tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54285703500028346572024-03-16T11:52:57.233-07:00aka Baileyaka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.comBlogger415125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-17267022545169238042015-05-29T11:59:00.000-07:002016-09-22T05:52:03.114-07:00Nails and a WHOLE LOTTA RandomYeah, yeah - it's been another *cough* <i>several</i> days since I last blogged. Are you picking up on a new trend? Well, don't fret. (Surely, you were fretting.) I'm not abandoning ship altogether, just only blogging when I get the urge. The urge has become more sporadic in the last couple of months, admittedly, but this little internet space of mine means a bit too much for me to just cut it off completely. <br />
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Sidebar, who else actually learned the word "sporadic" from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOS04eZ0Xmo" target="_blank"><b>Alicia Silverstone</b></a> back in 1995? G'wan. Admit it. <br />
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Today's blog is going to be a bit of a "life lately" word vomit, disguised as a nail polish post. Ready?<br />
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These nails were super spontaneous and weren't inspired by a single thing other than the color blue:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T8GrSEqRT8k/VWiv2N7Kn-I/AAAAAAAAJG0/SGL9vsK15_I/s1600/DSC08226edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sally Hansen Pacific Blue with Lapiz of Luxury Accent nail" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T8GrSEqRT8k/VWiv2N7Kn-I/AAAAAAAAJG0/SGL9vsK15_I/s640/DSC08226edited.JPG" title="Sally Hansen Pacific Blue with Lapiz of Luxury Accent nail" width="640" /></a></div>
The bright blue, if you didn't already know by looking at it, is Pacific Blue by Sally Hansen - one of the most badass nail polish colors in the land. It's electric (boogie woogie woogie). My ring finger has 2 coats of Essie's Lapiz of Luxury topped with one coat of Green Tea by LA Colors. Green Tea is a really pretty mint-sparkle polish, but it's suuuuper sheer, so it's basically useless on its own. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4i8ss1qN6_w/VWiv2Je76gI/AAAAAAAAJG4/HqK9h1zrRsM/s1600/DSC08236edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Essie Lapiz of Luxury, Sally Hansen Pacific Blue, nail polish, bright blue" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4i8ss1qN6_w/VWiv2Je76gI/AAAAAAAAJG4/HqK9h1zrRsM/s640/DSC08236edited.JPG" title="Essie Lapiz of Luxury, Sally Hansen Pacific Blue, nail polish, bright blue" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IPJ6bzkYHao/VWiv2I_lHcI/AAAAAAAAJGs/vwcGQUIrCVo/s1600/DSC08233edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sally Hansen Pacific Blue with Lapiz of Luxury Accent nail" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IPJ6bzkYHao/VWiv2I_lHcI/AAAAAAAAJGs/vwcGQUIrCVo/s640/DSC08233edited.JPG" title="Sally Hansen Pacific Blue with Lapiz of Luxury Accent nail" width="640" /></a></div>
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If you follow me on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/akabaileyblog" target="_blank"><b>Instagram</b></a>, you may have noticed that I spent last week in Charleston, SC visiting my friend Simmons. Since my job allows me to work remotely, we were able to hang out for the week without either one of us taking any time off from work. We got in some great beach time at <a href="https://instagram.com/p/24MCXVkUls/?taken-by=akabaileyblog" target="_blank"><b>Folly Beach</b></a>, and I got to meet his friends and check out downtown Charleston (which is adorable and packed with people at this time of year). <br />
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Random Folly story: A dude at one of the bars there told me I was his dream woman (specifically my freckles and nose ring), and then later actually said, "I'm a sailor and I sail out tomorrow. Can I have a kiss?" I was all, WTF? No. And does that actually work on people? He probably wasn't even a sailor. He probably just knew a guy who owned a pontoon boat. Is this seriously what the singles scene is like these days, people? FML.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2cTgSpOISjc/VWdBG1-FXuI/AAAAAAAAJGY/IZwNo80mYQs/s1600/follybeach.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pier on Folly Beach, South Carolina" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2cTgSpOISjc/VWdBG1-FXuI/AAAAAAAAJGY/IZwNo80mYQs/s640/follybeach.JPG" title="Pier on Folly Beach, South Carolina" width="640" /></a></div>
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On Memorial Day, I spent my day off <a href="http://www.paddleboston.com/main.php" target="_blank"><b>kayaking on the Charles River</b></a>, stopping by <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/2015/05/22/honoring-the-fallen-flags-are-back-the-common/XL3nh6vhRSqqw9BeE9RV0N/story.html" target="_blank"><b>the display</b></a> of <a href="https://instagram.com/p/3Hwpi4EUnw/?taken-by=akabaileyblog" target="_blank"><b>37,000 American flags</b></a> in Boston Common, eating froyo from <a href="http://www.orangeleafyogurt.com/" target="_blank"><b>Orange Leaf</b></a>, binge shopping at TJ Maxx (got two new summer dresses!), and capping things off with some Chipotle for dinner. Successful day? I dunno. Sure.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X_XmuuzJV2A/VWc_S4mbG-I/AAAAAAAAJGM/xVsgJbeecp4/s1600/37000flags.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="37000 American flags in Boston Common, Memorial Day 2015" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X_XmuuzJV2A/VWc_S4mbG-I/AAAAAAAAJGM/xVsgJbeecp4/s640/37000flags.JPG" title="37000 American flags in Boston Common, Memorial Day 2015" width="636" /></a></div>
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In other news completely, those five workout videos I filmed for the website I manage have now all been made live, and I've now gotten up the nerve to share them here in this blog. Watch them if you want to. Even better, give them a thumbs up or share them or leave a comment. A nice comment, not a troll comment. You can keep those. <br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN71xzrz3vE" target="_blank"><b>Intense TRX Interval for Your Core</b></a></li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCg0s39VoPM" target="_blank">Perfect Upper Body Sculpt</a> </b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGzg1oBihvw" target="_blank">Tone Your Abs & Back with One Sizzling Exercise</a> </b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgHlX0KOKlQ" target="_blank">Fat Blasting Leg Workout</a> </b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X0vHo-FzMQ" target="_blank">Strengthen Your Abs FAST</a> </b></li>
</ul>
The pool at my apartment building opened up, so I've been spending some time out there, tryna catch a tannnn. But a <i>sensible </i>tan, because I've been applying sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) like a good girl and do not intend to get a sunburn this year. Skin cancer is common as shit and in most cases preventable, so allow me to remind you: Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. SPF = BFF.<br />
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On Tuesday night I went to a <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/fashionably-featured-tickets-16742355837" target="_blank"><b>Fashionably Featured</b></a> party on the roof deck of the <a href="http://www.reverehotel.com/#index" target="_blank"><b>Revere Hotel</b></a> in downtown Boston. It was honestly just a reason to get dressed up and wear one of the pairs of heels that are sitting in my closet, not getting enough play.<br />
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Speaking of playing in heels, I have two more reasons to get dressed up this weekend: My good friend April has a bridal shower tomorrow on Cape Cod, and my friend Linden is getting married in Pittsfield on Sunday. I'm going to dash across the state from one to the other, so lots of driving for me in the next couple of days! Good thing I just brought my car in for an oil change the other day... and came out $300+ later with a new muffler, too. Funny how that happens, innit?<br />
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Alright that should suffice for life updates for now. I have written a large amount of my Panama blog, but haven't finished it yet. Maybe that'll be my next trick!<br />
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Hope you guys have a great weekend - PEAAAAAAAACE.<br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-1502389914579946482015-05-15T07:32:00.001-07:002015-05-15T09:15:16.206-07:00SUP??! Nails 'n Other ThingsIt's been quiet around here this month... and that's primarily because I haven't felt like blogging. Simple as that, haha! Hey, it's my blog, I'll ignore it when I want to.<br />
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Normally even when I'm being neglectful of my blog, I still manage to put up a nail polish post every Friday. Well I have also become quite lax with that, as you can see. Lack of inspiration plus tired cuticles have left my nails looking like the red-headed step child of my hands. This week, however, inspiration suddenly struck, and I bounded to my nail polish box to pick out some colors. Then <a href="http://instagram.com/p/2jMAP-EUgJ/" target="_blank"><b>this</b></a> happened:<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5_YDGDv_WMQ/VVX0nKbjHOI/AAAAAAAAJFY/mIcA4qWdl00/s1600/nailpolishsplatter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Green nail polish bottle, shattered and splattered!" border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5_YDGDv_WMQ/VVX0nKbjHOI/AAAAAAAAJFY/mIcA4qWdl00/s640/nailpolishsplatter.JPG" title="Green nail polish bottle, shattered and splattered!" width="636" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">. shattered and splattered .</td></tr>
