I'm a Southern Life & Style Blogger. I've built a loyal following of followers and friends that love fashion, beauty, travel, home decor and food. I love being real and honest with my followers. I stand true to only sharing brands & products that I truly love and believe in.
Fall is here and so is soup and chili season! I made this chili recipe my own. I added small touches that make it a little healthier and a little spicier than your normal chili recipe.
This recipe is super easy to make! You can even make it in the crockpot if you need or want to, just make sure you brown the meat first. I use ground turkey instead of ground beef for a more lean option. I use jalapeños instead of a green pepper for a spicer option. If you want a more traditional chili, just use the ground beef and green pepper instead. However, I prefer it with ground turkey and jalapeños!
Ingredients:
2 lbs. ground turkey
1 package of chili seasoning
1 sweet onion (diced)
3 jalapeËśnos (diced)
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 46 fl oz. can tomato juice
1 can black beans
2 cans kidney beans
1 can chili beans (or bean of choice – I do cannellini beans)
1 cup of water
Drizzle of oil
Directions:
Heat a drizzle of oil in pot and add ground turkey breaking it up into small pieces as it begins to brown.
Add package of chili seasoning, garlic, onion and jalape˜nos. Cook until onion & jalapeños have softened.
Drain and rinse beans.
Add beans, tomato juice, and 1 cup of water.
Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat. Simmer for 1-2 hours.
Optional: top with shredded cheese, green onion, sour cream, corn chips, etc.
I briefly looked at furniture and found out really quick how pricey it can be. Instead of spending tons of money on a new dresser, I decided to take an old dresser and spruce it up a bit. The dresser was already white; however, it was an off-white and looking pretty yellow and dingy in spots. I decided to paint it a bright white that had more of a matte look and switch out the hardware to give it more of a modern look. While I am by no means a pro, I thought I’d share what I used and the steps I took for this little DIY project.
Remove Hardware & Clean
It seems simple, but don’t forget to start with the basics. Remove the hardware that’s on it and wipe the piece of furniture down. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but make sure there is no dust or anything on it.
Sanding
I didn’t spend a ton of time on this part. I took a couple of the sanding sheets below and quickly sanded down the furniture. Again, I’m not a pro and kinda just went with the flow and did my own thing. I basically just sanded it enough to get the soft/glossy feel off and make the furniture a little more rough to help the new paint stick better.
Priming
In my opinion, priming is a necessity. I just did one coat of the primer and rolled the primer on the dressers. I wasn’t as worried about getting the primer in every little crack, but I did want the whole dresser covered. I will say that they had this primer at Lowe’s, but I only saw it available in a gallon for around $24. I knew I didn’t need that much, so I ordered this smaller one on Amazon for around $9. After I finished priming, I let it dry for 1 hour.
Painting
I thought picking out paint was as simple as going in Lowe’s, picking out a color, and that’s that. Little did I know, there are many factors that go into paint. I’m going to share pictures of the one I got incase you want all the details. Let me start by mentioning that I’ve painted furniture before, but these dressers were boogers to paint! There were so many cracks and details that you really had to get the paint into. I took the small, angled brush shown below and started with the small details on each side. Then, I’d go in with a roller and even everything out. Again, I’m no pro but this worked for me. I painted one coat, let it dry, then painted another coat.
Hardware
In my opinion, this is key to making a difference! I knew I wanted gold hardware that looked a little more modern. I found a 15 pack on Amazon for under $25. It’s important to note before ordering or buying hardware how many holes and/or the distance between the holes. Both dressers of mine required single hole knobs. The pack I ordered came with two different size screws and both were too long. Thankfully, I was able to use the screws that came with my dresser and they worked great! Make sure the dressers are completely dry before adding the hardware.
As simple as that, you have a dresser that looks like new and you’ve saved lots of money! I spent well under $100 on this project and many dressers that look similar online are well over $2,000. I do recommend checking Amazon for primer and brushes before you buy from Lowe’s or elsewhere. They seemed to be a little cheaper on Amazon, so I ordered most everything from there. I will link everything I ordered here. I will share before & after photos below and some pictures that you can really see the color difference. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out!
This post has been sponsored by Ratio . All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I’m always searching for more ways to add protein into my diet and anytime I find a delicious and easy snack, I have to share it with you all! The Ratio™ Protein Strawberry Yogurt and Ratio™ Keto Friendly Dairy Snacks, Strawberry are such a good option and they have so many benefits!
