the work out before the actual work out

Published on June 11, 2016January 3, 2019 by blonde rosie2 Comments

As I mentioned before, going to the gym is a bigger task than it should be for me.

I go to the gym after work and some days I just do not have the energy after a long day in the office. I had to do something to make going to the gym easier and more fun!

I have a lot of gym clothes, but they are all stuffed into a tiny drawer with no organization.I decided it was time to tackle my work out drawer.

Work Out Closet GoalsKhloe Kardashian’s Fitness Closet

Unfortunately, none of us have space or money to have a fitness closet like that!

In my effort to reorganize my room, I decided I needed one drawer to hold all my fitness apparel.

I began by throwing everything fitness related into one big pile in my room. A lot of the stuff was from high school with stains that just needed to go. I threw a lot out because I have not worn it in years and sitting in a drawer is just taking up space. I am that girl who has yoga pants that have never been to yoga… but I love to wear my work out leggings around the house doing housework. So, if it is going to the gym or just doing housework I want my comfy clothes easily accessible. For more information on how to organize your drawers check out one of my favorite posts the magic of decluttering and organizing!

I was watching a documentary on how fitness apparel is a booming industry. People buy fitness apparel even if they do not plan on going to the gym. No matter what stores you go in there are gym clothes on sale! Victoria’s Secret just got rid of their swim line to make more room for sport bras so I think this trend is here to stay. Victoria’s Secret has their big semi-annual sale right now so stock up and save today!

I noticed that Target has completely updated their fitness section and are pushing the work out clothes. I partnered with Target a while ago and got a coupon for one of their sport bras. I am obsessed with them and the price.

Now that I have money in the bank I want to buy a Lululemon outfit or two… I am also obsessed with the Free People leggings because of how unique they are. The problem with living at home and making money is now I want to spend it and not save it!

Looks like I will have to purge my drawer a little more to fit all of these in!

hello, june it’s been a while since i’ve last seen you

Published on June 8, 2016June 9, 2016 by blonde rosieLeave a comment

It has been a very rainy May so now I am looking forward to some summertime! It is early June and I am already tan with some sun poisoning so maybe not the best way to start off summer but it can only go up from here! Happy June, everyone!

work

As always, the June Desktop

My favorite part of my work day is the first 10 minutes of sitting at my desk getting settled in for the day. I take advantage of the Keurig we have in the office. The coffee sucks so I bring my own Starbucks K Cups in from home. It saves you SO much money. I like to get mine at TJ Maxx or Homegoods because it is always on sale.
While I drink my coffee and respond to emails I also check my personal email account because I get the world news sent to my email. I like to think of myself as an informed adult about the world but I just do not have the time to read a newspaper or watch the news at night. I get the Skimm Daily Newsletter and I am a better person for it. It gives you a brief (skimmed) version of the news including world news, politics, entertainment and just things you should know. Sign up and become a better, informed adult because of it. It takes 4 minutes of my day to know all the important things. PS It is very sassy and written by Millennials for Millennials!

Netflix

LOTS of new shows this month to share!

She’s backkkkkk! Chelsea Handler is back with an all new show and I am *obsessed*! You could tell at the end of her E! show that she was getting bored talking to celebrities about celebrity things. Now she has the freedom to talk about whatever and however she wants to say it! There are only a few episodes out right now so hurry up and catch up! It is entertaining and informative!

Season Two of Grace and Frankie came out in May. If you do not know this show- stop what you are doing and binge watch. Seriously, one of the funniest shows I have ever watched! Watch it so we can talk about it together!!

And I thought my family was messed up! If you want to watch a show to remind you that you and your family do not have it that bad, Bloodline is the show for you! It is a mystery that sucks you in with the first episode. They tell you how it all ends and the whole first season it has you guessing what will happen next. Season two was just released so yes, continue watching!

