a weighty conversation, part two

Over Easter break, I went shopping with my mom, which is usually where I try on a bunch of stuff and she MIGHT get one thing for herself. This time, however, she was the one who brought more than 6 items to the Target dressing room, some of those items being swimwear. My mom, despite the fact that her nickname was "Slim," is very conservative when it comes to her swimsuits because she is a mom of two older children, and therefore doesn't think she can wear anything that would expose her midriff (although she totally could).

I decided to join her and picked out a cute pair of shorts, a swim top, and two pairs of bikini bottoms. My mom asked me to look at something she had tried on, so I went next door to her dressing room wearing the bikini top and bottoms. Upon seeing me, she said, "I don't think you look good in that." I retorted, "Why, because I'm too fat?" and she made a face with wide eyes and nodded solemnly.

I'm not gonna lie - that right there kinda broke my heart. I have never thought of myself as "too fat" for anything, although I will admit I do prefer a certain level of modesty and agree that some things look better on size 2s than on me. And it is important to note that she said I was the one who didn't look good, not the swimsuit, which made it so much worse.

I like to think I suffer from body dysmorphia in that I think of myself as thinner than I actually might be, which is opposite of how most body dysmorphia works. When I look in the mirror, I of course see things I don't like, but I also see myself as proportional. Nothing is too big or small or ugly. But when she said that, I began to question whether I was physically attractive at all. I asked my boyfriend and he of course rejected my mom's remark and said I wasn't fat at all.

So which is right - my perception of my body or my mom's? Should I be allowed to continue wearing bikinis, or will I be banished to one-piece purgatory because of her comment? It really comes down to two things: whether I care more about what my mom thinks or my own comfort level. I know she meant well, but it's comments like that that destroy girls' self-confidence, and it hurts more coming from the ones we love than from strangers.

Whenever I'm feeling discouraged about my body, I list things I like about myself: my hair, my freckles, my eyes, my ears, my nose, my mouth, my teeth, my boobs, my waistline, my back, my forearms, my hands, my fingers, my hips, my butt, my legs, my feet, my toes. There are more items on that list than there are on the list of things I don't like about myself. So why should my perceived level of physical attractiveness be determined by the small list of things I don't like about myself when there are so many more things I do like about myself? The only person who gets to decide how you feel about yourself is you.

Source: Equal Writes

So in an attempt to compromise with my well-meaning mother, I have been shopping for more modest two-pieces that enhance my favorite features rather than accentuate my least favorite. But one-pieces are gross and make my shoulders look manly so that's going to remain a no-go. The point of this is, if you feel comfortable wearing a bikini, wear one. And if you don't, don't. I feel fine in a bikini whereas my mother does not, and THATS OK. Don't let others define you, YOU define you. As Kevin Gnapoor says, "Don't let the haters stop you from doing your thang." And please, love your body. It's the only one you've got.

a weighty conversation, part one

Lately, the topic that has most interested me is the War on Weight. Women (and some men) today are struggling with everything from fat shaming to thin shaming to thigh gaps to fitting into clothing and even more. Everyone has issues with their body, and don't let anyone ever tell you they don't, because it would be a lie. "My boobs aren't big enough," "I hate my arms," "I have so much cellulite on my thighs and butt," and "I wish I were more toned" are things even thin people say to themselves when they look in the mirror. We are all at war with our bodies.

Personally, I go from being fine with my body to hating it from day to day. Shopping is frustrating because my boobs and waist are too big to fit into some clothes, such as bralettes and dresses. I hate looking at pictures of myself after they're taken because I never know whether my arm or my face will look fat or fine. I feel like I can't wear a bikini because of my pancha. I'm having to buy new jeans because my favorite pair has holes in the thighs from mine rubbing together when I walk. My grandma said that my dad shouldn't be so hard on me about my weight because I have his frame and broad shoulders, and my dad actually apologized for my being "built just like him." I'm sure a lot of you are able to relate to some of the things I've said, which is why I don't mind sharing them with you.

