Oh, how I love, love, love fall.

Here's what I learned... take yourself on dates.

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Happy Halloween 🎃👻

A post shared by Amanda Alvarado (@amandadalvarado) on Oct 31, 2018 at 6:30am PDT

Isn't this like the coolest Halloween sweatshirt? I got from HelloHandpressed!

Last Saturday, David had to work and found out last minute, so instead of watching Netflix for hours at his place, I decided to take myself out on a little date. The location? Ponce City Market.


Before I tell you all about this little date I took myself on, I'm going to quickly tell you what happened when I left. Long story short, I had some car trouble a few weeks ago and thankfully, my dad was able to fix it. I picked it up from my dad's a few days before going to PCM and as I was leaving, it started acting up again. I had to take it back to my dad's, where it is right now. I am so grateful that my dad has been so willing to help me in this "transition" stage of my life. I am working so hard to kick start my career, and I am trying to wake up and start every day with gratitude, but I know you understand that when things are tough in life, it can be hard. The issues happening recently with my car have been a really big stress factor in my life and it is one of the places in my life that God is making me trust Him. Lately, my anxiety has also been through the roof. Sleeping has been hard. I have been so exhausted physically and mentally, despite getting plenty of sleep. Anxiety is real. I trust and know that God is working, but that does not mean that anxiety isn't present in my life. With all that being said, I'm about to share this really great day I had, but I also want you to know that I will also share the moments in my life that are hard; the moments that I wouldn't include in my "highlight reel."

What are you going through right now? No matter what it is, you know what? We're in this together. Whatever you're struggling with right now, you have support. If you need someone to talk to, my inbox is always open. If you feel like you might need the help of a professional, there are countless resources for you. You will be okay. Everything will be okay.

Not sure how to really transition from that, but I felt like I needed to share that with you. I needed to share a part of my "not-so-highlight reel" and maybe you can relate to it.

Well, let's get into my little PCM date. If you're making an Atlanta trip, you definitely need to make a stop here.

Prior to my little date with myself, I had been to PCM once with my friend Macie, but it was a while ago and so much at PCM has changed so much since then and I wanted to grab some coffee and just walk around the little shops.

Saturdays are pretty busy, but it wasn't insanely busy when I pulled in around 1 p.m. and parking was pretty easy to find! My first stop at PCM... Dancing Goats Coffee. This spot is so cute and there were like three people in the entire place which was nice. I got my go-to coffee drink, an iced vanilla latte.



After sipping on my coffee, I headed to Anthropologie. Anthropologie is a VIBE. I mean, I just want my entire home to look like an Anthropologie store. I walked out empty-handed because of my extreme self-control not to spend money (and lack of cash haha).

I also stopped at West Elm, Alex & Ani, Archer Paper Goods, Citizen Supply, Madewell, Sephora, Williams Sonoma, and Modern Mystic.






Modern Mystic was my last stop and it was a pretty cool. I bought a few different crystals for David and I.

Amethyst promotes calm, balance, and peace. Rainbow moonstone guides and protects travelers, which is great with how much I drive. It also balances hormonal system and relieves emotional eating habits, which is something that comes up occasionally. Mookaite increases self confidence, self worth, and helps with realizing your full potential. Red calcite increases energy and the willingness to experience life.

Before I left, I had to stop by this cute little pumpkin patch that was just so cute. I mean, I don't think it gets more fall than that! A cute little pumpkin patch in the city just the coolest thing.

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Took myself on a little Saturday date yesterday and spent way too long just looking at pumpkins. 🎃 l love fall! Can you tell? 🍂🍁

A post shared by Amanda Alvarado (@amandadalvarado) on Oct 28, 2018 at 6:57pm PDT

Spending a couple hours by myself and exploring this cute little spot in Atlanta was so much fun and I'll definitely do it again. If you've never taken a solo date, do it. Treat yourself. Explore a cute spot in your town. Treat yourself to dinner and wine at your favorite local restaurant. Take yourself to the spa. Just do something for you. Spend some time with yourself!

Have you ever taken yourself on a date?

x,
Amanda

Nobody likes that fall cold that somehow makes it way to many of us every single year.


Colds suck and even though you say, "oh, it is just a cold," that doesn't mean that it doesn't leave you feeling pretty terrible. I've had some pretty bad colds and colds that have turned into a more serious issue.

When the weather gets chilly, there is that time when it seems like everyone around you is sick, am I right? While there is no cure for the common cold, there are some things that you can do to help you feel better and even prevent catching it to begin with!

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I am all for a good home remedy. Yes, there are many times when a doctor and medicine is needed, but a doctor won't do anything if you've got a cold. There have been quite a few times when I've been sick for two weeks and I go to a doctor thinking I have something more serious that needs medication just to be told I haven't been sick long enough for it to be serious. Colds suck, so here are my sure fire ways to get back up and feeling better in no time!

