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!

10 Ways to Multitask and Workout

I feel like many times, my excuse for not getting a workout in is that I don’t have time, or I have too many other things to do. Well here is a list a 10 ways that you can incorporate a workout into everyday activities like studying, reading, TV watching etc. It’s also important to remember that anything is better than nothing so sure, maybe on your more busy days you don’t go out and run 5 miles and then lift for two hours, but doing 5 minutes of abs is still 5 minutes better than not doing them.

BONUS 30 Minute Total Body Workout at Home

Being a busy college student, I realize paying for a gym membership on a budget is sometimes unrealistic. If you're lucky, your school gives you a free gym pass to their rec center, but usually their hours of operation don't match up with your schedule. That doesn't mean you can't still get in a good workout! The following is a fast, easy, and effective workout that you can do in the comfort of your own home. No equipment needed, but I would recommend investing in a good yoga mat. It gives you a surface that provides cushion and traction for particular floor exercises. Plus it's a cute way to bring the gym feel to your home.

30 Minute Total Body Workout

This week's post is going to come in 2 parts. I realize that some people have access to gym equipment and others do not. My first post will be about a weekly, 30 minute workout plan that can be done at a gym and the second will be an at-home workout plan.

For starters, finding time to get a full body workout in is no easy task. There are so many different muscles to work and so little time in the day. I have tried several different "quick" workouts, but many times they leave me feeling under-exhausted. This workout however, is one that will get your heart pumping and your muscles quivering with exhaustion by the time you're done. It combines both cardio and strength moves for the most efficient use of your time. The key to a fast and effective workout is to push yourself. Go from one move to the next quickly and don't hold back. 

For this 30 minute workout you will need access to several machines: a squat press, a bicep curl, chest press, tricep machine, t-bar/row machine, pull up machine/bar, and a track although a treadmill will work just fine. (for biceps and triceps, feel free to use a cable machine).