Finish the Sentence Part 5

I love the Finish the Sentence link parties because they're fun, random, and who doesn't love Jake & Holly? Here are my answers for this round:

I always pick  cheddar  over  american cheese.

Look at the size of those... I don't know I was trying to think of something witty, but I, for the life of me, could not come up with anything.

I recently learned that a female dog can be impregnated by two different male dogs at the same time. Mind blown!

Only when no one is looking do I eat like a 5-year-old. Sometimes, chicken nuggets and mac n' cheese just cannot be beat.

I lost my mind when Heidi Klum and Seal announced their separation. I definitely thought they'd be in it for the long haul. #wrong

I was certain I'd be an actress when I grew up. I was a touch dramatic when I was little (still am a bit), so I thought I'd be perfect in Hollywood. I then realized that I do not have the chops to be an actress.

There is not enough liquor in the world for me to touch a snake with a ten-foot pole.

I just finished reading The Fault in Our Stars. It was a good, quick read, but a tear jerker.

Why does everyone have to be so judgmental. You do you, and let me be me. Ya dig?

It's very rare when I don't watch some sort of TV in the evenings. Hi, I'm Tori and I am a TVaholic.

If I were a dog,  I would be Shanny. She sleeps all day, and just wants to be loved and snuggled. Plus, it doesn't hurt that she's spoiled rotten.

I don't believe half the things I read on the internet, which is weird because I work on the internet for a living.

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NSV, Blogmopolitan Quiz #2, & a GIVEAWAY

I'm participating in 2 link parties today. They're pretty different, but both fun in their own right.

First up: Non-Scale Victories with 24 to 30 and KTJ Weighing In

Girl Scout cookies are my weakness, especially Samoas. I could easily eat at least half the box in one sitting, and when they are around, they don't last long. This year, I brought home my boxes of cookies the day I started the 21 Day Fix. So, my NSV for this week is that I haven't eaten 1, not 1, Girl Scout cookie. I want to excel with the program I am doing, so I don't want to sabotage my progress because of some heavenly cookies.

Next up: Blogmopolitan Quiz #2

I l.o.v.e. this idea from Two Thirds Hazel! It's always so fun, and a good way to get to know some of your favorite bloggers. Find my first quiz here, and my second one below...

Lastly...

I am a sponsor for Holly's blog, and she does a Target gift card giveaway every month to support her sponsors. This month's giveaway launched today, so be sure to enter!


I'll be back tomorrow with another round of Finish the Sentence!




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21 Day Fix: First Reaction

I have been struggling lately with eating well and working out on a consistent basis. Call it the winter blues or lack of motivation, but I have not been able to keep myself in check. I'm probably the heaviest I've ever been, and I knew I needed to do something to get my butt in gear.

I discovered the 21 Day Fix through Jess from Operation Skinny Jeans, so I read up about the new program from Beachbody. (At the time, I didn't realize it was so new, as in, launched earlier this month.) I liked what I saw, thought it was 100% doable, so I ordered my kit. I got everything in the mail on Friday, so I got to planning and kicked off my 21 Day Fix yesterday.

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The 21 Day Fix is a portion controlled eating plan that is paired with 30-minute daily workouts. It's also recommended (but not required) to drink a Shakeology shake as part of the program. It's a clean eating program that doesn't seem so daunting because of the container system they use.

I've only had 1 full day under my belt, but I really like it so far. I felt full all day and didn't feel deprived.  I actually had a hard time getting all of my food in. I did the Total Body Cardio Fix workout yesterday, and it kicked my butt! I didn't realize how out of shape I was. At first, I was kind of discouraged because of that feeling, but I quickly reminded myself that I am doing something to change it and that I need to just keep going.

The program is designed by Autmun Calabrese, a celebrity fitness trainers and nutrition specialist. She leads the workouts, and I enjoyed her style of teaching. I found her much less annoying than Jillian, which was a huge plus. In the workout video, there were multiple different types of people doing the workout, not just super fit fitness pros, which was very refreshing and motivating.

As far as the Shakeology...I ordered the chocolate vegan to go with my kit, and I love it! It tastes really good and has a TON of vitamins, minerals, pre or probiotics, and antioxidants. It's more expensive that some other protein powders/meal replacement shakes out there, but to me it's worth it because of all the added nutrients.



I will continue to update my progress, share meal plans, etc. throughout the next couple weeks. Here's to getting healthy and losing a few ell bees!






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Maker Monday: DIY Bath Bombs

I mentioned a little while back that I made bath bombs to give for Christmas, and I wanted to elaborate a little about them and talk about where I want to go next with them for this edition of Maker Monday.

For the batch I gave for Christmas, I used the Copycat Lush Bath Bombs recipe from Bare Root, and they turned out beautifully! I didn't use plastic Easter eggs and omitted food coloring, so they looked a little less exciting. But, let me tell you, plop one of those bad boys in the bath tub, and it's relaxation heaven!

For mine, I used an even mix of lavender and vanilla essential oils. They seem a little strong at first, but once they start fizzing, the water dilutes the smell a bit. And, the recipe I used called for coconut oil which was my favorite part of the whole thing. After taking a bath with one of these fizzies, it made my skin feel so soft. I am a firm believer in the powers of coconut oil. Get you some!

