Five Friday Faves

September 16, 2016

By the time you read this I'll be settling into our Chicago digs and prepping for the weekend ahead by purchasing all of the Pedialyte in the state of Illinois. As promised, I added a bit more diversity to my Five Friday Faves that have made this week a breeze!

Lancômes Artliners from left to right: chocolat, cuir, menthe, jade, saphir, azur, violet, amethyste — *Lanc*ô*mes Artliners from left to right: chocolat, cuir, menthe, jade, saphir, azur, violet, amethyste*

Lancôme Drama-Liqui-Pencil from left to right: (top row) soleil, lame, french lace, pluie, lumiere, embrasé, brûlée, paradis, minuit, parisian night, côte d'azur, (bottom) macaron, ampoulé, baroque

1. Lancôme's New #AllEyesOnYou Collection
Lancôme surprised me with an amazing collection of eyeliners (liquid + pencil), mascaras, eye shadows, and eye makeup remover. Usually, I won't use a product until after photographing them, but like a moth to a flame, I was immediately drawn to their black Drama-Liqui -Pencil and Artliner. It has since been used up (got this awesome gift a few months back, eek!) but I can honestly say their formulas are to die for. The pencils glide on so easily and provide an intense burst of color. As for the Artliner, the precision gave a new dimension to my cat eyes. Plus, the colors they launched are so fun to play with! Whichever shade you're digging I highly recommend scooping up one or three and adding it to your arsenal.

2. Lola 100% Cotton Tampons
Did you ever wonder, what exactly was in your tampon? I mean we care about the ingredients in our food and skincare products, but we don't really bat a lash when it comes to our feminine products. Then I started hearing about Lola and their organic cotton tampons early last year. Their manifesto and clean, modern design intrigued me, but their transparency and convenience made me a customer for life.

I know change can be scary but there's no harm in trying it out once. Use my code AOLMEDO1 for $5 off plus new customers get 1 free box on their 2+ box order.

3. Kylie Lip Kit in KoKo K (& its Dupes)
If we're being honest, I'm obsessed with Kylie and her lip kits. If I wasn't knee deep in bills I would probably buy her entire collection of colors. Instead, I gave myself a limit and bought the 22 + KoKo K shades. I'm obsessed with both but KoKo K has done wonders for me this summer. Part of me wants to stock up on the color but the other part is not about the $9 shipping fee. Instead, I headed over to my local drugstore and found dupes that are just as good if not better for a fraction of the price! Now, let us rejoice over these finds:

4. Dove Dry Spray
Are you surprised to see Dove's Dry Spray make the list yet again? It's such a timesaver and lifesaver when it comes to getting ready in the AM and at fitness studios. The spray goes on dry so there's no white residue left on clothes, has no alcohol in the ingredients so it's gentle on skin, and moisturizes your skin for a smoother feeling. Grab a few on your next shopping trip and pamper your underarms.

*Magnetic Eye Color Pencil from left to right: angel, spirit, chocolate*

5. NUDESTIX for Eyes
For mornings that I'm feeling a no-makeup makeup look, I've turned to NUDESTIX's complementary colors of nudes. The shades are subtle, chic, and effortless which is great for when I'm short on time. You won't need a primer either with these sticks since they won't smudge, crease or fade - aka great for all day wear. After a little more digging, I noticed the vegan line boasts a collection that is free of preservatives, parabens, and gluten. If you're into a no-fuss routine, give this line a look.

The Fourth Wall

September 9, 2016

Writing these monthly posts aren't easy. I never know how much to share or if I'm oversharing but it seems like the honesty is appreciated. So for those of you that reached out with positivity - thank you!

In case you missed it, I've spent the last twelve years attempting to qualify for the New York City Marathon. Minor things always got in the way, but this year I made the cut. And in two short months, I'll be running alongside thousands across the five boroughs. It gives me the chills thinking about it.

But lately, I've been finding solace in a few too many drinks every day. It's starting to turn into a habit I can't seem to shake. The summer season and the endless parties at first made the binges acceptable. Keyword: summer.

We're quickly approaching fall and my training has fallen by the wayside. The yearning I once had to hit the pavement and explore the neighborhood on two laced up sneakers has dissipated. It might be a passing mood, who knows.

