The Monogrammed Life: July 2015

I'm in Florida at the beach this week, so I thought it would be fun to share what's in my beach bag!

P.S. my bed is rarely made, I might have done it just for these photos...

So this bag has been on the blog before. I got it for Christmas from C Wonder this past year. They are unfortunately no longer in business, but according to recent news, it's looking like they might be getting another chance! Anyway, I usually use this bag at school for my books, laptop, etc., I love the navy color, and one of the reasons I loved C Wonder so much is they had gold "C"s on just about everything. So it was already monogrammed for me, and anyone else whose name starts with C! This bag is no longer available, but this one from Longchamp is quite similar, unfortunately about double the price of what this bag was though :/

I usually wear obviously, a swimsuit on the beach. I got this J. Crew bikini top

and bottom (along another set) for some great deals recently! I like to wear cheaper sunglasses like this pair from Loft, so I don't worry about them getting in the sand or potentially lost in the water like I would with an expensive pair.

I wear my hair up and with a hat like this one from Vineyard Vines mot of the time I'm on the beach. And Jack Rogers jelly sandals are my favorite for beach and pool, I don't like to get my regular Navajo sandalswet or in the sand, but these are great for that (I also have them in pink and green!). This style of jelly Navajos are no longer available but the jelly Gerogicas are available in several colors. I also really like to wear spirit jerseys as cover ups. This one is from my school bookstore, but Spirit Football Jersey has tons of them!

I also of course bring a beach towel and lots of sunscreen. I take acne medication that makes my skin more sensitive to the sun, so I love the highest SPF I can find. I know, apparently there's no difference above 35 or something, but I guess the higher number makes me feel better. I worked at a water park the summer before I started college and never got burnt because I always used this Neutrogena SPF 70+ spray, and face sunscreen.

So I trust those products, and I also like this Supergoop face sunscreen that is more for everyday use, for other vacation events not on the sand, it has a lower SPF number of 30. Also since I started taking my acne medication my skin gets really dry after I spend a lot of time in the sun. So, I like lotions that are simple and natural like this one I got in my Birchbox awhile ago. And since I don't spend much time in the sun at home, I use Jergen's Natural Glow to get a little color before I go!

Anyone else spending some time at the beach for the last few weeks of summer?

Written by Cara from Caralina Style

Friday, July 31, 2015 2 comments

Wednesday, July 29, 2015 2 comments

With freshman year of college on the horizon, I’m repeatedly warned about the dreaded Freshman 15. Confused? It’s a nickname for the supposed weight gain many freshman girls experience. With so many unhealthy food options at the dining halls and bad decisions like late night pizza orders, I’d imagine it can definitely be hard to stay on track. Although preventing the onslaught of the Freshman 15 has to do a lot with self-control and motivation to go to the gym (please someone – send me daily reminders that I need to go work out!), there is hope in the form of Nourish Snacks, an awesome new concept by Joy Bauer.

Let me back up: I’m a huge fan of snacking. Ask anyone who knows me IRL and they can tell you that if snacking was a competitive sport, I would be a champion (cheesy but true). In between meals, I often need something to tide me over – and although I’d love to say I’m the type of person who naturally reaches for an apple or a peach, I’m just not. As a result, I know I’ll be needing some sweet and salty picks in my dorm at all times.

There’s obviously going to be a lot of snack options on campus, but I have a feeling that they won’t be particularly healthy. Thus, Nourish Snacks is going to be a constant in my dorm so I can eat something that is simultaneously delicious and healthy.

Besides the amazing taste, I also particularly love the way the snacks are packaged. Each bag is under 200 calories so you don’t have to feel guilty about eating the whole thing – this is seriously portion control at it’s absolute best! I could see myself throwing one of these in my bag at the beginning of the day and snacking on it as I hop from classes to different events. 200 calories or less for the whole entire day is a great way to stay a smart snacker. The snacks vary in exact amounts, but all have a decent amount of fiber and protein which is such an added bonus.

