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Thirteen Things Thursday
I saw the above post title on another blog a while ago, I can’t remember where. I’m a sucker for alliterations sooooo today is a perfect time to copy this cute little theme.
Rather than hit you with another Throwback Thursday (which I was really tempted to do), I made a list of Thirteen Things I thought about this week. There is no rhyme or reason, just thirteen things that came to my head. Because who made the rules? :)
1.) Why Generation Y Yuppies Are Unhappy
This online article is so extremely relevant to everything I have been feeling lately. And according to the article itself, so have the millions of other millennials. It has been shared over 700,000 times on Facebook. I have a feeling I’ll be checking out more posts on this website. Please, if nothing else, read this article. And don’t let the stick-figure-illustrations fool you, this message is golden.
Right away when I saw Happiness = Reality – Expectation I knew I would connect with this article. I say this all time time, but I have very high expectations of myself and of others. The author hits the nail on its head when he points out that our generation has an “inflated view” of oneself and unrealistic expectations, as well as the trend of inflating our success on social media to inaccurately compare lives with each other.
2.) My Hulu Queue is building up!
Watching TV is a rare event these days…..I log maybe 90 minutes of tv shows a week, which I’m not complaining about. Usually by the time I cook dinner, eat, clean up, shower, work on homework, work on work, squeeze in some exercise, get ready for the next day, type up a blog post and check out Instagram, I’m beyond exhausted and ready for bed. I can’t wait to catch up on my favorite TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy, The Voice, the new show Secrets & Lies, and Nashville.
3.) I think I went overboard with “Treat Yo’self Tuesday”
These are a few of my faaavorite things….
4.) The 10 Secrets of Well-Balanced Women
Okay, another article. Sorry for the over-link-ing. It’s worth it though! This list of necessities hits home as it points out our natural craving for connective relationships and stimulating mental activity. I can personally attest to the fact that a lack of connective relationships and a sense of community are detrimental to your health. And I love the comment “No you will not turn into a puddle of mush by recharging with your magazine”! For those of us who are constantly tackling the to-do list, taking time to unwind can make us feel guilty or lazy. *You probably will, however, turn into a puddle by “recharging” with 5 episodes of Netflix on the daily. Moderation! :)
5.) I blog-post binged on this entire website Elle & Company.
I spent some time researching how to grow a blog into a business as well as how to work with companies for sponsored blog posts. If you are a blogger, you can find a ton of very useful information here!
6.) Starbucks has a new S’mores flavor bottled frappuccino.
I haven’t tried one yet but I’m tempted ever since this new flavor caught my eye at the grocery store a couple weeks ago. Has anyone tried it yet?
7.) Researching Fitness Tracking Watches…HELP.
I’m researching and comparing fitness tracking watches. My Garmin is 5 years old and the size of a computer on my wrist so I’m thinking of upgrading. So much of the technical information is over my head. I want the basics: likes, dislikes, glitches. Do you use one? What do you like about it? (I think I would like one with a heart rate monitor.)
8.) Playing with the new Comic Book theme on PicMonkey was my form of “playtime” today.
Do not judge me…but when you spend a few hours per week maintaining a blog, new photo editing features are “fun.” I always use the website PicMonkey because it is free and simple for a not-so-techy person like me. They have cute little pictures and themes to add to pictures, the most recent of which is a Comic Book theme. I’m not an actual comic book reader, but the speech bubbles and narrative labels were pretty fun for pictures so I had to play ;)
9.) It’s Baseball Season! And my whole marketing class knows it.
Typically I am very good about silencing my phone during class and work. Yesterday though, I failed. My afternoon marketing class had an exam. Two minutes in, the SportsCenter app on my phone sends me an alert about the score on the Yankees game. “Doo-doo-dooo….Doo-doo-doooo” (That’s my effort to type out the special SC ringtone..hah). My classmates and teachers all turn around. The boys probably thought That ESPN sound came from you?!? And the girls probably thought WTH kind of lame ringtone is that?! After I announced the score to my curious teacher, we carried on with the exam and the Yankees won. ;)
10.) People rarely give random compliments anymore and so when a stranger called me “Sweetie” in the grocery store, it kind of made my day.
Not much to elaborate on this one…I guess we can all remember to give more compliments?
11.) My iPod has over 2,000 songs on it but I keep playing the same 4 over and over.
And one of them is this:
Yes it’s dramatic. But then again, so am I.
12.) How do you entertain yourself on long car rides by yourself?
Friday and Monday both started with six-hour car rides. Aside from the obvious (music + coffee) how do you keep yourself from getting bored with your thoughts? I can manage to keep myself mentally occupied while I log 7 hours a week on the treadmill….but struggle with finding enough to think about during a few hours in the car. Maybe it has to do with the endorphins..?
