Finally Friday friends! What a week… between moving, getting settled, and life in between, I’m ready for our first official weekend in our little home. I hope you all have a great weekend ahead of you, and I’ll see you Monday! xx
Sharing my monthly Q+A below…..
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1. I’m curious how the home buying/renovation process works. Do you just factor the total renovation cost into your total budget/home loan? Just curious if you could explain it to a first time home buyer that doesn’t know how it all works!
I remember when we were standing out in front of the house we have now, chatting with our realtor, I had the same question. We knew the house was going to need a lot of updates/repairs to make it live-able, so before we made an offer we had to ensure we had the necessary funds to make that possible. I also knew that I’d want to go into a home and make it our own (i.e. not pay for the updates someone else did that I’d likely want to re-do) so we purposefully looked for a fixer upper. Given that, we decided on a total home budget, found a home that was well under that, and then got a heloc loan for the renovations. That is an additional cost to our mortgage, but when combined with our mortgage equals what we were comfortable with paying on a monthly basis. Hope that helps!
2. Looking for a fun dress to wear to my sister’s outdoor/garden wedding this summer!
I bet that is going to be so beautiful! A few options that I think would be perfect are as follows: floral high low dress, printed maxi slipdress (I’m obsessed with this one), floral slipdress, and this shorter red option.
3. What do you eat when you “cheat” on your normal eating habits?
That all depends on what I’m doing. I don’t have explicit “cheat” days, I just base what I eat on my life. If I’m at a dinner celebration, I’ll have some dessert (I don’t need to eat the entire thing to feel satisfied from it… I’ll have as much as I need to get my fix)…. if we’re out at a Mexican food spot I never say no to chips + guac…. and when we’re at a Chinese spot some fried rice and lo mein aren’t something I’ll turn down… I don’t need the entire plate, but a small portion is enough to satisfy a craving. For me, it’s about moderation, and never telling myself I “can’t” have something. I don’t feel deprived that way.
4. I’m looking for a dress to wear to a wedding on March 23rd. Any suggestions?
So many great spring wedding dress options out there. This berry one shoulder dress, this wildflower slipdress, high neck midi dress, and this tiered lace dress. It’s on the more expensive side, but I also love this tiered midi dress and this floral midi dress.
5. What are some of your favorite skin care products?
TULA is my all time favorite skincare line. I can tell a noticeable difference when I return to using their products after I’ve run out and had to wait a little while to get a refill. My favorites in their line include the exfoliating mask, brightening mask (seriously so so good), illuminating serum, and overnight rescue cream (good for dry skin), and their eye cream… they also just released an eye cooling/glow stick… which is amazing… but unfortunately sold out within a week. It will be back in March…. as always, you can get 20% off with code SHANNON.
Other than TULA, I really love this turmeric brightening exfoliator and it makes a huge difference when I use it…. and the Summer Friday’s jet lag mask is everything it’s cracked up to be. I also really like this herbivore moisturizing cream… I use it in the morning before I apply my make-up and everything goes on so smoothly.
6. What are some of your favorite investment pieces in clothing?
Clothing wise, I like to spend a little money on jeans and then pieces I know I’ll wear for a long time…. and shoes are one of them. I own a couple pairs of Golden Goose sneakers, as well as designer sandals… which I’ve continued to wear season after season since they are typically very well made, classic, and don’t go out of style. I bought this suede jacket several years ago and still wear it regularly…. no need to buy a new one every season when the one you purchased is a classic color and style. I think when you’re looking to invest it’s important to ask yourself what the cost per wear will be. Will you wear this item all the time? Do you have several different occasions to wear the item to? Does it fit with your lifestyle so you can maximize it? I don’t splurge on heels anymore because they don’t fit into my life as much as sandals + sneakers…. I’m willing to spend more on jeans than dresses these days… and a nice sweater/sweatshirt (I’ve worn this sweatshirt everyday, in some capacity, over the past two weeks) over a going out top. Spanx leather leggings are another piece I was willing to spend money on, since I knew they’d elevate my everyday casual style, and were a practical fit into my wardrobe.
7. I desperately need new pajamas- any recommendations for something not too warm, but cozy?
Comfy pajamas are the best. I own this pants/tee set and it’s a great option…. not too heavy, but soft and cozy. I own this off white ribbed set and it’s lightweight and easy to sleep in as well. I also love PJ Salvage… their pieces are usually very soft and lightweight. I’m currently eyeing this slightly distressed pullover + pants combo…. and this short pajama set looks super comfy, and great for spring. If you prefer to sleep in a night shirt, I think this is a great option.
8. What was the best/worst parts about being a therapist in private practice??
I actually never worked in private practice. I spent my practicing therapist life in a non-profit county funded agency. Yet, when I started this blog, 6 years ago, I was simultaneously starting to try private practice on the side (I eventually realized I couldn’t do a blog, private practice, and my 9-5 all at the same time and took a chance on the blog….)…. but what I did find to be challenging was actually building that practice. If you’re not in a group private practice setting, it can often be a challenge getting your name out there. I remember I had three new clients scheduled one evening (I was so excited) and none of them showed up (which, in all honesty, I had a feeling it was going to happen, just something in the initial questions they were asking….). Once you’re established though, I think it would be best to get yourself into a therapist group so that you don’t feel isolated. Having your own business makes it easy to feel isolated since you’re not always connecting with people on a day to day basis…. while you’re seeing clients, you still need to have a colleague base.
