TSB: August Rack Up

August 29, 2016

August - my first month back to blogging could be described as a chaotic. In the best and worst possible way. I felt disconnected when I attended blogger events and had to relearn how to maintain my work, blog, and life balance. It wasn't easy, but it felt pretty good once things started to fall into place.

This month, I had a lot of fun with footwear. Heels, sneakers, wedges - I wore them all and sought out different styles. Jewelry was definitely kept to a minimum since it's a tad difficult to clasp things at the moment. Although, I can't purchase much due to my ever-increasing heap of medical bills I did pin a few aspirational pairs. You know... for when I can finally afford them.

OH! And almost forgot to mention - I got featured by Buzzfeed! It was pretty surreal and such an awesome moment!

Dress: c/o Banana Republic Sandals: Madewell Clutch: Ora Delphine Necklace: Sterling Forever Rings: Assorted Lipgloss: Plumsup via Soap & Glory

Dress: c/o W by Worth Boots: Harley-Davidson Backpack: LANY Rings: Assorted Watch: Q&Q SmileSolar Lipgloss: 22 via Kylie Cosmetics Hair Transformation: Chereen from Fox & Jane

Shirt: Aritzia Shorts: Zara (similar here) Sneakers: Rocket Dog Necklace: Athra Luxe Rings: Assorted Bracelet: Folli Follie Lip Stain: Dahlia via Skinn Hair Transformation: Chereen from Fox & Jane

Dress: Ramy Brook Heels: Banana Republic Clutch: Ora Delphine Necklace: La Soula Rings: Assorted Bracelet: Old (similar one here) Liquid Lipstick: 22 via Kylie Cosmetics

Dress: boohoo.com (similar) Pants: Banana Republic (similar) Sneakers: Adidas Clutch: Miu Miu Necklace: Ettika Rings: Assorted Bracelet: Kenneth Jay Lane Sunglasses: The Row Lipgloss: My Jam via Colourpop

Dress: Pixie Market (similar) Sneakers: Novesta Purse: Patricia Nash (similar) Necklace: My Own Rings: Assorted Bracelet: Capwell+Co Wine Tote: Happy Town Hawaii Lipgloss: Coral Sands via L'Oreal

Top: Outdoor Voices Pants: Outdoor Voices Sports Bra: Sweaty Betty Tote: Baggu Sneakers: Brooks Lipgloss: Coral Sands via L'Oreal Hair Products: Perk Up Dry Shampoo + Un.Done Texture Spray via Amika

Top: Rebdolls Pants: J. Crew Necklaces: Custom + Athra Luxe Clutch: Pily Q Heels: Banana Republic Lipgloss: 22 via Kylie Cosmetics

Loved every single look - it definitely leaned more towards my romantic side which was fun to explore. How was your August - stylewise and such?

Photos by Lydia Hudgens and Lauren Adriance.

Never Miss a Morning Workout Again

August 26, 2016

Starting my summer with a cast on my wrist was a recipe for cabin fever. Not to mention my training runs were also set to start around the same time. I was going stir crazy, staying tucked away inside.

But every moment has an expiration date. And my moment of insanity expired as soon as that cast came off (and I got over my muscle atrophy shock).

My surgeon warned me that I wouldn't be as strong as I once was and to take it easy on the long runs. So I tried... For about 14 hours. It felt so good to run off the stress and enter my familiar place of solitude. I gave my legs a well deserved North Brooklyn tour too.

Running will always be my first love but with the marathon up ahead it needed to be supplemented with strength training. I did after all take a hiatus on living.

For me, I've supplemented my runs with an assortment of classes on Classpass. Check out their plans here.

One of the things I love most about using Classpass is being able to find a workout that works for my time. That usually means AM workouts before heading into my job, an on-the-fly lunch sweat, or later than usual night classes. Lately, it's been crack of dawn AM classes.

Not the easiest to get up for but I rounded up a few tips below that make it easier for me and could potentially work for you too!

1. Prep Your Clothes
When it's that early, the last thing you want to do is fumble around your room looking for your yoga pants and heels for your workday. Plan it out the night before and pack it up. I usually have it all packed in a gym bag and leave it by the door.

Here are a few gym bags I'm loving:

2. Map It Out
If you're venturing out to a new studio make sure you know how to get there and how long the commute will take you. This key for my fellow subway riders. Once you figured that out, plan to leave 15 minutes earlier. It'll give your leeway and the time to scope out the new studio.

3. Take What You Need
Based on the studio's amenities you could either do with or without the dry shampoo, body wipes, or even deodorant. Classpass will let you know what amenities the studio will have but if you really want to get the full details - check Yelp or their website. I always do and it saves me from carrying too much.