Staying hydrated is so important. You should be drinking at least half your body weight in ounces of water every single day. So, if you weight 140 pounds, you should be drinking 70 ounces of water every day. Hydration is also key when you're sick. Drink lots of water (warm lemon water is great!) and some hot tea with lemon and local honey!

Take a break. Even if it is "just a cold," that doesn't mean that you don't need some extra rest. Go to bed earlier, take a power nap after class or work, and consider staying in while you're not feeling great.

Add some moisture to the air. I always get really congested when I've got a cold and I've found that a humidifier helps with that. If you don't have one, breathe in that steam from the hot water when you shower. It'll break up all that congestion.

Vitamin C is your friend. Taking vitamin C as soon as I feel the symptoms coming on really seems to  help and shorten the duration of my cold.

Keep your hands washed. Just do it. Wash your hands and keep hand sanitizer on you for those times when you're in a crunch.

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What other remedies to you swear by to help you beat that fall cold? Share it with us in the comments! Stay healthy!

x,
Amanda

2018 has gone by so fast, hasn't it?


We're nearing November. Two months of 2018 are left and what a year it has been. I started my first "real" job; the job that is the start of my career. My relationship with Jesus is stronger than ever. I've learned so many lessons. I've grown so much. I've had moments of complete bliss, but also some disappointing moments, too.

The biggest journey of 2018 has been my journey to being the best I can be. I've been on this personal growth journey for a few months now and while I believe that personal growth is never-ending, I do believe that I know myself better than I ever have before.

I recently read "Girl, Wash Your Face" by Rachel Hollis and when I heard about her "Last 90 Days" challenge, I was all in. This challenge is basically making these last 90 days of the year count and rather than starting to work on ourselves when the new year comes, it is about starting right now. In this challenge, there are five things to really focus on.

1. Get up an hour earlier than you normally do and use the time for yourself.
2. Workout for at least thirty minutes.
3. Drink half of your body weight in ounces of water each day.
4. Give up one food category you know you shouldn't be eating.
5. Write down ten things you're grateful for every single day.

Before starting this, I was getting up earlier, working out, and drinking the water. I decided to give up fast food and I've been writing down ten things every single day and let me tell you... focusing on gratitude and the good things in your life rather than the negative changes your entire mindset for the better.

Even though I started my personal-growth journey before doing Rachel's challenge, this challenge has given me a community that I didn't have before. I've got support of other strong individuals that are working towards their best, most fulfilling life. They decided to get a head start on their plans for the new year.

Make these last moments of 2018 count. Work on yourself. Be present. Read some books. Take lots of photos. Show up in the lives of your loved ones. Focus on gratitude. Spread joy with others. Be kind. Get enough sleep. Be good to your body. Take that risk. Spend less time on your phone. Smile. Be happy. Love yourself.

x,
Amanda

Yes, I'm a morning person.


I've always been one to wake up a little earlier than most people and actually enjoy it. There is just something about mornings that are so special to me.

Are there any studies that talk about the correlation between time of birth and people who love certain times of the day? I was born right before like 6 a.m., so I mean I don't know if that has anything to do with it. Maybe?

Anyway, despite enjoying mornings, that doesn't mean that the sound of an alarm doesn't trigger me or that I never wake up feeling super groggy. It happens, trust me, but because I do tend to wake up on the earlier side and enjoy mornings, I've learned how to wake up and get my day going in a way that puts me in the best mindset to have a productive and positive day.

My alarm goes off between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. using the SleepCycle app. I have talked about this app so many times here and I'll keep talking about it because this app is just that good. You'll never go back after using this. The app wakes you up during the lightest cycle of your sleep and it has a 30 minute window to do this. This is why I wake up between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.

When the alarm goes off, I get out of bed before I can convince myself to wake up at the last possible minute. I head to the bathroom where I do my skincare routine and brush my teeth, then I head back to my room.

Once in my room, I drink some water (I fill up my S'well bottle every night before I go to sleep and put it beside my bed). I make my bed, grab my Beats, and lay on my bed, and cover up with my throw blanket because I get cold. I'll put on something to meditate to (Spotify has a great meditation playlist!) and do that. Meditation is great because I'm able to give myself a few moments to be quiet and really just get in the right mindset for the day ahead.

I'll turn on the local news and then Good Morning America comes on after. I love catching up some news while getting ready for my day. For my job, I have to stay up to date on what's happening in the world and having Good Morning America on while I'm getting ready in the morning is one easy way to get a quick run down of current events.

My quiet time is also so important to me and my mornings. It has got to be my favorite thing I do every single morning. I'm currently going through the Lipstick Gospel Devotional from Stephanie May Wilson! I read, journal, and pray during this time. My faith is a big part of my life and just like meditating, this puts me in a good mindset for the rest of the day.

After my quiet time, I pull out my journal and write down 10 goals. These goals pretty much are the same every single, but I write them as if they have already happened. For example, instead of writing "I will live in New York City" or "I want to live in New York City," I would write, "I live in New York City." By essentially telling yourself that this has already happened, it puts you into action to make it happen. This is something relatively new that I've added to my morning routine and my mindset going into the day has benefitted from this! Writing down your top 10 goals also just remind you every single day what you're working for.