My best guy friend (with whom I share just about everything) will attest to the fact that I complain about my body to him way too often. He's a good sport for listening and encouraging me, but I know he gets frustrated with it sometimes. Many times, we feel a pressure from our loved ones to lose weight or fix the things about ourselves we dislike, but they only do it because they know that deep down that is a concern of ours and they want to help us achieve our personal goals. If we're not happy, they want to encourage us to be happy. And if that happiness can be more closely achieved by losing weight, then that's what they want for us.

We also, of course, feel a pressure from clothing companies (which tend to feel more personal to us than celebrities in the media) to be a certain size, weight, or build. Companies like Target and Hollister have recently come under attack for too heavily promoting the thigh gap. Abercrombie's CEO has been blamed for being personally responsible for the company's decline in sales for saying that not everyone was meant to wear A&F clothing. Plus size models are starting at size 6 when plus size itself begins at size 14.

The Target faux-thigh gap

Meanwhile, other clothing companies are trying to combat this by showing that are more representative of everyday women. H&M has been using bigger models to promote their swimsuit line, and Aerie is using models of different bra sizes to model bras and not retouching them. They see there's a problem and they are trying to change the way girls think about themselves as well as society's pressures for all girls to be a certain size. But they certainly can't do it alone.

H&M model Jennie Runk

Un-retouched Aerie model for DD cup size

Even more so, we feel pressure to look like people we know. Our Facebook acquaintances are our biggest enemies when it comes to putting unnecessary pressure on ourselves to look a certain way. They are practically strangers, so we don't feel any emotional connection to them, and then when they post pictures of themselves at the beach, we see them and compare ourselves to them and the other people in the pictures with them. With friends, we feel a little different because they are people we care about and want to succeed, but jealously can still arise. It's just a lot easier to not judge someone when you're both eating pizza and drinking wine and watching Frozen together. But Facebook can be a poisonous place for insecurities to root and grow.

So how do we fight the War on Weight? The first and most important thing we need to do is to make peace with our bodies. Fall in love with your frame. Be at peace with your booty. Forgive your stretch marks. Cherish that little roll of fat between your boobs and stomach. Whatever it is, be ok with it. This doesn't mean that this is an excuse to let yourself go or to be satisfied with the body you're in, but to instead forgive your body for how it is. You should be able to look in the mirror and not hate yourself, because hating yourself is more unhealthy than eating junk food everyday.

Next, we should cut out the weeds of negativity about our appearances from our lives. Do you have that one Facebook friend that makes you see green because she is constantly posting bikini pics? Cut her out of her life - she's not good for you. How about a friend from high school who works out to the point of obsession? Delete him - he's not helping you. I'm not saying you should delete actual FRIENDS. But people who don't know you don't care about you, so they're just excess weight that will burden you.

We should be encouraging each other to be the best we can be in all aspects of life. If you and your friend both want to lose weight, work out together. Keep each other accountable. Cook together instead of going out to eat. Go shopping when y'all both lose x-number of inches. Share your victories and frustrations alike. THESE are the people you need to keep around because they will support you. They will be there for you through your successes and discouragements.

And finally, we need to stop comparing ourselves to models. They are photoshopped, we know, but more importantly, they have flaws that they camera can't see. They are insecure about something, too. They need support, too! Thin shaming is just as bad as fat shaming. We need to all be OK with how we were made and work to be healthy, not just necessarily thinner or fatter. That means loving ourselves and taking care of our bodies and minds because of it.

The War on Weight will be a long-fought battle, but every little thing helps. If we just stop comparing ourselves to others and start loving ourselves more, a big step will be taken towards ending it. And if clothing companies continue on the uphill trajectory they're currently on, before long, we may all learn to be less insecure and more satisfied with just being ourselves.

One final thought - my roommate and I were discussing this post, and she said she found a picture that showed me what she considered to be the "perfect body," the body she herself wanted. The picture was this one of an MMA fighter - strong, muscular, ripped. And then I described my "perfect body" to her - soft, hourglass figure, flat stomach. Our ideas of the perfect body are so different, because there is no such thing as the perfect body. We are all have different perceptions of what perfection and beauty are, but when it comes down to it, we are all beautiful creatures. And the sooner we realize that and embrace it, the happier we will be.

