Bathroom Remodel: Progress Update & Fixtures {Part 3}

This week marks the third week of our bathroom remodel. Things are starting to wrap up and my contractor said the project should be done *fingers crossed* by the end of this week! Today, I wanted to share a progress update and my fixture selections for the bathroom, including the vanity!

Here is a sneak peek at the new shower that it being tiled! I decided to have the tub removed and just have a standing shower. You can see in the picture the tile selections from my previous update post!

So, let's go over my picks for the vanity, sink faucets, toilet paper holder, towel bar, and more!

1) Bathroom Vanity

Buy Here

2) Sink Faucets

Buy Here

3) Vanity Lights

Buy Here

4) Toilet Paper Holder

Buy Here

5) Towel Bar

Buy Here

6) Mirrors

Buy Here

Based on these selection, you can see we spent a pretty penny on the items above. In addition to these fixtures, we still have to pay the final amount to our contract for time and materials! I will do a final before and after post once the project is complete!

*Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored. I am not affiliated with Lowe's.

Going Back to School!?

Several years have passed since I graduated with my bachelors degree, so I decided it was time for me to pursue graduate education!

I applied to several colleges and universities of different size and location but I ultimately made my decision before the Thanksgiving holiday. I will be pursing my Masters of Business Administration (MBA) part-time at Clarkson University!!

So, you're probably wondering, why Clarkson University? Well, a few things:
1) Clarkson has a hybrid program where you can take classes online AND in-person
2) Clarkson's graduate classes are held on Union College's campus, which is only a twenty minute drive from my house and office!
3) They offered me a scholarship to help with financial aid
4) My employer has an extremely generous reimbursement program

I will be starting classes in the Spring Quarter semester, which starts in March 2018! I am doing the program part-time, so my expected graduation will be in year 2021. I will be taking classes at night and online because of working a full-time job.

So, why am I going back to school? An MBA will help my grow professionally as well as personally. It has been a dream of mine for many years and it is finally coming true!

I hope to be able to share more about my experience once I begin taking classes!

Are you going back to school? What are you studying?

Bathroom Remodel: Progress Update & Tile Selections {Part 2}

Finally, the time has come!! Our bathroom remodel started on Monday, December 11th! The room was completely gutted to the studs and the walls now have insulation! I am already noticing a difference on how much warmer it stays upstairs!

Today, I wanted to share with you the tile I picked out for the floor, shower walls, and shower floor!

1) Floor Tile - Fronda Marengo Wood Look Floor Tile

BUY HERE

While I was looking for inspiration, I came across the trendy wood look for flooring and I knew I HAD to have this once we redid our bathroom! 

2) Shower Floor/Trim - Penny Round Thunderstorm

BUY HERE

This mosaic tile will be used as the shower floor tile as well as trim that goes around the top of the shower walls. Again, saw this when searching for inspiration and fell in love.

3) Shower Walls - Imperial Gris Matte Ceramic Subway Tile

BUY HERE

I knew I really wanted subway tile in our bathroom, so I picked out this light grey tile. The bathroom is following a modern, contemporary style and I saw lots of pictures using subway tile in the shower.

Next time, I will share my selections for bathroom vanity, sink faucets, vanity lighting, shower rod, and more!

So, you want to start a youtube channel...

Before you even THINK about starting a Youtube channel, you need to ask yourself "What types of videos do I want to make?"

Are there certain Youtubers you enjoy watching? Do you have any hobbies?

If your goal is to become an overnight superstar, it's not going to happen. It takes years to grow your channel and be successful. 

But if you want to do it, then DO it! I have been making videos for many years now and still enjoy it.

Here is the link to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/LizLovesMakeupx3/

My tops tips to getting started:

1) Good lighting: Don't film your videos at ten o'clock at night when it's dark outside. Natural light is your best friend but if you can't film during daylight hours, I recommend the following lighting kit. It costs around $50 dollars on Amazon. 

What about a ring light? I don't have one yet because I don't film a lot of in-person videos, mine are generally top-down facing but these again are a costly investment. 

2) Camera: You do not need the newest, most expensive camera on the market to make good quality videos. Shoot your videos with whatever camera you currently own, even if you are using your iPhone or a point-and-shoot camera to start.

