SPRING INSPIRATION + WHAT I'M LOVING

Hello everyone! Long time no post, but I am back and more inspired than ever now that we are starting to see signs of spring on the horizon. I have tried out a lot of new things recently and I thought I would share my favorites here so that you can try them too going forward into spring!

Thrive Market

I recently started using Thrive Market as an easier and cheaper way to get all of my favorite health foods delivered right to my door in NYC. It’s such a great thing for college students, especially if you don’t have access to a grocery store. My favorite items to get are: Joolies dates, Hu Chocolate, Artisna organics coconut macadamia nut butter…OMG it’s incredible, and Purely Elizabeth granola. It’s also a great place to stock up on baking ingredients.

Gold Jewelry

I’ve been on a major gold jewelry kick lately and have a few things I can’t get enough of…

-Alexa Leigh gold ball bracelets

-Gorjana chain link necklace and rings

-Madewell herringbone choker

Lattes + Overnight Oats

I have been on a serious latte kick for a while now, but have shifted towards trying to make my own at home. I’m obsessed with waking up and using my frother and Oatly low-fat oat milk to make a matcha. I use the low-fat because it doesn’t contain rapeseed oil, which is equivalent to canola oil. I’ve also been really into overnight oats. I love the Trader Joe’s brand or MUSH, but I have been trying to be better about doing it myself because it’s SO easy. I take a pack of instant oatmeal in a small glass jar, fill with almond milk until the oats are barely covered, sprinkle with cinnamon, shake up, and store in the fridge for about 30 mins. I always add almond butter, berries, and cacao nibs for toppings!

Tezza App Stop Motion Feature

I have been using the Tezza app to edit my Instagram videos for a while now, but I have been loving the new stop motion feature as well. I just tap the lightning bolt icon within the app and the stop motion option comes up. You can adjust the speed and number of stops as well which is really helpful.

At-home workouts

With many workout studios closing because of the virus going around, I have turned to some of my favorite at-home workouts. I love doing Melissa Wood Health for pilates and yoga and Megan Roup’s Sculpt Society for a little cardio and sculpting. They are both based out of New York, and in my opinion, New York workouts are the hardest and most effective :)

JW Pei and MZ Wallace bags

I had seen so many girls in New York carrying these bags for a while now and finally bought one myself. Let me just say, I LOVE them. The JW Pei is the perfect size and so stylish! I had been trying to find a new travel bag for quite some time now and I finally splurged on one from MZ Wallace. The quality is AMAZING, and it has a giant crossbody strap which is so key. It also has tons of compartments and I plan to use it for days when I’m running all over the city and need to tote a bunch.

Van Leeuwen Vegan Ice Cream

With the days getting longer and the weather getting warmer, I have been craving vegan ice cream. Van Leeuwen makes THE BEST vegan ice cream that you can get at the grocery store hands down. My favorite flavors are the mint chip, cookie dough, and peanut butter chip.

Spring Trends:

PINK

I love that pink is back in style again for spring and summer and I am so here for it. Zara and H&M both have great selections if you want a cheaper option but I’ve also found cute things from Free People and & Other Stories.

GINGHAM

I have loved watching gingham come back into style. It’s such a fun way to add a pattern to a look. Asos, Topshop, and Shopbop have some really cute options.

DENIM JUMPSUITS

I never thought I would be one to jump on the denim jumpsuit wagon but I did and I’m so happy about it. First of all, it’s all one outfit. Second, it’s super comfy. Third, it just looks really cool. :) I got mine from H&M. I do think you should get one with a tie for the waist to make it a little bit more flattering. Madewell also has really cute options.

STRAPPY SANDALS

There are so many cute pairs of sandals out for spring right now. & Other Stories has really nice ones, as well as Shopbop and Revolve.

BEST DAYS: FOR THE DAY YOU NEED A DETOX

Hello Everyone! I’m back today with a new series “Best Days”. I spend every night lying in bed “designing” my day for the next day. I love to curate and think of activities that are not only worthy of a photograph, but really fulfilling to the soul. Today’s post is for the days when you wake up and just need a break from it all. One thing to note about these “best days” is that it doesn’t have to be an entire day. Most of the time I can block off a morning or afternoon, and fit in several little activities that totally increase my health and well being. I hope you enjoy and be sure to let me know if you give any of these a try! I am thinking of starting something more individualized with guides for your day, so be sure to DM me on Instagram if you would be interested.

Now we all have those days when we wake up and aren’t totally feeling it, or just want a fresh start. This best day practice is for those days or any day you want to clean up your routine!

Start the day with a green juice + a liter of water

I love starting my days by walking and getting a green juice. It instantly makes me feel better, whether it’s the juice or the action of “getting in some greens”. I always only get pure celery or celery, cucumber, lemon. I NEVER get juices with fruit! They contain so much sugar and the nutrients from fruit juice do not have the same effects as eating fruit in its purest form. I also like to go get a liter bottle of water. I know it seems wasteful when we can use reusable bottles; however, the act of buying a big water bottle that you like to carry around (hello smart water :) ) will help you actually drink. I have been buying Flow water because they come in non-plastic, compostable containers.

Take yourself out for coffee or a matcha

For me, part of a detox is doing these things by yourself. I love going to a cute coffee shop and sitting with a matcha and just taking time to sit and think.

Put on comfy, but cute loungewear

I am a big proponent of comfy, soft, stretchy anything. I think it’s important to have days where we have no makeup and stay in something like this all day; however, sometimes it can make us unproductive or feel a little lazy. What I have found is that finding cute loungewear will make you more inclined to do things around your house or go out and run errands so you can sport your comfy, yet cute look!

