Food Frenzy Friday

One of the greatest parts of traveling anywhere, and really life in general, is food. And as I was scrolling through my camera roll, like any typical person, I have taken a ton of photos of my food and thought why not share the amazing experience that is food. It may sound a little strange but food really is an experience, especially when traveling! It is how one person can physically internalize a culture and a way of life. through this journey through even just a fraction of Europe, I have tried so many yummy new things, and none really restricted to jus the culture of England and France, but other ethnic foods that have crept their way into the places that I have traveled to. so join me on a walk down memory…of deliciousness

AND HOW ABOUT THAT AIRLINE FOOD….no really I have such low standards for food, as in I will eat nearly anything in front of me. Needless to say the flight over we were given dinner, and the highlight for me was the tomato and mozzarella as that stuff probably runs through my veins because it is my favorite. We also had chicken and rice, and desert as it is the greatest of nearly any meal was some chocolate cake. Now it all looked much better with the tops off, and I have to say that airline food has made strides in terms of taste, nutrition ehhh well you can’t control everything while your flying through the sky.

At the school I am staying at we are provided with breakfast and dinner. Breakfast usually consists of croissants and other pastries, yogurt, fruit, toast, roasted tomatoes, hash browns, eggs (poached, fried, and scrambled) sausage, and bacon (and their bacon is our ham). My usual consists of two poached eggs on wheat toast (which they call brown) with a yogurt, sometimes oatmeal (called porridge here), and a bowl of assorted fruit. My favorite is probably the fruit bowls I make for myself every morning, and of course I let the inner Pinterest-er inside me free a I always make it look pleasing to the eye.

One of the first days here, my new found friends and I explored around the town of Oxford to get the lay of the land.We

noticed a restaurant that had bathtubs for seats, and this became known as the ‘bath tub place’, and needless to say we had to give it a try. Upon arrival we discovered that it was a Thai restaurant (which is actually very popular in Oxford). My friend and I wanted to get a taste of a few different highs rather than just one big meal, which resulted in this fun sampler. It included chicken spring rolls, honey pork, salt and pepper squids, and fish cakes, with some awesome sauce (which I mean not only as a compliment but also for lack of the actual name of the sauce ;). Whenever I go somewhere new I always try to make a point o frying something new, and at this restaurant I definitely went outside my comfort zone and was rewarded!

Also in the little town of Oxford (and most likely in Europe in general) on the go themed foods usually come in terms of sandwiches, so needless to say I have had quite a few…and enjoyed every single one. One of the best however I have to say was one that is in a local market of Oxford, called the Covered Market, which is full of cute little shops that satisfy nearly anything you could be shopping for from flowers to food. At this coffee themed cafe I had a bacon (ham), avocado, and chicken mayo (chicken salad)  sandwich that was toasted to perfection. It also came with a side of rocket salad, which is simply lettuce, but for some reasons, an awesome one I’m sure, they call it rocket. (it just sounds cool and I love it)

Now that we are on the topic of the Covered Market, I must of course mention a near landmark of Oxford, which is MooMoo’s. I had the benefit that a friend of mine traveled to Oxford and gave me a list of the must go places, and this one was near the top, so I gave ti a try. Although it is small ti is mighty, mighty as in you can create your own milkshake with over 300 different add-in options. It is two window trailer looking place that makes possibly the best milkshakes I have ever had, which is a high standard considering I am the queen of sweets. I have so tried Snickers and banana, as well as Oreo. (Others on my list to try before I leave are marshmallow and apple pie…and I am also quite curious about skittles flavor, I will let you know how those go)

One of the last that I all cover in this post (worry not here is part two to come 🙂 is Hazzan’s. He is listed on Buzzfeed’s

must try, but of course I only knew this after I had tried it, so I did feel a bit trendy I suppose. Anywho it is a simple food truck that comes out in front of our campus from 6p.m. to 3a.m, which is prime for late night munchies. My personally favorite is the lamb kebab with garlic mayonnaise, lettuce, tomatoes and pickles, and the occasional side of onion rings. Either way it is an amazing guilty pleasure, and especially after a 11 mile day spent in London it was the perfect end as it served as the food component to a late night picnic dinner on the lovely college lawn.

