Workout Playlist

There's nothing I find more motivating that new workout playlists.

I can have the greatest shoes, the cutest headband, or the lightest water bottle, but my workout will just be blah without good music. I'm really enjoying my current playlist and I thought I'd share what I'm listening to and what I'm doing to get spring break ready :)

(in no particular order because I work out with an iPod shuffle)

1. Drunk In Love- Beyonce

2. Sledgehammer- Fifth Harmony

3. Flawless- Beyonce

4. Masterpiece- Jessie J

5. Sundress- Landon Austin

6. Uptown Funk- Bruno Mars

7. Cruise (iTunes Session Version)- Florida Georgia Line

8. 3005- Childish Gambino

9. Blank Space- Taylor Swift

10. Style- Taylor Swift

11. Bad Blood- Taylor Swift

12. Say My Name- Destiny's Child

13. Survivor- Destiny's Child

14. Partition- Beyonce

15. Jealous- Nick Jonas

My workouts rarely last longer than an hour and I change up my playlist frequently so I like to keep it short and sweet. I typically do 60 min on the elliptical at medium to high intensity. After that (or later in the day if I'm working out before class) I'll go back and do yoga and abs. The elliptical works my arms and legs, as does yoga, and then I work abs separately, so I hit every muscle group every day. If you're looking for some good beginner yoga classes, here are a few that I started with and still do to this day!

Runner's World Yoga 1 2 3 4 

Tone It Up Yoga 1 2

There you go! Have fun workin' up a sweat this weekend!  

Summer Workout Playlist

I love working out about as much as I love chocolate.

... Scratch that. I work out because I love chocolate. :) Anyways, there's no motivation quite like having an awesome playlist to get you going. I don't listen to much pop or hip-hop music, so I save that for my workouts. It's refreshing and fun, and makes me feel so powerful and strong! 

The music this summer has been so fun that I actually am willing to get up early and get my run in before it gets too hot. I grab my ipod and head out the door... usually before 8 am! I thought I'd share my playlist and what gets me moving :)

Get Moving! 

Get out there and kick some bootay! 

Hello.. Again & What's on My Radar

Hello, long time no talk! I've been so busy these past couple of weeks and have been adjusting to working two jobs (aka, basically a full time job) while trying to keep up a social life. Blogging has been on the back-burner, but it's definitely still there.

So, here's a quick re-cap of my life:

I finished my cooler in time for the concert! It started to peel... already!! So I'm going to be adding about a million layers of modge podge before vacation. Regardless, it was a hit. All the people I went to the concert with loved it and it got some attention from passersby, too.

The actual concert was amazing! I've been working.. a lot.. and so a night off with friends was much needed. The group I went with was perfect, but I was re-united with so many high school acquaintances that night as well as Purdue friends! I saw a couple of girls I hadn't seen since rush!!

As expected, Tim was great and it got me in such a summer mood! I'm actually going to concert #3 of the summer this weekend- Bruno Mars in Chicago! It'll be a fun weekend trip with a trip to the Vineyard Vines store, I'm positive.

Beyond that, I've been spending most of my days by the pool or working. My time in the car has given me ample opportunity to listen to new music, so there's definitely some new music on my radar. Last weekend the Backstreet Boys were in town- I didn't get to go, but it got me into a boy-band mood. iTunes Radio has conveniently created a Boy Bands radio that is perfection. 98 Degrees, BBMac, Backstreet Boys and N*Sync combine with One Direction, MKTO, and the Wanted. It's the best of the new and old! I've mainly been using it as my workout playlist, but it's fun for just hanging out too.

I love my country music, too. And Jana Kramer has come out with yet another girly song that is just so catchy that I can't help but love it! I've linked the video so you can watch it. Another new and catchy song? Maps by Maroon 5- the first single from their newest album!

What else is on my radar? Well, if you've been reading for any amount of time you know that I've been wanting a personalized stationery set for a while now. Carly from the College Prepster posted this picture to her instagram so I instantly looked up where it was from: A Thing Created. It's so cute and fun! Probably not something that I'll invest in anytime soon, but it's seriously to die for! It would stress me out to pick which photograph I'd want her to make a watercolor of... because it'd be representing me for a while (lol). But this is so to die for.