Here are a few of my favorite brands + go-to combos for looks:

-Alo Yoga, Beyond Yoga, Lululemon, Zara, FP Movement

-Put on a matching sports bra + legging set w/ a leather or denim jacket

-Take a cute t-shirt or sweater and knot it to throw on with leggings

-Tuck the front of your top into sweatpants that have a tie for an instantly more “put together” look

Make all of your meals from scratch

There is so much peace of mind you can get every once in a while from knowing you are using the best quality ingredients and where they all come from. When I really take time to think out and prepare my meals for a whole day, I always feel so much better!

Fill out your planner + make to-do lists

I like to take these days to really organize my brain :) I find that writing everything out and filling out my planner instantly makes me feel better and more at ease.

Don’t go on social media for your first hour of being awake!

This one is something I try and do almost every day and it has been really, really good for me. Having time to clear my head without any outside influence for that first hour in my day really sets me up for success.

HOW TO: FINDING THE GOOD PLACES

I have to say that my number one specialty is definitely finding the best of the best when it comes to restaurants, hotels, shops, and city exploring in general! I definitely have a method to figuring out what is good, so I thought I would share a few tips for anyone looking to do some travel research or even explore your own town further.

1. Check the website of the place: I can immediately rule out a place just based off of their website. Call me crazy, but just looking at the font of a menu and the orientation of the site tells me if a place is going to be of high quality or not. Photography is also crucial.

2. Check Yelp: I am a religious user of Yelp and always, always check reviews to see first) if the food or place is good, second) to see if any questions I might have are answered, third) to see what other people took photos of/ordered, etc. I find it so helpful and very reliable!

3. Check Instagram: I always check the business’ Instagram itself, but I often find that many places, restaurants and hotels in particular, only share the staged promotional photos rather than the real stuff. I like to see more natural photos highlighting the areas that aren’t on the website. Therefore I always check the tagged page and even the location tag.

4. Google “Bloggers Guide to ___” : The best bloggers travel guides will naturally come to the top of the search and I find they do the best job of telling you where the Instagram-worthy places are and do so in a more curated, less touristy way.

5. Check major publications’ guides: I always check Vogue, Goop, Conde Nast Traveler, and Bon Appetit for guides to the place I am interested in. Just go on their websites and do a quick search and you are good to go. These publications are my tried and true and always recommend the best of the best! :)

6. Scroll around on Google Maps: I often find just scrolling around and clicking on places is a fun way to discover some place new!

HOW TO HUSTLE

Hard work. I live for working hard. It’s definitely the Aries in me and I don’t think it’s a bad thing at all. While it may look like it’s always glamorous and care free on here, I wanted to share a little bit of reality that is constantly going on behind the scenes. I work three jobs, an internship, am a full time student, and run my blog. I pay for every piece of clothing myself. There are no days off but I love it. I live for the hustle. Everyday that we wake up with the opportunity to make things happen is a gift. If there’s anything I’ve learned in this life it’s that you can truly get what you want if you are wiling to work for it. So go after what you want, don’t let anyone hold you back, and know that you can and you will make it happen. You just have to want it. 

I wanted to write a post all about how I manage my time and balance it all. I plan non-stop and I have a very set routine in order to make all of these things happen every single day.

1. Never sacrifice exercise and nutrition: The only way I can possibly run at the rate I do is because I prioritize my mental and physical well being. Giving myself the proper fuel to run for hours and having the stamina is critical in my everyday lifestyle. You can read more about What I Eat in A Day here. 

2. Get up early: Getting up early is seriously life-changing. Giving yourself the time to set yourself up for the day can help you run so much more efficiently throughout it. You don’t need to put in 3 extra hours of work, but if you use those three extra hours to take of yourself and get your mind and body in a clear space, it will be so much more beneficial throughout the entire day. 

3. Always give yourself a tangible task: If I have a spare hour or two, there is no way I’m going to sit and do nothing. While that’s great (& necessary) every now and then, I always ask myself “Do I need groceries?”, “Do I need to clean/do laundry?”, “What do I need to go pick up?” 

4. Pick up the pace (literally): I’m naturally a fast walker, but you can seriously cover so much more ground when you walk faster. Getting in a little extra work and maximizing all the time that you have. Next time you are out and about, notice and see if you can put a little extra pep in your step :)

5. Take the night before to actually map out your day: I always pull up Google Maps and see how much I can get done in one area to maximize time, especially in NYC. I also account for the fastest routes (Metro/Car/Walking- keeping time of day in mind as well) I then always look up how long it will take me to get from place to place and then schedule my destinations accordingly. For example, if I have things I want to do in Soho, I will start the morning down there with a workout class, stay down there and grab breakfast, then work my way back uptown.

6. Block off activities: I really try and schedule my planner so that work, school, and leisure are all very separate. It’s so much more efficient that way because you won’t find things blending together or find yourself feeling stressed by one thing when you are working on another. I keep mornings to myself for leisure, weekday daytime for school, weekday evenings for my blog, weekend daytime for work, and weekend nights for time with friends!

7. Know when to multitask: Multitasking shouldn’t be an all day everyday thing, especially if you want to avoid burnout; however, it can be quite useful For example, you can relax and treat yourself at your favorite coffee shop while getting work done. You can answer emails if you have a long commute or wait. Do a quick study sesh while your laundry is in the wash…

I hope you found these tips helpful! Be sure to follow along on my YouTube Channel where I show real day in the life vlogs and document my daily life and the hustle. :)

CREATING A HAPPIER LIVING SPACE

The way we keep our spaces is so crucial to our everyday function, productivity, and well being. Whether you have a full house or are living in a dorm, there are so many ways to make your space somewhere you crave to be! Here are some of my favorite tips and things that I can’t live without:

1. KEEP IT CLEAN

   It’s so much easier to spend 10 minutes straightening up every morning than putting it all off for once a week! Things I make sure to do every single day are: make my bed as soon as I wake up, never leave dirty dishes before heading out the door, quick vacuum/countertop spray. Coming back to a clean space is so much more relaxing and will help you feel more at peace upon entering your space.

