Book Worm

In the midst of trying to find a great summer read, I stumbled across this little gem. What Should I Read Next? helps you find a book to read based on your other reading interests. When I opened the site I typed in Little Bee by Chris Cleave (which is an amazing book and I highly recommend it - it is one of those books that took me about 48 hours to finish because I couldn't stop reading) and it gave me a list of about 40 books based on similarities such as writing style, authors voice, themes, and length. What a great tool to use when you are having a hard time finding a good book to read!

Alternative route

 Lately I have envied the people I see leisurely riding their bicycles to work or around the city. It is such a great idea especially when the expenses of owning a car and keeping it in a city are overwhelmingly high. But there is another very important reason to switch means of transportation from car to bicycle. The environment is incredibly delicate and needs to be nurtured just like human beings do.  By riding your bike to work instead of driving, the earth could be spared automobile ozone pollution that accounts for 72% of nitrogen oxides and 52% of reactive hydrocarbons in the air. David Lawyer wrote the ultimate paper comparing bicycle vs. automobile energy use, and found that bikes are 2/3 more efficient than cars even after factoring in the energy to produce the extra food the cyclist requires. So next time you have to make a trip to CVS down the street, or if you normally drive 10-20 minutes to work, rethink your options and especially rethink what is happening to the earth every time you turn on your car. 

Saving the planet > getting a workout > traveling in fresh air = bike ride :)

Color Me Pretty

I've been relishing in my love for this seasons trend of brights. My closet has slowly transformed from a sea of neutrals and blacks, to a glowing waterfall of reds, greens, blues, yellows, oranges, and patterns. I have created some of my favorite summer looks; casual, comfortable, and of course, vibrant. Spice up your wardrobe this summer with a few vivid signature pieces, you'll end up becoming addicted to color!

1) Diane von Furstenberg cashmere sweater  - net-a-porter.com   2) Les Prairies de Paris long sleeve blouse 
3) TopShop silk top - topshop.com  4) River Island yellow blouse - riverisland.com 
5) J Brand red shorts - jades24.com 6) J Brand denim shorts  - net-a-porter.com 
7) Short skirt - farfetch.com 8) FAIR true striped skirt  - fashion-conscience.com 
9) Christian Louboutin high heels  - net-a-porter.com  10) Mulberry handbag  - matchesfashion.com 
11) Yves Saint Laurent envelope clutch - net-a-porter.com  12) DAY Birger et Mikkelsen beaded necklace - 25park.com 
13) Kenneth Jay Lane turquoise ring- charmandchain.com  14) Dorothy Perkins bangle bracelet- dorothyperkins.com
15) H M bangle bracelet - hm.com  16) Cacharel round sunglasses - openingceremony.us

xox!

In the raw: Part 1 !

When the days are long and busy, and all hope for cooking a nutritious dinner is lost, do not fret. I know packaged foods, bars, fast food, or 5-minute meals are very convenient at times, but that is just not the way to go. Fresh foods are key to a persons diet. I was told many times that you should never eat anything that will not expire. By that I mean, a bag of chips probably lasts for a few years unopened, while a bag of carrots lasts for only a few days. The longer the expiration date on the package, the worse the food is for you.  An incredibly quick and easy way to eat healthy is to eat fresh foods. This way, you get all of the vitamins, minerals, and proteins you need in your diet, while eating on the fly. Each of the pictures below shows a meal combination of fresh foods. They are a great base to work off of, for those days when cooking is just not an option. Take a look at some of these meal options below. The breakfast options can also be accompanied with greek yogurt and low-sugar granola, which is an easy and delicious way to incorporate more nutrition into the meal. Next time you go to the grocery store keep these meals in mind and shop the right way!