Why I can't get into health food trends

It seems like every other week a new super food is introduced to our collective vocabulary. Everyone who is anyone is eating it, juicing it, and doing everything else with it you could think of. Restaurants like Fresh are all the rage, and everyone is eating vegetarian, raw, vegan or a combination of the three.





Me? I can't get into it. Why? As childish and possibly naive as this sounds... I just don't like the taste of them. As much as I wish I loved raw, leafy greens, quinoa and tofu, I just don't. Rice? Give me more. Roasted chicken? I'd eat it everyday. Cooked green beens? That's like, my favourite thing.

With every healthy lifestyle blog on the internet focusing on these new, trendy veggies, I sometimes start to feel like I'll just never be a healthy person. I like carbs way too much, and I'm way to traditional in my meal choices. And bread? Don't even get me started on bread. But, I'd like to think that I can still pursue a healthy diet without throwing kale and acai berries into everything I eat.

Everything with moderation right? I'm no nutritionist but I think as long as 50% of what you're eating is nutritious veggies, and you have a moderate amount of protein, and maybe a few carbs everyday, you're doing fine.

But what do you think? Do you jump on the health food band wagon? If so, what are your tips for incorporating new things into a more traditional diet (I'm asking for a friend)?


Until next time,

Health Kick

I don't know about you, but for me, the spring time has this way of making me feel like I need to get in shape. (Maybe it's the dresses or bikinis... maybe its that spending time outside and NOT on Netflix takes up more physical energy... who knows?) Not only that, but coming out of a full year away from home at university has sent my eating habits way out of whack. (Freshman fifteen, anyone?)





And so, I recently re-committed myself to improving my health. This week, my challenge to myself has been to exercise for a full hour everyday. (And also cut down on unhealthy food consumption. For example pop has been 86'd from my snack diet). But because I have a long commute and full work day, I've decided to attempt a more spread out schedule, including fitness every morning and cardio every evening. See my full schedule below:

I'll let you know if I can pull through with this workout regime this week, and if I can make it, then ideally I'll continue it throughout the summer. Are you doing anything to get fit this summer? Perhaps recovering from a fall and winter season spent with a less-than-ideal diet? Let me know in the comments, and we can get through this together.

Until next time,

How To: Stay Motivated During Exams

If you're in university like me, then you will soon be entering everyone's favourite part of the year: exam time! Sometimes (okay, let's be honest - always) it's hard to stay motived while studying. It's finally starting to get warm outside, and all you want is for summer vacation to start. But what you need is to keep studying for the next couple weeks. So without further ado, here is how you can do that. How to: stay motivated during exam period!





1. Make Lists!

My most effective way to stay organized and on time is to take lists. I always like to start the day with a detailed list set out of what I need to accomplish. This way, you have attainable goals to work towards. If you start off with a few smaller tasks, and work up to the bigger ones, they will feel more attainable and you will stay motivated. (The main note here is to make sure your list is attainable, setting a too-long list will just end with you disappointed, even if you did accomplish a lot)

2. Set "study hours"

Once classes end and we're all in full on study mode, its hard to know when to study, and when to go outside and play that game of volleyball with friends... So, at the beginning of each day, set specific times when you will study, and when you will take a break. This way, when you are taking a break, you won't feel guilty about it, because you've budgeted for that time. If you want to go the extra mile, combine your lists with your study schedule, so you know exactly what has to get done for each period of time, and you can more accurately judge your process.

3. Use brightly coloured pens

Maybe this is just a personal preference, but I always find reading and writing more fun when there is colours involved. In addition to this, I really like to make my notes as visually appealing as possible. Although I wouldn't exactly call myself a visual learner, I love good design and nice layouts. So, if you make your notes like that, then you won't mind reading them as much! Plus, just writing out those notes is studying in itself.

4. Study outside

If its warm enough (and not too windy) then studying outside can be the perfect balance of relaxing and working. Just be careful you don't get too distracted!

5. Take breaks

The final, and probably one of the most important rules is: take breaks. We all need to study as much as we can, but sometimes your brain just needs a rest. Your studying will be more effective if you're not totally brain dead and exhausted of reading while you're doing it. So try to take short scheduled breaks every few hours, and you can return to the books refreshed.

So, those are my five tips for staying on track this exam season! If you're in school, let me know in the comments how exams are going for you... and if you're not in school... lucky you! Ahaha

Until next time,

Apps You Should Be Using!

Recently I've been using my phone probably more often than I should... but I have discovered some great apps! So, here are my top picks for what apps you need to be using, now!

Goodreads

I absolutely love the Goodreads app. To be honest, I started using the Goodreads website, and then stopped because I found it so unintuitive! But then I tried out the app, and I fell in love. It's so easy to use, so much that I actually want to go on and update my progress on books, and see what other people are reading. It's really fun to use, and one of the best features I enjoy is the scan. You can scan the ISPN code on your books and log them into one of your shelves. It's so convenient.

