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Home Gym Remodel: One of My Favorite Projects Ever
It all started during the first week of Covid lockdown. Like many, I had a few basics at home—resistance bands, a couple of dumbbells, and the floor (because if you’ve ever done a plank, you know you don’t need much for a killer workout). Then, in week two, my Peloton arrived—and I haven’t stepped foot…
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No-Spend June: A Reset, Some Wins, and a Dose of Reality
I kicked off No-Spend June as a bit of a reset. We were doing so well with our spending habits through January… and then came our honeymoon in Bora Bora in March, and everything kind of snowballed. We got back from vacation, and almost immediately, Zack bought a new car. Naturally, I took that as…
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A Month In: Reflecting on My Blogging Journey
Twelve posts and a little over a month in—what a ride it’s been. I started Optimize with Jacqueline in the middle of May without any prior experience. I had never created a website. I had never made a Pinterest pin. I had never edited a video for YouTube. I had never written a blog post…
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🔥 S’mores Tray Ideas for Summer Bonfires
Happy Summer! Whether you’re heading out for a camping trip or hosting a backyard bonfire, nothing sets the mood like a good old-fashioned s’more session—but with a modern twist. Here’s a fun and elevated s’mores tray idea that will have your friends and family raving (and reaching for seconds). 🍫 Start with the OGs Of…
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How We Manage Our Subscriptions (Without Letting Them Sneak Up on Us)
You ever check your credit card statement and realize you’ve been charged for a subscription you completely forgot about? Yeah… same. Subscriptions are sneaky. And if you’re not actively managing them, they’ll quietly pile up and start draining your monthly budget. The average U.S. household spends $220 a month on subscriptions. Our total right now?…
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How to Do Bora Bora for Less Than $5K
It was my dream to go to Bora Bora and stay in an overwater bungalow for my honeymoon. We originally planned to leave the day after our wedding reception—but then the Air Tahiti Nui staff went on strike. People were stranded in Tahiti trying to find ways home through New Zealand. I’d saved credit card…
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Peloton Review: Why I’ll Never Go Back to In-Studio Spin
Every week, I schedule in two 45-minute rides and one yoga session as part of my workout routine (full breakdown coming soon!), and it’s about time I shared my thoughts on Peloton. If you’re considering jumping into the world of at-home fitness — especially spin — this review is for you. Worth Every Penny For…
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How I Fell in Love with 3D Printing (and Why You Might Too)
I’ve been around 3D printers for about a decade, mostly in an industrial setting. Back in the early days, Stratasys held the patent on FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) printing until 2009. Once that expired, the world of 3D printing exploded. Suddenly, printers were affordable, and innovation started to take off—especially from companies like Bambu Lab.…
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Dog-Proofing Our Backyard + Rock Landscaping Timelapse
The very first project my husband and I tackled after buying our first home was dog-proofing the backyard—and making it California drought-resistant. It was definitely a “rip it all out and start fresh” kind of job. Our yard was overrun with tangled bushes (hello, black widows 😱), and it just wasn’t a safe or functional…
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Goodbye Wedding Whites, Hello Summer Blues 💙
Don’t know what to do with all those white clothes you bought during your wedding era?Yeah… same. I don’t wear white. I get it dirty. It’s high-maintenance. And honestly, I’m not about that life anymore. So now that I’m finally done with my wedding events, bachelorette, and honeymoon, I decided to do something bold—dye them…
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