13.) I have another blog, it’s called KenzieAlyse.com
Ok this is a bit of shameless self-promotion but my digital marketing course is really focused on first-hand experience. Because of this class, I’ve created a “professional” blog, Twitter Account, Facebook community page and other projects. If you’re interested in more marketing content, feel free to check it out :)
Not going to lie, coming up with thirteen things was not that easy. I struggled after about seven or eight so I’m sorry if some were a bit random. Think I’ll bring back #TBT next week.
OK your turn, TELL ME SOMETHING. :)
The Ab Lab
As you might have noticed, I have a tendency to use “cutesy” titles. Rhyming, Alliterations…I just can’t help myself when I come up with something clever like the “Ab Lab.” When you convert your dorm room (or bedroom) into a personal fitness studio for today’s workout you will have created an Ab Lab ;)
Sometimes workouts need to be quick and convenient. The best go-to exercie for me: CORE! You don’t need any equipment and very little space to work the major muscle group. Core exercises for the Abdominals, Obliques and low back are some of my favorites (the torso twist machine at the gym? So fun.) If you decide to make this a dorm-room workout, you should invite your roommate to join you. Buddy System!
Crank up the music, lay down a towel (sweaty carpet = bad roommate) and get ready for an oh-so-challenging 5 minute Plank Workout:
1. Basic Plank – 30 seconds
2. Right Side Plank – 30 seconds
3. Left Side Plank – 30 seconds
*30 Second Break*
4. Alternating leg raise (as demonstrated below): 10 reps each side
You’re not done yet! 30 second break…
5. Right Side Plank with Hip Raises – 20 reps
6. Left Side Plank with Hip Raises – 20 reps
7. Alternating Leg Raise Plank – 10 reps each side
8. Crank Out 1 Last Basic Plank – 30 seconds
It’s quick, it ain’t easy, but it’s totally building a beautiful core :)
Now that we’ve got that covered, can I show you my “kitchen”? I’ve already told you about the food aspect of preparing for dorm life, but I also came loaded with kitchen supplies to make sure I can cook all the meals I want.
Of course I’ve got the coffee bar. My room would be incomplete without. Space is everything in a micro-sized living situation so organizing everything was so important. After my roommate and I brought out all of our kitchen gear, we assembled into what I call the Kitchen:
The easiest way to ensure you’ll make healthy choices when living on your own is to stock yourself with all the options you’ll need! If you’re starving and grumpy and all that’s left in your fridge is a carton of eggs and some mustard, you’re more likely to run down to the vending machine for some quick food. I always have apples and bananas on hand, plus other snacks and goodies to make sure I’m never in a need-food-now situation that will leave me feeling guilty afterwards.
Can you tell I like organization..?
If you do the PLANK workout, tell me how it went!
Pin this here:
The Least Stressful Class – Ever.
College classes are amazing in that you can actually get credit for taking “Stretch and Relaxation” for 50 minutes twice a week. Isn’t that a beautiful thing? Today was my first day in the PE class and I am already so glad I signed up! I am really excited to learn about stress management and relaxation techniques. Not to mention time dedicated to stretching, a task I often tell myself I am going to do and “forget”….
Being in college full-time as well as on a sports team, having a job and balancing a social life was one of the most stressful things I have ever done. This semester I quit my job (as a Supplemental Instructor, or teacher’s assistant) and am involuntarily on a break from cross country, so I do have a lot more time to dedicate to studying and having fun (like keeping up this blog!) But in my crazy-busy schedule last semester, I did learn that in order to keep my hair from falling out, I’d have to make an effort to reduce my stress. Some things that help:
1. Switch to decaf after around 4pm to make sure I’d be able to fall asleep easily
2. Get away from the computer/TV at least half an hour before going to bed (I like to give myself a good facial during this time!)
3. Pack your lunch/pick out your outfit the night before to give yourself more time when getting ready
4. Get outside and enjoy fresh air (I multi-tasked and got in a leisure evening walk while calling my parents just to talk a few times a week)
Honestly, how could I stay inside when I live in a place like this?!
5. Keep an organizer to write down your schedule. My planner was my life-line last semester, color-coded and completely full of all the information I knew I couldn’t possibly remember
6. On a particularly stressful week of school, my mom sent me a special care-package….not the chocolate chip cookies and homemade fudge kind. The healthy, relaxing, spa treatment kind:
Can’t wait to share what else I learn from this class through out the semester : ) In other news, I hear my little polar bear is keeping my bed warm while I’m away. If pet’s were allowed in dorms, Missy, I would keep you with me!
Puppy kisses make stress disappear too! ;)
Less Stress, More Fun. Share your de-stress tips!