KETO Friendly:
1G sugar, 2G carbs, 15G protein, 15G fat
KETO Friendly* dairy snack that is creamy & delicious
Available in 5 flavors – vanilla, strawberry, black cherry, coconut and mango
PROTEIN:
25G protein. 3G sugar.
The most protein in the yogurt aisle in a single serve cup
4X the protein of the leading traditional yogurt*
Traditional yogurt contains 6G of protein per 6 oz.; :ratio PROTEIN contains 25G of protein per 5.3. You can shop both products here!
I found both products at Meijer. Trust me when I say that I stock up now when I find them! Meijer makes the yogurt so easy to find and they also carry more flavors than just the Strawberry. Meijer has everything else I need and the other products I add to the :ratio yogurt to make it even more delicious!
Ingredients:
Ratio™ Protein Strawberry Yogurt
Ratio™ Keto Friendly Dairy Snacks, Strawberry
Nuts – Any kind will work, but I used Glazed Honey Cinnamon Pecans.
Sweetened Coconut Flakes
Fruit – I used strawberries and raspberries.
Instructions:
Add nuts to one side of Protein yogurt and KETO-friendly dairy snack.
Add coconut flakes to the middle, next to the nuts.
Add fruit to the opposite side, next to the coconut.
Enjoy!
Whether you are looking to incorporate more protein into your diet or just looking for more KETO-friendly snacks, the :ratio options are perfect! The creamy yogurt topped with the nuts, coconut, and fruit gives it the perfect amount of creamy & crunchy!
A little background about the sale in case you don’t know much about it. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is the biggest sale that Nordstrom has. The best part about it is that they take NEW Fall items and mark them down. After the sale is over, everything goes back to full price. The worst part about the sale, not everyone can shop it at the same time so sometimes the popular items sale out fast.
When does the sale start?
This is the part that stinks! There are different tiers to shop and they basically depend on if you have a Nordstrom credit card and how much you spend there yearly. I personally shop the sale, but not until it’s open to the public. Fingers crossed, some of the items I have my eye on will still be in stock! I will share the tiers and dates you can shop below.
July 12: Early Access for cardmembers with Icon status. July 14: Early Access for cardmembers with Ambassador status. July 16: Early Access for cardmembers with Influencer status. July 28: Anniversary Sale opens to the general public.
What products should I try to grab during the sale?
Obviously, this is a personal preference. However, in my opinion, the shoes and beauty items are the best deals! It’s a good time to stock up on Fall staple pieces that you can wear over and over and beauty products that you love. If you need a good pair of booties for Fall, this is a great time to snag those. If you’ve had your eye on Spanx leggings, this is the cheapest that I’ve seen them!
Is there anything that isn’t worth it?
Again, this is completely my opinion. You do you! However, people rave about the Barefoot Dreams blankets being on sale year after year. They are still over $100 for a blanket. I have never bought one, so I can’t personally compare. However, I’ve heard multiple people say that there are dupes for this blanket that are so similar and much more affordable. I bought one from Sam’s Club that I love! It’s only $30 and I’ll link it here!
As always, feel free to reach out to me and let me know if you have any questions! I’ll be happy to help. Also, don’t ever feel like you need any of this. It is only material items. I just want to be a good resource for y’all if you are planning on shopping the sale. XOXO -Sara
A quarter of a century old and never been happier! I definitely don’t have all the answers to life and do not proclaim to, however I will always trust God’s plan for my life. I’m so thankful for this beautiful life. I’m sharing 25 lessons I’ve learned by age 25!
Trust God. Trust his timing. Trust his plan for you. Trust the unanswered prayers, because while we may not understand they turn out to be for the best in the end.
Stand up for yourself. Don’t be afraid to kindly say back to someone that you’re proud of where you’re from, your beliefs, your work, etc. Don’t let people tear you down.
Balance your relationships. While you may not be able to spend the exact amount of time with everyone, try to still spend time with your family, significant other, and friends.
Stand up for what is right. You’re not going to agree with everyone and everyone is not going to agree with you and that is ok. But, don’t be afraid to stand up for what you believe.
