so long – probably not since my half marathon in February. The weather in Seattle has just been super icky and I’ve also been low key obsessed with cycling and yoga lately. I was also inspired by a message I received the other day from one of my sweetest friends. She was asking for health and fitness advice and it made me SO happy. Someone asking ME for fitness advice? It felt so good because for me, fitness is still a journey. It will always be. My health is so important to me and it took me so long to realize that.

Three  years ago, my best friend Roxanne asked me to be her maid of honor.. and I don’t know, I guess something just clicked. It helped a lot that I had friends who were now all on the same page too. We were all working towards the same goal: getting in shape for this epic wedding. I’ve tried diets before. Bologna. I’ve always “worked out.” I didn’t think I was capable of improving in any way. I kind of accepted the fact that this was just my body type, maybe I’d lose 5 lbs and that’d be cool, I guess. That was literally my mentality. It’s weird to think back on now and reflect on how much I’ve changed – now I’m not even talking physically. My mindset is completely in a different place. I wish I could go back and tell myself, “you know you’re capable of anything right?” or “don’t set limits for yourself. seriously STOP doing that.” I was the only thing in my way of achieving these “farfetched” dreams and goals. It’s true what they say. Sometimes you are just too hard on yourself. Sometimes you are your worst critic. Sometimes you are your worst enemy.

Getting started on this journey, I went hard. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I was doing something different. My workouts no longer consisted of straight boring (seriously zzzz) cardio for an hour. I started incorporating circuits, strength training, and cardio never lasted longer than 30 minutes, but I made those 30 minutes COUNT. HIIT cardio was my jam, hill sprints especially. Roxanne was/is my partner in gym (ha!). She taught me so much about HIIT cardio, read me articles about the benefits of it and it changed my life. My sister helped me overcome my fear of the “boys’ section” of the gym. Like many, I was so incredibly intimidated by the weight room. How does this work? Does my arm go here? What’s a squat? I felt so out of place. So uncomfortable and awkward. But guess what? Every day, I felt a little more confident. A little more… dare I say.. EXCITED, to hit the weights. It was a weird feeling, but also the best feeling in the world. I had this confidence I don’t think was ever there.

With gym time came a lot of kitchen time. Two words: meal prep. Also life changing. The word diet now had a new meaning. Diet doesn’t mean cutting carbs for X amount of months. It doesn’t mean avoiding dessert so you can fit into a size 4 dress. Diet is literally what you eat. The cleaner I was eating, I found myself thinking, ‘what the hell was I eating before?’ There’s nothing better than knowing exactly what is going in your food. I started pinning clean recipes on Pinterest, binge watching ‘What I Eat In A Day’ YouTube videos, and following a lot of health conscious food bloggers on Instagram. Cooking soon became a hobby and mind you, this is coming from somebody who before considered pressing buttons on a microwave cooking. Zoodles and overnight oats were (and still are) my jam. Love love love my superfoods (yes, I’m that girl) – chia seeds, hemp seeds, cacao powder + nibs. I have a love/hate relationship with apple cider vinegar – as much as I hate drinking it, the health benefits are out of this freaking world. Just do it. Your body will love you for it.

Things are always up and down. Some days I feel like I’ve plateaued. Some days I feel like crap, totally unmotivated, and like I’ve taken steps back. Other days I feel incredibly proud of myself (almost always after a killer workout sesh or run) and the only thing that sounds good is a massive salad. I love those days, but I get that this is a lifelong journey. Your attitude and mindset is what will get you through. I believe in celebrating small victories. I believe in encouraging others. I believe that balance is key. At the end of the day, what’s life without pizza?

My best advice to anyone who’s wanting to make a lifestyle change is to acknowledge that it’s going to be tough, but know that you can do it. You can do ANYTHING. Don’t be so hard on yourself. We’re all only human. Don’t deprive yourself of what you love, but also remember to balance. Learn to love yourself. Know that you deserve to live a happy and healthy life. Your commitment to living healthier and eating cleaner will not only show on the scale (scales suck btw) but you will have so much more energy. Your confidence will shine like never before and it’s so freaking amazing.