The pig that ruined my life (in a good way).

It's been scientifically proven that pets improve your life 10000%. Well, I don't know if there's ever actually been a study on it, but I can tell you that it's definitely true.

If you're following me on Twitter, then you probably already know that last month I adopted Roger, a one year old guinea pig, from a local small animal rescue. He's definitely the cutest little piggo that I've ever met.



Roger has been a wonderful addition to my home because he constantly chirps happily, is always up for a snuggle, and has a stupidly cute little face that makes my heart flutter. The pictures above were taken when I first met Roger: on the left was the day we went to the foster mom's house to meet him, and on the right was the day we brought him home, just chillin with some parsley.

Surprisingly, Roger won't really even eat parsley now. He loves peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, and baby spinach. Occasionally he'll eat a carrot or some celery, but he won't go crazy over it. He is always down to munch on timothy hay though.



Roger is definitely the snuggliest piggo I've ever met. He will go out of his way to waddle off of my lap when we're hanging out together and go make himself comfortable in the mountain of throw pillows on my couch or in a blanket. He will stay there for hours and surprisingly won't have a bathroom accident. I guess he respects his surroundings too much when he's so comfortable and happy! (Which I'm thrilled with, too.)



He's also a very inquisitive little guy. He's always up for an adventure, whether it's a bit of floor time or climbing up from my lap onto my shoulder and on the top of the couch. I just love these pictures because he looks as happy as a clam.

Guinea pigs are definitely herd creatures, so I've been working on getting Roger a friend (because I won't always be home to snuggle him constantly). I'm currently in possession of another piggo, but the adoption isn't final yet because they might not bond with each other. I will share more about the second pig when I'm 100% sure that he'll be here to stay. In the meantime, I can give you a sneak peek...

Tell me about your pets below!

17 Little Things to Remind Yourself in 2017

Happy 2017, friends! Another year has passed and we've got another fresh slate ahead of us.

I have been thinking a lot about the resolutions I want to make for myself this year. I do have certain things that I want to accomplish by the end of this year (which will be another blog post entirely), but while flipping through an old journal I came across a list of reminders that I kept for my future self. And wow, does past me have some insight. (Thanks, Em!)

I wanted to share this list with you today in case you were struggling to come up with a way to improve yourself in 2017. I made a similar post previously titled 15 things to do in 2015, which went viral on Pinterest. I've got to be honest with you, though: I didn't do as many of them as I thought I would.

These are more manageable and relatable and applicable to real life... right here, right now. Not something you'll pin and then never look at again. ;)

I really hope you get as much out of these reminders as I did. Here we go!

17 Little Things to Remind Yourself in 2017

1. There are people who love you and care about you and they want to see you succeed.
   
   
2. Move around more. You don't have to go to the gym 7 days a week, but do a yoga or pilates video every once in a while and go on more walks. Your body was meant to move, not stay on the couch all day.
   
   
3. You'll feel better when you eat real food, so do that. Eat more vegetables (and make sure you're drinking enough water).
   
   
4. It feels really good to get rid of clutter and to donate old clothing/items you won't use.
   
   
5. Give yourself a set time to get ready for bed. Being on a schedule and having the structure of a routine feels good.
   
   
6. Stay on top of your laundry. Yes, really. Enjoy walking around all day in clean clothes and smelling like sunshine and fabric softener.
   
   
7. Do your best to stay organized, but don't let it stress you out. (You have a habit of having cluttered surfaces, Em. That's just not cute.)
   
   
8. Pamper yourself every so often. Do a face mask, paint your nails, exfoliate. Do something nice for your body. Go ahead - treat yo self.
   
   
9. Stressed, depressed, bored, or heartsick? Don't let it get to you. Things will always get better, even when it seems like it won't. Go put on some comfortable clothes and curl up with a good book or your favorite movie.
   
   
10. Go for a digital detox every once in a while (and give your eyes/brain a break).
    
    
11. Do something that makes you nervous. Sign up for that art class, call that friend you lost touch with in high school, go see a movie by yourself. Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
    
    
12. Writing things down makes them more concrete. Write down little goals for yourself and start working on them, and make a to-do list for the rest of the stuff you need to get done.
    
    
13. Make time to see your friends. Relationships outside of college are hard to keep up, so pick up that phone and make the first move. You'll be glad you did.
    
    
14. Explore a new hobby that you've had a passing interest in. (Mine is dance!)
    
    
15. Don't let your romantic relationships affect the rest of your friendships. Having supportive friendships can be just as fulfilling as having a romantic partner.
    
16. Sing your own song. Don't just go with the flow - really take the time to figure out what is important to you and fight for it.
    
    
17. You really are good enough. (Really.)

What reminders do you have for yourself in 2017?

7 Health Apps You NEED to Try

It's important to take care of yourself both physically and emotionally.

Common knowledge, yes. But how many of us actually take the time to think about our health? (Besides, you know, when you feel guilty about just polishing off a whole pizza/carton of ice cream/party sized bag of chips. Or when you go swimsuit shopping.)

However, being healthy doesn't just mean eating nutritious food and exercising regularly. Being healthy also includes taking care of your body in other ways: by practicing self care, checking in with your emotional health, and keeping your body in check.

How do you keep your body in check without exercising, you might ask? By paying attention to the things you might overlook on a daily basis.

Here are the apps that can help you get there.