Breakfast Smoothie Bowl

In my quest to be basic on a budget, I felt it imperative that I find a way to make my own smoothie bowls. 
I spent a good part of my day yesterday watching Youtube tutorials, trying to figure out how to get the perfect consistency. Now, you might like yours a bit thinner than I do, but I went for a thick and creamy banana smoothie bowl with some fun goodies on top.

You will need:
1/2 Cup Almond Milk (or any milk you prefer, really doesn't make a difference!)
1 Oikos Banana Cream Greek Yogurt
1 Frozen Banana
1 Scoop of Vanilla Vega Protein Powder
1/4 Cup of Crushed Ice 

Toppings:
This is up to you! Fresh fruit, Coconut Flakes, Seeds, Nuts, Granola, Chocolate Chips, go crazy! 
I topped my bowl with Kind Banana Nut Clusters, Chia Seeds, and Strawberries


Now that you have all the ingredients together, all you have to do is throw it in a blender! Yea... it's that easy! I have a Magic Bullet (Thanks to my awesome brother) and I think it works perfectly for something like this, because it's so easy to measure out how much you're making! 
If, while you're blending, you find that it is too thick, feel free to add a splash more milk and continue to blend until you get the consistency you want!  

Now decorate it, pour yourself a delicious cup of coffee, and take a cute pic for Instagram! Tag me @MessyAndThriving and let me know how you made it your own! Get creative! 
   

The Test Lab: Garnier Micellar Water

Hey Pals,

It's been a while since we entered the The Test Lab! I recently purchased the Garnier Micellar Water. Now that I've been using it for about a month- I wanted to give you my thoughts!

First of all- it's so easy to use. I usually pour some on to a cotton pad and apply it to my skin in circular motions starting with my eyes (because that's where the most gunk is!) The water really breaks down my mascara, and takes off the rest of my makeup easily. I'm usually done after wiping down with just two cotton rounds.

I really like this product because there really isn't much to it. There aren't a million chemicals, it's really light weight, and it's not harmful to my sensitive skin. It smells really clean, and it doesn't kill you if you accidentally get it into your eyes.

Here's the problem- it's winter. The air is freezing. My skin is already dry. This product- thought it claims to be hydrating, really dries out my skin. I had irritated dry patches after a week or so of using it. I had to really amp up my moisturizer routine after using this product which maybe isn't such a bad thing, but still I expected it to add to my moisturizing routine, not so drastically negate it.

Overall, I recommend this product. It's so easy to use, it is a great tool for those late nights when you feel like you just don't have it in you to take care of your skin, and it really is pretty natural. Just be careful if you have sensitive skin like I do, and make sure to moisturize daily!

First Week of Spring Semester Inspiration

Well hello pals.
The time is here. Spring semester is beginning! If you're like me, you're feeling excited, exhausted, stressed, and definitely behind on packing.
I'm here to tell you you're not alone! I'm sitting in my dorm right now, in my pajamas ready to head off to bed before starting my spring internship tomorrow. My winter break sailed by, I have so many things I didn't get to do, and my bank account is frighteningly low.
I am here to help you get through the first week struggle. Scroll down for some cute puppies, inspiring women, and quotes that will push you towards success.

 The first day sucks. Being away from family again takes its toll, but girl you got this! Keep your eye on the prize and look at this new semester as 4 months of opportunities. 

This cute little pup would be terribly upset if he knew you were feeling down in the dumps! Buck up and take on the day with a smile! (For the pups sake of course) 

So your first day wasn't so great? Don't stress! Tomorrow will come, full of new opportunities and new chances to do something incredible. 

This queen inspired little girls to be strong, and taught us all that being smart was something to be proud of! If Emma Watson could be a major movie star, an advocate for education and women's rights, AND graduate from Brown- you can get through today, I swear. 

Make today the day you start to fight for what you love, and do what brings you joy. 

