Good Reads

I've been battling this rotten cold since Sunday, and it legitimately sucks. All I want to do is curl up in bed forever and read every book imaginable in between naps. Like, how nice would that be? But guess what. Life must go on and I can't wait until this weekend when I hopefully have some recovery time (most likely to occur whilst procrastinating on writing a paper and studying for an exam...). 

Yesterday I may not have had classes but I did work 13 hours straight. So that was fun! Safe to say I climbed into bed and passed out, after attempting to read for 15 minutes.

I went to write the summaries/synopses (is that even the right plural for synopsis?), but then I realized I was exhausted and had only read four of the ten books on the list. So in my complete and utter laziness, I looked up the summaries. Turns out the internet is a lifesaver for bloggers who don't feel like writing summaries of books they want to read. Click away!

Saying No

The one thing I hate more than anything in this world is disappointing people. It absolutely destroys me when I let people down, so I obviously do my best not to. But there is a line that gets crossed when you forget how to say no for fear of disappointing those around you. Whether they be employers, friends, or family, sometimes you just have to say no. And I suck at it.

In late July/early August, I found myself saying yes to every opportunity that came my way. I didn't realize that in doing this I had also bitten off far, far, far (far) more than I could chew. When classes started, it became even more apparent that I was not only essentially losing my mind, but my work was suffering too. If anything, this summer has taught me that I by no means want my entire life to be work. It also taught me that by saying yes to so many things, I was basically sabotaging myself.

In the past week, I finished up an internship, I dropped two shifts at the gym I work at, and I spent two whole days worrying about nothing work or school-related whatsoever. I changed my days at my other internship to Mondays and Wednesdays so that I could have Fridays all clear. And last Friday I slept until 11. I made myself a healthy breakfast, watched some TV, did some serious Pinterest-ing, and then went to get my first manicure in months. There were a few moments here and there where I found myself worrying about this or that, what assignment was due, or whether or not I was going to get this project done for my internship. But for the first time in what felt like months I pushed those thoughts from my mind. I just couldn't afford them.

I was so busy all summer that my happiness was on the line. One minute I'd be on cloud nine and the next thinking the whole of the world was out to get me. I've been feeling so incredibly off balance lately that I forgot what just living was like. I realized that it was okay to take a day to do the things I enjoy doing. I baked an apple crisp, I drank some wine, I spent quality time with friends, and I did a whole lot of nothing. It was down-right amazing.

When I was younger, I never had a problem saying no to people. I think I saw growing up as a sort of end to that freedom. The freedom to say no. But if there was anything younger Emily had going for her it was that she always knew what was best for herself. And now I guess I'm just trying to get back to that. I don't have to do it all. I can say "no" to people. I can do what's best for me, unapologetically.

And that's 100% okay.

Foodie Fridays: 5 Healthy Salad Recipes

This summer hasn't exactly been the healthiest of summers. If I'm being honest, there's been far too much wine (lol kidding there's no such thing...) and too many carbs. I attribute most of it to the fact that the last thing I feel like doing is spending money on expensive healthy food. Chopping up vegetables and lettuce for salad just doesn't appeal to me when you can cook spinach tortellini in four minutes. But chopping up salad will save me from burning my arm yet again (I'm going on five burn marks on my right arm). Plus, I haven't gained the freshman 15 yet and now that I'm a senior I really can't sink to that level. But the real bottom line is, ovens and I just don't get along. I can wholeheartedly say I wish I was kidding.

Anyone feel me?

Anyway, recently I've just been feeling so blah. Not "blah" as in like uninspired or I hate my life or anything, but "blah" like UGH WHERE ARE ALL THE NUTRIENTS I WAS GETTING WHEN I WAS LIVING AT HOME AND NOT WORRYING ABOUT HOW MUCH HEALTHY FOOD COST BECAUSE MY MOM BOUGHT IT? New goal for this year: learn to cook without burning myself because I'm seriously starting to hate pasta (the only thing I can cook). But in the meantime, I'll be turning to an easy, healthy alternative that for the most part does not require an oven. Salad. Yay! While salad doesn't always require cooking, it does require preparation. And I find preparation annoying. But I suppose it's time I get over it. So...