In case you're wondering what I do bring, it tends to consist of Amika's travel kit (dry shampoo is a must for curls), my bare make minimums (BB cream, brow pencil, mascara, and a bronzer/blush duo), and deodorant.

Shop my gym bag essentials here:

4. Don't Forget to Eat
This. It's so easy to skip this part especially when rushing but try not to since your body does need sustenance before any hearty sweat session. The night before I fill up my water bottle and pack it along with a post-workout granola bar. Are you starting to see a trend yet? For AM fuel I prep overnight oats in a mason jar which are easy to eat on the go.

5. Shower Check
Nothing can ruin an exhilarating sweat session than having to pay for towels, or worse, get stuck waiting in line for the single shower. Again, check on yelp for the studio's shower situation. If it's not looking good book your class at different studio or plan on getting there early so you can be one of the first on their shower signup sheet.

Top: Outdoor Voices Pants: Outdoor Voices Sports Bra: Sweaty Betty Tote: Baggu Sneakers: Brooks Lipgloss: Coral Sands via L'Oreal Hair Products: Perk Up Dry Shampoo + Un.Done Texture Spray via Amika

After a week of doing strictly morning classes, I felt more energized. And with each class I made sure to avoid that early morning dash by following my tips listed above. Hopefully, I've inspired a few of you to sweat it out in the AM. It's really not that bad once you get into the swing of it. Pinky promise.

Photos by Lauren Adriance.

Shop the look:

5 Travel Must-Haves for Your Carry-On

August 25, 2016

This summer was unexpectedly full of fun weekend trips. With my wrist still in sore shape and my tendency to hoard and overpack items, my packing style was in need of a lifestyle change after my first getaway.

Being the optimistic packer that I am, I tend to bring everything with me in the hopes that I can get it done while I'm away. The reality is that nothing gets done, like absolutely nothing, besides disconnecting from the digital life and reconnecting with friends. Oh, and a few too many Mimosas but that's to be expected.

After a few getaways, I realized I don't need to pack up my entire vanity and six different pairs of shoes for each trip. And it won't kill me if I forget one thing either. With those realizations, the space in my bag gradually increased as did the ease on my shoulders. However, there are a few things that have become my go-to essentials for every trip.

1. My Go-To Bag
After a few rounds of researching backpacks and reading every single review on Amazon, I bit the bullet and bought myself a Tumi convertible backpack (seen above). It's been such a game changer and has made traveling a breeze. There's a place for my laptop and a few well-placed pockets to keep my things organized and my mind sane. The versatility of this bag has made it my go-to for all things work and event related as well. If you're looking for something a little more budget-friendly, another great contender is the Lipault Plume Business Backpack (seen below).

2. Be Safe & Not Sorry: Antibacterial + Beauty Salve
Airports... Can we all agree they're basically a breeding ground for bacteria? There are so many people passing through the terminals each day it's best to play it safe by washing our hands and using antibacterial. Another must-have, beauty salve. A few things in life can make me uncomfortable, one of them being dry, chapped skin. This is kind of unavoidable being high up in the air so it's best to pack a multipurpose beauty salve like this one.

*image via pondering-beauty.blogspot.com*

3. Stay Hydrated with a Refillable Water Bottle
I honestly hate paying for water at airports - the prices are ridiculously high and there's nothing we can do besides pay for it. Well, it's time we disrupt the system and bring in our own reusable bottle since staying hydrated is crucial when flying. Dehydration hangovers are not fun when you only have a short amount of time away. I'm a huge fan of bobble's Insulate bottles. Their steel bottles keep water (or other liquids) hot or cold for up to 24 hours and won't sweat or leak.

4. Tune It Out Headphones
Also called my daily lifesavers. Traveling is stressful and not being able to tune it ALL out can really make or break a trip. The question is which pair should you go with? For your next trip, I highly recommend Bose's SoundSport Headphones. You can go wireless or wired, but both are amazing when it comes to noise canceling and high-quality sound. They're also easy to pack compared to the over-the-ear kind. I've used these at work, on runs, noisy airplanes and can't ever imagine using something else.

5. A Cozy Sweater
Similar to the Katy Perry song, planes can leave you feeling hot and then cold. There's absolutely no winning when it comes to climate control when in-flight but you can be prepared. I tend to grab an oversized before each trip to act as my in-flight blanket or makeshift pillow. And if you're simply too hot, you can always take it off. I linked to a few of my favorite ones priced under $50.

Now, I'm turning the tables on you. What are you must-haves when it comes to your carry-on?