9. I can tell you love blogging, but do you ever want to/plan to go back to being a therapist?
Funny, during the move I actually found a lot of my old therapy books and training manuals that I accumulated over the years. I ended up keeping them, just in case. It’s not something I plan to do in the near future, but having the license means it’s always a possibility (given that I complete my continuing education units that would be necessary to move my license to active). If I were to go back it would be in an entirely different capacity. I was getting very burned out towards the end, and starting to realize that the specific population I was working with wasn’t one I could sustain for much longer. My passion really lies with empowering women (and teen/young adult females) to live healthy and balanced lives…. so it would be something pretty tailored. I’ve thought about starting women support groups…. just women getting together and going on hikes… walks, etc… I guess we will see what that all looks like down the line.
10. Do you have any recommendations for elevated everyday shoes that aren’t lace up sneakers? I love and live in those kinds!
SO many cute options out there right now. I’m going to list them out from lowest to highest in terms of price: these black quilted slip-ons (I’ve had these for several years and they’re very comfortable), leopard print pair, tricolored option (these are pretty amazing), perforated slip-ons (I’ve heard great things about this brand), and this espadrille sneaker (obsessed with these).
11. Pregnancy meal plan?
I pretty much eat the same foods that I ate pre-pregnancy (with the exception of any foods my doctor has explicitly said I can’t have) I just increase my portion sizes… and listen to what my body needs. So, instead of a cauliflower pizza crust, my body needs more carbs, so I have a regular crust… and I always mix in brown rice/quinoa with my fried cauliflower rice recipe. I add extra avocado to my egg scrambles and peanut butter to my toast. Every doctor is different, and since I’m not a registered dietician, I can’t really put together a meal plan specifically meant for pregnant women. Yet, based on what I mentioned above, you can access most of my meal plans here.
12. What spring/summer trends do you predict this year??
I’ve been seeing a lot of top handle bags (this one is so cute), blazers (love this plaid one… wear it with cut-offs for a spring take), and lots of neutrals (yay!)… at least, of the trends I’ve been seeing these will be the ones I’ll be partaking in….
13. It’s so great to see you exercising and getting after it while pregnant. Have you had to modify at all?? Any tips there? Thank you in advance.
Thank you! I just try to modify where I see fit and closely listen to my body. I wear an apple watch to monitor my heart rate, but my doctor was more concerned with exertion level than heart rate level… she wants to make sure I can easily talk during my exercise, so that’s how I gauge exertion during cardio activities. I don’t do HIIT workouts right now and exercises that have me flat on my back I complete on an exercise ball at an incline. I also don’t do ab exercises that would have be on my back or doing ant crunching motion. Hope that helps!
14. I’m new to the pregnancy game at 15wks with my first. I workout at least 5 days a week and eat pretty clean for the most part (minus the holidays!). Can I ask how much you gained in your first trimester? I have gained a good 10lbs in my 15 weeks and am worried! Any insights or tips?
Congrats on your pregnancy! I can’t remember how much I gained because I actually ask them not to tell me so I don’t freak out. It’s a hard part of pregnancy and all our bodies are different and respond differently. For me personally, I just try to stay as healthy as possible and listen to my body… but the weight gain is simply inevitable. All that to say, bodily changes are so hard and something I struggle with too… even having gone through it before. Just yesterday I had a little pity party for myself because I just felt gross… like nothing fit, or looked good. When I get into those states, I just try to remind myself that I’m growing a baby and it’s a natural process…. and to give myself grace. It’s not easy giving up your body for 9 months (but I do feel so blessed to be given the opportunity)… so just know you’re not alone!
15. How did you change your fitness and beauty routine around when you were trying to conceive?
As far as fitness goes, I stopped running super long distances…. so instead of heading out for a 7 mile run, I shortened it to 5-4 miles…. but other than that I didn’t change up much. I was already using clean beauty products, but I did change my deodorant to Native. I asked my doctor if there were any significant changes I needed to make and she said no (given my current lifestyle). I always think it’s helpful to check with your doctor if you’re ever concerned that an activity could impact your ability to conceive.
16. What is your favorite junk food?
I’m a sweets kind of girl… so anything sweet can fall under my indulgent category! I also enjoy a good old take-out pizza too (thick crust please!).
17. I know that you have some designer handbags and was wondering if you have any tips for buying them? Do you buy retail or pre-owned?
I tend to purchase my bags at retail, but I know that eBay has so many excellent designer bag options as well. I am very particular about making designer purchases… since I want them to stand the test of time, and be practical, I opt for neutral colors, medium size bags (I find that this size typically allows me to use it both at night and during the day), and for classic styles. My tip for buying a handbag would be the same as what I mentioned above with regards to investment pieces. Ask yourself how often you will use the bag… does it fit into your current lifestyle… is it practical… and will it stand the test of time?? If you do buy it pre-owned, I highly recommend reading seller reviews and ensuring that there is an authenticity card that accompanies the bag. I know a lot of bloggers sell their bags as well, so that’s always a good place to check as well. I hope that helps a little!
18. How do you manage your super healthy eating while feeding a toddler? Does she eat exactly what you eat?
Harper doesn’t always eat exactly what we eat, but she’ll typically eat a variation of it. She has her vegetable preferences, so if we’re having one I know she won’t eat (like zucchini) then I make her an alternative option. We do all eat at the same time… lunch + dinner especially, so what we are cooking for the family is what she eats as well. Again, there are some exceptions… she doesn’t like the consistency of shrimp, so on those evenings, she might have something a little different, but still a variation of what we’re having.
19. How do you manage portion control?
I’d say the easiest way to manage portion control is to measure things out, and to put food items in appropriate serving dishes… that way you don’t visually feel short changed. Also, eating in a bowl always makes it look like you have so much more food…
