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

Girl Crush: Inslee By Design

I've been on a bit of a feminist kick lately. I don't know if it's International Women's Day or what that brought all this on, but I'm embracing it. With that being said, every month I'm going to highlight a woman I admire and draw inspiration from every day. And I'm pretty excited about it! Thoughts?

It should come as no surprise to you all that I have the biggest obsession with Inslee. I just think her drawings are so adorable and fashionable. In all honesty, the fair majority of them perfectly depict my dream life! Inslee Haynes is beyond talented, and she found her business during her sophomore year of college. #impressed

I've picked out a few of my fave pieces from Inslee, although I gotta say... I'm pretty partial to the one on the left here.

Spontaneous, Fun, and Inspiring  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*all photos property of Inslee*

I love all of her drawings and paintings. And the 2014 calendar? To die for. I'm definitely planning on getting the 2015 calendar when the time comes!

 Are you a fan of Inslee?

All I Think is Mexico...

So after spring break, we're kind of in the home stretch. And I just realized yesterday that I only have one final (granted, it's on the last day of finals... because, well that's just my luck). Ignoring that little tidbit though, I basically decided that I'm officially done school April 30th. It's SO close! But so far away. It's also the most aggravating feeling in the world. I feel like I have senioritis and I'm not even a senior. Whoops!

Moving on though, last week was basically torture scrolling through my Instagram feed and seeing loads among loads of pictures of paradise. Key West, Cancun, the Dominican Republic, oh, they all looked so nice! Needless to say it put my wanderlust into full throttle and two of my best friends and I booked a trip to Mexico this June. To be followed directly by my family trip to Disney! Last summer was amazing, and I knew it'd be hard to beat, but I don't know... this summer's looking pretty good so far.

In other news, I'm broke again...

But oh well! One of the perks of working three jobs is that I know I have a steady inflow of cash coming in. So yay! My anxiety attacks related to lack of funds have officially subsided. And now all I have to really focus on is making sure I get through the next six weeks of school (which is already proving to be an issue as I took a "mental health" day yesterday.) Professors give out freebies for a reason, right? The reason being they understand how vital spending a day online shopping is to a girl. But don't worry! I haven't clicked "purchase" on anything, yet.

Wasted Away Again in Margaritaville

Elan Halter Cover-Up, $64

Steve Madden Crochet Cover-Up, $36

Kate Spade Capri Espadrille Francis, $268

 

Lilly Pulitzer Shoreline Tote, $78

 Lilly Pulitzer Delia Shift Dress, $198

 

J. Crew Sailor-Strip Underwire Top, $58 (I'm eyeing it in blue grotto...)

 

J. Crew Rosewood Geo Bandeau Ring Top, $44

 

Vineyard Vines Reef Strip Maxi Dress, $158

And to think, that's just the start of the list...

Count on a new pair of Jack Rogers for this summer too. Ahh my weakness. But seriously how cute are these?!

Ms. Perfect

Just take a second real quick here with me. Think back to five years ago--what you were doing, who you were friends with, what you were interested in, how you felt about your family. Is that person the same person you are today? The answer is probably no.

Five years ago I was fifteen. FIFTEEN! I remember it was the same year Taylor Swift's Fearless album came out; my mom's friend let me borrow it and told me the song "Fifteen" reminded her of me. I laughed and rolled my eyes. But now when I look back on it or whenever I hear the song, I smile. And it's not because of some old love, but more so because of all the things that have happened since then.

The Impossible Standard

I know it sounds stupid, but when we're all growing up isn't there some kind of fantasy life we hold onto? Something that we're constantly chasing after but may never get? Success, money, love, security, honesty, acceptance... the list goes on and on. And in a perfect world, we'd have it all! That kind of naiveté is the thing I associate most with being fifteen. The "perfect" life with the perfect guy and the perfect kids and the white picket fence (and maybe throw in a house on the Cape...). I dream big, alright?

I can't speak for guys because honestly, in the past five years, my ability to understand the way they work has been at a standstill. But for girls, and I see it in girls younger than me too, there is this idea revolving around perfection. There's the pressure to be perfect-- to date the right guy, to wear the right clothes, to get into the right school and to make the honor roll, to play varsity sports... Again, the list goes on and on.

