Finding your WHY

Hello and Happy Wednesday!

"He who has a why can endure any how" -Frederick Nietzsche

Lately I've been doing a lot of reflecting on life, success, and figuring out my purpose. Maybe it's because I just turned 25 last week which feels like a huge milestone or maybe it's because I'm three classes away from obtaining my marketing degree (finally... I know)!  Either way, I wanted to share some thoughts on finding your "why" and your purpose.  Life is hard, confusing, and there will always be obstacles, but if you know your why, it will always pull you up and keep you fighting. 

When you wake up each morning, what drives you? 

If you don't know the answer, then you have no reason to improve your life and become more successful.  The truth is, motivation will ALWAYS fade. You might get reinspired from time to time but that fire lit by motivation will inevitably die. This why you must create habits and stick to them. You have to know WHY you're doing what you're doing, make a plan, and stick to it. You have to know what you're fighting for and why your goals are important to you. You have to know what drives you, what inspires you, because that is the only thing that's going to pull you up and keep you going. 

What are you passionate about? 

Instead of focusing on what you're doing, ask yourself why you're doing it? Seriously, take a second right now and stop and think about everything you do on a daily basis. Now, ask yourself why you're doing all of these things?  If you don't have an answer that excites you, it may be time to refine your list of priorities.  If you want to be successful in reaching your goals, you must be passionate about the things you're doing. You need that gusto because your purpose is what leads the way, but passion is what keeps you going.  

Find an answer that speaks to you soul.
Find your why and let that drive push you to go forward, to be successful.  Find that one part of you that will never change, regardless of what life throws your way. Your purpose- your why is the one single thing that lights you up, that one thing that when you're doing it, time seems to stop. Once you have your answer, write it down and keep it with you. Carry it around everyday and feel it deep in your heart.  Look at it from time to time as a little reminder WHY you're doing what you're doing! 

I hope you enjoyed this post! 

With lots of love, 

Ashley

Makeup Monday's | Eyelash Extensions

Makeup Monday’s

Photo Credits | Makeup: Alanna Garcia | Lashes: iLash Factory 

Happy Monday!  I’m very excited to start incorporating some fun and new topics on the blog!  My inspiration always comes from you all and the questions I most frequently get asked.  With that being said, from here on out, every Monday I’ll be sharing some of my all-time favorite beauty products, beauty secrets, beauty how to’s, and trendy looks. 

Since “Catching Kelce” aired, I’ve had a few people ask if it was hard being in front of cameras 24/7 and if I had to stay ready at all times.  I was never told that I had to stay ready or look a certain way however we knew that this show was going to air nationally and internationally so naturally you want to look your best at all times. 

My solution to getting an easy glam look without much effort also happens to be one of my best beauty secrets.  So what is this magical trick? 

I have two words for you, Eyelash Extensions!  I absolutely love my lash extensions!  Let me tell you why…

1.      I save time.  Not having to apply mascara every single morning is heavenly, but what’s even better is not having to apply fake eye lashes.  There was no way I wanted to put on fake eyelashes every single morning while filming Catching Kelce.  Eyelash Extensions were my saving grace.

2.     I love the look.  A simple yet important reason why I love lash extensions.  Who wouldn’t want to look great 24 hours a day? You can wear no makeup yet still have an effortlessly glam look.  It’s awesome!

3.     I can customize the kind of lashes/look I want.  If you’re like me and scared of having over-the-top tacky lashes, don’t worry! You can choose your length, thickness, and amount of lashes applied.  You can make them as natural or as high glam as you’d like.

Those are just a few of the pro’s to lash extensions.  They were great for the show and I still love them now that I’m back in Albuquerque living my day to day life.  I’ve had lash extensions for almost two years now.  I wasn’t asked or paid to post about his product, just wanted to share one of my beauty secrets.   If you’re in Albuquerque, I highly recommend iLash Factory!  Click here for their information. 

Photo Credits 

Makeup: Alanna Garcia 

Lashes: iLash Factory 

Healthy Staple Foods

Healthy Staple Foods

"It's not a short term diet, it's a long term lifestyle change"

Today I’m sharing a few of my favorite go-to foods that help me stay on track with eating healthy.  I’ve learned over the years that if I keep my fridge and pantry stocked with nutritious foods, I’m more likely to stay faithful to my diet.  We’re all busy, so keeping healthy staple foods that are easy to prepare is the one of the best things you can do for successful weight loss or weight management. 

The most important thing you can do to clean up your diet is to starting reading the labels on the back of everything you buy.  The more natural the food is, the better.  If you can’t pronounce it, don't buy it!

