Tips & Tricks: Staying Motivated to Work Out

Sooo it's that time of the year where we start to lose motivation to keep up with our new year's resolutions and hit the gym. Even though a great work out can happen in less than an hour, we all are busy with work, school, or kids and it can feel pretty impossible to cut time out everyday for ourselves.

After I left the gym this morning, my friend Katie and I walked to the lincoln--I was in the best mood!! On our walk home I thought, why not blog about keeping up with exercise?

So without further adieu, here are a few of my treasured tips and trips to help keep me on track at the gym.

1. Start going with a friend - Whenever you fall into a slump and simply cannot for the life of you get your butt to the gym, go with a friend! Coming back to campus after Winter Break, my friend and I didn't have any classes together and were in need of the same thing--someone to motivate us to go back to the gym, and some free time so we would be able to see each other throughout the week. Going to the gym with a buddy is always a great idea, and it makes you less likely to skip out at the last minute.

2. Make a Schedule - If you're anything like me, you need a schedule to make sure things get done. Try sitting down and take a look at your week--when do you have an hour or so you can set aside? Does the morning work better or does the evening fit your schedule best? After you've figured out when you have time, make a cute schedule and post it on your desk, or in your planner, somewhere you will always see it. This is my schedule and it hangs on the bulletin board above my desk :)

the kitten picture and inspirational quotes are just for fun ;-)

3. Pack Your Bag the Night Before - Right before I head to bed, I pack my school bag and my gym bag. I put my gym bag right by my desk, all ready to go, so that it pretty much makes it impossible for me to come up with another excuse on why I should skip the gym that day. In my bag I keep: a water bottle (necessary!!), my headphones, iPod/iPhone, a towel, a lock, and a little cosmetics bag (body spray, deodorant, chapstick). Give this a try tonight! Pack your bag for the gym, set aside your cute workout outfit, and guaranteed, your trip to the gym will be so much easier!

4. Treat Yourself to a Cute Exercise Outfit - (My favorite, of course!!) One of the easiest ways to get yourself motivated is to buy a bunch of cute work out gear. I love buying work out clothes at Nike, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Lululemon (a bit more pricey). Try looking for something that is comfy, flattering, and confidence-boosting. I promise this will make you look forward to working out instead of having to force yourself to get there!

5. Make an Awesome Playlist - Great music helps your workout in so many ways. It keeps your intensity up, switches up the pace, and keeps you going hard for longer amounts of time. Whenever I feel bored with working out, I make a new playlist and the whole experience in the gym changes. I recommend fast paced songs especially during cardio, and of course, your favorites!! Here is one of my running/gym playlists that can always pump me in the gym. 

This playlist in particular is more EDM/Electronic based but I also love working out to Beyonce (of course), Miley's new album Bangerz, Shakira, and anything new on the radio!

That is it for my top tricks to stay motivated to go to the gym! I hope y'all find some of this useful and can apply some of these tips to your everyday life to get excited about working out :) 

If you have any questions, or would like to see more fitness related posts, leave a comment below!!

What is your favorite way to stay motivated? 

An Afternoon in Georgetown

Georgetown is hands down one of my favorite areas in D.C.

After getting most of my work done this morning I had the whole afternoon free and decided to take a walk into Georgetown for delicious cupcakes and maaaybe a little bit of shopping :)

Shopping and cupcakes aside, I love taking walks through Georgetown simply because of the scenery. If I've had a long day of classes or the hustle and bustle of Foggy Bottom gets a bit too stressful, the quaint--and somewhat enchanting--streets of Georgetown always make for a relaxing, pleasant experience. 

The past week has been unusually freezing but the snowy D.C. weather was lovely, nonetheless.

It's true I do love winter, but, I think that Georgetown looks the most beautiful during the foliage peak of the fall season. Although I took these pictures only a couple months ago, the scenery in January has completely transformed, creating an entirely new atmosphere of the beautiful city--calm, quiet, and invitingly mysterious. Different, but nonetheless, beautiful.

