Make Messaging More Fun with Pocket Avatars!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GetPocketAvatars #CollectiveBias

I know I'm a young adult, maybe even pushing into dare I say "adulthood" now, and selfies and cool new apps for my phone should probably be on my back burner, but I guess I'll always be a kid at heart because I'm always willing to snap a selfie or try out the latest app... it's just who I am and what I love! So it comes as no surprise, that when I heard about Pocket Avatars (an app that creates and sends virtual messages as a variety of avatars), I just had to try it out. I immeadiately downloaded the app on my phone and started sending silly messages to everyone I know, because what else is a girl to do on a winter afternoon?

The avatars offered on the app currently include some well-known celebrities, a cute bubbly little blow fish, a few funny looking creatures, and my favorite- a cute and colorful three-eyed monster! I like to adjust my voice a little to really get into "character" and then it's action. I let the facial recognition software detect my face and then it's time to let loose and get a little silly.

Once the recording is finished I can check out the results and send them to friends or out into the social media world! I love receiving messages from all of my friends too, after downloading the app on hubs phone - it was his turn to play and he was cracking up at the pirate character! I like to think of this app as a more fun, social, and clean version of all of the video/snapping apps on the market, the perfect family app and so much cooler than emojis!

My favorite video I've made so far was made for my 19 month old niece, my little princess who literally cracked up while watching the monster version of me excuse myself for being a little un-ladylike. I decided to share a short tutorial on how the app works and of course, showcase my silly video for you all to see... Don't be shocked by my silly faces and antics, as you will find out - I'm a dork!

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No matter who you surprise with a super fun message, I highly recommend trying Pocket Avatars out! I'd love to check out all of your silly videos so be sure to share with me!

Healthy Recipes with Weight Watchers {SUPER Easy Cheesecake Fruit Dip} + a Giveaway

Thanks to Weight Watchers, General Mills, and Publix I'll be able to continue on my #weightlossjourney with food that keeps me feeling healthy and fit! The discussion about these awesome brands is sponsored, although all opinions are my own.

As you all know, I've been bragging about my weight loss over the last few months... and while I managed to maintain my weight over the holidays (even with a few adult beverages and more than a handful of sweets included), I want to continue to lose now! Bikini season is coming soon, time to buckle down, ya know? I lost the first 20lbs, now I just need that last 15lbs to come off... and while I shared how I plan on staying active with Planet Fitness recently, today I'm sharing how I'm staying fit starting in the kitchen! This super easy recipe is perfect for a quick dish thrown together for a last minute Super Bowl Party or even just for a midnight snack!

Cheesecake Fruit Dip tastes super indulgent but doesn't leave you feeling guilty, the perfect treat!

Ingredients: 1 Yoplait Greek 100 Vanilla Yogurt 1 Jell-O Cheesecake Powder Packet 1/2 tbsp. Heavy Whipping Cream Now, get ready for this super complicated recipe: In a mixing bowl, mix together Weight Watchers endorsed Yoplait Greek 100 Vanilla Yogurt, 1/2 of a Jell-O Cheesecake packet, and 1/2 tbsp. Heavy Whipping Cream and...that's all! Serve dip in a bowl, with various fruits on a serving platter - the most delicious fruit dip, ever and SO quick and easy to make! Enjoy!

I've been crafting up all kinds of delicious meals lately and can't wait to share a few more awesome recipes with you that include some of my favorite products from Publix using their coupon service! Be sure to check out more Yoplait recipes and maybe even check out some of these delicious Green Giant and Progresso Light recipes as well, so many healthy recipe options - with all of these new recipes, you are probably going to need some new kitchen gadgets and other goodies... I'm super excited to share that I've teamed up with Weight Watchers, General Mills, and Publix to offer a giveaway basket full of prizes to one lucky reader, be sure to enter to win below:

Entry-Form

If you can't wait to win, check out all of these awesome coupon deals you can score!

10 Fitness Tips To Help You Get The Most Out Of Your Fitness Club Membership { + a #PlanetFitness New Years Deal}

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Planet Fitness. I received a membership to Planet Fitness to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.    

