Look of the Week

I pinned this look late Saturday night (early Sunday morning?) and am still thinking about it.  It's easy to recreate and great for that transition between winter and spring.  I always have trouble finding something to wear in the spring- is it going to be too cold for this, is this outfit too bright?  This look is perfect.

P.S. this look is via Damsel in Dior and all of her other looks are just as spot on.

Clockwise from top left:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

What will you be rocking this spring?

Friends near and far

 I feel like this is my week of seeing friends I haven't seen in a while and I. am. so. happy. about. it.  Saturday night we celebrated my friend Caitlin's birthday in Manyunk and along with a lot of other great people,  it brought together my friends Sam, Drew, and Alexa who I haven't seen in ages.  I also got to spend the night with friends I live close to but haven't been able to meet up enough.  I seriously had the best time.  I don't think I stopped telling everyone how much fun I was having and how happy I was.  Part of that could be contributed to the birthday drinks we were imbibing but 90% was due to hanging with my squad.

 This weekend I'm heading to NYC to visit a bunch of my friends from UR- some I haven't seen since October, some since last year.  Again, hanging out with friends you don't see often is the BEST natural high.  Because I'm realizing how great it feels and I'm going to try my best to keep in better touch with friends near and far. 

Ways to keep stay in touch with friends:

1.    Daily emails

2.    Snail Mail

3.    Google hangout

4.    Quick weekend trips

5.    Lunch/dinner dates

6.    Girls night in

7.    Group texts

  1.   When my best friend Delaney was in France we would email each other stupid, silly stuff all the time.  A funny Facebook status, a goof thought catalog article, or just something funny that happened a while ago.  Try it, it works.

2.   I'm all about sending letters in 2013, along with every other blogger in the world!  Sending unexpected notes or cards celebrating new jobs, birthdays is a fun way to show you are thinking of a pal.

3.  Google hangout is the new skype.  I love that you can get a big group together.  And let's be real, what else do you use Google + for? 

4.   These are sometimes hard to do, but every once in a while they are the perfect way to reconnect with someone.  Also, if you plan them far in advance, they give you something awesome to look forward to and plan for a few weeks.  I can't wait for my NYC trip this weekend.  I'm only going for one night so it will be short but sweet :)

5.   Eating + friends.  What could be better.  People always say they're going to do these but never do.  I do grandma Fridays at a different restaurant almost every week with my two friends.  We will be together forever.

6.  Get a bottle of win, a chick flick, an unhealthy snack and you are ready to go.  This happens often with my friends and I'm pretty sure I'll still be trying to have girls night in sleepovers until I'm 80 years old.  Not sorry.

7.  Group texting, whatsapp, snap chats.  It's 2013, you know the drill. 

Prevention is Key

Hey, how's it going?  This is the first time in weeks that I've felt like I've had a productive Monday so I am feeling particularly accomplished today.  Volunteering- check.  Doctor's appointment- check.  Check emails and blogs- check, check.  I just have a dinner and a workout ahead of me.


Let's rewind to the volunteering part of my day.  For the summer I have been volunteering in the rehabilitation department of a senior center in order to fulfill PA school requirements.  Sadly, my time there is coming to an end so I've been reflecting on what I have learned over the past 2 months.  I've always loved working with the elderly, but working almost 20 hours a week with them has left me with even more respect for them.  I've found the patients I have worked with have been kind, resilient, witty, wise, and most importantly, aware of their wants and needs.  I think at a certain age you finally understand what is important to you and what you need from others. 


What also has stuck out to me this summer is how important our health is.  We know this and are taught this, but seeing older adults struggling with their mental and physical health reinforces the idea that many young people that they are immune to any health problems.  With this being said, there are so many things we can do at a young age to prevent poor health in the future.  Deteriorating health is inevitable, but it can be made easier.  Here are things that I find to be most important in maintaing my health and preventing future health problems (and no, this list is not revolutionary, just a reminder that we sometimes all need :) ) 

1.  Exercising your body- walking, running, biking, swimming, playing basketball, etc.  The best exercise is the one you will actually DO.
2.  Exercising your mind- I want to always be learning 
3.  Clean eating- easier said than done, but plenty of fruits, vegetables are a must 
4.  Sunscreen- Bronzer and Jergens gradual tanning lotions are my best friends
5.  Yearly (depends)  check-ups- I really need to improve at this.  Staying up-to-date on our appointments (dental, gyno, primary care physician, dermatologist) helps to prevent more serious health problems 
6.  Vitamins- I am a strong believer in taking vitamins.  Even if you eat really well, it's hard to get all your necessary nutrients in every day
7.  Sleep- I am so cranky and thrown off when I don't get 7 hours of sleep in. 
8.  Smoking- Just don't :/
9.  Relaxation/pleasure- Many people feel guilty of taking time to relax- don't!  It is so necessary to maintain your mental health.  So grab a book, hang out with a friend, watch a movie, do some yoga, indulge in yourself
10.  Socializing- Being around people that make me laugh, make me think, make me feel good about myself keeps me sane :)

What do you do to ensure your health?

Sunday Inspiration

Hello!

I love Sundays- there is normally not much going on activity-wise, I can catch up on chores, I get to get organized and make my lists for week, I can read a lot, and True Blood is on.  Some people I know though dread them.  To them it means cleaning, catching up on work, cooking a big dinner, and getting ready for the upcoming work or school week.  If you are one of those in the second group, here is some Sunday Inspiration for you.  I have a folder on my computer with quotes and pictures to look at when I need a little boost because I've either had a tough week, am feeling lazy, or just need to get my mind off something.  I also have the websites and songs that get me going for a long week.

Tinybuddha.com- I follow this site on twitter and go on the website from time to time.  It has new quotes every day and articles on how to improve aspects of your life.  Today's quote:


"The past has no power to stop you from being present now. Only your grievance about the past can do that." -Eckhart Tolle


Music:
"Be with you"- Mr. Big
"Precious Love"- James Morrison
"Breather"- Taylor Swift
"Days Like This"- Van Morrison
The Way I Am- Ingrid Michaelson
"Wonderful"- Annie Lennox

A Creed to Live By

Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.

Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless.

Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.

Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over … until the moment you stop trying.

Don’t be afraid to admit you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us to each other.

Don’t be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give love. The fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly, and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.

Don’t dismiss dreams. To be without dreams is to be without hope. To be without hope is to be without purpose.

Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you’ve been but also where you’re going.

Life is not a race, but a journey to be savoured each step of the way.

Nancye Sims

It may all sound corny but it works!  What do you do to make you feel better or re-engerize yourself mentally?  Working out works too!

Have a great week!

Liv