30X30 Fashion Challenge

I think the idea originated with Kendi Everyday, but you've probably heard of the 30x30 challenge. Well I decided to take it on for the next 30 days. Or technically 29 since I'm actually on Day 2! 

You can see my daily outfits by following me on Instagram. @brooklynjolley


What is the challenge?

You pick 30 items from your closet and then only wear those 30 items for 30 days by mixing and matching and coming up with new outfits.

You can kinda make it your own. I decided to not include accessories or shoes so that way I don't have to stress about not having matching shoes for each outfit. This challenge isn't about being stressed, just about having fun and learning to love your closet!

I'm also going to try and not repeat outfits!

Why am I doing this challenge?
-I want to appreciate my closet more.
-Express creativity in my dress
-Go one month without buying new clothes so I can save money

What did I choose?







I tried to include some pieces I wear a lot as well as some I don't. I also tried to include all my cardigans so I had lots of layering options! Layering is my jam.

Would you ever do a 30x30? Have you done one before?

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How To Dress Up a Casual Tee Shirt

During my trip to Disneyland last week my parents spoiled us and we stayed at the Disney's Grand Californian Hotel. To remember the trip I got a new tee shirt. Yesterday I wanted to be comfy but cute. So I decided to dress up my tee shirt!



Here's some easy ideas for dressing up a tee shirt...

-Add a statement necklace

-Pair it with a maxi skirt

-Wear lipstick

-Add a vest

-Wear skinny jeans and heels

-Add a blazer or cardigan

-Add a tulle skirt

-Wear a scarf

-Carry a show stopping bag


How would YOU dress up a t shirt?

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3 Tips to Stay Committed to a Healthy Lifestyle + a Daisy Cottage Cheese Recipe!

Committing to a healthy lifestyle isn't always easy, so today I'm sharing 3 tips to stay committed and a recipe as well!






1. Keep healthy foods in your fridge and you'll eat healthy foods!

If you're having a hard time avoiding the Oreos in the cupboard and the ice cream in the freezer, don't buy it! You won't even have to fight the temptation, you'll just have to pick something else to eat from your fridge full of delicious healthy food. A great option to keep in your fridge is Daisy Cottage Cheese!

2. Find a workout buddy

I've been wanting to join a yoga class for forever! I started going on Tuesday nights with my sister in law and boy does it motivate me. She's super fit so I always find myself pushing a little harder when I work out with her. We also use to meet up with friends at our local gym and it was always more fun to workout when there were friends there to chat with.

3. Make a plan

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Plan your workouts the night before, make a dinner meal schedule and stick to it. Write it down. Schedule it in your planner or iPhone. Anytime you plan something it will be more likely to happen. 


Living healthy isn't always easy. McDonald's on every corner, and endless television on Netflix make it really hard. But the good news is, you can pick up Daisy Cottage Cheese at your local grocery store! 




Daisy Cottage Cheese has just 90 calories and 13 grams of protein (26% of your daily value!) per 1/2-cup serving of 2% cottage cheese, you can enjoy low-fat, 100% natural cottage cheese without giving up the creamy, delicious taste.

Whether you’re enjoying it as a quick snack or making a healthy meal, Daisy Cottage Cheese will help keep you going throughout the day. 

100% pure, with no additives, preservatives, or added growth hormones it’s also an excellent source of protein, a good source of calcium, and gluten free. It doesn't have any of the additives or preservatives found in other leading brands. Boo yah!

The Lowfat Cottage Cheese only has 4 ingredients and Original Cottage Cheese only has 3! 

It's pretty easy to see why the Daisy Difference and Daisy Cottage Cheese can be a great help when trying to live a healthy lifestyle full of delicious food! There are lots of cottage cheese recipes out there but here's an easy recipe for Bananas & Cottage Cheese...

What You'll Need:
2-3 teaspoons honey
1 banana

Directions:
Place 1/2 cup 2% Lowfat Daisy Cottage Cheese in regular bowl.
Add 2-3 teaspoons honey.
Slice up banana.
Add banana to Cottage Cheese & honey.
Enjoy!
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Thanks to Daisy Brand for sponsoring today's discussion.
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20 Random Facts

Today I just wanted to share 20 random facts about myself so you can get to know me a little more. Feel free to take this idea and write your own list! I'd love to read it if you do so leave the link in the comments. 

