May 18, 2016No Comments

Summer Bucket List

The long, lazy days of summer are coming up quick! And while it seems like the possibilities are endless, it's all too easy to let the days slip away from us. I was always disappointed when I realized I didn't take advantage of my breaks from school to do fun and creative things, but instead just let my days get away from me.

I'm counting down the days until our family vacation in July, but I don't want that to be the only fun thing that happens this summer! I've put together a little checklist of all the things I want to do in the coming months to be more intentional about taking advantage of the sunshine.

  1. Make a Eugenia Kim inspired floppy hat. I'm sure you've seen these hats everywhere, but the price tag is a little out of reach for me at the moment, so I'm planning to make my own. Keep your eyes open for a DIY post coming up in the next month or so!
  2. Work on my beach body. The real secret to getting a beach body is getting your body on the beach! That being said, I am trying to up my fitness game this summer to tone up and get stronger. Check out some of my fitness faves.
  3. Host a weekend brunch! Let's just face it, brunch is the best meal of the day. (Or at least the weekend.) But it can be hard to get a table if your city is as brunch-obsessed as mine is–something my girls and I learned when we trekked across town to three (!!!) different brunch places before finding one with less than an hour wait. Hosting brunch at your place means bottomless mimosas–without the $17 price tag. There are a few good ways to go about this–invite everyone to bring their favorite brunch food, plan a menu and assign each dish to one of your group, or just have everyone bring ingredients and make your meal together.
  4. Go on a movie date at the drive in. If your city doesn't have a drive in movie theater, you can set up a projector on the side of your house or apartment building. Set up some blankets, invite over some friends, and don't forget the popcorn!
  5. Break out the bold lips–and nails. I love trying new lip and nail colors in the summer. Bold brights are so fun, and keep me from taking myself too seriously. If you're hesitant about bright nails, or can't take advantage of them because of your work environment, just paint your toes! Nobody will know they're fuchsia when you're wearing flats, but when you switch to sandals on the weekend, you'll have the perfect summer pedicure.
  6. Cheer on the USA in the Olympic Games. I absolutely love the Olympics. (I actually did a couple of projects during school about the Olympics–including this poster and this branding project!) The Summer Olympics are full of exciting sports to watch, and it's always fun to sport the red, white, and blue. I'm obviously a fan of the obvious events like gymnastics, swimming, and track and field, but I also love watching all the more obscure sports too, like archery and rowing. Olympians are some of the most incredible people; their stories are always so inspiring.
  7. Buy a one piece swimsuit. One pieces are so in right now, and there are some seriously cute ones out there. I've had my eye on a few different ones–if you have any recommendations, leave them in the comments!
  8. Update your home decor! New accent pieces are the best way to brighten up your space for the new season. Try adding new throw pillows, coffee table decorations, or switch out some of the art on your gallery wall.
  9. Go to the beach. My family and I already have a trip planned in July to the Cayman Islands, and I'm incredibly excited about it. I've never left the United States, so I can't wait to really travel and spend a week on the beach!
  10. Read 10 new books. Summer reading is one of my favorite things. I am so thankful for my Kindle, because it means I can easily bring a dozen or more books to the beach with me without having to pack a separate bag for them all!

What are some of your summer bucket list items this year?

Summer Bucket List | Alexandra Adams

April 9, 2016No Comments

Taking a Break

As I'm sure you've noticed, I've been posting a little less frequently than my normal Mon/Wed/Fri schedule the past several weeks. I've been in the middle of starting a new job, working on a crazy branding project and some other freelance work, and unfortunately this blog has been one of the first things to drop off my ever-growing to do list. (Case in point: I meant to post this last Friday!)

I still have a ton of ideas and plans for this space, so don't worry! I'll be back as soon as possible with some exciting new projects and I absolutely can't wait! But for now, I just wanted to check in with you guys and let you know I'm still here–I just won't be posting as much for just a couple more weeks.

Of course, I'll still be updating my Instagram and Pinterest, so don't hesitate to click those links and follow me there!

February 29, 2016No Comments

What to Do With Your Leap Day

We get an extra day this month–February 29 only comes around once every four years! I always feel like I should make it count, whatever that means. I've compiled a short list of things you can do with your extra 24 hours that can help you make the most of your extra day.