All this talk of food has made me quite hungry, and ironically enough I am going to have some Hazzan’s right now, but I will be sure to share the rest of my camera roll with you all next week. I hope your Friday is full of FANTASTIC food and feel free to share ti below because I love to read and hear about food just as much as I love to eat it! 🙂

1,200 Must Read

I don’t often do this, however I found this article by Sophia Herbst and absolutely had to share. I think that it is quite clear that our society is going through many different transformations, and I think this article does a great job of speaking to another one: in women’s perception of themselves. So I will step back from the talking and let you do the reading! Let me know what you think!

Click here for the original article

1,200 Calories

2003

I don’t know why 1,200 managed to be the magic number of calories women should consume if they want to lose weight.

I don’t even know how I know of this number. Only that I know it, and my friends know it, and my mom knows it. Somehow, somewhere along the road, I was taught that if I want to have a flat stomach and tight tushy, I need to limit my calories to 1,200 a day and do cardio. I don’t know how it got into all of our collective brains, but somehow it did (if any ladies remember how or when they first heard the 1,200-calorie rule-of-thumb for losing weight, please let me know via comment box).

What I do know is that 1,200 is the general number of calories health professionals say women cannot drop below without suffering negative health consequences.

Interesting, isn’t it? 1,200 calories. The line between health and what they call “starvation mode.” 1,200 calories. The dangerous tightrope that many women are trying to walk, because they think this is how thinness is achieved.

“Starvation mode”

… means your body realizes it is not getting enough food — calories — and it thinks you are starving, and slows down your metabolism to a crawl to conserve energy. Because it thinks you are starving, when you do feed yourself, your body will try to store more of your calories as fat, because those are your long-term energy deposits.

A long term calorie deficit can mess with your blood sugar levels, reduce bone mass, cause weakness, fatigue, cold intolerance, irregular menstrual periods, dizziness, constipation and swelling of the hands and feet. If a woman decides to get thin by maintaining a steep calorie deficit (1,200 calories is very steep) and pairs it with long sessions of steady-state cardio, it can result in thyroid issues. “Too little T3 (hypothyroidism), and the body accumulates body fat with ease, almost regardless of physical activity level. Women inadvertently put themselves into a hypothyroid condition when they perform so much steady-state cardio.”

Women: If you are trying to go about your business during the day, on only 1,200 calories, and perform cardio to burn those dreaded calories, you really are not going to succeed. You will most likely pass out.

It is unfortunate, then, that there is one — and only one — message the majority of weight loss campaigns use to when targeting women:

Calories, calories, calories.

More specifically, fewer calories.

Calories are the enemy. You must either reduce your consumption of them, or obliterate them via exercise. Calories are the devil. Calories must be avoided at all costs. Calories must be burned away pronto, quick, before that one cookie turns into a lump of fat on your thighs.

For example, this check out this Yoplait yogurt commercial (which was actually pulled off the air due to complaints that it promotes disordered eating):

… or this Trop50 commercial that I found not only to be a completely demeaning portrayal of women as complete airheads, but perpetuates the message that women should strive to look like they “had work done”:

One of my main issues is how health and nutrition is marketed to women vs. men. Do a quick Google search on women’s health magazines vs. men’s health magazines and you’ll immediately see the difference in keywords. Women’s magazine covers frequently use terms like “drop X pounds fast!” and “calorie-torching workout!” and “low-calorie foods.” Men’s magazines use keywords like “build,” “power,” and “strength.” In my bit of searching, I never once found a men’s magazine that talked about burning or cutting calories, or losing pounds.

For anybody who knows anything about weight loss and nutrition, you will immediately recognize how shallow, and ultimately harmful, only focusing on calories can be. That is because:

1) A healthy body cannot be measured simply by poundage; and

2) Fewer calories do not equal good nutrition.

It is especially saddening because of the blatant misinformation fed to women by the media about how to be fit, or even, what fitness is.

“Toned” is MUSCLE, goddammit, just call it by it’s effing name! Muscle.