So, even though these picturesque scenes are a bit out of season I thought I would share with you guys just how beautiful this city is. 

Another cool thing about Georgetown is it's known for having the absolute best cupcake bakeries. Sprinkles, Georgetown Cupcake, and Baked & Wired--just to name a few. If you ever visit this part of D.C. you'll notice incredibly long lines wrapping around store fronts, full of people eager to try one of these infamous cupcakes.

My all time favorite cupcake place in the city is Baked & Wired. They serve giant, gourmet cupcakes in their super laid back, old time café atmosphere. With flavors like Pretty Bitchin', Razmanian Devil,  and Unicorns and Rainbows, you can't really go wrong. 

My cupcake of choice is always the I Can't Believe It's Vegan which is a chocolate cake with oreo-vanilla cream frosting and I promise it's to die for even for you carnivores out there. 

Personally I have a mild cupcake obsession but even if cupcakes aren't your thing Baked & Wired has amazing cookies, cakes, and oh! their lattes will not disappoint. 

So after a few hours walking around popping into a few of my favorite stores (J.Crew, Anthropologie, Sephora, Paper Source) I came home with a few goodies but a ton of amazing pictures. 

After looking through my albums upon albums of Georgetown pictures, I thought the scenes from fall were particularly beautiful :)

A scenically beautiful and relaxing afternoon to start off a productive week!!

Where is your favorite place to relax or get away? 

XX

Meg 

School Bag Essentials

Coming to college, I've learned the hard way just how important it is to keep your school bag as organized as possible. I also feel that it creates a bigger sense of enthusiasm and excitement while heading off to class, just knowing that your bag is organized and you are ready for whatever that class may bring!

Now I will admit, sometimes I can go a bit overboard when it comes to organizing my bag but I can't help it!! planning and organizing are fun for me :) 

The bag that I use on a day-to-day basis is the navy Le Pliage Tote by LongChamp and I can honestly say this bag goes through sooo much wear and tear (too.many.books) but still remains in great shape. I'm coming on my third year of using this tote as my school bag and I think it's definitely worth the investment if you're looking for a cute and sturdy bag for class. 

Here's a look into my bag--the staple things that I always carry no matter what class I'm going to .

Planner ♥ To be totally honest, I'm not sure how I would function on a daily basis without my planner. I've been using Lilly planners (large size) since my junior year in high school and I absolutely love them. I know Kate Spade also has a line of agendas, but it will take a lot to get me to steer away from the insanely cute Lilly Pulitzer planners.

Pencil Pouch ♥ There's nothing worse than showing up to class and realizing you didn't bring a single pen--and that has happened to me plenty of times. I feel like a shameful puppy after getting that look from the person I'm borrowing from that just screams "really? you didn't even bring a pen?" Sooo in order to avoid that whole awkward encounter I suggest always carrying a pencil pouch filled with pencils, pens, erasers, and don't forget highlighters!

Yes, I'm that girl who has a favorite brand of every writing utensil.. it's weird I know!! But, I do think that always having your favorite pencils and pens on hand with motivate you to keep your notes much more organized. 

My favorites for note taking are: Sharpie GEL highliters, Sharpie pens & Papermate mechanical pencils ♥

Water Bottle ♥ Drink, drink, drink!! Drinking at least 64 oz a day helps to clear skin, promote weight loss, supports kidney function, keep you energized and much, much more. I can be really terrible with remembering to constantly drink water so I always make sure to keep a bottle with me so it's there whenever I need it!

Small Makeup Bag ♥ I recommend keeping a small bit of makeup in your school bag for those days you leave the house at 8am and won't be coming back til later that evening. Personally, my skin can get pretty oily so I like carrying around blotting powder just to keep my face looking fresh. I also like to keep some mascara, brown eyeliner, lip balm, and concealer just incase I need to touch up or don't have enough time in the morning to apply any makeup!

