PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket
PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket  photo privacypolicy_1a_zps3faf1863.png

Monday, January 19, 2015

How To Get Your Finances In Check


There is nothing worse than all of sudden feeling like you have no idea where your money has gone. We have definitely had moments of being irresponsible with our money, but there is really no excuse when there are great ways to keep your finances in check. Northwestern Mutual has provided us with solid financial tips that we wanted to share their recent guide on sticking true to your New Year's Financial goals. Check it out below!

6 TIPS FOR MAKING FINANCIAL RESOLUTIONS THAT LAST

For many, the New Year signifies a fresh start, a time to think about personal and financial goals and the “new” commitments you plan to make. Yet, for all the initial enthusiasm, keeping yourself motivated, committed and moving toward the accomplishment of those goals is often tough.
If you’re tired of setting goals and making resolutions that quickly fade, consider these tips to help you stay focused on the future:
  1. Learn from the past. Think about the goals you set in the past. Before you put these “to bed,” reflect on what worked and what didn’t—and why.
  2. Set clear goals. Most people tend to set financial goals that are more about money than about things that motivate them emotionally. Yet goals that are tied to what you truly value are often easier to achieve than goals that are simply tied to money. For example, setting aside 10 percent of your monthly pay isn’t nearly as powerful a motivator as setting a goal to save $10,000 so that you can take your family on a vacation next December. Part of what gives this goal its power is that it’s SMART—in other words, it is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and has a Timeline.
    As you define your goals for 2015, prioritize what is important and what you can realistically achieve. Be sure to set a time frame for reaching your goals, and figure out whom you might need to help you get there. Then review your goals periodically to make sure you stay on track.
  3. Create a financial to-do list. The New Year may be an ideal time for recommitting yourself to getting financially fit. A financial to-do list can provide important action steps that can help you get your finances in order and keep them that way. Some of these include:
  • Giving your portfolio a regular check up to make sure your mix of investments accurately reflects your goals, time frame and risk tolerance. 
  • Taking full advantage of your employer’s retirement plan (if you’re not doing this already). 
  • Tracking your spending to see where your money is going. 
  • Calculating your net worth so that you understand where you stand financially. 
  • Checking your credit profile to ensure it accurately represents your creditworthiness and to protect yourself from identity theft. 
  • Creating a legacy for future generations and/or charitable organizations that reflect your values.
  1. Create a financial not-to-do list. As crucial as a financial to-do list is to your long-term financial security, creating a not-to-do list is equally important. That’s because a not-to-do list can help you avoid some of the mistakes that may be keeping you from making the most of your money. For example, do not:
  • Try to time the market. No one knows for certain which way the market will head next. Instead, be strategic and thoughtful about your investment decisions. 
  • Make investing decisions in isolation. Rather, consider how each may impact your overall financial goals. 
  • Delay saving for retirement. The sooner you get started, the greater the impact time and compounding may have on your ability to build financial security for the future. 
  • Tap your retirement savings unless in an emergency. Taking money from your account is like borrowing from your future to pay for your present needs. 
  • Ignore the important role risk plays in your portfolio’s ability to grow over time. 
  • Minimize the impact of inflation on your money’s future buying power. 
  • Set it and forget it. Review your investments periodically to make sure they’re performing as expected. If they’re not, be ready to make changes as needed.
  1. Assess your current situation. Over time, your personal and financial situation is likely to change. Consider how this may impact your goals, risk tolerance and time frame, as well as your investment and insurance planning.
  2. Update your estate planning documents. Make sure you have a properly drafted and signed advance health care directive and durable financial and health care power of attorney so that someone you trust can make health and/or financial decisions in the event you become incapacitated. Check to see that your will (and any trust) accurately reflect your wishes and that the beneficiaries on your retirement accounts and life insurance policies are up to date. Consider working with an estate attorney to review and update any documents necessary to ensure your goals are met with minimal delay and expense.
Don’t feel pressured to make resolutions because you feel you should. Instead, open yourself to the possibility that setting concrete financial goals can be the start of some truly positive changes in your life. For help, contact your financial representative.
Remember, the clearer your goals are, the more confident and motivated you’ll be to take the right financial steps in 2015 and beyond. Best to you in the New Year, and happy goal setting!