When women want to get “toned” they are saying the female word for “muscle.” They often don’t know that “toned” actually means “muscle,” and they would never actually say, “My health goal is to build muscle.” But what is a round, shapely butt made out of? Muscle. How does an abdomen stop being jiggly? Muscle. How do you get a back that doesn’t produce bra-bulge? Muscle.

Women want a body that looks “toned,” unaware that this “toned” look is achieved by building muscle.

I have never seen any weight loss campaign targeting women that informs their audience that muscle is more dense than fat.

I have never seen a women’s magazine talk about fitness other than pounds on a scale — as if body fat, muscle mass, and skeletal composition are completely negligible to a body looks like. The end result is all these women trying to lose weight the wrong way— by cutting calories in their diet and trying to burn as many as possible, aka cardio.

Women are, for the most part, unaware that if they are exercising right they will bebuilding muscle and their weight might not change very much. In fact, if they are doing everything right, their weight might even go up! And that’s totally OK.

Even more infuriatingly, I have never seen any women-oriented campaign that says the word “muscle.”

“Muscle” in woman-land is like a dirty word.

You know Vanessa Hudgens? Wanna know how she got that bod? Deadlifting heavy and building muscle.

Last year’s Miss America got this bod by… yep, lifting heavy and building muscle.

Now, I’m not trying to say that the only way to get a great physique is by lifting heavy. What I’m saying is that great bods look great because they have muscle.

Adriana Lima, Victoria’s Secret Angel and one of the most successful supermodels in the world, works her perfect butt off by boxing. She’s not a twig, and I would bet good money that she could literally beat the crap out of you! See all that supa’ fine definition on her midsection? That’s muscle.

I should also note that the aforementioned women/AngelsWalkingOnEarth also make looking bangable their full-time job. They have the time and the money to hire professional trainers, exercise every day, and eat the best of the best foods. The is such a thing as an unfair advantage and this is it. Sorry, but you are probably never going to look like Adriana Lima. And yes, this depresses me too. All the time.

Back to my point: If you want a rounder, firmer, tighter, shmexier anything, it requires building muscle. Simply burning fat and cutting calories is only one part of the equation of sexiness.

Sophia’s Equation of Sexiness:

Sexiness = Nourish your body with fresh, whole foods + strength train to build shapely physique + choose your amount of cardio depending on how much body fat you want to lose or keep.

What look do you want to achieve? Below is an image that shows what the male and female bodies look like depending on body fat percentage:

(Let’s all take a moment to appreciate that the female body naturally carries about twice as much body fat as men. That is because testosterone increases one’s ability to gain lean muscle mass, while estrogen increases the storage of body fat. It is much more difficult (many more cheezeburgers must be nommed) for a man to reach 40 percent body fat than a woman. Knowing this, it becomes increasingly aggravating when society continues to judge fat women far more harshly than fat men. Oh, the irony.)

I’ve mentioned my disdain for Special K, before, but I’m really going to lay into them now. The messages Special K spreads to women about how to be healthy are so freaking misleading. I want to poke my own eyes out whenever I see one of their commercials. That is because they market their products as healthy meal options.

What makes them so healthy? Oh, only that they are low in calories.

Nothing about the quality of the ingredients, or even, what the ingredients are. Are they synthetic, are they made from whole foods, are they full of fillers?

I mean, what is even in Special K?

RICE. WHEAT GLUTEN. SUGAR. DEFATTED WHEAT GERM.

Those are the ingredients in Special K cereal. The only healthy thing about this cereal is that it is pumped full of additive vitamins and minerals (you could just take a multivitamin) from unknown sources.

Then they promote eating like this:

Breakfast: One serving of Special K cereal with 2/3 cup skim milk and fruit.

Lunch: Repeat breakfast meal or substitute a Special K Protein Meal bar.

Dinner: Eat your normal meal.

Snacks: Eat two snacks each day of Special K products (bars, cereal, snack bites) or fruits or vegetables.

Absolutely nothing about quality of calories, only quantity. Nothing about proper nutrition, only less. Everything is about reducing. Reduce your calories by reducing the amount of food you eat.

Even more infuriating is how women are advised to exercise by popular magazines. The image below is from Shape magazine:

I mean, the moves are OK… I guess.

… if you want to waste a lot of fucking time at the gym flapping your arms around and wondering why you don’t look “toned” yet.

