I have recently discovered the beauty of working out first thing in the early morning. In addition to the beautiful smell of crisp morning air, working out first thing in the day is a great way to wake up and energize your body naturally. The mornings when I wake up early to exercise are definitely the ones I don't need a cup of coffee to keep myself going. All I need is a nice creamy, freshly blended smoothie after my workout to start my day with an extra bounce in my step! 

Some of my favorite breakfast smoothie ingredients include bananas, strawberries, mangoes, kale, spinach, flaxseed, milk, fat-free yogurt, peanut butter, and last but not least, protein powder. 

It was about this time one year ago that I got my first post-grad apartment in St. Louis and began my career in advertising & marketing. I've always been a pretty independent woman, but in this first year living on my own I learned the definition of the word. If you're in a similar point in your life, read on for some tips on what to expect, including: surviving in the real world, keeping your life & yourself organized, and even saving some money along the way! Aaaand cue Paramore, "Ain't It Fun".....