Featured

My Top Recent Amazon Purchases

Amazon Prime is one of the greatest creations since sliced bread! However, you have to shop it right! These are some of my favorite finds that are must haves & affordable items. Need a dress in 3-4 days for a special occasion? I got you! Need some great blue jean shorts that go with everything? I got you! Below I’ve given you my descriptions of why I love these items. Enjoy & happy shopping!

Starting from the top left:

  1. RTIC Soft Pack 20 Cooler-Very reasonably priced, light weight, makes for a great gift, and very durable!
  2. Green Polka Dot Off The Shoulder Dress-Flowy, comfortable, and only $30!
  3. NYX Butter Gloss in Tiramisu-This is a great color to have on hand, not too dark and gives you a little color! Also, $4.
  4. BruMate slim coozie–I cannot rave about these enough! Obsessed! It will keep your claws, beers, diet cokes, etc. so cold, it’s honestly hard to believe! Also, your drink does not slip out etc. It’s durable, and it comes in so many color options, and it makes for a great gift!
  5. Pink Tumbler Cup-Keeps your drinks cold, on sale, it comes with 2 metal straws and a straw cleaner.
  6. iPhone Charge cords-Always good to have extra on hand! These come in multiple lengths.
  7. Levi’s 501 High Waisted Shorts-These shorts go with everything, and you can dress it up and dress it down. See this instagram post for 5+ ways to wear them!
  8. Pink Leopard Wrap Dress-This dress is such a reasonable price with such a luxurious and expensive look! You can also style this many ways, I love it!
  9. Screen Protector for iPhone(3 Pack)-Great to have extras on hand when you need to switch it out from it cracking or to get the COVID germs off!
  10. Tank top/Workout top with built in bra-This affordable top is so supportive with removable padding & it comes in multiple color options! Very luxe feel too.
  11. Charge Blocks-These are great to have extras hanging around! Also, it’s good to have one for your phone & one for your watch, etc!
  12. Anker Portable Charger–I cannot rave about this enough! Super affordable, 2.6 iPhone charges in it, and so compact and lightweight! HIGHLY recommend!
  13. L’Oreal Sublime Wipes–I love these, and I have used them for years! These are great for an easy at home tan! The wipes are translucent and it doesn’t get on things when you are applying it, which I love.

❤️-

Red

Featured

My Favorite FREE At Home Workouts

How many of y’all are just not feeling 100% comfortable with going back to the gym yet? Well, don’t worry, I’ve got you! I am going to provide a few of my favorite FREE at home workouts that require no equipment.

One of the most important things about exercising right now, with so much craziness going on in the world, is that it provides so much for improving your mental health. Let’s face it, the world is in survival mode right now and exercise is one way that we can healthily escape from all those worries for a little while. Not only does it release endorphins, it improves digestion, decreases insulin resistance, burns calories, improves muscle tone, with weights-can decrease your chance of osteoporosis, improves your quality of sleep, I could go on! And like Elle Woods said,

“Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands, they just don’t.”

No, but seriously, exercise does so many things for the body, mind, and soul. If you are reading this and thinking, “exercise is not for me, I cannot do those intense workouts”, remember–you have to start somewhere. You can’t start out doing a triathlon, but incorporating small changes into your routine can make a world of difference.

With that all in mind, I’m going to give you a list(I like lists if you can’t already tell) of some of my favorite FREE at home workouts with links, and then describe each one below.

  1. Orange Theory Fitness on YouTube–Workouts are posted daily linked here. This is such a good resource for a full body workout! Averages from 35-50 minutes (sometimes more), includes warm up and stretching!
  2. 8 Minute Abs on YouTube–“Hey Gang!”-if you know, you know. This is an oldie(like the ’80s) but goodie. I do this video all the time! Linked here.
  3. The Fitness Marshall on YouTube–He does a dance/zumba to a pop/hip-hop song and if you do a handful of songs you’ll look up & have done a full workout! His energy is amazing and he is hilarious! Linked here.
  4. Fitness Blender–Mixed bag of workouts for free and some with a subscription. Full website linked here.
  5. Yoga With Adriene–Multiple different videos available on YouTube, she has a very Zen vibe, could be a great yoga resource. Linked here.
  6. Jessica Olie (Yoga)–Love listening to her British accent. She has an app, but here is a Yoga session from Women’s Health Live linked here.
  7. Planet Fitness Facebook Live–typically very regular workouts linked their facebook page here.
  8. Jillian Michaels’ quick workout tips/exercises, chair exercises linked here. She also has an app that includes a free trial. I love her energy, she is a super awesome motivator!
  9. Pinterest Boards–There’s so many! One of my oldest go to circuit workouts linked here and placed below.
  1. Plain old squats, lunges, push ups, wall sits, bicycles, scissors. Demonstrated some below in pictures.
  • Squats
  • Lunges
  • Wall sits
  • Bicycle ab exercise
  • Scissor ab exercise
  1. A staircase–go up and down as many minutes as you can tolerate for some good cardio!
  2. A WALK (or run) OUTSIDE–I can’t stress this one enough–getting out of the house & getting some vitamin D can do wonders for your mind!