I give you, dear friends, delicious salad recipes that I might will actually eat

1. International Quinoa Salad via Fat Free Vegan Kitchen

2. Avocado Strawberry Spinach Salad w/ Poppyseed Dressing via gimme some oven

3. Apple, Pecan, and Goat Cheese Quinoa Salad via greens & chocolate

4. Healthy Kale & Pomegranate Salad via Best Recipe Box

5. Healthy Chicken Chickpea Chopped Salad via Ambitious Kitchen

So here's my game plan:

It's the start of August. My funds are slowly starting to get back in order after an extremely expensive June (remember how I went to Mexico?). Time to start living like a real life grown up and prepping food for the week. Time to start figuring out how to properly use an oven in a manner that does not result in me burning myself. 

Final goal: Prep lunch salads for the week (Mon.-Fri.) each Sunday. #imhealthyduh

What's your fave go-to salad? Let me know in the comments below, as of today I'm on the hunt for new recipes :)

Side note: How come no one tells us how adulthood is simultaneously awesome and absolutely horrible??

xoxo

Sundays In Bed

Sorry for the little hiatus! The past week has been all sorts of overwhelming for one reason or another and the blog took a hit for it. Remember how when you were a kid summer meant freedom and playing outside all day and fun? Well now it means work, work, and more work. Got to make the money for when I move into my apartment (in just about a week now!!).

I've been slowly making my way through The Fault in Our Stars during my downtime, and last night when I was struggling with insomnia, I was up reading until 3pm. The book just turned extremely sad so take a moment today to be thankful for your health and happiness!

Get Moving!

For those of you who aren't aware, it's National Women's Health Week! I could bore you with all the little details of what you can do to lead a happier and healthier life, but I've already talked your ear off about that stuff in this post and this post. So today's about fitsperation (read: fit-inspiration). I'm definitely one of those girls who color-coordinates her working-out outfits. Judge me, but when I'm wearing a cute work-out outfit, I feel far less intimidated by looking like a sweaty mess in front of the multiple attractive men who attend my gym.

Note: I also happen to work at said gym a few times a week, so I see these guys on the reg. I don't want them to think I'm some sloppy mess, especially since a fair amount of successful relationships have been known to start at the gym.

Moving on though, I don't think any of us are strangers to the tabloids that have the pictures of celebrities leaving the gym. "Stars! They're Just like Us!" Well, yes, except for they look perfect leaving the gym. Point made. They are not just like us. But regardless, I still like to look at the pictures, and like I like to admire celebs' everyday and glammed-up attire, I also enjoy looking over their workout clothes. People magazine gets me. Anyway, check out two of my favorite celeb workout looks below!

Sundays in Bed

Hello everybody and Happy Mother's Day to all the fantastic moms out there! I'm in an especially good mood today following my run this morning and the gorgeous weather we're having this weekend. It was supposed to rain for five days straight after Friday, so thank goodness that whoever is in charge of the weather had a change of heart!

So maybe I'm just unbelievably excited that I don't have classes again until August, or just excited that this summer is going to be one of the best yet! I move into my first apartment in three weeks, I'm living with two of my best friends, and all three of my jobs rock. Life's pretty good!

I hope that whether or not you just wrapped up exams, or are wrapping up in the next few weeks you take a minute each day to be grateful. There's so much to be happy about. Today? I'm grateful for my mama.

Foodie Fridays: Quinoa Obsession

Oh my good grief. I don't know how I ever lived without it. The "weird little grain" (as my mom likes to call it) has become one of my go-tos. Especially when I'm cooking for myself! Which has been happening a little more often than I like for it to... but as I'm moving out in less than a month then I suppose I better get used to it.

