23 Ways to Look Great this Summer!

Summer is just around the corner and that means swimsuits, shorts, tanks, and dresses! It's harder to rock these skimpier styles if you're not comfortable in your own skin. Here's 23 ways to look your best this summer encompassing the 3 key elements of fitness, beauty, and nutrition. 

Fitness

1. Run Outdoors. Pretty self explanatory, enjoy that beautiful fresh air and go for a long run outside. Just be sure not to run during the hottest parts of the day (12p.m.-4p.m.) to avoid heat exhaustion and dehydration.

2. Find a Playground. Shocking I know, but playgrounds aren't just for kids. Head to your local park and you'll find a goldmine of equipment like monkey bars, steps, parallel bars, ladders, etc. you'll be surprised all the different muscles you can work on these!

3. Go for a Swim. Whether its a pool or a pond, swimming laps is very therapeutic, great for your joints, and is one of the best cardio workouts you can do.

4. Morning Yoga. Take your mat outdoors, soak up the sunshine and singing birds. The natural atmosphere outside will help you relax and take on the day. 

5. Run on the Beach. If you live by the ocean or just a lake, there's gonna be sand somewhere. Head there for a run, you'll be surprised at how exhausting it is and what a great workout it can be. 

6. Go for a Bike Ride. Bikes are fun AND a great cardio workout. Plus you'll love your toned legs.

Beauty

7.  Tinted Moisturizer. In the summer, less is more and the natural look is all the rage. Opt for showing off that sun-kissed skin with a tinted moisturizer rather than applying a thick layer of foundation. 

8. Sunscreen. You want healthy skin, not damaged skin so invest in a good bottle of sunscreen and apply it regularly. 

9. Sunhats. Need I say more? They are adorable and protect your face from harmful UV rays.

10. Play up your Lips. Summer is the season of bright colors so have fun playing up your lips with bright lip balms and lipsticks. 

11. Waterproof Mascara. You never know when a spontaneous water fight will break out on those hot summer days so be prepared and wear waterproof mascara. That way you'll avoid the inevitable raccoon eyes to sure to follow. 

12. Sea Salt Spray. For those easy, care-free beach waves, try applying a sea salt spray to your damp hair. It helps to texturize your hair and leave you with effortless waves. 

13. Sandals not Flip-Flops. This simple adjustment to your wardrobe will take any outfit up a notch. A cute pair of sandals instantly makes you look more put together. 

14. Shimmer Body Moisturizers. Another way to play-up your sun-kissed skin is to keep it moisturized. Try a body lotion with shimmer to really let your skin glow. 

15. Deep Conditioner. This is a great hair care product to invest in for the summer. Chlorine and dirty lake water can do a lot of do a lot of damage to your hair so nourish it with a deep conditioner. 

16. Beach Pedicures. Go for a barefoot walk in the sand. It's like your own personal pedicure. It exfoliates and massages your tender tootsies.  

17. Sundresses. I love sundresses. There are many benefits to a sundress -- they are much cooler than shorts or pants due to the "air flow" (there's really no other word to use here) you feel when wearing one, they are super quick to throw on because it's one article of clothing, you look fabulous in them!

Nutrition

18. Smoothies. Fresh fruit and veggies are in season and what better way to consume them than in a refreshingly cold smoothie.

19. Fruit Salad. Can you say yum?! Grab a bunch of your favorite fruits. Chop them up. Throw them into a bowl together. That's it!

20. Grilling. Grills are wonderful. They give food a great flavor and it's such a fun way to cook and enjoy the outdoors. Try grilling leaner proteins like fish or chicken. Then throw some veggie kabobs on and tadaa you've got a great meal!

21. Frozen Yogurt. Summer is the season of frozen treats. Opt for a healthier version by picking frozen yogurt instead and adding some delicious fresh fruit to it. 

22. Hydrate. Drink water like it's your job. The sun and heat are very draining on your body and you need to replenish your water supply constantly. Try fruit or cucumber infused water to make drinking it more fun. 

23. Smile. This wonderful season is short and it would be a shame to waste a day frowning so wear that beautiful smile everywhere you go this season and you will truly look your best!

Be a Sleep Diva

Our society is constantly moving and trying to find ways to fit more hours in the day. We are all about progress and pushing ourselves just a little too hard in order to be successful. What people don't realize is how harmful sleep deprivation is for your body. I am a busy college student and always on-the-go but when it comes to sleep, I'm the biggest diva. I love sleep and I know I need it to function, but here comes the big shocker... so do you! People tend to forget this, especially during those crazy college years when sleep is seen as a luxury, not a necessity. It's not always easy to get a good nights sleep in but with a little discipline you can make it happen and you will love the feeling of being well rested. Here's a couple tips to help you get a better nights sleep and some reasons why sleep should be a big part of your life. 

Meal Prep for Beginners

I have recently started "prepping" my meals at the beginning of each week so I have conveniently portioned meals that I can take with me instead of always buying food on-the-go. I am definitely not an expert but I have found certain recipes, tips and tricks that seem to work best that I want to share with all of you. To start with, you might be asking "Why would you even worry about prepping your meals?" Well there are several reasons I started:

1. It's healthier. By planning out and pre-making your meals for the week you can make sure that you get all of the nutrients you need in your diet. Also, everything is portioned for you so you avoid overeating at meals.

2. It saves you time. If you're like me, I don't have time to run home for every meal, cook something from scratch, do the dishes etc. Having your meals ready to eat already makes meal time that much quicker and you will have minimal dishes for the remainder of the week. 

3. It saves you money. If you don't have food at home to eat that's quick, chances are you will just run to the nearest restaurant, fast food joint, or gas station to pick up something to eat. That $5 cheeseburger might not seem like much at the time but it adds up quickly. 

4. It makes eating healthy, fun. When you already have apples pre-sliced in a cute baggie with a little container with a serving of peanut butter to go with it, snacking healthy becomes a lot more fun. Eating a salad out of a trendy mason jar is way more enjoyable than having to put all the ingredients together at home. 

Below are recipes, instructions, and tips from the meal prepping I just completed for this week. I challenge all of you to give it a try. You don't have to make something for every meal. You could do every other day or just the meals you don't usually have time for or aren't home for. Whatever works for you!

Look Fabulous Fast

Being a girl is hard. There's so much that needs to be done when getting ready, you've got to do your hair, make-up, nails, shave, pick out an outfit.. all of which can take FOREVER. I don't know about you but I don't have forever. I've got about 45 minutes on a good day, sometimes 20 so I've had to learn how to put myself together fast. These are my favorite tips and tricks to look your best with limited time and effort.