Brocade

Pants: Forever 21, Shirt: h&m, Boots: Dirty Laundry

These photos were taken last weekend in Vermont. I love this little barn at my parents’ house. I thought it would be the perfect backdrop for these photos. Especially for the style Vermont brings out. Greens, browns, chunky socks, a beanie to top it all off. I'm smitten with these brocade pants I picked up from Forever 21 a couple weeks ago. They're so comfortable!

In other news I just booked my flight to visit Oregon in two weeks! I am beyond excited. My boyfriend and I have booked some great places to stay and I can’t wait for another adventure. If anyone has advice for things to do, places to visit, or things to eat in Portland, Eugene or Northern California, let me know!

Healthy Tips Featuring Nakd Bars

I'm usually a pretty active, fit person. The problem is I don't really like going to the gym. I prefer being doing outside activities, which isn't really possible in the winter. In an effort to get healthier, I decided to make a couple easy lifestyle adjustments. When Natural Balance Foods offered to send me a sample of their Nakd Healthy cereal bars, I thought this would be the perfect time to get my healthy lifestyle back on track. It’s amazing what a difference a few little changes can make. Here are some tips I'm working to adopt into my daily life:

1. Drink more water! I cannot emphasize this one enough. I recently downloaded the app Plant Nanny and was amazed with how little water I was drinking, compared to what my body needs. Having a reminder (and a cute plant to take care of) has been so helpful. I can already feel the change in my body and especially my skin, which is usually so dry this time of year.

2. Basic exercise. Getting to the gym is a hard thing for me to do, especially when the weather is cold. Just because you don’t want to run on a treadmill, doesn’t mean you can’t do some basic exercises in your own home. I recently started participating in this 30-day plank challenge. It’s only been a few days and already I feel stronger. Other exercises that are great for doing at home are jumping rope, headstands, tuck jumps and squats.

3. Stretching is a great way to increase strength and flexibility, without needing to log hours at the gym. Butterflies, touching your toes, or any of these full-body stretches are great for doing first thing in the morning or while watching TV. It can really make a difference!

4. Healthy snacks.  I'm the type of person that gets hangry. If I'm hungry, I will eat anything and everything in sight. It means that even if I'm making a conscious effort to eat healthy, the second the hanger sets in it's all out the window. During my lifestyle shift, I've been making sure to grab a healthy snack on my way out the door. A piece of fruit, or recently these Nakd bars. They're the perfect thing to throw in my purse or gym bag (for those few times I can get my butt on a treadmill). They're small, but are perfect for curbing your appetite for your next healthy meal. My favorite flavor? Strawberry crunch! Be sure to check out their website to see all of their delicious flavors.

*this is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Vermont Photo Diary

Vermont is a very special place to me. Though it’s not where I grew up, my parent’s house in Woodstock, VT feels like home. Drinks by the fire, my dog at my feet, always a meal on the stove. It’s a place where I sleep better, feel healthier and breathe better. Working a full-time job means that weekend getaways are usually as tiring and they are relaxing. Sleeping 5 hours, going on a 2 hour snowshoe, hitting the sauna. Spending the afternoon tracing my fingers over vintage items at the antique mall. Learning how to shoot a gun, teaching Chloe how to drive manual, followed by cocktails and burgers. Vermont is just so peaceful and serene. My lungs felt better after spending time outside, hiking around the national park in my parent’s backyard. Here are some snapshots from my short, sweet, and wonderful weekend!

Hair TLC with HASK

The process of bleaching and dying my hair has left it beyond dry. In desperate need of some serious hair TLC, I tried out HASK hair products. Their Monoi Coconut Oil line is a dream. First of all, the products smell amazing! The deep conditioning treatment gave my hair some much needed moisture. The lightweight shine oil is perfect for helping my hair look glossy and eliminate frizz. Their shampoo and conditioner are great for everyday use. Perfect for when you want your shower to feel like you've just stepped off an exotic island. Plus they are affordable and found at most grocery stores and pharmacies! My hair looked and felt so much better after using these products. My hair is going to be going to a couple more processes before I can get it to the color I want, so I'll definitely be stocking up on the deep conditioner to use in between dyes. Give it a try, your hair will thank you!

Check out their website: HASK for more products 

*this is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own

Cowgirl

Pants: Urban Outfitters/Poncho: Forever 21/Boots: thrifted/Choker: Romwe

When I was in Montreal recently we stopped into Forever 21 so I could buy a hat. They were having a mega sale, so instead of getting a hat I got an amazing coat and this poncho. It was buy one sale item get the other free, so I ended up with this amazing wonderful item. It's something that I've always dreamed of owning, but never really wanted to spend money on. But I was like "hey, it's free...I should definitely own this and put it on my body." I have to say, it makes me feel like a cowgirl princess — ready to hop on a horse and ride off into the sunset. Giddyup!

You can definitely see my half-hearted grey hair here. I have plans to redye it again next week, so fingers crossed!

Montreal Photo Diary Pt 2

Pictures taken at the Montreal Biodome