When my mom went to Paris, I was 1) dog-sitting, and 2) my dad and brother know how to cook burgers and steak, that's about it-- neither of which I'm a huge fan of-- so I had to fend for myself basically. I've been trying to lay off the red meat lately since it makes me feel so slow and sluggish, and as an alternate source of protein I thought I'd give quinoa a try.

Best decision I ever made. I've whipped up three equally tasty quinoa meals since the first one I made (which pathetically took me two hours...), and I'm so in love with all of them I couldn't not share them with you!

The Problem with Skinny

I'll tell you the problem with skinny right off the bat. Skinny does not necessarily mean healthy. The two are not interchangeable. A lot of us struggle with the pressure to have the "perfect" (a.k.a. skinny) body. I don't know any of my girlfriends who haven't complained about how they look. Nine times out of ten, one of us is almost always quoting Mean Girls when it comes to our looks. And nobody's complaint has ever been, "I have bad breath in the morning." Whatever, Cady. Who spells "Katie" like that anyways?

A lot of my classes this year emphasized the role the media plays in setting societal standards. Growing up, playing with my Barbies, I never thought I had to look like them. Who did I think I had to look like? Lizzie McGuire. Duh. And then when Hilary Duff went through her uber skinny stage (anybody else remember that?), suddenly I was like, "Oh, if Lizzie McGuire looks like that so should I." Granted at this point she was in her post-Lizzie days, but you get the point.

Summer's Coming, Time to Start Running

See what I did there with that little rhyme? I won't lie to you. The fact that we just got 18" of snow infuriates me. Granted, it's made me miss quite a few classes this week (bad weather does have it's ups), but it's also managed to discourage me from anything and everything productive. A lot of people look at spring (which should be here already...) as a time of renewal, but I've never been a huge fan of the season.

I would gladly skip right over spring and just get. to. summer. Although that may just be because where I'm from we don't really have spring, it's more like mud season and unbelievably gross. I've been holding onto the idea that summer is coming soon though, and I'm fully convinced it's all that's going to get me through the next month and a half. Pray for me people. I need all the help I can get!

Where there's summer, there's also swimsuit season...

Some people spend the majority of summer lounging by the pool or on the beach in their teeny bikinis. Totally fine. I have never been one to jump for joy the moment it's time to get into a swimsuit. As a matter of fact, for basically as long as I can remember, going shopping for new suits has been a source of anxiety and a 100% guarantee that I'm going to leave the store absolutely loathing the cruddy dressing room lighting and it's emphasis on every imperfection on my body. Throw in a fight or two with my mom and that's what a typical bathing suit shopping trip looks like for me. It. Sucks.

I'm the girl who every single January comes around is like "I'm totally going to lose 40 pounds by the time June comes!" First of all, I don't need to lose 40 pounds. I would be scary looking. And secondly, now I realize how unhealthy living my life in such a mindset was for me. Or maybe it's just that now that I'm older, I'm more confident in the body I'm stuck in.

Some things never change though...

While I have gotten better when it comes to body image (thank God!), the struggle to stay healthy is always impeccably real throughout the entire year. But more so when summertime is approaching. I'm still planning on running a half marathon by the end of the year, however that's going to be extremely problematic if I don't start running again. So that being said, consider this post a reminder for the upcoming week to take care of you. Being healthy is more important than a number on a scale; trust me, if there's anything I've learned it's that. Here's what I'll be doing this week in order to help me have one of the best summers yet!

this coming week I will...

1. Sub out a smoothie (like this St. Patty's Day one!) for the regular cereal I usually have in the morning (at least three times), and try a new recipe!

