The 30 Day Squat Challenge

If you're a Pinterest addict like me, you've probably seen versions of this one floating around. In the spirit of trying to be healthier in the New Year, I started this challenge. I've never really followed through on many of my "let's exercise every day!" ideas, but I made a commitment to try this one just for a month. From the before and after pictures on Pinterest, the results are pretty amazing, but that's to be expected since you go from doing 50 squats a day to doing 250 squats by the end of the month.

This is the picture I found that I based my challenge off of. I altered it a bit because I thought it would be easier to bridge the gaps by doing just 10 more a couple times. See below!

If anyone knows where this picture was originally from, let me know. I'd love to give credit, but the link is broken :(

My Version:

DAY 1: 50 squats

DAY 2: 55 squats

DAY 3: 60 squats

The Time Traveler's Wife - Book Review

Image Courtesy of Goodreads

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger tells the story of Henry DeTamble, a time traveller due to a rare genetic condition, and Claire Abshire, his lover and wife who has to bear the brunt of his absence and the worry that goes along with it. The story is not straightforward, not linear; it bounces between past and present in a way that is artful and throughly thought out.

If any novel can be called flawless, it's probably this one (at least by my standards). It has beautiful writing that evokes so many emotions, both painful and heart-warming. You can feel the yearning of the characters, the pain they feel when they are apart and their passion when they are together.

It's a love story, but it feels real and authentic (despite the otherworldly aspects of the novel). It doesn't feel cheesy or contrived in the way that some romantic novels can... I'll refrain from being snobby, but I bet you can guess who I'm thinking of!

A Gentler Glycolic Peel?

Hello everyone, 

I hope your week has been going good.

Time for another skincare post that I hope you all will enjoy. Today I am going to discuss Glycolic Acid and it's supposed benefits for the skin.

Glycolic Acid has been quite the rage in the skincare world recently and for good reason; Glycolic Acid is considered to be a chemical exfoliant for the skin. In simpler terms, it basically means that it is supposed to slough away dead skin, in a similar way to a exfoliating scrub, and reveal newer skin underneath. 

While all this sounds amazing, we have to keep in mind that Glycolic Acid is a chemical and putting it on your skin can cause irritation, which is why most skincare mavens recommend starting with a very low percent and building tolerance. 

Recently I tested out a more natural Glycolic Acid treatment from the brand Andalou Naturals to see if it works just as well as some higher potency Glycolic treatment. 

*Disclaimer: All products were purchased by me and all opinions are my own. Clicking on the images will lead you to more product and purchasing info. No affiliate links are used. 

It's NEVER too late for Reading Resolutions!

It might not be the first of January anymore, but I'm still making resolutions.

However, instead of making traditional New Years Resolutions this year (which I don't really believe in anyway, I think you should start doing whatever it is you want to do regardless of the time of year: every day is a new beginning), I decided to make Reading Resolutions instead. These are some books that I've wanted to read for a while, but haven't gotten around to yet. I've organized them into different genres and categories of books.

This year I want to read...

• A MEMOIR

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Northwest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

This particular memoir documents Cheryl Strayed's hike along the Pacific Northwest Trail from the Mohave Desert to Washington State, a trip she takes alone at the age of 26 despite having no backpacking or hiking experience. The book chronicles her physical challenges and her emotional ones as it alternates between her time on the trail and her past, as she copes with her mother's death, her distant family, her drug use, and her ensuing divorce from her husband. She gains a lot of insights into her personal life and walks away from the trail a person with a new perspective.