2. COLLECT STATIONARY/ART PRINTS

   I love grabbing a postcard or business card from any restaurant or shop I go to that offers one. I have established quite a collection that I pin-up in my window or you can add to a bulletin board. It’s a fun way to keep track of fun things and places you have been to but also an inexpensive and fun way to display inspiration.

3. ALWAYS HAVE PLANTS + FLOWERS

   We are designed to live amongst nature so it’s so important to have plants and fresh flowers around! There’s no reason not to grab some flowers at Trader Joe’s every week (Roses/Hydrangeas/Tulips last the longest if you are looking to have them for a while to make it worth your $). If flowers aren’t your thing, succulents, lemon or olive trees, or even herb plants are great additions to have around.

4. OIL DIFFUSERS OR CANDLES

   Having great scents seriously increases my mood and mental clarity. I love essential oils for great scents that don’t linger too much and aren’t too overpowering like some candles can be. If I do have candles I love the ambiance and always make sure they are soy!

5. FUZZY BLANKETS

   There is nothing better in the world than a fuzzy blanket. I think having one for every room is a must. Thrown on the back of the sofa, at the end of your bed, anywhere you like to curl up and chill out!

6. SEPERATE WORK + HOME

   Even if you have a job or school work that requires you to work from home, make sure you have an actual boundary separating your place of rest and relaxation with work. For college students, I suggest going to coffee shops or the library to work on school work and leaving your room as your living space. For those in a home, don’t take work into your bedroom, leave it for the kitchen table or living room. This will seriously help you sleep better and give you a little more mental clarity.

TIPS FOR STAYING WELL

We are approaching the time of year where sickness is around us and the fear of the sniffles starts to set in. I wanted to share some of my tips for staying well and how to combat symptoms when you feel a cold creeping in.

1. DRINK TONS OF WATER

   It’s hard to remember to drink our water in the winter months when we aren’t out in the heat or sweating as much, but this is the time of year where we need more water than ever to keep our skin and body hydrated against the cold. It also helps flush out those bad toxins!

2. STAY ON TOP OF PROBIOTICS

   I normally only take my Seed probiotics in the morning, but it doesn’t hurt to have a little extra through coconut yogurt or kombucha. Always check to make sure you get a kind with no sugar added! My fav brands are Cocojune, GT’s, and CoYo.

3. DRINK A HOT LEMON WATER BEFORE BED

   I swear this does wonders for me! Anytime you feel a sore throat coming on, start drinking hot lemon water and even add ginger if you have it. I really notice a difference in how I feel the next morning if I have a cup right before bed!

4. DRY BRUSH AND GUA SHA

   Dry brushing and gua sha both increase lymphatic drainage and promote healthy turnover of white blood cells. This aids in our immune response and lessens symptoms!

5. ANTIOXIDANTS + CITRUS

   While I always am loading up on berries and citrus, if you start to not feel well, now is the perfect time to load up on all of these fruits! Whatever you do, DO NOT drink Emergen-C! It’s not good for you and your body will be much better off retaining the nutrients from whole, real fruits! (Vitamin C is also not the only player in defense :) )

6. PEPPERMINT STEAM SHOWER

   I love turning on a steamy shower and putting a few drops of peppermint oil on the floor to open up my airways and sinuses! It seriously does wonders and makes your bathroom smell like a spa.

7. LIGHT EXERCISE

   Take it easy with exercise and decrease cardio. Cardio stimulates stress hormones in the body which don’t need to be wasting their energy if you are already feeling down. Doing some stretching or yoga is best!

8. NOURISHING FOOD

   Eat warming foods that are high in nutrients! Now is the time when you probably want to eat treats thinking it will make you feel better, but it’s the most crucial time to eat healthily. I love soups, warming rice bowls, and things with lots of spice! (now is a good time to drink a golden milk :) )

LITTLE WAYS TO MAKE A DAY MORE MAGIC

I love the winter. I think it’s because I’m attracted to all things cozy: fuzzy pajamas, furry blankets, fireplaces, snow. I think winter is the perfect time to find quiet little moments to do things for yourself to help reset. I also think winter is an easy time to fall into a bit of a rut. Especially when the days are shorter, darker, and can seem to drag on. That’s why it’s so important to know yourself and the little things you can do year-round to make each season and week a little more special.

While New York always feels a little magical, even on the most monotonous of days, it has inspired me in so many ways on how to incorporate little bits of happiness into my everyday life. I think one of the main factors is having a set routine every day but picking 2 days a week where you take one routine item and make it special. For me, that’s picking two days a week where I get my matcha out instead of making it at home. I also think your well being and happiness has a lot to do with the happiness of your living space. Let me tell you this: flowers make ALL the difference in the world. First, buying flowers and leaving the shop with them feels productive in itself, and second, it just brightens and livens (literally) anything and everything up!

Here are a few of my other favorites:

• Dress up for your workout

• Go for a walk and listen to the songs that put you in the best mood

• Get dressed up and go walk around some of your favorite stores

• Bake something

• Try photographing your day, even if it’s not that exciting, in a way that would make it “Instagrammable”: For example, I have oatmeal almost every day, but sometimes I spend extra time making it look pretty and set it on my desk next to some flowers and take a picture.

What I hope the takeaway from this post is, is that you can see that it doesn’t even have to cost much to look at your daily life and implement some subtle changes that make a world of difference in your health and well being.

