Tag:

lifestyle

birthday freebies with birthday girl throwing confetti

50+ Birthday Freebies to Treat Yourself With This Year

by Kayla Smith January 29, 2019

From retail to food, there’s a ton of birthday freebies you can take advantage of your entire birth month!

It’s my birthday this weekend and I wanted to put together a list of all the birthday freebies I came across. No matter what time of year you are born, you can take advantage of all of these sweet deals. Here’s what I found:

Retail

BareMinerals: Join the Friends and Benefits Program! After signing up, they will send you a free gift on your birthday
Cinemark: Sign up for their email list and receive a free popcorn for your birthday!
JCPenney: Get on their email list and get one of their birthday freebies
Kohls: Get a birthday gift when you sign up for their rewards
Old Navy: Sign up for their emails and get one of their birthday freebies
Redbox: Get a free Redbox rental!
Sephora: Sign up to be a Beauty Insider and get one of their birthday freebies
Ulta Beauty: Receive one of their birthday freebies when you join their rewards program

Food

Applebee’s: Get a free gift on your birthday after signing up with their email club – it could be a free appetizer, free entree or free dessert
Arby’s: Get a free milkshake as a birthday freebie from their email list
Auntie Anne’s: Sign up for their email list and get a free pretzel on your birthday
Baskin Robbins: Sign up for the birthday club and get a free ice cream during your birthday month
Bonefish: Join up on the Bonefish Grill Insider and get an offer during your birthday month
Buffalo Wild Wings: Sign up for their email list and get free snack size wings
Burger Fi: Sign up for their point system and get one of their birthday freebies!
California Pizza Kitchen: Get on their email list and get a free dessert on your birthday
Carrabba’s Italian Grill: Join their email list for a birthday offer
Chili’s: Get a free dessert when you sign up for their email list
Cinnabon: Sign up to Club Cinnabon and one of their birthday freebies!
Cold Stone Creamery: Get a BOGO coupon for your birthday once you sign up for their email list
Cracker Barrel: Go to Cracker Barrel for your birthday and get a free dessert
Culver’s: Get one of their birthday freebies when you sign up for MyCulver’s
Dairy Queen: Get a BOGO blizzard coupon when you join their rewards program
Del Taco: Get a free regular size shake when you sign up for their emails
Denny’s: Get a free grand slam when you walk in on your birthday
Dippin’ Dots: When you sign up for their emails, get a free dippin’ dots on your birthday
Dunkin’ Donuts: Get a free beverage as one of their birthday freebies when signing up for their rewards
Firehouse Subs: Sign up for their rewards program and get a free medium sub
First Watch: Get a free entree on your birthday as a member of their email list
Habit Burger Grill: Sign up for their rewards program for one of their birthday freebies
IHOP: Get a free meal on your birthday when you sign up for their emails
Jamba Juice: Get a free smoothie or juice when you join their rewards program
Jersey Mike’s Subs: Sign up for their email list for a free sub and drink
Krispy Kreme: Get their app and receive one of their birthday freebies
Longhorn Steakhouse: Get a free dessert when you sign up for their rewards program
Moe’s: Get a free birthday burrito when you sign up for their rewards
Noodles and Company: Sign up and get one of their birthday freebies as long as you sign up 2 months in advance
Olive Garden: Get a free appetizer or dessert on your birthday
Panda Express: Get a an offer for your birthday
Panera: Get one of their birthday freebies when you sign up for their rewards
Pei Wei: Choose from one of three birthday freebies when you sign up for their rewards program
P. F. Chang’s: Get a free appetizer or dessert during your birthday month
Pink Berry: Receive a free yogurt on your birthday
Pita Pit: Get a free pita on your birthday!
Pizza Hut: Sign up for their rewards program and look out for one of their birthday freebies
Planet Smoothie: Get on their email list and receive a free smoothie
Red Robin: Register for their rewards program and get a free burger
Romano’s Macaroni Grill: Receive a free dessert on your birthday
Ruby Tuesday: Sign up for their email list and get a free burger or garden bar entree
Sprinkles: Receive a free cupcake for your birthday when you sign up for their rewards
Starbucks: Get one of their birthday freebies with their rewards program
Steak ‘n Shake: Join their email list and get a free item for you birthday
Texas Roadhouse: Sign up for their email list and get one of their birthday freebies
The Melting Pot: Join their rewards program and get a free chocolate fondue and size chocolate covered strawberries
Tijuana Flats: Get a free birthday treat when you sign up for their emails
Waffle House: Receive a free waffle on your birthday when you join their rewards program
Zaxby’s: Sign up for their emails and get a free nibbler

Let me know if you get any of these birthday freebies during your birth month. If you know of any other deals, let me know down in the comments and I’ll add them to this list.

XOXO Kayla

January 29, 2019 0 comment

Lifestyle Travel

Things to Do in Florence Italy For Your Next Vacation

by Kayla Smith January 25, 2019

written by Kayla Smith

I have all my favorite things to do, places to eat and where we stayed in Florence Italy.

On our trip through Italy, we started in Rome, went on to Cinque Terre and our next stop was Florence Italy. We didn’t spend a ton of time in Florence and we were sick the majority of the time. However, the food was UNREAL and I loved every single meal we ate there. There’s not a ton to do here compared to the other cities but if you love shopping, this is the place for you. Florence Italy is covered with high end shopping plazas so if you are eyeing some italian leather shoes, you’ll want to come here. Here’s what we did during our stay in Florence Italy.

