June 19, 2013
Photo by Bruce Weber, Styled by Alex White, W Magazine, July 2008
I think we’ve all read articles about how important sleep is for us as humans to function properly (see links below), and that it’s best to get somewhere between 7 to 9 hours each night (but every person is different). Personally, I think I have a minor form of insomnia that comes and goes, and have throughout my life. I remember being a little kid and laying in bed for what seemed like forever trying to fall asleep. I also remember college being my good sleep years. I think that was due to my extremely busy schedule in college — lots of places to be, things to do, and tests to study for. My brain was constantly on, so falling asleep quickly and sleeping hard was no problem in college. I would even wake up five minutes before my alarm would go off, ready to pop out of bed and take on the day. Those were the years.
Other periods of my life where I’ve consistently been able to fall asleep easily typically have to do with exercise. When I am exercising hard 4+ times per week I sleep like a baby every night. Since I don’t exercise that hard as often as I should, I try to do some of my own sleep rituals to help me fall asleep. I’ve got a lot going on in my brain and sometimes I just can’t turn it off and I have a hard time falling asleep.
I also have the typical can’t-fall-asleep nights, like if you have an early flight the next morning, or you are about to go on vacation. I can never sleep those nights. All of these can’t-fall-asleep nights over the years has resulted in some rituals I have and tips for falling asleep and sleeping better. Many of these have been proven and recommended by professionals as well.
1. Invest in a good mattress.
Always wake up with back pain? Ya, probably time for a new mattress. We are in the market for a new one as well. Anyone have any suggestions?
2. Don’t drink caffeine in the late afternoon or evening.
Obviously, drinking coffee at 4pm isn’t going to help you sleep. If you need an upper in the afternoon, go for something with less caffeine than a regular coffee, like green tea. Or drink decaf, or grab a green juice or something. I typically only have coffee in the morning and then tea and water throughout the day. Coffee makes me wired in the evening and I know it will be a late night if I drink it in the evening. Continue reading…
June 18, 2013
I really really miss living by the beach. After I graduated college and got married, my Mr. and I moved to Sarasota for a year. It was glorious. I worked four long days and had three days off each week. I knew living in Sarasota was somewhat temporary so I took full advantage of that year and went to the beach every chance I got. We lived in a tiny (as in 400-square-foot tiny) blue house in downtown Sarasota. It. Was. Awesome. An adventure.
The beach relaxes me. Gives me clarity. Helps me think. I can hyperfocus. Read pages and pages of books and magazines. Walk up and down it for hours. It’s a pretty endless source of entertainment for me.
After my brother’s wedding, me and 17 members of my mom’s side of the family graced the beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama. After a jam-packed wedding weekend, it was perfect to just — do nothing. Be with family. I didn’t fully unplug because the wrath of that is more email than I can handle when I get home, so I did a little work here and there, but minimal.
I played in the ocean with my niece and nephew, drank some wine with the adults, and played Mexican Train Dominoes with my cousins. We rented a beach house (right on the beach) with a screened in porch and a open air deck. I didn’t leave it to go anywhere. Not the store, not out to eat. Nowhere. Just stayed in the beach house, and went to the beach.
Did I mention I miss living by the beach? I miss living by the beach. The waves are the most beautiful natural white noise. The water is beautiful and warm in the Gulf. The beaches are powdery. The breeze is constant…
My mom, her husband, and my nephew.
On the beach with my niece. Continue reading…
June 17, 2013
Are you ready for this week? You know how sometimes when you get back from vacation you are ready to get back to work. I came back from my brother’s wedding and a week at the beach (beach pics coming soon) feeling rested, bronzed, and ready for work! So without further adieu, here are this week’s High Five:
ONE // This unique ceramic cup is perfect for beverages hot and cold. I’d even use it as a pencil cup in my office or in the bathroom for makeup brushes.
TWO // I obviously have a thing for marble and Kelly Wearstler — so of course this marble scarf of hers is right up my alley.
THREE // Loving this white Kenneth Cole vest. It’s simple, mod, and the back is perfect for hot summer days!
FOUR // Don’t be concerned about all the straps on these B Brian Atwood Black Sandals — they are elastic! Every lady needs comfy black sandals for summer.
FIVE // Have a mod moment with these Ebony Quad Drop Earrings.
Is there a product you are obsessing over right now?
June 15, 2013
I am finally back from a whirlwind of a trip to my brother’s wedding weekend (in Athens, GA) and then a family trip to the beach (in the Gulf of Mexico). Unpacked, check. Laundry, check. Sleep in my own bed, check. I took a ton of photos (of course!) during the wedding and wanted to share a few with you! I will be sharing some of the photographers AMAZING photos later, but here are a few I took with my iPhone.
My niece Emery was the flower girl. Takes a lot of photos to get her to be still enough for a good one!
Had to get a shoe shot with the groom. Loved a good excuse to purchase these silver heels from ZARA. They were surprisingly comfortable to wear for 10 hours. I even did the full out Footloose dance in them.
Continue reading…
June 13, 2013
Seven essentials for a day at the beach!
ONE // Wide Brim Fedora
Seriously, my hat (I have this Panama hat in natural) has been my savior this week at the beach. I’ve worn one every day and will never go to the beach again with out one!
TWO // Windowpane Beach Blanket
I love a giant beach blanket.
THREE // Shiseido Oil-Free UV Protector SPF 42
You really just can’t NOT use sunscreen. Don’t ruin your vacation the first day by burning — reapply!
FOUR // Bobbi Brown SPF 15 Lip Balm
The last thing you want to burn is your lips, so applying lip balm with an SPF throughout the day is a must.
FIVE // Joie A La Plage Sandals
I love these simple contrast sandals! Perfect for the beach, and all summer long.
SIX // Suboo Sun Kissed Nirvana Bandeau Bikini
Avoid getting tan lines with a bandeau bikini!
SEVEN // Warby Parker Everett Sunglasses
I’m so glad Warby Parker started making prescription sunglasses. Being someone that wears contacts, I like to give my eyes a break and wear my glasses a few times a week, but I used to have the sunglasses issue — not anymore!
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