BUDGET HACKS

Hello everyone! I am back today with yet another post as part of my fe.WELL: empowering women and girls through lifestyle inspiration series. Today’s post is something I myself still have to work on EVERYDAY. I am a terrible saver. I always have been. I love working and making money because I love spending money. I am just naturally a spender. I think it’s really important to know your habits with money and be aware of them early. I also think it’s important, even though it’s not easy, to be really honest with yourself and money. I get it, it’s not always fun to open up your bank statement, but the more we do it the easier it gets. I think girls especially need to feel more confident in their own finances. Understanding money, making it, and managing it. As a college student living in New York, I have developed quite a few tricks on how to save money on certain things, some of it was through trial and error. I already have a post about how to find the best online shopping deals but I wanted to share more in this post.

Never buy something the first time you see it: Now there are some exceptions to this rule. One being, if you are on vacation somewhere special then, by all means, buy it! Also, if it’s an item at a place like TJ Maxx or even Zara, and you really, really like it then buy it. You can always return it later! I always, always take pictures of the things I’m thinking of purchasing and if I haven’t looked at the pictures or thought about it in 48 hours, then it’s not meant to be :)

ClassPass: Use the free month trial!

Referring friends: So many companies will give extra discounts if you share referral links to friends!

Look out for free events (so many in the city usually have free food and drinks)

Always compare Uber and Lyft

Plan your meals out and spending in your agenda along with your daily tasks

Check the Whole Foods app to see what’s on sale that week

Don’t get smoothies out! While they are delicious and convenient, this eats up your money so quickly when it’s so much cheaper to buy fruit and make them yourself at home

Have a closet sale! I have been trying to implement the rule: one in, one out. Instagram stories and Venmo have made it so much easier to sell things online!

SETTING INTENTIONS

At the end of my yoga class the other morning my instructor said something that really hit home for me. That through manifestation, setting intentions, and giving attention to something, we can accomplish anything. I think it’s so important to start everyday or even if it’s just every week, by setting an intention of who we want to show up as things come up throughout the week. For me I practice this through going to yoga. I think it helps to have a set place and time where you can truly form and set an intention. Intentions are different than goals in the sense that it’s more the way you carry yourself and create your thoughts before they become action. I wanted to share some examples of different intentions that often set if you are looking for inspiration on where to begin. Another thing that truly makes or breaks the action of setting intentions for me, is having plenty of time in the morning. I truly try my best to make sure I have at least 2 hours of time to workout, have a good breakfast, and relax before I have somewhere to be. It really does set the entire day up for a better mindset and outlook.

• Be more present. This is always difficult to do, but it’s the most important. Putting away your phone for a little bit, even just sitting and noticing the sounds around you or your breath, can totally bring you back into the present moment.

• Be more connected. Similar to being present, being more connected gets more and more difficult with technology in our way. Have more face to face conversations, get outside and connect to nature, or go do something to connect with yourself.

• Be more at peace. Being more at peace with where we are today, not wishing we would hurry up and be something we are not already. Starting by paying gratitude towards the things in our lives is one of the best ways to feeling more at peace with ourselves.

• Letting go. I recently wrote a post about letting go, but I can’t emphasize it enough. There are so many things that come up throughout our days and weeks that don’t go exactly our way, but it is our greatest power to make the choice to let those things go rather than holding onto tension or negativity.

I really hope this post gave you something to think about and consider especially during the winter months when we have more time to reflect on where we are and who we want to be.

SHOT, STYLED, EDITED: HOW I STYLE MY LOOKS

Hello! I’m back with another post in my Shot, Styled, Edited series, here to talk about how I style my looks. I am always coming up with different outfits in my head at all times. I wanted to share a few of my tips and tricks that I use to come up with different looks and make the most of what I already have in my wardrobe. I hope you find this helpful and as always let me know if you try any of these tips out yourself!

Set aside a try-on time!

This has to be my number one strategy, it saves so much time getting dressed (and $$) when you have made time to know what outfits you already have. I try to take an evening every couple of weeks, open up my closet, and just start trying things on and piecing combinations together that I haven’t worn before. You will be amazed by how many new outfits you can create using what you already have!

Take mirror selfies

When I try on different looks, even in dressing rooms, I always take mirror selfies so I can remember the different looks I created and can look at them from the perspective of a camera so I can make sure I like how it looks.

Use Pinterest

I can’t say enough good things about Pinterest, but seriously, I get such good outfit inspo from them!

Either layer up or keep it simple

I find that with fashion you are either all in or all out. I prefer a really simple look like jeans and a white t-shirt with some minimal gold jewelry or having a sweater, under a coat, with a scarf and boots. :)

HOW TO LOVE WINTER

I have always loved winter! I think it might be the little bit of Northerner in me :) However, I know many people dread this time of year and can’t wait to just get winter over with. I think the winter is actually the perfect time to slow down, restore ourselves, and focus in on the little pleasures in life. I wanted to share a few of my tips that get me through some of the gloomier days and make this time of year feel extra cozy. As always be sure to let me know if you give any of these tips a try!

BUY FRESH FLOWERS

While I know not everyone has an entire flower district so close to them, we all have grocery stores and markets where we can buy flowers. While they are a treat when it comes to budgeting, having fresh greenery and blooms is a total game-changer in my everyday mood. Plus, it feels productive just buying flowers alone!