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Ugh. My pent-up nail polish excitement got the better of me, apparently. I spent over 2 hours cleaning up the glass shards and green polish splatter of that mess. And it was a bottle of Sinful Colors <a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2015/03/bright-spring-pastels-and-scattered-dot.html" target="_blank"><b>Mint Apple</b></a>, to boot - one of my absolute favorite greens. #Balls.<br />
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Irked, but not unbowed, I decided to press onwards with getting a nail polish post up this week and seeing my inspiration to fruition. Here's what I finally ended up with: <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OlgbIB6kCeA/VVU525WHa_I/AAAAAAAAJEY/ViZuk-nyZwg/s1600/DSC08211edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mint nails with green and pink polka dot accents" border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OlgbIB6kCeA/VVU525WHa_I/AAAAAAAAJEY/ViZuk-nyZwg/s640/DSC08211edited.JPG" title="Mint nails with green and pink polka dot accents" width="640" /></a></div>
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Two of the polishes used in today's post are brand new as of yesterday. My intention at CVS was to replace an old bottle of Essie's Turquoise & Caicos, but once I was there in front of the display Mint Candy Apple was suddenly the more appealing shade to me. And so a game-time decision was made, and the mint won out over the turquoise. (Interestingly, it had absolutely nothing to do with the Sinful Colors Mint Apple that had met such an untimely demise earlier in the week. Nothing at all. It appears these nail polish companies are just terribly un-clever when it comes to naming their light greens.)</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mzUatvP3gYY/VVU522dcXNI/AAAAAAAAJEc/oyF_3-ECT9M/s1600/DSC08207edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Essie Mod Square, NYC High Line Green, Essie Mint Candy Apple, Sinful Colors Snow Me White" border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mzUatvP3gYY/VVU522dcXNI/AAAAAAAAJEc/oyF_3-ECT9M/s640/DSC08207edited.JPG" title="Essie Mod Square, NYC High Line Green, Essie Mint Candy Apple, Sinful Colors Snow Me White" width="640" /></a> The other new polish I picked up is Essie's Mod Square - a strawberry-bubblegum sort of hot pink, free of any shimmer or iridescence. Together, Mint Candy Apple and Mod Square look BEAUTIFUL. A perfect summer pairing.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TR1H4RvD0CA/VVU523PlP0I/AAAAAAAAJEg/mSU5j5dUdeU/s1600/DSC08215edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Essie Mint Candy Apple, with bright green and hot pink polka dot accent nails, perfect summer nails" border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TR1H4RvD0CA/VVU523PlP0I/AAAAAAAAJEg/mSU5j5dUdeU/s640/DSC08215edited.JPG" title="Essie Mint Candy Apple, with bright green and hot pink polka dot accent nails, perfect summer nails" width="640" /></a></div>
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I used 2 coats of Mint Candy Apple on my thumb, pointer and pinky nails. My middle finger has 2 coats of NYC's High Line Green, and my ring finger has 2 coats of Sinful Color's Snow Me White, topped with polka dots of Mod Square.<br />
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Besides already peeling off every single one of the above-pictured nails in record time, here are a few other things I've been up to since you last heard from me:<br />
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<li>Lots of gym time (though, sorry, no <a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/search/label/workout" target="_blank"><b>workout blogs</b></a>... mreh)</li>
<li>Checked out the opening day of the <b><a href="http://sowasundays.com/" target="_blank">SoWa Open Market</a></b> in Boston's South End neighborhood, which runs every Sunday from now till October</li>
<li>Went out for tacos and mojitos on Cinco de Mayo with Kara and her boyfriend Kyle</li>
<li>Dined out at some good restaurants around Cambridge (including <b><a href="http://thefriendlytoast.com/locations/cambridge/" target="_blank">The Friendly Toast</a></b> and <b><a href="http://firebrandsaints.com/" target="_blank">Firebrand Saints</a></b>)</li>
<li>Kayaked on The Charles River with my friends (I subsequently purchased a season pass at a great discount with a Groupon)</li>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Lm7WC_mTXo/VVU9chmaw7I/AAAAAAAAJE8/9zhmdaEmwUk/s1600/KayakingCharlesRiver.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Lm7WC_mTXo/VVU9chmaw7I/AAAAAAAAJE8/9zhmdaEmwUk/s640/KayakingCharlesRiver.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<li>Quick trip home to Pittsfield to surprise my mom for Mother's Day and visit the rest of my family</li>
<li>Caught up on the Game of Thrones episodes I missed while in Panama, as well as the latest episode</li>
<li>Took a 1-hour free trial boxing class at <a href="http://www.ringboxingclub.com/" target="_blank"><b>The Ring Boxing Club</b></a> in Boston (SUCH a good workout - I was absolutely drenched in sweat)</li>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3qMXkgoN8Ok/VVU8pFVb6OI/AAAAAAAAJE0/YgUlNlyvOHo/s1600/10426278_855742034473265_804582039664465152_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Taking a trial boxing class at The Ring Boxing Club in Boston" border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3qMXkgoN8Ok/VVU8pFVb6OI/AAAAAAAAJE0/YgUlNlyvOHo/s640/10426278_855742034473265_804582039664465152_n.jpg" title="Taking a trial boxing class at The Ring Boxing Club in Boston" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/142680095779466/photos/a.852122994835169.1073741897.142680095779466/855742034473265/" target="_blank">source</a> .</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li>Attended my first <a href="http://pilateswithhanneke.com/schedule" target="_blank"><b>Pilates & Yoga on the Hill</b></a> at the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown (Kara and I went on a yoga night)</li>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oW3uirO1omg/VVU9cjhiBJI/AAAAAAAAJFA/HFZVUfqy5Uo/s1600/BunkerHillMonument.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown, MA" border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oW3uirO1omg/VVU9cjhiBJI/AAAAAAAAJFA/HFZVUfqy5Uo/s640/BunkerHillMonument.png" title="Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown, MA" width="640" /></a></div>
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I suppose I've also been eating a fair amount of ice cream sandwiches, if I'm being totally honest. And binge shopping. Whoops?<br />
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So that's what's up and what's on my nails, all in one fell swoop. I hope it was worth the wait.<br />
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What are you rocking on your nails this week?<br />
Have you picked up any new polishes lately?<br />
What's the most exciting thing you've done/eaten/heard/seen in the last few weeks?!<br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-3353528366727837462015-05-01T05:30:00.000-07:002015-05-01T06:32:58.617-07:00Craft Club #5: Floral ArrangementsGoodness, I almost forgot to post a recap of Craft Club #5!!!! WHAT IN THE HELL WAS I THINKING?! *Slaps self on the wrist*..... *Immediately thinks of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slap_bracelet" target="_blank"><b>slap bracelets</b></a>*.... *giggs*<br />
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First of all, yes - I'm back from my trip to Panama, and YES - it was AMAZEBALLS. I've still been getting back into "non-vacation mode" brain, which means I haven't even bothered blogging about any of it yet or editing pictures. I'll get to it, obviously. And when I do - I suspect you'll know about it.<br />
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Anyway, back to Craft Club. In late March, my friend Kim hosted our monthly craft seshhhh, and this time we were learning some basics about floral arrangements! <b>Fun bonus fact: </b>Kim was super preggers at the time, but she has since given birth to a bouncing baby boy named Benjamin. I haven't officially met him yet, but I assume he's the best.<br />
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Joined at Kim's house by Abby, Jenna, and Anna, we spent a late weekend morning/early afternoon munching on brunch foods, gabbing, and arranging beautiful flowers into glass vases.<br />
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Kim had prepped for the day by purchasing a ton of flowers - blue and white hydrangeas, cream, yellow and pink roses, green and white mums, and hypericums for accents. She also happened to have about a million spare glass vases around her home, thanks to her wedding last summer! <a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2013/01/micro-greens-small-changes-we-can-all.html" target="_blank"><b>#Recycle</b></a>.<br />
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Admittedly, we spent most of the time chatting and eating. The food spread for the day was spot-on: fruit salad, 2 different types of homemade quiche, donuts, Waldorf salad... mmm!<br />
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A couple of the tricks/tips that Kim taught us...<br />
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1. Arranging flowers in 3's (triangles) makes the overall look balanced, rather than rigidly symmetrical. For example, the pink roses in the below pic are forming a triangle (even though the one in the upper right is hiding a bit!):<br />
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2. Don't be afraid to wind/weave the stems of flowers into each other. You don't need them each to stand up beside each other like soldiers. LET THEM MINGLE!<br />
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Here are all of the finished arrangements from the day.... though I can't for the life of me remember whose is whose! Mine is the only one I know for sure - it's the top-center in this picture:<br />