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Yabber: The Coolest Roommate App



We love hearing from you guys about the latest and greatest apps, and well, Yabber is just perfect for those of you sharing space with a roommate. TSS Reader, Brady Sertz has had a lot of success using Yabber with his roommate calling it "cool and useful" so we decided to take a peek at it and it's pretty neat. Yabber is essentially a private social network between you and your roommate. It makes living with your roommate a little better because you can stay in touch about just about anything related to your living space which could include sharing your location with your roommate, creating reminders like when to pay the next bill, and you can even let your roommate know when you need some alone time. What we really love about it is the fact that you can track your expenses and pay each other back using Apple Pay. Best of all, this app is free! Download it now and make living with a roomie much simpler.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

How To Wear Marsala: Pantone Color of the Year 2015


[1][2] [3][4][5]

Marsala. You've probably never heard of this particular color, but all we can say is WOW; it's the most breathtaking color. It's no surprise that Pantone has chosen it as the 2015 Color of the Year. Think ripe cranberries or a deep red wine color. It's a sensual color for sure and it makes you feel important. It's really a color for anyone trying to be bold and make a statement in a deep and thoughtful way. It's such a strong color that we don't recommend going over board with it. For example, choose a Marsala lip stick and pair it with a light colored top and bottoms. Marsala color nails would be fabulous as it isn't super bold like apple red, but it's still sophisticated. Try pairing Marsala with black like this fedora from Windsor. The two colors compliment each other very well. Marsala is a transformation color; you will feel like someone new when you're wearing it, so wear it with confidence!

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

5 Best Pre-Workout Foods

[image source]

If there is anything we have learned, don't go straight to the gym without fueling your body! When you see people uber sweating at the gym, it is because they have properly eaten throughout the day giving their body that extra jump-start to kick off those unwanted calories. We have come up with the 5 best pre-workout foods for you to consume before you hit the gym.

  1. A Banana--if you plan on doing some hardcore cardio in the form of running, then you want some potassium running through your body. Consider a banana or two as they're filled with lots of potassium to help with muscle recovery.
  2. Yogurt parfait w/ berries--Berries are the perfect antioxidant and plain, greek yogurt is a nice mix to help make this snack more full.
  3. Hard-boiled eggs-- 1-2 hard-boiled eggs are an awesome source of protein prior to the workout.
  4. Shake with whey powder--Mixing into any shake or smoothie you blend up is great for added protein in your system and will help with muscle develop.
  5. Salad--You can never go wrong including greens into your pre-workout meal. Greens in a salad can offer you loads of fiber, vitamins, and minerals which all support a healthy body.
These are just some of our favorite pre-workout snacks. What are yours? Share with us below in the 'comments'!

Monday, January 12, 2015

The BEST Celebrity Instagrams


So you have your friends that you follow on Instagram and then you have your celebrities that you wish were your friends that you follow on Instagram {haha}! We all have that one celebrity (A-list to D-List) that we follow their every move on our social media news feeds. We can't wait to see what they woke up doing, what they're wearing or what motivational status they're going to share for the day. Following them makes those work breaks a little bit more interesting as we scroll through their page of awesomeness. Below are some of the best celebrity Instagrams to follow! Do you have a favorite celebrity that you follow on Instagram? Share with us below!

@laurenconrad: She's the modern Martha Stewart with her arts & craft, cooking, and just picture-perfect life!  It's been quite the fun journey following her through her wedding planning adventures and it's even exciting being up-to-date with her new life as Mrs. Tell!

@iamdiddy: Depending on how old you are you may know him as Diddy, P.Diddy, Puffy, or Puff Daddy. On Instagram he is @iamdiddy and he fills our day with tons of motivational memes and positive or comical regrams. Diddy is filled with so much energy that he often posts videos of himself telling you to get up and take your life by the reigns. TAKE THAT, TAKE THAT!

@kyliejenner: She may be like a decade younger than us, but boy is this girl a trendsetter. Kylie Jenner is fashion forward while at the same time very artistic and somewhat mysterious in her posts. We are currently loving her new, blueish green hair style and are looking forward to her collaboration with Bellami Hair for some amazing clip-in extensions called Kylie Kouture.

@massy.arias: Need some exercise and nutritional help? This woman has got you covered! We have been following this Exercise Feign for some time now and her amazing workouts and nutritional guidance have motivated us to take weight loss and dieting by the reigns. We love how she keeps to her Spanish roots and translates everything she shares for her Spanish audience. She is like a virtual personal trainer.

@jessiejamesdecker: Can we talk about how perfect her hair is? Oh and how adorable her and her husband are! We are crushing!