2. Go for a 2 mile run three times this week.

3. Do this fun circuit Tuesday and Friday night. I work at a gym, might as well kill two birds with one stone, right?

4. Attend a yoga class.

5. Meditate for five-fifteen minutes every night before bed. Love this app!

6. Strive to maintain a positive mindset.

7. Be happy!

How do you stay healthy?

xoxo

Falling Apart and Into Place

Anyone else feel like today just snuck up on them? I know I've said that I don't mind Mondays, but I can't help but feel like this one came a little too quickly. But, what can you do? I haven't been feeling the best lately, and as a result my diet has kind of gone out the window. Not to mention I discovered this extremely yummy drink that I haven't had just enough of... yet. What started out as an innocent way to trick myself into thinking I was in paradise has become a favorite! Won't even apologize about it.

Now that you know of the less than admirable lifestyle choices I've been making lately (Give me ALL the carbs!), I'm looking at this Monday as a kind of renewal. I've been so discouraged lately reading all my blogs and seeing all these beautiful women that I've decided it's time for me to really start focusing on myself again. 

These past few weeks, I really got bogged down between schoolwork, the crazy weather we've been having, the fact that there's still snow on the ground and it's now MARCH... but I can't blame it all on the weather.

Truth be told, I'm the biggest wimp when I'm tired. And lately I've been feeling exhausted. I'm sure my lack of healthy eating and exercise has had a lot to do with it, but for some reason I wake up tired and by 3pm I'm just about ready for bed. It's been making me miserable.

It's no excuse. I've been bailing on friends, snapping at my parents, and have just been so down on myself lately. It makes me disappointed. I haven't been focusing enough on the "me time" that I cherish so dearly-- the time I take each day to just think and process and breathe. But it just feels like there is no time!

What worries me the most is that I know life just gets harder. I know that there's a whole other world waiting to eat you alive outside of the college bubble. So with that terrifying thought in my mind, I suppose it's time I get used to the idea of being exhausted. Missing out on life to sleep? That doesn't sound like a life at all! And it's the life I've been living for a little over a month now. Depressing, right?

Life's been throwing me a lot of lemons-- a lot of puny, annoying lemons. I've been cracking under the stress, mentally and physically. Those weeks or months when you just feel defeated? That was my February. But it's March, it's time to turn over a new leaf. Spring is (hopefully) on it's way and that means sunshine and warmer weather!

The Real Food for Thought

The thing is, when life gets hard, when every single odd in the world seems to be against you, you can't let it wreck you. I spend a lot of time being afraid of the world, of how easily it could destroy me. But fear is not what this life is meant to be about. This life is meant to be about dreams, hope, love, laughing with friends, enjoying family, and making time for what matters the most. The reality is I haven't been. I haven't yet learned how to just keep swimming when everything feels like it's falling apart.

And want to know what the other thing is? Looking back on the past month, my life isn't falling apart. Actually, all but one or two aspects of my life have rapidly started getting better and better. Isn't it funny that when everything is really going right you feel just as out of your mind as you do when everything is going wrong? Call me crazy, but maybe you have to learn to just keep swimming when everything-- your dreams, and your future-- are just at your fingertips.

Have a great Monday!

xoxo

Kiss Dry Skin Good-bye!

I don't know about you, but the dry, cold winter air takes a serious toll on my skin. I'm a moisturizer junkie, and even I fail to beat the dry skin that inevitably comes along with freezing winter temperatures.

I have a bit of an obsession with trying out different face products. My acne hasn't ever been super horrible or anything, but I do have a fair amount of scarring on my chin from picking one too many pimples when I was younger. Gross I know, but going to school with a red bump on my face that I could attempt to cover up with some make-up seemed like a much better option than going to school with a giant white-cap. Anyone else feel the same way??

So, in my years and years of trying to nail down the perfect skin care routine, I've finally come across a few products that I swear by year-round. That being said, these products are also amazing during the winter months. They keep my skin moisturized and my complexion on point; unless I'm exhausted, I rarely feel that my skin looks dried out and/or dull!