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Another successful Craft Club with good food, good friends, good conversation, and good creativity! I believe the next one will involve drawing/coloring/picnicking out by the Charles River in Cambridge, and I am very much looking forward to it!<br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-26000449601719114492015-04-17T05:30:00.000-07:002015-04-17T09:43:17.640-07:00Pre-Panama Neon Pastel NailsThere's really just no time for chit-chat today, so we're jumping RIGHT INTO THIS THING. Friday. Nails. Possible polka dot sightings. You know the drill.<br />
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Oh, look, yup. We got some polka dots after all. Shocking!! The color combo here was inspired by <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9rAzMbgWfo" target="_blank"><b>this</b></a> Ingrid Nilsen video on YouTube...<br />
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Her neon-pastel-minty shirt with neon yellow details, paired with the hot pink lipstick AND the pastel-minty-turquoise nails?! It was all so much for me to take in. I had to make it a mani!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">. notice that i still haven't cleaned off this mint bottle of polish after the august 2014 <a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2014/08/life-this-week-unpacking-friendshipping.html" target="_blank"><b>moving incident</b></a> .</td></tr>
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I used 2 coats of Love & Beauty Mint on my pinky, middle and pointer fingers, and 2 coats of Revlon's Fuchsia Fever on my thumb and ring fingers. I used Sally Hansen's Mellow Yellow and a dotting tool for the polka dots. <br />
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Like it? I HEWPE SEW.<br />
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Alright, with that out of the way, I've gotta go... lots to do!! Besides needing to work all day today, I have a dental cleaning this morning, plus there's still packing to complete for my trip to Panamaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! AHHHH. By this time tomorrow, I'll be en route! #Buggin. I'm still preparing, mentally and <a href="http://instagram.com/p/1i5Lv3kUuz/?taken-by=akabaileyblog" target="_blank"><b>physically</b></a>. <br />
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Wish me luck - and send me your sunniest vibes because the weather in Panama is nawwwt looking so hawwwt for the next week haha! I'll be damned if a little bit of "all-day thunderstorms" keeps me from getting into a bikini, though. <br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-52974985975414938082015-04-15T12:25:00.000-07:002015-04-16T12:46:26.850-07:00Exploring Middlesex Fells ReservationOver the last few weeks, the Boston area has really started to feel like Spring is springinnnn'. More and more, we're getting beautiful days with clear blue skies that absolutely demand my presence outdoors.<br />
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I've got to be honest, coming from all of the natural splendor of Vancouver back to Massachusetts last summer was not the biggest upgrade, scenery-wise. I needed a reminder about how nice it can be to head out into the woods on a sunny spring day in New England. Hence, my recent maiden trip into <a href="http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks/region-north/middlesex-fells-reservation.html" target="_blank"><b>Middlesex Fells Reservation</b></a> - a 2,200+ acre park just north of Boston full of trails suitable for hiking, biking, horseback riding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and general outdoor merriment.<br />
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The Fells, as it's locally known, is one of the "right in my own backyard" points of interest that I'd been meaning to explore, with some of the trailheads as close as a 10-minute drive away. On this particular Sunday in late March, I randomly chose as my starting point the Sheepfold Meadow - a 10-acre field that's actually used primarily as an off-leash haven for dogs of all sizes (and their fleshy parents).<br />
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The Sheepfold is located in the town of Stoneham, along the southwest edge of Spot Pond...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g-VlAiNPL8c/VS6zpjqGVPI/AAAAAAAAJBs/lT2RKFE7hj4/s1600/MiddlesexFellsReservation.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Middlesex Fells Reservation, Stoneham, MA" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g-VlAiNPL8c/VS6zpjqGVPI/AAAAAAAAJBs/lT2RKFE7hj4/s1600/MiddlesexFellsReservation.JPG" height="465" title="Middlesex Fells Reservation, Stoneham, MA" width="640" /></a></div>
... and it's funny that I ended up there, since I'm not - how you say? - <i>into </i>dogs, so much. (Please see point #33 on <a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.ca/2013/06/50-random-facts-about-me-blog-tag.html" target="_blank"><b>this blog</b></a> if you have anything sassy to say about that.) But if you head away from the meadow and into the woods, you can leave most of the dogs behind and catch up with a number of trails.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b_nsxZE88s0/VSxYigVk_OI/AAAAAAAAJAw/-7FRP96D9NU/s1600/DSC07850edited.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Into the woods at Middlesex Fells Reservation, Stoneham, MA" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b_nsxZE88s0/VSxYigVk_OI/AAAAAAAAJAw/-7FRP96D9NU/s1600/DSC07850edited.JPG" height="480" title="Into the woods at Middlesex Fells Reservation, Stoneham, MA" width="640" /></a> </div>
Walking north from the meadow, I followed no particular trail - just kept my wits about me and remembered which direction I was walking.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bMivYdLj9oY/VSxYi5MJRqI/AAAAAAAAJAs/zzjz0TO7-p4/s1600/DSC07851edited.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trails through the woods in Middlesex Fells Reservation, Stoneham, MAa" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bMivYdLj9oY/VSxYi5MJRqI/AAAAAAAAJAs/zzjz0TO7-p4/s1600/DSC07851edited.JPG" height="480" title="Trails through the woods in Middlesex Fells Reservation, Stoneham, MAa" width="640" /></a> <br />
The woods were quiet, aside from the occasional dog barking in the distance. There was still snow covering most of the ground, but patches of forest floor were starting to fight through in some spots.<br />
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The blue sky was the big star of the day... I spent a good amount of time looking up.<br />
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I followed my random trail for a little while before turning around and heading back in the direction I came. (I wasn't familiar enough with the trail network to be attempting to create trail loops for myself off the cuff.) Fortunately, on the way back to my car I noticed there were some trail maps available beside the parking lot, so I grabbed one for the next time.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E87S7dcuabc/VSxYjQPk3RI/AAAAAAAAJA8/Qkyz6-tusGI/s1600/DSC07866edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Twisted branches against a blue sky in Middlesex Fells Reservation" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E87S7dcuabc/VSxYjQPk3RI/AAAAAAAAJA8/Qkyz6-tusGI/s1600/DSC07866edited.JPG" height="480" title="Twisted branches against a blue sky in Middlesex Fells Reservation" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K3wRQBHSCAM/VSxYj1N2IrI/AAAAAAAAJBE/E1JJKUP24aI/s1600/DSC07867edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sheepfold Meadown, Middlesex Fells Reservation" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K3wRQBHSCAM/VSxYj1N2IrI/AAAAAAAAJBE/E1JJKUP24aI/s1600/DSC07867edited.JPG" height="480" title="Sheepfold Meadown, Middlesex Fells Reservation" width="640" /></a></div>
There are sooo many trails in Middlesex Fells Reservation that I'm <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=finna" target="_blank"><b>finna</b></a> grab a friend or two and go back there soon to do some more exploring - especially with all these nice days we're finally seeing.<br />
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Speaking of nice days... this week I've been packing/prepping for Panama, which accounts for some of the quietness on my blog. I don't expect to post anything while I'm away, soooo if <a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>aka Bailey</b></a> goes utterly silent, just take it as an indication of the good times I'm having down in Central America. I'll probably still be checking in on <a href="http://instagram.com/akabaileyblog" target="_blank"><b>Instagram</b></a> or <a href="http://www.twitter.com/akabailey" target="_blank"><b>Twitter</b></a>, if you want to come say hi to me there!<br />
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But don't miss me yet, because there'll still be a nail polish post coming on Friday, inspired by a shirt/nails/lipstick combination that I saw in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9rAzMbgWfo" target="_blank"><b>this</b></a> Ingrid Nilsen YouTube video!<br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-27582915292338167062015-04-10T05:54:00.000-07:002015-04-10T10:58:18.127-07:00Remembering Lilacs, Playing with Purples, Game of Thrones, and More!I'm not an <i>enormous </i>fan of the color purple. Well, I mean, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Color_Purple" target="_blank"><b>book</b></a> was fantastic, but the color itself never seems to be one of my go-to's. Something about springtime, however, makes me rethink all of that.<br />
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In the springtime, purple makes me recall the beautiful lilac bush that stood in the front yard of my grandparents' house for most of my life - and how you couldn't walk near it in the spring without your nostrils being completely filled with the fragrance of the blossoms. To this day, I have a special place in my heart for lilacs because of the childhood memories they evoke. <br />
