Why I Changed to Natural Cleaning Products

Who else actually loves cleaning?? Like I am talking Monica Geller style love of cleaning. Everything thinks I am crazy but nothing is more therapeutic or fulfilling to me than some good ole' fashion scrubbing and a nice clean house. My mom instilled a desire for cleanliness in me from a young age and I have always been a crazy clean freak.

Given that, I am always on the search for new and better cleaning products. Lately, I have been searching to make my cleaning products more natural and less harmful. After trying many products that simply do not work, I stumbled upon the Mrs. Meyers brand cleaning products. Game changer!

Once discovering these products, I began the search for the best deal on them because I am ever the bargain shopper... something else I learned from my momma. Enter the Grove Collaborative. Not only do they offer a huge range of natural products; they offer great prices, tons of deals and even auto shipments so your monthly cleaning supplies show up on your doorstep without even having to think about it!! It is fantastic anyone like me that like to clean often and uses things up quickly.

I am sharing my first shipment with you as well as my thoughts after using the items for a few weeks now.

Cleaning Supplies

Mrs. Meyers Hand Soap (Bluebell scent)
Oh this hand soap... fantastic. Very bubbly, smells fantastic and leaves your hands clean and soft. I am obsessed.

Mrs. Meyers Dish Soap (Lemon Verbena scent)
This is so great. It cleans the dishes SO well, smells great and I know that it is a natural product on the items I eat off. I always hated the idea of any residue that was harmful left on our eating utensils and with this, I do not have to worry.

Mrs. Meyers Multi-Surface Cleaner (Basil scent)
The basil scent may be my favorite. I have been using this cleaner all over my kitchen literally every day. Counters, stove top, stainless steel... I use it everywhere for a good, natural clean.

Method Anti-bac Bathroom Cleaner
This is not Mrs. Meyers but I gave it a shot anyway. I am so happy with it in my bathrooms! SO clean! and that spearmint smell is fantastic! Getting bacteria out of a bathroom without harsh chemicals is not easy but this cleaner does it.

Extras

Bubble Up Dish Brush Set
This little thing... omg. You just drop some soap into the bowl, add some warm water, push the brush down inside a few times and scrub-a-dub-dub- clean dishes! This was included in my first order for free so win-win!

Mrs. Meyers Candle (Geranium scent)
This candle smells SO good and is lasting forever! Solid candle purchase for sure.

Bobble water bottle
I absolutely love these!! I can have filtered water anywhere! Also, super eco-friendly. Another win-win.

Glass Spray Bottle 
This was another freebie... so far I have not decided what to use it for but it is always good to have an extra spray bottle laying around.


I am placing another order in a few weeks with a few repeats and a few new things to try. I have been so happy with everything I purchased as well as the fast shipping and excellent service. If you want to place your own order, use this link to get $10 off your first order!!

Happy natural cleaning!

Why the First Semester of Law School Does Not Define You

If you have been reading for a while, you may know that I struggled with my first semester of law school. If you have not been reading for a while, here's the cliff notes version: I entered law school having always been a top student, one of the smartest in my classes, on a full-tuition scholarship and having just graduated Magna Cum Laude with dual Bachelors degrees. I was ready to crush law school just like everything else. Suddenly, everything I thought I knew about school and studying didn't work and I was surrounded by people just as smart and often smarter than me. That was a big adjustment. I questioned myself and my choice to attend law school daily. Eventually, I got into the swing of things and it got easier. Then, I took law school exams... wow. They were unlike any exam I had ever completed and I struggled. A lot. No matter how hard I studied, it didn't seem to be enough and the format of the 4-hour exams was just draining. I squeaked by but my grades were nowhere near where I wanted them to be and I was confused, heartbroken and completely frustrated. I contemplated dropping out. I thought of back up plans if I couldn't finish law school. I cried to my parents and husband.