Be proud of your roots. Growing older and traveling out of Eastern Kentucky, I hear way too often “Where are you from? I hear an accent.” Yes, I have an accent and I’m not going to try to change that. I’m proud of where I’m from and the community I grew up in. There are truly no better people.
Leave a toxic environment. If you’re doing something day after day that is truly not making you happy and you’re letting that energy affect the relationships you have with others in your life, don’t be afraid to leave. I promise you will be happier.
Block out negativity. People will gossip and question and think of anything they can to try to bring you down. Just ignore it. If they have time to talk about you, you should feel pretty special. You’re probably doing something amazing.
You are worthy. Never doubt that you are worthy of love. You are worthy of happiness. You are enough.
Your mom is probably right. No matter how much you want to disagree with her growing up, just know that most of the time she is right. So listen.
Be a leader, not a follower. In college, you are more than likely to encounter parties, drinking, etc. Choose to be you! I promise it is ok. Everyone feels peer pressure, but stay strong. In the end, those people will respect your choices.
Don’t be afraid to make big decisions. By age 25, you will make at least one big decision. Do what’s best for you. It ‘s not always easy, but pray about it and follow your heart.
Money isn’t everything. You will probably graduate thinking you need to land a job that will make you tons of money. You may be thinking you need that dream car and dream house before age 25. Keep working toward your goal, these things will come in time. I actually took a small pay cut and accepted a job that I love doing. I will choose happiness over money over and over again.
Your metabolism will slow down and it sucks. I was that person who once ate a whole pizza and two burgers without stopping. I ate all the time and never gained a pound. Trust me, your metabolism will slow down and it is not fun. I still eat whatever I want, but I now balance. Balance is a good thing.
Work to make your dreams reality. If there is something you love and are passionate about, work for it. Find other jobs that relate to that to help you grow and learn. Find time to make it happen. Whether it’s on your lunch break or you’re staying up until midnight, what you put into it is what you will get out of it.
Stay active. It’s not easy, especially in college. You always feel like you could be studying or doing something fun with friends. Working out will be the first thing you want to move to the back burner. Don’t do it. Make time to at least do something active.
Mange your money wisely. You now have bills. Know how to manage your money. Pay bills on time, save, and treat yourself on occasion.
Connections are everything. You will meet lots of people. Make a connection with each of them. You never know when you may encounter them again in the future.
Always say “I love you.” No matter how big of a hurry you are in or how aggravated you may be, always say “I love you.” Whether you are in person or over the phone, those words mean so much to family, significant others, and friends.
Laugh. Laugh with others. Laugh at yourself and some of the crazy things you will do. Laugh things off.
Be yourself. Never try to be someone you’re not. Don’t be fake just to fit in with others. If someone doesn’t like you for who you truly are, then they don’t deserve you.
Be honest. Sometimes you have to tell people what they don’t want to hear, but you must be honest. Trust me when I say that you may be honest with people and they may not believe you or may be oblivious to what you’re saying. But you must always give the honest truth, no matter how hard it may be.
Communicate. Communication is key in everything throughout life. Don’t hold things in or have secrets. Talk about everything with at least someone you trust, whether it’s a friend, significant other, or family member. If you don’t have anyone that you think would listen, talk to me. I will listen.
Surround yourself with people who want what’s best for you. It’s ok to distance yourself from people who doesn’t want what’s best for you. Your family, significant other, and friends will always support you and want what’s best for you.
Don’t compare your life to other’s. Everyone has a different timeline. Some people may get a job before you. Some people may buy a house before you. Don’t compare your timeline to theirs. Be happy and do what’s best for you.
Be the person who can brighten someone else’s day even on the days that you can’t brighten your own. Always be the person who smiles, even though others may not reciprocate. Negative energy will only bring you down more. The more you try to help others, the better you will feel.
Thank you all for always hanging out with me. I am so thankful for your support. Love y’all so much! XOXO -Sara
I feel like makeup and hair products rarely go on sale, so I always try to stock up on my favorites during the Sephora sale! I know it can be overwhelming, so I’m going to keep it simple and only share my go-to products! I’m also adding in a couple new products that I’ll be getting to try.
I just started using this foundation this year, but really seem to like it! It has Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid. One of the reasons I tried this one is because it was advertised as being long lasting. I do feel like it wears longer than others even when I’m sweating out in the sun all day. I wear shade CN 18 Cream Whip.