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So when I spotted some lilacs over the Easter weekend, I knew I wanted to run with that theme and do a purple mani this week with lots of different purple hues - starting with Lacy Lilac by Sally Hansen as the lightest hue.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X6oWi8K4III/VScNVG6jTyI/AAAAAAAAJAM/GyzsWLIkeb8/s1600/DSC07907edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Multi colored purple nails with a silver glitter accent" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X6oWi8K4III/VScNVG6jTyI/AAAAAAAAJAM/GyzsWLIkeb8/s1600/DSC07907edited.jpg" height="640" title="Multi colored purple nails with a silver glitter accent" width="640" /></a></div>
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Using 2 coats of each, I applied: Sally Hansen Lacey Lilac (pinky), Revlon Diamond Texture (ring), Love & Beauty Orchid (middle), Sally Hansen Royal Romance (pointer) , Sinful Colors Amethyst (thumb).<br />
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The result might have had a more prominent gradient effect had I not thrown in a random silver accent nail, but these are the lessons we learn in retrospect, hm? We'll be alright.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PwvS5KTaOfQ/VScNVE1d5SI/AAAAAAAAJAQ/B77OK_f65go/s1600/DSC07895edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img alt="Purple nail polishes with a silver glitter accent nail" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PwvS5KTaOfQ/VScNVE1d5SI/AAAAAAAAJAQ/B77OK_f65go/s1600/DSC07895edited.JPG" height="640" title="Purple nail polishes with a silver glitter accent nail" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Elsewhere in my life, I've been doing some very serious binge-watching of <i>Game of Thrones</i>. And by "very serious," I mean that I started watching Season 1 in mid-February, watched about one episode a night of all four available seasons, <i>then immediately went back </i>and started watching the show again from Season 1, often watching more than one episode a night - until just completing Season 4 for the second time last night. <br />
<br />
So. <a href="http://youtu.be/XGkyviEadQU?t=27s" target="_blank"><b>I guess you could say things are getting pretty serious.</b></a> Season 5 premieres on Sunday night, so you know you can catch me up in front of someone's TV like:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://cdn3.teen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/world-without-books-gifs-tv.gif" height="287" width="400" /></div>
<br />
This week, I've been waiting out a very-rare-for-me cold, featuring your boys Sneeze, Mucus and Cough. It's kept me from going to the gym, since I know how much of a disgusting trap it can feel like when you're working out while someone near you is wet-coughing. (Fecking gross, guys. Keep your ass home with all of that.) Aside from not being able to workout, the cold isn't actually bothering me too terribly much, if I'm being honest. I've been drinking a ton of lemon honey tea and wearing lots of cozy sweatshirts, which has been just lovely. Plus all of the coughing I'm doing is probably doubling as a marathon core workout. <br />
<br />
Tonight I'm meeting up with my cousin Catherine to eat pizza while we plan out our upcoming trip to Panama. I cannot cannot <i>cannottttttttt </i>believe it, but we are leaving <b>NEXT</b> Saturday. I have so many feels about it all. I'm super nervous, because I've never been to a place so different from the US. (The only other country I've ever been to is <a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/search/label/vancouver" target="_blank"><b>Canada</b></a>.) But on the other hand... I'm super excited because I've never been to a place so different from the US! It will be an adventure no matter what - and that's something we can all use in our lives.With any luck, it will also be a warm, sunny adventure wherein I also acquire some tasteful, but not painful, color on my fair skin. SPF 40? SPF 30? I DUNNO, IVE NEVER BEEN SO CLOSE TO THE EQUATOR BEFORE! HALP.<br />
<br />
Have any awesome Central America travel tips to share?<br />
Who else is a <i>Game of Thrones </i>fan? Who's your favorite character?<br />
Whatcha rockin' on dose nails doe?<br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-77037439373518478702015-04-06T10:06:00.001-07:002015-04-06T13:30:21.935-07:00My Workouts of the WeekI didn't post a workout blog last weekend because I'd only gone to the gym twice, due to my <a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2015/03/peace-out-wisdom-tooth-2.html" target="_blank"><b>wisdom tooth extraction</b></a>. I combined those two workouts into this round-up, so this is actually a "Workouts of the Last 2 Weeks" blog. It would have been posted yesterday but there was much Eastering going on, so there wasn't much time to post a blog.<br />
<br />
LEGGO!<br />
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0W7A-p2-bPo/VR_ipnDNWpI/AAAAAAAAI_k/SCQw9mK6r6I/s1600/fishtail_workout.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Fishtail braid" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0W7A-p2-bPo/VR_ipnDNWpI/AAAAAAAAI_k/SCQw9mK6r6I/s1600/fishtail_workout.JPG" height="318" title="Fishtail braid" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">. fishtailing for the gym .</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>3/26 (core)</b></div>
<div>
<div class="p1">
5 mins elliptical</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 30 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/vsit-w-dumbbellstwist" target="_blank">v-sit twists</a></b>, holding 15 lb dumbbell</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbUVrpxxT1s" target="_blank">dynamic side planks</a></b> each side</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/ZQah0C0PPUc?t=1m24s" target="_blank">lying overhead raise + double crunch</a></b>, holding 7.5 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 30 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/GauSAPrCRJA?t=1m43s" target="_blank">cobras</a></b></div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/crunches-on-exercise-ball-w-dumbbell" target="_blank">crunches on exercise ball</a></b>, holding 15 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 10 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/plank-pike-up">plank pike up on exercise ball</a></b></div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 30 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/GauSAPrCRJA?t=3m18s" target="_blank">Brazilian crunches</a></b></div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 10 <a href="http://www.diet.com/videos/play/russian-abs-exercise-upper-body-ab-workout" target="_blank"><b>Russian get-ups</b></a> (no weight)</div>
<div class="p1">
1:05 plank</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>3/27 (upper body)</b></div>
<div class="p3">
5 mins elliptical</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 10 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/deltoid-fly" target="_blank">deltoid flys</a></b>, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 10 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/deltoid-raise" target="_blank">deltoid raises</a></b>, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 20 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/dfQ-yKbc8fM?t=3m4s" target="_blank">alternating chest flys</a></b> on exercise ball, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 10 <a href="http://www.physicalfitnet.com/exercise_video/rear_shoulder_dumbbell_row_on_stability_ball.aspx" target="_blank"><b>rear shoulder dumbbell rows</b></a> on exercise ball, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 10 <b><a href="http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/exercises.asp?exercise=47" target="_blank">overhead press</a></b>, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 10 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/chest-press-w-exercise-ball" target="_blank">chest press</a></b> on exercise ball, 15 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 10 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/bent-over-row" target="_blank">bent over rows</a></b>, 15 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 10 <a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/close-grip-chest-press" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">close grip chest press</a>, 15 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 13 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEb-dwU3VF4" target="_blank">lat pulldowns</a></b>, 37.5 lbs</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 13 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNUztYbC0G0" target="_blank">seated rows</a></b>, 37.5 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
10 pushups</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>3/29 (lower body)</b></div>
<div class="p1">
5 mins elliptical</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 35 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/weighted-calf-raises" target="_blank">calf raises</a></b>, 17.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZkgopVBPMg" target="_blank">leg lifts from side plank</a></b>, each leg</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/deadlift-w-dumbbells" target="_blank">deadlifts</a></b>,17.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 35 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/modified-side-lunge" target="_blank">side lunges</a></b> + plyometric pushoff</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 12 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/single-leg-deadlift">single leg deadlifts</a></b> each leg, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>3/30 (core)</b></div>
<div class="p1">
