I often find that no matter how long I've lived in a place, there are still unexplored spots. Take this gallery, for example. I've walked past it a number of times but never took a moment to walk through it. Granted, their hours are weird and I'm at school or working for the majority of the day. Nonetheless, when I finally got around to it, I found it to be such a beautiful space. That's the beauty of living in a small town. Although it can feel monotonous at times, there's always secret spots to be discovered.
On Tuesday we harvested over 50lbs of produce! It was a gorgeous morning and I left the garden feeling accomplished. The thing about gardening (in this case, for a good cause), is that while you dread having to set your alarm for 6:45am, contorting yourself to pick the perfect pepper, and spraying yourself with mud, you feel great afterwards. That early morning sun beating down on your skin at 7am is tiring and sweaty but also refreshing and awakening.
Maybe getting down and dirty isn't your thing, but getting in touch with the earth every once in a while, whether it's through gardening or maybe yoga, is important in living a balanced and easy-paced life.
My family and I rarely go out to eat, but when we do, we tend to stick to the same 5 spots, one of which is Jin Ju. This spot is in the heart of Andersonville, with a window facing Clark Street which has the best, most diverse people watching. Asian inspired cuisine is among my favorites, so it makes sense that Jin Ju is my go-to spot for great Korean. I'm a creature of habit and, although I'm a big foodie, I tend to order the same thing at the same restaurants because of my allergies. At Jin Ju I always get their spicy wings for an appetizer and dak bulgogi as an entree. For those unfamiliar with Korean cuisine, dak bulgogi is boneless chicken breast marinated in a spicy red pepper sauce served with vegetables. Anyway, besides the food, the service is incredible and consistent too. Plus, if you walk a little further down the street, you're bound to catch the puppet show on wheels, pictured above. xx
When I get "obsessed" with something, I can't stop thinking about it until it's hanging in my closet, fastened to my feet, or pinned to my ear. Recently, I've been obsessed with the following: brown suede boots with a medium heel, flared jeans with a button fly, a maroon suede jacket, vintage Levis with a straight fit through the leg, clogs, because obviously, and a double piercing. All kind of essential in a girls wardrobe (and ear), right? I think so. After pulling together the visual above, I'm digging the slight 70s nod. I don't like to sway towards particular trends, but rather stick to an overall classic vibe. I have to conclude that the style above isn't too trendy but just the right amount of cool. I could also see myself wearing everything for multiple seasons and occasions. Versatility is always a must.
I carry this pink, envelope style bag with me everywhere. I call it my "go-bag" because I literally grab it and go. The contents of it are as followed: phone, wallet, gum, lip balm, sunnies, and an eye brow brush (I don't go anywhere without an eye brow brush). What's also convenient about this bag is that, because the remnants always remain the same, I can grab and throw it in another bag (i.e. gym bag, work bag, etc.). This bag can go from day-night in a second too. It can really do it all. I was so adamant about finding something like this because I always carry a tote or backpack to work, so, when I grab lunch or run an errand, I needed a chic little carryall that I could have on hand. Turned out, I didn't need to search high and low to find one. My mom had bought me this bright pink guy from the Gap (of all places) 2 years ago. I used it once back then for a party and now I carry it everyday. Who knew!... well moms always know.
Regular coffee dates are essential in my mind. Whether before noon, around 4pm, or after dinner, catching up over a hot drink while people watching is the best way to do it.
What's funny about me is that I don't drink coffee and probably never will. I think it tastes bitter and I don't drink milk so that lessens my options quite a bit. I do, however, enjoy tea on a regular basis. So whenever I go out for "coffee." I typically ask for a hot cup of water.
Here's the other funny thing: I always have a tea bag on hand! Weird, right? For me, finding a tea that I actually like is difficult because some blends can easily make you feel sick. I love Tazo Zen tea. It's a green tea with lemon grass and mint. Always cures a caffeine fix.
I cut my hair! 9 inches to be exact. This summer, I've grown my hair to longest it's been in a while. The layers were outgrown and towards the end, my everyday hair style would turn into a messy side braid. My hair was still buoyant with volume and texture but I just needed a change. I've done 'short' before but never a little bob like this. I think it's fun without being pristine (let's be real, I can never be pristine); it's edgy but still girly. Kind of the perfect balance, if you ask me. The color is a little lighter too. I'm sold on the subtle ombre look and had gotten it done with long hair, yet, it feels much more dramatic on shorter hair. I like it either way. In terms of maintenance, everyone always boasts about how low maintenance short hair can be. So far, and please note, I'm writing this 2 days into the cut, I've had to style it more than usual. What I've done thus far is air dry it or set a blow dryer to it for a few minutes. Then I flat iron just the ends of my hair and curl the body of my hair. It's not difficult but hopefully I'll learn some tricks along the way. The photos above are all inspiration shots I collected the week leading up to the chop. Evidently, the main source of inspiration came from this video of the gorgeous Jenna Dwan Tatum dancing. Flip your hair girl!