Finally, my wonderful mother got tired of my whining and moping and gave me the kick in the butt I needed- She informed me that it was okay to be upset and disappointed with myself. But she also said I had never not excelled at something I put my mind to in my entire life and it was about darn time I got knocked on my rear. She told me to stop whining and make a decision- I could either buckle down, work harder than ever before and prove to myself and my school that I could excel in law school the second semester. The other choice was dropping out and figuring out something else to do with my life. I took the first option.

I am happy to report that my hard work paid off- I re-engineered my study tactics, worked my butt off and was able to pull my GPA up 2 entire points after the second semester. I got a higher grade in every single class and I even got my first A in law school which led to me dancing down the hallway of my internship. I am eligible for Moot Court and moved up in the ranking. I have a wonderful internship and I am learning something every day. Overall, I am heading into my 2L year much more confident and set in my plan to finish law school and succeed in the legal field.

So why did I tell this story?? Because one semester does not define you. You can fail and fall flat on your back... it's okay. You can cry it out. Just pick yourself up, make some changes, buckle down and choose to improve. Never ever let one bad class or one bad semester break your dreams. I failed. I had the worst GPA of my life. I got my first C's. I took that failure and let it fuel me to never get those grades again and succeed. If I can do that, so can you!

Never give up after one tough break. You are smart enough, you are good enough and they would not have let you into law school if you couldn't do it. Re-engineer, redouble your efforts and attack it with a vengeance-fueled by all your frustrations. Work so hard you will never have grades that low again. Make success the only option. Whining and complaining will not change your grades- only hard work will do that. Do not give up after one bad semester.

The caveat to that is that it is okay to change directions. If after the first year you truly realize that law is not for you, then find something else. That is not giving up- that is making a way for yourself that is right for you. The law may not be for everyone and it is not what it seems from the outside looking in. There is no shame in choosing to go for a different career. You must do what's best for you.

I wish everyone finishing their first year the best of luck as grades come back- I hope the curve falls in your favor. For those gearing up for their first year of law school, prepare for a lot of hard work, exhaustion and the possibility of failure... but remember, you can always improve and that first semester does not define you. As my internship supervisor wisely told me, there are a million great lawyers out there making a difference and some never even got an A in law school. Grades do not define you. Keep your head above water- you can do it!!

Friday Five 5/26/17

Wow I have been slacking on this... life has just been busy. Finishing school, starting my internship, adjusting to working 9-5 every day... But I am ready to make blogging a priority again! Without further adieu, five things I am thinking about this Friday!

1. Poshmark
Why did I just now discover this?!? Designer clothes cheap? Yes please!! I have ordered a variety of items and I have been tickled to death with everything. I also have been doing a bit of closet cleaning and selling on there to get rid of things I just don't wear. It's awesome! Use this code to sign up after downloading the app - UQNBO

2. Harry Styles on the Late Late Show
I may have skipped out on the One Direction craze but I am 110% on board with the Harry Styles craze of late. I am obsessed with his new album, I can't wait to see him in Dunkirk and he is absolutely hilarious with James Corden... they should co-host all the time. I watched all of the segments today and died laughing.

3. V8 Energy Drinks
An attorney in our office got me hooked on these this week. They are a perfect little burst of energy for mid-afternoon. They are little fruit drinks with natural B12 energy. I have to have one in my lunch every day now!

4. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Yay for new episodes! I adore this show- it is so cute and so fun. I got hooked on the first season last summer and I have anxiously been awaiting the next season. If you are looking for a quick, fun binge watch- this is it!

5. Mrs. Meyers Cleaning Supplies
I just got a shipment of these (detailed post coming soon) and I am obsessed. The basil scent especially is amazing. I went on a major house cleaning spree after they arrived and It was so nice to clean without worrying about harsh chemicals yet still getting a good clean.


Happy Friday everyone! Enjoy the long weekend but do not forget the reason. Thank you to all service men and women, currently serving, retired or selflessly lost in service, who make this country safe and free. Memorial Day is a lot more than just a reason to have off work- do not forget that.