5 mins elliptical</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 35 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/GauSAPrCRJA?t=3m18s" target="_blank">Brazilian crunches</a></b></div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 35 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/crunches-on-exercise-ball-w-dumbbell" target="_blank">crunches on exercise ball</a></b>, holding 15 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 12 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/plank-pike-up">plank pike up on exercise ball</a></b></div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 35 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/vsit-w-dumbbellstwist" target="_blank">v-sit twists</a></b>, holding 15 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 35 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/GauSAPrCRJA?t=1m43s" target="_blank">cobras</a></b></div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 20 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/ZQah0C0PPUc?t=1m24s" target="_blank">lying overhead raise + double crunch</a></b>, holding 5 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbUVrpxxT1s" target="_blank">dynamic side planks</a></b> each side</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 12 <a href="http://www.diet.com/videos/play/russian-abs-exercise-upper-body-ab-workout" target="_blank"><b>Russian get-ups</b></a> holding 5 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 25 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/reverse-crunch-w-leg-lifts" target="_blank">leg raises + reverse crunch</a></b></div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
<b>3/31 (upper body)</b></div>
<div class="p1">
3:15 jumping jacks</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 11 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/deltoid-fly" target="_blank">deltoid flys</a></b>, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 11 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/deltoid-raise" target="_blank">deltoid raises</a></b>, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 22 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/dfQ-yKbc8fM?t=3m4s" target="_blank">alternating chest flys</a></b> on exercise ball, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 11 <b><a href="http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/exercises.asp?exercise=47" target="_blank">overhead press</a></b>, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 11 <a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/tricep-kickbacks" target="_blank"><b>tricep kickbacks</b></a>, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 13 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNUztYbC0G0" target="_blank">seated rows</a></b>, 37.5 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 11 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/chest-press-w-exercise-ball" target="_blank">chest press</a></b> on exercise ball, 15 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 11 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/bent-over-row" target="_blank">bent over rows</a></b>, 15 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 11 <a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/close-grip-chest-press" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">close grip chest press</a> on exercise ball, 15 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 13 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEb-dwU3VF4" target="_blank">lat pulldowns</a></b>, 37.5 lbs</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>4/1 (cardio)</b></div>
<div class="p1">
45 mins hiking on treadmill</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>4/2 (full body)</b></div>
<div class="p1">
45-minutes Vinyasa Yoga</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<div>
<b>4/3 (lower body)</b><br />
3:15 jumping jacks<br />
3x: 35 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/weighted-calf-raises" target="_blank">calf raises</a></b>, 17.5 lbs each hand<br />
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZkgopVBPMg" target="_blank">leg lifts from side plank</a></b>, each leg<br />
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/deadlift-w-dumbbells" target="_blank">deadlifts</a></b>, 17.5 lbs each hand<br />
3x: 35 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/modified-side-lunge" target="_blank">side lunges</a></b> + plyometric push-off<br />
3x: 12 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/single-leg-deadlift">single leg deadlifts</a></b>, 7.5 lbs each hand<br />
3x: 40 <b><a href="http://fitnessmagazine.com/videos/m/85788123/the-5-minute-butt-workout.htm" target="_blank">diamond clamshells</a></b> each leg<br />
3x: 40 <a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/bridge" target="_blank"><b>bridges</b></a></div>
<div>
<br />
I hope your Easter/Passover weekend was nice! What did the Easter bunny bring you?</div>
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-65200517143355406382015-04-03T11:11:00.000-07:002015-04-03T11:34:37.134-07:00Easy Aqua Spots DotticureGod knows how my mind travels to the places that it does, but after typing the title of this blog post, my brain jumped to the <a href="http://youtu.be/tQ3Eqbhaq3o?t=36s" target="_blank"><b>Snorks</b></a>.<br />
<br />
... so that's just a small glimpse into the random-childhood-pop-culture-references-attuned mass that is my brain. I hope that was exciting for you. Moving on!<br />
<br />
My nails today were inspired by an Instagrammer who I just started following yesterday - <a href="http://instagram.com/cute.passion/" target="_blank"><b>Cute.Passion</b></a>. The dotted nails she did <a href="http://instagram.com/p/0y0GmdwIqv/?taken-by=cute.passion" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a> made me want to do something similar in my own color scheme. HENCE, DEEZ:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dXvAIIUo8qs/VR7P09_uxjI/AAAAAAAAI-0/xz7O4C6qqWk/s1600/DSC07873edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Aqua easy dotticure, nails, nail polish" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dXvAIIUo8qs/VR7P09_uxjI/AAAAAAAAI-0/xz7O4C6qqWk/s1600/DSC07873edited.jpg" height="640" title="Aqua easy dotticure, nails, nail polish" width="640" /></a></div>
The light blue is Dreamer by Revlon, and the turquoise is Bailamos by Orly. I used two coats of each, and added the dual-sized dots using my double-ended dotting tool. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3cbTEAsZue4/VR7P1aWFeAI/AAAAAAAAI-8/OHMYyOmQFbE/s1600/DSC07886edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bailamos by Orly and Dreamer by Revlon, polka dotted nails" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3cbTEAsZue4/VR7P1aWFeAI/AAAAAAAAI-8/OHMYyOmQFbE/s1600/DSC07886edited.JPG" height="640" title="Bailamos by Orly and Dreamer by Revlon, polka dotted nails" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtcfotQKurQ/VR7P0-5621I/AAAAAAAAI-4/McPqr-HFIIw/s1600/DSC07881edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Turquoise nails with light blue accent nails, easy dots" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtcfotQKurQ/VR7P0-5621I/AAAAAAAAI-4/McPqr-HFIIw/s1600/DSC07881edited.JPG" height="640" title="Turquoise nails with light blue accent nails, easy dots" width="640" /></a></div>
Last night I went to my first real yoga class! The only other time I've taken a yoga class was about 5 years ago when I lived on Cape Cod, but it was a "restore & renew" yoga class that focused primarily on breathing and stretching. I didn't even break a sweat, which is why I don't really consider it as a having been a true "first yoga class" experience.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-urklmh7oIzE/VR7P04rHj2I/AAAAAAAAI-w/7g1a9G2-4f0/s1600/DSC07875edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Turquoise nails with light blue accent nails, turquoise dots on the accent nails" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-urklmh7oIzE/VR7P04rHj2I/AAAAAAAAI-w/7g1a9G2-4f0/s1600/DSC07875edited.JPG" height="480" title="Turquoise nails with light blue accent nails, turquoise dots on the accent nails" width="640" /></a></div>
The class I went to last night was a special Vinyasa Yoga class being held at the <a href="http://www.houseofblues.com/boston/" target="_blank"><b>House of Blues</b></a> in Boston, and it was the kind of physical yoga that I'd really been interested in trying. I had no idea what I was doing, but luckily you can kind of pick up the moves just by watching everyone else. My friend Kara came too, and we both really enjoyed it. There were about 15-20 people in the dimly-lit room, and the teacher was awesome. That kind of yoga could really be right up my alley!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wdbgImeUry8/VR7P1ShExyI/AAAAAAAAI_A/TQD1dyp_1kc/s1600/DSC07892edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Turquoise nails with light blue accent nails, turquoise dots on blue nails" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wdbgImeUry8/VR7P1ShExyI/AAAAAAAAI_A/TQD1dyp_1kc/s1600/DSC07892edited.jpg" height="640" title="Turquoise nails with light blue accent nails, turquoise dots on blue nails" width="640" /></a></div>
At some point this weekend I'm going to drive west to Pittsfield to visit with my family for the Easter holiday. We're not religious, but if I can catch my niece and nephew participating in some sort of an Easter egg hunt, then my mission will be complete. Experiences like that are things that I've been missing, having been living away and out of the state for the last several years. <br />
<br />
Are you doing anything with your family for Easter or Passover this weekend?<br />
Anyone else trying out yoga for the first time?<br />
What are yooooou rockin' on your nailseses?!<br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-5110700366959057892015-04-01T09:38:00.000-07:002015-04-02T07:17:46.791-07:00Citizen Cope Acoustic PerformanceLast week the Wilbur Theater sent out a newsletter with a list of upcoming acts, and I was psyched to notice that Citizen Cope was on the list for a March 31st show. I'd never seen him perform before, but am a big fan of <i>The Clarence Greenwood Recordings </i>album, so I bought a ticket pretty quickly and marked my calendar.<br />
<br />
If you're not familiar with his music, Citizen Cope is a mumbling, bluesy/soul/folk/rock/sometimes-hip-hoppy singer/songwriter
with a man-bun and pretty blue eyes. His sound is terribly hard to
