Summertime (Fad)ness

For all the men that read my blog, I will give you this disclaimer at the earliest convenience: this post is geared toward my female audience. Lo siento muchachos. 

Summer is coming!...I say this as I'm typing away covered in fleece socks and a sweatshirt. New England is having a hard time letting go of the frigid temperatures. Nonetheless, I remain optimistic that any day now, my summer attire that's been tucked away for months will reemerge as fresh as ever. Like most of you, I surf Pinterest nearly everyday to keep myself updated on what's trending for the summer season and I've noted a variety of things that I'm thinking of investing in this summer or have already purchased. Because of all the positive feedback I received on my "All I Want for Christmas" series, I figured why not translate the same idea to summer! Like the previous series, I stay within a reasonable budget because I only include items that I can realistically afford. There's a little bit for everyone on this list, and who knows, there may be something you never knew you wanted!

FILA SPORT Ombre Hooded Jacket, $55

Two things: 1. I love the FILA SPORT brand. It's Nike and Adidas quality workout gear without being ridiculously overpriced. The variety of colors and patterns are fantastic and they have just about any item you could think of: shirts, tanks, shorts, pants, capris, etc. 2. I love Kohls. You almost always hit the store during a major sale (still don't understand how they get away with that) and there are plenty of ways to find coupons. I saw this jacket a few weeks ago and fell in love. It's great for running because it's a lightweight shell jacket with an adjustable waistband but it keeps you just warm enough for those chilly morning runs. I can even envision myself using this as a rain jacket on muggy summer days. It's a win win in my book!

Baublebar Athena Tab Strand Necklace, $46

Statement necklaces seem to be all the rage this summer. I have invested in several myself, but I've found that if the necklace makes too much of a statement, I can only pair it with certain pieces. This necklace right here is a beauty. It can be paired with nearly anything (it comes in five different colors) but it's still flashy enough to say, "Here I am!" The best part about this website is when you sign up to receive emails, you instantly get 15% off! I love me some Baublebar. 

Benefit Cosmetics Watt's Up! Highlighter, $30

In my opinion, nothing's better than a great summer tan. You need minimal makeup, you can throw your hair in a messy pony, and just go wherever the wind takes you that day. This product is perfect for those summer nights when you want to dress it up a notch but you don't want layers of concealer to hide all that summer glow. It's a one-size-fits-all highlighter that can be used on cheekbones and down the middle of your nose. Once you lightly blend into skin with the flip-side applicator, you get an instant glow without the heaviness of foundation. Throw on a little mascara and go!

Essie Nail Color "For The Twill Of It," $8.50

Nail polish is a really underrated form of low-cost pampering. A fresh coat of nail polish can really go a long way for a girl. I know this color has been around for some time, but I just can't get enough of it. It's one of Essie's only (if not the only) holographic polishes and the bottle just doesn't do it justice. I highly recommend you search for the color on Google Images to see it on nails. It reminds me of a mermaid's scales and while it's on the darker side for summer, I think having a holographic polish in the sun makes this color even more fun. (This snippet turned out to be an unintentional rhyme fest, my bad!)

Tovolo Groovy Ice Pop Molds, $13

Something so simple can be so refreshing over the summer. These popsicle molds are made for grown up-sized appetites and you can do anything you want with them! One of my favorite popsicle recipes consists of freshly slices strawberries and pineapple chunks with Sprite Zero. Pop those suckers in the freezer overnight and you've got a refreshing, tasty popsicle for the hot temperatures. You can even crank it up a notch by making an adult popsicle with wine and fruit! The possibilities are endless. 

Paderno World Cuisine Tri-Blade Spiral Vegetable Slicer, $49.88

If you enjoy cooking, I think you'll really enjoy this item. I absolutely love SkinnyTaste.com because it offers TONS of recipes that are hearty and healthy. Recently, I read a recipe that included "zoodles," otherwise known as zucchini noodles! Perplexed as to how to make these, the website redirected me to this handy dandy machine thats not only easy but safer compared to a mandolin. You place the zucchini between handle and the blade, start twisting and out comes zucchini noodles! What better way to make a deliciously light summer dinner than including this fun ingredient? On top of the zoodles, this slicer has several other blades to make onion rings, apple ribbons, and french fries. 

Tervis Goblet, $22

My idea of a relaxing summer night is sitting outside on one of my Adirondack chairs, watching the sunset, with a glass of Pink Moscato in my hand. The only issue is that I'm clumsy and half of my patio is covered in brick, so venturing out with one of my glass wine glasses isn't the greatest of ideas. These Tervis "goblets" are 16 oz and will hold your favorite drinks without the hassle of glass. They are dishwasher safe, can be used with any other lid sold by Tervis, and you can pick and choose what you want your glass to look like, or you can even customize your goblet with your own photos. They're great for traveling and carrying with you to the beach as well. 