Always remember that balance is key.  Making small changes is the only way to get lasting results.  Start off slow and by that I mean start cutting out one “bad” food at a time.  If you cut everything out at once, you’ll feel deprived and revert back to old habits quickly. Below you'll find a list of different healthy foods to start incorporating into your diet.

Healthy Starts Right Here! 

Breads: 

    •      Ezekiel Bread- Found in the freezer section.  This is the only bread I buy now.  It’s clean, natural, and organic.  Not to mention, chemical free, easy to digest, has protein, lots of vitamins, is kosher, Non GMO, no refined sugars, no preservatives, no shortenings, and full of fiber.  It’s absolutely delicious! They also offer buns, cereals, muffins, tortillas, waffles, and more! 

Grains: 

White Flour is stripped of all nutrients which makes it an empty source of calories.  That’s not what we want! Here are a few nutrient rich grains to add to your diet! 

    •      Quinoa- all kinds.  Quinoa is superfood that is PACKED with nutrients 

    •      Brown Rice 

    •      Wild Rice 

    •      Quinoa Pasta 

Flours: 

    •      Coconut Flour (Naturally Gluten-Free)

    •      Almond Flour (Naturally Gluten-Free and Low in Carb)

Dairy & Non Dairy: 

    •      Almond Milk Yogurt (Non-Dairy)

    •      Coconut Milk Yogurt (Non-Dairy)

    •      Greek Yogurt  

    •      Unsweetened Almond Milk (Non-Dairy)

    •      Unsweetened Coconut Milk (Non-Dairy)

    •      Unsweetened Soy Milk (Make sure it’s Non-GMO) 

Fruits: 

    •      Apples 

    •      Oranges 

    •      Grapefruits 

    •      All Berries 

    •      Bananas 

    •      Avocados 

    •      Pineapple 

    •      Any fresh fruit you like 

Veggies:

    •      Kale 

    •      Spinach

    •      Broccoli 

    •      Celery 

    •      Tomatoes 

    •      Eggplant 

    •      Squash 

    •      Carrots 

    •      Celery 

    •      Bell Peppers 

    •      Zucchini 

    •      Sweet Potatoes 

    •      Onions 

    •      Green Beans 

    •      Any Fresh Veggies you like 

Meats: 

When purchasing any kind of meat, always opt for organic or grass fed. Also, try and purchase the leanest meat possible.  If you buying lunch meat of any kind, look for nitrate-free! 

    •      Lean Ground Turkey 

    •      Chicken Breasts 

    •      Salmon, Tilapia, or other fish 

    •      Lean Ground Beef 

Eggs: 

            •          Always purchase cage free.  

Beans and Legumes: 

If you are trying to eat healthy on a budget, beans are an excellent source of protein (especially if you are vegetarian or vegan) 

    •      Beans: Explore different kinds of beans.  Black, Pinto, Red Kidney, Red, Soybean, and More! 

    •      Legumes: You can make so many great meals with legumes.  They are excellent! 

Other Grocery Store Items: 

    •      Oatmeal: Always buy plain steel cut oats. Nothing flavored due to the chemicals and sugar that they put in flavored oats.  

    •      Tea:  Any natural, organic, unsweetened tea is great! 

    •      Dry Beans and Legumes 

    •      Nuts: Always try and buy nuts that are organic.  Nuts are a fantastic snack filled with a ton of nutrients but you have to make sure you read the labels.  A lot of nuts that are sold in stores are loaded with sodium and sugar.  

    •      Bars:  I used to be a protein bar junkie.  Make sure you read the labels on the back of your protein or snack bars.  Most of them are filled with a lot of junk.  My personal favorite brand of health bars are Laura Bars… they are delicious, have minimal ingredients, and are very healthy and clean! 

    •      Condiments:  Most condiments are also loaded with a ton of junk that could be slowing down your weight loss.  When you can, avoid condiments or try and make your own using all natural fruits, veggies, and herbs.  If you have to purchase condiments from the store, look for the organic condiments with minimal ingredients and no added sugar.  

    •      Extra Virgin Olive Oil 

    •      Walnut Oil 

    •      Coconut Oil 

Sweeteners: 

Processed Sugar is the easiest way to pack on the pounds.  Here are few natural alternatives to sweeten things up. 

    •      Coconut Nectar

    •      Honey 

    •      Maple Syrup 

   •       Agave 

Eating healthy isn't always easy,  but keeping a few of things on hand or in your home will help keep you on track when hunger or cravings strike. Remember that when you're hungry, your body wants nutrients, not junk! 

I hope you enjoyed this blog! 

xoxo, 

Ash