The Perfect Playlist

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Working out, it’s all about staying fit, strong, and healthy. Now I know sometimes it’s hard to get up off the couch, get changed, and head to the gym, but it must be done. There’s no excuse for laziness. It’s as simple as finding the right motivation, whether it be through fitness blogs, health magazines, or music. Personally, music is the determining factor in my workout. I’ve been on the prowl for upbeat, fun, and motivational songs to assemble into the perfect workout playlist.The right playlist will help me run for longer, lift heavier weights, and pass the time quicker. What could be better than that?! Here’s my compilation of songs to keep me motivated at the gym so I can finally get that model body. What songs would you put on your workout playlist?

- Gretchen

1. Talk Dirty - Jason Derulo ft. 2 Chainz

2. Swoon - Timeflies

3. Spectrum - Zedd, Matthew Koma

4. Dark Horse - Katy Perry, Juicy J

5. Applause – Lady Gaga

6 I Wish – Cher Lloyd, T.I.

7. Waiting All Night – Rudimental ft. Ella Eyre

8. Polish Girl – Neon Indian

9. This Head I Hold – Electric Guest

10. What About Us – The Saturdays

11. Candy – Robbie Williams

12. Intro – XX

13. Carry You – Union J

14. Diana – One Direction

15. Move – Little Mix

16. Figure 8 – Ellie Goulding

17. Leggo – B. Smyth ft. 2 Chainz

18. Bangarang – Skrillex ft. Sirah

19. Love Me Again – John Newman

20. When I Grow Up – The Pussycat Dolls

21. Calabria 2008 – Enur, Natasja

22. Blow (Cirkut Remix) – Ke$ha

23. Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) – Katy Perry ft. Missy Elliot

24. Touch the Sky – Kanye West

25. Birthday – Selena Gomez

26. Neon Lights – Demi Lovato

27. Not Your Boyfriend – 2AM Club

28. High School – Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne

29. Don’t Wanna Dance Alone – Fifth Harmony

30. Confident – Justin Bieber ft. Chance The Rapper

Golden Globes 2014 Best Dressed

I'm not going to hide it.. I've always loved red carpet fashion. I wish I could wear beautiful gowns and jewelry just for the hell of it. I'm more interested in the fashion of awards shows and the like than the actual award show. 

As I watched and later searched online, I noticed the 2014 Golden Globes red carpet displayed two major trends: solid colors and jewel tone silvers and whites. Clean cut lines accompany several of these color trends. Below are my ten favorite looks of the night, in no particular order.

Margot Robbie in Gucci (Source)

Amy Adams in Valentino (Source)

Olivia Wilde in Gucci (Source)

Jennifer Lawrence in Dior (Source)

Maria Menounos in Max Azria (Source)

Amber Heard in Versace (Source)

Mila Kunis in Gucci (Source)

Sara Hyland in Georges Hobeika (Source)

Kate Mara in J. Mendel (Source)

Giuliana Rancic in Lorena Sarbu (Source)

- Meghan

Tips to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

We always tell ourselves that we’ll start working out and eating healthy after the holidays. It’s that time of year when We all begin to slip on our promises. Here are some tips to keep you on track for a healthy life.

1. Find a workout you love. 

Running isn’t always for everyone so you should find something that you enjoy. Make sure that you mix cardio and strength training into all of your workouts. Check out your local gym to look for fitness classes such as Zumba which is always tons of fun! Youtube is also a great resource for workout videos. 

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2. Make a killer playlist. 

Working out without a distraction can be a drag so pump up the volume! Gather up a 45 minute playlist and keep your but moving the whole time. Keep it fast-paced and even throw in some guilty pleasures (Boy bands are a must).

3. Make a date with your workout. 

You’d never miss a date, class, or business meeting, right? Treat your workout as if you’re going to a date, class, or business meeting. Find a workout partner to help keep you accountable. 

4. Plan your meals. 

When you plan your meals, you are less likely to go for unhealthy options. Start fresh on Sundays and plan all your meals throughout the week. Stick to fresh greens, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and proteins. 