I was on a mission to get fit in 2014 and I'm proud to say I lost 20lbs, but I still haven't reached my final goal yet so I'm keeping up with my routine and trying to lose an additional 15-20lbs during 2015! As I shared last year, I've been working out at Planet Fitness and I'm so super happy with the results that I've experience thus far. I've learned that I can achieve anything I put my mind to and that lifting weights isn't just for boys, I'm actually a huge fan of the weight machines and very much prefer them to cardio now! I never was much for working out and getting sweaty, but I love going to Planet Fitness and since it's a judgement free zone I'm able to feel comfortable every single time I go.

While my weight loss is a huge gift from myself to myself for the holidays... I received even more good news around Christmas, I'm super excited that the PF location closer to my home opened their doors! The other location was around a 45 minute drive from my home making a visit to PF a little time consuming but now that I don't have to drive forever to go, I'm able to get a good, hard work out in without having to worry about my legs giving out on my long drive home after leg day! Plus, it's a 24 hour location so I can visit any time I want - a huge plus for my night owl lifestyle!  

Now here's some good news for you: From December 31, 2014 through January 9, 2015 Planet Fitness is hosting a sale. You can join the best health club for just a $1 down and $10 a month! Click here to find your nearest location! Plus, check out Planet of Triumphs - they feature inspirational stories from fellow health club members, motivating all of us to push ourselves and achieve our goals!

Once you've signed up for your Planet Fitness membership, check out these fitness tips to help you get the most out of your membership!

10 Fitness Tips To Help You Get The Most Out Of Your Fitness Club Membership:

1. Drink, Drink, Drink! Be sure to drink water all through out the day! Staying hydrated is important and you want to be sure that you are drinking enough water to fuel your body during your work outs! If you feel thirsty that means you are already dehydrated, so instead of waiting until you need a drink just start sipping all day long!

2. Don't Follow The Crowd! Instead of going during busy times, check out the chart Planet Fitness provides you with and visit during less crowded times for your location. I prefer to go when there is less of a crowd for several reasons, but if for some reason you like strutting your stuff in a busy fitness club - you can observe the busy times and head to PF during peak business hours! Whatever tickles your fancy.

3. Listen To Your Heart! Well, don't really listen to it but observe it with a heart rate monitor. These are a bit of an investment but the best way to monitor your calorie burning while working out... while the machines offer an idea of calories burned, I highly suggest a heart rate monitor as well for a more accurate calorie count.

4. Play That Funky Music! Find music that makes you feel pumped and add it on to your phone. Plug in some head phones on your way into PF and rock out to some jams that really leave you feeling like Beyonce while dancing around in the locker room.

5. Find A Pre-Workout That Works For You. I know finding supplements seems intimidating at first, but ask your work out buddy friends or consult with a nutritionist to find a pre-workout that works for your body.

6. Get Friendly With The Trainer! Planet Fitness offers FREE personal training sessions to all members, how cool is that? What goals can your personal trainer help you meet in 2015? Speak with the trainer at your fitness club to find out!

7. Just Keep Swimming! Even if you don't see instant results on the scale, keep going to Planet Fitness. Don't waste time worrying about numbers, just keep working and the lbs will fall off.

8. Be A Part Of The Community! Share your daily triumphs, big or little, on Planet of Triumphs with fellow Fitness Club members - be inspired, share your motivations, and learn how other people just like you are meeting their goals at the best fitness club in America!

9. Pull The Card! The Black Card that is. Pulling the Black Card will give you access to special amenities at Planet Fitness including massage beds and tanning beds.

10. Indulge On Occasion! Be sure to hit your local Planet Fitness up on on the first Monday of every month for free pizza and score some free bagels on the second Tuesday of every month as an appreciation gesture for members, the perfect treats for working hard on your physique all month long!

Click here to find out more about Planet Fitness and score an awesome New Years deal! It's time to get started working toward your 2015 goals today!


Be sure to check out Planet Fitness' social media channels so you can stay connected and motivated as well:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Get Organized in 2015 with a Tools4Wisdom Planner

I was provided with a planner to facilitate this review, regardless I only recommend products I believe my readers will like!