If you’re trying to strength train… why don’t you use your strength? Why isn’t this fitness model, who obviously got her fitness model body by lifting heavy, showing heavy lifts?

There is no reason women should strength train differently from men.Man muscles are not alien tissue. Man muscles and woman muscles are the same. They are human muscles. They respond to the same fuel and the same stimulus.

This is why women’s workouts bother me.

Women should be shown the same fitness routines as men. We should be exposed to the same messages of eating nutritious food, with lots ‘o protein, and enough calories to build our bodies into goddess-like proportions. We should not fear muscle. We should not shy away from the weight room because it is perceived as “odd” and out of place when a woman approaches the squat rack.

This is why I had to write a whole goddamn blog post complaining about the misinformation that is spread to women. I am so tired of watching my girlfriends get mislead by the media on how to be healthy. I am so annoyed by this skinny obsession — which literally robs women of their power.

I think anorexia is a metaphor. It is a young woman’s statement that she will become what the culture asks of its women, which is that they be thin and nonthreatening. Anorexia signifies that a young woman is so delicate that, like the women of China with their tiny broken feet, she needs a man to shelter and protect her from a world she cannot handle. Anorexic women signal with their bodies ‘I will take up only a small amount of space. I won’t get in the way. They signal ‘I won’t be intimidating or threatening.’ (Who is afraid of a 70-pound adult?) — Mary Pipher

And hungry people are — let’s be honest — complete assholes. I don’t know about you, but when I’m hungry it means I’m unfocused, cranky, distracted, grumpy, irritable, and generally miserable. Snickers did get something right: You are not your best self when you are hungry.

I’ve lamented about this before, and I will again: Think of all the potential that is thrown out the window when women deprive themselves of food on their quest to be thin. What great things could women accomplish if we weren’t fucking dieting all the time?! It’s saddening.

It is time for the misinformation to stop.

Please do not skip meals. Especially if you are under the age of 18. Part of the reason I wrote this whole thing is because I see a lot of really young girls on Tumblr asking advice like, “I’ve already reached my calorie limit today — should I skip dinner?” NO! Your body and mind are still developing, and they need fuel! Please do not limit your calories under 2000. Eat unprocessed foods like fruits and vegetables. Eat eggs, lean meat, even dairy in moderation. Eat a variety of foods with nutritional value. Stop with the empty calories! And the soda pop. Seriously, the soda pop is the devil’s piss.

My main point is this:

Please do not throw your own physical — and mental — potential out the window by starving yourself into skinny bliss. It’s not worth it. And trust me, it’s not bliss

Caul Me Crazy Cauliflower Pizza

Caul me crazy (and bad at jokes) but I am obsessed with Cauliflower pizza. I saw a recipe online and heard recommendations from friends, so I decided to give it a try. Now the third time I made it was arguably the best as you learn as you go.

Ingredients

1 whole head of cauliflower, cut into florets (for the non chef extraordinaire like myself this just means cut it into tiny pieces by the stem but leave the ‘tree looking part’ together)

2 eggs

¼ cup of parmesan cheese (I say the more cheese the better it tastes )

1 tsp of onion powder

1 tsp of Italian seasoning

salt & pepper as desired

Recipe

1. Use a food processor to finely chop the florets of cauliflower. If you do not have a food processor like myself, simply put all the cauliflower into a pot with water and bring to a boil, then turn down the heat to a simmer and let sit as the cauliflower softness. This usually takes about 20 minutes for me, but test the softness of the cauliflower as necessary.

2. Next place the cauliflower in a dish towel and ring out all the excess water. (In my case I had to mash the cauliflower first and then ring it out because I didn’t have a food processor. The softer the cauliflower the easier the abashing will be, and this can be done with a potato masher)

3. Once DRY AS POSSIBLE, transfer to a bowl and mix in the rest of the ingredients. once combined spread across a parchment lined baking sheet (or a baking sheet heavily covered in PAM or other non stick cooking spray)

4. Bake the crust at 400 degrees for 40 minutes, then add topping and bake for another 8 minutes or as desired!

So along with the recipe I have included the holy grail of tips about this dish: make sure you get as much water out of the cauliflower as possible. I mean when you think that it is all gone and as dry as can be ring it out again. I apologize for being so MIA recently but soon enough I will be back in full swing! Let me know what you think of this recipe below!