This is my favorite powder, especially for oily skin! I’ve tried lots of powders and honestly kept going back to drug store brands because I never found one that I thought was any better until this one. If your skin is more on the dry side, this probably isn’t for you. But it’s by far the best I’ve found!
I’m not going to lie, I was always skeptical of mascara primers before trying this one. I saw so many people rave about this one that I finally gave it a try and I love it! I truly do think it makes such a difference in the volume and length of your mascara.
This product was recommended to me when I asked for something to tame the frizz of my hair (the Florida humidity was not being kind to my hair). It’s a heat-protective blowout spray that mimics the smooth, high-shine, frizz-free results of a keratin treatment. This spray is amazing! I love the smell and that it has multiple benefits in one!
I had multiple people tell me that I needed to try this hair mask. These products are a little more on the pricey end, so I kept putting it off. I finally found a sale and grabbed this. I can tell the biggest difference in my hair. It seems to be less frizzy, more shiny, and look more healthy overall.
This was another product recommended that I grabbed when on sale. I always put some sort of oil in my hair. I love this one though because it really seems to help bond my ends and doesn’t make my hair look more oily.
This is a new product to me that I’ll be purchasing. I’ve had my eye on this awhile and am finally going to pull the trigger since it’s on sale! Like I mentioned before, I have oily skin and am outside in the heat often so I need my makeup to stay on through the sweating and long hours. This setting spray has amazing reviews. I’m going to purchase the mini size to see how I like it.
These are two products that I’ll be purchasing for the first time during the sale as well. Both of these products have been recommended by multiple people too. I loved the No. 3 and No. 7 OLAPLEX products, so I’m going to give these a shot! Again, they are pricier so that’s why I’m going to grab them during the sale.
Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or are curious about any products that I didn’t mention here. I’ll be happy to help in anyway I can. I’ve linked all my picks here for you to shop! Don’t forget to use code OMGSPRING for the discount.
These Chicken Lasagna Roll Ups may look complicated, but they are super easy! The ingredients are so simple and you probably already have most of them in your pantry. I use a crockpot to cook the chicken during the day. That makes this meal so much easier when you’re ready to start dinner!
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Ingredients:
8 lasagna noodles
2 boneless chicken breasts
1 cup of pasta sauce
Pepperoni
Grated parmesan
Shredded mozzarella
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon minced garlic
Salt & pepper to taste
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Directions:
Add chicken, butter, garlic, 1/2 cup of pasta sauce, salt and pepper to crockpot and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours. Once cooked, shred the chicken.
When ready to start dinner, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cook lasagna noodles according to package instructions. Once the noodles are finished, drain and line each noodle on a flat surface.
Add a thin layer of pasta sauce to the bottom of the baking dish.
Take a small amount of the shredded chicken and spread it on top of each noodle. Add a layer of pepperoni on top of the chicken. Shake grated parmesan on top of the pepperoni. Tightly & carefully roll up each noodle and place the seam side down.
Once all are rolled up and placed in the baking dish, add additional pasta sauce on top of each noodle. (I use about 1/2 cup.) Top with shredded mozzarella and a little extra parmesan.
It’s time for my February Amazon Round Up! I didn’t order as much this month, but definitely still have a wide range of items. A little activewear, travel accessories, and even something for the men in your life!
If you travel often, this little set is perfect for not having to take all of your full sized items. It’s a 16 Pack Travel Bottles Set for Toiletries. They are TSA Approved Travel Containers, Leak Proof, Silicone, and BPA Free. They will hold everything from your shampoo & conditioner, face cleanser, moisturizer, liquid hair products, and pretty much anything that you could think of that you may need! I have found that the products will last you approximately 2 weeks. The bag that the items come in is not great quality, but the products themselves are very good! For $15.99, I think it’s well worth it if you travel often.
I’ve been on the hunt for a cute golf skirt that’s pink. Golf attire can get pricey, but I found this skirt for only $21.99. I got a small and would say it fits pretty true to size. It would also be super cute for tennis or just athleisure wear.
I saw something simple to this from Lululemon, but couldn’t bring myself to pay that price for a pullover. I was on the hunt for something simple and more affordable. I found this one and love it! I am so impressed by the quality! It’s only $25.99 and I got it in a XS.