Florence Italy Restaurants

Osteria dell Olio

I think this is the best restaurant I had in Italy! I had the Spaghetti Arrabiata and it’s to die for. I could tell the chef put a lot of thought into the sauce because of the intense depth and flavor. Since coming home from Italy, I have dreams about it and that’s all I ever want to eat. Before you go, know that there is a service charge of $2-3 a person but I think it’s 100% worth the fee.

pasta arrabbiata in florence italy

La Carraria Gelato

I could cry thinking about this. Florence Italy was SO good to us! I got the Chocolate Orange Gelato and the Chocolate Mousse gelato. Hands down the best gelato/ice cream/dessert/anything I’ve ever had! We tried to go back later that evening to eat it twice in one day but they CLOSED one hour early! Their Google listing doesn’t have accurate hours so keep that in mind before going but it’s worth the risk.

gelato in florence italy

Ristorante Pizzeria il Pinolo

We loved eating here so much we went here two days in a row. Their pasta is seriously UNREAL! Plus, their pricing is very reasonable with how much food you get. It’s a little bit of a walk outside of downtown but it’s totally worth it.

spaghetti in florence italy cacio e pepe in florence italy

Lindt Chocolate Store

While waiting in line at the Duomo, we eyed a Lindt chocolate store across the street. We decided to explore while my parents waited in line and we couldn’t have been happier! They make fresh croissants and stuff them full of chocolate. I know there are Lindt stores all around the world so definitely go to the next one you come across wherever you are.

croissant in Florence Italy

Pizzeria a Taglio

This pizza place is right next to the Duomo as well! It’s nothing fancy but you can get pizza by the slice for a great deal. The people that work there are awesome and there’s tons of different flavors you can choose from in their window.

pizza in florence italy

Things to Do

The David

I knew that the David was in Florence Italy but I never realized how big it is. It’s inside a museum a couple streets away from the Duomo. It’s amazing to see since there are no visible mistakes so it’s technically a “perfect” sculpture. Along the hallway leading up to it, there’s all of Michelangelo’s sculptures lining the walls showing the process behind his iconic sculptures.

The Duomo

This is the most iconic building in Florence Italy. You can climb all the way to the top and get a view of the entire city. We didn’t reserve a ticket before going and the line was too long. If you want to go, reserve a ticket online before making the trip out there.

duomo in florence italy

Florence Italy Hotels

We stayed at the Goldoni hotel in Florence Italy. It’s a cool hotel in the heart of the city. It’s all on one floor of an apartment building which is weird but works. I think we liked the bed here the most but the bathroom was a little weird. It looked like someone had hung onto the shower railing and it was half falling off the wall. However, my parents bathroom was much nicer Overall, this place had a great breakfast and the staff was AMAZING! If you are making a trip to Florence Italy, it’s definitely a hotel to look into.

We had the best time in Florence Italy and I can’t wait until we make a trip back, especially for all the food! Have you ever been? What is your favorite part? Let me know in the comments!

XOXO Kayla

January 25, 2019 0 comment

Lifestyle

15+ At-Home Date Night Ideas Any Couple Would Love

by Kayla Smith January 19, 2019

written by Kayla Smith

Easy date night ideas for those nights you want to stay in!

This post is sponsored by POP SECRET® but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

I love date night! It’s my favorite day of the week and I look forward to it the most. After a long work week, we love to spend some quality time together and most of the time we have a night in. I put together a list of some of our favorite at-home date night ideas that you may not have thought of before with a secret ingredient: POP SECRETⓇ popcorn! The Movie Theater Butter is my favorite kind of popcorn to eat while we spend time together by unwinding and having fun. I just order mine on Amazon so it comes straight to my door and I never have to leave the house to go get it. It’s awesome and dangerous haha! If you’re looking for some date night ideas, here’s some to add to your list!

At-Home Date Night Ideas

Have a picnic on the floor: Lay out a blanket, gather your favorite foods and enjoy spending time together! My husband and I do this all the time. We turn on our favorite show or movie while having a delicious picnic!

Make mocktails and eat your favorite snacks: Look on Pinterest for some drink ideas and try to recreate them at home! Pop some POP SECRETⓇ Movie Theater Butter and taste test the drinks you made.

Stargaze in the backyard: If it’s a nice night, lay out a blanket and look up at the stars. I haven’t done this in a long time. I cannot wait for the weather to get warmer at night!

Play card games: I love inviting another couple over and playing card games! We pop popcorn, eat snacks and play games all night long. It’s fun to see the competitive side of people and get to know them better throughout the night.

Build a fort and watch movies: This is one of my favorite date night ideas! There’s nothing more cozy than building a fort, watching movies, eating popcorn and snuggling while we watch our favorite shows. We LOVE watching our shows!

Play Would You Rather?: If get to know you questions are irrelevant, play Would You Rather and ask each other questions all night long. I guarantee you’ll be dying laughing by the end of the night.

Watch a sports games together: We used to go over to our friends’ house and watch BYU football together for away games. Turn on your favorite sports team and cheer them on together!

Have a “finger foods” only dinner: Make dinner together and ditch the utensils. Eat only with your hands! You can start easy by eating food like chicken tenders, tacos or all your favorite snacks like POP SECRETⓇ Movie Theater Butter. If you are feeling adventurous, go all out with a meal like spaghetti haha!

Play the Newlywed game: Whether you’re dating, just married, or celebrating a milestone anniversary, the Newlywed game never gets old! We played this with some friends and it’s fun to see how well you truly know your better half.

Record memories: This is one of the newest date night ideas that I had and I can’t wait to try it! I want to be better at recording memories with our camera. I want to record how we first met along with other stories while we were dating and first married. It would be such a fun momento to keep and show our future family.

Break a record: If you are competitive, look up some of the world records and take turns trying to break them!

Binge watch YouTube videos all night: This is one of the date night ideas that we do the most. We find funny YouTube videos from our favorite influencers or some cute animal compilations and eat snacks and popcorn together.

Have a campout in the living room: Pull out a mattress and pile all the blankets and pillows in the house! We used to do this all the time while living in Utah and it’s one of my favorite memories from living in our first apartment.

Facebook game: My husband and I did this one day. We read people’s Facebook statuses to each other and tried to guess who we were talking about. Some were SO hard but it’s a funny game to see how well you know what’s going on with your friends.

Spa night: This is the perfect way to relax after a long week! Do a face mask and take turns giving each other massages.

Work out: I feel like this is one of the date night ideas I need to do more often! Find a good workout online or turn on a cheesy one from the 80s. Have fun working out and spending time with one another.

Create a mini photoshoot: Gather a bunch or props and take funny pictures together! Post your favorites to social media or keep them to yourselves. If you do post them, tag me. I would love to see them!