Lastly, I'm loving Tumblr right now. It's something that I can use to stay in contact with other likeminded people even with a busy schedule. I tend to check it during breaks and when I wake up... and I'm trying to post more of my own pictures :) You can follow me there, just search PurduePrep!

I'll talk to you soon, have a great day!

Top 100 songs of the '00s... and a Running Bit

I happened to catch VH1's Top 100 songs of the 00's last night and it was great! The first full decade that I really have good memories of was summed up in a good hour; a true walk down memory lane. I'd forgotten about great songs like Since You Been Gone, Lose Yourself, and Hey Ya.

So much good music in one decade, and I couldn't help but think "wow, these would make a fantastic running playlist!" I started to write down the songs that really hit me (which was hard considering I loved every song on the list). The best part was that my family was able to watch it together. We could all relate to the songs differently which got me thinking.... I'm sure anyone who reads this might enjoy the list that I wrote down. 

Empire State of Mind

We Belong Together

Umbrella

Since You've Been Gone

Sexyback

Yeah!

This Love

Bye, Bye, Bye!

Drops of Jupiter

Californication

I Don't Wanna Be

Live Your Life

Stacy's Mom

Before He Cheats

I Gotta Feeling

Clocks

Daughters

Hollaback Girl

Party in the USA

Drops of Jupiter

Gold Digger

Crazy

So whether you need a good run or a good dance sesh, throw these on for a serious Flashback Friday! 

Music to My Ears

I've recently run across some of the greatest mashups/ acoustic versions of some great songs.

Hearing new versions of old favorites always gives me a fresh take on the artist or song. I've been loving "old" music lately... the stuff I haven't listened to in a few months or years, you know what I'm talking about. And thanks to youtube and tumblr, there are so many ways for artists to keep their fans entertained with these new versions. If you're looking for some new- old favorites, here's what I'm loving:

And, I can't seem to find a better way to link this... so

the best version of Your Body is a Wonderland that I've heard

Here are three for starters. I could go on and on, but these are a few that are currently on repeat.

Work Playlist

I'm certainly the type of person who likes to have music playing while I work. 

If I don't have to read or really concentrate, I usually have Pandora open. But, then I use up all of my skips and I get frustrated, so I've started writing down the songs I really like that come on. I then make my own playlist that is catered exactly to what I like to work to. These are the songs that I'm really loving right now, but my playlist continues to grow and develop.

... the irony in this is that I have unlimited skips for a playlist that is exactly what I want...

oh well. 

what do you listen to while you work?

Currently Loving...

I'm absolutely loving life right now! School is great, LEM is coming tonight, and I'm just discovering so many cool things through meeting people and hearing about new things. My roommate loves nail polish, so I've been spending too much on nail polish. I'm loving fall colors like green and navy!

 (okay I love green and navy all the time...)

As always, style is a way of life. I'm learning so much through my style and design news on Flipboard and my new magazine subscriptions: Vogue and Elle! Outside of the classroom I'm basically the opposite of my major, and I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing...

check back Sunday for more on that whole issue. 

Something about the season and the dress just turns me into this whole new person. I love being outside and I imagine myself in a movie, playing my own personal "soundtrack" as I walk to class. I haven't really gotten into new music, but I'm just re-discovering some old favorites. From Miley to Coldplay, my music taste is always varying and random. I tend to like music that is thought provoking, but college has made me like this nasty club music that I'm not necessarily proud of. But hey, it's college right?

So I give you, my currents...

Currently On The Nails:

 Essie. Once I find a brand that works for me, I tend to stick with it. Essie has so many shades and they're so youthful and fun! This fall, I'm loving Stylenomics, After School Boy Blazer, Penny Talk, and The Lace is On. I'd put them all on at once if I could, but I try to avoid the tacky at all costs. I just change them out all the time. 

I've got a mani/pedi waiting for me in a couple of weeks- perfect! 

Currently On My Body:

Longchamp. Ball Cap. Lotion. Vest. Scarf.

Can't go wrong with any of these. My Longchamp has been my best friend. I own two.. hopefully a third in the near future. Usually I would hate the lack of compartmentalization, but I love being able to throw anything and everything in there and get on my way. It makes switching from one color to the other to my backpack and back again a breeze (and trust me, that happens more than it needs to). 