*disclaimer: pizza may come out in all shapes and sizes but all are delicious! aka mine came out in a terrible oval and one even triangle like.

OMG New Breakfast Favorite

Alright so I have discovered this amazing and super easy combination for breakfast…or really any time of the day, that is absolutely delicious! I have been having this as breakfast for the past week and a half with apple slices! All it is 3 parts non fat plain Greek yogurt with one part peanut butter. Now I know this isn’t an exact science of measurement but it all depends on the taste you prefer! I enjoy having more yogurt than peanut butter, and plus a little peanut butter goes a long way! Mix it all together and dip apples slices, or really any fruit you wish, and enjoy!

This is an awesome breakfast or even snack because it gets you a serving of fruit (apple) as well as protein, which comes from the peanut butter and the yogurt!

So Obsessed Saturday: Avocado Please

Can you ever have enough avocado?! I mean really I have probably gone through 5 this week…so I guess you could say I am obsessed. There are tons of uses as well as tons of benefits!

Here are some avocado fun facts:

They contain more potassium than bananas!

Avocado is a high fat food! WAIT WHAT Emily why would I want to eat something that is high in fat. This is a huge misconception because not all fats are the same! Avocado is high in fat but they are the good fats! Monounsaturated fatty acids and the main source is oleic acid which makes up 70% of olive oil, and is what gives olive oil its nutrient value.

Avocados are very high in antioxidants and also help you absorb antioxidants from other plant foods! Antioxidants are very important to your body and keep a lot of it in check, avocado is high in certain ones that are great for your eye sight!

They are packed with fiber, both soluble and insoluble, which will help you stay full longer and in turn can help you lose weight if that’s your goal!

I have been using avocados a million ways this week, and I don’t think that that is much of an understatement as they are so versatile!

Salad: You can top your salad with chunks or slices. My favorite has been chicken, spinach, tomatoes, or whatever other veggies I have on hand mixed with avocado and some olive oil. The olive oil adds flavor and the avocado adds creaminess and removes the need for a really heavy dressing!

Instead of Mayo: As mentioned before avocado is very creamy and can take the place of something else less healthy such as mayonnaise. You can mash up the avocado and spread it on bread for your sandwich, or I have even mixed it with chicken instead of mayonnaise to create a different type of chicken salad. (It may even be good with eggs for eggs salad…might have to try that one!)

Guacamole: This is quite the obvious one as avocado is the main ingredient in this very tasty dip. You can really get creative with guac because you can add really whatever you like. I like mine with lime, cilantro, tomatoes, onions, salt and pepper, not a fan of spicy. Guacamole is usually eaten with tortilla chips but you can also use veggies to dip instead for a slightly healthier option!

Stress Relief Puppies!

Today I received the greatest surprise ever! Stress relief puppies. Now I am not sure if many of you have heard of this, but many colleges are starting to bring in puppies right around finals week to help relieve Students of teh stress that comes along with finals. As any college student knows there is a lot of pressure put on this time of year, and it’s actually scientifically proven that animals, especially dogs, help relieve stress. So here is also a friendly reminder: whatever it is that is stressing you out remember that your life is much bigger than a grade on a test and I promise you, with all my heart that you will be ok no matter the grade you get. So hey if you are feeling stressed maybe all you need is a puppy break!

what are some of the ways that you have found that help you de-stress?

Throwback Thursday: Trends The Need to Come Back

As I look over this list once again of what should most definitely make a come back, I realize that nearly all of these trends are from 80’s and 90’s but I am so ok with that

Leg warmers: I have loved these forever and love how they are coming back in style, usually being worn with boots, but I love them almost more when you can pull them off with heels.

Chokers: I love how these look and can give either a edgy or classy addition to any outfit depending on the one you choose. You can also be very creative with how you style them, I love the look of them with layered necklaces at varied lengths!

Windbreakers: Functional and they honestly just look pretty cool with bright colors and being a little oversized on the wearer makes them even more comfy, as well as the athletic vintage feel that they can add to your outfit. And even though most are  pretty out there with the colors you can always choose a more low-key style!

