I've wanted to get my hands on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Lootcrate for what feels like forever. On Black Friday, all Lootcrates were half-off, so I was able to get a three-month subscription for just $60. A one-month subscription costs almost $50, so this was a heck of a deal I couldn't pass by. Wizarding World crates are released every other month, so ordering at the end of December, I'm set for a January, March, and May box. I received my first box very early in February, so I expect to get my next box early April.

The box was more than expected it to be, and $20 a crate for two more crates like that one I received for January are more than worth it. Check out what I received in my box below!








Ministry of Magic visitor t-shirt









Luna Lovegood sleep mask













Thestral enamel pin








Hogwarts house travel mat 
You pick your house when you sign up for the box, and I am so pumped for any Hufflepuff gear!






Wizarding world locations sticker set








All of the items in this month's box were created exclusively for the Wizarding World Loot Crate. I don't know if that's the case for all the boxes, since this is my first, but if so - that is amazing. I cannot wait to see what's in my next crate.


Have you tried any Loot Crates?

Between December and the start of March, I was able to mark just a few things off my list. I was able to check off a couple other things (even though the exact dates fell outside of my 1001, which officially ended on February 27).









To wrap up, I think my first round of 101 in 1001 was fairly successful. I completed about 40% of the goals on the list. Realistically goals evolve and priorities shift. I'm excited for what I accomplished and I'm pumped to start another round.



Check out the full wrap-up below.

St. Louis has long been one of the most important cities in Missouri. Having only been settled in around 400 years ago, this part of the US isn’t quite as old as a lot of the other towns and cities which you can find. Despite this, it has a rich history to offer, with loads of things to see and do, making it an excellent place to start your journey into this state. To give you an idea of exactly what you'll find, this post will be exploring some of the most popular attractions in St. Louis, giving you the chance to get started on choosing the right trip for you.




History & Education

A lot of people like to spend their vacations learning as much as they possibly can. When you’re visiting a place for the first time, it makes sense that you’d want to soak up as much as possible, with loads of people spending their vacations visiting museums and significant spots. St. Louis has loads to offer in this area, though a lot of the options you will find offer a unique twist. The City Museum, for example, is largely built from scrap, and is home to some of the world’s largest slides. It's an amazing place to visit, and I still regret that when I visited, I didn't have enough time to spend at the museum. Definitely plan to spend a few hours there to explore all the nooks and crannies All in all, this makes this city great for families, couples, and even those traveling alone, as these attractions are good for any age.







Food & Drink

Like much of the US, St. Louis seems to have a very large population of food-lovers. While this can make meals a little more expensive, it also means that you will have access to some delicious options.  Of all the places I've visited, I think St. Louis's food has been my favorite (make sure to see everything I ate here). Being quite a progressive city, you can easily find a vegetarian menu in most of the places you visit, and this makes the whole trip far easier for those with dietary restrictions. Along with food, you will also find a strong drinking culture in St. Louis, with loads of quality bars to try out. Of course, this sort of fun may not be as easy to navigate for those with kids.








Nature

Visiting a city to get a slice of nature might sound a little silly to some, but St. Louis isn’t the same as a lot of urban environments. Filled with parks, sports fields, and other open areas, it’s easy to find a spot to relax which will make you feel like you’re in the countryside. Likewise, the local Botanical garden and zoo can also provide you with the chance to experience a little bit of nature. A lot of these options are inexpensive and sometimes even free! You may even be able to find the time to visit an area or two which is significant to the Native Americans who called this place home in the past.




With all of this in mind, you should be working hard to get started on the time you put into your visit to St. Louis. When you have the chance to visit a place with such variety, it will be important that you take the bull by the horns, seeing as much as you possibly can.














*This is a collaborative post.

My February FitSnack box came a bit late, and hello, I'm a bit butt-hurt about it. I didn't receive it until early March, so we're running this post a little late. But it's a-okay. Let's see what I got last month (this month?).




What was in my February box?


Plotz! snacks honey nutters | original

Pasta Chips | alfredo

Shrewd Food protein crisps | strawberries & cream

Lesser Evil organic popcorn | himalayan gold

IQ Bar | matcha chai hazelnut brain fuel

PB Fit peanut butter powder | protein

Go Macro protein bar | coconut + almond butter + chocolate chips

Bonus: Foods Alive trail mix | globe trekker hit the trail mix














Piqued your interest? Get started with a discount by clicking the picture below.


How do you snack healthy?


As an ambassador for FitSnack, I receive a complimentary subscription each month. All opinions ar 100% my own.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SavorThePossibilities #CollectiveBias






Courage just turned six years old on March 7, so of course we celebrated by treating her with a can of wet food and some snuggles. I was actually sick, home from work for the day so we definitely got some good birthday snuggles in. I always try to buy her little hats and clothes, but she hates me for it. So, instead I just give her all the snuggles and treat her with good food.

Since she's growing up on me, I checked out Purina®'s new line of Pro Plan® SAVOR® products with probiotics. I've been hearing a ton lately about the benefits of probiotics in everyday favorites I love to eat, so why not check them out when it comes to pet health, as well. If you're unfamiliar, probiotics are live microorganisms that, through adequate consumption, have big health benefits. Probiotics are not to be confused with prebiotics, which are dietary fibers that serve as a food source for probiotics. However, select SAVOR® dry formulas contain both to support digestive health for your pets. Purina® Pro Plan® formulas come in a variety of flavors and textures, and have advanced nutrition that's important for your cat to live a healthy and active lifestyle. Even better, real protein is the #1 ingredient in all Purina® dry formulas.

I really trust Purina®, which we've fed Courage for quite some time - from dry foods and wet foods to treats -  and we're quite loyal to the Purina® Tidy Cats litter brand, as well, so we were happy to give give the Pro Plan® SAVOR® with probiotics line a try. We've been really mindful about switching over slowly, so a quick switch doesn't leave her with an upset tummy, throwing up hairballs. Purina® has a really handy guide on their website about switching out foods, and how to do it in a healthy way. I urge you to give it a try, too, even if not your usual brand, because not only has Purina® been fueling pets since 1986, but they also boast a money-back guarantee (see proplan.com/guarantee for full details). In the mean time, you can get $10 back when you buy Purina® Pro Plan® SAVOR® dry formulas from select stores, valid through 3/31/19.









Depending on your pet's temperament, you may want to also consider taking them with on a trip to Pet Supplies Plus to grab some Purina®, and let them pick out some of their own goodies. I've certainly tried that before when I took Courage to meet Santa Paws, but she does not do well out in public so she doesn't really accompany me to the store, but I love that it's a possibility to do so.






We love Pet Supplies Plus, and we've been shopping there since it opened in our town around a decade ago - even before we had Courage. It's where I bought my best fish friend, Bartholomew (RIP), and my family continuously stocked up on cichlids for their 75 gallon aquarium. When my parents were living in a house that didn't have a bathtub (just a stand up shower), they would take our puppers Moe to the store for bathing and grooming. And as mentioned above, they have a visit from Santa Paws each year during the holidays. I also like checking out the pets they have available when I stop in to get kitty food and litter. This time around, there were a couple of chinchillas (so cute and so floofy!).








Honestly, though, some of Courage's favorite gifts are some catnip wine bottles I got her from the pet store a while back, an igloo home, a fuzzy blanket to make biscuits on, and a cat play-mat (with hanging doodads to play with). But cats can be weird and sometimes she really just likes playing with trash like bottle caps.

But you know your cat best, so maybe just give them lots of love.