1. I love ice cream and could eat it every single day!
2. I had half my thyroid removed 2 years ago
3. I got engaged to my husband 8 weeks after meeting him
4. I've probably been to Disneyland 30 times, I lost count around 20
5. My least favorite chore is vaccuuming
6. I love writing to do lists, and completing them!
7. I've been blogging since high school and have had 3 different blog names. (The Frog Princess, This Little Blonde, and A Little Too Jolley)
8. My first pet was a cat named Magic
9. I listen to Disney music when I'm feeling sad
10. My favorite Disney movie is Hercules
11. My celeb crush is Tom Welling or Chris Pine (don't worry, the husband is aware.)
12. My favorite holiday is the 4th of July. But I'm TERRIFIED of fireworks
13. Sometimes I really miss college and USU, but I don't miss dating AT ALL.
14. My least favorite holiday is probably Halloween (I just can't handle anything scary)
15. I love writing in my journal and try to write every Sunday
16. I hate anything with pumpkin in it but I love the smell
17. I know Diet Coke is bad for me but I don't intend on giving it up anytime soon
18. I used to hate dogs but now we have the cutest Maltese Shihzu Puppy
19. I named him Benson, a name I was saving for a child, but it just fit so I had to use it for my puppy. I've come a long way huh?
20. I always forget I'm 21 now, it just seems like such a big age. I still think I'm 19 like when I got married. 

Now it's your turn! If you don't want to write a blog post, just share a few random facts in the comments anyway!

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Wall it Graphics, An Industry First!

I've always been obsessed with holidays. It was one of the reasons I think I was originally so drawn to elementary education. Wear fuzzy holiday sweaters? It was my dream. Wear big dangly leprechaun earrings? So much fun. And paint tiny pumpkins for an activity with people who think that's cool? Yay!

But one of the hardest things about loving holidays so much is finding inexpensive, cute and low-maintenance decorations. Am I right? (You may all shake your head "yes")

So that's why I'm sharing Wall It Graphics with you! They have fun holiday themes, quotes, sports, religious quotes, kids wall decals, and they do custom work as well.

wall it graphics wall graphics graphic art vinyl lettering holiday decorations children rooms decorations
Add caption

What is Wall It Graphics? An industry first, they are removable, reusable wall decals that can be stuck and unstuck up to 40 times! That's a lot of Christmases! 

Easy to order, just pick, buy, and it's delivered to you.

wall it graphics wall graphics graphic art vinyl lettering holiday decorations children rooms decorations

I picked this Innkeeper graphic because it has always been one of my favorite Christmastime inspired quotes. But I also like this one, this one and this one for Christmas decor.

wall it graphics wall graphics graphic art vinyl lettering holiday decorations children rooms decorations

Since Halloween was so close, I couldn't resist this cute witch!

They are SO easy to apply and remove. Here's their video to show you how and a demonstration by moi as well. 


wall it graphics wall graphics graphic art vinyl lettering holiday decorations children rooms decorations

wall it graphics wall graphics graphic art vinyl lettering holiday decorations children rooms decorations

We've loved having the cute little witch keep us company all month long to celebrate Halloween, AND I love even more that my apartment feels a little more festive for a price that won't break the bank. Seriously, go check out Wall It Graphics, because it just might change the way you decorate for holidays. They're easy to find too! Just click on the link above or go to wallitgraphics.com and check out all that this amazing company has to offer.

wall it graphics wall graphics graphic art vinyl lettering holiday decorations children rooms decorations


Thanks to Wall It Graphics for sponsoring this post.

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I'm a Mormon



Read more about me and my beliefs by clicking the following link...


Happy Sunday!

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10 Things That Make Me Happy

I've decided to take a hint from my October Blog Post ideas and write a list of 10 things that make me happy. And since it's almost Thanksgiving time (Sorry to jump the gun all you Halloween lovers!) it's basically like writing a gratitude list.