Products I Love

It is the Nordstrom sale and it feels like Christmas! I have been making an effort to purge my closet of items I no longer use and are that are not good quality. I have thrown out my entire high school wardrobe and everything from Forever 21. Now that I am an adult I feel like I should dress like one, right?!? Do I need anything? Nope. But I want it!! I have been having a rough few weeks so I think I will splurge on myself. Some items on my wish list this month are….

I have had my eyes on the Tory Burch sandals for a month now and I think I am just going to swipe my AmEx and worry about it at the end of the month! I love my Tory Burch sunglasses but I am obsessed with tortoise sunglasses right now and these Karen Walker ones have caught my eye… While I am out I might as well get a new work bag, right?? I need something to fit my life but does not look like a backpack!

Home

I threw a lovely MDW party and got some new home decor from Target.
A lot of it is red, white and blue but I found some decor that can be used all year round.

In the summer I get obsessed with fresh flowers in the house. It is a small thing but really adds so much to a room! My friend brought over some sunflowers as a hostess gift last weekend and they are still going strong!

I was bored and reorganized our linen closet. We have six bedrooms in our house so there are tons of sheets and linens. Next chore on my to do list is to pack away unused winter linens to make more room. Check out my earlier post the magic of decluttering and organizing to learn how to organize your life.

I have started to collect some home items for my future place. Right now they are sitting in my basement but I have plans to use them in my room now. Cannot wait to share!

Adventures

If you live near me definitely stop by North Eats in Asbury Park. It is my new favorite spot!

This past weekend a friend and I stumbled into the new Asbury Hotel. We had drinks on the roof and got to see the inside. It looks like a New York meets the shore hotel and the rooftop bar makes you feel like you are on vacation and not in Jersey.

happy one year work anniversary

Published on June 4, 2016 by blonde rosieLeave a comment

On social media lately I saw a lot of my friends joining the workforce for the first time. We have all worked before so going to a job is nothing new. Most of my alma mater students work while juggling classes and community service so being overachievers is just something that comes with being a Hawk. But when you join the workforce as a college graduate something changes. This is no longer a part time job, a summer job or even a full time job that is just temporary. Even though you can leave any job at anytime when you start your big person job reality hits you in the face and you have to accept, you are now an adult. The first week is rough there is no doubt about it. The minute your job becomes easy and you can do it in your sleep is when you know it is time to move onto another job. I can remember the night before I started my first job out of college. Was I overqualified, yes. Was I afraid I was going to screw something up, yes. Was I terrified, yes. Is this what I wanted to do at the time, yes. I decided to move back home and start working for my town as a receptionist because I was not ready to become an adult. My senior year of college was a challenge for many different reasons and I was not ready for a real job. Front desk work was nothing new for me so I knew I could handle it. I quickly learned that just with an easy sounding job title there is actually a lot of challenging parts to the job. I do not care if you are answering phones, being an assistant or serving coffee– any job has its challenges and can be overwhelming.

On June 1, 2015 I started my first day with this company and a year later I have added on a lot more job titles and taken on more responsibilities. I quickly learned that just because I can do a lot of individual tasks I cannot do all of them at the same time. Starting June 1, 2016 a few of my job titles were taken away from me and given to someone else. At one time I was working in three different departments and juggling a lot of different responsibilities at one time preventing me from giving 100%. Could I have done it all, absolutely! But I learned that I can also say no to a boss because I do not want to. Hopefully you too can work in a work environment that respects you and listens. I have accomplished so much this past year at my job for my town and for the company I work for. I have worked on marketing and social media, two departments that were neglected the last few years and some people asked if they were really that important. We have had a few events in town and I like to think that because of my marketing the bigger crowds have something to do with me. I did not graduate with a degree in marketing or finance or public relations. But that is what I am doing now and I love it.

This past year I have learned a lot. I hope some of you recent graduates can look back on my journey and experiences and learn yourself that you have no idea what you are doing and that is okay!