5. Always have a water bottle with you.  

Your body needs to keep hydrated! 8-10 cups of water will decrease bloating and increase your metabolism. 

6. Make realistic fitness goals. 

Make your goals about over-all health instead of losing weight. Focus on things that your body is accomplishing. Measure your flexibility, strength, running distance. Use anything but the scale. 

7. Keep snacks in your purse or backpack. 

Give yourself access to healthy foods because it will help you choose healthy options. Fruits, vegetables and hummus, air- popped popcorn, and unsalted nuts are always good options. 

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8. Keep a positive attitude. 

Remember that results don’t always come quick, but they will come if you keep moving forward with a positive attitude.

9. Make a motivation board. 

Print out pictures of things that will help keep you motivated. Tape them up on your wall so that you can see them everyday. A few ideas are: cute clothes, fitness goals, and inspirational quotes. 

10. Remind yourself of your beauty. 

You’re beautiful every step of your journey. Learn to love your body and how to be confident in it. High self-esteem doesn’t always come with your “goal body.”

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11. Reward yourself. 

Little rewards throughout your journey will always help keep you motivate. Manicure, a new item of clothing, a new cd, anything that you enjoy is a good pick! Remember not to reward yourself with food because it will only help get you off track. 

12. Remember the 80/20 rule. 

As long as you’re eating right and exercising MOST of the time, you will see the results you want. Don’t deny yourself something just because it is deemed “unhealthy.” Let yourself indulge every once in awhile!

- Morgan

Plaid

The plaid shirt has been around for ages. I used to classify plaid shirts as too country for me, and disregarded them. Recently however, I have become obsessed. How you wear the plaid shirt can turn this western print into an edgy, urban look. You can tell which shirts are more western by their cut. For the most part, they’re more fitted and sometimes have a rolled up sleeve or are tied in the front. These types of shirts are worn best with a good pair of jeans and some brown boots to top it off. If your going for the more urban look, try a slightly baggier fit of the shirt, paired with leggings or a darker jean. Combat boots are my favorite to finish off this look.

- Kirsten 

2013 Beauty Awards

1. Evolution of Smooth lip balm: these babies became very popular this year for their smooth texture, wide range of colors, range of flavors, and odd egg shape. They are a bit pricey for a lip balm ranging around $3.50, but they last quite a long time and are a nice change from standard chapstick.

2. Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette: this palette had more hype around it's release than the first Naked Palette and rightly so. This eye shadow palette is simply perfect containing 12 neutral shades. It allows you to create anything as basic as a natural eye look to a dramatic smokey eye. Priced reasonably at $50, it is a staple in many women’s vanities.   

3. Vaseline Spray On Lotion: this spray on lotion was revolutionary in the beauty world for 2013. It makes the process of moisturizing quick, efficient, and leaves out the oily residue on your hands. It also dries surprisingly fast which is a nice bonus!

4. Essie Nail Polish: this brand really made an impact in 2013 with their creative titles, wide range of colors, range of finishes, and perfectly shaped brush. I am a huge fan of Essie and would choose it over most other nail polish brands. Each polish costs around $8, which can be a bit expensive, but the quality pay-off is worth it.

5.  Benefit 'They’re Real' Mascara: this mascara is like nothing I’ve ever tried before. The formula is budge proof and does not flake throughout the day. However, it requires heavy makeup remover to take off. But overall, it’s a great mascara especially because the applicator is shaped perfectly allowing you to reach your most inner and outer lashes.

6. Maybelline 'Baby Lips' lip balm: Baby Lips have been huge in the world of beauty gurus on YouTube this year. They’re essentially tinted lip balms that come in many different colors and flavors.   They’re great for moisturizer dry chapped lips and are pretty cost friendly.

7. NARS Laguna Bronzer-This bronzer is the best in the business. It has amazing color pay-off, matches many different skin tones, comes from a trusted brand, and comes in both matte and shimmery versions. The catch is, it’s quite expensive costing you $40. Just think of it as a beauty investment.  It will last a very long time so it will probably pay for itself over time.