  • Learn something new. Spend the extra time learning a new skill or technique to improve your knowledge. Maybe teach yourself to knit, watch a few makeup tutorials, or learn a new exercise.
  • Throw a party. As if you needed an excuse. Embrace the "leap" theme by making lily pad and frog cupcakes. Or make a Leap Year Cocktail, as invented by Harry Craddock at London's Savoy Hotel in 1928. (It is on a Monday this year, so you might need it after work!)
  • Pay it forward. Lots of people plan to use their extra 24 hours to celebrate with random acts of kindness. Whether you volunteer for your favorite charity or just buy the coffee for the person behind you, your efforts will be appreciated!
  • Improve your business. If you work for yourself, or even for someone else, there's always something more you can do. Try working on a new project, or redouble your efforts on that one to-do list item you keep putting off.
  • Relax. Sometimes the best thing you can do is give yourself permission to relax. If you're working hard the rest of the year, spend some time recharging on your extra day, guilt-free!

What are your plans for Leap Day?

January 27, 2016No Comments

Fitness Faves: January 2016

If you recall, one of my goals for this year was to get fit. (I know right, me and the rest of America.) In an attempt to hold myself accountable to that goal, I thought I'd share some of the things I'm doing/liking/using to achieve it every month. So here's my progress report for January!

LBS LOST: 8.1

Current Faves:

Fitness Faves: Jan 2016 | Alexandra Adams

7M Workout

This app is my go-to exercise app at the moment. You can set your preferences, difficulty level, and more. It's a lifesaver when I know I don't have time to go to the gym–an entire workout seriously is only 7 minutes! You can opt-in to a warm up and cool down, which generally takes your total up to ~10 minutes, but seriously, who doesn't have 10 minutes to spare? I've actually started trying to get into the habit of doing it in the morning and again at night, but that's only happened a couple times so far.

Fitness Faves: Jan 2016 | Alexandra Adams

Workout clothes I actually like wearing

This is so key for motivating me to actually get my butt to the gym. It's like buying a new outfit and wanting to run into everyone you know the first time you wear it. Cute workout gear totally helps my state of mind when working out, too. You look good, you feel good.

Fitness Faves: Jan 2016 | Alexandra Adams

Dumbbells

These little guys are my best friends. Okay, not really, but I do use them all the time! It's so easy to add them to lunges, wall sits, and any other exercise you want to make a little more challenging for yourself.

Yoga

I have to admit, I'm not totally on board the yoga train yet, but I'm working on it! I'd like to be good at yoga, so I'm trying to work it in a couple times a week. I'm loving Yoga with Adriene lately, if only because I don't get embarrassed when I'm doing something wrong since I'm by myself!

How well are you sticking to your resolutions this year? What are some of your fitness faves this month?

January 25, 2016No Comments

Cozy & Snowy Winter Party

I'm sure you've heard by now that we got so. much. snow. over here on the east coast! I love snow so much, and watching it fall for basically two full days was amazing. And when two and a half feet of snow is covering everything outside, snuggling up in sweaters with some hot chocolate is basically required.

These sweet treats are perfect for a snow day spent inside with some friends before (or after!) traipsing out to play in the snow. And with the colors, you could totally transform this into an early Valentine's celebration.

Cozy & Snowy Winter Party | X Height Ment

Cozy & Snowy Winter Party | X Height Ment

Cozy & Snowy Winter Party | X Height Ment

Chocolate chip cookies are a must. I probably ate five of them by the time the day was over! They're the perfect all-occasion treat. And rice krispie treats are the same way—just change the sprinkles to fit the theme of the party.

Cozy & Snowy Winter Party | X Height Ment

Cozy & Snowy Winter Party | X Height Ment

Hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows is another obvious choice for a snowy get-together. Make a large batch in a crock pot if you're making it for a larger group! Muddy buddies (also known as puppy chow) are also a great snack for everyone to munch on throughout the party.

Cozy & Snowy Winter Party | X Height Ment

Cozy & Snowy Winter Party | X Height Ment

Break out the board games! I love using Scrabble tiles to add cute decorations, but by then you've already pulled the game out...so you might as well play, right?! Having several games is also great to help split up a big group into smaller ones if you need to.

Cozy & Snowy Winter Party | X Height Ment

Cozy & Snowy Winter Party | X Height Ment

Cozy & Snowy Winter Party | X Height Ment

How do you like to spend your snow days?

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