Movie marathon with different actors, genre or series: This is such a fun idea! Attempt to watch all the movies in your favorite series or pick one actor and watch every single one of their movies (both good and bad!) Don’t forget to snuggle up together and make some POP SECRETⓇ Movie Theater Butter.

Those are just some of the date night ideas you can do! I hope no matter what you choose, you’ll include POP SECRETⓇ Movie Theater Butter popcorn! It’s one of my favorite snacks that reminds me of some of the best date nights I’ve ever had. Grab a box on Amazon to prepare for your next date night. If you have any other fun date night ideas, leave your suggestions in the comments below!

XOXO Kayla

date night ideas with pop secret popcorn

January 19, 2019 0 comment

kayla throwing up a peace sign in manarola cinque terre, italy

Lifestyle Travel

Why You Should Put Cinque Terre, Italy On Your Bucket List

by Kayla Smith January 18, 2019

written by Kayla Smith

The hidden gems of what to see, eat and things to do in Cinque Terre, Italy and why you need to go there.

I’ve traveled all across Italy from Milan to Rome and Florence to Venice, but nothing quite compares to Cinque Terre, Italy. A lot of the bigger cities crawl with people 24/7 but they dwarf in comparison to the charm and magic of Cinque Terre, Italy. I’ve never been one to be speechless. However, when I was standing on the edge of a cliff over Riomaggiore, I had no words. There’s a magic about Cinque Terre, Italy that doesn’t compare to anywhere else in the world. I’m sharing my favorite parts about each city and where we ate because the food is enough of a reason to go haha!

Things to Do

A big reason Cinque Terre, Italy should be on your bucket list is because there’s something there for everyone. Each one of the cities have their own unique charm. I’ll share some of our favorite things from each of the cities and which ones stood out the most to me.

Riomaggiore

Out of all the cities in Cinque Terre, Italy, I think Riomaggiore is my favorite. On our first day, we spent half of Christmas day exploring the town. There was NO ONE there which I liked since the hustle and bustle of Rome became overwhelming at times. It’s the first city from La Spezia and the train station is very easy to navigate. Some of the other ones are NOT easy (but we will get into that later haha). There’s two sections of the town. We hiked up the first one and once you get up to the overlook, there’s a small pathway that leads down to the marina and some rocks overlooking the ocean. It’s semi-difficult to navigate since the railings are really rusty but the view is so worth it!

From the marina, we hiked up to the city square, All the houses are painted in pastel colors which makes for beautiful pictures. Our pictures here turned out amazing and the sunset was UNREAL! If you need a spot to watch the sunset, pick this city because it’s the prettiest out of all of them.

cliffs of riomaggiore cinque terre, italy overlooking the railing in cinque terre, italy Kayla and Taz overlooking Riomaggiore in Cinque Terre, Italy Kayla standing in the square in Riomaggiore Cinque Terre, Italy

throwing up a peace sign in Riomaggiore Cinque Terre, Italy

Manarola

Manarola is the most popular city in Cinque Terre, Italy for good reason. The colorful houses and amazing views are unreal. Add in delicious seafood and you’re set! If you’re a seafood lover, this is the city for you! However, we are not and struggled to find a place that sold anything other than seafood spaghetti. Despite our food trial, the trail leading up to the overlook gave us a 360 degree view of the city. It’s by far the most crowded of any other place but the pictures are worth it! We could’ve spent all night here.

Kayla overlooking Manarola in Cinque Terre, Italy sunset in Manarola Cinque Terre, Italy Kayla and Taz in Manarola Cinque Terre, Italy

Corniglia

Corniglia is probably the smallest city in all of Cinque Terre, Italy. This city is the hardest to navigate since the train station spits you out at the bottom of the cliff and you have to climb (A LOT of) stairs to actually get to the city. There’s no other way up so it isn’t the most accessible. However, I appreciated being able to burn off some of my endless amounts of pizza and pasta haha. AND the views are stunning just like the other cities in Cinque Terre, Italy.

overlooking Corniglia Cinque Terre, Italy

Vernazza

I LOVED Vernazza! It’s an adorable fishing town with a marina and tons of grapes everywhere. If you get a chance to go, walk down to the marina and spend the afternoon down by the water. There’s a ton of places to go eat and walk around. We also went on a hike up by the old church. There’s a view of the entire city that’s absolutely breathtaking!

overlooking Vernazza in Cinque Terre, Italy Kayla overlooking Vernazza in Cinque Terre, Italy

Monterosso al Mare

Monterosso al Mare is the smallest of the cities in Cinque Terre, Italy. We didn’t spend a ton of time there but the beach is so relaxing. There’s a ton of rocks to walk out on and it would be the perfect place to lay out in the summertime. It’s an adorable little town with a lot of spots to fish and swim in Cinque Terre, Italy.

standing on the rocks in Monterrosso al Mare in Cinque Terre, Italy standing on the beach in Monterrosso al Mare in Cinque Terre, Italy

Place to Stay

I wanted to share one of the best Cinque Terre hotels because we loved our hotel so much! Here’s our experience:

Cinque Terre Hotels

My family loved staying at Firenze al Continental. There aren’t a lot of Cinque Terre hotels but this is the BEST place to stay if you are looking to visit Cinque Terre, Italy. It’s the main city of La Spezia where you can take the train to visit all of the five cities of Cinque Terre, Italy. I would recommend staying in La Spezia over any of the Cinque Terre cities because lugging suitcases up the side of a cliff would be absolute misery. We stayed on the third floor and it was by far our favorite hotel on the entire trip. The staff gave us directions and a ton of help and laid out an incredible breakfast on the top floor every morning with a view of the entire city. We all wish we could’ve stayed there the entire trip!

hotel in La Spezia outside of Cinque Terre, Italy

Food to Eat

Cinque Terre Restaurants

La Bottega Del Fritto (chain)

We visited four of the cities in Cinque Terre, Italy. We went to Vernazza and loved the adorable town! You can walk down the entire city and see two other cities from where you are. On our way back to the train station, we got chips (fries) at La Bottega Del Fritto and they were DELICIOUS! They give you your French fries in a little cone with a stick so you can stab them and eat without getting your hands dirty. The fries tasted equal parts crispy on the outside to soft on the inside. I could’ve eaten three more cones!