So, that was kind of my review of the recipe that I used from Bare Root. While I loved how they turned out, I want to start testing my own recipe for bath bombs. I have been researching different recipes and have started working on my own version. Eventually, I want to start selling them on Etsy!

When it gets closer to launching the shop, I may need your help testing different scents, variations of the recipe, packaging, etc. Once I'm to that point, I will have signups to be part of my test group. It will be no cost to you...all you'll have to do is take a bath using my bath bombs and give me your honest opinion. Easy!

Anyway, that's my story for today. I hope you all had a great weekend, and I will see you back here tomorrow!




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Everyday Look

Everyday Look by torimariethompson 

I'm the Kinda Girl Who...

Thanks to pretty Whitney, I discovered a fun, new link party to participate in that's hosted by Holly from Hey, Hollywood! Let's get started shall we...

I'm the kinda girl who...

• Cannot be in the same room when someone is watching The Walking Dead. The sight and sounds of the zombies make my skin crawl, and it's just too much for this anxious ball of nerves.
  
  
• Wears a mouth guard at night because I grind my teeth. It got so bad once (last year around Rams tryouts) that I had a sore jaw for days.
  
  
• Tutored calculus in college, but finds finance, economics, and accounting near impossible.
  
  
• Cannot function without caffeine. I usually only have one cup of tea or coffee a day, but I am a yawnasaurus until it gets in my system.
  
  
• Believes that love is the end all, be all of life. It doesn't have to always be a romantic kind of love, but friendship, family, and self-love are amazing things as well. One thing I know for sure, we need more love in this world.
  
  
• Carries around a 64oz. water bottle every where I go. Work? Check. Class? Check. Laying in bed? Check.
  
  
• Loves fashion, but doesn't dress up or as fashionably as I'd like most of the time. If I got my act together, I'd pick my outfits out the night before and be way more fashionista-like.
  
  I also don't love the clothes in my closet right now. I feel like I'm still transitioning from college clothes to adult clothes and am having trouble finding my style again.
  
  
• Is a social butterfly, but needs alone time on the regular. I am very much a mashup of intro and extrovert.
  
  
• Loves giving gifts! I love love love picking things out for people and seeing their reactions to it. 

Ok, your turn, what kinda girl (or boy) are you?





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Beauty PSA: Save Money, Look Great

I have a confession...I'm a makeup addict. There. I said it. Sephora is my heaven on earth, and I want all of things when it comes to beauty products. Not only do I know that I'm a makeup addict, but my friends and family know, too.

In college, I was the resident hair and makeup artist. If we were going out or someone had a special event to go to, I was your go-to girl for hair and makeup. And, let me just tell you, I LOVE that my friends trusted me enough to let me work my magic. I definitely get the warm and fuzzies after I do someone's hair or makeup and they love it.

Needless to say, I feel like I know what I am talking about when it comes to beauty products. Am I an expert? Certainly not. I am always learning new tricks and techniques, but I have a passion for it. Everyone deserves to feel pretty in their own skin!

There are tons of drugstore products that are just as good (or better) than their "designer" counterpart, and knowing which products those are will save you money.

On the flip side though, there are some products, like Clinique Lower Lash mascara and Two Faced Shadow Insurance, that don't have a worthy substitute. Products like these are worth every penny, and it's better to save on other products and in other ways.

This is one is huge! By keeping track of yearly sales and promotional events, I have been able to purchase $45/bottle shampoo for $10, $18/can hairspray for $8, etc. Every year, Beauty Brands has a liter sale on shampoo/conditioner and a hairspray sale. If you stock up during these big sales, you won't have to ever pay full price for salon-quality products. To stay "in the know," I signed up to receive the Beauty Brands email newsletter, and I also liked them on Facebook. 

Also, pay attention to special promotional items that stores put out, especially around the holidays. Every year during the holiday shopping season, Sephora puts out an AMAZING palette of eye shadows, blushes, lip colors, etc. for $50. It's a bit of an investment up front, but I seriously use mine every day and rarely purchase any additional eye shadows or blushes.

There are many products out there that are two-in-one. For example, my Chi is both a straightener and a curling iron. Or, tinted moisturizer, coconut oil (removes eye makeup and conditions hair), dual-ended makeup brushes, etc. These two-in-one type of products gives you the full functionality you need without having to purchase two separate item to get the same result.

Check out this article on the HSN blog about saving makeup AND saving money! It's definitely worth a read.

How do you save money while still looking great? Please share!

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Happy Valentine's Day

I hope you all have an excellent day today, whether you celebrate v-day or not. Try to spread a little extra love today, and that also includes loving yourself, too :)

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Women's Wednesday Part 2

I'm back again discussing current issues that I think are important for women to know about. You don't have to agree, but it's still good to know what's going on in the world around you. Mostly, I will be sharing things that are directly related to women's issues, but sometimes there may other things thrown in, like today.

-ONE-

Shailene Woodley

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She doesn't wear makeup to events because she doesn't want to contribute to a beauty standard that makes many girls and women feel bad about themselves. That pretty much makes her a badass in my book!