A day doesn't go by on Instagram without someone posting a picture of a smoothie bowl. Here's my question to you: since when did we start putting fruit smoothies in bowls and then add more fruit on top? I never understood this! Sure, it looks really pretty and photographs as good as Kendall Jenner in high-waisted skinny jeans, but, in my non-professional opinion, it's not all that healthy.
Here's the thing: fruit, although high in fiber and vitamins, is extremely high in carbs and sugar too. In fact, 1 banana has 14 grams of sugar and nearly 30 grams of carbohydrates! I googled the photo above, but a regular acai bowl (the most famous of bowls) is typically blended with 1 banana and then decorated with another on top. That means you're exceeding your sugar balance for the day in one meal... or snack, even. But the banana is just scrapping the surface because then you're throwing strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, mango, and granola on there, all of which are chock full of carbs.
I'm no nutritionist, health aficionado, or dietitian, but I do know that I can only allow myself 1 fruit a day. Usually I'll choose a banana or apple (sometimes accompanied by soy nut butter) around 4pm, a few hours before dinner. The reason I choose one fruit (as opposed to 6) a day is because I know my body can't metabolize high doses of sugar and carbs. But, as we all know too well, everyone's bodies are different.
It seems there's this cult of raw-vegan girls on the internet that thrive off heavy doses of fruit all day long and have glowing skin and a toned bodies because of it. I, on the other hand, need protein and vegetables in every meal otherwise I feel unsatisfied and deprived. That's the beauty of life: we're all different.
The first photo is a basic salad I made the other day for lunch. Not pictured is a side of mayonnaise-free tuna that I featured in a post over here. I eat a salad every dayfor lunch with fresh vegetables and some version of protein (chicken, fish, meat, egg, etc). For me and my body, it's the perfect choice.
Figuring out what works for you and what doesn't takes time. What works for me is minimal sugar and no wheat or dairy. It sounds extreme but it's far from it. The truth is, when I add those foods back into my diet, my body doesn't respond well.
Look out for more nutrition and food posts in the future. I have a lot to say about it all.
I've been doing something odd this summer. Reading. A book, that is. I'm constantly reading articles online and in magazines but decided to switch things up a little. About three weeks ago I finished the first Harry Potter book in three days. I moved onto the second one and finished that in another three days. I'm currently moving through the third. I'm officially obsessed. My cousin Charlie had recommended the series to me and, although hesitant at first, I'm so happy I dove in. So why is it that I'm just now reading Harry Potter? Well, when I was younger and everyone was into it, I, in true Carly Travis nature, thought I was too cool for the trend. I figured if that many people liked the same thing, how can I? I was wrong. The books are so well written and, while reading, your brain feels like it's on vacation. You're transported into the world of Hogwarts; it's fun, easy, and relaxing. I recently finished another book, Stitches. I have to read this for school and I was excited they assigned it because it's a graphic novel which means it looks just like a comic book but it's content is far superior to Superman. I finished it during the length of 2 train rides (about an hour and a half) and I have to conclude that it was really dark and depressing. Although well written and illustrated, there was no light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. Anyway, this weekend I plan on finishing the 3rd Harry Potter book. I'll keep you posted on my 2nd grade reading level endeavors.
What makes people happy? Money? Food? Clothes? All of those things are tangible and materialistic, yet, if we're being realistic, it can be easy to find happiness through those mediums.
However, in my mind, happiness is a feeling that comes and goes throughout the day. I don't think you can constantly possess this, but when you've got it, it feels good.
The photo above was taken after an evening hot yoga sculpt class at Core Power. Adrenaline was still running high from my sweat session and this mailbox was a great reflection of how I felt at that moment.
Other things that make me happy besides killing it at the gym include but are not limited to: being in the sun, cooking and consuming a delicious and healthy meal, finding a cool store, fresh sheets on a tightly made bed, warm tea, magic hour (when the sun is low and leaves the lighting outside picturesque), and sitting in a park with a good book.
For me, it's the mundane, little things in life that put a smile on my face. To be honest, I think it's impossible to feel joyful all day. It's sometimes just a short 10 seconds, like when you watch a child laugh.
The Atlantic made a video about 'What is Happiness'. Check it out below:
I woke up feeling like I wanted something sweet so, rather than my usual fried eggs and turkey bacon combo, I went for soy nut butter spread thinly onto a rice cake with sliced banana. Definitely curbs a sweet tooth and will hold you over until lunch for longer than you think. Lunch
Like I said, breakfast will hold you off until lunch... but, once lunch arrives, you might be starving. I was at least! I grilled a few strips of boneless, skinless chicken with salt, pepper, and the juice of 1/2 a lemon and threw that on top of spinach (2 handfuls), garbanzo beans, edamame, cherry tomatoes, shredded carrot, and sliced avocado. It was so filling so there was no need to snack in between lunch and dinner! Dinner
My family was making burger's for dinner and I can't pass up a good burger. However, I can pass the unnecessary bun. Instead of 'accessorizing' my plate with carbs, I went for grilled vegetables.
