meganaperez

Every Plate Review

Published on April 20, 2019April 20, 2019 by meganaperezLeave a comment

**I am not being paid to write this post at all. This is a service that we have been using for the past few weeks. I have had a couple people ask me to give my honest opinion about it because they were interested in using this service, so that’s what this is.**

I used to love cooking. I used to love coming up with these different ideas for meals and I took the time to really try and create some great dishes. But once I got married, that all changed. When you’re working full-time and now have a husband and house to care for, that passion for me has really died down. Don’t get me wrong, I still love to cook but the creativity just isn’t’ there anymore. And it’s not anyone’s fault, I’m just tired. We work in ministry, which means this isn’t your typical 9-5 Monday through Friday job. Sometimes it can be a 24/7 thing. Granted, we really love what we do, but it does take a lot out of me, especially now that I’m pregnant.

After my first trimester, I told my husband that we would need to try a meal service again. We’ve used Hello Fresh in the past and loved it, but it does get expensive. While searching one day, I came across Every Plate. What drew me to Every Plate, honestly, was the price. For a family of 2 getting 3 meals per week, we spend $29.95. To me, that’s a great deal. Especially considering that is now 3 days a week that I do no have to think about what to make for dinner.

We’ve been receiving weekly boxes from Every Plate for 3 weeks now. We’re currently on our 4th week. So far, we have loved the recipes that they offer. Everything has been super easy to make. The instruction cards go over everything you will need for that particular recipe as well as any extra stuff you may need, like butter or olive oil. We’ve really loved having this delivered to us every week because we know 1. We don’t have to worry about meals for 3 days and 2. We know the recipes are going to be good.

Obtaining a meal service is different for everyone. For us, with our crazy busy schedule it’s been a life saver. But price is always something that I’m conscious of. We have tried Hello Fresh in the past and have also loved that service. But financially, it didn’t work for us to continue. Every Plate is a great budget friendly option for those who want to try a meal service but don’t want to spend a ton of money every week on one. Because the cost is lower, you don’t get as many meal choices per week than say with Hello Fresh. But for me, it’s not a big deal. I can always mix up our meals on the other 4 days a week that I still have to cook. If you’re interested in trying this meal service, I would definitely suggest it!

If you’ve tried a meal service in the past, let me know which one below! I’d love to hear about all the other options out there!

– m

It’s A…..

Published on March 14, 2019March 14, 2019 by meganaperezLeave a comment

So, as most of you probably know by now, we are having a baby GIRL!! I still can’t believe it. For some time, my husband and I thought we were having a boy. We were fully convinced. About two days before my reveal I changed my mind and thought it was a girl. But I mean, really, you can’t really know until you see the sonogram picture. We were so surprised and happy. We have been so blessed!

I wanted to share some pictures from that day to just show you how emotional it was for us. I’m telling you, I’ve never seen my husband jump so high before ever! Even when he’s playing basketball! Can you tell he was excited?! Lol.

Of course, I’m beyond excited too. I mean I feel like girls are just so fun! So many cute outfits and things you can do together. I can’t wait! We do have a first name picked out, but we haven’t decided on a middle name. I might share it on the blog, but it probably won’t be until we know for sure what her name will be.

My amazing friend through our Gender Reveal and my awesome sis-in-law took our photos. My friend definitely tricked us that day though! She initially told us she put the reveal inside of a cake. So my husband and I started to cut the cake and pulled out the slice to see what it was and it was just vanilla icing! Let me tell you, as he was cutting that slice of cake my hands were sweating and my heart was pounding! Then to see it was a joke! Ugh! My heart dropped! Then she came out with a balloon and a pin. That was the scariest thing ever too because I was afraid it was going to pop in my face! You can kind of see that in the pictures. But it was the best day ever, finding out that I’m having a daughter! I still can’t believe it.

BabyPerez-98 BabyPerez-103 BabyPerez-109 BabyPerez-110 BabyPerez-111

That night, as I was lying in bed, all I could do was thank God. This whole pregnancy has been amazing. Yes, it hasn’t been the most comfortable at moments but to know that I’m bringing a child into this world is really just a blessing from God. I can’t wait to keep sharing more from my pregnancy journey into my motherhood journey!

xoxo,

Photos done by: Elsie Calo

Top from: Motherhood Maternity (Currently on sale)

Jacket from: Old Navy (Currently on sale)

Jeans: Old Navy (Currently on sale)

Staying Organized!