TAKE WALKS

I think winter is the best time to make sure you are getting outside and breathing in some nice fresh cold air. The cold air is actually so good for your skin too! I love going out, snow or shine, and listening to a podcast, some uplifting music, or just breathing in the sounds of nature. After I come in from the cold I always hop right into a hot shower! Literally nothing better. Bonus is if you time your clothes in the dryer to be done and warm as soon as you finish showering :)

COOKING/BAKING

Winter is the best time of year for cooking and baking. I love making a hearty warm dinner like soup or pasta (my favorite vegan penne vodka is in my recipes post). There is just something so cozy about being in the kitchen and cooking from scratch. It’s also important to eat seasonally as much as possible which means taking advantage of the abundance of citrus available! Sumo oranges are my fav :)

WARM DRINKS

I don’t know what it is, but drinking something warm instantly makes me feel cozy and at peace. Whether it’s hot lemon water, matcha, golden milk, hot cacao, I love it all! Investing in a good frother is an investment I can’t recommend enough! I love waking up early when it’s still dark and sipping on a warm drink.

FUZZY SOCKS

You can never have too many pairs of cozy clothes. Sweatpants, blankets, sweaters, fuzzy socks, it’s all necessary to making you feel at home!

ESSENTIAL OILS + CANDLES

I love diffusing essential oils like peppermint, lemon, grapefruit, or any of the VItruvi blends. I also have recently purchased some flameless battery operated candles to have on my desk for a little extra ambience without the fire hazard :) Incense are also great in the winter. I loved the brand Tenen or Bodha!

SLOW DOWN YOUR WORKOUTS

If we allow our body to follow the cycle of the seasons, which we should, winter is the time to slow down and restore. Being easy on yourself is so important especially during these months. There is nothing better than going to a hot yoga class on a cold day or a nice soothing, but challenging, pilates class to start the day. Staying active does wonders for making you feel your best during the winter. Plus, it boosts your immune system and wards off sickness!

THE POWER OF LETTING GO

As a true Aries at heart, I naturally am obsessed with being in control of everything. I also want everything to be “perfect”. While this trait does help me to hold to higher standards and remain accountable, it also has held me back from relaxing into the more blissful parts of life. One of my intentions I set for the new year at the beginning of 2019 was to let go and also to let go of the fear of losing control. I realized that I was causing myself a lot of anxiety by always wanting to be in control. I finally acknowledged that there is no way to control anyone or anything but ourselves and the way respond to change. While it was hard at first, moving to New York really made me realize just how much space you take up in your mind by resisting things out of our control. The subway and all of its delays and cancelations is a perfect example :)

When I first started out on my healthy eating and exercise journey I wanted to be perfect. While I did achieve my goals because of my commitment to nonstop nutrition and exercise, I also held myself back from enjoying the things that were a little bit indulgent. When I let go and finally started to acknowledge rest days, to eat a piece of chocolate cake, to not worry so much when things went wrong, I actually became the healthiest, both mentally and physically, that I have ever been. I can’t stress the importance enough of remembering that healthy eating and exercise are a lifestyle. It makes no difference if you have a dessert after a day of normal eating and then wake up the next day and continue to eat normally.

The tension and stress that you hold onto when you hold yourself back, both mentally and physically, becomes exhausting overtime. So I want to be here to tell you that letting go is the best thing you will ever do. Don’t hold yourself back. Don’t wait for anyone to tell you it’s a good time. Just move through life as it comes and continue to implement movement and nutrition into your everyday life. If you ever have any questions feel free to message me on Instagram! I’d be happy to give my advice :)

MY FAVORITE PODCASTS

I didn’t think I would ever be one to say this but I LOVE podcasts! It’s such a great way to fill your mind and give you something to think about during what might normally be monotonous tasks like walking, driving, cleaning, or even exercising. The key to podcasts is to start by listening to podcasts on topics you are truly passionate about. I find it so much easier to be invested in what someone has to say, if it’s something I really want to learn more about and get better from. I wanted to share a few of my favorites to give some inspiration to anyone looking to get into listening. I have seriously learned SO much and love that I can feel like I’m multitasking by learning and doing.

1. Second Life: Definitely my favorite podcast of all time, Second Life interviews women who are entrepreneurs or CEOs and asks them about their past from college through all of their previous jobs, to now their “second life”. It’s so reassuring to hear how many times these women have changed jobs or taken a risk in business! They also choose the best curation of guests to interview :)

2. The Skinny Confidential: I recently got into TSC after hearing several people say they were hooked! I love the laid back conversational style this podcast has. It’s similar to second life but a little bit more “real” through the more unique questions the hosts Lauren and Micheal ask!

3. Goop: I love the Goop podcasts for something a little bit more serious and educational feeling. These podcasts aren’t as much interviews on people but more asking professionals for advice from their field. “How to Become Your Future Self” is a must listen.

4. Skimm’d From the Couch: More similar to TSC and Second Life, the girls at Skimm’d interview successful women on how they got to where they are today. It’s so motivating to listen to these success stories because most people got to where they are without having a set plan and by working hard at things they were good at.

I hope you found this inspiring to possibly start listening in to a few podcasts! Let me know if you give any of these a listen!

HOW TO: DREAMY WEEKEND MORNING

I love a good weekend morning with no plans and a morning routine that can go on for hours! I wanted to share some inspo for how I like to spend a Saturday or Sunday morning and really indulge in some me time!

Make a special breakfast

I love whipping up some gluten-free/vegan pancakes, a nice smoothie, or some avocado toast. I recently went to a local bakery and picked up a loaf of sourdough bread to have the next morning with some avocado. Sourdough is really good for gut health and easier for digestion because of the probiotics it contains, plus there is a reason why all of the Australian cafes in New York use it, it’s so good as a base for avocado toast. After trying lots of different avocado toasts over the years I have finally mastered what I think to be the perfect toast.