Yesterday's meals were pretty typical: small breakfast, huge lunch, and a normal sized dinner. Every meal consisted of protein, fats, and carbs (beans: seen in lunch and off camera in dinner are a great source). In my opinion, it doesn't get more balanced than that!
I babysit almost every weekend. It's quick cash, the girls are adorable, and it's pretty fun... sometimes. I'm the type of person who likes to constantly be moving or doing something productive throughout my day. I also really enjoy sitting by the pool or watching a show in bed, but when it comes to babysitting I always gravitate towards activities that exert a ton of energy while putting a smile of everyone's faces. I think it's important for the babysitter to also be having a good time for the hour or two they're hanging with those 12 and under. Whenever I get involved, my positive energy is translated to the kids and everyone has 10x more fun. While babysitting for Rebecca (3rd grade going on 5th), I suggested we ride our bikes to the beach. Once we got there, she exclaimed, "Let's go geocaching!" I had heard of it before but never did it occur to me that you could just pick up and go. I downloaded the free app and we were off. We found the first cache within a few minutes and screamed and cheered with glee as we rode around town and found 2 more. The activity was fun, stress free, and felt adventurous because some caches are hidden in wildlife preserves that I wouldn't have ventured through otherwise. I highly suggest you try this with kids or friends, there's no age limit!
This past weekend my mom and I took care of our friend Cindy's dog Raleigh. I also took care of another friend's dog named Oliver. Here's the thing: taking care of dogs for a short period of time is great. You get a friend and a little exercise for a day or two but the responsibility isn't permanent. On the other hand, no dog will ever be as great as your own. In our case, our late dogs Brady and Cooper. They died this past winter and are so irreplaceable you could only understand if you had met them yourself. The had such amazing, smart, affectionate personalities that bare uncanny resemblance to a human. We used to joke that they were half human. I'm not saying Raleigh and Oliver were bad to hang out with, they just don't have those tangible personalities that my dogs had. I miss you Brady and Cooper.
It wasn't until a littler over a year ago that I tried (and liked) avocado. A little before that, I hated (then learned to love) tomatoes. Oh, and Mexican food? It's only been a year since I began to like love it. I wasn't a picky eater, but I had my preferences. Nowadays, my salads are never complete without the two aforementioned foods and taco Tuesday never goes uncelebrated. Okay, I don't eat Mexican every Tuesday, but it's definitely a staple in our family. Since cutting out wheat, making alternative has been really easy. A taco salad is the perfect swap for a carb loaded burrito shell or two... or three (that was the old me!). Above I placed fajita vegetables, ground turkey, lettuce, and fresh salsa over a portion of brown rice and ate it Tuesday and then brought the leftovers to work for lunch the next day. That's the best part about TT, it's even better Wednesday!
If you love art and cute kids candidly staring at art then this is the account for you. What makes it cool, other than the unique concept, is that it features museums and galleries from all around the world.
So, if you happen to be traveling somewhere soon, peep this account for a cool spot to explore while you're in Denmark, for example.
@abtractsunday
Abstract Sunday is probably the coolest account I follow. If you can't tell already, artist Christoph Niemann takes ordinary objects and paints, draws, and creates a story around it. It's fun showing someone one of his pictures (possibly under the age of 10) and having them guess the object he's using.
@mydaywithleo
I recently started following My Day With Leo such a kick out of it. It's always funny and always creative. I'm not sure if he grabs random people off the street and pulls one of many faces out of his bag, but either way, it's entertaining.
@jeannedamas
Do you ever just need a big dose of french girl coolness? I always do. Between Jeanne Damas and Caroline de Maigret, I'm constantly clicking onto their accounts for inspiration on how to look effortless, cool, and chic... in a tee shirt and jeans, that is. Jeanne's look is always similar to the last: high waisted blue jeans, a tucked in, crew neck tee shirt (sans bra), and usually a pair of heels (preferably Valentino). She takes a vespa to the Mui Mui resort show and travels to the likes of Amsterdam and the South of France on the weekends. Can I be her already? @brendanfallis
Ever wonder what a hot DJ who takes pictures of food, globe trots, and posts workouts looks like? I'm not talking about Chelsea Leyland or any other "cool girl" for that matter. I'm speaking of the incredibly hot (and straight) Brendan Fallis. His account includes weeks spent traveling from Milan to L.A. to Montreal (he's a native Canadian) and back all while maintaining to squeeze in a workout, a home cooked meal with his "bae," blogger/DJ/whatever Hannah Bronfman, and buying the latest Nike sneakers. His life is pretty unbelievable and totally worth keeping up with.
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Above is a list of my top 5 favorite Instagram account at the moment. Disclaimer: I follow 879 people on instagram and these 5 are in current "stalking" rotation. Kidding. A few bloggers that I follow, A Cup of Jo and Because I'm Addicted, posted the same post (featuring different accounts, obviously) and I found so many cool people through their post. Hopefully you can do the same!