Don’t forget to cool down and stretch after!

I hope this list of at home workouts can help provide you some joy and potentially reintroduce you to exercise. Remember: Rome wasn’t built in a day! If y’all have any questions, comments, or more suggestions, I am open to hear them in the comment box below. Have a great day, y’all.

❤️-

Red

Outfit: Top with built in sports bra from Amazon wearing size small linked here, Leopard Leggings from Lululemon wearing size 8 linked here, Tennis shoes from Brooks: Ghost linked here, Waterbottle Takeya 24 oz in picture linked here, Pink tumbler with lid & metal straw from Amazon linked here, Leopard hair ties from Teleties linked here, Apple Watch Series 5–40mm in black linked here from Amazon(on sale), Apple Watch white band from Amazon linked here, and Yoga Mat–comfort yoga mat from Walmart linked here and another less cushioned linked from Amazon here.

My Favorite Hair and Makeup Products

Hey, y’all! Did you get a chance to catch my video of me getting ready on Instagram stories? I have been wanting to share some of my favorite makeup and hair products. Some of these are very affordable, however some are more pricey but worth the splurge! I am trying new products pretty regularly, and I will be sure to keep y’all updated on if I find something new that I love! I have some of my go to products listed and linked below. Hope y’all enjoy!

Makeup Details: (Products pictured below)

  1. Sunscreen-Cerave Daily 30 spf oil free–must protect your skin 🙂
  2. Eyelid and under eye primer-Mary Kay Firming eye cream-I am hooked on some Mary Kay products-my mom and my mom’s best friend (Angie Day-you may see her in a pink Cadillac) sell Mary Kay and this is good stuff!
  3. Foundation-Too Faced Born This Way-pricey, but very nice product and great coverage!
  4. Concealer-Tarte Shape Tape-(on sale with this link)Great coverage, worth the splurge & the product goes far/lasts a long time!
  5. Setting Powder-Translucent Powder Laura Mercier Mini–love this!-I get the travel size because it is more compact
  6. Pressed Powder-Mary Kay Sheer Mineral Pressed Powder-great product and does not break easily!
  7. Brows-I use just a brown eyeshadow-not a fan of brow gels etc.
  8. Bronzer & Highlighter-Revolution Highlighter Palette-this is not the exact one I have, I think they discontinued it 😦 , but this one has some of the same highlighters
  9. Eyeshadow Palette-Violet Voss creme brûlée-only $18 & good quality shadows!
  10. Eyeliner-Almay liquid eyeliner-good if you are one to have sensitive eyes/skin!
  11. Mascara-Loreal Voluminous Mascara-just fyi not sure this is my favorite-it doesn’t set quickly but does give great volume!
  12. Setting Spray–Maybelline Masterfix Setting Spray-oil free and does not feel heavy.
  13. Lipstick-Maybelline Ink Crayon Lipstick-I have these in like 10 colors, no joke-I love this lipstick! It goes on matte, light, and stays on without smudging. It is similar to an old L’oreal matte lipstick (my fav) that is hard to find especially in store(but linked here-usually very low in stock online)–if you know, you know!
  14. Lipgloss-NYX Butter Gloss in Tiramisu-this is a very affordable option, like $4, for an expensive feel.
  15. Lipgloss-Buxom Full On Lipgloss in shade Katie-this is another absolute favorite of mine! I’ve replaced it so many times!
  16. Eyeshadow brush-Smudge Double Ended Brush from Sephora
  17. Highlighter brush set-highlighter brush set from Ulta

Hair Details:

  1. Dry Shampoo-Batiste Dry Shampoo in Tropical-I love this fragrance!
  2. Curling Iron-Hot Tools Curling Iron-1 and 1/4 inch-used this brand for almost 10 years-worth the splurge!
  3. Big hair clip-hair clip
  4. Hair Spray-Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Volumizing Hair Spray-I have used these products for years & this spray gets your hair to stay without the crunchy feel! Love this stuff!
  5. Hair Growth-Collagen Vital Proteins-I add this to my coffee or smoothies in the morning. This helps with hair growth(fyi eyelashes as well), skin & nail growth tremendously! Also, it is great for improving skin elasticity, skin integrity, bone/joint health.

—Red

“Would you like lump crab meat with that?” Florida recap (Miramar/Destin Area)

First off, I want to remind everyone that traveling during the time of COVID-19 may not be an ideal time at all to go. With that in mind, maintain your social distance and wear your mask (over your mouth and nose).

COVID-19 Travel tips:

  1. Pack extra masks (they’re required on the flight-may want to have extra just in case)
  2. Pack hand sanitizer & disinfecting wipes (sometimes wipes are given, but not always)
  3. Eat before arriving to the airport (minimizes your exposure & some airports have very limited options open)
  4. Pack a water bottle (if it is a quick flight they may not do in service-water or snacks)
  5. Pack snacks (see above)
  6. Thank your flight crew-remember that, without them, you would not be able to travel during this uncertain time

With that being said, let’s get to the good stuff!