My current camera is the Canon Rebel T3i. My sister upgraded her camera over the summer and I bought it off her for a relatively decent price. I also use the lens that cam with the camera. Another very expensive part of getting a DSLR camera is the camera lens. They can cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars. 

The DSLR camera is great if you know how to use it. My sister taught my some tips and tricks to get started. You also will need to invest in a memory card, I personally use a 64GB card.

Another tip of advice, get a camera with a FLIP-OUT screen. It is immensely helpful if you don't have somebody helping you film videos.

3) Tripod: If you have a big camera, like me, you will need a good tripod. A stack of boxes or piles of books will not be sufficient. I am using a cheap tripod I picked up on Amazon for under $50 dollars.

4) Editing Software: I recommend when starting a channel to use the editing software that comes on your computer. If you have Windows, it is Windows Movie Maker. If you have an Apple, it is iMovie. The professional softwares, Final Cut Pro and Sony Vega, costs hundreds of dollars and you might not have that type of money when starting out. Heck, I don't have that type of money :)

5) End-slates and thumbnails: These are very important because they will help bring the viewer back to your channel to watch the other content you have uploaded. It will also bring in new viewers. I make my thumbnails and end-slates using Picmonkey. It has a free option and a paid option, which gives access to additional fonts, graphics, extra. You don't need any Adobe products to make your graphics!

6) Tags and description box: Similar to above, these help surface your videos to other audience members. I haven't mastered this art but it's similar to when you post a picture on Instagram and you use hashtags. 

6) Having the right intentions: Make sure you are genuine in your videos.  Nobody likes watching a fake. You should be passionate about videos and it will show through when you are filming. Like I said, this is not a get rich fast business.

So, those are my tips to getting started with a youtube channel!

If there is anything else you are curious about, leave it in the comments sections!

Erin Condren 2017 Holiday Gift Guide

Happy Tuesday! Today I am excited to bring you a Holiday Gift Guide for one of my favorite companies, Erin Condren. I have purchased from Erin Condren many times, probably too many, and I love supporting a woman-owned business! Erin Condren is the perfect place to grab a gift for everyone on your shopping list!

This post contains affiliate links. All images are courtesy of Erin Condren. 

All opinions are my own. Please see my disclosure policy for further details.

Gift Guide

Erin Condren is know for its Life Planners but they have many more products and gift options now. I have combed through their website to bring you my top picks for the 2017 Holiday season!

1) Erin Condren Life Planner $55 [BUY] 

I cannot have an Erin Condren gift guide without mentioned the illustrious Life Planner. It has been a staple in my life for many years and now comes in multiple layouts and color schemes. You can choose from vertical, horizontal, or hourly layout, as well as neutral or colorful color scheme. You can also pick your coil color and your own personalized cover! I love mine and will continue to use for many years to come!

2) Erin Condren Deluxe Monthly Planner $30 [BUY]

There are so many uses for the monthly planner! If you like planning the big picture, then this is the planner for you! You get a 12 Month Calendar, 40 notes pages, and two size options! The paper in these planners is also amazing quality and pens don't bleed through! I use this planner for budgeting but it could be used for a family planner or event planner! 

3) Planny Pack $20 [BUY]

I think this is a great gift for the planner in your life! It can be used to carry for your pens, markers, stickers, and more! It could also be used as a wallet! It comes in four gorgeous colors! Slip the elastic band over your cover and you can carry it around with your planner!

4) Wine Tote $20 [BUY]

This is the PERFECT gift for a party hostess! These come in a variety of patterns and can be customized! It can hold your standard bottle of wine but can also stretch a bit as it is made from neoprene material. 

5) Sherpa Throw $55 [BUY]

This throws would make a great addition to anyone on your shopping list! You have many different patterns to choose from, as well as two size options. These are the best to curl up with on a cold, winter night drinking a cup of hot chocolate, watching a movie with your loved one!

6) Enamel Flair Pin $8+ [BUY]

These pins are are extremely trendy right now and on the top of many gift lists! They can be worn on a hat, jean jacket, backpack, or just displayed on a bulletin board. These would make an awesome stocking stuffer!