Work

The first day of an awfully big adventure

Wait, I have to go back??

wait, what week is it?

two letters, one word

sometimes I get to play in the sand at work

sappy “I miss school” post

i’m exhausted

now I understand why Peter Pan didn’t want to grow up

Take the day off, work will be there when you get back…

Cubicle Sweet Cubicle

graduation (friends forever)

Red, White, Blue & the Crew

Published on May 30, 2016May 30, 2016 by blonde rosie1 Comment

Every year I look forward to this long weekend because it is the beginning of summer. Now that I am an adult it is a reminder that summer is no longer a holiday but just another season. In years past, I would spend hours on the beach everyday, but those days are officially over. Now MDW is a little more significant because it is a little vacation from the adulting world! I did not go anywhere for the holiday but we never do since our front yard is the beach so we stay at home and do some Benny watching. Being an adult with a job it is really difficult to get friends together since we all live different lives and have our own struggles. I was so happy to learn that a lot of my college friends could make the time over the weekend to drive a few hours to come to the beach for the weekend.

I had to work on Saturday morning but I spent the majority of the week getting the backyard cleaned up and ready for guests. I love my backyard because to me it does not feel like just a regular backyard but a little vacation paradise. Unfortunately, for it to look like that it takes a lot of work like weeding, picking up leaves and vacuuming. (Yes, I am that crazy person who vacuums her sidewalk) All of the work paid off because once the summer table and chairs were brought out and decorated it was everything I wanted it to be!

How to Throw a Dinner Party Like a Real Adult

In college throwing a party involved cheap pizza and beer but now that I am an adult I want to have more grown up parties. For years I helped my mom set up for her parties and every little detail was perfect! There is no greater pleasure than finding a reason to throw a party and spend time with friends. Right now in life it is very difficult to get all of my old college friends together. A lot of them moved to different states, started jobs, went back to school and are busy trying to figure out this whole real world thing! But by throwing a dinner party with enough time in advance to get everyone together to sit around a table, drink, enjoy great food, and laugh until it hurts!

Dinner Party Tips

Bring a host/hostess gift
The best way to show appreciation is by bringing a little something for the host/hostess. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy or expensive, but try not to show up empty handed. My friends brought me fresh sunflowers and unique drinks we had never had before which are small gestures but meant so much to me!
Make a seating chart
To avoid awkwardness when deciding where to sit or friends not sitting together take an extra minute when setting up to make name cards. It helps the conversation flow better and helps people who may not know each other start a conversation.
Have the food prepped and ready
Conversation goes smoothly when people don’t have to keep getting interrupted or getting up when food is being cooked or served. If it is your party you want to be there and not in the kitchen!
Set the table the night before
You will be running around trying to finish everything the day of so make sure the table is set so you can have one last thing to worry about. People will always come early so when they do it at least looks like you are ready!

I was inspired to put together a Memorial Day themed table-scape to celebrate the start of summer. Living at home means I have all of my mothers linens and dishes to use (and there is a lot!).I went to Target as well to pick up a few decorations to add some of my personal touch to the decor as well. The dollar bin accidentally turned into the $30 bin but it was so worth it! Once I have a theme I cannot resist adding a few things here and there to make it complete!

Table Details: blue plates are old but similar here, white bowls are on major sale here, Anchor Large Glass Water Carafe, candle holders, ceramic stars, decorative pillows, medium size candle holder, vase, sunflowers from Wegmans, tablecloth , runner (old material folded to look like a runner)

Of course, we cannot forget the alcohol!

Bar Details: Gin & Tonic, Passion Fruit Kicker, Hi!, Domaine Chandon Blanc de Noirs – Party Edition, Blue Ice Bucket (old from Costco), Table cloth (A twin sheet), Chalkboard (Target dollar bin)

And finally… have fun!

Of course there are things I could have done better, could have planned better and should have done! But my friends were so sweet and appreciative of the weekend because in the end we were all together. On Saturday night we sat around my backyard for hours talking until we realized it was almost midnight and we still were in our bathing suits.

