Category: books

book giveaway!

book giveaway.jpg

Check out our Instagram feed to enter to win a brand new copy of Power Your Happy by Lisa Sugar!  Contest starts Monday, March, 13, 2017, and continues through Wednesday, March 15, 2017.  The winner will be announced on Thursday, March 16, 2017, via the original contest post on the Juniper Lemons instagram page.

As mentioned here, I recently read Power Your Happy by Lisa Sugar and found it to be super motivating and inspiring. Lisa managed to self-create her very own dream job by founding POPSUGAR.  And perhaps you’ve also heard of ShopStyle and POPSUGAR Must Have?  Well those are all part of POPSUGAR Inc.  Pretty cool, huh?

In her book, Lisa describes how she went about figuring out what her dream job was, and then took the risks to create it. Her personal and business story is a light read that is sure to get you inspired and motivated! This book is the perfect read for lazy Sunday mornings, a local cafe, or airport layovers.

power-your-happy

Good luck!
xoxo
-ash

ashLeave a comment

3v3

Ash’s obsessions

3v3-11-30-16

Holding Horses Velvet Shirtdress.  Available in Mauve, Light Grey, and Green.  A versatile velvet dress that can also be worn belted as a tunic.  I ordered it in the grey and green, but nearly ended up with the mauve too.  I’m loving soft velvet this winter.

Hinge Drapey Pleat Back Sweater.  A simple cozy sweater in Ivory or Black.  The hem is a bit of a high-low and the pleating in the back gives it a nice shape.

For Love & Lemons Collette Midi Dress.  YASSS!  The copper color of this dress is great for all your holiday parties.  And of course its velvet.  Also available here in black.

Aj’s obsessions

Screen Shot 2016-11-29 at 4.49.16 PM.png

Va Va Leggings. I recently received these leggings and they have quickly become a favorite of mine. The fit and the detailing are amazing! You know how much I love a good pair of work out pants. Read more about the company and the lives they are touching around the world, in my post,  here. They have also launched their men’s line this week- I’ve already snagged my husband some shorts for Christmas!

Free People Arctic Blast Pullover. This is the perfect winter sweater. Oversized, a little bit of color- but not too much, and super cozy! I think we all need sweaters like this in our closet.

Sequin Leggings. It’s the holidays! Bust out some sequins! If there is ever a time of year or event that you can pull out your sequins, it’s NOW. Don’t be shy- get a great pair like this and pair it with an oversized black sweater or a silk black top for a classic yet fun look.

ashLeave a comment

glitz, glam, & velvet

Halloween is over and November is here- which means holiday music is already playing in the Starbucks line and Christmas decor is at Hobby Lobby! So, what I do to scratch that Christmas itch without dragging out my tree too earlier is… shop for all the holiday gatherings and parties I will be attending! Now is a great time to do it before everything is sold out. You’ll also grab a look that won’t be crazy popular during December that everyone will also end up wearing.

Asos is a favorite of mine for holiday wear. They have great, unique pieces that are reasonably priced so I don’t feel bad about maybe wearing it a handful of times. Here are my picks from their new party line.

First things first- it’s the holidays!

That means bust out the glitz, glam, sparkle, and velvet! Don’t be shy! You can get away with anything this time of year.

Dresses:

Screen Shot 2016-11-02 at 3.36.23 PM.png

1 | 2 | 3

4 | 5 | 6

7 | 8 | 9

#3 –  runs small. size up. #4- runs large. size down.

Tops:

Screen Shot 2016-11-02 at 3.39.54 PM.png

1 | 2 | 3

4 | 5 | 6

7 | 8 | 9

Pants/Skirts:

Screen Shot 2016-11-02 at 3.44.30 PM.png

1 | 2 | 3

4 | 5 | 6

7 | 8 | 9

Shoes/Accessories:

Screen Shot 2016-11-02 at 3.56.52 PM.png

1 | 2 | 3

4 | 5 | 6

7 | 8 | 9

happy shopping!

xox

aj

aj1 Comment

recent reads to get you moving

I got on a kick recently of any book that would get me motivated to move my butt. I was needing inspiration before starting my current marathon training- and man did I get it.

These books will get you excited about putting one foot in front of the other!