That wraps up my Erin Condren 2017 Holiday Gift Guide! I hope have enjoyed my top picks for the people on your shopping list and helped give you some holiday shopping inspiration! Erin Condren typically will have a sale for Black Friday/Cyber Monday, so make sure you follow their Instagram to stay up to date on any coupon codes or special deals! 

What is your favorite Erin Condren product? Let me know in the comments!

 

My 2017 Halloween Costume

Well ladies, it's that time of year to share my Halloween costume! Today at work I got to dress up and I was a sports referee! It is the first time in many years that I have dressed up for Halloween! I got to leave work early, which is why you are getting this blog post at 3:00pm in the afternoon!

My hat is from Oriental Trading and my top is from Amazon!

What was your Halloween costume?

Eye Creams: Which one is for you?

One of my goals for 2018 is to create a new skincare routine. As I am in the late 20s, I want to focus more on my skincare to keep it looking fresh and youthful. Reviews.com reached out to me and asked if I would check out their 'Best of Eye Cream for 2017' guide and I said yes!

Reviews.com took a look at over 300 hundred different eye creams on the market and then discussed them with dermatologists and industry experts. They tested multiple brands across multiple price points and looked at things like packaging, texture, smell, and application. The first thing they did was cut all eye creams with common skin irritants,  such as parabens, fragrances, and mineral oils, which then cut the list down to 119 products. 

Second, they looked for  ingredients/formulas that treat the three major concern with eye care: wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness. For wrinkles, they looked for retinoids, which encourages the production of collagen. For dark circles, they looked for caffeine, which helps shrink blood vessels and lessens the dark circles less noticeable. Finally, for puffiness, they looked for caffeine and antioxidants. 

To see the finalists in each category, head over to https://www.reviews.com/best-eye-cream/

Do you use an eye cream? If so, share your favorites in the comments section!

*This post is not sponsored. All opinions are genuinely my own. 

September 2017 Favorites | Elizabeth Kathryn

Another month over means time for another favorites post! I haven't done one of these in ages, so I kept a small list this past month of a few of my favorites things!

1) Beverage - Arizona Zero Calorie Green Tea with Ginseng 

I know this is totally random but my Mom actually introduced me to this green tea and now I drink it almost everyday! There is just something so refreshing about it and it tastes really good with zero calories! It also contains honey and ginseng! You should definetly give this a try!

2) Food - Hannaford Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal

I have been eating oatmeal for breakfast everyday for the past two months or so and mainly buy store brand t save a few bucks. We typically do our grocery shopping at Hannaford, a grocery-store chain in the northeast, and their Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal has become my favorite. It doesn't really taste like a cinnamon roll but I LOVE the cinnamon flavor it has and really makes eating my breakfast something I enjoy. I also haven't been eating breakfast until around 10:00am, so this whole waiting to eat thing has been working out. My body is now used to not eating until mid-morning, which I think is helping with my goals!

3) App - Candy Crush

I have been playing this literally every night before I go to bed. I am currently stuck on level 92! There is something relaxing yet frustrating about playing this game but I am really enjoying it again!

4) Workout - Orangetheory fitness

Over the summer, my work had a well ness fair and got I voucher to try out a free class at Orangetheory fitness. OTF is a heart rate based interval training class which is based on Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption (EPOC) aka the "afterburn". You can burn an estimated 500 to 1000 calories in their 60 minute class. You do a combination of free weights/rowing/treadmill over the duration of 60 minutes having a coach guide you through the various workouts. I personally love the atmosphere and highly recommend you sign up a free class on their website! It is a little pricey but not as expensive as some HIIT workouts I have tried in the past! 

What are some of your September favorites? Leave a comment below!

Planner Review | Ashley Shelly Planner 2018

I am back today with a planner review! I love talking about planners and today I will be sharing with you the new Ashley Shelly 2018 planner!

The Ashley Shelly 2018 Planner features a hard, glossy cover size 7.25" by 9.25" including binding. I decided to order the Black and White stripe cover because I thought it was super professional while also being very elegant. The planner is also available in four other cover designs. The binding and metal corner cover protectors are in a silver finish. 

 When you open the front cover, you will find a small front pocket that will fit the Budget Notebook or Notebook bestie. You can also store receipts or other small documents in this space. To the right, there is a clear zip pouch that you can use to store your planner stickers. One sheet of stickers is included with purchase.