Today is the first day of the new year, a day that has new beginnings written all over it and everyone is making resolutions and changing their ways... My resolutions this year aren't just going to be a brief thought, though. I want this years resolutions not to be a fleeting change but a lifestyle change, that's why I'm making changes to my entire lifestyle starting today!

After losing 20lbs in 2014, I'm determined to lose another 15-20lbs - which means meal planning and gym dates with a trainer! I also want to obtain my associates degree (which is totally possible since I only have a few classes left - YAY)! But my main goal this year is to get more organized, I want to live in a world where I don't feel so flustered and overwhelmed and my first step to change that is to start planning and setting goals!

I'll be writing down my meal plans, gym dates, class schedule and homework - all in my planner. I've been searching high and low for a planner that helps achieve goals and then I remembered the monthly planner I received last year from Tools4Wisdom and decided to check out their weekly planners. Luckily I was offered a Tools4Wisdom Top Rated Planner!

Along with a ton of motivation and determination, this planner will be the perfect way to keep my priorities straight during the next year. Are you hoping to become more organized and successful in 2015? Check out the Tools4Wisdom Planners on Amazon to learn more about their awesome planners and decide on which one will work best for your life.

Stay in touch with Tools4Wisdom: {Facebook}

My #RedKettleReason: So Blessed I Want To Bless Others

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Influence Central for The Salvation Army. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Christmas was fantastic for my family this year, blessed with so many gifts, delicious food, and a festive holiday party that even included a surprise wedding. We laughed, we cried happy tears, and we all had a great time. I watched my niece open a stack of presents taller than she is, I had a stocking full of fun little surprises, I was able to give my family gifts that I knew would make them smile...

I know not everyone was as lucky as my family this year though; some families had nothing under the tree, no food in the fridge, maybe even no roof over their head. This is a sad reality and I want to do my part to help those in need.Thankfully, The Salvation Army is there for those in need and this year I'm going to help as much as I can through their fantastic Red Kettle campaign. My reason for giving is simple: I feel so blessed I want to be a blessing to others.

We've all seen The Salvation Army Red Kettle out in front of some of our favorite retailers around the holiday season, you could even call them a holiday staple... but did you know that The Salvation Army was established in London in 1865? The idea began to take shape in the States in 1891 when Captain McFee decided he wanted to provide the needy with a Christmas dinner, he thought back to when he was overseas and saw charitable donations pots...  and well, the rest is history.

Today, donations to The Salvation Army help support local shelters, after school programs, addiction recovery programs, summer camps, disaster assistance and many other social services. Actually in 2013, The Salvation Army served more than 58 million meals to the needy. While 204,000 people received rehabilitation services through donations to Family Stores and over 203,000 underprivileged children attended day care and summer day camps! The Army also provided nearly 10 million nights of shelter to the homeless and 324,000 people received help during times of disaster. What's even  more amazing is that more than 4 million families and children were served during the holidays and more than 1.8 million people received help through senior, medical and institutional services.

While the monetary donations are amazing, all the people that help The Salvation Army need to be recognized as well... Every single one of The Salvation Army’s 3,600 officers, 59,000 employees and 3.4 million volunteers has helped to serve nearly 30 million Americans in need in 2013! That’s almost one person, every second, every day! It's really incredible how many people The Salvation Army has helped, but they still need more donations and volunteers to continue to help more people in need.

Although Christmas is over and you probably won't find a bell ringer standing by a red kettle tomorrow, anyone can become a virtual bell ringer and raise money for their local communities by creating an Online Red Kettle at onlineredkettle.org. You can also text the word “KETTLE” to 80888 to make a $10 donation to support the campaign. Over the next few days The Salvation Army actually receives 1/3 of their online donations, probably because if you donate before January 1st  you won't just be helping someone else - you can write off your donation on your taxes!

Once you've donated, don't forget to share your reason for giving with the hashtag #RedKettleReason and check out RedKettleReason.org for more ways to give and check out why the rest of America is giving.