My roommate's "perfect body" - Rosanna Garcia

My "perfect body" - Beyonce Knowles 

the secret to great skin

There is no such thing as perfect skin. Faces are either oily or dry, wrinkly or acne-prone, sensitive or resilient, or a combination of these. Those people who are "normal" skin are dadgum liars. "Normal" skin doesn't exist without help. This is my philosophy on life.

I have a lot of friends with oily skin. I don't know why this is, but it is. I cannot relate to them on this level because I have dry skin. My skin flakes like no other when left to its own devices. Therefore, I obviously have no choice but to moisturize it. That's a given.

But here's the reason my oily-faced friends are having so many problems: their glands are producing excess oil because they have nothing to tell them, "Stop, that's enough." They wash their faces to try and strip the oil away but it keeps producing more and more because it thinks it needs to. So what will trick the glands into not producing so much? Simple. It's the one thing they think they don't need to do - MOISTURIZE.

This seems counterintuitive, I know. "Why put more oil on your face if you have oily skin?" Well, you're not putting on more oil, per say. You're hydrating your face so your glands don't think they have to do it themselves. Therefore, they produce less oil, and you're left with "normal" skin. And the main ingredient in most moisturizers is glycerin, which is essentially water. So it really isn't adding oil to your face.*

*Note: One thing I've seen in magazines lately is putting argan oil on your face. Argan oil is wonderful for face and hair, and if you'd rather try that, I say go for it. I'm mostly referring to standard drugstore moisturizers. Other oils to try are almond, jojoba, coconut, and olive. 

I actually have a friend who had this problem. His face was SO greasy and acne-prone. Then I made him buy a moisturizer. Now, his skin is significantly clearer and is soft without being oily. I'm telling you, this is the key to great skin. And they literally make a moisturizer for every skin type. 

If you haven't been moisturizing your face, 1. shame on you, and 2. you need to. It'll make all the difference, no matter what ailment your skin suffers from. 

Here are a few of my favorite moisturizers for you to try:

Philosophy Hope in a Jar - All skin types

Garnier Moisture Rescue - Dry skin

Cetaphil Dermacontrol Oil Control - Oily Skin

Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture - Combination skin

Clean and Clear Advantage - Acne-prone skin

Simple Protecting Light - Sensitive skin

Bonus: Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre - Dry skin (my favorite ever)

And for the dudes...

Dove Men+Care Hydrate+Face Lotion

Now you have no excuse but to start moisturizing right...now. Seriously. Do it. Your face will thank you!

juicing

The other day I walk into the kitchen and found my roommate Kayleigh opening up a package she had just got. "What is that?" I asked, looking at it with some confusion. "It's a juicer," she said, "you're welcome to use it." My only experience with juicing up until that point had been at my aunt's house, where she juices frequently for her kids. I tried some that she made me and liked it, so I thought this might be a fun summer "project" of sorts - learn how to juice.

My roommate's juicer: Black and Decker 400-Watt Juice Extractor

After assembling the machine, I went out and bought an obscene amount of fruits and veggies. One of the only difficult things about juicing is picking out what fruits and veggies to combine. Luckily, there are websites with recipes to help with that. Using the juicer itself is easy. Heck, my 8 year-old cousin with autism can do it by himself! The first combination I tried was carrots and apples. Mmmmm! So delicious! Yes, it looks like you're drinking some thick, orange potion, but it tastes awesome.

What a pro!

Juicing has a lot of benefits - regulating digestion, increased immune system, and weight loss, to name a few. The worst part of using a juicer? The cleanup. The pulp from the food gets all over everywhere, and you have to clean everything. For my roommate's juicer, that's 6 pieces. The whole process, including clean up, takes about 20 minutes. But if you have the time, it's well-worth it.

Here are some yummy recipes to try:

Easy Mode

• 2 Carrots
• 1 1/2 Apples

Fresh Tropical Fruit Juice

• 1 Kiwi - Peeled
• 6 Strawberries - Medium
• 1 Orange or 2 Clementines - Peeled
• 1/2 Mango - Peeled and Sliced
• 1 cup Pineapple Chunks - Fresh
• 1/4 cup Coconut Water - Fresh or Canned

Very Berry Elixer

• 1 cup Strawberries - hulled
• 1 cup Raspberries
• 1/2 cup Blackberries
• 1/2 cup Blueberries
• 1 Cucumber - whole
• 1 Tbsp. Agave Nectar

Summertime Mojito

(virgin, of course)

• 1 cucumber 
• 1 large pear
• 1 large handful mint
• ½ lime

Antioxidant Concoction 

My own creation!

