Working Out Because It Makes You Happy

Most people don't know this, but I actually began blogging when I was 12 because I wanted a way to keep track of my triathlon events.

And no, I'm never going to give you a link to that blog, tell you how to find it, or share the contents. I was 12, those thoughts, feelings, and emotions should be locked away in a diary, but, instead, they are trapped in the depths of the internet for infinity. And beyond.

Anyway, the whole point of that intro is to let you know that working out has always been a part of my life. While I love working out, I don't enjoy competing, and I don't do it for weight loss. I, fabulous being reading this, do it because of the endorphins. Like Tiger Woods to sex and Mark-Kate Olsen to cocaine, I, my friends, am addicted to endorphins.

In the past few months, I've been slowly feeding my addiction with the excellent workout classes of f45. If you're unaware, other people are also into the class because the company just went public. Essentially, it's a HIIT circuit class with great music and great, always-changing workouts.

I've tried barre, pilates, spin classes, running, ellipticalling, dog walking, etc., etc., but there's something about f45 that just does it for me. And while there's really no moral to this post, I encourage you to try working out, not for anything, but to feel good after. The happy, as Elle Woods puts it, that wouldn't kill someone.

It Always Works Out How It's Supposed To

As usual, it's been a moment since I've last posted on here. But, unfortunately, it's been so long I don't even know where to start, and I don't know if anyone even reads these posts anymore.

But, if you, dear reader, are reading this, know that I'm about to fill you in on so many things you might need to take an intermission. Not really, but you get the point. Six months is a lot to catch one up on, even just with the highlights.

But let's begin where I left off. February. Six whopping months ago.

Six months ago, I quit my job. Six months ago, I left my first job. But, as much to a surprise to maybe my family, and definitely my previous boss, I found a new position in two weeks, during COVID.

But, not only did I find a job, I found a job I love and adore that gives me perks such as freedom to work from home, work from my parent's house, and work from my boyfriend's home. Plus, as long as I'm bragging here, I'm doing what I love. Previously, I was not. And as much as I'd love to get into the nitty-gritty about why I left the old job, I've been told that the internet is no place to go secrets. But, because I know inquiring minds wonder (if anyone is actually reading this), just know that if you Google, "how to know if you should quit your job," you'll learn more about why I left.

Moving on.

Not only did I start a new job, but I've been able to visit my boyfriend more often, I went to Miami with my college best friends, I finally saw my parents who live in New York, and I went to Colorado with my boyfriend and his family.

If there were a SparkNotes for this post, which there isn't because I'm no Shakespeare or Sylvia Plath, all you'd need to know where that the three words that could wrap up what you've missed are: flexibility, happiness, and joy.

Life, despite living in a still COVID-infested world, has been good. And because I'm superstitious and don't enjoy jinxing anything, I'm not going to go as far as to say it's been perfect, but things have fallen into place.

After college, right when I graduated, everything was crazy. I didn't have a job, didn't know where I wanted to live, and had just broken up with my boyfriend. I was lost, confused, startled, afraid, and every other word that describes the unknown.

So, sometimes, even though the unknown can be scary, you have to sit back, do what you can, and trust that everything will work out just as it's supposed to. Because it will, it always does.

Beach Getaway

This past week I went to visit my boyfriend and we took a little mini trip to Destin together. We’re in a long-distance relationship, so carving out these little trips together has been a lifesaver. He was on spring break for school and I’m currently between jobs, so it was extremely nice to just chill and do absolutely anything/everything that we wanted to on our timeline.

Taking breaks, whether it be for a few minutes or a few days, is so essential to life and I think it’s wild that so many of us tend to forget to give ourselves time.

Time to breathe, time to rest, time to eat, time to just be. To say I had an amazing trip would be an understatement. I also want to make a disclaimer that while we were on a “vacation” we were also very COVID conscious. We drove to the beach, stayed in a condo with just the two of us, wore masks everywhere we went and made sure that if we did eat inside a restaurant that they took COVID seriously. A few places in Florida disregarded the fact that we are currently in a pandemic, but we avoided those types of places. If you’re looking to take a little road trip, we used Yelp reviews and Reddit forums to figure out where to go and where to avoid going. We also called restaurants ahead of time to make sure that their wait staff was wearing masks and that tables were spaced out.

It was freezing while we were there, but we did go on the beach for point 2 seconds just to say we did. We also drove down to the 30a area so I could show him around where I used to live.

If you find yourself on 30a I recommend walking around Seaside, Alys Beach, and Rosemary Beach — those are my favorite areas!