1. My husband
2. Disneyland
3. Texts from my little brother
4. Reading the scriptures
5. Going to the temple
6. Cuddling with my cats (and new puppy!)
7. Self help books
8. Trying new hair products
9. Serving others
10. Donut Wednesday (The one day a week I let myself enjoy a donut, death by sugar)

What are 10 things YOU'RE grateful for?
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Disneyland Mythbusters!

Yo. I am Mindy from Best.Day.Ever. 

While Brooklyn is away, I've come out to play!

Like Brooklyn, I am an avid Disneyland goer! After the age of 10 or so, I lost track of how many times I had been and have never kept up since. I just know everyone should go as often as humanly possible! :)

So! For your enjoyment, while Brooklyn is in Disneyland, I thought I would debunk/confirm some of the Disneyland secrets that are floating around the internets! They just might change the way you Disneyland-it for-ever! 


1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Real skulls are used in the ride 

Fact. All of the skeletons and skulls you see on the ride are fake, except the one in above the bed. It is easy to tell the difference between the real one and all the fake ones. Apparently, back in the day, all of the skeletons were real because they were cheaper and easier to come by {how is that even possible?!}. But now that is the lone real skull left.



2. Toy Story Characters : They will fall if you yell,  "Andy is coming!"


False. This used to be true, however, kind of like when kids ask there parents, "Are we there yet?" it got old and they characters stopped dropping to the ground when the declaration was made. If you yell "Andy is coming" the characters will no longer drop. However {!!!!} the jury is still out on if you yell, "Bonnie is coming!" ;)

3. Haunted Mansion: If you ask the host/hostess in the front foyer and ask for death certificate, they will provide you with one.


False. In the past, if you were able to convince the host/hostess that you had died, they would provide you with a death certificate. But Disneyland decided they didn't want anyone to take anything home with the word "dead" on it, so the practice was discontinued. However, if you ask, they will happily tell you, "I am sure you will get one day!"

4. Mad Hatter Tea Cups: Not all the teacups are capable of spinning at the same speed

Fact. If you want the fastest tea cup, pick the purple one!


If you want a few more mythbusters, come join me over at Best.Day.Ever. for a few more!

Can't wait to see you!



10 Little-Known Disney Secrets

Hi folks! My name is Leah, and I blog over at The Ordinary Snowflake. On my blog, I write about life and books and food and fashion. And sometimes I just like to have a place to dump my amateur photography. Either way, it's always a good time. (Come say hi, let's be friends. You can also catch me on InstagramTwitter, and Bloglovin, if you're into any of that stuff.)

I'm super glad to be here filling in for Brooklyn while she's busy having fun at Disneyland. Are you jealous of her or what?

I love Disneyland. As a Southern California native, it's sort of like a second home to me. Over the years, I think I've been there literally hundreds of times, and I learn something new about it almost every time I go.

Me, my mom, and my sister-in-law on our most recent Disneyland visit. Yes, we all got minnie ears. No shame.

There's something so magical about Disneyland — even for someone like me, who actually hasn't seen most "classic" Disney movies. Really, the magic is in the details of the park, the little gems you have to carefully look and listen for to fully appreciate.

Here are some of my favorite little nuggets of knowledge about Disneyland (and California Adventure). Some of you hardcore Disneylanders might already know some of these, but hopefully you learn a thing or two.

1. The buildings on Main Street at Disneyland were constructed using "forced perspective" to appear bigger. Each story higher in a building uses smaller bricks, smaller windows, etc, giving the illusion of a taller building when standing at ground level! It's even used in the castle, which is only 77 feet tall.

source: wikipedia

2. Disneyland has underground tunnels throughout the park to allow the employees to get around without battling through the crowds. That's how the costumed characters can get to specific places without being stopped for photos all along the way.

3. In the line for Indiana Jones, there are symbols all over the walls and floor. And they're not just for looks! They're actually in a special code that can be translated into messages. When the ride first opened, employees would hand out translation cards, and I think you can still get one of these cards if you ask. Read all the translated messages here.

source: disgeek.com

4. If you don't mind getting split up from your group for a ride, going "single rider" is a little-known trick that can easily save you an hour or so on a busy day. Some rides that offer this are the Matterhorn, the Cars ride, and California Screamin'. I ALWAYS advantage of this! If you can't find the single rider entrance, just ask an employee.