Here is how I prepare mine:

1. Slice of fresh sourdough bread (only ingredients should be flour, water, and sourdough starter)

2. Option to lightly toast the bread, then drizzle with good quality olive oil

3. Mash a quarter to a half of fresh avocado on top, squeeze half a lemon

4. Add pink salt (so much tastier than other salt) + pepper or Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Seasoning

Stretch, Foam Roll, Dry Brush, Gua Sha

I love putting on a good show and doing some stretching to wake up and relax. I also love taking time to foam roll or dry brush to improve lymphatic drainage and just make myself feel really good. It’s also a great time to put on a face mask, moisturize, do a face massage with a gua sha or jade roller, or even paint your nails.

Take a walk or bike ride for a matcha

I love waking up and walking to grab a matcha or smoothie on a weekend morning. It’s especially nice to go early when everyone else is taking time to sleep in :) I love going with a friend or popping in a podcast and starting my day off on the right foot. In the warmer months I love riding my bike to the farmers market as well!

Pinterest + Online Browsing

I love doing what I call “active” browsing in my free time. What I mean is light research that is inspiring but also feeding your brain! For example I love to plan out a pretend dream vacation, pick out home decor to make up a whole room, read wellness articles on Goop, look at street style pictures on Vogue or Pinterest. Anything that fills you up creatively is the best way to spend a weekend morning.

MY FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP IN NYC

It’s no secret that I love shopping. I could spend hours and hours browsing around stores or sitting online scrolling through clothes. Something about it is just so soothing to me! Anyway, I wanted to share some of my favorite stores in NYC because I personally think there is a lack of information about where the best shopping in the city is “off the beaten path”. I’m also going to include some of my favorite places to shop online as well because I also do quite a bit of online shopping as well.

NYC

Clothing + Accessories:

Anthom

Oak + Fort

The Frankie Shop

Sezane

Bandier

Zara (Rockafeller or Soho)

HM (Flatiron)

Goop

Mansur Gavriel

Bergdorfs

Ulla Johnson

The Westside

LoveShackFancy

Moncler in Midtown is one of the most gorgeous stores!

Home Decor:

ABC Carpet + Home

Roman Williams Guild

John Derian

Leif Shop (Brooklyn)

Restoration Hardware

ONLINE

Shopbop

Revolve

Olive Clothing

Oak + Fort

Need Supply Co.

Aritzia

Free People

Ulla Johnson Bleecker Street

HOW I CHANGED MY LIFE

At the end of 2016, I had just gone through the most unhealthy year of my life. I had a bad case of bronchitis twice, I spent a week with the stomach bug, I felt anxious all the time, and I never was truly content in my mind or my body. So I took it upon myself to wake up one day and ask myself, WHY? Why do you feel this way? But then I didn’t stop with that question. I asked myself WHAT? What could I do to make a change? And finally I asked myself HOW? How was I going to make that change? See what people always get wrong is that the start of something new is a tangible action, but the start is when you make the choice to let go of old habits, when you let go of fear, when you let go of everything that has been holding you back. And it’s not that choice alone. It’s the commitment to that choice. A commitment so strong that no matter how hard it gets you know you will get to the other side. So I committed. 

I started with a focus on diet and nutrition because that’s where my biggest downfall was. I would demolish sugary, processed foods and I had no idea what it was doing to my mental and physical health. Nutrition is the first place to start. It’s the place that truly changes your body and truly changes the mind. The brain has a direct connection to the gut, so what we put in fuels our thoughts. I started small with cutting out all processed foods and all white refined sugar. The first week was SO hard. My body was craving the things I had been giving it for so long. Let me tell you SUGAR IS AN ADDICTION. It’s one of the hardest habits for the brain to break, but once you do it will change your life. So after sugar, I started cutting out gluten, then dairy, then red meat, then corn, then soy, then carbonated water, then canola oil. I was paleo for awhile but once I started running I had to increase my intake of whole grains. Whole grains are the number one best thing for your heart health so NEVER cut them out! I relied heavily on pre-made healthy foods at the beginning to make it feel like I was still getting all my favorite “snacks”. 

The magic in it was that as I began to let go of the ingredients that were holding me back, I started adding in things I never thought I would ever like. Tons of leafy greens, mushrooms, seafood, matcha, etc. I started researching how I could make healthy recipes. I started investigating healthy baking through Pinterest searches. It took about eight weeks to really notice changes and form habits. These first eight weeks are HARD. But when you start to see the changes, in your mind and body, you will start to feel passion. I became so passionate seeing how this new lifestyle helped me to begin helping other people. I educate my family everyday on new research I’ve read and geeked out over :) Now once I had mastered the eating portion, I dove into exercise. 

This was 2016 vs end of 2019 :)

I had always danced and played field hockey until 9th grade but I never felt good doing it because I was never fueling myself properly. So I started by doing at home HIIT and strength training workouts and after a few months decided I was going to start running. I have run several 10ks and even completed a half marathon. But no matter how good it feels to cross a finish line and complete a goal, I never LOVED running. So I tried out rowing. I loved rowing for a while but again, I never LOVED it. Finally I decided to give hot yoga a try. I really really loved it. So I started going a few times a week and became hooked. Now I have recently added a consistent pilates practice to my routine along with yoga and have never been more at peace with my workout routine. I never dread the workouts, I always feel incredible, and I feel my happiest doing them. I realized that doing such intense workouts for so long was beating up my body, stressing my body out, and holding me back from trying other options that I thought weren’t “hard” enough. It has also drastically changed my routine to start walking more. I pop in a podcast, listen to music, or just go out and walk. I walk to the grocery store, to the bank, anytime I have an excuse to walk I will. 