eating french fries in Vernazza Cinque Terre, Italy

Gelateria Vernazza

After we devoured our fries, we walked across the street to the Gelateria Vernazza. It has some of the best gelato in all of Italy! I got chocolate and stracciatella (chocolate chip) and it came with a little waffle chip on the top. It was a nice treat from all the walking around.

eating gelato in Vernazza Cinque Terre, Italy

Pizzeria Masaniello

I’m almost positive this is the name but it’s in La Spezia right down the street from our hotel. They make incredible neopolitan pizza and it’s absolutely delicious! Beware that the servers only know broken English so make sure to point to what you want on the menu if you don’t speak Italian. My sister asked for a #12 which is a ham and cheese calzone and got a #21 which was a pizza covered in eggplant, artichokes and bacon with a PUMPKIN sauce. A bit of a stretch from a basic calzone! Haha. Taz got the Diavola (pepperoni) and I got margherita which are much safer options.

pizza in la spezia outside of Cinque Terre, Italy

Cinque Terre, Italy should be on your bucket list if you love adventure, delicious food and traveling off the beaten path. I loved the chance to explore and discover new places that I had never seen before in pictures or posted all over Instagram. I could’ve spent an entire month exploring the coast of Cinque Terre, Italy and I can’t wait to go back one day. If you have any other questions about my trip or some suggestions of what else to do, feel free to reach out!

XOXO Kayla

January 18, 2019 0 comment

Lifestyle

My Favorite Things From 2018

by Kayla Smith January 3, 2019

written by Kayla Smith

2018 had some of the best investments I’ve ever had!

I am the living, walking definition of a shopaholic. I get a lot of different products to test out and share my reviews of. These are just a few of my favorite things I wear/use multiple times a week and will use for years to come. I also put together a list of my must-watch tv shows, favorite books and podcasts you have to listen to!

Fashion

Black Sunglasses: I wear this black sunglasses almost daily! They’re so inexpensive and look super chic.
Round Bag: I’m sure you’ve seen these round bags everywhere on Instagram, but there’s a good reason. I love mine and it was one of my favorite things to wear throughout the spring and summer.
Paper Bag Pants: If you follow my Instagram stories, you’ll know I live in these pants. They’re super comfy like sweatpants but you can easily get away with wearing these to work or school.
Adidas T-Shirt: You can find me wearing this t-shirt multiple times a week. It’s so soft but the fabric doesn’t get very worn compared to how many times I wear it. Plus, it’s blush which is an automatic yes from me.
Velvet Hangers: This sounds weird but velvet hangers CHANGED MY LIFE! There’s nothing that feels better than matching hangers in my closet. They’re super thin and my clothes don’t slip off like a normal plastic hanger. Make the switch and you’ll thank me later!
White Converse: I’ve always wanted a pair of white converse and I finally got a pair. They’re my favorite shoes to wear with jeans, casual dresses, joggers, shorts, literally everything. It did take a bit for me to break in but once I did, I wear them all the time.

Beauty

Velvet Scrunchies: 2018 is the year of the scrunchie! I fell back in love with scrunchies and wear my hair in one every single night since it doesn’t crease my hair. I love the velvet ones to add some texture to it and add a little extra something to an outfit.
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask: This sleep mask is what dream are made of and one of my favorite things! My lips feel incredible every morning when I wake up and my lipstick goes on smoother.
Matrix So Silver Shampoo: If you’re blonde, I swear by this shampoo! I use this every time I wash my hair and it helps me last between trips to the salon.
Bye Bye Undereye Concealer: I fell back in love with this concealer this year. Honestly, it’s hard for me to find a good concealer since I’m pale but there’s a good range for this one. It keeps my eyes looking bright and awake which I love.
Japonesque Fluff Concealer Brush: Speaking of concealer, this brush was life-changing for me. It blends my concealer better than a beauty blender and doesn’t waste any product.
Clear Toiletry Bag: I loved using this bag and it’s one of my favorite things for traveling. It’s easy to tell everything I have inside and it is TSA approved for airports.
Living Proof Dry Shampoo: I gave in and tried this dry shampoo at the end of 2018 and fell in love! It works amazingly and lets me go longer between washing my hair. Plus, it smells amazing.
Almay Lipsticks: Almay was so kind and gave me all of their new Lip Vibes lipsticks. They’re all super creamy and pigmented. I love all the colors and they’re so much fun to wear since they don’t dry out my lips.

Lifestyle

Reusable Grocery Bags: We tried our best to reduce the amount of waste from grocery shopping so we got reusable grocery bags. They can hold A LOT more than a normal plastic bag and they lasted the entire year with zero rips or holes.
Erin Condren Planner: I already talked about my Erin Condren planner here, but it’s too good not to mention again. It’s the best way I’ve had to organize my life since I remember things better by writing them down rather than typing them out.
Yeti Microphone: When we started The Early Retirement Podcast, we knew we needed two microphones. This one is relatively inexpensive and work amazingly. They work well for two people as well so we downgraded to just the one now.

Books

Leave Your Mark: This book changed my life regarding social media. If you use social media for a blog, business or even personally, I definitely recommend reading this and taking these skills to heart.
Crush It: Gary V. is a SAVAGE! I listened to this audiobook and he gives the step-by-step process on how to crush it in everything you do. This is an incredible business book but also just a pump up book for anybody.
Crushing It: This is the sequel to Crush It. This book follows real-life people who took the concepts and skills from Crush It and applied it to their lives. It goes through their successes in a variety of fields. I skipped around a lot in this book but I think the information is incredible.
Present Over Perfect: In this day and age, it’s soooo hard to be present with all the distractions we have. Present Over Perfect changed my mindset and brought me to tears many times. Every single person needs to read this. I’m not usually a self help fan but this book is seriously life-changing.
You Are A Bada**: Along with Present Over Perfect, this is another must-read self help book. It’s a huge pump up book that boosted me up into believing I can do and be anything I want to be.
Girl, Wash Your Face: Rachel Hollis is incredible and she debunks popular myths in this book. I read this book in two days because I loved it so much I couldn’t put it down. She gears the book towards women but men can definitely read it too.
Big Little Lies: If you love books filled with twists and mystery, this book is amazing! I read it in my book club and literally gasped out loud when the murder finally happened. Such a good read! It addresses some real life hard things which can make some parts really somber but super relatable.
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before: This is a lighthearted book filled with teen romance. Netflix made an original movie about it but the book is so much better and it is book one in a three book series.