I do know that I'd never forgive myself if I didn't at least try to fix this and instead continued to drown my mixed emotions in tequila sours. (It's also not wise to indulge in such lush ways so quickly after surgery - stress makes us do stupid things).

So with that being said, after I return from Chicago I'll be going sober.

Detoxing my body from alcohol and returning to a normal training schedule will hopefully get me back into the groove. Wish me luck.

Photo by Lydia Hudgens.

How I'm Tackling My Debt

September 7, 2016

If you read this post from August, you'll know that I acquired quite a few hospital bills and was held hostage by insurance co-pays. In a few weeks, I depleted my savings and started to understand how expensive and broken our healthcare system was. There were a few solid months when I had to put my student loans and credit card bills on hold, digging myself further into a hole of debt.

But debt is nothing new to me and not all debt is bad debt. If anything, my finance skills have matured so significantly in the last two years - I've impressed myself while growing my credit score and savings. I've been in this pit before (almost considered bankruptcy at age 20) and know firsthand that I'll be able to pick myself up again.

Instead of being silent about this, I'm outlining exactly how I'll tackle my debt in case it's helpful for others.

First, Tackle Your Debt:

List Out Your Debts
This activity makes me cringe the most, but it keeps me aware of who and how much I owe. This, in turn, becomes my running list when it's time to set goals or pay off bills. My list is arranged from the lowest to highest debt. I try to pay off the smaller debts first since it gives me more gratification and keeps me motivated.

Set Clear Goals
If my goals aren't written out with concrete deadlines or broken down into smaller actionable items, there's a 98% chance it won't get done. So instead, I write down a clear and concise goal and plan on how I'll tackle them. For example, instead of writing down "I want to get out of debt" I write, "I will bring all my credit cards down from 86% usage to 35% usage by the end of 2017 with $600 from every other pay cycle."

Manage Your Finances/Budget
At the end of every week, usually a Sunday, I sit down and open up Mint.com. I absolutely love the site and app. It's at-a-glance look at my finances, overspending alerts, and bill reminders have simplified money matters for me. From there, I'll see where I'm overspending and cut back on certain categories. Without fail, I always spend a little too much on Ubers and eating out.

Rainy Day Funds
Some may argue that one shouldn't concern themselves with a savings account and should instead put all their money towards paying off their biggest debt. I couldn't agree less. From firsthand experience, my savings account saved me crisis after crisis. Emergencies strike at the worst moments and money is crucial for some big decisions. With that being said, make the most of your money and sign up for a high-yield savings account. I'm a fan of Ally Bank.

Now, Increase Your Funds to Help Pay it Off:

Stop Throwing Away Money
This. Stop doing this. A few ways to do this: don't use ATMs not associated with your bank (ATM fees), pay your bills on time (late fees), don't spend your money when you don't have any (overdrawn fees), get rid of cards or banks that come with annual fees. Regardless of how big or small the charge is, it all adds up!

Loose Change Adds Up
Some folks swear by Acorn. I'm old fashion and use a piggy bank. At the end of every week, I dump my coins into an IRL piggy bank and once it's at the top I head over to my bank and transfer the new funds into my account. From there, it'll be used to pay off one of my bills or added to my savings.

Hustle Harder
I definitely get my hustle genes from my dad. Out of my core group of friends, I've had every single odd job out there and have absolutely no shame in letting people know that yes, I've walked dogs, cleaned apartments, and waited tables. In the long run, this extra source of income has helped me crush finance goals and allowed me the privilege to travel. A few of my favorite apps in securing side hustles include: Care.com, Pinata, and Jobble.

Clean Out Your Closet
I've written about this before so I won't go into too much detail. I will say that purging my closet is one of the easiest ways I can make a quick buck. Poshmark is by far my favorite reselling site, check it out and get $5 for signing up with my link - make sure you use this code PCISZ when prompted.

To hold myself accountable and because I like being honest with you guys here are my overall goals: decrease debt (credit, medical, and school) or at least get it under control by the end of 2017, rebuild my rainy day fund, and increase my credit score. I'll let you know how it's going from time to time :).

Wanna chat savings? You might like this post!