With my passion at an all time high, I started investigating clean beauty, skincare, and even cleaning products. The toxins in these products are often at the root of many cancerous diseases and ruin the effects of healthy eating and exercise. The first thing I changed was using an aluminum free deodorant. Seriously this is SO important. Aluminum is a root cause of many breast cancers. Then I changed my shampoo and body washes to make sure they didn’t contain SLS (sodium laurel sulfate). This foaming agent is in most soaps and is SO bad for us. I then changed my makeup and nail polish. I never ever go to a regular nail salon anymore. They are crawling with bacteria and toxins. I only use a 10-free nail polish which I will talk about in my clean beauty post. 

After nutrition and exercise, I wanted to touch on a book I read that truly is life changing. It’s called The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle. He talks all about presence in our thoughts and actions, and it’s an incredible read. It’s a little bit weird to get into at first but I have now read through it about 3-4 times. It’s something you can always come back to which I love. 

So I know this is lengthy, but I wanted to share because I want to help people change their lives. To see that there is a way out of feeling down about yourself. To see that we have so much to offer life and life has so much to offer us, if we take care of ourselves. When people say it takes years to truly get to a balanced place with diet and exercise it’s true. So be patient with yourself, even though I know it can be really hard, and trust that you are moving forward even if it’s only a little at a time. While it’s important to have a healthy and happy mind and body, above all it’s important to have a happy heart. A heart that feels full. Of love and magic forever. 

With all my love, C

BEST OF: CLEAN BEAUTY PRODUCTS

We are all changing our habits by starting to eat healthier and exercise, but the trend that is taking a little bit longer to get to headlines is clean beauty. We put so much time and effort into choosing foods that fuel us with nutrients and push ourselves through difficult workouts to maintain our health, but if we continue to go to the nail salon or wash our hair with generic shampoos, we are defeating all of our hard work and purpose towards living a healthier lifestyle. I wanted to share a few of my favorite brands that I have switched over to to ensure I have eliminated as many toxins out of my routine as I can. The toxins in our beauty and cleaning products are the toxins that are causing many cancers these days and we need to educate ourselves and take the time to make sure we know what we are using in our homes and on our bodies.

Nail Polish

As someone who was obsessed with having her nails painted for years, changing my polish habits was one of my first steps toward clean beauty. Most cities are starting to have non-toxic nail salons which I always try to seek out if I ‘m not doing my nails myself. My favorite in Richmond is Holy Chic and in NYC I love Sundays. I use Sundays nail polish all the time even when I’m not going to the salon. At $18/ bottle it is pretty pricey but it’s the cleanest nail polish on the market. It’s the only polish that is 10-free, which means it’s free of the 10 most toxic ingredients used in normal nail polish. Another important thing to note is to change out your nail polish remover as well. I go to Whole Foods to buy acetone free remover. Now it doesn’t work as effectively as getting polish off, but it’s worth it to save yourself of the toxins!

Shampoo + Body Wash

Any soap that you use with foam most likely contains the foaming agent Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS). This compound is one of the worst things for our bodies and can potentially stimulate cancer cell growth. I use Dr. Bronner’s all-purpose cleanser which has about five ingredients and can be used as a body wash but also countertop cleaner! For shampoo and conditioner, I use the brand Eco Love that I pick up from my local health food store but it is sold on Amazon. A lot of natural shampoos use oils that can make someone with oily skin like me have VERY greasy hair, but Eco Love makes a shampoo specifically for oily hair and it’s the best I’ve ever tried.

Deodorant

One of the first and easiest changes you can make is to start by switching to an aluminum-free deodorant. This is important for everyone but especially women, as aluminum is a big contributor to breast cancer development! I use the brand Alba which can be found at Whole Foods, health food stores, or on Amazon. Seriously though, do this before anything else and spread the word to family and friends! It’s shocking to me how many companies are still allowed to sell such harmful products.

Skincare

I talk about it all the time but I am obsessed with Marie Veronqiue skincare. She uses the highest quality products and essential oils and I always feel like I am at a spa. HIGHLY worth the investment. I use and love the Treatment cleanser, the treatment oil, and the intensive repair serum. I also love Aesop for body scrub, oil, and lotion. Their products are also very clean.

Home

I use Mrs. Meyer’s soap for laundry, dishes, and hand washing. For scent I always use an oil diffuser, incense from Bodha, or a soy candle. Regular burning candles or room sprays are SO SO bad for us! There are so many options for better candles these days.

Makeup

I recently switched all my makeup over to using Beautycounter and I couldn’t be more in love. All of their products are super lightweight and give you such a great natural “no makeup” makeup look. Makeups are full of so many toxins and many are not vegan and tested on animals. Beautycounter is the cleanest brand I have found and I love the work they are doing as a company. I love their foundation and they have the BEST mascara.

DAY IN MY LIFE IN NYC ROUTINE

TYPICAL DAY IN NYC:

6:30-7am: wake up, immediately take probiotics with water, gua sha my face if puffy, get dressed 

7am: out the door for either hot yoga, pilates, soul cycle, or a walk (always with a banana in hand)

8:30-9am: come home, eat breakfast (usually two hard boiled eggs + fruit), shower

9:30-11am: make a matcha, check emails, turn on oil diffuser

11-3:30pm: class, running to the mailroom, run back to my room to make some oatmeal for lunch 

*I don’t have class on Thursdays so I usually go shoot my pictures and work on blog stuff

Evening: club meetings, work, errands, hw, laundry, eat my salad (mixed greens, hummus, carrots, cucumbers/tomatoes, salmon)

Blue light glasses on, watch YT videos, online shop, eat Hu kitchen chocolate or dates

TYPICAL DAY AT HOME IN VIRGINIA:

HOME-

7-7:30am: wake up, take probiotics with water, gua sha face if puffy, head downstairs to make matcha latte with oat milk, watch the Today Show

8:30-9am: head out for a walk, go to hot yoga or pilates class, sometimes a Melissa Wood Health workout 

10:30-3:30: shower, errands, grocery store, baking or cooking (usually a Sweet Laurel recipe), shoot/edit photos

Evening: work on blog, family time 

Hello, World!