@nazaninmandi: This girl is amazing! Although she has a celebrity boyfriend (Miguel, the R&B singer) she is a celebrity in her own rite as she models and looks to be taking up singing too. However, it's her beautiful spirit that she exudes and positive messages that leaves us loving her newsfeed when we stumble across it. She is about as real as it gets!

@chrissyteigen: She is cray, but that's why we love her!

@kevinhart4real: If you need a good laugh, then following Kevin Hart is a must. He is the King of Instagram comedic videos and he does not hold back on making fun of just about every person in his clique.

Others you shared with us that you love include:

@beyonce
@bretteldredge
@makeupbymandy24
@taylorswift
@nicoleritchie
@mindykaling

Are we missing any other celebrity Instagram accounts? Leave them in the comments below!


Thursday, January 8, 2015

4 Products To Help You Stay Focused


For most of you, school has just restarted or for many of you, those New Year's Resolutions are already wearing off {haha!} Whatever the case, we understand how hard it can be to stay focused. Energy is the best way to catapult you into movement, but it takes more than energy, it takes being centered and focused. We have come up with 4 products sure to not only give you energy, but to also create a level of focus to help you move through the day!

1. EBOOST

We have shared with you EBOOST before and well, we can't stop talking about it, and apparently many others can't either as EBOOST has blown up. It's no wonder because their product really works! If you want to be focused while also taking in important daily vitamins then EBOOST is your answer. With new delicious flavors like Super Berry w/ Coconut Water, Berry-Melon w/ Coconut Water {our absolute favorite!}, and Fruit Punch w/ Coconut Water it makes drinking an energy drink actually tasty. EBOOST is sold at many nutritional stores like GNC, but your best bet is to buy them online!

We may not be crazy over the taste of Mental Mojo, but we are crazy about the results. Promoted as an "intellectual blast" we actually felt a true burst of energy after consuming just one packet of their product. Just mix it with water and prepare to be alert and energetic! Mental Mojo started last year and we're sure they will be be selling them throughout many universities across the nation. You can buy their products directly online, though.

3. ISAGENIX Natural Orange Flavor Electrolyte Mix

ISAGENIX is based out of Arizona and is widely known for their awesome weight loss program. But, for this company it's more than just losing weight; it's about a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, they sell amazing energy products one of which is the ISAGENIX Natural Orange Flavor Electrolyte Mix. It tastes DELICIOUS and keeps you energetic and focused throughout the day. Other flavors include Tropical Fruit and Hibiscus. You can only get ISAGENIX products as a member of ISAGENIX. However, there are ways to buy this product via ebay or Amazon. It is worth it!


This is another product sold by ISAGENIX that gives you natural energy keeping you alert and focused. The energy is sustained so similar to EBOOST, you don't immediately feel like you're going to have an energy crash. The apple pomegranate flavor isn't bad and really, there is something to be said about an energy shot where the main ingredient is water. It's a must-try! Try purchasing this product via Amazon if you're not interested in becoming an ISAGENIX member (though we totally encourage it to save money)!

Wishing you more days of energy!


Wednesday, January 7, 2015

A Girl's Guide To Coachella


Coachella tickets go on sale today and we are so excited because Coachella is pretty much life-changing! If you're wondering if you should go, our answer is YES YES YES! Coachella is so popular that they've been having it go down over two weekends. Both weekends offer an awesome line up. This year we are looking forward to seeing The Weekend, Drake, Axwell, AC/DC and much more. It is going to be monumental. But, first things first, you've got to buy a ticket! Go to Coachella.com and sign up. Signing up will allow you to track your profile and the tickets you've bought. Here are some other helpful tips:

  • You will want to buy a ticket AND a shuttle pass. 
  • For lodging, get a house! It is the most affordable and convenient. 
  • Stay close to the fairgrounds--it's just more convenient. 
  • Dress minimally, but tasteful. If you buy something from Urban Outfitters or Free People it will be super cute, but just keep in mind that most people will be shopping there. 
  • Arrive at the fairgrounds at sun down--that is when most of the amazing artists go on and it's less hot. 
  • Sandstorms are common so wear a bandana to protect your hair. 
  • Carry cash. 
  • Rent a walkie talkie; there is no cell phone reception. 
  • Wear comfortable flats--like not even strappy flats because those eventually hurt. 
  • The cab line is super far from the fairgrounds so if you decide to take it, be prepared to walk far. 
  • Stay hydrated as you're basically in the desert and it's hot! 
  • Wear sunblock to protect yourself from the sun. 
  • Don't wait until the last minute to buy tickets!
Good luck and hopefully we will see you there!!
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...