10 reasons why I run.

"now bid me run, and I will strive with things impossible." -William Shakespeare 

1. because it's hard. Like really hard; and I'm not just talking about running 6 miles of hills in the deep, humid August heat. The hardest part was, and will always be, the first time I decided to run 10 years ago. You will fall. You will break. You will cry, because running is challenging, painful, and demanding...

2. but it's just as rewarding. There's not many things more rewarding than incinerating 700+ calories on a cool 8 mile run on a Tuesday morning before most people's first alarm has gone off. And then eating whatever you want for the rest of the day because you know you earned it.

3. it's free. I'm balling on a budget here, people.

4. it's natural. Just like eating, drinking and breathing, running is one of the most natural things your body can do. Our bodies were built so that we could outrun our predators and catch our prey. Running = survival.

5. and it makes me feel good about myself. This goes back to the whole reward thing. Pounding the pavement gives me a solid high, one that lasts all day. Is it that mythical "Runners' High"? Biologically, sure. Psychologically, without a doubt. After each run I know that I've pushed myself, and done something good for my body, and it keeps me floating high for hours on.

6. it's the best way to get some 'me time'. It can be hard for me to turn off my brain, and tune out all of the external stimuli. I've struggled with it for my whole life, but running has helped. All I have to do is throw on my trainers, put some headphones on, and then go until I run myself into a calm, still oblivion.

7. but that doesn't mean I always go it alone. Running is a really good team sport. The first half marathon I ran I trained for with my best friend/partner in crime (what up, Aconn), and it was probably one of my favorite things we've done together. It gave us time to train (and complain) together; we pushed each other, encouraged each other, and made sure neither one of us gave up on ourselves.

8. it has taught me discipline. After a while, running the same 5k loop in my hometown every day got boring. So I decided to commit myself to running a half marathon. The training is brutal, but worth it. I knew I had to stick with it because I wanted to cross the 13.1 finish line (and also, I'd be pissed if I had wasted $90 on a race I couldn't even complete). Running has taught me how to commit to something just for myself...

9. and what it truly means to be my own competition. Growing up, I always competed against others: softball, poms, volleyball (even chess club. Yeah, I said it). But I never really knew how to compete against, and beat, my own self. Tracking my progress motivated me to go farther, harder, and faster. Beating your own personal record > everything else.

10. most importantly, though, it has made me love my body and love myself. Just like a lot of people out there, I've struggled to accept all of the bits and pieces that make up my being. I have spent weeks, months, years hating this and that about myself; my legs are way too big, my boobs way to small, my arms too scrawny. Lacing up for runs over and over again though, has helped me to appreciate my body for what it is: strong, capable, and beautiful.

run on, my friends.

xo,

adrienne. 

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surviving winter: beauty edition

living in Michigan has taught me a few things about having a solid beauty routine for the forever changing winter weather. Here in the Great Lakes State the weather can go from 55F and sunny, to 25F, snowing, with blustery winds overnight. Yes, it can be hard to keep up a beauty routine when you don't know what's going to come out of the sky next. But if you start with a solid beauty base, it isn't quite as bad.

1. it's all about the base (bout the base, no treble). Seriously, having
   
   well moisturized skin is the key to looking and feeling your best in the winter time. It can also be one of the hardest things to attain. The ultimate skin drencher is coconut oil. Yep, coconut oil. Pure and simple. It's hypoallergenic, absorbs fast, and is hella cheap. 
2. brighten it up. In the winter, even with well moisturized skin, everyone looks a little dull and washed out (that's what happens when you don't see the sun November-April). So, until we thaw out around mid-May, we have to fake it until we make it. The best way to achieve this is with a brightening/highlighting balm and a good blush. My favorite highlighter is Benefit Cosmetic's Watt's Up! cream-to-powder stick. I kid you not, it looks great on everyone. EVERYONE. As does Nars'
   