Bathing Suits: Target

Summer Bucket List

Published on May 26, 2016 by blonde rosieLeave a comment

Today is the first day I am not wearing pants to the office in 2016 and I am so excited. Wait, I should clarify that… today I am wearing a skirt to the office and I am so excited!! The past few weeks have been rainy and freezing here at the beach so I kind of forgot that it is MDW already!

There is a lot I want to do this summer and it is nice to have a few extra dollars for some silly spending now that I have been working an adult job for a year.

A new hat

Seems like a silly purchase I need to make this summer, but my Irish mother has always warned me about squinting in the sun because it causes wrinkles. When I was in high school no one ever wore hats at the beach and I looked silly with a baseball cap on because my mom said so. But now there are so many cute beach hats that I need… I mean want! In my twenties protection from the sun has become a big priority now that I am an adult and skin is something you think a lot about now.

New Swimsuit

Do I need another one? No. Do I want another one? Absolutely! I am actually embarrassed to admit how many bathing suits I currently own. To give you an idea, I threw out 5 bathing suits recently and I still can’t fit all of them in a drawer! Since Victoria’s Secret is discontinuing swimsuits I see myself buying a few of them while I can. I reallllly want this one from Target. It is perfect for the fourth of July and I love how the style of it is very unique.

Theme Parties

I might still be living with my parents this summer, but I plan to have a lot of parties this summer. Since I am my mother’s daughter, there will be a theme for each party. My mom does not just throw a party she throws a theme party and from the napkins to the décor- everything is perfection. I have a big backyard and a long summer to find ways to spend time with friends! The Dollar Bin at Target has been my favorite place in the world to get decorations for parties. The dollar bin always turns into the $30 bin LOL

Fitness

I get realllllyyy lazy in the summer when it comes to working out and I want to make sure I continue my workout schedule. I hope to take advantage of living on the beach and going for runs on the boardwalk instead of the treadmill. I recently got all new fun and cute summer work out clothes so lets hope I actually go!! If I will be wearing a bikini again, I will need these workouts to get my body back into shape!

Summer Bedroom Décor

I have my winter bedding and room décor and my summer bedding and room décor. Now I have to find the time to actually put away my winter blankets and switch out my comforter. I am on a mission to purge as much as my room as possible and get my winter stuff put away in storage. This usually takes days to do, but decorating my room for summer is some motivation to get it done. After a few trips to Target and HomeGoods my room should be ready! I got a pink polka dot pillow last summer and now I see it everywhere on the interior design blogs I follow. A new blog post will be up soon with the final result.

Day Drinking the Classy Way

I love brunch and hope to spend Sunday mornings with friends enjoying mimosas in Asbury. I have a feeling that brunch will be my new weekly must do!

Buy a bike

For many reasons I have gone without a bike for many years. In my town no one drives, but everyone bikes. I really want this one!!!! When I was a teenager, every summer my friends and I would bike 5 miles along the boardwalk to start the day for fun. I hope to get back into it as a fun way to fit fitness into my day!

Plan a Weekend Trip

I had been wanting to a do a lot of trips this summer, but then I found out I would be working Monday- Saturday so my summer plans were destroyed. That does not mean that I cannot plan a mini weekend trip though! I would love to travel to: Philadelphia, Washington DC, Maryland or even to another local town in Jersey I have not been to in a while.

Summer Reading

This summer I hope to take advantage of my library card because in the summer all I do is read and that can become a very expensive hobby. In my process of purging aka throwing out all of my belongings I realized that I had a lot of books that I could get rid of. I love books, but I would much rather read and then return it! Some suggestions…

What are some of your summer reading books?

Eat somewhere new every week

Where I live there are a ton of restaurants and many of them I have never been to! I hope to get away from my usual spots and try new places. There are so many restaurants on the boardwalk that are calling my name!