Take time for yourself. Go for a drive, get yourself a delightful iced caramel latte with almond milk. Self care is so important. You don't have to be superwoman all the time! Take a nap, read a book,ease yourself back into the school routine. 

LEAVE F**K BOYS IN THE FALL SEMESTER. You have no time for them, this semester is the one where you find happiness in yourself.

Don't worry about other people. Seriously. Just do you. Make this semester about you and your own success! Don't compare yourself, don't stress about the competition, just be proud of yourself. Every day you do something remarkable, no matter how small. 

You got this. Breathe.
Happy Spring 2017. <3

My College Study Tips

Well hello friends!

As finals are quick approaching (*vomits*) I felt it necessary to share with you my favorite studying hacks. Though I'm not a huge fan, I do find myself cramming more than I'd like. It's inevitable when you have to juggle so many different classes and papers and tests oh my!

I've always kept the saying 'Cs Get Degrees' in the back of my brain because sometimes I find myself stressing out so much over some of the littlest things. It's so important to get good grades, and I'm not trying to tell you to slack off in school, but you really need to take a step back and breathe when you're having a panic attack over a 70 on a quiz that counts for 3% of your grade. Unless something truly tragic happens, you are going to graduate. If you're putting so much pressure on yourself to be perfect, you're going to miss out on some of the best moments in college that your parents wish they could go back to. It's all about balance. And hey if you have 4 tests in one day, and one comes back as a 75, don't throw a fit, and don't punish yourself. There's only so much you can do and so much your brain can tolerate! Take that 75 and use it to motivate you for the next test! 1 bad grade doesn't define you as a person, nor does it define your level of intelligence.

Okay now that I got that off my chest, I have a few actual tips and tricks for you when you're stuck cramming!

1. Write everything out. It's scientifically proven to help you retain information. When you write something in your own handwriting, a part of your brain is triggered that helps you remember the information during the test. When you prefer flashcards or full blown color coded study guides, it really helps to cement everything in your brain.

2. Speaking of color coding- it's a miracle. Seriously it is the best way to keep everything organized in your head, plus fun colors can actually motivate you to study! If the paper and the notes are fun, your brain will be tricked into thinking that the information is just as fun!

3. Social media is sometimes the leading cause of cramming. We begin to write a paper and then we quickly check facebook. Suddenly it's 2 hours later and you've found yourself looking at pins of cute baby otters on Pinterest. WHERE DID THE TIME GO?! Well I have your answer: www.selfcontrolapp.com It's only for Macs but it blocks sites like Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter for a set amount of time while you work!

4. If you're like me, you hate silence. Sometimes I find that silence is more distracting than noise! However I also catch myself stepping away from my work because my favorite song comes on, or I have trouble concentrating when I'm reading and have lyrics blasting at me. My suggestion is to switch to classical music. Just like classical symphonies help toddlers brains develop, it can really help you focus! It takes the place of your latest Spotify playlist, so you still have noise, but aren't as tempted to hop up and dance

5. Check with your school, probably in the library, for the Writing Intensive Tutors. They're students just like you, who have been recommended by professors to serve as 'writing specialists'. They can help you with grammar, help you figure out that weird sentence you just cant get to sound right, and they can help you with formatting and all that fun stuff! WITs have saved my life so many times. Sometimes it just takes a second pair of eyes to take your paper from a B to an A+

So what are some of your favorite study tips? Please share them here to help us all survive April & May!

xoxo, CourtneyBridget

Easter Outfit Ideas

Well hello there!
I wanted to post some inspiration for those of you celebrating Easter this weekend!
Easter is always weird for me because it's not quite spring weather here on Long Island, but there's no reason to bundle up, it's always right in the middle!
So I came up with 3 outfits: 2 casual and 1 more dressy for those of  you going to family parties or to church and such!
Let me know in the comments which is your favorite!