• 1 cup Strawberries
• 1 cup Blueberries
• 1/2 cup Blackberries
• A bunch of Spinach

You can pretty much put anything in the juicer if it yields juice. Yes, even veggies have juice in them! Will you try any of these? 

skin care routine

Hello, lovelies! Hope you're having a good Easter break! Unfortunately, because I work all weekend and the chances of someone covering for me are slim to none, I'll be staying in College Station over the break. :( But that's not so bad, because I have a test on Monday that I wouldn't study for if I were home.

Speaking of tests, I have been so stressed out from school lately. Which, along with my usual college kid diet, means that pimples are popping up like bluebonnets. Eek! Luckily, I have an extensive nighttime beauty routine that helps me combat my break outs so that I don't look like a pubescent boy.

Cleanser

I first start out with Shea Moisture African Black Soap Acne Prone Face and Body Bar. When my family came into town in December for my grandma's funeral, my cousin suggested using it. I know that the fact that it's literally a bar of black soap can be off-putting, but trust me - this stuff is amazing. You can either use a wash cloth or simply your hands, lather it up, wash your face, and rinse. Done! It is the perfect twice-a-day cleanser. And it smells good, too!

Scrub

One of my biggest problems with acne is blackheads. They're camouflaged by my freckles, thank goodness, but that doesn't make them any less irritating. In order to combat them, I use Clean and Clear Blackhead Clearing Scrub. It helps get the gunk out of my pores and helps minimize them.

Toner

In order to further shrink my pores after washing my face, I use Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Toner. This toner advertises fighting breakouts before they form, and since using it, I've definitely seen an improvement in my skin. My face feels nice and clean afterwards.

Blemish fighter

As I mentioned in my March Birchbox post, I received a sample of Evologie Blemish Serum, which I've been using every night before bed. I have seen a significant decrease in the size and redness of my blemishes after using it for a couple of days; however, my sample will soon be finished. Luckily, my mom, a known essential oils expert, gave me some tea tree oil, which is used to help fight blemishes, and is one of the active ingredients in the Evologie serum. So once the serum is gone, I'll be using tea tree oil instead.

Eye makeup remover

While my toner and blemish fighter are drying, I take off my eye makeup with Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover and cotton rounds (which I also use to apply my toner). I love cotton rounds because they don't leave the stringy residue that cotton balls do, and they have a bigger surface area.

Moisturizer

Lastly, I use Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 15 to keep my skin soft and hydrated. It doesn't make my face feel greasy or oily at all, and it has SPF 15, which means my face is protected from sun damage when I go out. It smells like sunscreen, but if you can get past that, this is a wonderful moisturizer.

It feels like a lot of work, especially since after I still have to take out my contact lenses and brush my teeth, but keeping my skin clean and clear makes it worth doing. I still get the occasional spot or two, but my acne has significantly decreased since taking the extra time to care for it.

What do you use to take care of your skin? Leave me comments telling me your favorite skin care products!

Much love,
Sydney

tips to looking (and feeling) beautiful

One of my favorite things about being in a sorority is PR. And no, I'm not just talking about the t-shirts, although that's one of my favorite parts. I'm talking about looking good on campus and representing your sorority well. When people are walking across campus and see you, they're not going to judge you on your personality because they most likely don't know you. Instead, they're going to be judging you on how you look. I know the word "judge" has a negative connotation, but they are literally looking at you and making a generalization not just about you, but about your entire sorority.

The obvious answer is to wear cute clothes and do your hair and makeup for class. One rule of thumb I've always abided by is the two-thirds rule. You have three components of looking good - hair, makeup, and outfit. You need to spend time on at least two of the three of these things in order to look good enough to represent your sorority. So if you wanna toss your hair in a pony tail, do your make up and wear a cute outfit. If you wanna wear norts to class, do your hair and make up. See where I'm coming from? If at least two of the three things look good, you'll look good.