I've almost always got a cap and scarf with me, tucked away in my Longchamp, of course! The wind and my lack of tolerance for my hair often results in a pony and cap by the end of the day. And the scarves? They're actually used more in class than outside. Purdue must still think it's 100 degrees out because the classrooms are frigid!!! My go-to scarf is always Burberry- they're big enough to cover as a "blanket" in class but can be styled so many ways on my neck, too! 

My Lotion is a must for the cool weather. I've been blessed with this wonderful Northern-European heritage in which my skin becomes dry and cracked in the cold. A moisturizer is always good; usually I'm not one for scents, but Bath and Body Works drew me in with their $5 full-size products and I had to get the Aspen Caramel Woods, which is the epitome of fall and has garnered more compliments than expected

wow! That smells just like fall. Yes, I know, isn't it wonderful?

Currently On Repeat:

Like I said, my music choice has gotten... just weird. Starting with One Direction, I am shamelessly a fan. I took my sister and cousins to their concert this summer and left thinking "That was a good show, the songs are fun, and the guys are very  good looking." And there you have it. They're broadening their audience by doing the Today show, their movie, and making unexpected appearances (Harry at #LFW?) but there are no complaints from this girl. I've been loving the mix of upbeat and thought-provoking songs. They're a fun bunch of guys and I'll proudly support them!

Not a Fan? I still suggest you check out Harry Styles' "Don't Let Me Go" on Youtube

Okay, so Lorde has taken the world by storm. I only have Royals, but I've listened to the other songs and they're so catchy, but with a melancholy feel- it's odd for music, but it's been growing on me! (and the fact that she mentions "Queen B" just means I have to love her) Talk about odd music tastes- Miley Cyrus is getting a little weird. I don't endorse twerking, nudity, or basically anything she's been up to lately, but I love a song that can bring out emotions. Wrecking Ball does that beautifully. If you just forget about the provocative, creepy video, the song is pretty great.

Check out Lorde's Royals

Coldplay and OneRepublic have been favorites of mine for as long as I can remember. They're like the style in a world of fashion. Through all the changing music and new artists, I can always go back to their albums and enjoy them like the first time. Both artists are truly artists, from the lyrics to the music, and I appreciate that so much. The changes they've made to the sound have only been for the better and I think I'd probably die if they did a song together. Like flat out, on the ground. Probably from hyperventilation. 

Check out Amsterdam by Coldplay and Can't Stop by OneRepublic

What are you Currently Loving?

Summer Concerts

Summer means late nights, hot weather, and... concerts

I've definitely topped any record that any summer has held for number of concerts. In fact, my first night of the summer was spent at a concert, and I've kept the tradition. They're such a fun way to be with friends and hear great music! I'm not really picky on concert music or ticket price. In fact, I've spent every concert, but one, this summer on the lawn. There's more room and you can bring food, walk around, and inevitably meet people! Not to mention they're the cheapest option...

My concert list has ranged from country to pop to rock... and I think I might hit 10 concerts before the summer is over. Here's a re-cap of some of my concert pictures

I do struggle a bit with the fact that I work to buy tickets to see bands who work as entertainers. But, at the same time, I love music and find well-written music to be one of the greatest works of art. 

It wouldn't be summer without some concerts!

My Middle School Dream

The Jonas Brothers are back

...and sexier than ever.

Whether you liked them back in middle school (like myself), or you were never a fan, give this video a watch. They've obviously grown from their innocent personas into full blown men.

*insert heart-eyed emoji here*

No wonder they don't wear their purity rings anymore...

Top 5: June 2013

I can't believe that one of my favorite months- June- has come and gone so quickly!

But, that means that I get to look back at the month and pick out my favorite things from that month. June has been a month that I've really enjoyed, from the bonfires to sleeping in to catching up with old friends. With graduation came graduation parties, gifts, and busy weekends. It's been quite a month and I have a few favorites that I'm ready to share from the month!

1. Lip Color

I've written a few posts about this new love of mine, and I've taken the multiple grad parties and bonfires to experiment daily vs. occasion wear for a variety of popular products and brands. On a daily basis, I really enjoy Burts Bees lip shimmers in Cherry and Rhubarb. I've posted about those before, but they typically are my go-to for everyday. If it's daytime but I've got plans that are a little more laid out than my normal daily plans, I really like Tarte LipSurgence in Pouty (as opposed to my initial Glamazon Lipstick). This color is just a bit darker than my natural tint, as well as shimmery and light. When it comes to actual lipstick, I go for Revlon colors. They're relatively inexpensive and are very moisturizing! All-in-all, I have really been enjoying lip colors this month! 