TV Shows

Survivor: Taz and I went HARD this year and dove straight into watching Survivor. A guy I knew from high school was on the past season so we got very into it. We even watched a couple past seasons including the very first season. It was so bad it looked like an old home movie haha. It’s a fun reality tv show and relatively clean so that was definitely a plus.
Magic For Humans: This is a funny, feel-good show to watch. There’s only one season on Netflix but I was BLOWN away at his magic tricks. Some are very cheesy but others left me questioning life haha.
Sherlock: I watched Sherlock for the third time this year and it’s worth every second. Every episode is about 90 minutes long and you’ll be on the edge of your seat with every episode. The final season is INSANE and if you are going to take any advice from me ever in your life, WATCH THIS! It’s sooooo good.
Stranger Things: Everyone raves about Stranger Things but it’s for good reason. I’m not a scary movie type of girl but this one is a healthy mix of scary and intense. There’s a little language but relatively clean.
Making a Murderer Season 2: Holy moly this show blew me away! Taz and I watched the first season of Making a Murderer and had a lot of questions, but the second season debunked every flaw we caught. It’s very one-sided but getting the details of the real-life murder case is crazy cool. If you haven’t watched this show yet, it’s definitely one of my favorites.
Evil Genius: THIS SHOW! It’s a similar documentary-style show like Making a Murderer BUT this one is absolutely insane. I won’t give you the rundown of the show but if you’re interested in murder mystery shows, you’ll love this.

Podcasts

I listen to a lot of podcasts. (Seriously, A LOT since they’re my favorite things!) There’s wayyyy too many I could mention but these are ones I listen to over and over again. Taz and I have our own podcast (The Early Retirement Podcast) and these are a couple others I love.

Awesome With Alison: This podcast is the first podcast I ever began listening to. Alison leaves me feeling “awesome” after each episode and I feel empowered to do anything I set my mind to. I’m actually listening to her latest episode as I speak.
What We Said Podcast: Jaci Marie and Chelsey Curtis interview different people and cover a variety of topics. I die laughing every episode and is another podcast that leaves me feeling lifted up at the end of each one.

Those are all my favorite things in 2018! Let me know some of your favorite things from last year and what I should try out for the upcoming year.

XOXO Kayla

January 3, 2019 0 comment

Lifestyle

2018 Year In Review + Plans For The New Year

by Kayla Smith January 1, 2019

written by Kayla Smith

Here’s some of our highlights from the year and some things we are working on in 2019!

Our year was filled with the highest-highs and lowest lows, moments of victory and failure, laughter and a lot of tears. The entire end of our year felt like one big question mark, but we are starting to get some direction with how to go about in the new year. Here’s our year in review!

January

In January, I rang in the New Year by cutting 8 inches off my hair and I loved the change!

Taz and I had the chance to go to the Ice Castles in Midway, Utah. Ever since I moved to Utah, I wanted to go and we loved it! It’s such a cool experience so if you ever get the chance to go, I highly recommend it! Also, we celebrated my birthday with some of our dear friends and a TON of snow. I’m excited to have my birthday next year without the cold haha.

February

February FLEW by! We celebrated Valentine’s Day together and went on a little vacation down to Southern Utah. Taz was actually born down in St. George so he has a lot of family down there. We saw his grandpa, stayed with some of his cousins and went to Zions National Park. Neither one of us had gone in years and it was breathtaking! I wish we took advantage of all the places that were in our own backyard in Utah but that just gives us an excuse to go back.

March

March started out with a bang! I spent a lot of time with my girlfriends. My friend invited me to a Girl’s Night at the local rec center and I held a SNAKE! I was only freaking out a little haha. Then, my best friend, Kim had her baby shower. It feels like a lifetime ago!

Taz and I celebrated Easter together and had the opportunity to attend the worldwide conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was amazing! We are sad we can’t be there in person now, but they also stream it online.

April

In April, Kim had her baby! She’s absolutely precious and I love seeing videos of her on Marco Polo.

We celebrated Taz’s birthday with some of our amazing friends and family. Taz’s grandma was in town so we spent the day at the temple and had an amazing time!

May

In May, we celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary! I don’t know how I got someone as wonderful as Taz, but I’m certainly glad I did.

My previous roommate, Bree also got married later in May. She looked gorgeous and we loved getting to see some of our old friends again.

Also, we ran our first 5K together, I became addicted to Pacqui chips (which are no where to be found in Florida!), and the pool opened so May was one of the best months of the year!

June

Our friend, Jake had a birthday party at the beginning of June. We wanted to give him a gift he would never forget so naturally we rented a baby fox from a local pet rental company. The fox (Wally) was SO cute and I wish we could’ve kept him forever.

My sister came into town to go to a church camp called Especially For Youth (EFY). We had a lot of fun eating yummy food and going to a lot of fun events around. Plus, we had to squeeze in a pool day and trip to East High where Disney Channel filmed High School Musical.

An interactive museum called The Hall of Breakfast opened in Salt Lake City and they invited Taz and I to visit. It was a BLAST! We had the best time exploring, but that wasn’t even the best part. We met Colin and Sara! The next day, Sara and I saw each other at another event. We became soul sisters and talked the entire day! The next weekend, we went on a double date, became best friends within a few hours and we spent every single weekend together the rest of the summer.

At the end of the month, we went on a double date to try axe throwing. I was SO scared! I definitely thought I would drop an axe on my foot and the date would go south really fast. Thankfully, no one was hurt and by the end, Taz could throw both at the same time.