But beauty is not skin deep. It takes a lot more than some make up and a cute outfit to make a person look good. It takes a healthy body, good attitude, and amazing self-confidence to radiate beauty from the inside out. While good attitudes and self-confidence are personal choices you have to make, working on making yourself look good from the inside out is totally doable. Here are some tips on how to always look and feel your best.

1. Do makeup in bright, preferably natural, lighting

I think everyone has had a time or two where they got in their car on a sunny day, looked in the compact mirror, and said, "Holy crap, was I high when I did my makeup this morning?" Your concealer is not blended in, you're wearing too much eyeshadow, you have a foundation line on your jaw, whatever. It's not you, honey, it's your bathroom lighting. Make sure to do your makeup in bright lighting, or near a window if you can. Because nothing is more embarrassing than someone else noticing your makeup mishap before you do!

When I see myself in sunlight after doing my makeup in the dark.

2. Protect hair with heat protectant (and don't turn the heat up too high!)

I'm sure most of you have now seen the video of the poor girl who completely burned a strand of her hair off while doing a curling wand tutorial. That is why it is SO important to keep the temperatures on your styling tools reasonable - less that 400 degrees for straighteners and between 275 and 360 degrees for curling irons and wands. You should also be using a heat protectant when styling with these hot tools. Whether you prefer a serum or a spray, drugstore brand or salon brand, it is super important to protect hair so your ends don't fry and you can go longer between trims. Fried ends are ugly and the smell of burned hair sucks, so protect, protect, protect!

Don't let this happen to you!

3. Drink lots of water

This is one of my weaknesses - drinking water throughout the day. But it is so important to your body! Water helps maintain the balance of body fluids in the body, is good for your skin, helps regulate bowel  functions, and helps you not consume as many calories throughout the day. For me, drinking water helps with the dark circles under my eyes and makes me feel better by sufficiently quenching my thirst. In order to remember to drink water, carry around a cute water bottle and keep it in sight so you remember to drink it when you see it. Your body will thank you!

This water bottle holds about half of how much water you should be drinking a day!

4. Eat colorful foods!

A healthy eating tip when choosing foods is to eat things that are very colorful because they contain the most vitamins and help boost your immune system. Here are some "colors" you can eat and what these foods do for your body:

RED: Lycopene reduces the risk of prostate, stomach and lung cancer and heart disease.
EAT: Sour cherries, pink grapefruit, sweet red peppers, tomatoes, and watermelon

ORANGE: Alpha and Beta carotenes are converted into the active form of vitamin A, which helps keep your eyes, bones and immune system healthy. 
EAT: Apricots, cantaloupe, carrots, mangos, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin.

CITRUS: Vitamin C increases the immune system, reduces anemia, and reduces the risk of cancer. EAT: lemons, limes, pineapple, oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit

LEAFY GREEN: Lutein lowers the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. 
EAT: Avocados, collard/mustard/turnip greens, cucumbers, spinach, zucchini, and artichokes

CRUCIFEROUS GREEN: Indoles and isothiocyanates may help prevent cancer by amping up the production of enzymes that clear toxins from the body. 
EAT: Broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, green cabbage, and kale

BLUE/PURPLE: Anthocyanins and  proanthocyanins are antioxidants that promote circulatory function and cuts the risk of stroke by inhibiting clot formation. 
EAT: Plums, blackberries, blueberries, red cabbage, eggplant, purple grapes, cranberries, radishes, raspberries, and strawberries.

PINK: Omega-3 fatty acids help decrease risk of certain brain-related problems and increase cognitive thinking, as well as encourage production of collagen for healthy skin, hair, and nails.
EAT: Salmon, tuna, trout, catfish, anchovies, sardines, flounder, halibut, and mackerel.

BROWN: Fiber helps lower cholesterol and risk of diabetes and vitamin E helps prevent heart disease.
EAT: Almonds, beans, whole wheat breads/pastas, granola

WHITE: Calcium helps with bone strength and probiotics aid the digestive system.
EAT: Yogurt, kefir

5. Exercise

You've all heard it before. It's a dead and overly-beaten horse. But while exercise is mostly known to help people look good, it helps them feel good, too. Endorphins are released during exercise, which improves mood, reduces stress, and aids in sleep. Sounds like working out is good for more than just getting in shape for Spring Break.