Moisturizer's a Girl's Best Friend

I love, love, love this cream from Shisheido. I use it every morning after I wash my face and my skin is feels amazing all day long. It kind of feels a little sticky when you first put it on, but after a few minutes it's fine! I attribute it to the fact that it has SPF in it, which is just another added bonus. Definitely worth the $$!

I love Clinique. This is another product I like to use, but only at night and only if my skin is looking like it needs a little extra moisture. It absorbs quickly but too much on my skin just leaves it looking greasy-- hence why I only use it at night. By the time I wake up in the morning, my skin is back in good shape!

Want to know what's great about this product? You can use it on practically anything. I lather it on my damp hair after I get out of the shower, and if necessary, on my face too. I was super apprehensive about using it on my face at first, but oh my, do I love this stuff.

I recently discovered Lush this summer when I was in London. Figures I didn't know it existed until I was 19 years old. #smallstateproblems I should probably use this stuff more often. When I do use it, it's after I use the ocean salt scrub from Lush (which I only use when I literally feel like a layer of skin needs to be peeled off.) There's no better moisturizer to follow that scrub if you ask me!

Acne Be Gone!

I refuse to ever stop using this stuff. When my skin is breaking out (particularly around that time of the month), this moisturizer is my best friend. The first time I put it on my face freshman year of college, it felt like it had set my face on fire. A little concerning, but it left no burns or marks! I have extremely sensitive skin, so I don't mess around when it comes to clearing up acne. I'll never leave this product.

And as for a spot treatment? The only acne spot treatment to never irritate my face has been this one. The best thing about it is that it actually works! I can't tell you how happy I was to find a spot treatment that actually reduced my pimples, instead of just burn them off. There's nothing fun about having a red rash on your face from an acne treatment that was too intensive, so ladies, if you have sensitive skin, this product is for you!

Don't Forget to Wash & Exfoliate

This is my go-to cleanser in the morning! I love how gentle Aveeno is, and the clear complexion aspect is just a plus. Not only does it wake me up for the day, but it helps get my skin ready for the day!

Another staple of mine, I use this almost every night. I know they say you're not supposed to exfoliate every night... But I do it anyways. This isn't an intensive exfoliating scrub, like the Aveeno cleanser, it's pretty gentle. At the end of the day, it does a great job of getting all that gunk off my face!

I'll admit it. When I first went to buy this scrub it was solely because I was desperately attempting to clear up a bad case of acne (my chin, the problem area of all problem areas...) this past summer. Between walking all around Europe in the dead of July, the sweat and the constantly changing water compositions, my skin was having a hard time. And on top of all that, my anxiety-ridden self was stressed out 99% of the time so that didn't help all that much either. It didn't help with the acne, but I love this stuff nonetheless. I found as the year went on that it's perfect for scrubbing off some dry skin. And not just on your face! Think elbows, knees, and probably anywhere else that needs some extra love.

So now you understand my shopping problem...

It goes way beyond clothes. I love beauty products, skin products, hair products, etc. At least I admit I have a problem. While I know some of these items may be a bit of a splurge, they're well worth the extra money. And if you make good use of them, they last quite a while!

xoxo

Beat the Wednesday Slump

So, I'm pretty good at taking care of myself. I make it to the gym every week, eat pretty healthy, all that jazz. I've been feeling out of it since Friday though, and really need to get back on track.

I'm so much of a happier, better person when I'm exercising and making sure I'm making good choices. I've just been so tired lately and I worry I'm falling into that mid-winter slump. I swear if that groundhog says six more weeks of winter this Sunday someone is going to be in trouble!

Anyone else feeling the same way? It's so hard to motivate yourself to get to the gym when it's 12 below outside and downright freezing. A cozy bed with lots of blankets seems like a much better option, although it's not as good for your self-esteem as exercising is. My daily struggle.