Inspiration Board

Important Contacts & Favorite Meal Ideas

Yearly Overview & 2018 Holidays

There are several pre-printed pages in the front of the planner before the calendar and weekly inserts to help with goal setting include an inspiration board, important contacts page, meal ideas, 2018 planning overview, 2018 & 2019 yearly overview, 2018 Holiday lists and some extra notes pages sprinkled throughout the planner.

Monthly view

The Ashley Shelly Planner includes a monthly calendar at the beginning of each month. Each month is marked with a laminated tab . The monthly pages are printed on heavy card stock. Monthly spread spans two pages and contains the previous month, next month, and a notes column on the left side. This calendar is a Sunday - Saturday format and also contains lined boxes. Holidays are marked in a purple colored font.

Creative Spread

At the beginning of each month, you get a creative spread to help you plan out the month. This section allows the user to creatively plan out their goals for the month including a word of the month or mantra, ways to create happiness, things to cut out such as distractions, routines and habits, personal goals, special dates, and even a monthly bucket list! I think the routines and habits is really important because many of us find ourselves falling out of habits, I even do, and this is a great reminder to help you keep you on track towards your monthly goals!

Week on Two Pages

Finally, we have the week on two page (WO2P) horizontal layout. Each month has four-five pages for the weeks of the month. Each week you get a monthly word section and notes section to capture anything important or noteworthy. Each day has nine (9) time-stamped areas for you to record meetings, appointments, etc.  You also get a daily to-do list, a due today section and dinner section. Each page has a perforated bottom corner that you can tear off each week to create a built-in bookmark! 

In addition to the monthly and weekly sections, you also get an additional ten (10) notes pages in the back of the planner. This planner runs from January 2018 to December 2018. 

The 2018 Ashley Shelly Planner retails for $49.95!

I hope you enjoyed this look into the Ashley Shelley 2018 Planner! I am truly impressed with the design and craftsmanship of this planner! I love the color scheme and the elegant nature of this book. 

To check out more Ashley Shelly products, visit her website at http://www.ashleyshelly.com/

If you would like me to review other planners on this blog, please leave a comment below and I will take them into consideration. Happy Planning!

*This post is not sponsored. I purchase this planner with my own money. All opinions are genuinely my own. 

Bathroom Renovation: The Before {Part 1}

Sorry for the lack of posts but life has gotten in the way! But, my husband and I embarking on our very first major home improvement project! We have decided to hire a contractor to help remodel our upstairs bathroom! This project has been on our to-do list since we bought our house in 2016.

Opening the bathroom door, here's the view...

Turn to your left, and you see the bathtub/shower combo...

Standing in the tub, you see the toilet and privacy wall. YUCK!

 Look at that floor tile and wall tile! It is so outdated!

And there you have it! We have researched floor tile, wall tile, paint colors, new vanity, the list goes on! I still have not 100% decided on the vanity or paint colors, but I have a few weeks to make the final decision. We are hoping the project will be completed by Christmas 2017. 

Anybody else in the middle of home renovations? Share your story in the comments!

Labor Day Weekend Sales 2017

Happy Saturday! Today I thought I would share with you all the Labor Day sales I have found!

Clothing:

• J.Crew:30% off your purchase using code YESPLEASE. Also, 9% cash back using Ebates!
• LOFT: 40% off full price styles
• Old Navy: All Jeans, Dress, and Tees 50% off.
• Banana Republic: 40% off everything
• GAP: Up to 50% off everything plus an additional 20% off your purchase using code GETMORE
• JCPenney: Extra 30% off $100 or Extra 25% off under $100 using code DEALS37
• Kohls: $10 off when you $25 or more using code TAKE10 plus hundreds off markdowns
• New York and Company: New Arrivals Buy One Get One 50% Off plus doorbusters
• Macys: Extra 25% off plus free shipping using code LBDAY plus 25-70% off clearance
• Sears: Semi-annual blowout up to 70% off clothing
• Anthropologie: Extra 40% off sale
• H&M: Up to 60% off plus free shipping on select items
• Urban Outfitters: Extra 30% off all sale items; 40% off all bras
• Victoria's Secret: Free shipping on $50; 7/$28 panties; $40 select bras; $6 beauty bash
• Aerie: 40% off the Aerie Collectio; All undies 10 for $35
• American Eagle Outfitters: 25% off jeans and pants; 25% off tops
• Ardene: 30% off plus free shipping
• Express: 40% off everything
• Windsor: $5 Labor Day Sale select items