define, so you might as well just <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR5ac4ovhxQ&list=PL6MCnSYHtio-KJw_CJMqvWJwikyc2sZph" target="_blank"><b>listen to it for yourself</b></a> and decide if you like it or not.<br />
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None of my friends ended up tagging along, but that didn't end up being a big deal. Going to shows alone CAN be done, people. Do it. My seat was in the same part of the theater as <a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2015/03/no-nail-polish-but-bit-of-ms-lauryn-hill.html" target="_blank"><b>when we saw Lauryn Hill</b></a> a couple weeks ago, but a handful of rows closer to the stage. I arrived and sat down with just about 5 minutes to spare before he came onstage at 8:30. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lZ9FoTmE7yo/VRwcjvY2w2I/AAAAAAAAI-c/0ma-3fF2sHc/s1600/IMG_0329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Citizen Cope performing at Wilbur Theater in Boston, March 31, 2015" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lZ9FoTmE7yo/VRwcjvY2w2I/AAAAAAAAI-c/0ma-3fF2sHc/s1600/IMG_0329.jpg" height="640" title="Citizen Cope performing at Wilbur Theater in Boston, March 31, 2015" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">. his outfit can get it .</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
He played two 45-minute, stripped down, acoustic sets to a very supportive crowd (there was much hooting, hollering, and song-name-calling-out). He soaked it all in incredibly graciously and seemed humbled by the love he was being shown. Also, as indicated by the caption on the above photo, I liked his look. A casual button down, loose olive green pants, beat-up black boots, and a man-pony. Clarence, let's hang out and be super chill together. <br />
<br />
My personal favorites from the night were Sideways (I am a sucker for that song) and Pablo Picaso. There are short video snippets of each on my IG page, <a href="https://instagram.com/p/06iqfJkUha/?taken-by=akabaileyblog" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a> and <a href="https://instagram.com/p/06baI4kUmk/?taken-by=akabaileyblog" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>. WATCH'EM.<br />
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Anyone else a fan of Citizen Cope?<br />
What's your favorite song by him?<br />
Who else has some live music lined up in their near future?? Tell me about it!<br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-56234138255831850432015-03-31T06:35:00.000-07:002015-03-31T06:35:01.090-07:00Solo Day Trip to AmherstWhen this past weekend rolled around and I didn't have any plans to do much of anything, I began contemplating taking a drive out of Boston, just to clear my head and get a change of scenery. Within about twenty minutes of awaking on Saturday morning, I decided I'd like to drive to Amherst, got dressed, filled a water bottle, grabbed my camera (which I didn't really end up using), jumped in my car, scooped some Dunkin Donuts, and hopped onto the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_Turnpike" target="_blank"><b>Mass Pike</b></a> for a 100-minute drive west.<br />
<br />
It wasn't a very nice day for a drive - a mixture of snow and rain - so that put a slight damper on my ability to zone out while driving to ponder life's great questions. Instead, I skillfully maneuvered my Yaris down the wet Pike while singing along with my iPod at the top of my lungs. (Quick random poll: Do you sing while you drive? I only recently realized that not everyone does this, which seems really effing weird to me. Please weigh-in via <a href="http://www.twitter.com/akabailey" target="_blank"><b>Twitter</b></a> or <a href="http://www.facebook.com/akaBaileyBlog" target="_blank"><b>Facebook</b></a>.)<br />
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Arriving in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_Valley" target="_blank"><b>Pioneer Valley</b></a>, my very first stop was <a href="http://www.esselon.com/" target="_blank"><b>Esselon Cafe</b></a>. This was where I had my first post-college job as a server/barista/staff supervisor. I graduated from <a href="http://www.umass.edu/" target="_blank"><b>UMass</b></a> in the spring of 2006 and then floundered a bit for that summer, not knowing where my next step should be. With a whole crop of the-best-effing-friends-in-the-whole-world still finishing up their final year of school at UMass, it wasn't terribly hard for me to decide to move back to Amherst for the fall "semester." There, I found an apartment, scooped the job at Esselon, and then spent the next year working there full-time while pretending I was still in college with my friends.<br />
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When<b> </b>I stopped into the cafe for brunch on Saturday, it was the first time I'd been there in years - but the place hasn't changed a bit (aside from staff turnover). I ordered French toast with strawberry compote and fresh berries, which I enjoyed with a big mug of hot coffee before getting back into my car and beginning the ultimate Amherst-drive-around.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SpcLNsn1uJM/VRms7z3KBkI/AAAAAAAAI9o/2KoJO_OiFuk/s1600/EsselonFrenchToast.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="French Toast from Esselon Cafe in Hadley, MA, brunch food" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SpcLNsn1uJM/VRms7z3KBkI/AAAAAAAAI9o/2KoJO_OiFuk/s1600/EsselonFrenchToast.JPG" title="French Toast from Esselon Cafe in Hadley, MA, brunch food" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">. as seen by all the cool people <a href="https://instagram.com/p/0x6U_dkUhP/?taken-by=akabaileyblog" target="_blank"><b>on my instagram</b></a> .</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For about 2 hours, I wound and wove my way through the streets of Amherst and through every nook and cranny of the UMass campus. So much has changed in town and on-campus since I was a student there. Businesses have closed, moved, changed hands, changed names. A tonnnn of new buildings have sprouted up all over campus, leaving some areas nearly unrecognizable. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7IGFGTNsspU/VRonjlTuawI/AAAAAAAAI-I/JUqtS9KXvDo/s1600/DSC07849edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="UMass Amherst campus pond and view of the library and student union" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7IGFGTNsspU/VRonjlTuawI/AAAAAAAAI-I/JUqtS9KXvDo/s1600/DSC07849edited.JPG" height="480" title="UMass Amherst campus pond and view of the library and student union " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">. campus pond and view of the library and student union .</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I made special trips past a few of my old apartments and dorm buildings, as well as some of my favorite off-campus hangouts. The latter included some of the best and most notorious "party houses" around town, which were all given colloquial nicknames like Russell Street, Hippie House, Long Radio House, or Monkey House. Everywhere I drove, bittersweet memories flooded back to me, which - as the term <i>bittersweet </i>generally implies - was both good and sad.<br />
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Before leaving town, I did manage to park and actually get out of my car for a bit to head into the Campus Center, where my wallet took a hit as I went a little <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtoHI0JEfDg" target="_blank"><b>H.A.M.</b></a> on the University Store's apparel section. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FPmg8xHbh4Y/VRmumUY2u_I/AAAAAAAAI90/RcE2C8gZaWI/s1600/UmassUniversityStore.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sweatshirts and clothes at the UMass Amherst University Store" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FPmg8xHbh4Y/VRmumUY2u_I/AAAAAAAAI90/RcE2C8gZaWI/s1600/UmassUniversityStore.JPG" height="636" title="Sweatshirts and clothes at the UMass Amherst University Store" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It seemed high time for my wardrobe to get some fresh UMass gear, so I
bought two new t-shirts and a sweatshirt. The sweatshirt has barely left
my body since Saturday - it's so freaking soft and cozy.<br />
<br />
There were so many fun and irreplaceable times had in
Amherst, and driving around town/campus was pretty much as literal as
you can be with the phrase "taking a trip down memory lane." It was a
much-needed reflection session, and I was glad that I was alone for the
day - able to drive absolutely anywhere that I pleased, able to stop at
any random house or building or parking lot that I wanted, able to spend
as much time as I chose. But I do hope I'm with lots of friends the next time I go!! :)<br />
<br />
And on that note, check out <a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2014/10/children-of-corn-maze-other-amherst.html" target="_blank"><b>this post</b></a> from the last time I visited Amherst with my friends Kara and Kyle!<br />
<br />
Where did you go to school?<br />
When was the last time you headed back to your college campus?<br />
Do you still keep in touch with your college friends?<br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-65651731992334942182015-03-27T05:30:00.000-07:002015-03-27T06:07:15.277-07:00Bright Spring Pastels and Scattered Dot NailsToday's nails are a direct result of me doing what I want.<br />
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I wanted an accent nail with lots of polka dots in a specific bright-pastel color scheme, and these polishes were the perfect colors for it!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ocIdZIrwXU8/VRS2i7JuP5I/AAAAAAAAI88/3jZ30bIYKSk/s1600/DSC07825edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mint green nails with pink and polka dot accent nails" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ocIdZIrwXU8/VRS2i7JuP5I/AAAAAAAAI88/3jZ30bIYKSk/s1600/DSC07825edited.JPG" height="640" title="Mint green nails with pink and polka dot accent nails" width="640" /></a></div>