2. Kate Middleton

My love affair with Kate is no secret. But with her due date quickly approaching, the media has been going crazy about Kate and I'm so happy about that! Kate is an inspiration to many women, including myself. I love her classic wardrobe and her simplicity. She's so beautiful and graceful- enough to turn me into the ugly green monster. To keep me entertained, I've ordered three books about Kate... I may be a little bit obsessed, but I'm also very interested in the Royal Family in general. 

3. Stationery

Being a grad means that I've been getting a ridiculous amount of mail (and money!). While I'm very appreciative of this, I've been writing "Thank You" notes out the wazoo! I don't even want to know how much time I've spent writing letters, but each person deserves that time from me. Most of the people I received money from I've only known a few times, so I surely want them to know how much I appreciate their thoughts and support. Anyways, I find it a lot more fun to write thank you's when I've got cute stationery. I know there are all kinds of boutiques and expensive places to buy stationery, but I've really been drawn to the Mira Mi collection at Target... I have come home with new stationery the last few times I've gone to Target. I really love the options and they look much more expensive than they are!

4. Concerts

Summer is for late nights and loud music. There's not a lot to do around where I live, but there are plenty of concerts. Lawn tickets are between $30-100 and make for an awesome night! So far this summer I've only gone to two concerts, but there are about four more that I have planned after vacation. It's a guaranteed night of fun with all of your friends- what's to lose?

5. Tumblr

Okay I know that Tumblr is nothing new, but it is to me! I've loved Pinterest for a while for inspiration, but I've heard quite a lot about Tumblr lately. So, I decided to give it a try! I've had my Tumblr account for a while and I used it as a sort of "travel journal" while I was in Europe last fall. But it's not really made for that too much. I've been a bit confused with its function, but I think I'm getting the hang of it, and it's pretty fun! Here's my Tumblr.

So, June has come to an end. Luckily, July will be filled with equally as great adventures and experiences. It'll be full of firsts and lasts, hellos and goodbyes.

But, I'm ready for it! 

Goodbye June!

A Little Bit of Classical

It's exam time.

That means that everyone is busy studying and stressing.

I am no different, but I did discover just how to minimize distractions.

I've read multiple places that listening to classical music while studying is the best thing to listen to.

I could never study with music, because listening to the lyrics is so distracting! At the same time, it's so hard to study in silence because any little noise can cause me to lose focus!

This exam season, I decided I'd see how the classical music worked for me.

Oh. My. Gosh.

It's perfect! The music works perfectly as white noise and I actually find that I'm more focused than I would be without it! This video is the one that I use, because it goes on for 10 hours.

If I ever get to the end of it, I know that I have been hitting the books a little too hard and definitely need to eat, sleep, and take a break!

(I assure you that I have not reached the end and do not plan on it!)

We all have our studying quirks... What's yours?

Top 5: March 13

It's that time again! A new month means looking back at what all has happened in my life the last month. Good and bad, March is one month closer to warmer weather so I can't complain. This month I got into a few new habits, as well as rekindling my love for a few new ones! Here it goes, my favorites for the month of March:

1. Lilly Pulitzer

I've been a Lilly fan for a while, but this month has taken my interest to a new level. I love reading the brand blog and looking at new arrivals- either I don't look close enough on a daily basis, or new stuff is added almost daily! I also began reading a biography on the one and only Lilly P., and have gained so much love and respect for the woman that is known so well in American culture! She was such an inspiration in the 20th century, and also seems very humble and kind. I'd absolutely love to meet her.

2. Country Music

As I've stated many times before, I've become a huge fan of country music! I love Rascal Flatts, Florida Georgia Line, you name it, I probably like it! On a completely different note, the new OneRepublic album is great too!

3. MacBook

This month, my parents bought me my MacBook- more affectionately called my baby- which could be one of the most convenient presents for the whole family! My stuff stays out of their way and they stay out of mine. perfection. One thing that I haven't quite gotten used to is the function of apps on the computer... I guess I don't have the need for them at this point. I am looking for some apps (preferably free for now) that may be useful! Send them my way!