Other:

• Bath & Body Works: All three-wick candles $12.50; Body Care Buy 3 Get 3 Free plus 25% off your entire order online
• Vera Bradley: 50% off sale styles
• Yankee Candle: $5 small jar candles
• https://www.erincondren.com/: 20% off Erin's Essentials including Flip Flops, Over Sized Totes, Phone Cases, Pillows, Pajamas, Sherpa Throws, Designer Totes, and more!

Will you be taking advantage of the sales this weekend?

Announcement: I'm an Erin Condren Affiliate!

Hi everyone! I got some awesome news today! I am officially an Erin Condren Affiliate! I am SO excited to be able to continue to share with you my favorite planners and planner accessories, while making some extra money to support my youtube channel and blog.  You will now start seeing Erin Condren ads in my side bar and occasionally at the bottom of blog posts. As always, THANK YOU for your continued support!

xo Liz

Weekly Drugstore Sales Roundup (8/27-9/2)

Here are all the latest and greatest drugstore sales for the week! I used to do this post all the time and thought it would be fun to bring it back to the blog! I went through my local Sunday newspaper to find these deals for you! Of course, always remember to check your local flyers as sales may differ in your area. Don't forget to get your Sunday paper for bonus coupons!

Walgreens:

• Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off Dove Bath or Skin Care
• Buy 2 Get 3rd Free Cosmetics & Nail Mix & Match Brands (8/27-9/23)
• Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off Olay or Old Spice Bath Care
• 30% Off Katy Perry Indi Fragrance
• $15 off coupon for Crest 3D White Whitestrips

CVS Pharmacy:

• Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off Neutrogena Facial, Acne, sun care or sunless therapy
• Buy 2 Get $5 ExtraBucks Any Maybelliene foundation, powder, blush, etc.
• Spend $15 Get $5 ExtraBucks Any NYX Cosmetics
• Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off Covergirl cosmetics (excludes nail)
• Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off Wet n Wild Cosmetics
• Spend $12 Get $4 ExtraBucks Almay cosmetics or makeup remover
• Buy 1 Get 1 50% off Cetaphil facial care
• Buy 1 Get 1 50% off select dry shampoo
• 2/$10 Olay body wash 18-230z
• 20% off Conair hair tools
• Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Nature's Bounty vitamins, CVS Health Vitamns

Rite Aid Pharmacy:

• Buy 1 Get 1 50% off All L'oreal Cosmetics
• Buy 1 Get 1 50% off Revlon Eye, Lips, Face Cosmetics
• 30% off all wet n wild cosmetics
• Buy 1 Get 1 50% off All Physicians Formula Cosmetics
• Buy 1 Get 1 50% off Maybelline Mascara and Eyeliner
• $5.99 Maybelline Color Sensational Lipsticks 
• $2 off OPI Nail Polish and Treatments
• Buy 1 Get 1 75% off Almay cosmetics

Ulta:

My local paper had a 20% off your entire purchase coupon!

The winner this week is CVS Pharmacy!

How I am using the Erin Condren Deluxe Monthly Planner

If you are wondering how I am going to use the Erin Condren Deluxe Monthly Planner, then based on the above picture you have probably already guessed...BUDGETING!!

I was inspired by Favorite Daughter Emily on Youtube to use the Erin Condren Deluxe Monthly Planner for budgeting! 

One of my HUGE goals for 2018 is to pay off my student loan debt! At the time of this post, I owe less than $9,000 dollars on my student loan and I would LOVE to pay that off in 2018. I recently added up our total expenses and total income and was really shocked at how much left over money we have that I can use to start paying down our debt! I am following the Dave Ramsey method and will be paying down the smallest debt first leaving the mortgage for last. We already have a $1,000 dollar emergency fund along with some other savings in case emergencies happen. I hope to do monthly budget videos on my youtube channel, so make sure you subscribe!

Do you make a monthly budget? What are you budget goals for 2018?

xo Liz

I'm back!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

After taking a much needed break from blogging, I am back!! Stay tuned to see new content!