LOFT Beach Stripe Open Hoodie, $59.50

We've all had the obligatory beach coverup made up of some sort of mesh cotton with elastic that covers you up just enough to take a walk down the boardwalk. But how about changing up that coverup for a beach hoodie? Being the LOFT enthusiast that I am, I can't stop thinking about how cool this is for the beach. It's a polyester and rayon blend so sand won't seep into the material and the neutral stripes will pair with any solid colored bikini nicely. You can even sneak the hood on for the windy days. 

TanTowel Self-Tan Towelette Full Body Application, $24 (5 Towelettes)

I saw these being advertised on QVC one night and I was completely mesmerized. They come in packs of 5 and this is what you do: you open a towelette, apply it to clean, dry skin in a circular motion all over your body, wash your hands, and that's it. There's no extra exfoliating, moisturizing, no awful tanning odor, no need to wait days to see results. You see results within two to four hours and carry on with your day. As someone who has tried just about every tanning outlet, this looks like one of the easiest, pain free ways to get that golden summer glow. 

Alex and Ani Siam Endurance Sacred Studs Necklace, $48

I purchased an Alex and Ani Sacred Studs necklace several weeks ago and I love it! They've taken the expandable concept to a whole new level with the necklace line (available in gold and silver) which allows you to adjust the necklace to whatever length you want. The pendants are just blingy enough to add any character to an outfit and I've gotten more compliments on it than any other recent purchase I've made. Who doesn't love a necklace that can be paired with any neckline? 

xo Jessica

We All Need Somebody To Lean On

Today marks one year since the Boston Marathon bombings. Being a northern Bostonian myself, it's a day full of emotion and reflection. I remember it was just my second week of working in the corporate world when news broke in our cafeteria about the bombing. My best friend regularly attended the Marathon to cheer the runners on, but once I was reassured that she was safe all I could do was sit back and watch in horror: all the victims laying lifeless on the street, the first responders scrambling to their aid, but most endearingly I remember strangers helping strangers. 

The reason I returned to teaching Pre-K to 2nd grade and have recently accepted a year-long fellowship to earn my Masters in Moderate Disabilities was not because of the lesson planning and not because of the hours and the summers off, it was because of the interaction I get to have everyday with, what I think, is the closest thing I'll ever get to angels on earth: the sweet faces of my (current) first graders who come in to school everyday and give me high fives and hugs as if they haven't seen me in years. They tell me about their weekends playing soccer, how much they love Justin Bieber and One Direction, and what they brought for lunch that day. In a world filled with social media and technology, it's refreshing to have face-to-face conversations with my students who have yet to make a Twitter profile. 

Maybe it's the teacher in me, but days like today, anniversaries of horrific and unfathomable events, make me wonder if something could have been done in order to prevent such tragedy. When I scroll through the news pages online and read about one more school shooting or one more school stabbing, all I can think about is this: did someone simply ask how that individual was doing? When we ask people how they are, do we really mean it? Or has this simply become a fleeting form of a greeting so we can hurry back to whatever WE want to do? 

I had a particular student last year who was high on the autism spectrum. He was an absolutely wonderful little boy who was very bright and very kind, but he had a temper in him like nothing I'd ever seen. One on occasion in particular, he came into school and ripped through the children's coats, threw bags on the ground, and wailed on the floor for all of morning circle time. After he nearly emptied a bin of blocks during free play, I took him to our quiet corner and asked (let's call him "John" for privacy purposes), "John, what is going on today? Why are you behaving like this?" He turned his head, looked me straight in the eye and said, "There weren't enough pop tarts for me to eat this morning for breakfast so I had to have cereal and I do NOT like cereal." There it was, all that havoc because of a pop tart. After we took a few deep breaths and recollected ourselves, I told him I was very sorry there weren't enough pop tarts for him but maybe his mom could buy more today so he'll have them for tomorrow. I asked him if he was ready to return to class and he obliged, walked over the free play rug and began playing with his classmates. 

Sometimes, I think these tragedies could be lessened if we just asked each other how we were doing and truly meant it. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. More often than not, there is a reason that we do the things we do, whether it's entirely rational or not. We go by a certain mantra in the school where I work: "The kids who need the most love will ask for it in the most unloving ways." Can't this also be applied to adults in need? During the times in which I go through the most pain, stress, and heartache, a simple conversation seems to lift me from my problems. I think we get too wrapped up in the technological side of friendships, sending Facebook messages to catch up and the occasional email. We experience less and less human contact and we alienate ourselves from the heart-to-hearts that I believe are necessary to the human soul. 