Now, it is workout time! I strive for 30 minutes and I've been using the Nike Training App and I love it because it tells me what I need to do each day. I don't have to worry about coming up with a plan for the day. The app does it for me. My only job is to get moving!

After the workout, I get ready for work. I do my hair, put on my sunscreen, pop on a little mascara, and get dressed. On Thursdays, I take more time doing my makeup because that's my filming day. Once I'm ready, I'll gather up my stuff and leave it by the door.

Every weekday morning, I eat a veggie egg scramble, half an avocado, half a banana with cinnamon, and an iced matcha latte. I drink the latte on my way to work and once I'm at work, around 10:30 a.m. or 11 a.m., I'll eat breakfast.

By 8:30 a.m., I'm out the door and headed to work.

Now, this morning routine, I do every day. Yes, I wake up at 6:30 a.m. most days. This is something new and surprisingly, not hard when I'm sticking to a routine. I won't set my alarm on the weekends, but I've been waking up around the same time every single day.

If you want to sleep in on the weekends, I recommend still doing your morning routine. Get up at least an hour before you normally would and focus on yourself. Even on the weekends, I meditate, do my quiet time, write down my goals, and get some sort of movement. Weekends are my rest days as far as workouts go, but that doesn't mean that I just sit around all day.

Start your day off right for a day filled with productivity and just an overall good mindset.

x,
Amanda

Yes, fall is my absolute favorite season.


I love fall and I love decorating my space. Sipping on an iced pumpkin spice latte while organizing, cleaning, and getting my space look super festive for fall is definitely one of my favorite things to do when fall hits. It is so therapeutic to me.

Even though I love getting my space festive, I know that it can get expensive, and trust me... ya girl here is on a budget. Some of my favorite shops to get decor on a budget are Nordstrom Rack, Home Goods, TJ Maxx, and Target. You can get super cute decor without breaking the bank.

One of the first things I like to do is incorporate some fall colors! Orange throw blankets and pillows are a must and quickly makes your space look fall and festive.

Pumpkins are a fall staple, so head over to your grocery store and pick up a few of those small pumpkins! They are inexpensive and can be displayed in creative ways! Pinterest is your BFF here.

You want your space to smell good always, but you can make your space smell like pumpkins, apples, and other fall scents. Candles are really popular and a great way to do that! I've been on the hunt for good, nontoxic candles. If you have any suggestions, let me know, please!

Here are some of my favorite fall decor items!

   

     
What are other ways you get fall festive?

x, Amanda

We're talking skin care today!

If you know me, you know that I absolutely love sleep.


Sleep is so important. Even when I was in college, I made sleep a priority. There were definitely nights that I stayed up late to get things done or hang out with friends, but not once did I pull an all-nighter to study or do an assignment.

Life gets busy, but getting at least seven hours of sleep every night should be a priority no matter what. Time-blocking, utilizing your calendar to create a schedule, and putting your phone away at a certain time every night are just a few things that you can do to help you get necessary rest each night.

I love quiet mornings and quiet nights. I need time to wind down each night. I'm not someone who can just get in bed and and fall asleep five minutes later. I need time to chill out, so I have a routine that I do every single night to ensure that I get enough sleep.

I'd say that my night starts at 8 p.m. Right before this, I'll floss and brush my teeth and use some mouthwash. I'll also watch some T.V. while I make sure everything is ready for the next day. Basically, I'll make sure that my day is all planned out, my room is clean, my Longchamp tote is packed for work the next day, and my lunch is made so all I have to do in the morning is pull it out of the fridge and put it in my lunchbox. I'm all about bringing your own lunch to work, but that's a whole other tangent.

My phone is set to automatically go on Do Not Disturb mode at 9 p.m., so that is when I put my phone away for the night. I'm still working on it, but I try not to pick up my phone after this time. Instead of scrolling through Instagram,  I get in bed and I'll read or listen to a book. I'm currently reading Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis and Fail Until You Don't by Bobby Bones. Great books. Highly recommend! Reading at night helps me wind down and I love reading books that educate and motivate me. I'm all about self-improvement and working daily to become better than I was yesterday. You feel?

I'll also do a short quiet-time before I go to bed. This is typically reading about a chapter in a book of the Bible. I'm currently reading Matthew. I spend more time in the mornings praying and reading the Bible, but I like to spend a couple minutes every night doing it, too.

By this time, it is just before 10 p.m. and this is my bedtime. My phone is my alarm and I've been using the app, Sleep Cycle, which I LOVE. I don't check my e-mail or social media. I just set my alarm and put my phone down. I have my Amazon Alexa set up to where when I tell her "Good Night," she'll play some soothing jazz for me about 30 minutes while I fall asleep. Totally recommend doing this!

What do your nights look like? What do you do to set yourself up for a good night's rest?

x,
Amanda