Time to throw that list out the window.

I'm serious. Take the list you have in your head of who you should be and where your life should be going and get rid of it. The reality is, no matter how hard you try, you can't please everyone. Someone will always be disappointed. And isn't part of today's definition of "perfect" being liked by all? You see, you've already lost.

I have spent so many years trying to figure out who to be and who I should please. I've pondered millions and millions of times how to be perfect. Society has created this community where the ideal is everything. It impacts us, especially teens, more than I think anybody realizes. The pressure is on for kids nowadays, and quite frankly, it sucks.

My take on Ms. Perfect

We each have to decide what our own individual definitions of "perfect" and "perfection" are, because no two definitions will be the same-- after all, no two people are the same.

My definition of Ms. Perfect? I would describe her as the girl who is not persuaded, threatened, or moved by anyone else. The girl who is 100% herself without apology. The girl who grows up to be the woman that puts out so much of herself and her light and her energy to the world that she leaves it knowing she lived her life to the fullest, and knowing that she touched many, many lives. I think Ms. Perfect is the woman who isn't afraid of the "unmapped territory" that lies within her. The woman who believes in miracles, but also believes in hard work and dedication. Ms. Perfect is the girl who finally realized that it's all the small things in life that make it worth living-- that it's not a man, or an amazing house (or eight for that matter), or being the CEO.

She Makes Her Own Rules.

Ms. Perfect makes her own rules, and lives by them. But most importantly, she's happy.

Happy Monday loves!

xoxo

Sundays in Bed

Sadness. The last Sunday before school starts up again. While I'll be spending the day catching up on all the work I chose not to do over the past week, you're probably heading out to a yummy brunch or doing something far more fun than homework. Lucky you! In my defense though, I spent the fair majority of my break running around between jobs and errands and occasional social outings. Such is my life, but that's the way I like it! 

The goal for today though is to get all my stuff done by early afternoon, head to work at 4 until 7 and then come home, have some dinner, hop into bed and pop in a movie. Or read... I've been really stinking at that resolution. And I even bought Mindy Kaling's book that I've been dying to read. I'll probably do that instead. But if you don't  have a super hilarious and witty book to read prior to hitting the hay, or if you're just laying around bored all day, then I've got you covered!

We Live and Breathe Words

1. Daylight savings time was last night/today/it happened alright?! I don't know about you all, but I cherish every hour of sleep I can get, so coping with losing an hour (even if it means one more hour of daylight!) is vital for my making it through this week.

2. Anybody else as awkward of a flirt as I am? Apparently the only time I'm remotely good at it is when I've had a couple so... without further ado, Cosmo's tips on how to be the "flirtiest" of the flirts. (Fair warning: they're all extremely forward.)

3. March Style Tips from LC!

4. Have you been hating on your friends for all their selfies lately? Stop now, because #selfies are back in.

5. My friend shared this on Facebook and I love it! A strong woman is often mistaken for a b****. It's time for that to stop, no?

6. I just recently discovered The Miss Information and it's super amazing! Definitely check it out, and take their tips on maintaining your style and your budget.

7. I've always wished that I lived in the 1920s. More specifically in England. If you watch Downton Abbey, then you know just exactly where I'd like to be (wishing I was Mary... minus the whole husband dying thing.) But alas, apparently I belong in imperial China. So Mulan's cool too I guess. What time period do you belong in?

8. Nothing quite like a Buzzfeed recap of Jennifer Lawrence being awesome to lift a girl's mood. #shesmyhero

9. I died reading this because every. single. one. is true. Every 20 something with even a semblance of a social life has friends who make these exits every Saturday night.

10. This post from Maxie McCoy (love her!) put into words perfectly everything I've been feeling for quite some time now. It's okay to stay at your upper limit.

A Day to Plan A Lot and Do Nothing

Enjoy today, and rest up! Or if it's the first day of your spring break, drink up and have some fun! You deserve it.

1/2/3

xoxo