Happy Easter!!!

Hey everybody!

Happy Easter! Take this day to enjoy the beautiful weather, some good food, and appreciate the time with your family!

xoxo,

Rachel

P.S.: If you think I'm not eating candy today, you're out of your mind.  I may be a health blog, but I'm not opposed to the Easter treat!

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Spring Things

I just cannot get over this season.  Honestly, it felt like Spring was never going to get here this year.  Now that Spring has sprung, I'm in Heaven!  This is the perfect time of year to try out a couple of new trends.  It's still just cool enough to layer if needed, but it's warm enough that we aren't constantly hiding our outfits under bulky winter wear.

My first favorite certainly isn't a "trend."  Actually, it is the exact opposite of a trend.  This timeless classic will always be a hit, and April and May are the perfect months to break yours out or pick one up!

The Trench Coat.

This baby will take you from the showers of late March and early April all the way to the chilly mornings of October.  My dream trench coat is a Michael Kors trench coat similar to the picture above, however my Old Navy trench coat fits the bill and gets the job done (at 1/4 of the price of a Michael Kors).

However, since we're discussing trends, I might as well bring up one of the easiest ways (for those who tend to shy away from trends) to add some fun to your wardrobe this spring.  Colored trench coats!  A flattering blue trench coat would be perfect, considering Pantone's #1 Color for Spring 2014 is Dazzling Blue.  Don't limit yourself to the basics.  You can stick with the classic cut, or go for an updated style in a fun pop of pink, or coral, or green...your options are limitless!  You won't even need to keep your new beauty stashed away next year.  I promise you, Burberry brought us the trench coat a long time ago.  It isn't going anywhere...and definitely not any time soon!

I really cannot get over this blue trench coat from Mod Cloth.  And the orchid heels?  She just screams Spring 2014.

Pretty in Pastel

Being a girly-girl at heart, this is probably the trend I'm the most excited about this spring.  From lilac jeans, to mint green blazers, even bubblegum pink nails or lips, nothing is easier or more universally flattering than pastels.  Everybody has a pastel shade that will look good on them, it's all about finding that shade for you!

Some flattering shades for different undertones are:

Pink Undertones: In general, cooler colors like pinks and blues will compliment people with pink undertones the best.  It's all about enhancing the natural pink in your skin.  If you are very fair with pink undertones, however, lilacs and yellows might not be too flattering for your skin tone.

Yellow Undertones: Those with yellow undertones look best in most pastels!  Particularly soft yellows, apricots, mint greens, and other colors that bring out the natural yellow in your skin tone.

If you don't know what your undertones are, hold your wrist up to natural light.  If the veins you see are blue, then you have pink undertones.  If your veins are green, you have yellow undertones.  If you can't tell which color your veins are, your undertones are neutral and you can get away with most colors. However, there are zero hard-and-fast rules when it comes to fashion.  If you find something you love and can rock it with confidence, that will always look better than wearing something that compliments your skin tone with no confidence.

Spring trends aren't just for fashion, either!  Don't be afraid to experiment with your makeup and nail looks in the spring.  A new nail polish is an inexpensive, zero-commitment way to experiment with a new trend that might leave you feeling a little nervous.  Just go for it!  Worst case scenario is that you don't like it and you take the polish off.

What are some of your favorite new trends this year?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

xoxo,

Rachel

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Spring Fever

So it has technically been Spring for almost a month now.  But unless you live in Southern California or Cancun, the weather has been less than "Springy."  I don't know about any of you, but between April snowstorms and sub-20 degree temperatures, I'm all Winter-d out for at least the next decade.

Since Spring has finally sprung, now would be a great time to discuss a new set of workouts!  I know a lot of my friends don't have access to a gym, or cannot afford one (I'm right there with ya, kids).  However, there is no reason to go to the gym to get a good workout in when you have the great outdoors at your disposal (for free)!

Hands-down one of my favorite ways to get cardio in when it's warm outside is jumping rope.  You can find them for a dollar at most stores, and they don't take any expertise (literally, six year olds can do it).  If it's been a while, you may need a couple practice runs, but once you've got it down, it's like riding a bike.  You'll jump right back into it (see what I did there?)!

Speaking of riding a bike, that is another one of my favorite exercises for the warmer weather.  It's faster than walking, less tiresome than running, and so much fun.  Find yourself a nice trail, bring a buddy along to talk, and have at it!  Don't forget your helmet, though!  Also, common laws about biking on the road are stick to the right side (as if you were driving) if you're riding a bike, but if you're walking, walk on the left side and face oncoming traffic.  I feel like those laws are commonly neglected, but as both a driver and someone who likes to take her workouts to the outdoors, they actually are very important.  You can also use hand signals if you're biking on a highway to act as your turn signal to let other drivers know your intentions.

Finally, if you can gather a bunch of friends together, nothing beats a good old-fashioned game of your favorite sport.  I personally love badminton (great for when you can only find one person to play), or volleyball (better for larger groups).  This makes working out fun, and it also provides ample time for catching up.  Who knows, maybe some of your high school friends still have what they had back in the day! ;)

If none of these ideas particularly appeal to you, Pinterest has a never-ending supply of great ideas to use for your workouts.  I utilize Pinterest a lot when I get stuck in a rut.  Also, don't get discouraged if you find yourself getting bored with your workouts.  Stick it out this time, then when you finish up, get online and start searching!! It helps to boost your metabolism because your body isn't expecting the change-up, and it also keeps your workouts fun!  Which, we all know, is the secret to keeping up your routine.  Boredom makes us sloppy.

There's nothing like getting out into the fresh air when the weather starts to warm up.  Whether you decide to take your workouts outdoors, or simply drink some sweet tea on the porch with your girlfriends catching up, relish these days!  It seems like we don't see too many of these beautiful days anymore.

xoxo,

Rachel

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