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The pale mint pastel is Mint Sorbet by Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear, the pink is Tip Toe Pink by Milani, the darker green is Mint Apple by Sinful Colors and the white is Snow Me White by Sinful Colors.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b_-o6i8HLs0/VRS2iyp4vnI/AAAAAAAAI80/v_93snwboVY/s1600/DSC07819edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mint pastel polish, pink nail polish, white polish, dotting tool" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b_-o6i8HLs0/VRS2iyp4vnI/AAAAAAAAI80/v_93snwboVY/s1600/DSC07819edited.JPG" height="480" title="Mint pastel polish, pink nail polish, white polish, dotting tool" width="640" /></a></div>
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I used 3 coats of Mint Apple on my pinky, pointer and thumb nails, 2 coats of Snow Me White on my ring finger, and 3 coats of Tip toe Pink on my middle finger. Then, using both ends of my double-ended dotting tool and all 3 colored polishes, I placed random, scattered dots atop my ring finger.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5SJR6xPjFqI/VRS2jTiUUQI/AAAAAAAAI9I/xfoNPkihJpw/s1600/DSC07836edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mint Apple nails with Tip Toe Pink and polka dot accent nails" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5SJR6xPjFqI/VRS2jTiUUQI/AAAAAAAAI9I/xfoNPkihJpw/s1600/DSC07836edited.JPG" height="562" title="Mint Apple nails with Tip Toe Pink and polka dot accent nails" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dkKNcPlN6pc/VRS2iwwlgII/AAAAAAAAI84/ZFhfyPCH-7Q/s1600/DSC07834edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Mint Apple nails with Tip Toe Pink and polka dot accent nails, ampersand ring" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dkKNcPlN6pc/VRS2iwwlgII/AAAAAAAAI84/ZFhfyPCH-7Q/s1600/DSC07834edited.JPG" height="640" title="Mint Apple nails with Tip Toe Pink and polka dot accent nails, ampersand ring" width="638" /></a><br />
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If you couldn't tell, I've become pretty into the two-accent-nail look. Decisions be damned - use alllll the polishessss!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TngXKJLp26Q/VRS2jWszdfI/AAAAAAAAI9E/mwvpOI92wGc/s1600/DSC07844edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mint Apple nails with Tip Toe Pink and polka dot accent nails, aka Bailey blog" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TngXKJLp26Q/VRS2jWszdfI/AAAAAAAAI9E/mwvpOI92wGc/s1600/DSC07844edited.JPG" height="588" title="Mint Apple nails with Tip Toe Pink and polka dot accent nails, aka Bailey blog" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
In case you wondered, my gum seems to be healing suspiciously well from Monday's wisdom tooth extraction. I've barely needed to take any pain meds at all, and was able to start working out again today. There's still a slight chipmunkesque quality to my right cheek, but it's not the most noticeable thing in the world. However, the antibiotics I'm taking are going to put a damper on my weekend fun, as those are appppparently not to be mixed with alcohol.<br />
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On that note, what are you up to this weekend? I've got nothing on the agenda yet, but am always on the lookout for an activity or two!<br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-14567722450071773742015-03-26T05:30:00.000-07:002015-03-27T06:25:09.842-07:00A Collage from Leftover ScrapsSo not to make a really left-field reference to something that happened months ago, but.... anyone remember that "just because" collage I made back in January? No? That's ok, I won't hold a grudge. It's right <b><a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2015/01/homemade-art-collage-just-because.html" target="_blank">here</a></b>, if you'd like a quick refresher. G'wan then. Take a look - it's relevant to this blog post.<br />
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K, now that you've definitely gone and looked, here's why it's relevant: Using the scraps of magazine cutouts that were leftover from that collage, I made another collage altogether. Heyooo! <a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2013/01/micro-greens-small-changes-we-can-all.html" target="_blank"><b>#Recycle</b></a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yXhWT9IywW8/VRM9XYaVBXI/AAAAAAAAI7Y/s18I6wuQWWs/s1600/DSC07520edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DIY artwork, teal, white, pink collage" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yXhWT9IywW8/VRM9XYaVBXI/AAAAAAAAI7Y/s18I6wuQWWs/s1600/DSC07520edited.JPG" height="640" title="DIY artwork, teal, white, pink collage" width="480" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's a casual step-by-step via photos:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sX8LSP1lnKg/VRM9wbNQZlI/AAAAAAAAI8A/rVYaFw36Dg4/s1600/collageprogress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DIY collage step by step" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sX8LSP1lnKg/VRM9wbNQZlI/AAAAAAAAI8A/rVYaFw36Dg4/s1600/collageprogress.jpg" height="418" title="DIY collage step by step" width="640" /></a></div>
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And the mandatory close-ups of the details:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-siZEyqCsMxg/VRM9XvpO2NI/AAAAAAAAI7c/e-NmQT6SY40/s1600/DSC07521edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DIY artwork, teal, white, brick, pink, texture, roses, collage" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-siZEyqCsMxg/VRM9XvpO2NI/AAAAAAAAI7c/e-NmQT6SY40/s1600/DSC07521edited.JPG" height="480" title="DIY artwork, teal, white, brick, pink, texture, roses, collage" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RvhHfGt5qn4/VRM9YJDJhJI/AAAAAAAAI7s/beaVuoRe3S4/s1600/DSC07528edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DIY artwork, teal, white, brick, pink, texture, roses, collage" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RvhHfGt5qn4/VRM9YJDJhJI/AAAAAAAAI7s/beaVuoRe3S4/s1600/DSC07528edited.JPG" height="480" title="DIY artwork, teal, white, brick, pink, texture, roses, collage" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d8mSGFLfTsE/VRM_stCunWI/AAAAAAAAI8M/RfAz4dgk6F0/s1600/DSC07522edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DIY artwork, teal, white, brick, pink, texture, roses, collage" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d8mSGFLfTsE/VRM_stCunWI/AAAAAAAAI8M/RfAz4dgk6F0/s1600/DSC07522edited.JPG" height="480" title="DIY artwork, teal, white, brick, pink, texture, roses, collage" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Here are the two pieces together:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FaI_O80s4o0/VRM9XT8t_tI/AAAAAAAAI7g/3FykO_jkgCM/s1600/DSC07527edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Two collages, white, wood, turquoise, pink" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FaI_O80s4o0/VRM9XT8t_tI/AAAAAAAAI7g/3FykO_jkgCM/s1600/DSC07527edited.JPG" height="610" title="Two collages, white, wood, turquoise, pink" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PYd3p4WjYTQ/VRM9YFqHZhI/AAAAAAAAI70/Esw_gcewjJA/s1600/DSC07531edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Two collages, white, wood, turquoise, pink" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PYd3p4WjYTQ/VRM9YFqHZhI/AAAAAAAAI70/Esw_gcewjJA/s1600/DSC07531edited.JPG" height="480" title="Two collages, white, wood, turquoise, pink" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The cool thing about recycling scraps from one collage to make a new one is that you can create multiple pieces of art that have a similar feel, but each with
its own unique look. It kind of reminds me of a fashion show - where everything that comes down the
runway looks like it belongs together, even though each piece is different. Here's another example of a similar kind of project I made for my grandmother several years ago:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2dS_8uAnIb0/VROB5ygTe-I/AAAAAAAAI8c/GuhjE7HWI9w/s1600/gramcollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teal, pink, grass, roses, DIY art, collages for my Gram" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2dS_8uAnIb0/VROB5ygTe-I/AAAAAAAAI8c/GuhjE7HWI9w/s1600/gramcollage.jpg" height="480" title="Teal, pink, grass, roses, DIY art, collages for my Gram" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
I hope to do more crafty things soon - whether it be painting or making more collages or drawing. I feel happy and purposeful when creating things, so it makes sense to make an effort to do it more often.<br />
<br />
On that note, I'll have a recap soon of Craft Club #5, I promise!<br />
<br />
So what artistic projects are YOU working on?<br />
Do you have a favorite Pin board for color palettes? They make for great <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/akabailey/collage-inspiration/" target="_blank"><b>collage inspiration</b></a>!<br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-38666086802412619362015-03-23T16:50:00.002-07:002015-03-23T16:50:51.956-07:00Peace Out, Wisdom Tooth #2!WELP I just got my upper-right wisdom tooth removed this morning, and I feel like a NEW WOMAN.<br />
<br />
Actually, the first dose of pain meds are just starting to wear off, so I'll likely be feeling like a sore, cranky woman very shortly. Either way, getting this sucker out is one more thing I can take off of my mind/plate for now, so thank god for that. <br />
<br />
This was much less dramatic than <a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2013/04/peace-out-wisdom-tooth-1.html" target="_blank"><b>my last wisdom tooth extraction</b></a>,
which involved lots of tooth-breaking and gymnastics on the part of the
oral surgeon. This time, the tooth was able to be pulled out all in one