Phone, Headphones, & Charger ♥ For obvious reasons, your cell phone is a school bag essential! But, I also pack headphones and a charger just in case because I feel like whenever I actually need them, they're never with me! 

ID Wristlet ♥ I never leave my dorm without my ID and a little bit of cash, just in case. The one that I use is the Carded ID Wristlet from Lilly Pulitzer in the Delta Gamma print. It's super convenient because it holds everything!!: my school ID, my cards, my room key, and even has a space for cash & change. I love these types of wristlets for school because they also have a pocket in the back for your phone, so if you're ever in a hurry to run out the door--the wristlet is all you need!

iPad/Laptop ♥ I forgot to put this one in the picture but I always carry around either my macbook or iPad when I'm going to class. I'm currently using the iPad air and I am in love. This tablet only weighs about 1 lb and I use it to keep my class schedule info organized, use the wifi for certain classes, and I can also upload a few of my textbooks onto it. This is totally optional and depends on the types of classes that you're taking so I only take my computer if I need it, simply because it is so dang heavy. 

So those are all of my school bag essentials :) 

I hope y'all found even a little bit of use out of this post, and don't forget to leave me a comment if you have any questions!!

What are some of your must-haves for your school bag? ♥

XX

Meg  

About Me

            Hey y'all

♥ Welcome to my blog ♥

My name is Meghan and I'm a college student studying business in Washington D.C. 

I was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Roll Tide!) and moved from down south to Rhode Island and back down again to the sunny state of Florida---sorta all over the place.

My favorite movie is Forrest Gump

I'm a proud sister of Delta Gamma ⚓  

I am a vegan! 


I have a love for all things preppy and classic.

Carrie Bradshaw is my spirit animal.

This blog is a fun way for me to write about anything and everything in my life, whether it be a post about my travels and adventures, or cozy days inside with a cup of tea and The Great Gatsby for the hundredth time. 

xx

Meg

UD Naked 3 Review!!

Well hello there, gorgeous. 

I am a huge Urban Decay lover, and more specifically, a lover of their Naked line. So naturally, when I heard UD was introducing another eye shadow palette into the collection I briefly freaked out, then made my way onto their website to order one for myself.

This is the fourth palette of the Naked series following the Naked 1, Naked 2, and Naked Basics. I use my Naked 1 palette nearly everyday but skipped out on the Naked 2 because I felt that the shades didn't mesh well with my skin tone (pasty, that is) 

The Naked 3 follows a rose-gold color scheme which look absolutely gorgeous on any skin tone, and particularly beautiful on anyone with green/hazel eyes. 

This palette includes 12 rosy gold shadows: 3 matte shades, 4 sparkly finished shades, and 5 buttery satin finishes. In order from left to right the shades are: STRANGE, LIMIT, BURNOUT, LIMIT, BUZZ, TRICK, NOONER, LIAR, FACTORY, MUGSHOT, DARKSIDE, and BLACKHEART

These 12 "rose-hued neutrals" as UD describes are all new, never before released shades blend seamlessly together and, in my opinion, one of the best pairing of shadows any UD palette has come out with.

Here I am wearing a neutral smokey eye using BURNOUT & BUZZ all over the lid, NOONER in the crease, DARKSIDE & BLACKOUT to deepen up the outer corner, and finally STRANGE as my brow bone highlight. I finished off the look with a rosy gloss by MAC in the shade love nectar and a bronzy-rose blush.

Here is a close up of all of the shadows in Naked 3 going from left to right of the palette.

                           

I cannot say enough good things about this eye shadow palette and even though its a bit pricy at $52, the amount of looks you can create with this--ranging from everyday neutral to sultry and smokey--is just unbeatable. 

I think Naked 3 actually beats out Naked 1 as my favorite palette at the moment! And that's saying A LOT.