Cardigan: Lord & Taylor

Tank: Forever 21

Shorts: Charlotte Russe

Shoes: Jack Rogers 

Jeans: Old Navy 

Purple Flow Tank: Old Navy

Flats: Target

Bracelets: Francescas 

Dress: Lilly Pulitzer

Wedges: Top Moda

Necklace: Target

Bracelet: Francescas

xoxo, CourtneyBridget

What's in my Carry-On Bag

Well here I am on the plane, they have wifi on these things now, how insane is that?

So you may be planning your own spring break trip and thinking to yourself, well what should I have with me on the plane? Well fear not! I have all the answers…

First of all, my bag: I found this amazing bag from target, from the ‘Merona’ brand, and its literally a giant bucket. It holds everything! Be warned though, there are no pockets within the bag, so it really isn’t a purse, but it’s so great for travel, as long as you have a few small pouches to hold your smaller items like makeup, pens, and dare I say it, tampons.
I'll link a few bags down below that are similar to mine! 

So first of all, God forbid my luggage is ever stolen, I always have a bathing suit and a cover up with me in my carry-on, because though I may have no clean clothes, at least I can get in the pool!

Next I pack a small makeup bag with ‘emergency supplies’ like Advil, my anxiety medication, Band-Aids, a Tide-To-Go stick, a few bobby pins and hair ties. These are essentials that I really want to have on hand with me just in case anything happens.

Second, I take care of my small carry on liquids, everyone knows the quart size plastic bag rule so I won’t bore you all.

Next, I pack a few things to keep me busy while on the plane. I’m currently reading ‘7 Habits for Highly Effective People’, so I have that with me, my planner, and of course my laptop. I’m only flying to Florida, so I won’t really need much more than that, for a longer flight, I would probably bring a DVD, and a neck pillow/eye mask combo for a little nappy.

The last few things are pretty obvious, I always have my wallet, a small bag of pretzels, my chargers and sunglasses for when I’m greeted by that gorgeous Florida sun.

So where are you going this spring break? What are you bringing with you? Any tips or tricks?

Wherever you go, enjoy it!

Xoxo, CourtneyBridget 

Peach Couture Womens Fashion Water Resistant Large Zip Tote Shoulder Handbag Navy

Spring Break Essentials

Spring Break is SO CLOSE. We're gunna make it..It's almost here...Oh God.... I NEED SUNSHINE. 

With Spring Break approaching so quickly, I thought I'd share my list of my essentials when making my yearly pilgrimage to Florida for Spring Break. Some of these may be total 'Well DUH' products, but hey they're important to me so leave me alone.

Jack Rogers Hamptons Sandals. 

Fun Fact: I have never actually purchased Jack Rogers for retail. Last summer I was wondering around the different shops in my town and found them at a 2Nd Time Around, BRAND NEW. They were marked $40 and I was totally game, and then I find out they're hosting an event for college students to celebrate the end of finals. All I had to do was show them my school ID and I go 50% off..... I only paid $20 for a pair of brand new Jack Rogers. Thank you Lord Above and hallelujah.

These have become my absolute favorite sandals. They are so comfortable and so versatile! Not only can I wear them with a cute little dress, but I can also just throw them on with leggings and a button down and be totally comfy! I know they're expensive, trust me this gal is always on a tight budget (#College) but if you have some birthday money to spend, or magically find them in a 2Nd Time Around, BUY THEM.
Jack Rogers Women's Hamptons Sandal

Comfy Pajamas

My plan for Spring Break is to sleep from approximately 9pm to 8am every night. I know I am in fact a Grandma. But if I'm going to be doing all that sleeping in my big comfy hotel bed, then I better have some super soft comfy pajamas to go with it. I love this tank because its super soft, and flowy so I stay cool and breezy, and if I (God forbid) get a sunburn, it doesn't irritate it because it's so loose!