Scrunches: Obsessed. They look so good especially with a high pony and add an adorable feel with a bit of high fashion.

Accent Braids: I find these so dainty and adorable, as well as the fact that they can make your hairstyle seem either whimsical by mixing them in underneath, or a little rocker edgy by doing it in a French braid style closer to your head.

 

Anything you want to add to the list?!

So Obsessed Saturday: Green Tea

I have been planning on this one for quite sometime. I’m sure every health and fitness person has said green tea is the key to all things and can cure all things, or at least something along those lines. Well the truth is, green tea is so so so good for you! I have  began drinking it a ton this year (not much of a coffee or tea drinker usually, unless it is pounded with sugar and honey…until now). So much so that it is really part of my morning routine, and I actually look forward to it. I love having it with me on my walks to class and tea bags last for a few servings so it’s perfect for me because I am usually on the run and it allows me to just reuse the same bag and just add more hot water!

There are a ton of great benefits and going to school in the tundra makes it an extra plus because it can make you feel all warm. And if you remember my previous So Obsessed Saturday about Kayla Itsines, she is huge advocate of green tea. It is recommended that you have 2 to 3 cups a day. Here are some fun facts about green tea, some area quite surprising!

1. UV protection: Not only has green tea and its antioxidant catechin been proven to help with skin in terms of wrinkles, but it is also great for an internal protection to UV rays!

2. Diabetes: It has been proven to help regulate glucose levels which can help keep blood sugar low after eating.

3.Cholestorol regulation:. the ECHG antioxidant in green tea is great to help limit the absorption of cholesterol ingot he large intestine.

4. Teeth: One of the many antioxidants found in green tea called catechin plays a huge role in helping to kill bacteria that cause throat infections and other dental conditions. So its great for your sparkly whites!

5. Cancer: Some studies also suggest that it can help lower the risk of certain cancers in those who drink it on a semi-regular basis.

6. Brain: Green tea is great for short term brain function. However it has also been shown that it can help reduce the risk of Alzheimers and Parkinson’s from developing in old age.

Simply swapping green tea in the place of other sugary drink can help you lost weight and stay more hydrated.

It is also important to know that green tea isn’t the only tea great for you so feel free to explore options! Sometimes I also like to drink chai tea or seasonal tea. See where the bliss of tea takes you!

What do you think of green tea or even just tea in general?!

7 Fitness Hacks You Need!

As I have been unable to do my usual workout routine, I have had to get creative in order to stay in some sense of shape. So here is what I have found to be true through both trial and error as well as through some research!

1.STAIRS: Up and down take them everywhere. It’s a great work out for your legs and bum and you won’t ever be waiting for an elevator…or the awkward ride with strangers to be over.

2.Water: carry a water bottle with you everywhere you go. you’d be surprised how
much more you will drink when it just happens to be around you! Plus hydration is a huge part of your health that often goes over looked.

3.Posture: the more I have made myself aware of my posture the more I have realized how bad it is. not only is it great for your back but it is also awesome for working on your core strength. Start out in trying to maintain good posture for just 5 minutes and you’ll notice the difference, even in just how much higher you can sit up!

4.Walk: If you can, try to walk to class or work or wherever you need to go even if it is just a small errand. You will probably save money on gas or even a bus fare, and every extra step counts! Even if it requires you too get up a little earlier, just walking once a week can make a huge difference!

5.Get a good night sleep: People often underestimate the affect a good nights sleep can have on your health and it is huge! you should hopefully get 8 hours every night, but not only will it make you happier and more ready to take on your day but gives you more energy to do something a little extra with your workout, as well as keep you body in tip top shape.

6. Commercial breaks: Even if you find yourself unable to do much, taking the three minutes during a commercial break to do some leg lifts will not only help you tone but also will go by so fast because of the televise distraction!

7. Parking: If you do drive somewhere, park as far as you can from your destination, as long as it is safe. Just like before every step counts!

What are some little ways that you help your health?!