Published on March 7, 2019March 4, 2019 by meganaperezLeave a comment

As a Worship Director, I have to stay organized and on top of things. Not just for my own sanity but for my team. Our worship team consists of college students and adults who work full-time jobs and have families. If I’m not organized, it affects everyone. As our church is also growing, it’s important that I remain organized for the sake of our pastoral staff as well. So that everyone is in the know of what is happening in each department that we run.

My husband and I are Co-Worship Directors at our current church. I mainly focus on all the admin work for the department while he focuses on the music side of things. I take care of the scheduling of our teams, our song selections for the month, our department budget, and some more. I also take care of the social media account for our church, which is a work in progress at the moment, our churches app and our website. It’s a lot of work but it helps me stay busy during the day. I’m working on updating a lot of it, but it might take a little while.

As someone who loves to stay organized, I love to create different templates to help me stay organized. Right now, we use Planning Center to help us schedule our teams and what not, but before anything goes into Planning Center, I created a monthly template that I use to write out what the month will look like scheduling and song wise. Doing this help me to get my ideas down on paper and be able to go over everything with my husband before anyone gets scheduled. I don’t know about you but I’m the type of person that loves to write things down. There is something about a piece of paper and a pencil that just helps me get my thoughts out. I love computers but sometimes writing things out is better for me.

Below I’ve given a screen shot of what I use to plan our teams for the month. This has really helped me and my team to on top of what we have going on. If you would like a PDF copy of this template, simply leave a comment with your email and I will send it out to you! I have different templates for our weekend services and our midweek services. Let me know which you would prefer!

Schedule Template - Worship

What are your favorite tips/tricks for staying organized in ministry?? Leave a comment below!

The Daily Grace Co – Devotional Reviews

Published on March 4, 2019 by meganaperezLeave a comment

Okay so some time ago I saw an Instagram post from The Daily Grace Co about a sale they were having on their devotionals and decided to purchase some. I’m ALWAYS on the hunt for a good devotional. I love learning more about God’s Word in different ways and from different people. I had heard of The Daily Grace Co in the past and figured I would make the purchase and check it out for myself!

I purchased the following devotionals:

His Love Never Fails – A study on the book of Hosea
How To Study The Bible
Freedom & Grace – A study on the book of Galatians
He Is More Than Enough – A study on the book of Hebrews
Proverbs – The path of wisdom

So far, I’ve honestly loved them. If you are trying to get into a habit of adding a devotional time to your day, this is a great way to start. These studies are easy to digest and easy to follow along with. They have a great layout in their books with gorgeous photos to go along with each study. I really loved that each study isn’t crazy long so it’s not intimidating at all. They offer a wide variety of topics on their website in their bible studies. They also offer other products that are super cute, like home décor, bibles and verse cards.

I would definitely suggest checking them out! I know that you will be able to find something for whatever stage you’re at in your faith journey.

What are some of your favorite devotionals from other companies/authors? Let me know below!

My Pregnancy Journey So Far

Published on February 18, 2019February 18, 2019 by meganaperezLeave a comment

So as of today (2.17.19) I’m 17 weeks pregnant. Which doesn’t seem that far along but it’s definitely far along enough for me to notice changes in my body. Which, honestly, has been the hard part for me. Prior to becoming pregnant, I had already gained close to 30 pounds in about 3.5 years. I was previously on birth control, which was the main reason I gained so much weight. It was so hard for me to lose weight while on birth control that I actually stopped trying. I finally made the decision to get off birth control because my husband and I were ready to start our family. I figured that as long as I’m watching what I’m eating (I normally eat very healthy anyways) that I can focus on really losing weight after the baby.

With all of that being said, fast forward to today, and I am currently growing a tiny human being and am gaining more weight. As I’ve been seeing my body change, I’ve had to consistently encourage myself and tell myself that it’s okay. This is the first time I’m going through this so I don’t know what to expect with the body changes. I mean my stomach is getting bigger and harder, my boobs have gotten bigger and I’m not really sure I like that, and I think I’m retaining water. I know that more changes are coming and soon I’m sure. Which is okay. I think the more I talk about it the more I can accept everything that is happening. Don’t get me wrong, I’m beyond excited to be pregnant with our first child. This is something I’ve been wanting for the last year. It’s just so weird to see my body changing this way.

Every day I look at myself, I’m reminded of what a miracle life is. It’s so crazy to think about how God created the female body with the ability to create life like this. It’s such an amazing experience. As crazy as it can be, it’s so worth it.

