Thursday 28 April 2016

My Relatioship With Fitness



I assume I'm not alone in admitting that I have a somewhat complicated relationship with fitness. I grew up as an athlete, often times jumping between two different sports in any given day, and thrived in team-based, competitive environments. But that all changed when I graduated and it's been something I've struggled with since.

Any semblance of structure that I'd had up until that point changed drastically. In high school, I knew what to expect each day. Classes ended at the same time, followed by sports practice (either track, soccer, or basketball), dinner, and then onto my homework. As a creature of habit, this sort of regimented schedule worked for me. I never had to think about staying fit because I simply showed up to practice each day where a coach would tell me what to do and I'd follow his or her instructions. And I loved it. Before I went away to school, I didn't realize how much I'd relied on that structure and how difficult it was to find that kind of discipline on my own.

I ended up losing a lot of my strength and gaining a bit of weight, thanks to my newly sedentary lifestyle paired with dessert after every meal. Frozen yogurt after breakfast? Sure thing! A handful of just-out-of-the-oven cookies after lunch? Yes, please! I basically had no willpower when it came to my food consumption and I also wasn't exercising. After a few years rolled by though, I was ready to make some changes. I started joining my friends at the gym, all of us lined up, pumping away furiously on our ellipticals. It was something I looked forward to and since I had enough free time, I always made it a priority. 

Since then, my exercise habits have been sporadic at best. I'll have spurts where I'll work out consistently for months at a time - working out at the gym or at home, a yoga class, running, or even going for group spin classes. But nothing sticks. I'm impressively good at coming up with excuses - whether I get bored, injured, or come up with enough schedule conflicts. The truth is: I don't make the time. For a while I made it a priority to go for a walk each morning. That was the daily activity.

I've gotten a lot of questions about my exercise routine over the years and it's something I've never known quite how to address. I have a naturally athletic build.

Some days I get really down on myself since I'm not as active as I'd like to be. I realize the importance of making time for myself (not just everything around me) and making my health a priority. I want to be one of those people that has "their thing" - like my mom, who does laps at the pool a few days a week, my friends who are fiercely dedicated to their yoga practices, or Matthew, who's recently fallen in the habit of going to the gym at work every day.

I struggle with the fact that a lot of my identity used to be so closely tied to being an athlete. But with everything I do, I try to look at where I am currently as just a stage in my life. Things will shift over time and eventually, I'm confident I'll feel that pull towards being active and the addictive endorphin rush that accompanies it.

Thursday 16 July 2015

Links I Love


1. The ultimate guide to LA donuts. (studiodiy.com)
2. Unconventional wedding etiquette. (thecoveteur.com)
3. Cute printable spice labels for a weekend project. (spoonforkbacon.com)
4. What not to eat when eating out. (theguardian.com)
6. Buy these things at the farmers' market now. (thekitchn.com)
7. Love this DIY pine serving tray. (designsponge.com)
8. Fringe tote for beach days. (madewell.com)
9. Homemade Hostess cupcake cake. (confessionsofacookbookqueen.com)

Eight Manicure and Pedicure Colour Combinations

When I do things with girlfriends, I inevitably slip back to the mindset of a middle school girl. If we're at brunch and I'm considering eggs, I'll almost always switch up my order for fear of having "food envy" once my friend's waffles arrive. The same goes for nails and whenever I'm at the salon, I like seeing the color combination my friend has chosen before finalizing on mine. But besides my tendency to waver like an adolescent, these are eight of my all-time favorite shades I never question.
 Combo 1 // nude + red
Combo 2 // white + navy
Combo 3 // metallic + coral
Combo 4 // rich blue + light blue
Combo 5 // grey + light pink
Combo 6 // dusty pink + dusty green
Combo 7 // pink purple + lilac
Combo 8 // vamp + orange

3 Summer Weekenders

Things to pack for your next getaway.
1. Bucket Hat - A canvas bucket hat works equally well for while lounging on the lake as it does on a hiking trail.
2. Bug Spray - A non-offensive bug repellent via Coqui Coqui that doesn't smell like, well, bug spray (and I love the chic packaging).
3. Slip-ons - These perforated slip ons are a nice alternative to water shoes.
4. Sunglasses - I usually rely on over sized sunglasses to nip sun-glare in the bud, and love that these gold ones are under $10.
5. One-piece - Packing minimally is at the top of my priority list for a lake trip so I like that this seersucker swimsuit can do double duty as a top.
6. Pull-on Shorts - Easy shorts that have no zippers, ties or buttons. 
7. Favorite Childhood Cereal - We always bring little boxes of cereal when we go on trips and I look forward to waking up each morning to Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
8. Protective Lipstick - I always forget to put sunblock on my lips so I'm thrilled that my favorite tinted formula also contains SPF.
9. Portable Speaker - Download your favorite podcasts and bring a tiny portable speaker so that you can listen while hanging out by the water.
1. Tote - Carry an extra roomy tote so you can bring all of the essentials plus a bottle of water to stay hydrated throughout the day.
2. Wine Opener - Pack a small wine bottle opener so you can try out a brand new bottle in the hotel room later that night or out for a picnic during the day.
3. Chic Sandals - Vineyards are oftentimes nestled into sprawling properties so comfortable shoes are a must. This embellished pair fits the bill.
4. Easy Romper - Rompers are the ultimate easy-to-wear item, but this tiered black one piece also looks fancy enough to wear to dinner.
5. Hat - A lightweight straw hat is perfect for daytime, and you can easily throw it into your tote when dinner rolls around.
6. Wine Stopper - For bottles you don't finish, this marble bottle stopper is both functional and beautiful.
7. Traveling Bottle Bag - These padded travel bags are the best way to keep your bottles from breaking. 
1. Pouch - Bring a pouch to the beach to keep valuables safe and sand-free. 
2. Gourmet S'mores - Take a classic fireside treat to a new level with this gourmet s'mores kit, which includes hand crafted honey grahams, vanilla marshmallows and salted chocolate.
3. Cover-Up - An easy cover up that would look equally as good with a pair of boyfriend jeans.
4. Bikini - I'm a sucker for a scalloped edge and love the pretty powder blue color on this bikini set.
5. Paddles - I'm competitive by nature, so a trip to the beach has to include some type of game. I like Paddle ball because it can be enjoyed by just about everyone. 
6. Wide Brim Hat - A beach hat with a floppy brim so that your face and shoulders get plenty of shade.
7. Turkish Towel - Turkish towels are not only super absorbent but they're large, so a couple of people can spread out on one towel. 
8. Lace-Up Sandals - These lace-up gladiator sandals are a little bit more special than flip flops, but just as comfortable.