4. Running

I've been a regular runner for the past couple of years. I run for enjoyment and exercise, but I haven't been running lately because it's been such a cold winter! I have outdoor running clothes, but I just hate being cold. Anyways, being on vacation has given me the opportunity to run in shorts and t-shirts on the beach, barefoot. Can't beat that, and it'll be way too cold when i get home if it's anywhere between 70 degrees! I've ruined myself. But, hopefully I'll get in shape to run a few half marathons this summer!

5. Soda Water

Yes, a bit random, but my dad went shopping and there must have been a great deal on Perrier, because he came home with 10 cases of it! I'm not the person to demand "fancy" water, but it's been enjoyable while we've had it! It reminds me of being in Europe- since water is more expensive than beer and so you might as well get the fancy kind- and it just puts a spin on the ever important staying hydrated. 

So, there we are. These are the top 5 new additions to my life since the beginning of the month. I've had a great month of school, which ended with two weeks of vacation! No room for complaints, and the best part of the year is quickly approaching! 

What will you remember from March?

Winter Wonder...what?!!

It is March 25 and my house is covered in snow. 

This is not okay. In less than 48 hours I will be on my way south, but for now this needs to end. Luckily, this weather gives me a reason to sit inside, pack, and watch Gossip Girl all day. The only reason that this is okay is that I'll be in Sanibel in a few short days. 

With the approaching road trip, what have I been doing to make sure that I have everything ready?

Yesterday I laid out my clothes and went shopping for any toiletries I'm needing. Can I just express how impressed I am for my ability to pack light this trip?! Seriously only 4 pairs of shorts and 5 shirts... well and my norts & tees. But, I'm telling you, this is a major step in the right direction for me. Today I'm packing my "carry on" bag, buying snacks, and buying lost of new music! (Florida Georgia Line, anything country!)

Tomorrow my plan is to make red velvet puppy chow and banana bread muffins for the road- yum! I'll do anything last minute, pack my bags, and pull an all nighter because I'll be way too excited about leaving to sleep! 

Worn Out Apps

So, my iPhone is basically glued to me on a regular basis. Even though I get almost no signal in more than half of my classes (yaaaay high school), I still manage to communicate with my phone throughout the day. When I just cannot get signal, I revert to a few of my favorite apps. These apps get a huge amount of lovin' on a daily basis, so why not share?

yes, some of the apps are old. but these are my daily go-to's

Twitter. Instagram. Facebook. These apps are 100% percent my obsessions. I pay attention to the lives of others way more than I should, but I have this weird fascination with studying others... maybe I should be a sociologist. But seriously, I analyze the feeds of everyone I follow. I find myself questioning why someone I've never talked to in person chooses to post certain tweets or images. For attention? For fun? who knows. I probably have a problem, but don't we all?

p.s. Instagram has been kindof beneficial to me in more ways that just the fact that I can share my pictures with the rest of the world. I never used to be the type to take pictures, but now I do. All. The. Time! I obviously don't post every picture I take, but I definitely document my life much more than I used to, which I enjoy.

Lose It. So, obviously it's spring break and summer time. While that means sweet tea, the beach, and sun, it also means swimming suits! And hopefully you understand when I say that I did a little too much indulging over the holidays. Lose It is the single best weight loss app... out of the free ones, at least! It's been super efficient in helping me track my meals and workouts. Seriously, with it I was able to reach my spring break goal this week! And I don't leave for another week. How awesome is that?! This app has definitely gotten a lot of love from me lately.

 Shazam. Well, to be honest, all my music apps all receive thorough use. I have been using shazam more than usual lately, because I'm keeping a list for my spring break playlist! I also use Pandora daily (and am not too happy to hear about the new time limits... I still haven't pulled the trigger on paying for Pandora) and, of course, the music and iTunes app. I am a music fanatic and I truly use my iPhone for the music almost more than anything!

Technology amazes me! I can do so much on such a small device.

What are your favorite apps? I'm curious for some other good ones to download.

Listen List

So, music is to the soul what chocolate is to the mouth. It is essential, makes everything better, and can capture so much in so little. I listen to a variety of genres, but there's one genre that just screams spring and summer to me: Country!

