Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Fit Life Tea Fun

Fit Life Tea:

Their mission statement is: To inspire and enable healthy living and happiness throughout the world.

That is exactly what their company achieved.  Upon entering college, I found myself eating a multitude of microwave dinners, fast food; basically anything remotely easy or quick is what I would look too. Which unfortunately doesn't have a whole lot of healthy choices.

So when Fit Life Tea sent me their 14-Day Detox, I was more than ready to begin my mission on getting healthy and more alert again. I got a cute bottle in their package, along with a card of a quick twenty-minute exercise. The Tea itself was stored in an adorable bag which made me even more excited to try this tea. The instructions read to drink two cups a day (simple! I love tea!). I even squeezed in the twenty-minute exercise they recommended.

(Taken Day 1 of my Tea-Tox)

Fit Life Tea influenced me to eat healthier whether it be in a small way like eating one slice of pizza instead of four or in big ways like eating an apple instead of a candy bar. My mood improved as the days went on and I could feel the energy flowing through me. I was no longer sluggish during class, or out of energy as I walked up the stairs. I was still tired at times, but I had the energy to get through my day. 

My work out habits also increased in the two weeks of the program.  It didn't mean I went to the gym every day, but I found alternatives to a healthy lifestyle when I didn't have time to work out. Such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator to my dorm room or class room, walking to class instead of catching a ride from the carts... little things like that that make a huge difference. 

(Via Instagram: Thereallilycooper)

I learned throughout my journey on Fit Life Tea that it's important to take care of your mental health as well as physical. I am the type of person to help others and give others attention, and forget to focus on myself every once and a while. I realized that sometimes you just got to grab a book, pop in a bath bomb, turn up the Spotify, get your tea, and relax. The world will keep on turning, time keeps on going, but in those few moments of solitude all stress and worries go away, and you end up feeling more refreshed than ever before. 


The general idea people think of when someone says "healthy" is boring and bland foods.  But that is far from what is true. You choose how to make your healthy lifestyle accommodating to you and that includes choosing what to eat. You can have fun with healthy.  Go on Pinterest, look up recipes, get your grandmother recipes... etc. Eating doesn't have to be dull and bland.  One of my favorite things to do is have oatmeal in the morning and then decorate the bowl with different types of fruits (even a little sugar sometimes). 


An important factor I have realized is before you choose to change your lifestyle, you have to accept yourself as you are. No matter what size, you are beautiful. God made us in HIS image and crafted each and every one of us to perfection. Our self worth should not come from our appearance; it should come from God. 

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 
1 Peter 3:3-4
“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 
1 Samuel 16:7
“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.” 
Genesis 1:26,31


I can attest to the positive lifestyle that Fit Tea has created for me.  I am fighting the Freshmen 15 with success, exercising, loving my body as it is, and having fun in the meantime. I highly suggest ordering the two-week TeaTox today and to start on you exciting new journey to better yourself.  
For 10% off type in the code: LilyC15

Until next time!

Thursday, September 8, 2016

The Possibility of Somewhere Review

The Possibility of Somewhere
By: Julia Day

Together is somewhere they long to be.

Ash Gupta has a life full of possibility. His senior year is going exactly as he’s always wanted-- he's admired by his peers, enjoying his classes and getting the kind of grades that his wealthy, immigrant parents expect. There's only one obstacle in Ash's path: Eden Moore—the senior most likely to become class valedictorian. How could this unpopular, sharp-tongued girl from the wrong side of the tracks stand in his way?

All Eden's ever wanted was a way out. Her perfect GPA should be enough to guarantee her a free ride to college -- and an exit from her trailer-park existence for good. The last thing she needs is a bitter rivalry with Ash, who wants a prized scholarship for his own selfish reasons. Or so she thinks. . . When Eden ends up working with Ash on a class project, she discovers that the two have more in common than either of them could have imagined. They’re both in pursuit of a dream -- one that feels within reach thanks to their new connection. But what does the future hold for two passionate souls from totally different worlds?


I love contemporary reads so much.  There is just something about them that get's my blood pumping at the thought of reading them.  It was no different with this book.

Eden is a girl driven to escape the life her dad has planned for her and what she is expected to be.  She will do anything to achieve her goal, but she just wasn't expecting the dreadful four letter word: Love. 

Individually these characters are insecure, lonely, and unsure of themselves. But together? They compliment the best in each other.  It was amazing to see their animosity towards one another blossom into this infatuation in which they can't live without another.  That's the best kind of love stories in my opinion.

This book reflects what society tends to jump to when it comes to relationships, looks, or anything that is deemed, "different." Which is why I honestly loved the diversity and unique structure in which this story was shaped upon. I have never read anything quite like it and get by the last page I was deep in love with it.  

For a debut novel, the pages held deep thoughts and insights to love, school, and life with different incomes.  Great book to read for seniors before they go off to college, or freshman college students starting their new life.

4/5 Stars

Book Playlist:

Drive by: Oh Wonder
You Always Make Me Smile by: Kyle Andrews
Bruises by: Train
2 Broke Kids by: Ruth B
Back To You by: Twin Forks

(Many thanks to St. Martins Press for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review)

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Detached Review

Detached 
By: Christina Kilbourne 

Anna has always been so level-headed, so easy-going, so talented and funny. How could anyone have guessed she wanted to die?

Anna is not like other people. For one thing, she’s been an accomplished artist since she was a preschooler. For another, she’s always felt like she didn’t belong: not with other kids, not with her family, not in her body. It isn’t until her grandparents are killed in a tragic accident, however, that Anna starts to feel untethered. She begins to wonder what it would be like if she didn’t exist and the thought of escaping the aimless drifting is the only thing that brings her comfort.

When Anna overdoses on prescription pain killers the doctors realize she has been suffering from depression and start looking for a way to help her out of the desperate black hole she never thought she would escape. It’s then that rock bottom comes into sight and the journey back to normal begins.


Depression is an illness that my family has suffered from generations to generations.  That being said, I have always been weary of books that have that plot written in because I am very critical of how its portrayed.  It's not something that causes you to be sad, or a result of your parents grounding you.  It's an illness that infects your mind and turns even the brightest, most colorful days, into a dreary grey.

From the first page I absolutely fell into rhythm of this book.  Anna has what some people would say is the perfect life: two married parents who are well off, a great relationship with her brother, good grades, and a wonderful talent.  How could she be depressed?

Slowly through the pages you see the illness drive Anna deeper and deeper into this dark cloud, where the only way out in her mind is death.

I loved everything about this book from the beginning to the end.  It correctly and accurately shows depression and how you never know what is going in someone's head.  On the outside they could be happy and all smiles, but inside slowly dying.

I really connected with Anna because depression runs in my family so much, and I have been a victim of it's dark ways.  Maybe not driven to the point of suicide, but some days I have clouds of darkness too.

I suggest this book to everyone and anyone, it's important to understand depression and how it can change even the happiest of people to these shells of themselves. It was a beautiful read and will always remember it.

 September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. This year's theme is Connect, Communicate,‎ Care. I encourage you to be part of the Conversation. 

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 (available 24 hours everyday)