   Orgasm blush. It's not a flat matte color, but a peachy pink with the slightest shimmer. And it makes you look less sun-deprived, happiness-deprived, winter zombie, and more I-look-great-but-internally-I'm-screaming-from-the-sub-zero-temp. 
3. lay it on me thick. The only thing worse than scraping an inch of ice off of your car's windshield is having to do with with chapped lips. Sometimes in winter it feels like you spend 90% of the 8 hours of daylight applying and reapplying lip balm. Don't get me wrong, you'll still have to keep some Burt's Bee in every coat pocket. If you layer it underneath a thick, humectant and wax based lipgloss, though, you'll have to reapply less. The perk? You'll brighten up your face with a warm color, and keep your lips free from being chapped. 

here in the midwest, winter sucks regardless of where you lie within the Polar Vortex. At least though, you don't have to look like Mr. Winter sucked the life out of you with a few simple winter beauty survival tricks. 

stay warm out there my friends.

xoxo,

adrienne. 

10 reasons to date a fit girl.

... because why would you want to date anyone else?

1. they understand (body) karma. If you put good in, you'll get good out.
2. they know how to greet the day. They put a special focus on the knowledge that how they start their day will help dictate how the rest of their day goes.
   
3. they know how to manage stress. They know that a stressful day of work, a hellish day of school, and a flat tire could easily lead to taking it out on their significant other. They choose not to; they choose go to the gym, go for a run, or take a time out on their yoga mat. 
4. they put their bodies first. Because they know without their healthy and strong body, they wouldn't be able to do anything else.
5. they know how to put in hard work... 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. and how good it feels to attain a goal.
   

   

   
   
7. they aren't afraid to try something new. Tough Mudder? Sure. Oceanside bootcamp? Why not. Boyo? Already there. Fit girls are always the first ones to change up their routine. 
8. they know that, sometimes, we have to make sacrifices. Like all romantic relationships, a fit girl's relationship with her body and self comes with challenges. Sometimes it's forgoing an extra hour a sleep, so that they can wake up and make themselves a healthy, colorful lunch. Other times it's saying no to dessert, because today they just cant even with the gym. Regardless, they know that sometimes you have to sacrifice the little things to get to the bigger and better ones. 
9. they know that pain isn't just good, it's important. They know that after a good, hard workout, the pain they'll feel the next day comes from their body doing exactly what it's supposed to do: mend, strengthen, and grow. 
10. they are extraordinarily, unequivocally beautiful. Literally. From the inside, out. 
    

stay healthy. stay fit. stay positive.

xoxo.

adrienne. 

hump day inspiration: Basic to Beautiful Bathing Suit

i know, i know. It's frigid, the snow is surprisingly starting to pile up, and we're already at the 'can't even' stage with winter (wtf November?). Sure, winter will end (in 6 months). And yeah, we'll go on a tropical, sunshine filled, cabana boy vacation in February (well, like 3% of us will). But until then, here's a little warm weather pick-me-up, sort of. Check out designer Adam Saaks' crazy brilliant skills with a basic bathing suit and a sharp pair of scissors. 

pretty impressive, no? Let's just hope Mr. Saak is free to work his magic again in May... you know... when we thaw out from the polar vortex... again. 

xoxo.

adrienne. 

hi. hello. and all other pleasantries.

hi. how's it going? my name is Adrienne and... Welcome to my Blog! I'm here writing this without a plan, an outline, or any idea what I'm doing. That's the fun in it though, right? So, a little about me:
I'm a twenty-something, twenty-something with little-to-no- clue of what I'm doing. I love to run and practice yoga, try new recipes, and play dress up more than I'd like to admit. Most importantly though, I love my friends, fam, and anything that involves creativity...

which brings me to this: my blog. This is going to be my place to express my creative interests, as well as yours! Don't get me wrong; this blog will be full of ramblings, misspelled words, and some wtf moments... But it will also be full of my personal beauty, style, food and exercise interests, as well as any that you guys may have. I want this place to be a fun, positive, and honest outlet so...

let's get this started!

xo,

adrienne.