My New Essential Oil Business Cards with Basic Invite!

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Thanks to Basic Invite for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.

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I just got back from Salt Lake City where I attended the 2018 DoTERRA Dream Convention and it was THE BEST. I cannot wait to share more about what I learned and all the exciting products that are launching next month! I’m a little bit freaking out about all the good things I get to share.

As my essential oils business has grown over the past few months (in November it will be 1 year!), one thing I’ve been thinking about is getting a separate business card made just for that. So when Basic Invite reached out to me to try out their custom business cards (and when I saw how adorable their designs and colors are!), I was floored.

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Now hear me out when I say that I am a true paper product girl. I really love a beautiful paper product and I’m not afraid to say that I’ve run the gamut, trying out lots of different paper companies over the years for different needs (look out, Dunder Mifflin). The Basic Invite business card designs are really sharp. When I sat down at my desk to order, I thought I might want to customize the color of my business cards, based on the fact that Basic Invite is one of the few paper product websites that allow customers almost unlimited color options with the instant previews online. Once you select a design, you can alter the color of each element on the card with over 180 different options so you can make sure the card is exactly how you like it. I played around with some different mint and turquoise shades for a while but found that I actually loved one of the pre-made designs with a pink marbled look and rose golf foil, so I went with that. And I love how it turned out! Ever since rose gold foil has become a thing in paper products, I hope there’s never a day in the future where it won’t be a thing.

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If you’re a little unsure of how your card will look and you need a little good faith policy, you can actually order a custom sample. This way you can see exactly how your card will look and how the paper will feel, before committing to a huge print job. I sort of had buyers remorse after I chose my card design, only because I really wanted to try out the plastic business cards as well! If that sounds intriguing to you, too, check out some of the samples at the bottom of this post. And maybe for the next round I will play around with that option because I honestly love my choice, too - how many business card designs are too many? #dontanswerthat

Since I mail a welcome package to each of my new essential oil customers, now I can include one of these beautiful cards in the package as well. Although we live in the digital age, I am still such a paper lover and I can’t resist a beautiful business card. Especially when I am the boss and I can choose pink and rose gold and totally get away with it!

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I’ll be honest with you. As I was ordering these cards a wonderful premonition of Christmas cards swept before my eyes, and I know, I know, IT’S TOO SOON. But all I can say is that I maybe peeked and Basic Invite has a darling suite of merry christmas cards options which also features the custom color option along with over 40 different colored envelope options. And an address capturing service and free recipient address printing on all Christmas card orders, which really takes the headache out of addressing all those holiday cards. So I am being a basic mom and making a plan for my card photo now. Because really, it is too soon? Don’t answer that either.

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I’m linking to a few of my favorite designs below, both in business cards and stationary. Right now Basic Invite is offering all of you 15% off with coupon code: 15FF51

Let me know if you decide to take advantage of this deal and try out some of the business cards (especially the clear ones!)

My Top 50 Favorite Songs to Workout to!

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I love having really upbeat music on my workout playlist. It helps me stay amped up and high-energy while I am moving! I shared in this post about the workout I’ve been doing the past few months which I am still loving. And even though I was longing for a pair of these Beats By Dre, I found the cheapest knock off ever in the dollar section at Target (they’re gone now, but the brand was Vivitar), and they have been doing the trick for me. So here’s the honest truth… when it comes to working out, I would be nothing without my playlist, ha! These songs keep me moving! I keep adding songs to this list, and oftentimes I will remove songs when they just don’t “do it” for me anymore. I love how on Spotify you can share songs and playlists and even follow others’ playlists!

Please keep in mind that some of these songs have explicit lyrics, so if you are young I would recommend searching for clean & edited versions - most of these versions are clean, because I like to keep things pretty PG here. But not every single song would be considered PG, so just use your discretion and friends, don’t leave this playlist on around your kids!

A playlist featuring The Chainsmokers, Ed Sheeran, Zookeepers, and others

I love hearing about other songs that people like to work out to! Leave a comment with more recommendations if you have them! xx

My Thoughts on the Postpartum Body and my Fave Workout App.

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So I’m not one of those girls who has a baby, sneezes twice, and immediately loses all the baby weight. My body lovvvves the extra lbs it earned in my pregnancies, and always wants to hold on for dear life to those cherished extras (called love handles for a reason, ladies.)

I’ve truly accepted that I'm never going to look the same as I did before having babies. And I don’t want to or need to. I’m proud that I was able to carry these rather giant babies inside of me, and even though I wince a bit when I see the stretch marks on my belly, the extra skin, the cellulite, ALL THE THINGS, I am trying to re-train how I think about it, because those marks are all part of the precious map my body has journeyed in this season of parenthood. I'm not supposed to look like I'm 18 anymore. And I'm good with that.

All that being said, I am doing my best to keep up with my boys (because they are freakishly strong for being so young), and I do care about how I look (sue me, but I do), so I’ve been working working working on losing the baby weight. I still have a few stubborn lbs that are hanging on for dear life and sure, I could probably starve them off but gosh, that's just not interesting to me. Question for the universe- is it called baby weight if it’s been more than a year? DON’T ANSWER THAT.

This summer I have been disciplined without being particularly militant in my consistency (because there were mojitos to drink and pools to be purveyed), but I have prioritized getting myself to the gym at least 2-3x per week and taking care of this body of mine. It’s up to me to take care of this temple - not my husband, not my kids, not my friends. It’s my job to take care of me so I can live long and prosper and hang out with my great great grandkids when I’ve got good, deep wrinkles and quarters to fill their pockets with. I'm going to be such a weirdo fun granny, can't wait.