July

This was probably the best 4th of July I ever had! We began the morning with Matt and Maddie going to a hot air balloon festival and ate breakfast at my favorite place in all of Provo: Cafe 300! BUT, now it closed down and I’m so sad about it. Later that day, we met up with Colin and Sara for the 4th of July carnival and fireworks. Sara and I got the cutest pineapple cotton candy too which I had never seen before.

During the next week, Sara and I went to an incredible pool party hosted by another local influencer and Taz and I went to my cousin, Ali’s wedding!

We wanted to go to the Young Living Lavender Fields again before the summer ended. We called Sara and Colin to all drive down together. The pictures turned out beautifully and that still stands out to me as one of the best days this year!

August

Taz and I decided to move back to Florida so I could pursue my blog full-time and he could revamp his photography business. I put in my two weeks notice and we literally sold EVERYTHING! (You can read all about our crazy moving adventure here.)

Before we left, we went with our friend, Trey to hike Donut Falls, had a going away party and shipped most of our things to Florida.

Since my sister is most likely moving to Utah in 2019, Taz and I drove our car to Arizona to leave with my grandparents for her to use when she comes back. We began our drive and stopped in St. George in Las Vegas to see family and friends. We enjoyed a few days in Arizona spending time with my grandparents and flew the rest of the way to Florida.

September

We loved being back in Florida! We spent a lot of time at the beach and with our families. Taz and I ate a lot of good food, jumped right into our photography business, Taz Smith Photography and we launched the Early Retirement Podcast.

At the end of the month, we celebrated my father-in-law’s 50th birthday and my brother’s 12th birthday. It’s so nice living close so we can be around for fun things like this!

October

We went with my sister to a local pumpkin patch and took some cute pictures. We dressed up with my siblings as the Scooby Doo gang for Halloween and it may be one of my favorite costumes yet.

My mom used to live in Belgium for her study abroad. The family she lived with came into town so we enjoyed all the yummy chocolate they brought!

November

Taz and I brought my siblings to the county fair. We had so much fun and filmed a little video about it here.

We drove over to Tampa and stayed there the rest of the month. During the month, we had fun exploring Hyde Park Village, Ybor, and other areas for our family photoshoots. We even got to go to Indian Rocks Beach for the first time since we spent our honeymoon there.

On Thanksgiving, we spent the day with Taz’s family and then went Black Friday shopping with his sisters, You can watch our adventures here!

December

December’s been a crazy one with the holidays. My sister and I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. It was a women’s build so we are hoping she gets into her house at the beginning of next year.

My previous coworker came into town with her family. We loved getting a chance to catch up with her and spend the day at the beach.

My entire family is now headed to Italy! I’m sure I’ll be posting a ton of pictures so stay tuned for that. Taz and I are a little nervous but super excited! (UPDATE: it’s crazy fun and we are loving every second in Italy!)

Our Plans for 2019

Taz and I are really starting to take off with Taz Smith Photography. We love the people we meet and interact with from that. We are currently booking for the beginning of the year and have some spots open throughout January and February.

I’m hoping to continue with my blog and work smarter not harder. I’m also currently taking on some new clients to help with their social media and various other projects they need. From 2018, I learned being your own boss is HARD. It takes a lot of sweat, tears, long nights, stress and headache. BUT, it can be very rewarding, fulfilling and one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself.

Some days, I feel bad because I don’t feel like I accomplished much this year, but when I go back and read about all the things that happened, I’m blown away! Even though I didn’t cross off all of my achievements I wanted or do everything I wanted to do, I’m still fulfilled in what I could accomplish. 2019 will be a year harder than any of them to date but I’m excited for the things we will get to do this year! If there’s anything you’re working on in the next 365 days, let me know what it is! I would love to hear it.

XOXO Kayla

January 1, 2019 0 comment

Beauty Fashion Lifestyle

October Favorite Things 2018

by Kayla Smith November 2, 2018

written by Kayla Smith

All my favorite things I fell in love with during the month of October!

Today I wanted to talk about all my favorite things from fashion, beauty and lifestyle. I have everything I fell in love with and back in love with during the month of October. I know I love when my friends share their favorite things so I wanted to do the same for you. Make sure to tell me your favorite things from this post and in general so I have some fun things to test out for next month.

Fashion

Zyia Joggers

These zyia joggers are a gorgeous shade of maroon. They’re super comfortable and stretchy. They also have a drawstring to tighten as you need. I paired mine with a t-shirt and a jacket but you can dress them up or dress them down as you please. Honestly, I wear mine all the time around the house, but these are cute enough to go out and run errands in too.

favorite things joggers

Mustard Maxi Dress

This is my favorite dress for fall! I’m obsessed with this dress and the brown mustard color right now. At the neckline, there is a snap so if you’re nursing this is a huge benefit or if you have a hard time putting on dresses like I do sometimes, it’s much needed! I love all the details on the sleeves/hem and I am obsessed with the maxi length. It’s comfy, super lightweight and perfect for fall. I would style this with a cardigan if it gets really cold and with some boots or heels.

Courtesy of My Sister’s Closet Boutique

Blush Dot Sweatshirt

If you’ve seen my Instagram stories, you’ll know I’ve been living in this sweatshirt! I’m pretty much in love with anything blush, even my wedding dress was blush! It also has polka dots which I love. It’s unbelievably comfortable! Some sweatshirts can take a while to become soft but this one isn’t like that. I feel like this brings my sweatshirt game to another level so I can wear this out and about without looking grungy if you know what I mean. This is definitely one of my favorite things this month.

favorite things sweatshirt

Peachy T-Shirt

One of the other things I fell in love with is this “peachy” t-shirt. It’s embroidered and I think it’s so cute! I actually have another shirt that says “peachy on it but there’s something about this color that I couldn’t stay away from.

Beauty

Air Dry Cream

Monat Air Dry Cream gives your hair texture for days. If you have thin hair, fine hair, or just need more texture in general, this is what you need. I put a little bit on my ends after I get out of the shower and it makes my hair more full and voluminous when it dries than it normally looks. I love the texture it has and how beautiful it makes my hair looks when I’m done. It gives my hair that body and volume that I’m always looking for. I haven’t been able to find these results in products like this before, but this one has really worked out for me.