Beauty Blogger Tag

Wow…I have really been off my A game this week… and for that I really apologize, but hey i typed this with both my hands this time so thats a plus! (if that doesn’t make sense check out this post and then continue to read and all will be understood. LOL)

However I have given a peak inside my soul with the Beauty Blogger Tag, with a big thanks to Ryane Zamora Beauty for the tag! I had so much fun answering these questions and can’t wait to hear my nominees responses!

Atkokosplace

Dorkchops

Puddlesofavni

Break Up Boss

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?
 Pin straight, as in I can’t even curl it. But I shouldn’t complain!
2. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?
 My hair is completely natural.
3. Do you wear the same style everyday, or do you change it?
 Depends, with my hair being so light it tends to look a little greasy sometimes but it is not good to wash it everyday so on those days I usually just wear it high in a bun.
4. Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon?
 I usually do my own, but perhaps once or twice a year I get them done, ya know college student on a budget.
5. How often do you change your nail polish?
 During swim season probably once a week before weekend meets because it chips so much in the pool. But in offseason, kind of just of whenever I feel like it!
6. Do you polish your toes in the winter or just the summer?
All year round!
7. How long does it take for you to put on makeup?
 Only about 10 to 15 minutes, I don’t do much even when I am going for a night out.
8. What do you do first? Face or eyes?
 Always eyes because one makeup tip that I have always remembered is how eye makeup can fall onto the rest of your face making it harder to take off if you have already done your face!
9. Do you collect makeup or just buy what you need when you need it?
 I usually just buy what I need. Something I do collect though is nail polish, which I also consider to be make up. (:
10. How often do you wear false eyelashes?
 Never have…maybe will?
11. Do you do a full face of makeup everyday?
 Not really. I mean I wear a tinted moisturizer nearly everyday and some powder and mascara on my eyes, so technically my full face is covered but I wouldn’t say its anything to intense…Lol
12. Do you wear makeup when you’re home alone or with family? Not really…
13. Will you leave the house without makeup?
 Oh most definitely…no shame J
14. How many high-end products do you have?
 I think the only technically high end product that I have is my Naked 2 Eye shadow palette. I often don’t find myself needing anything too high-end.
15. Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you’re getting dressed?
 Usually just in the morning as I’m getting ready unless I have a big presentation or a reason to dress up the next day.
16. How often do you change your handbag?
 Well at school I just use the same backpack everyday, but I also only really have to purses or hand bags that I would really use so it just depends on the outfit.
17. What time do you wake up and go to sleep?
 Well it all depends on the time of year. During swim season I wake up anywhere from 5am to 5:30am depending on the day. On Sundays we can sleep in until our hearts desire. During off-season we only practice twice a week, which I wake up at 5:30 for. When I don’t have practice I usually wake up around 8:45 unless I am going to go to the gym to workout, then I will get up around 7:15.
18. How often or when do you workout I try to workout everyday, but since I just had surgery I have had to scale it back a little. I often workout in the afternoon, sometimes the morning depends on that day! During swim season though I swim/lift once or twice a day so that is all the working out I really need in my schedule!
19. Left handed or right handed?
 Right!
20. How tall are you?
I’m about 5’9!
21. Do you speak any foreign languages?
 Unfortunately no but I really wish I did!
22. How many pets do you have?
 One. The love of my life Murphy Bartus Quinn (Read all about him 🙂
23. How often are you on Blogger?
 I am on WordPress at least once a day 🙂
24. Do you read comments posted on blogs?
 Most definitely I love hearing what yall have to say!
25. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?
 Yes! Sometimes I forget to actually get them but its thought that counts!
26. How did you come up with your blog name?
 Well I knew what I wanted my blog to be about, essentially its for people who find themselves in between a girly girl and a tom boy because that’s where I find myself. So I figure I’m kind of like a princess but without a tutu…
27. What kind of camera do you use for your photographs? My iphone4!
28. How often do you clean your house?
 Well my dorm I try to keep fairly tidy but I probably do a real good clean every two weeks!
29. What’s your favorite color?
 tie dye…does that count…I’m making it count.
30. Do you swear? Not very often but I guess it depends on the situation. I really try not to.
31. What are you doing with the rest of your day?
 Well I have to attend an extra credit ballet for my music class and then do some homework…and probably grab some dinner! Hopefully get the chance to write a blog post 🙂