I'm not a crazy, die hard fan, but I love that all of the songs tell a story. Plus, they seem to capture the carefree attitude of summer beautifully! As always, I have a few songs that will surely be on my playlist these upcoming months.

This one is at the top of my list! It's perfect for being on the beach and having fun. 

Literally, I get excited when I hear this song because I imagine being not in the midwest (where it is currently snowing... in March. Don't get me started)

Country and Summer just go together, don't they?

Top Five: February 2013

In celebration of my least favorite month coming to an end, I bring you my February favorites! These  five favorites cover a wide range, and have become a part of my daily life. Here we go...my February favorites!

1. Gossip Girl

I'm sure you could have guessed that, but seriously. Gossip Girl has become my new obsession and has become a part of every aspect of my life. From my love of Blair, to the way I dress and style my hair, to the books I read, I am inspired by the GG storyline. It grabs you and takes you with it, and I dare you to try avoiding it! I even received a hand-me-down from my cousin yesterday that, though she has no idea about my GG obsession, it fits right in: she gave me a Yale t-shirt that has been passed down for many years. I'm pretty sure I never want to take it off! 

2. Pistachios

This may be the weirdest favorite, but it's so true! I make this low-carb mix of pistachios, almonds, and dark chocolate chips, and it is a life saver! I talked about my Six Week slim down, and this is my little secret! Between this and my tea, I can satisfy my sweet-tooth, salty food craving, and keep to my diet. They aren't low in calories, though. I have to be careful with the amount I eat. But they are filling and oh so yummy!

3. Clinique Mascara

I've been a huge huge fan of Clinique products for the past few years. They aren't harsh on my skin at all, which is perfect because I'm not prone to acne or anything like that. It keeps my skin looking fresh and radiant! (ahh!) Lately though, I've been loving their makeup, which is just as perfect for my skin. Having red hair, my eyelashes a very light. Having the skin of a redhead, it's very easy for my eyes to look way too made up with minimal makeup because it looks so harsh against my light skin. The Clinique High Impact mascara is perfect! It darkens my lashes, but looks natural and not clumpy at all! And, major plus, it's waterproof!! I have a feeling that this will be my go-to for quite a while. 

4. Amazon

So, we all know that I have a serious online shopping problem.... Amazon does not help. At all. Of course I've used Amazon before this month, but never like this. It seriously has everything! All in one place. It's like Pinterest: it sucks up so much time and can leave you feeling like you need to buy and try all these new things. But with Amazon, it's all so readily available and can be on your doorstep in 3 days. And they're working towards same day delivery?! I'll never leave my home again..except to show off all of my new purchases, of course!

5. Pandora

Okay, I am not new to Pandora in any way. I way overused it when it first became popular, but then it fell off my radar. Until this month, that is. Pandora has seriously stepped up their free music and I've found a way around having to use the "skip" to skip a song...twice as many skips and hour! wooo! When I'm at home, pandora is what I constantly listen to. It's introduced me to so many incredible artists, all for free! Being the happy customer that I am, I'd like to see what ad free listening is like. and for only $3 a month, it's really not that unreasonable. The only thing that could make it better would be if it didn't suck up so much data and I could use it when I don't have wifi.

There you have it! This month has been surprisingly pleasant. I took a few personal days but worked more than usual, too. I made some new discoveries as well as reintroduce myself to the old. I'm welcoming the arrival of March, spring break, the sun, and the final months of my senior year! 

I can't wait to find next month's favorites!

"Gonna Take Her Chances in the Big City of Lights"

I often think of what the soundtrack to my life would be. The thing is, it wouldn't be just one album or artist; I am quite the lover of music. While the mainstream music is nice (OneDirection is my guilty pleasure), I always get a sense of accomplishment when I find a really interesting group or artist before the rest of the world... I like to claim Ed Sheeran and Imagine Dragons as my finds.

My current "soundtrack" is the most recent album by Mat Kearney. It's very light and summery... if you can describe music as a season. :-) But really, it's been on repeat and just always makes me happy! I imagine laying on the beach with the crashing of waves as the background to this album and I'd definitely recommend giving it a listen if you're a fan of light-hearted music with meaningful lyrics.

Hope you enjoy some Mat in your near future.