NYC RESTAURANT GUIDE: BEST LUNCH SPOTS IN THE CITY

There is nothing more luxurious than sitting down to a table and being served at lunch. Especially when most days consist of something on the go like a Sweetgreen Salad or making a quick bowl of oatmeal. I have included a range or places from fancy to casual in a variety of different neighborhoods. Again, if you use my guide be sure to tag me on Instagram so I can follow along on your NYC restaurant adventures! :)

Rubirosa Pizza

The best pizza in NYC hands down. (aside from Double Zero when you want something on the healthier side) Rubirosa is located in Nolita on Mulberry Street and it’s the best spot to grab a late lunch with friends. Their crust is on the thinner side which is perfect and they can do half and half pizzas. They are massive so don’t go alone or when you aren’t hungry! I like the tie die pizza (pesto drizzle on marinara) and the white pizza. They do offer delivery through Caviar if you are in the area.

J.G Melon

I couldn’t think of a place more “New York” than J.G Melon on the Upper East Side. Aside from the Polo Bar, J.G Melon is my favorite burger in the city. Such a great spot for something casual on a weekend afternoon. Their cottage fries are highly addicting and I personally love to eat them the European way, dipped in mayonnaise :) The number one thing to know before going is that they are CASH ONLY!

L’Avenue

Newer to the NYC restaurant scene, L’Avenue is located on the 9th floor of Saks on Fifth Avenue in Midtown. Let me just say, it’s absolutely STUNNING. The best ladies who lunch spot :) The restaurant is french, based off the original Paris location, but they have a wide offering of dishes. My mom and I love their french fries :) The spring rolls and sliced avocado are delicious! Their desserts are also definitely worth taking a look at.

Citizens of Bleecker

I recently popped into Citizens of Bleecker when I was down doing some shopping in Soho and I was not disappointed! They have locations in Gramercy and Chelsea as well. I ordered the Chicken Miso Salad and OMG I think it’s the best salad I’ve had in NYC. I added avocado and it was perfect! Their avocado toast also looks incredible.

Dr. Smood

My go to spot for something quick, that I know is super clean. They are card only, just an FYI! I always get the avocado toast. Something about the bread they use that makes it so so good. I recently discovered their avo toast and soup combo for $13 which is a pretty good deal for a whole meal in NYC. I LOVE their tomato soup!

HEALTH + WELLNESS: HOW TO GROCERY SHOP

Despite living in the dorm and being on the meal plan at college, I have made sure that I have not sacrificed my health and nutrition in any way. I truly believe that college is the most fun time in life, but it also is the most unhealthy time for most people. Most students don’t sleep enough, don’t eat properly, are seriously dehydrated, and lacking in daily movement. I want to build a space that promotes change in that area. This is the time in your life to have the most fun, but also take the best care of yourself. The only person you have to worry about everyday is yourself, and without the stresses that will come after graduation, it’s important to focus in and build habits that will take you well beyond your college years. In this series I am going to be breaking posts down into categories of things I do to ensure I am feeling and working my best. Today I want to share what I buy at the grocery store to still be on a budget, but avoid the unhealthy choices that most dining halls offer. If your campus doesn’t have a good grocery store nearby I highly recommend ordering snacks + groceries through Amazon, InstaCart, or Thrive Market!

Trader Joe’s

I think Trader Joe’s is the best grocery store for a college student to shop at. They have the lowest prices on organic produce and have a great selection of healthy items. These are the things I buy weekly + use everyday:

1. Almond Butter: I buy the dry roasted, unsalted almond butter + use it on top of oatmeal everyday, on a brown rice cake as a snack, or on dates or a banana for dessert

2. Lundenberg Brown Rice Cakes: Super cheap, great snack with hummus on top, mashed avocado for “toast”, or with almond butter (These are great to reach for if you get hungry later at night)

3. Organic Berries: I buy all my berries at Trader Joe’s because they are usually cheaper. I use them on top of oatmeal every day.

4. Unsweetened Gluten-Free Instant Oatmeal: I love these packs because they are super easy to throw in the microwave and will fill you up for hours.

5. Norweigan Seed Crisps: These crackers are super clean and I love the crunch from them. These are great dipped in hummus or the Trader Joe’s Vegan Kale Pesto! I sometimes will crumble one on top of a salad for a little extra crunch.

6. Green Goddess Dressing: This is one of my best tips for a college student is to always use your own dressing! Most dressings have bad oils, hidden dairy products or sugars, and end up ruining the purpose of trying to eat a healthy meal. This dressing is awesome, with a super clean, vegan ingredients list and tastes delicious!

7. Honey Mama’s Chocolate: This chocolate is delicious and totally free of any gluten, dairy, or refined sugars!

8. Bananas + Organic Honey Crisp Apples: Great snacks for on the go, pre-workout, and they keep well in your room!

9. Dates: I love to have a date or two with some almond butter for dessert! Seriously tastes incredible!

10. Nuts: Trader Joe’s is the cheapest place to buy organic nuts and I always make sure I have a bag of raw or dry roasted almonds on hand! Pistachios are also a great snack.

I hope these tips with some of my favorites will help and inspire you to eat a little bit cleaner. There really is no better or crucial time to eat healthy than when you are in school and need to be at your sharpest, and most productive. Be sure to tag me or let me know if you try any of these ideas out!