5. Space Mountain is specially engineered to make you feel like you're going fast, even though the highest speed you'll ever reach is about 35mph. They use techniques like sudden turns and streams of air blowing at your face.

6. In the past there's been a problem with people flashing the camera for Splash Mountain photos. Yikes. It was so much of an issue that they hired someone just to filter through the photos so no one would see them! Now it's done automatically.

7. One of the skulls in the Pirates ride is from an actual human: the one on the bed in the treasure room. Not the skeleton looking at the magnifying glass — the skull and crossbones on the headboard. When the park first opened, supposedly all the skeletons were real — sourced from the UCLA medical center — because Walt just wasn't satisfied with the appearance of the fake ones. Creepy.

source: disneylandreport.blogspot.com

8. In the new Star Tours ride, one rider is secretly chosen to be the "rebel spy"; their picture is taken before the ride and shown as part of the story. They almost always choose someone who has a birthday or "First Visit" pin (which you can get from any employee in the park if you're celebrating). Also, make sure to face forward and wait to put your 3D glasses on until the ride starts — otherwise, they won't be able to take the picture.

9. There is an elite Disney club called Club 33. It's mainly for special industry sponsors, but individuals can join — provided they're willing to wait on the 14-year waiting list, pay $27,000 to be initiated, and give an additional $11,000 per year to maintain membership. The Club 33 lounge entrance is near the Blue Bayou at Disneyland, and it has lavish dining rooms, a full bar, and special decor including props and artifacts from Disney history. The door is painted a special color referred to as "noseeum green", which is thought to be a very minimally disruptive color to the human eye, making it more discreet. This color is also common throughout the park for things like trash cans and non-decorative buildings.

source: wikipedia

10. Similar to the famous fresh orange scent used in the ride Soarin' Over California, lots of places in Disneyland use discreet vents to release smells to park-goers.

For example, vanilla scent is used near the sweets shops on Main Street — who wants a fresh-baked cookie?

It's pretty crazy how much effort they put into all the little things, don't you think?

Even though I'm not a kid anymore, I still love the magic and charm of the Disneyland experience. Maybe it's just nostalgia, but I like to think it's something more than that.

For all you die-hard Disney fans — how many of these did you already know? What's your favorite thing about Disneyland?

Thanks, Brooklyn, for having me on the blog today, and I hope you're having an awesome time on your magical vacation!

My Favorite Disneyland Ride

I've been to Disneyland a LOT of times... and one of the biggest questions people ask me when they find out what a Disney fanatic I am is this...

What's your favorite ride?

It's such a hard question to answer, but I would probably say Indiana Jones! 


Runners up are Pirates of the Caribbean, Radiator Springs Racers, Tower of Terror and Haunted Mansion.

What's your favorite Disneyland ride?


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What to Wear to Disneyland

Planning what you wear each day may be a battle. It may be exciting, it may be stressful, it may take a long time. Now take that, and times it by 10. That's what it's like to plan what you are gonna wear to Disneyland. 



I start thinking about what I'm gonna wear weeks/months in advance to my Disney trip. And I try to to save money wherever possible by buying touristy items before I go. (Read this post about where to buy Mickey ears before your next trip!)

Here's the 3 outfits + 1 spare that I have planned for our trip.

DAY ONE:
Mickey tee (Walmart)
Black yoga pants (Walmart)

Comfort matters at Disneyland! Yoga pants are seriously my go-to for comfort and they don't get chafy if they get wet, and they dry quick in case you decide to ride Splash Mountain.


DAY TWO:
3/4 Sleeve Stripe Shirt (Target)
Leopard Scarf (Walmart)
Black Yoga Pants (From Day 1)

You will still want to look cute at Disneyland, because more than likely you will be taking lots of pictures. A lightweight scarf is the perfect way to do this.


DAY THREE:
Polka dot lightweight top (H&M)
Yoga Capris (Walmart)

The top is SO cute that it speaks for itself. I usually go sans jewelry at Disneyland and comfy cute outfits like this let me do that, plus it is a fabulous look with some Mickey ears added!


EXTRA OUTFIT:
Blue floral top (JC Penney)
White capsleeve (Downeast Basics)
Black yoga pants (From Day 3)

I like light flowy tops (Plus they hide the food baby from 3 days of eating like crap in the parks) but I also like the modesty that comes from the capsleeve. Again yoga pants. I wear nothing else in Disneyland, there's no reason to.