Nourish Snacks also has a bunch of Snack Collections on their website – and you could have it shipped straight to your dorm! Not only is this good for you (hello healthy and delicious food!) but it could also get you some new friends in the process. As the saying goes…

via

So order a pack and try it out with your hall-mates, etc. – if they like it too (which I guarantee they will!) you can all better motivate each other to stay on track in the snacking realm. In this aspect, Nourish Snacks is like a lifestyle path that makes so much sense.

SHOP NOURISH: As I said, the Nourish Website has tons of different collections. Starbucks does sell Nourish now which is a very accessible way to pick up the product, but for college students that have difficulty with spending, ordering in bulk will save you a ton of money. Here are my favorite collection options:

College Collection // Designed with a college student in mind – how perfect?! Great for anyone who needs grab and go food (in addition to all the reasons above!).

Energize Collection // This particular collection is filled with the Nourish Snacks that specialize in a decent portion of protein – so great and necessary as a college student.

Crunch Collection // I’m a sweet and salty kinda gal, but I know some like to forego the sweet and dive deep into the salt – so this collection is perfect for those people!

Sampler Collection // Still not completely sold? This collection provides 20 different packs so you can try out a whole slew of Nourish Snacks – see what you like, and then go back and order more!

Collections are $36 for 20 packs ($1.80 a pack!) or $84.95 for 50 packs ($1.70 a pack!).

I’ve been slowly but surely trying all the different flavors and let me tell you, they are all amazing. My favorites are Miss Popular, Ps & BBQs, and Coco’nilla Crunch – I can’t get enough!

Still on my list to try are…. Nutty ‘Nanas, King Korn, Almond Aloha, Menage-a-mix, Honey Bee Good, Cinn-sational, Hot & Popular, Sweet & Salty Kapow, Cocoa Loco, Chili’n in the Corn’r, and Cowboy Crunch. Perhaps a tasting video is in order for when I can track down these different flavors? What do you think?

Written by Jamie from The Fashion Newcomer

*snacks courtesy of Nourish Snacks, although I have purchased my own in the past. I am a loyal fan of this brand and do not advertise anything on The Fashion Newcomer that I do not fully back and believe in. Thank you for supporting the brands that help sustain and further The Fashion Newcomer!

Monday, July 27, 2015 1 comments

Friday, July 24, 2015 2 comments

Happy Wednesday! You know what that means- we’ve made it halfway through the week! It also means WorkIt Wednesday is back. I’m going to be honest, I have notbeen working it lately. I’ve just been super tired and not feeling like going to the gym, and I haven’t been eating very well. But, it’s time to get back on track! I’ve fallen off the wagon quite a few times in my day, and I’ve found that the easiest way to get back on is to start at the beginning (breakfast) and work up from there. I usually just eat Greek yogurt for breakfast, but sometimes that gets boring, and I get REALLY hungry/hangry at around 10 am, leading me to break into my lunch at the first acceptable moment (11 am), which means I’m starving again by 5, and come home and eat everything I see. Which is obviously incongruent to my goals. After seeing these on Pinterest, I decided to make my own version of a protein-packed breakfast bowl. I’ve made a few different varieties, and have devised a simple 3-step formula for the perfect bowl.

1. Base-start with a single-serving cup of your favorite flavor of yogurt. I usually use coconut Chobani, but they were out, so I settled for plain. Sometimes I will mix a tablespoon of peanut butter in with the yogurt to add a little extra protein and flavor!

2. Make it sweet- For me, this is a drizzle of honey, but you could use agave nectar, stevia, or just leave it plain if you’re using a flavored yogurt.

3. Add the extras-I usually add 1/4 cup of quinoa and some type of fruit, but you could add nuts, granola, or even chocolate chips to make it interesting!

How easy is that? 1,2,3, breakfast! Here are a few of my favorite combos:

-Coconut Chobani mixed with peanut butter, quinoa, a drizzle of honey, and a handful of raspberries

-Plain Greek yogurt, quinoa, a drizzle of honey, a few halved cherries, and chocolate chips (pictured above)

-Peach yogurt, quinoa, a drizzle of honey, and a sprinkling of toasted almonds and granola

If you come up with a new combo, let me know- I would love to try it! This is an easy way to have a healthy breakfast to help you power through your day, and it’s completely flexible to accommodate your tastes.

SUMMERTIME SCENTS

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