Namast'ay In Bed Tank Top

A Wonderful Book

I may not have the popular opinion here, but lordy I love a good book. I usually bring 2 just because with all that time on the plane, I'm bound to finish at least one! I just finished Amy Poehler's book Yes Please, and it's incredible. If you need a good vacation read I can't recommend it highly enough! This spring break, I'm bringing 'At The Water's Edge" by Sara Gruen. Water For Elephants was one of my favorite books and I am so excited to see what this one has in store. I haven't decided on my second choice, maybe y'all can help me out! What books have you fallen in love with lately?

At the Water's Edge: A Novel

A Cute Water Bottle

In the Florida heat, the number 2 thing you need, (behind sunscreen) is water. You have to stay hydrated when you're sweating so much! Plus water is just really good for your skin, why not try to look as glowy as possible so you can take super cute instas?.. So I firmly believe if you're going to be drinking water constantly, you need a super cute way to carry it around! 

Lilly Pulitzer Tumbler  

A Good Swimsuit

Okay, I know everyone wants to parade around in their tiny bikinis during spring break, but I've always felt like a flirty one piece is the way to go. You never have to worry about an asshole pulling your straps loose and causing a major wardrobe malfunction; you're more covered from the sun and are less likely to get a super painful under-boob burn, and you never have to worry about saggy bottoms because it's all attached! 

I found this one that I'm very tempted to get. Its a great example of how one piece bathing suits aren't just for our moms! Look at that cute little peephole! 

O'Neill Free Spirit Once Piece Swimsuit

Self Tanner

This is kind of like a pre-vacation necessity. I hate spending the first 2 days of vacation looking like the underbelly of a fish. Its a fact: Everyone looks better with a tan. Approximately 2 weeks before I leave, I start using Nivea Gradual Tanning Lotion. For the first week, I really only use it after every shower, so every other day. The week before I go HAM. I apply before bed every night to get that subtle golden color. This lotion actually smells awesome, and it doesn't leave me feeling like a carrot! 

NIVEA Sun-Kissed Radiance Gradual Tanner & Body Lotion, Fair to Medium Skin, 13.5 Ounce

Chapstick With SPF

Good Lord it hurts to get a sunburn on your lips. Your lips feel all crusty, and they sting no matter what you eat. UGH I wouldn't wish the pain on even my mortal enemy. (That's dramatic, I probably would) I love chapstick that smells so good you want to eat it, so find something that has a killer scent, and SPF of at least 30, and don't forget to reapply!

Hawaiian Tropic Tropical Lip Balm SPF 45+ Sunscreen


So where are y'all going this spring break?
xoxo, CourtneyBridget

January Clothing Haul!

Don't you just LOVE when you're mom comes to visit you at college for a 'girls day'? It always results in gossip, a lot of laughs, REAL food (not dining hall food, lord knows that chicken isn't real chicken. Why do they think they can fool us?) and shopping.
Lord how I love to shop.
Yesterday we discovered the Outlet Mall at Jersey Gardens, which is so huge, people were carrying their belongings in suitcases and giant carts. It was INCREDIBLE. Victorias Secret outlet, Ann Taylor LOFT outlet, Old Navy Outlet, Banana Republic Outlet, Gap Outlet, Target, like what more could I need!?
So yes, I may have gone a little overboard on what I purchased, but I thought I'd share it all with you for some fun inspiration!

Old Navy, 'Classic Button Down', $11.48 on clearance, red and purple plaid print!

Target Xhilleration Dress, $8.98 on clearance, gold & cream pattern

Ann Taylor LOFT Outlet, Purple & grey floral pattern tank, $23 on sale

Ann Taylor LOFT Outlet, Cotton terry cloth skirt, $6.78 on clearance

Ann Taylor LOFT Outlet, Grey silky tunic, $25 on sale

Target rainbow mirrored sunglasses $14//Old Navy Outlet winter socks $0.49 on clearance

Target Mossimo Black lace racer-back dress, $27.99

Let me know what your favorite items are this month!
xoxo, CourtneyBridget