Thanks for reading / looking!
chloe

A Bucatini Shortage

Life during COVID times is weird. My mom keeps telling me I need to write about what it’s like to live in a Pandemic in my journal, and I keep telling her that it would be boring to both write and read later because I don’t do anything. I wake up, I eat breakfast, I walk my dog, sometimes I work out, I eat lunch, I scroll on the internet, eat dinner, watch TV, and then go to bed. And repeat. There’s not much to it. Sure, I could talk about the nuances of time and how the toilet paper shortage warped my perception of reality, but, to be honest, it’s all already been said. And not in a negative way, I just think that, collectively, we’re going through this time and we won’t know how it changed us or changed our outlook on things until it’s over. If it ever ends.

It’ll end.

In the meantime, so I can keep myself from getting too philosophical, I’ve decided to share a few links I’ve discovered recently. I feel like it’s always been too easy to stumble down an internet black hole, but, lately, it’s even easier.

I recently read this article on the Bucatini shortage in America. It’s poetically written and well worth reading in its entirety. Pasts, like toilet paper, was and is a hot commodity in these COVID times. My grandfather and I stocked up on it back in our hoarding days back in March. The first March of COVID.

If you haven’t already seen Malcolm & Marie on Netflix you need to watch it. Zendaya can do no wrong in my eyes. This film is beautiful. It’s mysterious. It’s sad. It’s enlightening. It’s in black & white. It made me feel like I was eavesdropping on an actual couple. Every single scene could be a photograph in a museum. It was filmed during quarantine with around 20 people in 14 days. Amazing, truly. Also, the soundtrack. Pure gold.

I keep seeing this Shacket around Instagram. It’s from Amazon and under $30. I’ve been on a no shopping diet recently, but honestly, might have to bite the bullet for this one. It’s perfect. Style it with a white ribbed tank, straight leg light wash denim, and gold hoops. Easy. Cute. Trendy. Love it.

Ok the no shopping diet doesn’t mean that I haven’t been looking. The last thing I need is another pair of sweatpants. But hello, these are perfect. Imagine the light blue with literally any color top; black, white, tan, BLUE. Blue? Yes. I’ve been extremely into monochromatic outfits lately. They look so put together and effortless at the same time. Into it. Very.

I entered the Golden Coil design challenge, and I’m so eager to see if I’m picked as one of the top designs to be voted on. The winner gets a cash prize along with 5 printed planners with their design. I’ll do a giveaway if I win so one of you can have it!

That’s all for now! 

Thanks for reading,
Chloe

Patience Is A Virtue

Let’s have a little chat about patience. There’s an old saying that patience is a virtue.

I, however, am the opposite of patient.

via

I want things to happen now, and I want them to happen on my terms. Life, however, doesn’t care. Things happen when they happen, and I’m learning to accept that. In fact, I’m learning to learn how to accept that. A huge goal of mine for this year is to be patient, and not just to pretend I’m being patient, but to actually live and breathe and feel it to the fullest.

There’s magic in living in the present and not yearning for the future.

So here’s to believe that the right things will happen at the right time. Some things are meant to be out of your control, and that’s ok.

Inhaling. Exhaling.

xox
chloe

Byte Me

I’ve always been obsessed with packaging. Obsessed. I don’t know if everyone is like this, I highly doubt it, but the way I see products is by their packaging. If my dad asked me to purchase pulp-free orange juice I knew exactly which color that specific orange juice packaging was. If someone asked me the name of the brand I wouldn’t know, but I would know exactly what color and shape the logo were.

In fact, I have this weird thing with colors. My mom loves to tell this story, so I’ll tell it here so it’s forever in the universe.

When we moved to Louisville, KY we wanted to paint the walls of our living room to very closely match the color of the curtains. We had these specific curtains in our last house so I was very familiar with them. When we got to the paint store to match the paint to them, my mom realized she left the curtains at home. I was able to go to the tan section of the paint colors (you know how they’re all lined up together on the wall?) and grab the exact shade of tan. She called me a color prodigy from that day forward.

I don’t think I’m a prodigy by any means; I do, however, think I view color and color theory a lot differently than your average gal. This means I’m definitely in the right field as a graphic designer…

All that being said, I want to introduce you to a brand that I recently discovered by way of Instagram. I was instantly attracted Byte Bars because of their packaging so reached out to see if they would be interested in partnering together. They said “yes”! Not only is the packaging to die for, but the bars themselves are gluten-free, vegan, and the perfect mini-sized for a snack on the go. My favorite flavor is far and away the choco-chip bar, but they are all seriously so great. Can’t go wrong, plus HELLO!! the packaging is cute enough to carry as an accessory.

If you’re in the market for a plant-based snack on the go, I highly recommend these Byte Bars! If you’ve tried them or try them, please let me know how you love them!

xo
Chloe