Thanks, Elle.

6. Smile!

Even when it's difficult, smiling is actually really good for us! It lowers blood pressure, boots the immune system, changes mood, and makes the smiler look younger and more attractive. Now THAT'S something to smile about!

I know that I'll definitely be trying to exercise, drink more water, and eat colorful foods this week to improve my health. Little changes can make a big difference! But one thing's for sure - it's a whole lot easier to represent your sorority when you're looking good AND feeling good. So take care of your hair, your makeup, your body, and your mood this week and see the difference!

Much love,

Sydney

sick week

This is an account of my week being sick, told through narrative and gifs.

A few nights ago, I experienced the first onset of allergies, coming at me full force like a speeding train. All of a sudden, my nose was runny, my eyes were watery, and my throat was sore. And the next few days weren’t much better, especially since I still had to go to class with a scratchy throat and the sniffles. After consulting my nurse mother, she told me it was just allergies. So why do I feel like dying??

On one hand, being sick is kinda fun – you get out of a lot of things with that excuse. No one wants to listen to you sniff every 7.2 seconds or catch what you’ve got, so they’re happy that you’re making a conscious effort to stay far away. On the other hand, you get way behind when you skip things, like sorority meetings and class. You feel very behind, so you drag yourself out of bed when you desperately need sleep in order to not miss the notes your professors refuse to put online. Plus, the only way you’re going to get help is if you come up with a doctor’s note, which is pretty useless when it comes to allergies.

It finally got too bad to handle yesterday. I was sore all over, my lymph nodes were swollen, it hurt to swallow, and I was running a low-grade fever. After a long (and very much needed) nap, my boyfriend drove me to the urgent care clinic. The nurse practitioner was very nice and funny, and immediately announced I had not only a sinus infection, but a throat infection as well. She prescribed me antibiotics, and Brandon took me to CVS to get it filled. She also gave me a sick note so I could miss class today. Yes!

The rest of the night was very, VERY bad. After the CVS run, I started getting chills again from the fever, and yet Brandon took me to Spoons because I mentioned they were having a sorority contest – sorority who had the most girls come in gets a free catered meeting. However, I was so cold and sick that froyo made my fingernails turn blue – I guess my body thought I had hypothermia!

Brandon took me home, and I went straight to bed…to watch an episode of Switched at Birth. What, it was only, like, 9. But I was in pain the entire time – everything ached so much. After an episode, I went to bed with three blankets on top of me, but I was freezing! Teeth chattering, body shaking, tossing and turning. I kept waking up as the night wore on, too – someone knocked on our door after my roommate and I were both in bed to ask us to help with tabling the next day; my boyfriend kept texting me; Facebook kept alerting me that someone new had posted on the sorority page; a couple of my sisters were being WAY too loud; my back was hurting; I had to go to the bathroom…and all this time I was feverish and in so much pain.

Finally, at nearly four in the morning, my fever broke, and I began sweating like crazy. I was so hot, even in my freezing room I was burning up. But after the fever broke, my body stopped aching, and I was able to get a few hours of sleep. And then…the fever came back this morning. I was once again cold, achy all over, and my throat hurt so bad, I could barely swallow. After a painful breakfast, the fever broke again, and I began the sweaty cycle all over again.

Guys, the only good part about being sick is not having to do anything. The rest sucks – you feel miserable, you hurt all over, you’re absolutely worthless, and you just wish it would end. I would much rather be in class right now than sweating through my t-shirt in bed. Seriously.

I don’t know when I’ll get better, but I’m really lucky that a lot of people are helping me through this crazy week. Thank you to my mom for always being there to assess my symptoms and tell me what the next step is via text. There is nowhere I’d rather be than on my couch at home while you bring me “pacas” (popsicles). Thank you to my boyfriend for putting up with my grouchiness and taking care of me. I’m so lucky I have someone as dependable as you. Thank you for my (new) employer for offering to bring me chicken soup. Thank you to Louise for being my pharmacist. Thank you to the housemom for offering to bring me food in bed.