My first trimester was not easy. Granted it may not have been as bad as what other women experience but it was still hard for me. I was consistently nauseas and not able to throw up. Which I would have rather done just to get rid of that feeling. I was so exhausted all I could do when I got home from work was lay on the couch for a few hours then go to bed. All I could eat was scrambled eggs and toast. So much so that after 2.5 weeks of that, I literally couldn’t stand even looking at eggs. That lasted for about 3 weeks. I started to feel really about the fact that I could barely eat. I started to feel guilty, like I wasn’t taking care of myself or my baby well enough. When I went to the doctor and explained what was going on, she basically said, “Right now, you’re just eating to survive. Eat what you can. This will pass.” Once I heard her say that, it was light a weight was lifted off my shoulders.

Now that I’m in my second trimester, my appetite is back fully and my energy is somewhat back. I’ve concluded that I will probably be tired for the next 18 years now so I’ve come to terms with it already.

For those women who may have just found out they’re pregnant, don’t be scared. You got this. Our bodies were made for this. We’re strong and we can do this together!

What is your favorite part of pregnancy so far? Let me know in the comments below!

(Shirt pictured above from Confident Motherhood. Shop here!)

Simple Style

Published on July 29, 2018July 30, 2018 by meganaperezLeave a comment

I’ve noticed that as I’m getting older my style is changing to more of a minimalistic style. Having some great staple items that I can wear is always what I’m looking for when I’m shopping online. I know what you might be thinking, “Dressing like that can be boring!” But on the contrary, it doesn’t have to be! Here are some tips you can use to take your basic outfit to the next level!

Bold lip color
- Something I love doing is wearing a colored lipstick or lip gloss when I’m wearing my basic black tee and jeans outfit. Normally I wear a lot of neutral lip colors so it really takes my outfit to the next level when I’m wearing a bold red or pink lip color. Here are some of my favorite lip colors from Colourpop that you can try out if you’re a newb to bold lip colors! All of which are on sale btw!!

Statement accessories
- I’ve always believed that I can change anything that I’m wearing just by the accessories that I’m wearing. A basic tee and jeans can look super dull and boring. But when you pair it with a simple necklace, some funky earrings and bracelets, you’ve changed your entire outfit! Check out some of these super cute pieces that can really take your outfit to the next level!

Shoes
- As almost every woman out there, I love shoes! Lately I’ve been into flats and fashion sneakers. But I do love wearing some cute wedges or heels for church or other events. A basic tee and jeans outfit can be totally transformed just by the type of shoe you’re wearing! During the daytime, you can rock the fashion sneakers for comfort. Than for date night, you can switch out those cute sneakers for some cute heels and you’re ready to go!

What are you favorite simple styles? What do you love to add to your outfit to make it pop? Let me know in the comments below! xoxo

Simple Life

Published on July 25, 2018February 9, 2019 by meganaperezLeave a comment

Hey Loves! It’s been so long since I’ve written a post. So much has happened in these past few months that has pulled my focus away from my blog. But now that I’m settled into my new place and new job, I’m finding more time to devote to writing and other ventures.

If you haven’t noticed, I changed my blog name to “Simple Life by Megan Perez.” Why? Because I’m finding that as I’m getting older I’m changing. I find that I’m not all about having the most expensive things or tons of materialistic items. I’m more about having the #simplelife now especially since I’m expecting my first child. Life isn’t about the “things” it’s about the experiences and growing through them. Now don’t get me wrong, I still care about fashion and beauty and what not, so don’t worry I will still have those posts here! But my goal with this is to try and help you all live the #simplelife too and to inspire your own personal growth in different areas of your life. I’m a firm believer that you can never stop growing and honestly you shouldn’t want to stop growing!

I’m working on content right now to share with you on different tips and tricks to help you live out that #simplelife! Don’t forget, you can always leave comments below on anything you’d like me to cover!

Have a great day loves!

xoxo,

Top 10 Picks from Target

Published on April 10, 2018April 6, 2018 by meganaperezLeave a comment

As I’m sure many of you know, Target has some SUPER CUTE clothes out right now!! While I was doing some online shopping (Shhhhh…don’t tell my husband lol) I decided to round up my top 10 picks!

Here are the 10 items I think are worth purchasing right now! Best part…they’re all under $30!!!! Click each picture to shop! xoxo

Happy shopping!!!!

xoxo,

Self-Care

Published on April 4, 2018February 9, 2019 by meganaperez2 Comments

Today I want to talk about self-care! Something I’m honestly not that great at. I get so busy that I honestly don’t realize I’m not taking care of myself until my body basically shuts down for a few days and forces me too. Which isn’t a good thing! I need to learn, just like you, how to really take care of myself!

I wanted to share some self-care tips that I have been incorporating into my daily life and have really helped me stay relaxed.