I got the UGG Women’s Coquette Slippers for Christmas and caught Chip slipping them on often. So I grabbed this men’s version for him for Valentine’s Day. These are perfect to wear around the house, especially if you go outside often to take the trash out, etc. I’m normally a 7 1/2 and sized down to a 7 in mine. Honestly, I could’ve even sized down a little more. However, I ordered these in his true size and they fit great.
Happy 2021! Who doesn’t love Amazon? They have such a variety of things and the shipping just makes it so easy to order. I’m going to start sharing all my monthly Amazon finds with you all at the end of every month. I’ll give you my full and honest review of each product and let you know if it’s worth it in my opinion or not. Hopefully this will be helpful!
Loungewear seemed to be a hit in 2020 and for me…well, it still is! I’m always looking for a good lounge set and this one is perfect! Yes, I know it’s cold out and this set has shorts. Personally, I prefer shorts around the house. I also packed this set with me to the beach and loved it! It’s so cozy and I already want it in more colors. I got a small. It runs true to size. It’s made to be a little loose, so I would NOT recommend sizing up for an oversized it.
I grabbed this book for my daily devotional: “Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence.” So far, I am loving it! It’s short, easy-to-read devotions for everyday in the year. I get excited to read it each day. I also love that the book is small, so it’s easy to travel with!
I somehow managed to loose all my clips, so I grabbed this two pack from Amazon. I love the tortoise print and how tight they clip my thick hair. I think these are a great buy for the price.
It can’t be a new year with new goals without new workout gear…right? I’m just playing, but I snagged some workout tops from Amazon because honestly you just can’t beat the price. This one is so cute and flattering. I LOVE the color too! I sized up to a medium in this so it wouldn’t be as cropped as the picture. I do recommend sizing up one size unless you just want it really tight. This is another item that I already want more colors in, so it’s a win in my book!
I have seen so many people rave about these all over the internet. Honestly, I was skeptical and just figured they worked just as good as any other beauty blender. However, after finally pulling the trigger and buying these…I love them! There is just something about the material that makes them softer and they seem to blend better. Not to mention, 5 for $8.99 just can’t be beat!
More fitness gear, but hey they are great! I went ahead and got a 2 pack when I saw these and knew I’d love them. I do! They are super soft and I love the open back. They look like something you would get at Lululemon, but at a much more affordable price. I ordered a small and would say they run true to size.
This is not a ‘fun’ purchase in my book. However, I have to wear a mask at my workout classes. I can breathe better when wearing the disposable ones in class and I figured out the hard way that I need to actually dispose them after each use. I sweat so much while wearing them in class and putting all that back on my face for the next class was just not cutting it and terrible for my skin. So, I ordered these and have no complaints. Sometimes disposable masks can be kinda fuzzy on the inside, but I don’t think these are. I got the pack with pink, black, and grey just so I can switch it up!
Fun fact about me…I LOVE making up random recipes! I made this one up tonight and absolutely fell in love with it! Oh, and did I mention that it’s healthy and super easy to make? It’s a WIN WIN in my book.
Please note that you can use whatever meat you’d like on this. This is a great recipe to make if you have some leftover meat in the fridge that you need to use. I had some leftover ground turkey, but you could just grab a rotisserie chicken at the store and shred that up. Make it easy on you! I hope y’all enjoy it just as much as I do!
Ingredients:
10 oz. Shaved Brussel Sprouts
1 pound Whole Carrots – cut diagonally
2 cups Brown Rice
Ground turkey (You can use whatever meat you have on hand, leftover, or grab a rotisserie chicken.)
1/2 Red Onion
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
Salt, Pepper, & Italian Herb seasoning to taste
Lite Soy Sauce
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Add shaved brussel sprouts, carrots, & onion to baking sheet
Drizzle 1 tbsp olive oil on brussel sprouts & 1 tbsp over carrots & onion. Mix to make sure all veggies are coated in oil.
Season brussel sprouts & carrots with Italian Herb seasoning and all veggies with salt & pepper.
Bake for 20-25 minutes.
While veggies bake, cook your rice. (I use the bagged Organic Brown Rice that you can just pop in the microwave.)
Once done, layer your bowl! Shaved brussel sprouts, ground turkey, brown rice, roasted carrots, red onion, & soy sauce.
This will make approximately 2 servings. As always, make sure you tag me if you try this recipe!
