GET UP AND AT EM - 3 REASONS TO EXERCISE

Tank Top | Sports Bra | Workout Leggings | Sneakers | More similar items at the bottom!

Within the past few months I've posted some pictures in workout clothes or bikinis and I've been getting lots of questions lately about what I've been doing to get in shape.  It hasn't just been one thing like a magic diet or a 5 week program, so recently I decided I'm going to start doing more posts about my routine and journey to a healthier, stronger me.

I wanted to start with reasons to exercise.  Three things to think about that will motivate you to get up, out, and moving.   These are the three things that motivated me to start exercising and have healthier eating habits and they are three things I still think about when I'm feeling lazy and just
don't want to work out.

1. Not only will your body thank you, but so will your mind.
Yes, exercising will make you look great and feel great physically.  You'll look in the mirror everyday and feel proud of yourself after every workout.  You'll feel happier (endorphins make you happy, thank you ms. woods you've now been quoted one million and ONE times.) And then you'll go to work.  Or you'll arrive at work the next morning.  Or you'll run to pick up your kids.  Or you'll head to class or continue working on that paper that's been taking forever... and you'll realize...it's all a little clearer.  You're mind is clearer, you're getting things done faster, there isn't this sort of fog making things harder to get done than they already are, and you're just more energetic.  I think that's my favorite part of exercising! I even have a little note I wrote myself at my desk in my room that says, "If you're having a crappy day, GO WORKOUT.  You WILL feel better." And you know what?  That little note is always right.

2. Think about your future self.
-Think about yourself in 10 years.  20 years.  Think about how you want to look.  Think about how you want to feel.  Think about your insides and how healthy you want them to be then.  Even think about your future children.  Whether you're right there or that's not going to happen for another 5 or 10 years.  Think about their health.  Think about their bodies.  You and your body are setting them up.  Think about where you want to be career wise.  A healthy body and mind will only help you get to where you want to be.  Now, apparently nobody can see the future.  But you can try to control the way you want it to go.  And exercise is something that involves nothing but you.  Nobody else, no equipment, no money.  JUST.  YOU.  And it can only benefit the future you.  So think about your future self and her (or his) health.

3.  It'll motivate you to live a healthier, more balanced lifestyle all around.
After a few days you'll start to feel your self getting stronger, see small differences in what your body looks like, and just all together feel so much better that you may look for other ways to get stronger and feel better.  And that may lead you to seek out healthier foods and practices like yoga and meditation.  You just need to have an open mind to it all.  I was never the best eater.  I loved sweets and would just over do it.  But once I started working out regularly and getting into a healthy routine with it, I wanted to try eating healthier when I could.  I wanted to do research and see what would make my body feel better, perform better, and look better.  You'll never regret working out, it can only make you more aware and inspired to live a healthier life.

TRANSITION

Cardigan: Old Navy | Tank Top: Old Navy | Pants: Gap Factory | Sandals: Similar pair here | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban | Bag: Zara - Similar here | Watch: JORD 

Transitioning into fall style is always a little tough.  I mean, how can I be expected to go from wearing shorts and sandals one day to wearing boots and a chunky scarf the next? So since it's still pretty warm out I've been slowly incorporating more pants and cardigans into my outfits rather than going all in with the cowl neck sweaters and hunter boots.  The booties even came out to play one day last week when it was particularly autumn-y and rainy out (see here on my insta.)  I feel like throwing a cardigan or denim jacket on top of any outfit can make it automatically acceptable for fall :)

SUMMER'S END

Bikini: TRIANGL | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

Happy September! I could not be more sad to see summer go.  I feel guilty for even getting excited about fall because I feel like I'm cheating on summer.  The sun, the heat, the water, the long days, salty hair, and tan skin... I'd prefer if we could just go straight to Christmas and right back to summer.  Summer, Christmas, Summer, Christmas.  Yes, that would be perfect. But alas, fall will be here in 9 days and I better just start getting used to it.   I'll get through the winter by dreaming and planning for next summer. And who am I kidding, next summer will be here before I even realize it and I'll be like, WHERE did this year go?!

ANYWAYS, now that I've just written a public love letter to summer, I want to talk about this swim suit!!!! I know, weird time to be posting about it because ya know, 9 days 'til fall.  But it's still warm here and I just got this bikini and I want to talk about it!!!! I got it from TRIANGL and it's even prettier in person.  Didn't ever think I could fall in love with a bikini.  If you've never heard of TRIANGL, then you need to check them out! Their bikini's are made of neoprene, which is the material that is used for scuba suits and it makes for an amazing quality bikini!  Plus I love all the designs from their newest collection, I had THE HARDEST time picking one out.  I mean, they are all so pretty!!  You can find mine here - Delilah in Fiore Nero and I got the Regular Bum (I got the top in medium and the bottom in large.)

And you'll find me in it and next to the pool until the sun and weather of summer aren't keeping me warm anymore.

xo

ARMY GREEN

Dress: Mossimo | Sandals: Steve Madden | Bag: Zara (Similar) | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban | Watch: Jord 

Army green (or olive...are they the same or not? idk, what do you think? doesn't matter, I love them both) has been my absolute FAVORITE color for like two years now. I just think that it's the best neutral of all the neutrals and I love the way it looks with my skin tone, so I've been buying anything I can find in it! 

This dress has to be my favorite item that I've found in this color and I'm IN LOVE.  It's so light and easy and breezy.  I've been wearing it non-stop! Plus the price is just irresistible.  Gotta love Target.  

xo

GET CREATIVE

"I have nothing to wear."  YES, YOU DO.  

Some of us (hi, this girl) probably say this everyday when we look inside our closet trying to figure out what to wear.  But no more!  It's time to start getting creative, ladies.  And don't get me wrong, I love to shop and I love new clothes, I mean who doesn't?  But, money really doesn't grow on trees (so unforch.) And we probably aren'y really being as creative as we can be with old clothes because it takes some effort.  Search, contemplate, try on, take off, switch out, think about it, "Do I keep this? Should I donate it?"  It's a lot of time and energy!

Both the pieces I'm wearing in this post are recycled (see here and here), I've worn them endlessly, but one day I was trying to figure out what to wear and I was getting so frustrated thinking, GOD I've worn all this stuff so much and everyone has already seen it multiple times (horrible I know), and something just clicked.  I put together these two pieces that I normally would have never thought to pair together, tied the shirt up, and I had an adorable, brand new, totally different outfit! You can't imagine how many times I've worn it since then lol.  

I had a to do a post about it to show just how easy it is make totally new, and sometimes even cuter, outfits out of your present wardrobe and old clothing.  And don't leave this for a morning when you've rolled out of bed late and have 5 minutes to get out the door.  Just take some time to go through your closet, clean it out, organize it, and plan just what you could use for what and how you can combine different items.  Get creative!!  Really think about all the different ways you can style each item of clothing.  I promise you, you'll feel so much more organized, accomplished, prepared, and stylish ;) 

xo

ps.  I linked some similar items for everything I'm wearing below!!