Read more on HuffPost.

-TWO-

Lauren Conrad

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Her response to an inappropriate question is amazing: classy, professional, and she didn't take the bait. I never got into the Hills or any of that, but I'm definitely an LC fan now.

Click here to read the report from E!

-THREE-

Michael Sam

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He recently became the first openly-gay NCAA football player, and the response to his coming out has been overwhelmingly positive. Sam played for the University of Missouri, was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and is eligible for the NFL draft. He's breaking down stereotypes, and so many people are backing and supporting him. All I have to say is that I am proud to be a Tiger!

This article about Michael Sam from ESPN is a great read!





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More About Me Monday

I haven't done a More About Me Monday in awhile, so I think it's about time to do this type of post. I started More About Me Mondays, so my readers can get to know a little more about me.

-ONE-

I like root beer when it comes from a tap, but not usually from a bottle or fountain. Think A&W or Fitz's (if you're local to STL).

-TWO-

I usually won't do laundry until I run out of clean socks or undies. It's one of my least favorite chores, and I avoid it until it's 100% HAS to be addressed.

-THREE-

I think my feet look weird if my toenails aren't polished.

-FOUR-

I have really thick, coarse hair. It varies between curly and wavy based on hormone shifts.

Example: my hair was really curly until kindergarten, straightened a bit, then curled back up when I hit puberty. Right now, it's just kinda wavy.

I don't even want to know what it's going to do when I get pregnant one day...

-FIVE-

I am sentimental to a fault. I can't bring myself to throw away greeting cards that I receive. I don't usually re-read them, so they are just stashed in a box. I probably have birthday cards from when I was 13.

I keep cards from Kyra on my nightstand and in my purse, and I do re-read those :)




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5 Things You NEED to Know About

-ONE-

Cinnamon in your coffee.

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It just makes at-home coffee seem a little more fancy! It gives coffee a good flavor without adding a bunch of calories.

-TWO-

Hollywood Game Night.

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This show is awesome! Basically, it's two teams of three celebrities each with a "civilian" team captain. Jane Lynch is the host, and the celebrities are always funny and good sports. It's just a fun show, so definitely check it out!

-THREE-

Amy's Frozen Foods.

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I'm sure I've said it before, but I am always trying to clean up my nutrition. Right now, I'm focusing on reducing my intake of animal products and fake, processed stuff. While it would be ideal to make all of my meals from scratch, sometimes that's just not feasible. Enter Amy's frozen foods/meals.

I tried the Bean and Cheese Burrito first, and it was so yummy! I have also purchased the Veggie Loaf Whole Meal, as well as the Broccoli Pot Pie to try. If you're looking for an easier meal option, but still want to keep it healthy and natural/organic, then definitely give Amy's a try!

-FOUR-

Clinique Lower Lash Mascara.

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I may have mentioned this product before, but it is so good it's worth mentioning again. If you struggle with smudged mascara/eyeliner as the day progresses, then you need this in your life.

My under-eye smudges would get so bad that I looked like a raccoon, and it didn't matter what kind of mascara I used...until now. My mascara doesn't run anymore with this gem. It's a little baby tube with a little baby wand for your little baby bottom lashes. It's about $10 per tube and is worth every penny. Under-eye smudges be gone!


-FIVE-

I am THISCLOSE to 100 followers on Bloglovin'!

Jane Not So Plain is sitting at 97 followers. I cannot begin to express how excited I am that JNSP is growing and how thankful I am that people actually enjoy reading what I have to say. You guys are the best!






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Weekend Recap: Kyra's Birthday & Super Bowl XLVIII

Happy Monday, JNSPers! While Mondays can be a little rough, I'm happy as a clam because it was such a great weekend. Here's the breakdown...


On Friday night, we celebrated Kyra's birthday, and we had such a blast! We had a great dinner, then went to the casino for a little slot machine action, then listened to a local band play. All in all, I think Kyra had a great birthday!


During the day on Saturday, I took Kyra to a local tattoo shop to get some ink as part of his birthday present. Coincidentally, the same guy who did my new one a couple weeks ago did Kyra's this weekend.

Between Kyra and I, we have 7 tattoos...any guesses as to who has more? (Mom, you can't guess because you know the answer.)

Saturday evening, I worked at le Trainwreck for a bit, then came home and watched a movie with Kyra and his youngest daughter.


Sunday was full of fun too! I meal planned for this week, Kyra made an AMAZING breakfast, and of course we also celebrated the Super Bowl. We went to a friend's house to watch the game, and the food was amazing. I made Buffalo Chicken dip, but we also had wings, toasted ravioli, mini sandwiches and more yumminess.

Being a journalism major, I can't talk about the Super Bowl without commenting on the commercials. Hands down, the two Budweiser commercials were my favorite. If you have been living under a rock haven't seen them, here they are...




I also enjoyed the "America the Beautiful" commercial from Coca-Cola. It's been controversial, but it really shouldn't be. I was going to write a whole post about why it's silly for it to be controversial, but Ty from Arkansassy pretty much nailed it on the head.



I certainly hoped you enjoyed your weekend as much as I did!





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