NOTD: Blurple Sparkles!

I love me my blurples (blue/purples). For this manicure, I used one coat of OPI's "Blue My Mind" since it's so opaque. Then I topped it off with a coat of a glitter nail polish from Hot Topic (I know... random right?!). The glitter polish is duo-chrome and shifts from a royal blue to a deep purple.

UPDATE POST & WHY I HAVEN'T BEEN POSTING!

Hey guys. So I don't normally do these kind of posts, but I thought I owed you an explanation. For almost two weeks now, I haven't blogged. I know... unacceptable. But, in my defense, I am just beginning a new school year and I've been bogged down with school and extracurriculars. I also have noticed an increased in my blog followers, so I'd like to extend a HUGE thank you to my new readers. I'd also like to take this opportunity to ask you to subscribe to my youtube channel: youtube.com/cassidymichellex3

My youtube channel is actually my main focus, and this blog is sort of an extension of my channel. Anyway, I have more beauty posts coming, but I felt like I needed to quickly get this up to tell you guys that I'm not deserting you! I'm just busy! I'm working on creating a better schedule and setting aside some time to organize things for my youtube channel and blog.

Hope you understand! :)

Exercise Without a Gym Membership! (All About YOU August #3!)

This blog post is dedicated to ways of getting physical activity and workouts without a gym membership. Some things may cost some money, but definitely not any outrageous prices. You can pick and choose what you invest your money into.

1. Blogilates: blogilates.com | youtube.com/blogilates

Cassey Ho is a trainer who makes youtube video workouts. You can do these in the privacy of your own home, and don't need much equipment. She offers alternatives to certain equipment. She often uses a yoga mat, which I would highly recommend if you have wood floors. If you have carpet, I think you'll be okay. Every month, Cassey comes out with a new workout calendar designed to improve your fitness. She combines about 5 videos to get you a complete 1 hour workout. Her videos are NOT easy by any means, but sporadically she uploads easier ones. You just have to find them! (P.S. She also has a beginners calendar you can use)

2. Play sports at the park!
Many parks have tennis courts, baseball fields, and soccer fields for the public to utilize. Some even have a volleyball court or two! Just getting out with family or friends to play a couple of games will burn some calories and bring people closer!

3. Go swimming!
If you have a pool, this is easy. If you don't, visit a community pool! Swimming burns a ton of calories without you even realizing it! Plus, most people get in there for hours, maximizing calorie burn.

4. Go for a run!
Go around your neighborhood or find a trail. Many parks also have running trails, too. If you live in a place with lots of hills, run the incline so you burn more calories! The Nike+ app really helps with this.

5. Workout videos!
They're pretty cheap, and offer a wide variety. They're designed to burn calories quickly and cater to people with a short amount of free time.

Mani Monday! Purple/Grey Chevron Inspired Nails

Sorry I only took one photo- don't know what I was thinking! As you can see near the cuticles, the white I used isn't the greatest quality, but it's the only white I own (it's a Konad polish I got with a nail stamping kit). I did two coats of that to get rid of the streakiness. Then, I used Essie's "Chinchilly" and painted diagonally across the end of my nail and did the same on the other side to make that Chevron look. Once I let that dry, I used Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear "Lacey Lilac" and used the same method, making sure to leave some of the "Chinchilly" polish visible. 

If I "master" this nail art, I may do a tutorial on it on my youtube channel, youtube.com/cassidymichellex3 

Easy Food Swaps to Improve Your Health! (All About YOU August #2!)

BREAKFAST
1. French Toast  -> Lightly buttered regular toast or waffles
2. Syrup -> Fruit added to your toast/waffles to make it more sugary
3. Honey Nut Cheerios -> Regular Cheerios
4. Frosted Flakes -> Special K! Protein/Special K! Original Cereals
5. Other sugary cereals -> Cascadian Farm Organic Cereals
6. If you're on the rush and grab donuts, grab a tangerine and a granola bar instead!

LUNCH/DINNER
7. Fast food hamburgers -> Homemade lean hamburgers
8. Fries as a side -> Green beans
9. Hot dogs -> Tofu dogs (There are great Tofurky dogs from Trader Joe's!)
10. Big bag of potato chips -> Individual single serving bags to prevent from overeating!
11. Fast food pizza -> Single serving CPK Pizzas (I recommend the "Four Cheese" kind!)
12. Any high quantity of non-lean meat can be replaced with baked fish!

SNACKS
1. Gallon of ice cream -> Ben & Jerry's minis (under 300 calories!)
2. Candy bar-> Skinny cow 100 calorie candies

Goal Setting & My Vision Board! (All About YOU August #1!)

I think most of us can agree that we are on a constant quest for self-improvement, whether this be through health and fitness, our skin, our career, a better social life, etc. However, sometimes we lose motivation and it's hard to get back on track with everything. This is why things like New Years resolutions are so prevalent; we need that set date to force us to be motivated. One of the main reasons why we lose motivation to keep going is that we don't understand where our "finish line" is. By setting goals, we have something concrete to reach for. If you're a runner, you tend to sprint once you can see the finish line. This is why I set my long-term goals in the form of a vision board.

I set long-term goals for myself usually in the beginning of the 1st half of the year (January) and in the beginning of the 2nd half of the year (around now, July or August). I adapt to what I am currently facing and try to be realistic. I understand that I am not going to wake up having completed these goals. It takes time and effort. I chose to set these goals in the form of a vision board because I watch whatthebuck on youtube, aka Michael Buckley, and he always mentions "The Secret" and the power of visualization. While I haven't read "The Secret", I do believe in affirmations and the sort of subliminal influence that positive visualizations can have. 

My goals:

1. Get to a healthy weight. Eventually I want to be at 115, but for now I'm cool with 125. 

2. Be more social and be more friendly.

3. Improve my running (endurance, speed. My fastest mile is 7:27 and the farthest I've gone is 6 miles)

4. Get good grades. Obviously A's are the ultimate goal, but I just want to do my personal best. I can't ask for more than that. 

5. Devote time to my family. I want a stronger relationship since I only have a couple more years left "in the nest". 

6. Earn more youtube subscribers! (youtube.com/cassidymichellex3   <-- Shameless self-promotion) 

All About YOU August!

This month I've decided to go with the theme "All About YOU August". I'm going to do some videos inspired by this on my Youtube channel, as well as some blog posts.

I wanted to kind of explain what this is all about before I start posting about it. I think that sometimes we get lost in the routine of life and forget to help ourselves. We get bogged down by stress and conflicts, whether it be homework or work problems, and we forget what we're really going through all this trouble for: to create a better life for ourselves. We forget to take a little time to treat ourselves and let the stress consume us.

This month, I want to give some tips on how to take better care of yourselves. This includes eating better, doing different activities, beautifying yourself, and just being more in tune with life on a day-to-day basis to really appreciate the life you've been given.

Some ideas I have are: my favorite healthier foods, my exercise routine, exercises for people who "hate" exercising, exercising without a gym membership, DIY Beauty, my ways to resist cravings, etc. I may think of more to add to the list, but I'm definitely looking forward to this mini series for the month.

Hope you enjoy! :)
-Cassidy | youtube.com/cassidymichellex3