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But I'll be honest. I can't always get to the gym. And exercising with my kids is hard. I still do it, because that just life when you're a mom - you have to figure out ways to make it work. So maybe it's not the best work out of my life when I take them on a jog with me (we have to stop A LOT - because they want to run, pick up pebbles, play with bugs, etc.) but it's better than not trying at all. And that's where I'm at. I try my best. However, I've also been using and loving the Sweat app because it’s reminded me of all the exercises that I should *know* to do, but never seem to remember when I’m at the gym on my own. I've done the BBG program and I am currently re-doing it because I want to get stronger and more consistent with it before I move on to the next program (which is BBG Power and it looks hard!) And by the way, this isn’t sponsored or anything, I’m just letting you know that this program has been one of the main things that has really helped me develop a discipline and see ever so small, but present, results. And no one can take that victory away!

If you’re in a similar life stage as me, with little people gathered round your ankles at any given time of the day, I’m just letting you know that you’re not alone! And what works for me, may not work for you at all, but keep trying things that make you happy, that propels you forward, that makes you proud of what you’re working toward! You are so beautiful, and all your intention and effort matters. Because someone has to dole out the quarters 75 years from now. And with a little luck and a lot of hard work and positivity, that’s gonna be ME.

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Outfit Details:
Look 1: Yandy Sports Bra c/o (similar), Yandy Leggings c/o, Nike Flex Sneakers

Look 2: Yandy Tank c/o, Yandy Leggings c/o, Nike Flex Sneakers

I'd love to hear from you mamas - what workouts have worked for you in your postpartum journey?

Favorite Summer Posts!

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Hello friends! I hope your Labor Day weekend was waaaaaayy better than mine! No seriously though, if you hang out with me on Instagram, you know that this past weekend just wasn't the cup of tea it should have been for me and my people. It's fine, we're fine. I'm demanding that the Universe give me a do over (I'M LOOKING AT YOU, COLUMBUS DAY WEEKEND).

But before I derail my own self here, let me just say that I'm popping in to share this summer's most popular posts! There were so many sweet memories I got to make with my family this summer, and I am so grateful for this space where I get to share a lot of them with you! There are also some fun recipes and DIYs and all that good stuff, so perhaps if you missed something, this will give you a peek at some of this summer's highlights!

Some Family Things.

Some Dress Up Things:

Some Travel Things.

Some DIY Things.

Which of these posts were your favorites? What would you like to see more of in the coming months?

I am so excited for Fall because it's just TIME. I have lots of fun things in store for this blog over the next few months. I never ever run out of ideas for things to share here (I simply run out of time to make it all happen! #momlife) - recipes, travel itineraries, my favorite (and most worn!) fall clothing, all kinds of essential oil DIYs and of course, some more green beauty goodness. Soooo many good things to share. I heart you all and I heart you, Fall.

So long to you Summer. I'll be waiting for you again in March when I'm sick of sweaters, I promise.

P.S. - My pink hair from the top pic was from the beginning of the summer and only lasted a weekend, but it was the BEST weekend! The temporary pink was from the Kristin Ess Rose Gold Temporary Tint and it's not really supposed to work on brunettes but I willed it to work on my bleached ends and perhaps left it in a whole lot longer than I was supposed to, so it worked out. Now I'm thinking of going back to super dark hair but we shall see... gosh, Fall makes me want to turn everything burgundy!!

The Llama Dress.

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Details:

Llama dress (30% off this weekend!), Target flats, Warby Parker "Louise" glasses, Amazon handbag, Stella & Dot Covet letter necklace, hand-made earrings from a shop in Santa Barbara (similar here and here!), Axiology lipstick in "Bonafide"

I kind of flipped when I was browsing after my bronzing appointment and saw this dress hanging on the rack at Raw Bronzing Studio. Most people don't know that Raw carries an incredible collection of unique clothing, chic home goods and boho accessories, and I love shopping there because it feels like an island oasis. This dress was a must-grab, because I think it will be a great fall transitional piece. This is coming from the girl that is trying, oh so trying, to wrap my head around putting together a fall capsule wardrobe. I'll keep you posted if I can get it together ;) If you are local to me, don't forget to use the code OYKRISTEN when you visit Raw at the southside location - you can score 25% off your first full-body organic spray tan! But back to this dress - I am in love. Plus, every time I walk, I feel like the little llamas on the skirt are dancing right along there with me. Bonus points in my book if your clothes dance.

Stevie and I went on a little date night to shop for some antiques and try out a new-to-us Italian restaurant, and he snapped these photos really quickly outside of a cool vintage shop. I have to mention that I love my Warby Parker Louise glasses in the Rosewater shade - I've had them for a few years and miiiight just be ready for another color! If you haven't tried it before, their Home Try On program is so easy and wonderful to use. I might be doing it again this fall because I really love these lenses and LOVE the prices. I've been a glasses wearer since I was in 4th grade, so I've had lots of experience over the years wearing glasses and contacts - this has been my favorite pair ever!

Unfortunately we didn't find any antiques that we agreed on because our styles could not be more different, but I think we came to some good conclusions about the direction we are moving in! I am having so much fun doing some home decor makeovers and I can't wait to share the results with you all super soon!

Happy Labor Day weekend to you! Stay safe friends!

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