8. Urban Decay Primer Potion: if you are an avid eye shadow wearer this product should be in your makeup bag if it’s not already. This magic potion keeps eye shadow looking fresh all day without smudging or creasing. I swear by this stuff.

9. Maybelline 'Age Rewind' under eye concealer: this concealer is great for girls who wakeup with dark circles under their eyes in the morning. However, I wouldn’t recommend it for concealing blemishes.  The sponge roller ball applicator is very handy and keeps applying your makeup from getting too messy. 

10. Makeup Forever HD Foundation: this foundation has been raved about in the beauty community all throughout 2013. It's texture, finish, and overall staying power is what makes it such a great full coverage foundation. If you are a foundation girl or are looking for flawless coverage I would try it out!

11. MAC lipstick: MAC's lip products in general are great but their lipsticks are especially good. They come in any shade imaginable and many different finishes. The packaging is sleek, simple, and priced pretty well at $14.50.

12. Rimmel Stay Matte powder: this powder is a life saver for me! It’s light coverage almost translucent, but it takes away any oily areas on your face. It’s great for setting foundation and keeps your face looking fresh.

13. Batiste Dry Shampoo: this dry shampoo is one of the best I’ve tried. It comes in many scents and really cute quirky packaging. The product itself takes away any oil build up in your hair, leaves it smelling fresh, and doesn’t leave a white residue behind. 

14. Garnier Fructis Moroccan Oil: this little oil works wonders for dry and split-ended hair and it smells absolutely fantastic.

15. Real Techniques makeup brushes: these makeup brushes are nice for someone who wants flawless makeup application, but doesn’t want to pay for expensive brushes. These brushes were actually designed by a professional makeup artist and are great for anyone interested in makeup. They are reasonably priced, very soft, and will give you amazing results.

16.  Clean and Clear body wash: these body washes smell delicious, exfoliate with mini beads, and have you feeling clean fresh out the shower.  

17.  L’Oreal Elnett hair spray: this hair spray is loved by the beauty community for its flexible, but strong hold formula. It allows your hair to move without the crunchy, sticky feeling some other hairsprays can give.

18.  Clear shampoo and conditioner: this set works well for basically any hair type. It moisturizes, doesn’t strip the scalp of natural oils, and takes away any problems concerning the scalp such as flaking or itchiness. It’s also very inexpensive, which is another reason to try it.

That’s a wrap for the beauty awards of 2013!  I can’t wait to see what new products 2014 has to offer. 

 - Gretchen

2014 Pantone Color of the Year: Radiant Orchid

Pantone, Inc. is a company that is best known for it's color matching system used in industries that involve colored print, plastics, fabrics, and paints. Each year, Pantone declares a certain color the "Color of the Year." The color is decided by a group of individuals in the company, sometimes a whole year and a half ahead of time. The color they choose typically coordinates with the spirit of the age and/or time. The results are published about a month or so before the new year begins. Florists, fashion designers, and many other consumer-oriented companies use it as a guide for future designs and products.

Beginning in 2012, Pantone made a partnership with Sephora to create a makeup line all in the color of the year. More recently, in the summer of 2013, Pantone developed a system that can correctly match one's foundation, concealer, and powder colors to their actual skin by taking three pictures in different areas of one's face. The results can be sent to your email and show you your certain match of color in all sorts of different brands and forms of makeup.

Now that you know the history and culture of Pantone, it was announced that 2014's color is 'Radiant Orchid.' The color itself is described on Pantone's website as "blooming with confidence and magical warmth that intrigues the eye and sparks the imagination. It is an expressive, creative and embracing purple — one that draws you in with its beguiling charm. A captivating harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid emanates great joy, love and health."

Whether you rock a pair of 'Radiant Orchid' hued heels, wear some bright purple nail polish, or even plainly buy a beautiful orchid for your home, try to incorporate the color of 2014 in your life somehow. 

Happy New Year, I hope 2014 treats you well.

- Meghan