Blue & White

There is no summer outfit more crisp or classic than a linen top and white jeans. The light airiness of the top and the bright white pants strike me as having a chic resort vibe. This wardrobe staple has served me well over the years, so when it came time to pick an outfit for a friends photo shoot, the choice was clear. My friends and I wore blue and white for the shoot, which turned out to be adorable with the pink doors from our shoot location.

I styled this outfit by adding gold bangles, my favorite earrings, and gold wedges.

I had so much fun posing for pictures with my girl gang, thanks Rachel!

top | pants | earrings | wedges (similar) 

stay sunny,

Meg

Vanilla & Agave Iced Coffee

*image via

Pin this for later! (follow me here)

I make a mean iced coffee. That can be a blessing... and a curse! While it's tasty to have in summer, it can add a lot of unnecessary calories. So, I came up with a healthier (and easy) alternative to typical iced coffee using almond milk and agave. 

Recipe for Syrup (one serving, multiply for more!)

• 1 tablespoon agave 
• 1 tsp water
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Put these in a microwaveable dish and microwave for 15 seconds.

• Brew coffee and chill it in the refrigerator until it cools
• Add ice
• Pour almond milk into the coffee to taste
• Add the syrup
• Stir & enjoy!

Make two servings, one for now and one for tomorrow, and you will love yourself in the morning. Trust.

Stay sunny,

Meg

Summer Gym Routine

Because I run track and cross country, summer means getting in shape. However, racing in the spring and fall takes quite a toll on my body. During summer, I opt for a gym workout that will keep me fit but is also low-impact. If you're looking for something similar, check out what I do below!

To keep from getting injured, I start out with some muscle activation exercises and stretching/yoga. You can check out this post for some pre-workout yoga. Tip: never skip stretching! 

Then, I hop on a stationary bike for 30 minutes. Tip: Put the seat high enough so your knee is just slightly bent when the pedal is at the lowest position. This way, it is similar to running but isn't pounding on your joints. 

Next, I usually will get on the elliptical for 20 minutes to balance out muscle use from biking.

At this point, I force myself to do the automatic stair machine. I stay on until the display screen says I burned 100 calories. Tip: since stairs are so repetitive it really isn't that hard to distract yourself with music or a video!

I'm still not too keen on using weightlifting/strength machines when I'm by myself. So, I grab some small free weights (5-10 pounds) and get to work. I hold the weights and do single leg dead-lifts and single leg squats (10 reps on each leg). Tip: these two exercises do wonders for strengthening your booty! Something else that's actually sort of fun is a ball row. This takes care of hitting muscles that I don't hit in a typical workout. Depending on the day, I may mix it up and do a core workout instead.

Now, for the most important part, recovery! Stretch a bit more, chug some water, and have something to eat/ a protein drink. Tip: do this within 30 minutes of finishing your workout. One of my favorite things to have after working out is an iced coffee with almond milk and agave!

Get to work & stay sunny,

Meg

Tassel Talk

Lately, my wardrobe has been spiced with tassels. They trim my tops, dangle off my shorts, and adorn my jewelry. The fashion world's tassel fascination is suddenly blowing up (with good reason) and I'm jumping in with both feet.

Speaking of tassels, let me tell you 'bout Whitney from Beaded by W. The ultimate girlboss, Whitney decided to pursue her business making and selling her beaded necklaces, and has been killing the tassel game ever since. If you're trying to get in on the tassel action, I totally recommend one of her necklaces. I love all of them, but I compiled a list of my top 6 favorites below!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

When I was curating this list, I loved seeing the diversity of the necklaces. Not only are there the classic "loop and tassel" designs, there are mini tassels, double wraps, knotted necklaces, etc.-- and all in the most fun colors.

For myself, I chose The Wilson necklace. While I was on vacation, this necklace was the cherry on top to an otherwise boring, yet comfy, outfit. It is always easy to throw on and I get tons of compliments whenever I wear it!

Stay sunny,

Meg

Things To Do on Sunday for a Better Monday

The school year is almost over, but it's never too late to adopt a new habit! Today, I'll be sharing some things you can do on Sunday to make your Monday feel a little less Monday-ish.

1. Clear the tabs on your computer and phone

• Mondays are a fresh start to the week, so de-clutter and get focused by closing out/deleting old items on your computer and phone.

(Phone case by Dabney Lee Designs)

2. Clean out your bag

• I don't know about you, but I accumulate the weirdest things in my backpack throughout the week, as it is literally a catch-all for my life. I like to dump everything out on my floor, throw away what I don't need, and then put everything back into its respective pockets.

3. Drink lots of water

• I like to get a little bit of extra hydration on Sunday to recover from the weekend. I usually will make a cup of detox tea or some lemon water!

4. Prepare Monday's breakfast

• Not only will making breakfast the night before give you a yummy reason to get out of bed, it will give you a little bit of extra time come Monday morning. (More morning tips from me here!)

5. Lay out your outfit the night before

• Don't spend Monday looking like you threw on whatever was on top of your drawer (because most likely you will!), lay out what you plan to wear in advance.

6. Rest up!

• Personally, I find it hard to sleep on Sunday nights because I sleep late in the morning. However, it will make all the difference if you cozy into bed a little early- with a good book or something else without a screen. Because after all, Sunday is the day of rest!

Follow these tips, and you will be ready to crush Monday.

Stay sunny (& good luck on exams),

Meg