Polyvore

 

Polyvore is another case where I enjoy using the mobile app more than the website- which is so weird for me! In general, I don't like using my phone for much, because there is so much more you can on your laptop, web wise, and design wise. Either way, I love the Polyvore app, and it's great for putting together outfits when you have inspiration on the go, or if you see something in a magazine, you can look it up and add it to your items to remember it for later!

Bloglovin'

 

I also love the Bloglovin' app! I won't say its better than the website, but it is certainly just as good. I love being able to check out my favourite blogs on the go! If you're interested, you can always follow me on Bloglovin' as well.. ;)

I hope you found this post helpful, I know I always love finding out new apps to waste time on! Let me know what your favourite apps are!

Top 5 Dream Travel Destinations for Winter!

Welcome back to my blog! This week, I wanted to share with you my most coveted winter travel designations. Although I won't be visiting any of these this winter, I hope some of you might be able to! Enjoy! 

1. Cape Sounion, Greece

Photograph by Virgil Cheung

"Situated at the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula, Cape Sounion is best known as the site of the ruins of the ancient Greek temple of Poseidon, the god of the sea. The remains are perched on the headland, surrounded on three sides by the sea. The site is a popular day-excursion for tourists from Athens, with sunset over the Aegean Sea, as viewed from the ruins, a sought-after spectacle." 

Read More Here 

2. Pura Tanah Lot, Bali

"The temple of Tanah Lot stands on a rocky island just off the southwest coast of Bali. One of Bali's most sacred sea temples, Tanah Lot is dedicated to the guardian spirits of the sea. The temple itself is said to be guarded from evil by the sea snakes that inhabit the caves below." 

Read More Here

3. Cape Town, South Africa

“Cape Town is a city of great beauty shaped by its history, people and in particular by its natural setting and cultural resources. The city has a rich heritage of buildings and urban environments, places of memory, struggle history sites, as well as natural, rural and cultural landscapes." 

Read More Here

4. Machu Picchu, Peru

"Embedded within a dramatic landscape at the meeting point between the Peruvian Andes and the Amazon Basin, the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is among the greatest artistic, architectural and land use achievements anywhere and the most significant tangible legacy of the Inca civilization." 

Read More Here 

5. Phanom Rung, Thailand

"What a location, perched on top of an extinct volcano it presides from a position of power and offers superb views of the surrounding countryside into Cambodia, looking east towards the original Khmer Capital of Angkor." 

Read More Here

I hope you enjoyed the post, and that is possibly gave you some travel inspiration to beat the winter blahs! 

5 Easy Ways To Stay Organized: University Edition

As a university student, I know that life can be extremely hectic and how hard it can be to stay organized. But, today, I will shed some light on the issue by disclosing my top five ways to stay organized! 

1. Clean room, clear mind.

One of the best ways to feel on top of things, and like a Real Organized Adult ™ is to keep your room looking clean. Especially when you're living in a small dorm room, laundry and text books can easily get piled up, like a visual representation of being behind on work. So, even if you are behind on your work, keep your room clean, and you won't feel like it! 

2. Schedule, schedule & schedule!

The best way to keep on top of you work is to write EVERYTHING down. Seriously. Everything. Write down when and where you will do your homework. Write down if you're going for coffee with a friend. Write down when you're going to watch Gossip Girl and when you want an hour Tumblr break. If you're really busy, this kind of specificity really helps. Of course, you don't need to write down every little detail of your life, but AT LEAST write down appointments and when assignments are due. Also, colour coding can be a big help. 

3. Make (realistic) to-do lists.

The best way to feel like you're getting things done is to have a visual check list, where you actually cross things off as you do them. It's like a bit of a reward, every time you finish a task. The important thing is to not be too ambitious, because then trying to finish your list seems futile. So just add everything that is necessary to accomplish in your day and work on that first. 

4. Set out your outfit the night before.

Just like Mom used to do! Now, it might seem silly, but really, having your clothes picked out the night before really makes the next morning less stressful. Plus, if you pick out your outfit when you're not dead tired, you're more likely to make cute, creative choices! Which means more awake, and more fashionable! 

5. Plan which days you shower...

And which days you're going to do your hair, and which days you plan to wear full face makeup, etc, etc. Basically, what I think is so important about this particular step (even though it seems funny) is that it really helps you know what to expect in the morning- which can usually be one of the most rushed times of the day. If you know the night before "Okay, I am going to curl my hair tomorrow," then you will know to get up slightly earlier, and therefore there won't be any panicked rush when you decide last minute to curl your hair. All in all, it saves you from a hectic morning, which will make you feel more ready to take on the day. 

I hope these few tips helped you to feel a little more organized this week! Let me know if you have any special tips to staying organized and keeping ahead of your work!

Until next time,