Summer Prep

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Spring is here, and summer will be here before we know it! I started feeling a little overwhelmed the other day because it seems like there are SO many things to get done before summer hits... get a good body, have money for vacations, buy an entire new wardrobe lol, and a whole lot of activities to attend (graduations, weddings, parties, vacations, etc.)! So yeah, most of these aren't REAL priorities haha, but a concern none the less ;)
I'm totally the type that has to "prepare" for everything, so you bet your bottom dollar I am already gearing up for summer time! :)
Here are a few things that I am doing to prepare for the upcoming season!

1. Making myself feel pretty - Lash extensions, spray tans, nail experiments
Summer is a season that most of us spend in shorts, tanks, and our itty bitty bikinis. This can be a daunting thought, and truly intimidating. You have to be comfortable in your own skin, and totally flaunt what yo mama gave ya (too much? lol) But in all seriousness, I know that during the summer I am going to be invited to pool parties, take trips to the lake, and be forced by the summer heat to be in shorts and tanks. Even though I am comfortable in my own skin, and think we as women should love ourselves as we are, there are a few certain regimens that just give me that extra boost of confidence for the summer.
For the record, I am in no way suggesting that you NEED any of these procedures to feel beautiful!
YOU ARE GORGEOUS AS YOU ARE! I just personally like to have these things done for the summer time.

A Good Tan
Am I the only one that feels like a million bucks when ya have a good bronze tan?  
I find myself getting nit picky with the way I look occasionally,  but then I get a nice dark tan and all of my problems melt away, haha! 
When I was in high school and some of college I tanned in the tanning beds, but now that I realize how unhealthy that is, I either use a good rub on tan (St. Moriz, found at Ulta), or I get a spray tan. 
All of the sudden, my skin looks clearer, I feel thinner, my teeth look whiter, and I suddenly have defined muscles, HAHA. Some people may totally disagree with me, but a tan is just something that I always love during the summer. 

Nail Art
Summer is the perfect time to play around with fun nail colors and designs. I love to be adventurous with my decisions before vacations because you can totally get away with it! I once tried some crazy blue color on my nails before a trip to Mexico, and it ended up looking so pretty in all of my pics! So be adventurous and try out that cool design that you have been eyeing since December :)

Lash Extensions
I think all of us girls are aware of the summer makeup dilemma... To wear or NOT to wear makeup to an event that involves water! And if you decide to WEAR, then should you wear waterproof, or not? 
Call me vain, but I am the type of gal that wears makeup to the gym, to the pool, AND when I'm at home. When it comes to a pool party, or something of the sort, I want to wear makeup, but also don't want to come up from under water looking like a raccoon, haha. I got lash extensions for the first time on my honeymoon last August and I must say they were a game changer! I didn't feel like I needed any other makeup, still felt pretty, and def didn't have to worry about looking like a coon! I know some people get really annoyed with false lashes, but I really enjoyed them, and actually just got a fresh set last week!

2. Getting Organized
I am the world's WORST at hanging onto clothes forever! Like I probably have clothes in my closet right now that I got back in the 8th grade, haha! Recently, I realized how much I needed to get rid of, and made a pact with myself that things MUST GO! Although it was tough to say goodbye to what is nearly vintage now (haha), I felt SO much better getting rid of it all. THEN I had room to go shop for new goodies :)
I also tried a new tactic that I've never tried before - I moved all of my winter clothes and shoes to a separate closet that isn't ever used, and then I was able to see what I really had for summer! I even bought a few new garment racks to display my go-to dresses, and tops for the season. Gosh, it feels good to get organized!

3. Sticking money back for spontaneous trips and adventures
I'm very big on money management, and believe you should always have a little money tucked back for a rainy day. Funny story- my grandad used to tell me that when he was growing up he would stick his extra money in an old pair of shoes, and that was his little savings account. It later got named "shoe money," and it's been something everyone in my family does, lol. So needless to say, make sure you have a little shoe money tucked away for the summer time. You never know what trips you may be invited on, or what summer adventures await you. 

4. Daily gym time - switching up my routines, doing more cardio
As I mentioned above, summer means a lot of time in our most revealing clothing! I hate to feel self conscious, or uncomfortable with my body! It hinders my fun, and totally steals my joy! I know that I am the only person in charge of what my body looks and feels like, so I am upping my gym game! 
I've been trying to hit the gym five times a week. I go in the mornings to get it over with, and it makes me feel motivated for the rest of my day. To get my summer bod ready, I have been changing up my workouts when I can, and doing more cardio than usual. This will help you get that little bit of definition you may be wanting! Find a routine that works for you, but don't get stagnant in it. Change it up and challenge yourself! Only you can decide what you look like in that bikini ;)

5. Healthy Now, Cheat Later
For me, I think I eat the most unhealthy during the summer! All I want is ice cream, hamburgers, and cocktails, lol. I've been trying to be healthy and stay on a pretty clean eating plan because I KNOW that once I start taking vacations I will want to splurge. I think everything is good in moderation. 
Yes, I eat healthy for the most part, but I always give myself a little treat when I feel like I really want it. It's a total balancing act. 

Here is a glimpse at some of my favorite healthy snacks/meals:
Fruit protein smoothies
Oatmeal with fruit and peanut butter
Hummus and veggies
Salad w/ grilled chicken
Baked Salmon and veggies
Greek yogurt w/ berries and granola
Zucchini noodles and shrimp
Chicken salad w/ light mayo​
Rice cake w/ honey and bananas

If you're looking to prepare for summer time, I hope these little tips of mine help YOU! 
I'd love to hear some tips from you guys! Feel free to leave a comment below!

xoxo,