On this one year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings, I would ask this of all those who read it: the next time you speak to your friends, or maybe even a stranger, when you ask them how they are doing, mean it. You have no idea what a lending ear could do for someone who may be in pain and need. You have the power to change people's lives for the better, so let's start spreading the love. 

xo Jessica

Keep On Keepin' On

Let me tell you something, whoever I marry has to understand that there will always be another man in my life: the gym. I'm there 24/7 and have often rescheduled plans around my gym schedule. Some call it obsessive, I call it dedicated. It's been nearly 3 years since I began my weight loss journey and have managed to keep the 50 pounds (of fat) off and gained 5-10 pounds of muscle. I recently saw a post circulating around Pinterest about how people who have lost 20-30 pounds have kept it off and I felt like, having gone through the process myself, I could shed some light or offer a few new tips and tricks from my experience. Nothing earth-shattering here, but useful nonetheless:

1. Don't be so hard on yourself. You've lost all the weight and now it comes down to maintenance. You are bound to fluctuate weight every now and then. Who doesn't want to dig in during holidays and parties? I certainly do! So give yourself some wiggle room during these times. My advice? Don't step on the scale at ALL during busy seasons. It'll only ignite panic and frustration. Wait until a week after you're back on your eating and dieting regimen to weigh yourself and go from there. 

2. Find ways to make eating and exercising fun! You're going to get bored at the gym. There's only so much excitement that comes from a 30-minute run on the treadmill or an elliptical workout. If your gym offers classes, check out something you've never done before. If not, make a playlist on YouTube of Zumba videos and create your own dance class. Put together a circuit of exercises you pulled from a magazine or from Pinterest. A change of scenery goes a long way, and you'll be so busy keeping up that the time will pass in a flash. This same idea can be applied toward eating. Never stop experimenting with new recipes and continue to try foods you've never tried before. I snagged a recipe for black bean brownies off Pinterest and to my surprise, they were absolutely delicious! And I don't even like beans! 

3. Reward yourself in little ways. I don't necessarily like using food as a reward system, so I use this mentality on the weekends only. I tell myself that if I work out both Saturday and Sunday, I get to reward myself with a Starbucks Coffee Frappuccino with skim milk, which in Weight Watchers world equates to 4 points. Avoid constantly rewarding yourself with decadent foods. There are plenty of treats out there that can be tweaked toward the healthier side. 

4. If you have an urge for pizza, eat the pizza. If I've learned anything, its that you'll get undeniable urges for junk food. My advice? Dig in. A few slices of pizza will not kill your diet for the week and, from my experience, sort of evens out a week of eating so strictly. I give myself a pep talk that if I eat the pizza, I HAVE to work out the next day or I won't have dessert that night. It's all about give and take. 

5. Drink water. And lots of it. This is repeated so often in the fitness and nutrition worlds, but it really does work. Drinking water throughout the day cuts down on hunger and keeps your system clean. The beauty of water is that there are so many ways you can dress it up. I keep Crystal Light packets in my bag at all times, and if I have enough time in the morning before work then I'll slice up strawberries, apples, lemons, limes, or oranges really thin and toss them into my water bottle. Some of these fruits detoxify your body and, in my opinion, act as a snack because it gives you something you can actually taste. 

6. Always have a goal. Recently, I've been able to breeze through a 5K running route, so I've been big on signing up for all those fun road races. Whatever it is, Color Run, Electric Run, Tough Mudder, I make sure there's always something in the future that keeps me motivated. In between 5Ks, I think about bikini-centered vacations or weddings I'll be attending that fuel me to keep training. The most difficult time is when the cold weather hits and those chunky sweaters come out. You'll have to push yourself extra hard during these times, and I'll admit that there'll be days you just won't want to do it. But think about this: by the time summer hits, you'll have already put in all the work and be swimsuit-ready! It takes a little imagination and a lot of determination. 

7. Keep yourself accountable. I like having Weight Watchers on my phone because, in a weird way, it guilts me into keeping my diet on track. I find that if you use a tool, whether it's a journal or an app, that keeps you accountable of what you're eating and how much you're moving that you'll feel more obligated to stay in shape. I went off WW for a little while and quickly found myself thinking, "Oh, this sandwich could be 7 points but I'll just say it's 5, and a serving size of crackers is 4 points but I'll just say I ate half...". Yeah, that won't work. You'll find yourself going down a slippery slope of denial and it may get you into trouble on the scale. Be honest with yourself and make smart choices. 