Where do you go to eat & How do you get reservations?

For our group of 6 people, we actually had no trouble getting into restaurants with or without reservations even with the Destin area being so crowded. We made reservations for most dinners on Open Table, and that made everything so easy! Due to COVID-19, the dining situations are changing daily, so I would also recommend to follow the news and ask locals for tips on dining, beaches etc. Some restaurants were publicized on Google as “take out only” however, when you called they did actually have “dine in” available. Also, some establishments are not allowing reservations at this time due to the unpredictability of everything.

Restaurants we went to:

Louis Louis–highly recommend! This restaurant had a very down to earth feel. Menu was available on a chalkboard as well posted around-very cute and homey. We started off with some martinis-very yum, and also some Smoked Tuna Dip and Crab Cakes. Amazing! I had the Blackened Grouper for an entree, and it was amazing! If they offer anything blackened in Destin-get it!

Blackened Grouper at Louis Louis

Ocean Club Restaurant–great deal & amazing food! This restaurant has a fancy, white table cloth feel, but also sort of a jazz feel with the live music that plays by the bar area. They have an early dinner special 5pm-6pm where you get 2 entrees for the price of 1! What a deal! We started off with some Fried Green Tomatoes with Lump Crab Meat on top, and I had the Catch of the Day Almandine, which did not disappoint. Definitely recommend this place for the deal alone.

*side note-I had come here for a special family event years ago so it also has a sentimental factor for me.

Marina Cafe–Great harbor view & great food! The restaurant overlooks the harbor and has lots of windows lining the whole back of the restaurant which provides great views even if you are not sitting next to the windows. White table cloths, very classy place! We started off with some wine-big wine restaurant! Also started off with the “Jumbo Lump Crab on Panko Crusted Eggplant Medallions”–Yumo! And I had the shrimp pasta–and the waitress asked if I would like to add lump crab meat on top (I’m a sucker for those kinds of things, and I of course said “yes!”) Very good! I also shared some of a friends, “Pan Seared Andouille Crusted Louisiana Redfish”–so amazing-I recommend this dish!

Shrimp Pasta with added Lump Crab Meat from Marina Cafe
Pan Seared Andouille Crusted Louisiana Redfish at Marina Cafe

**Definitely recommend all of these restaurants, we were not disappointed!

Tips for Destin beach area at this current time:

  1. Drive if you can. I say this because Ubers and taxis are not a plenty due to COVID-19, and with that in combination with how many people are in the area at this time–Ubers are overwhelmed!
  2. Go to the grocery store for breakfast, lunches, and snacks. You don’t have to do this, but if you want to get in the maximum amount of beach time–this helps. Also, again if you are limited with transportation, having to only worry about 1-2 rides per day for dinner for example is way easier than 3-4 rides or taxis.
  3. Pack your own sunscreen and beach equipment if possible. Again-if you drive you bring your own chairs, umbrella, big sunscreen (>3.4 oz), etc.
  4. If you do have to take Ubers, see if you can arrange a ride with someone personally. From the stories from locals, arranging a ride on Uber does not ensure you a ride to the airport.

With all these things in mind–enjoy your trip and play safe!

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me via comments/email/DM to ask more!

❤️-

Red

About Me

Hey y’all! Welcome to my blog! I’m Elizabeth Joseph. Some people call me Red, (or even Jo, EJo, Liz). I live in Houston, Texas, but I am originally from Little Rock, Arkansas. I lived in Little Rock until I was 18 years old, and at 18 I moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas to obtain a Bachelors and Masters degree in Kinesiology. I lived in Fayetteville working as a Medical Assistant and Scribe after graduate school until age 26. At 26, I moved to Harrogate, Tennessee to pursue my Physician Assistant degree from Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine. After didactic year, I moved every 2 months for rotations–living all over the US in multiple different cities in Texas, Florida, and Arkansas. I lived in big cities, to rural, to on the beach in Florida. I obtained my license as a Certified Physician Assistant, and I have been out of school for less than two years, and I have always wanted to start a blog!

The name came of the blog came about from everyone calling me “Red” in PA school, and I loved that it was part of my appearance and identity as a redhead. Then, a good girlfriend helped me create the name, shoutout to Lisa! I am starting this blog/page because I have wanted to put my love for fashion, travel, food, fitness, lifestyle, and everything in between out into the world! I love sharing affordable options with classic higher end pieces, and I love styling outfits. I am a big foodie, and I love to share pics! I love traveling. I love fitness. Why am I starting this now? Well, since this global pandemic has come about, it has given me some perspective to stop holding back from doing something I have been wanting to do for YEARS! So, if you are desiring to do something but you haven’t taken the plunge yet—do it! Welcome and thank you for being here and checking out my page/blog. I hope this page and my posts help to bring you some joy like it does for me. Feel free to share my page and posts with friends and family. There is definitely more things to come!

❤️-

Red