And thank YOU guys, for being some of the best readers ever! I absolutely love writing new posts for y’all, and nothing makes me happier than your comments!

Much love,

Sydney

meal of the week - chicken and mushrooms

I have come to realize that getting my boyfriend to pick a meal of any kind - whether fast food, a restaurant, type of food, or what to cook - is like pulling teeth. And then when I suggest things, he says no. What do you want? "I don't know." Well, how about this? "Ehh, I'm not really feeling that." Then you pick something. "No, you pick. You're the one with Pinterest." I can't win with this kid.

I decided to take his advice and consult the mecca of information that is Pinterest for some recipe ideas. I finally found a category on The Gracious Pantry called "Dude Food." Sounds promising, right? After some perusing, I found a main dish and a side that Brandon and I could agree on - lemon caper chicken and sautéed mushrooms. And the best part - it was all healthy!

I had kind of had a lousy day, and after a very stressful trip to HEB (SO MANY PEOPLE!), I was not in the mood to be cooking. Plus, after getting home, I once again realized that my boyfriend does not own measuring cups. None. So I would have to do all the measuring by eyeballing drinking glasses and soup spoons. Good grief (We fixed this problem the following day by taking a trip to Target). I worked on the chicken while he cut garlic cloves and sautéed the mushrooms. 

By this time I was ready to slit the throat of the next person who breathed wrong, which would fall on Brandon by default. But somehow, he always knows how to calm me down with a hug, and soon, I was feeling more relaxed. But still freakin' hungry.

Finally, everything was done! It was pretty easy to make, and the only hard-to-find/expensive item was the capers. We used regular mushrooms instead of portobello because, lesbireal, we're poor college kids and the portobellos wer twice as much. Brandon isn't a huge fan of "citrus chicken," so he wasn't big on the lemon chicken, and he doesn't get capers. Sigh. However, the mushrooms were UH-MAZING! He did such a good job on them (of course, he's a better cook than I am, too...). Overall, it was a pretty good meal. And once I was nice and full, I was much happier. :)

Much love,

Sydney

tuesday bluesday

I don’t know about you, but every week, I have a bad case of the Tuesday Blues. This is mostly due to the fact that I have five, yes, five classes that day, four of them right in a row and one in the evening. Dragging myself out of bed after a 4-day weekend (no MWF classes!) is one of the hardest things ever; it’s a wonder I’m able to do it! Luckily, I’ve come up with a few tricks that help make Tuesdays just a wee bit better. If you also have a case of the Tuesday Blues, here are some ideas for how to feel better when all you want to do is stay in bed and sleep.

1. wear a cute outfit

I know, I know, the last thing you want to do is actually spend time buttoning a pair of pants when you’d rather just throw on an oversized t-shirt and norts. I get it – they’re comfortable and appropriately express how you’re feeling this morning. But actually taking the time to pick out something cute to wear will make you feel better. While you’re sitting on the bus surrounded by t-shirt-clad sorority girls, you’ll be rocking a cute pair of shorts and an adorable top, and not only will you feel better, you’ll look better, too. Can’t muster up the willpower to wear something else besides your usual sorority girl uniform? Wear a bow, add earrings, slip on some cute sandals, or spray on some perfume. Little changes make all the difference!

Actual pants?? Heaven forbid!

2. do your hair and make-up

I know it’s tempting to throw your hair back into a ponytail and run out the door, but sometimes, going the extra mile to straighten your hair and put on some mascara makes you look and feel better. Maybe try an easy ‘do, like a top knot, a side braid, or even an “I actually attempted to make this look good” pony will also work (if Jennifer Lawrence can do it, so can you!). For makeup, just do the essentials: foundation, concealer, blush, and mascara. Go from hot mess to put-together in no time at all.

Ponytail-spiration.

3. drink caffeine

Studies show that caffeine not only gives you more energy, but it also helps focus, boosts metabolism, and makes you more alert, as well as boosts your mood! That extra kick in the morning might be just what you need to change your day from blah to cheery. Whatever your poison – coffee, Red Bull, 5-hour Energy, etc., you’ll feel so much better (and do better in class) with a little bit of that sweet, energizing nectar in your system.