8. Fiber is your friend. Sugar is not. I always knew fiber was good for you, but I never realized just how filling it was. I love Fiber One anything and I try to eat at least one of their products a day. They offer a wide variety of cereals, snack bars, granola bars, and chips that truly fill you without having to eat a lot of it. Fruits such as apples, pears, and blackberries will do the trick as well. That being said, stay away from excessive sugar. I find that if I eat a sugary cereal for breakfast or something too sweet at lunch, my hunger knows no bounds for the rest of day. Like anything else, it's all in moderation. 

It's amazing how transformable your body can be if you just believe you're capable of changing it! My stomach was all out of whack during the winter so I've been focusing on abs (ugh) for the past few months. So far, I'm pleased with the progress! 

     

xo Jessica

Call Me Maybe

I like to draw my blog pieces from experiences I've had in my life. I find that writing about these experiences without holding back or sugarcoating the details makes for a better story because, more often than not, a lot of you have shared similar stories. Just recently, I've decided to slowly make my way back into the dating world. I got out of a year-long relationship several months ago and I've been hesitant to start because, quite honestly, I don't know where to begin. I work in an elementary school, so the male population is slim to none, and a lot of the friends I'd go out with are living elsewhere, so I do what I can.

 

One of my best friends and I were having dinner last night and as I was telling her about my dating dilemma, she said something sad yet true: almost all dating has streamlined into the online world. Texting, Snapchatting, emailing, OkCupid-ing, Tindering, etc. And guess what? It drives me crazy.

 

I've had several instances in which, in my opinion, a flirty nature via technology has been sent my way. Texting throughout the day, sending photos, hinting towards meeting up and getting drinks. One instance in particular lasted several months. I offered once to meet up over a weekend but was met with disappointment he had "other stuff going on." I recently offered a second time, after he outright stated he'd like to come over that week, and was met with a response to the likes of, "Well, essentially I'm busy for the next two months. Sorry." I'm sorry...WHAT?!

 

Then why did we speak several times throughout the day, nearly every single day? Why did you bother taking the time to send Snapchats or send text messages? Granted, I wasn't forward enough to ask him exactly what he wanted, but I know the difference between friendship and asserting yourself toward something more, and this kind of behavior pointed to the latter.

 

Technology has ruined the way we communicate in modern-day relationships. It offers zero accountability for behavior because you get to hide behind a phone screen and say whatever you feel like saying without any eyes watching. I don't know about you, but I think it's a pretty ridiculous concept to have to screenshot every conversation I have with someone just to say "I told you so" when they decide they no longer want to play the game. I think it's pretty ridiculous that our current form of flirting is how many people "swipe right" on our Tinder profile. I think it's pretty ridiculous that people are satisifed when their phone vibrates with a new text message, and yet they can't meet face to face for a coffee.

 

I often wonder what life would be like without all these distractions. Imagine having to tell someone how you really felt without the security of a keyboard in front of you? I think there's a certain freedom in admitting true feelings, face to face, to establish exactly what you want. If you don't have any romantic interest in me, I can completely understand. That's not the problem. The problem lies with being dragged in circles of "does he like me, does he like me not," based on all the implications of being unable to read the tone of a text message, only to have your vision of love and a relationship implode in your face. I don't have enough fingers or toes to count how many similar stories I've heard regarding the new world of dating via cell phone. Why are we so afraid of confrontation? I know confrontation can carry a negative undertone, but in this case I think it's healthy. When we want a coffee, we order one via the counter. When we want a raise, we address our boss. Why, then, is it so seemingly difficult to admit romantic feelings out loud?

I don't necessarily have the answer to that. Quite frankly, I know it would be difficult for me to be outright with someone I was romantically attracted to. But at what point do we stop this nonsense of texting and calling, etc.? It's not real. We're satisfied with things that are intangible: little letters typed out in blue bubbles on our cell phone screens. Wouldn't you rather opt for a feeling, whether it's reassurance or love or heartache? I can tell you this: I'd rather be punched in the face than stabbed in the back.

Starting today, I'm going to challenge myself to ask the tough questions and make more of an effort to take relationships out of the virtual world. I am so incredibly thankful for things like Facebook and Twitter because I'm able to keep in contact with friends near and far, but I don't want to be reliant upon a website to do that for me. I'm going to start being more proactive about speaking out when something bothers me and admitting when feelings begin to develop. I read a quote once that said, "If you want something done right, do it yourself." If you really want to know what's going on in relationships, whether they're friendly or romantic, why not ask?


xo Jessica