Have any more questions about this palette? Leave a comment down below ♥ ♥

xx

Meg

♥ My Winter Must-Haves ♥

Cold, crisp air. A cup of chai tea. Reading a book with my fuzzy socks on. Getting bundled up like a little preppy marshmallow. 

I am in love with the winter season. Moving to D.C. has really been a blessing to me because now I can fully enjoy the three amazing wintry months (Sorry, Florida, I'm over the 90 degree winters!!)

Today was especially frosty out so I thought I would share my treasured products for the wonderful season  ♥  

1. Nivea Lip Butters  ♥  These are simply little tins of magical lip heaven. My favorite flavors are the vanilla & macadamia nut and the raspberry rose and these have to be the most moisturizing chapsticks I have ever tried. They smell and taste amazing and literally feel like butter on your lips. They are only around $1 and I get mine at CVS (but I've seen them at Walmart and Walgreens, as well) So next time you're in the market for an amazing chapstick, give these a try!

2. Bean Boots by L.L. Bean  ♥  Boots in general are a must-have product for me because my feet are always cold. I love these ones in particular because they are super comfy but also look really cute tucked into dark skinnies. The pair above are specifically J. Crew for L.L. Bean, but I am a huge fan of the original version, too. 

3. Starbucks Chai Latte  ♥  My all-time favorite treat during the winter months is a soy chai latte from Starbucks. Now, if you haven't tried one I STRONGLY recommend (yes, caps & bold--this is serious) ordering one next time you're in a Starbucks during a frosty day and I promise you won't be disappointed (granted you like chai, of course). I actually buy the Tazo chai latte mix from Whole Foods and mix it with hot soy milk in my dorm room and it's a bit cheaper--OH, and they just came out with a chocolate chai latte...Oh my dreams have come true. 

4. Statement Necklaces  ♥ Statement necklaces are some of my favorite accessories year round but I particularly love them during the winter for those days it's just so frozen out that I just want to wear a huge comfy sweater. This way, I can dress warm and comfortably but instantly glam it up with a beautiful statement piece--perfect for those days I just want to wear my bed comforter to class (I wish!!).

5. Sweater Dresses  ♥  Super warm, cozy, and put together all in one simple outfit. Sweater dresses are perfect for those mornings where it's just so cold I can't for the dear life of me leave my bed. Throw on a warm pair of tights, a sweater dress, maybe a cute necklace and you are good to go!!

6. Earmuffs & Chunky Infinity Scarves  ♥  Earmuffs never really died out for me because they're completely adorable but also keep my ears warm--and I just can't deny a cute and functional piece. I also love chunky infinity scarves because they keep me incredibly warm and also look very chic and put together over a sweater dress. The earmuffs above are Ugg, and the chevron infinity scarf is J. Crew!


Sorry for the amount of times I probably said 'super' in this post I just love these products!! :)

What are some of your favorite products for the winter season?

xx
Meg 

Life is BEAUTIFUL

This is an unplanned post, to say the least, but I figured this blog was a way for me to write about my life, so it seemed appropriate. 

Sometimes it takes something pretty awful to make us realize how beautiful life is. 

I know that, personally, I can get so caught up in the little things and become so obsessive over tiny issues that honestly just don't matter.

One day during a class discussion a friend of mine argued that people who believe that everything happens for a reason are just 'oblivious and ignorant'. Now this kind of resonated with me because I'm always the first to say that dark paths are only created to lead to a brighter place.

After that day I realized that ya know what, maybe is isn't true that everything happens for a reason. But, we can choose to keep the past dark, or we can make something so beautiful out of it. Creating reasons for our terrible bumps in life is the true definition of optimism--and I intend to live an optimistic life.

Following my Uncle Mark's death, I won't ever look at life the same. You never know whats going to happen to you, or the ones you love, and from now on I never want to take my family for granted.

Life is short, but life is Beautiful.

No matter what this crazy world has in store for me, I will create beauty and light out of times of darkness. 

Think about what makes your life beautiful

Mine is my family. 

xx 

Meg