Texturizing Powder

The second one of these favorite things is also for texture. I’m a firm believer that the higher the hair, the closer to heaven. I LOVE voluminous hair and how beautiful it makes me feel. This is the Kristen Ess Loose Styling Powder. I previously tried out the texture spray and it just wasn’t working out for me. It was making my hair feel heavy and weighed down. With this, I’m able to shake out the amount that I want and put it in strategic places. It give my hair that lift and volume that I want throughout the week. I don’t wash my hair very often. Honestly, I probably only wash it 1-2 times a week. But, this powder gives my hair lift like I said before without falling flat even when I lay down on it.

Glycolic Peel

Now, I’m on the skincare! When I first moved to Florida, my skin seriously suffered. I was breaking out all the time, my skin was just all over the place, and I didn’t know what to do. This is the Riversol Exfoliating Glycolic Peel. This definitely helped my skin start over again. It helped balance my skin and make it a little more even than it was before. I put it on for a little while, let it sit, and washed it off. Instead of having combination skin at the end of it, it made it all even without all my oily patches. I wasn’t breaking out nearly as bad which was a huge blessing. I normally don’t rave about skincare products, because honestly, I’ve had a hard time finding ones that work for me. This is one of the rare and the few situations where it actually worked and I’ll be using this for a long time.

Lipstick

I love all lipstick products! If it’s been made, I’ve probably tried it. (Not really but really! I’ve tried a bunch! I got this lipstick at a Favorite Nights party. It’s the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick and it’s so amazing! I liked Lipsense for a while but it ended up making my lips super dry over time. This one actually stays while I’m eating and it doesn’t irritate my lips at all. My two favorite shades are Lover and Seductress and I’m wearing Lover in the video. I love how it wears on my lips and doesn’t dry them out completely like other lipsticks I’ve used in the past.

Setting Spray

The last of my beauty favorite things is the Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray. I usually wasn’t a believer in makeup setting sprays until I used this. My makeup doesn’t come off at all. I put it on right before I apply mascara so it doesn’t run all over my face. My skin isn’t irritated which is rare for me and it actually makes my makeup stay. I usually have my eyeliner or my eyeshadow all over my face at the end of the day and since I began using this, that never happens.

The Beachwaver

I’ve fallen back in love with one of my favorite hair tools: the Beachwaver! I’m using the S1.25 and I love the style it gives me. It’s actually an automatic curling iron so it easily curls my hair towards or away from my face at the push of a button. I forgot how quick it is and it cuts my time doing my hair in half.

Lifestyle

Toothpaste

I wasn’t sure if I should put this in lifestyle or beauty but this is the Paradontax Toothpaste. I’m convinced I have the most sensitive teeth of anybody on Earth. It was impossible for me to eat anything hot or cold because it was so sensitive. Even my gums bleed as soon as you touch them. (Sorry for the TMI.) I’m not sure why it’s like that. I promise I brush and floss my teeth since my dad is my dentist haha. This toothpaste is a complete lifesaver and helps prevent sensitivity. I’ve noticed an insane difference and my gums don’t bleed at all anymore. I know I’m not the only one who suffers with this so definitely give it a try if you have a hard time with this.

Weighted Blanket

Last but not least, I have my giant weighted blanket from My Calm. Oh my goodness this has helped me sleep and helps with anxiety. I’ve never been diagnosed with anxiety but I do have anxious moments. Whenever I’m having an episode I curl up with this I have a 20 lb blanket but it does come in 10 and 15 lbs too.It’s super soft and has helped me in the things that I need. I know if you try it out, you may not want to go back to regular blankets because it feels like you’re being hugged all the time.

Those are all my favorite things for the month of October! Let me know which one of these you want to try and what your favorite things were this month so I can try some more out in November.

XOXO Kayla

November 2, 2018 0 comment

Lifestyle

How to Move Across the Country For Cheap

by Kayla Smith September 6, 2018

written by Kayla Smith

To move across the country from Utah to Florida, we spent ⅓ of typical moving costs!

Taz and I decided to move across the country back to our home state of Florida! We wanted to move closer to family and live nearby since all of our siblings are still at home. However, moving costs an arm and a leg, especially going out of state. Everyone tells us how they can’t follow their dreams outside of where they live because everything is “too expensive.” Surprisingly, we cut out almost all the large expenses and we are spending almost nothing! I’ll walk through our processes and how we are able to move across the country for almost no cost at all.

Do Your Research

Since we are moving 2500 miles away, most moving companies are astronomical. (I know some companies will assist with moving costs if you get a job across the country. If you can, do that!) We don’t have many things and knew we could get away with a small moving van, but most moving companies only allow their largest vehicles to travel across the country which just adds more money (not to mention gas!) Taz and I ruled that out fairly quickly and began looking into pods where you can load furniture into a shipping container and then it’s dropped off at your destination. Orrrr you can ship everything you own to your new home and pray that it gets there.

Pick the Best Option

Taz and I decided to go with the latter option. This works for us since we know where we are moving to and we won’t need much furniture starting out. My job got a corporate discount for shipping and before I left, we sent out all our boxes beforehand. If you are working at a big company and have access to shipping, definitely ask for a quote! The second cheapest option was to go for a pod. To move across the country, we found that a moving truck is the most expensive. Over the next year, we will be living with family so we don’t need a ton of furniture so our situation may be different than most. Find out what works the best for your family. We downsized A LOT and got rid of a ton of stuff but it was better for us to get rid of things and sell most of our things versus filling up a truck and trekking across the country. From everything we’ve sold, we made back almost all the money we spent buying gas from Utah to Arizona and plane flights from Arizona to Florida. This made our costs less than $100 total.

Save, Save, Save!

Taz and I saved a TON of money! We’ve been living on one paycheck for months.. Thankfully, we won’t be having to pay rent once we get to Florida for a little while. We planned out a budget for the next year of our life and we went through a process to figure out how much we could live off of. First, we looked at our expenses each month (excluding rent for us, but include it if you are renting.) We saw what we could cut down on and formed a realistic budget. Then, save away and pull the plug when the time comes!