Born to Run | Christopher McDougall : Yes, that book. You’ve heard about it- well, yes, if you are a runner, or want to become a runner, it’s one of those you need to read.

Ultra Marathon Man | Dean Karnazes : This guy is ultra-inspiring. Makes you realize your body can do amazing things- it’s your mind you have to alter. After finishing this book I immediately bought his next one!

Run! | Dean Karnazes : This book chronicles his unbelievable running journeys and offers a glimpse into the mind of an ultra athlete – what pushes and motivates him.

My Life on the Run | Bart Yasso : I might fan-girl out if I ever meet this man. I once thought I saw him at the Walt Disney World Marathon and my sister can attest to my freak out. To my disappointment, it was not him. The man behind yasso 800’s – you have to read about him! He is no joke.

Eat & Run | Scott Jurek : Scott’s amazing story of his beginning to where he is now as well as how to properly fuel your body started to change my way of eating.

The Cool Impossible | Eric Orton : Eric talks about finding the joy in running again- like children do. That you can reawaken that. He discusses form, strength development, training etc It is incredible motivating and helps you to believe anything is within our reach!

Finding Ultra | Rich Roll : This is another man that I will fan-girl out when I finally get to meet him. My husband and I wanted to go to his Italy “camp” this October, but it overlapped with my marathon. This book finally got my husband on board with my plant-based eating. We are not vegan’s or vegetarian’s but we do try to eat a mostly plant based diet and definitely have seen the benefits. Rich Roll is incredibly inspiring in his story of his “dramatic transformation from out-of-shape mid-lifer to endurance machine in a matter of mere months.” He is amazing. One day, we will meet and do a run together- he just doesn’t know that yet!

happy reading!

 

xox

aj

ajLeave a comment

recent reads on money

As mentioned before, I spend 2 hours a day commuting, driving a stick-shift in traffic back and forth to work (ugggghhh… I know).  To make the drive tolerable and not feel like I am wasting life, I listen to audiobooks.  I prefer nonfiction because it really makes the drive feel like I’m multitasking in a positive way.  While I do love a good morning talk show with a juicy gossip roundup, 10+ hours of that a week and I can feel my brain turning to mush.

I’ve never been great, or even good really, with money; so over the last month I scanned iBooks and Amazon for audiobooks related to money and investing.  Out of the ones I have read and/or listened to, these stood out.

book snowball
The Snowball:  Warren Buffet and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder.  I recently opened an individual investment account and funded it with $4k to try and figure out how it works.  I knew vaguely that Warren Buffett was a pretty good investor, so for inspiration I downloaded The Snowball and it did not disappoint.

book total money makeover
The Total Money Makeover:  A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey.  I read this book almost 5 years ago, but felt it important to include here since it helped get me out of debt for good.  By my early 30s I had thrice gotten myself into significant credit card debt (well into 5 figures… oops :-/ ).  I managed to get myself out each time, but money stress sucks big.  The third time I found myself in debt I committed to making it my last.  On the recommendation of a close friend I read The Total Money Makeover and gave my money sitch a reboot.  While Dave gets a bit preachy, literally, in some of the pages, the book did what it promised.  I managed to pull myself out of debt within a year and I have been debt free ever since. WOOT!

book rich dad
Rich Dad Poor Dad:  What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not by Robert T. Kiyosaki.  In the book the author describes growing up with two dads with disparate views on wealth, his real dad and his best friend’s dad.  The book completely changed what I consider to be an “asset”.  For example, you may be able to claim your home and car as assets on a mortgage loan application, but they are not!

book the millionaire next door
The Millionaire Next Door:  The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko.  Not what I’d call a page-turner, this book is filled with statistics and acronyms and I probably would have put down if reading in hardcover.  If you can get through it though, it’s got some good insight on how to go from being a UAW (Under Accumulator of Wealth) to a PAW (Prodigious Accumulator of Wealth) and the benefits of getting there.  The book makes clear that when it comes to spending money the majority of millionaires are not keeping up with the Kardashians, or even the Joneses for that matter.  PAWs live below their means, no matter their incomes.
Get your financial $h!t together!  It’s worth it.  For realz.

xoxo

ash

 

 

 

ash1 Comment