I didn’t wake up like this…

Published on May 22, 2016May 22, 2016 by blonde rosieLeave a comment

Since middle school I have always had bad skin so while some people can just roll out of bed and just start their day I need to commit a few minutes in the morning to make myself presentable. I have figured out how to control my acne and not to dry out my skin because of all the drying products I may use. The most important lesson I have learned in life when it comes to skincare is moisturize, moisturize and moisturize! It really has changed my skin for the better and I know I will thank myself for it later. Some people use expensive products from Sephora for their skin but besides a blemish here and there I am pretty lucky that I can get most products from the drugstore. I will be investing in higher end products soon so please suggest your skincare must haves!

I am not a morning person and will never be a morning person. But now in the real world, I need to get myself out of bed and to a job by 8am. Back in college if you were late to a class it was no big deal, but now I have a boss and being late is a big no no! I try to spend as little time on my face in the morning, especially if I will be wearing makeup that day because time is very limited. Here are my morning essentials that I use every day and can all be found at Target or a CVS.

Skincare Routine It is called a routine for a reason, because you should do the same thing every day to prevent yourself from becoming lazy. You can become lazy in a lot of things in life, but your skin shows signs of laziness that are difficult to hide! I keep all of my morning products on my sink so I know what I am using when I am half asleep in the morning. My bathroom is filled with a ton of products but I keep my morning routine simple because I am always in a rush. I am not a morning person and back in college it was like no big deal if you were late. Now I have a boss to yell at me if I am not in the office at 8am.

Wash and Go! At night I spend a lot more time washing my face trying to get makeup, dirt and residue from the day off my face. In the morning I don’t have that time, so I just wash my face with a simple face wash like this one. If I need some help exfoliating some more I just use a wipe like these to use for scrubbing.

Acne I struggle with acne so in the morning I just dab a little zit cream here and there where it is needed. In the morning I don’t have time to fuss over it and at that point it’s as good as it’s gonna get! I have used prescription medications and stuff you find in a drugstore and find they do the same thing. I usually buy whatever is cheaper and this one keeps coming home with me.

Moisturize I actually use a few types of moisturizes depending on what I need for my skin at that time. I fell in love with the Neutrogena moisturizer because it is not cakey and just feels like water on your face. It is amazing! Most moisturizers make my face oily but with this one my skin absorbs the product. I usually put on moisturizer at my vanity an then blend my makeup with it because I need less foundation and it blends nicely.

Sunscreen Growing up with my mom she has always stressed the importance of sunscreen. She was a beach kid and back then there was no such thing as SPF and no one really cared. Now since I grew up as a beach kid she always lathered me up in sunscreen and my skin now looks great because of it. If I know I will be out in the sun I use a thin layer of sunscreen under my makeup to prevent sun damage to my face. If you want to be tan, go get yourself some Jergens and your skin will thank you later!

At night I finally have the time to invest more time in my skincare routine. While it may be a pain to spend time in my bathroom scrubbing my face while I just want to go straight to bed. I know the next morning (and 40 years down the road) I will thank myself for it!

Wash the day away: I stick with Neutrogena products when it comes to my skin. They are effective enough to get my makeup off and treat my skin problems.

Exfoliate: Once a week I use my Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System to get a deep scrub. I bought mine years ago at Costco and it still works just as well as the day I got it. I see improvements on my face immediately after using it and after a few days I can’t wait to use it again.

Mask Time: In college, I stole a roommates face mask and since then I have been obsessed. Freeman Feeling Beautiful has a ton of them that comes in different scents and treat your skin in many different ways. If I am watching TV at night I just put one on and let it work its magic!

Moisturize: In the morning I use a moisturizer to prevent my skin from drying out because of the heat or freezing temperatures outside. At night I use a moisturizer that treats my skin for some of my skin issues. I have always had splotchy skin and acne fading scars that last forever after a blemish goes away. After using the Olay Regenerist Luminous moisturizer my skin looks so much healthier and it worked miracles on my skin!

I am always looking for new products to try so let me know what you use! Now that I have some money in the bank for silly spending I want to try a higher end product from Sephora. So please send me your suggestions!