Anyways, here's some fitspo for your thoughts!

via muffintop-less

via lornajaneactive

via whatyouthandbeauty

via yogaholics

via I'm A Warrior

via Pinterest

via alwaysfitandclassy

Always try and be the best you YOU can be.

xoxo

7 Steps to Limiting Stress

With school now back in full swing until May, I find it so incredibly easy to fall off the bandwagon. I swear my stress level dictates my life most days. I'm either too stressed out about school to do anything or so overwhelmed by school that all I want to do is clean, clean, clean. Last year when I was living in a room the size of a shoe box (you think I'm kidding...), I found that if I didn't keep my room clean and my teeny tiny closet organized that my already chaotic life would feel all the more chaotic. Ugh.

So, nowadays, my room is mostly always kept nice and tidy. I have quite a few methods to keep it that way, seeing as time as of late seems to be extremely limited. I love Sundays because it means that I can get everything situated for the week and finally feel like I have a glimpse as to what's ahead.

Limiting stress during the school week has always been a challenge of mine. I'm easily overwhelmed and sometimes it just sends me into this shutdown mode where all I do is watch Netflix and avoid the loads of work piling up on my desk. (And by desk I mean laptop.) Making sure I'm organized at the start of the week has become an incredibly important part of my life.

Check out these tips!

1. Invest in a good planner.

How cute is this planner from May Designs?! Usually monograms are kind of where I draw the line (sorry all you monogram lovers...), but this agenda is just too cute. I've become so reliant on my Kate Spade agenda throughout the school year. I have the black striped one and it's seriously a lifesaver. Between that and my mobile calendar, there's a 99% chance I won't be missing anything important. And thank goodness for that!

2. Write it all down.

Going along with the whole agenda thing, I write everything I have going on in the week down. I'm an avid list-maker; to-do lists, I love you. I make checklists in my planner and jot down my workout too. It helps immensely when it comes to planning out your day!

                                                                                     

3. Coordinate.

It may be the anal side of me, but I have my closet color coordinated. I love how organized it looks and as silly as it sounds, it's inspired me to coordinate more things! My planner is color coordinated by class, so for each of my five classes what needs to be done is highlighted in a different color. I'm not exactly sure why, but it makes it so much easier to remember my assignments for each class. And plus, now when I'm shopping, I have a much better idea of what my closet looks like!

4.  Meditate.

Not many people are aware of this, but I actually take a few minutes to meditate every night. It helps to decompress after a long day. If you're thinking it's silly, no worries! I did too. As a matter of fact, I thought it was incredibly stupid for quite some time. But one night when I was having a hard time falling asleep, I gave it a try out of desperation. Now, going to bed without taking a little bit of time to breathe in, breathe out rarely happens. I legitimately have to be so exhausted that my mind shuts off on it's own and I just pass out. 

   5. Make health a priority.

Lately I've been finding more and more that to keep my stress levels under control I have to be taking good care of myself. I've got the healthy eating down pretty well now, thank goodness. And as for the exercising? I'm getting much better. Not only are the endorphins good for my mood, but by the time I hit the hay at night I'm SO ready to sink into my bed and sleep soundly. And if anything motivates a college student, it's getting to go to bed. 

6. Take a (Coffee) Break.

My best friends are lifesavers when I'm feeling stressed out. My best friends and coffee, that is. And when we're together, it's kind of a given that coffee will be involved. I am in no way shape or form a calm person, it feels like I'm constantly stressing about something. When there's an opportunity for me to get together with my friends for a quick break at Starbucks or even at the library, I take it. Nothing is better than a vent session with the people who know you best!

7. Call Mom.

When all else fails, call your mom. Or whoever was responsible for bringing you up and loving you throughout your awkward years. My mom knows me better than anyone, and I'm so thankful that I feel like I can go to her for anything. She'll let me be crazy and knows when to just give me a hug and let me cry. And Mom hugs really are the best. 

Have a great day ladies!

xoxo