Totes me without caffeine!

4. eat your favorite breakfast

Or even a favorite meal later in the day. But breakfast is known to kick-start your metabolism and to help you make better eating choices throughout the day (portion control and food choices). Maybe take the time to make eggs and bacon, a bowl of your favorite cereal, or a run to your nearest Starbucks for your favorite latte (until next fall, Pumpkin Spice Latte). A little happiness in your stomach will make for a better day overall.

My favorite breakfast - bagel, cream cheese, tomato, salt and pepper. So yum.

5. listen to happy music

Nothing makes me happier than walking through campus with a super-great song playing in my headphones. I have a smile on my face, a spring in my step, and a better outlook on the long day ahead when a cheerful tune is acting as the soundtrack to my trek from class to class. Here’s a good playlist of happy songs to put you in a better mood as you trudge from Heldenfels to Blocker.

6. set a goal, find something to look forward to, or treat yourself

Your day will go faster and seem less of a drag if you have something to look forward to at the end of it. Try making a list of “rewards” you can have if you can get through the day without collapsing in a heap between classes, such as taking a nap or getting froyo with a friend. They can be as simple or extravagant as you want them to be. My favorite format is: “If I can just do __________, I can do/have ___________.” Fill in the blanks with whatever your heart desires. If you have something to look forward to, you’ll be in a better mood and be more likely to accomplish your goals.

My goal this week: boutique shopping!

7. do a chore

“Uh, what? I thought this was a list of things to make me feel better, not worse!” Umm, it is, hang tight. I am literally one of the messiest people alive, not in a gross way, in a “organizing constitutes as piles all over the place, right?” kind of way. But when I actually take the time to do a chore or two, I have a sense of accomplishment that makes me feel better. It doesn’t have to be a huge chore, just something small like organizing your jewelry, hanging up all the clothes on your floor, or cleaning out a box of crap you’ve been neglecting. Once you finish, you’ll feel like you actually did something, which is a reward in itself. If you’re a perfectionist neat-freak crazy person, 1. I hate you, and 2. Take on a more elaborate task, like “arrange my books in alphabetical order by the author’s last name” or “color code underwear.” I don’t know what you clean people do, just go clean something.

I think I'll start with cleaning out my purse....

8. work out

My least favorite thing on this list. I’d rather go on a scavenger hunt for bobby pins than work out sometimes, but when I actually drag my butt to the gym, I really do feel better when I’m done. There is something so satisfactory about seeing that you burned 300 calories on the elliptical or that you weigh 1.8 fewer pounds than last week that makes it so worthwhile. Grab a buddy and head to the gym and get those endorphins pumping for a mood boost in 30 minutes.

This counts as a workout, right?

9. play a game

Now that school has started, I have obviously decided to start playing 1,847 new games on my phone as a way to pass the time I should be studying. But sometimes, ten minutes of mindlessness can help you feel more relaxed and put you in a better mood, especially when you’re in the middle of your third 75-minute class of the day and your prof is talking about something that isn’t going to be on the test. A few games I have been enjoying are Scribblenauts Remix, a creativity game; Ruzzle, a word game; and What’s the Word?, a logic game. Relieve stress and zone out for a few minutes to help your mind recharge.

Because who wouldn't want to play a game where you can create Cthulu??

10. laugh!

Disclaimer: the following gifs might be too funny for viewing in public areas. Proceed with caution.

But seriously, laughing has been scientifically proven to put you in a better mood. Maybe look up some funny puns online or watch Sail Cat on YouTube for the billionth time (my go-to video when I need a gut-buster. Never gets old). I found some funny gifs that may induce a chuckle or two, too.

Still gets me every time...

So there you have it – ten ways to make you feel better on this blah day. Try a few today and see if you don’t feel better, I dare you. A few other things to try: painting your nails, napping, cuddling/petting soft things (puppy store, anyone?), making good grades, reading a magazine, and retail therapy, of course.

Hope your have a better day! BTHO Tuesday Blues!

Much love,

Sydney