Drinking a lot of water: I’ve noticed that my energy levels depend a lot on how much water I’m drinking. I’ve been giving myself a goal of 4 16oz. water bottles to drink a day. I even started adding a NUUN vitamin to add some flavor and extra electrolytes. Click here to check them out. Each package comes with 12 tablets that you add to your water and they are so yummy. I don’t like buying juice at home so this is a great alternative!

Getting a good night’s sleep: I am someone who needs a good night’s sleep in order to full function the next day. I try to get at least 7 hours a night. If I can get 8, I’ll take it. If you’re like me though, your mind just continues to work until the late hours of the night. I actually received this REN pillow spray in my Bless Box last week and have been using ever since. It seriously has been helping me get to sleep quick and help to relax my mind. Prior to that, I would take one OLLY sleep vitamin. Of course, it’s completely natural. But it would also help my mind calm down enough for me to actually sleep. If you want to try the spray click here! If you want to check out the vitamin, click here!

Face Masks: Every other night I have doing a sheet mask. Mainly for hydration right now because the weather has my skin super dry. Doing a face mask helps to force me sit down on the couch with a glass of water and just close my eyes for a bit. Because I can’t do anything else with those things on my face! I really love going to Target to pick up the sheet masks they have. They’re under $3 and I can pick up different ones based on the issue with my skin I’m having. If you haven’t done this, you need to go to Target today and pick some up! Here are some of my favorites! Hint…I love them all!

Devotionals: Starting my day with devotionals has really helped me as well. I notice when I don’t spend time with God, I feel off. And I think that has been the biggest issue that I have had these past few weeks. When I sat down and really took a self-reflection of my past few weeks, I really noticed that I was lacking my devotional time. And I saw how it was affecting me. If you need some suggestions on devotionals, here are some that I would recommend! I also really love my YouVersion Bible App. I can pick a devotional off of that and do that first thing in the morning. It makes it so easy to read the Word!

New Mercies by Paul Tripp
James Challenge – YouVersion
Women on a Mission – YouVersion

There you have it! Those are the things that I have been incorporating to get myself back on track! What are some of your favorite things to do to unwind?!

Currently Obsessed With – Beauty Edition

Published on March 20, 2018March 20, 2018 by meganaperezLeave a comment

I wanted to share 3 of my current beauty product obsessions!! I use these practically everyday and I’m completely in love with each.

Kristin Ess Curly Defining Crème – So I started following Kristin Ess on Instagram a couple of months ago. Her feed seriously gives me hair envy. I just can’t even with all her gorgeous hair looks. I saw that she also had her own line of hair products so I decided to pick this one up to give it a try! So my first time using it, I used too much product. I wasn’t paying attention when I squeezed out the bottle and I got the amount of probably a quarter that I used on my hair. It kept my curl but it did make my hair feel a little too greasy for my like. When I used that much, I noticed I couldn’t go a second day without washing my hair. The next two times I used the product I kept experimenting with the amount of product to actually use to get the texture that I like for my hair in particular. It came down to using about a dime sized amount of product in my hair. Sometimes I’ll squeeze like an extra dot in there for good measure. Because my hair is on the thinner side but also curly, when I use product of any amount in my hair, I have to wash it the next day. It usually feels super greasy the next day. I still love using this product when I’m air drying my hair because it does give my curls a nice shape. All-in-all, I would recommend trying this product out.

Pacifica Dream Big Mascara – This has been like my all-time favorite mascara. I’m so glad I impulsively purchased it. This gives my lashes such length and definition I can’t even. I’m a mascara junkie and have tried A LOT of brands. I have baby length lashes so I need something that will give me some good definition and length. Added bonus – it’s vegan and under $20!! Like come on!! I can’t get more excited about this if I tried. Once you’re done reading this post, just drive over to Target and pick one up for yourself. Don’t feel like going out? Don’t worry, I linked it here for you!!

Pacifica Dreamy Youth Moisturizer – Because I loved their mascara so much, I decided to try their moisturizer. Another product that I love. This is a day and night youth moisturizer so it has anti-aging properties. It has Fleuracell complex with concentrated floral stem cells for anti-age. Plus, it deeply moisturizing my skin and has improved the overall radiance of my skin. Honestly, I feel like my face was starting to look super dull but now, let me tell you the glow that I have! People honestly think I’m pregnant because of it. And I’m not. Not even close. And I’m okay with that. Let my glow from this awesome moisturizer and nothing else please…. Anywho! Another product I would highly recommend. You can shop this brand here!

What are some of your current beauty obsessions?? Leave a comment below!

xoxo,