What to Wear in Law School

As I continue to reflect back upon 1L year, I am trying to remember any of the things I was concerned about prior to starting law school. Now that I have a year under my belt, I am going to try my best to blog about those concerns I had and hopefully clear it up for future law students!

Up first, what do you wear in law school? I, being the type A person that I am, was super concerned about whether or not people got dressed up every day or if it was just like undergraduate college full of oversized t-shirts and leggings. All my stress was for naught; I ended up being dressed perfectly acceptable for law school and my wardrobe was sufficient. Still, I am going to share the general wardrobe to help ease anyone who worries like I did.

An Easy Diet for a Young Professional

I will preface by saying I am dieting merely out of a personal effort to be a little more healthy and to eat less junk food in the wake of final exams where I ate like crap. It is not a lose weight diet but merely a more regimented way to stay on a healthy eating plan. Bikini season is just around the corner so this healthy diet will be paired with some exercise and hopefully, all that winter flab and finals week pizza will be gone. 

I have always been a healthy person blessed with a high metabolism. I have always been very active, growing up on a farm with endless work to do and riding horses daily my entire life. My family ate pretty healthily and I have never been one with a huge appetite so I have always been thin and trim and had zero concerns about my body. After starting law school and moving to a new city with only a small yard to work in and no horses to ride, suddenly all of my physical activity was cut out of my life and I spent all my time hunched over books or sitting in classrooms. Though I still ate healthily, took the stairs and did Yoga when time allowed, I could definitely tell a negative difference in my body and my overall fitness.

Now that school has ended for the year and the weather has gotten better, I have made a vow to get my fitness back under control. Besides the gym membership I will be purchasing in the next few days, I know a healthy diet is the best basis for a healthy body. I have done some research and devised an eating plan that will be simple enough to stick to as I start my internship and could work for most busy young professionals looking to trim up a bit and feel better about what they are putting in their body without breaking the bank or giving up enjoying food.

Breakfast

I will start my days with a whole bunch of coffee (non-negotiable) and one of a few varieties of filling, yummy and healthy breakfasts. I also take a variety of vitamins every morning including: Biotin, Magnesium, Vitamin D, Calcium, B12 and Vitamin E.

• Oatmeal with Fruit 
• Whole Wheat Toast with Peanut Butter
• A Fruit Smoothie
• Egg Sandwich (1 egg, 1 slice of cheese on an English muffin)

Lunch

I will be packing lunches to take to my internship so they need to be portable and easy enough to eat at the office. My lunches will include carrots and ranch, low-fat vanilla yogurt, whole wheat crackers and a variety of entrees. (oh and a cookie because I have the worlds biggest sweet tooth)

• Leftovers from previous dinners
• Baby Spinach Salad
• Turkey Sandwich on Whole Wheat Bread

Dinner

My husband is on a Gluten Free diet per doctor's orders so most of our dinners are Gluten Free. Because of this, they are all homemade and relatively healthy. I have a variety of go-to recipes and I am always looking for more. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Lasanaga
• Shredded Chicken Sandwiches
• Chicken and Rice Casserole
• Mongolian Beef Stirfry
• Shepherds Pie
• Grilled Chicken with a Vegetable side

Dessert

Did I mention my sweet tooth? It's rather persistent so I will need some sort of dessert in my life that still operates within the general realm of "not too unhealthy". 

• Cookies made with applesauce in place of butter
• Chocolate covered blueberries
• Dove Dark Chocolate Squares
• Chocolate Pudding

Snacks

I am a bit of a grazer so I always have to have some snacks available. This is usually how I end up eating junk so I am trying to be proactive and have some healthy snacks available. My goal is to limit to 2-3 snack breaks per day but we will see how that goes....

• Crackers and Laughing Cow Cheese
• Carrots 
• Celery
• Apples and Peanut butter
• Fruit Smoothies
• Yogurt 
• Granola bars 
• Trail Mix (nuts, cheerios, m&m's and raisins)

Well, friends, we will see how this diet fairs... fingers crossed my willpower is strong!