That’s how we will move across the country for almost no cost! It isn’t glamorous, but it cuts our cost down. Let me know if there’s something I missed or if you have any other tips for moving across the country.

XOXO Kayla

September 6, 2018 0 comment

Lifestyle

10 Things I Learned From Starting a Blog

by Kayla Smith August 30, 2018

written by Kayla Smith

I’ve learned a lot from starting a blog two years ago.

I wish someone had told me these things from the beginning. Starting a blog is the easy part but maintaining it over time can be challenging. I won’t be going in depth with the technical side on how to make your own website and growing on social media (you can find that here!) but I will be talking about the things I wish I knew before I began. These are 10 things I learned from starting a blog two years ago.

#1: Be Vulnerable

The only way to grow is to engage and make connections with other people. It’s so much easier to just be yourself instead of pretending to be somebody you’re not. People will love you for who you are and you can create genuine friendships. Some of my favorite people came into my life because of it and I couldn’t be more grateful.

#2: Social Media is a GOOD Thing

One of my biggest pet peeves is to have people hate on social media. I know there’s a lot of bad things found online but with every bad thing, there’s something to celebrate! Without social media, I would have a job, I can’t connect with my friends all over the world and I wouldn’t be able to see my nieces grow up when I lived 2500 miles away. Social media changed the world for the better and it’s a huge force for good to share wonderful stories and memories around the globe.

#3: Hard Work Pays Off!

Back when I was working a 9-5 everyday, I would come home and from 5-9 or 10 pm at night. The hustle is REAL my friends and it got us to where we are now. If you want it, work for it and it’ll come with time. We worked our tails off and sold nearly everything we own to chase our dreams.

#4: Know When to Say No

There’s a lot of hard work but don’t stretch yourself too thin and know when to say no. I take less than ¼ of the collaborations I’m offered because I know how much work I can handle at a time. I fill my space here with connections and collaborations help me continue my dream, but I don’t want to sacrifice the quality of my content with a large quantity. Also, I need a couple days here and there for myself and for my favorite thing: date night!

#5: Don’t Watch What Everyone Else is Doing

This is a catch 22. I love seeing what my fellow influencers are up to and supporting my favorite boss babes BUT if you feel yourself begin to copy other people PLEASE STOP. Keep your head down and work towards your goals. One summer, all of my friends bought houses and I couldn’t have felt more left out. Taz and I talked about our expenses and there was no way we were even close to that kind of investment after a year of marriage. I was heartbroken! However, if we bought a house, we wouldn’t be near family now, I wouldn’t be blogging full time and now we can buy a house we want when the time is right not just one we could afford. Life works in mysterious ways and none of our paths are the same. Accept your journey or figure out a way to make your dreams a reality.

#6: Be Creative

This is my favorite part of blogging! Creativity speaks to my soul like nothing else has. I love the thought behind it, the planning, ideas and execution. Some ideas work and some don’t but that comes with trial and error. There’s inspiration everywhere just keep your eyes peeled!

#7: Always Be Learning

Google quickly became my best friend! There’s not a day that goes by without learning something new about social media. I took a social media class in school and it became outdated as soon as Instagram Stories came out. Social Media is constantly changing so make sure to stay on top of it as much as possible.

#8: Everyone Goes Through a Rut

I think I had a dozen ruts I fell into. I got hungry, tired, sick, depressed, anxious, etc. and then fell out of the habit of posting and creating content. No one is perfect so there’s no reason to pretend to be. Pick up where you left off and continue killing it!

#9: Choose Your Time Wisely

I’ve been bad lately, but making a schedule or a list helps me so much! Sometimes I write lists just because I like to cross things off and seem like I accomplished something during the day. If I stay on task and get everything done that I need to, it makes more time for things I love to do like going on a date or spending an afternoon at the beach. Rewards are the best things for me and help me get one step closer to achieving my goals.

#10: Do What You Love

If you don’t like what you’re doing, don’t do it. Figure out what you love to do and go after it. One of Taz’s friends started a blog all about data analytics. If someone will read about data analytics, people will read ANYTHING so find your passion and pursue it.

Those are the 10 things I learned from starting a blog two years ago. There’s space on the Internet for everyone so if you start a blog or already have one, let me know what it’s about so I can cheer you on from the sidelines. Most people don’t realize how much WORK goes into it, but I couldn’t be happier with what I’m doing.

XOXO Kayla

August 30, 2018 0 comment

Lifestyle

We’re Moving to Florida!

by Kayla Smith August 23, 2018

written by Kayla Smith

My husband and I are moving to Florida aka our home.

After living for the past 5 years in the West, Taz and I decided to move to Florida! We will be doing work for ourselves for the first time in our lives. I’ll be blogging here full-time and he will be doing photography. We will both be doing content creation and digital marketing for companies so if you need anything, we would love to help you! Honestly, I’m terrified to go home. I was born in raised in Florida, but it’s grown immensely since I left. Most of our friends are in Utah and it’ll be hard to uproot our connections and move 2000 miles across the country.

Family First

Ultimately, we are moving to Florida to be around family. I’m from the east coast of Central Florida and he’s from the west coast. All of our immediate family lives there and it just makes sense to live there before we start a family of our own. We want our future kids to know their grandparents and the only way that will happen is if we live nearby.

Start a Company

Another goal is start our own digital marketing company. We want to use the knowledge we’ve learned to benefit small businesses and show them the wonderful ways you can utilize social media for your business. We have a lot of experience both personally and professionally for this and we want to share that with others.

Blogging

Another goal is to blog full-time like I mentioned before. I never expected this platform to grow into what it is today. I love that I have this little space on the Internet to profess self love, share fashion tips and embrace this community of strong, confident women.

This will be a huge change for us, but we both felt like this would be the best decision for our family and to grow this space. We hope to be able to focus 100% on this and put the effort in that we need. If there’s anything you want to see on here, please let us know because we would love to hear it. Thank you for your continued love and support!

XOXO Kayla

August 23, 2018 0 comment