Packing an extra outfit is essential (unless you're okay buying an extra outfit at the park or your hotel) because you never know what could happen. You could get caught in a rainstorm and want to change, you could spill ketchup all down the front of you, you could rip your blouse on something, so I guess the worry wart in me considers it important to pack the extra outfit and to make it one I love just as much as the others.


OTHER ITEMS:
Tennis shoes (Walmart)
Hoodie (Old Navy)
Mickey Ears (Etsy)
Sunglasses (Dollar Tree)

You need a good light-weight jacket or coat to take with you, don't let the temperature during the day deceive you, it gets REALLY cold in the morning and evening. Also make sure you pack shoes that you KNOW are comfortable. For my honeymoon I wore cute sandals and regretted it so much, this time around I'm wearing my work out shoes because I know that they don't give me blisters and don't hurt my feet or rub in weird places.

Glasses are likely to get smashed. You're getting on and off rides and I guess I'm just not grown up enough to take care of my sunglasses, but I just buy mine from the Dollar Tree so if they get ruined, oh well, I'm only out $1. Mickey ears can be purchased in the park if you want them to hold more sentimental value, but you will also pay a lot more for ears IN the park.


What do you consider Disneyland outfit essentials? Did I miss anything??

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Why I Always Take Ziplock Baggies to Disneyland

Something random that I always make sure to pack in my bags for Disneyland is ziplock baggies.


1. Water Rides
Maybe I'm the only one, but I panic on water rides. I worry about my cell phone,pictures, the cash we happen to be carrying, and any other electronics that may be packed in our bags/pockets. It's comforting to be able to take the things that are not waterproof and put them in a ziplock bag and then focus on Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.

2. Snacks
We usually pick a hotel that has free breakfast, which means I usually try and grab a little extra and put it in a ziplock bag and throw it in the backpack. Whether it's a bagel or a muffin or fruit, it's nice to have a snack a few hours later to hold me over til lunch.

3. Keep Things From Leaking
Want to pack hand sanitizer, sunscreen or any other liquid item? We all know the feeling of lotion being blown across our entire purse and every individual content therein. The simple solution? Bag it. If you aren't gonna need it every 10 minutes just keep it in a baggy until you DO need it!

What is something you ALWAYS take with you to Disneyland?

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The Week of Disneyland!

This week I am heading out for Disneyland! So therefore I deem this week, the week of Disneyland!



In the meantime, you can check out some of my other favorite Disney posts...

Where to buy Mickey Ears for your Disneyland trip

4 Things First Timers Should Know About Disneyland

What I learned from the trolls from Frozen

What to do when you're dog tired at Disneyland



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7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess

A few days ago you may have read THIS POST. The mess of a blog post where I poured my heart out about my thoughts on fighting the need for excess. I talked about how I'd been thinking on the subject a lot lately and how God was guiding me. 

Last Monday on a whim, my husband and I went to the library and got ourselves library cards. I've been praying to the Lord a lot about these thoughts on excess and how I could use my feelings to change myself and in turn maybe change a little bit in this world. While browsing for books in the "religion" section I found this one... 7: an experiemental mutiny against excess by Jen Hatmaker. No doubt, the Lord led me to this book. 


She purposefully fasts from excess in 7 ways, giving each way a month (4 weeks) to settle in and be practiced. 

1. Clothes
2. Shopping
3. Waste
4. Food
5. Possessions
6. Media
7. Stress

Each month she sets goals, reads books, talks things over with her friends, gives things away and focuses on becoming more Christlike. She talks about taking care of the poor and needy, and praying for well, just about everyone. She inspired me. 

There is so much excess in my life. So much I don't need. So much buying and spending out of sheer habit and not out of need. I probably won't become a radical Mother Teresa overnight, but this book inspired me to evaluate my spending, of money and of my time. I want to BE more like the Savior, not just attend church, and attend to my calling and "read" my scriptures every night. I want the words of the scriptures to be more than words, I want them to be avenues to my personal "ah-hah" moments where I say, "I get it now God, I totally get it." 

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