bloody piece:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1UjcRbl310c/VRCfQDtAW4I/AAAAAAAAI68/gLNdAohOrWw/s1600/wisdomtooth_thislittlebitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1UjcRbl310c/VRCfQDtAW4I/AAAAAAAAI68/gLNdAohOrWw/s1600/wisdomtooth_thislittlebitch.jpg" height="376" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm one of those people who requires entirely too much local anesthetic before feeling properly numbed, and this time was no different. At first, it felt fine with the initial dosage, but when the doctor started really pulling the tooth out, I could definitely feel some uncomfortable, slightly-painful pressure. We stopped, and she gave me more anesthetic while explaining to me that she was twisting out my tooth "like a lightbulb." Hmm. Interesting visual, doc. Thanks! With just a couple minutes of twisting and without much more fanfare, the tooth came out. Done and done. <br />
<br />
And yep, I took this one home with me, too. Why should the tooth fairy have all the tooth-collecting fun? Speaking of which, my mom told me to put the tooth under my pillow tonight... Note to self: #DONTFORGET.<br />
<br />
I do encourage you to check out the <a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2013/04/peace-out-wisdom-tooth-1.html" target="_blank"><b>"after" photo</b></a> of Wisdom Tooth #1 - it didn't fare nearly as well as this one did. But in its defense, it was in a much trickier place in my mouth.<br />
<br />
Anyway, after picking up all of my appropriate prescriptions, I made my way back home and have kind of just been chilling and eating cold and/or mushy things all afternoon and evening. To avoid nausea, it will be important to keep eating food steadily while I'm taking these meds... so cue the smoothies, ice cream, yogurt, and scrambled eggs. I'm sure it's what Beyoncé's diet looks like, too.<br />
<br />
Currently I'm just slightly chipmunk-cheeked on my right side, but it may get worse in the next day or two. I'm not allowed to exercise - or SNEEZE - for a couple of days either, so... wish me luckkkk.<br />
<br />
Sidebar, I was really, really pleased with my entire experience at this dental office - <a href="http://www.greathilldental.com/" target="_blank"><b>Great Hill Dental </b></a>in Boston. The surgeon I saw, <a href="http://www.greathilldental.com/carol-lorente-dmd.html" target="_blank"><b>Dr. Carol Lorente</b></a>, was unbelievably kind, patient, and warm. The woman assisting the procedure, Kim, was the same. I felt like I was in very good hands with them, and that peace of mind goes a long way with someone like me who is very anxious about the dentist. <br />
<br />
Who else has some misbehaving wisdom teeth? If you have a funny story about yours, I'd love to hear it!<br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-78737190025406765452015-03-22T16:05:00.000-07:002015-03-22T16:05:21.692-07:00Weekend Recap + My Workouts of the WeekHeyoooo, happy Sunday evening! It's the end of the first weekend of spring, so I hope you did it up right and proper.<br />
<br />
My weekend has been a solid mix of solitude and friendship, so no complaints there. On Friday I went to the gym, did some online shopping (bought <a href="http://www.dsw.com/shoe/crown+vintage+mac+wedge+bootie?prodId=317720" target="_blank"><b>these little guys</b></a> from DSW's site), went to the grocery store, and binge-watched a few episodes of Game of Thrones into the wee hours of the morning. (By the way, I just finished Season 4, so I'm all caught up now... and actually loved the show so much that I <i>immediately started it over </i>on Season 1 last night. Is that weird? Don't answer that; I don't care.)<br />
<br />
On Saturday I started my day (predictably) at <a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2015/01/donut-villa-uh-huh-this-my-sht.html" target="_blank"><b>Donut Villa</b></a>, then hit up the gym for a lower body workout before meeting up with my friends for an evening of shooting pool at <a href="http://www.flattopjohnnys.com/" target="_blank"><b>Flat Top Johnny's</b></a> in Cambridge. I'd never been there before, but it's an open-layout bar with food, drinks, and 12 pool tables. J-rod and I won a few games in a row - #NOBIGGIE - and a couple games of Skee-Ball were also enjoyed. <br />
<br />
Today was Craft Club #5! That, of course, will get its own blog post, so I'm not going into too much detail about it now... but I will gladly share that I made a scrumptious fruit salad for the occasion. Noms on noms on noms!<br />
<br />
Alright with the weekend in a nutshell, let's move on to zee workouts of zee weeeeeek! Here's what I did at the gym this week:<br />
<br />
<b>3/16 (lower body)</b><br />
<div class="p1">
5 mins elliptical</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 30 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/weighted-calf-raises" target="_blank">calf raises</a></b>, 17.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZkgopVBPMg" target="_blank">leg lifts from side plank</a></b>, each leg</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/deadlift-w-dumbbells" target="_blank">deadlifts</a></b>, 17.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 20 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/modified-side-lunge" target="_blank">side lunges</a></b> + plyometric pushoff each side</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 8 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/single-leg-deadlift">single leg deadlifts</a></b> each leg, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 40 <b><a href="http://fitnessmagazine.com/videos/m/85788123/the-5-minute-butt-workout.htm" target="_blank">diamond clamshells</a></b> each leg</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxHwpl9d9Xs" target="_blank">static lunges</a></b> each leg, holding 6 lb medicine ball overhead</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 30 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGQ8_IMPQOY" target="_blank"><b>squats</b></a> + 20 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtfcAqnVg3E" target="_blank"><b>squat pulses</b></a></div>
<div class="p2">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtfcAqnVg3E" target="_blank"><b><br /></b></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>3/17 (core)</b></div>
<div class="p1">
5 mins elliptical</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 30 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/GauSAPrCRJA?t=3m18s" target="_blank">Brazilian crunches</a></b><br />
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/crunches-on-exercise-ball-w-dumbbell" target="_blank">crunches on exercise ball</a></b>, holding 15 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 10<b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/plank-pike-up">plank pike up on exercise ball</a></b><br />
<span class="s1">3x: 15 </span><b><a href="http://youtu.be/ZQah0C0PPUc?t=1m24s" target="_blank">lying overhead raise + double crunch</a></b>, holding 7.5 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 30 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/GauSAPrCRJA?t=1m43s" target="_blank">cobras</a></b></div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 30 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/vsit-w-dumbbellstwist" target="_blank">v-sit twists</a></b>, holding 15 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbUVrpxxT1s" target="_blank">dynamic side planks</a></b> each side</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/reverse-crunch-w-leg-lifts" target="_blank">leg raises + reverse crunch</a></b></div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<b>3/18 (cardio)</b></div>
<div class="p5">
40 mins hiking*/jogging treadmill:</div>
<div class="p5">
0:00-4:00 varying hike</div>
<div class="p5">
4-5 jogging 4.4 mph</div>
<div class="p5">
5-9 varying hike</div>
<div class="p5">
9-10 jogging 4.5 mph</div>
<div class="p5">
10-14 varying hike</div>
<div class="p5">
14-15 jogging 4.6 mph</div>
<div class="p5">
15-19 varying hike</div>
<div class="p5">
19-20 4.8 mph</div>
<div class="p5">
20-24 varying hike</div>
<div class="p5">
24-25 5.0 mph</div>
<div class="p5">
25-29 varying hike</div>
<div class="p5">
29-30 5.2 mph</div>
<div class="p5">
30-34 varying hike</div>
<div class="p5">
34-35 5.3 mph</div>
<div class="p5">
35-36 5.4 mph</div>
<div class="p5">
36-37 5.5 mph</div>
<div class="p5">
37-38 5.6 mph</div>
<div class="p5">
38-40 walking/cooldown/low incline</div>
<div class="p6">
<br /></div>
<div class="p5">
<b>3/20 (upper body)</b></div>
<div class="p5">
5 mins elliptical</div>
<div class="p5">
3x: 10 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/deltoid-fly" target="_blank">deltoid flys</a></b>, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p5">
3x: 20 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/dfQ-yKbc8fM?t=3m4s" target="_blank">alternating chest flys</a></b> on exercise ball, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p5">
3x: 10 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/deltoid-raise" target="_blank">deltoid raises</a></b>, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p5">
3x: 10 <b><a href="http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/exercises.asp?exercise=47" target="_blank">overhead press</a></b>, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p5">
3x: 13 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEb-dwU3VF4" target="_blank">lat pulldowns</a></b>, 37.5 lbs</div>
<div class="p5">
3x: 10 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/chest-press-w-exercise-ball" target="_blank">chest press</a></b> on exercise ball, 15 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p5">
3x: 10 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/bent-over-row" target="_blank">bent over rows</a></b>, 15 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 10 <a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/close-grip-chest-press" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">close grip chest press</a> on exercise ball, 15 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 13 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNUztYbC0G0" target="_blank">seated rows</a></b>, 37.5 lbs</div>
<div class="p3">
1:15 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/plank">plank</a></b></div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<b>3/21 (lower body)</b></div>
<div class="p3">
5 mins elliptical</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZkgopVBPMg" target="_blank">leg lifts from side plank</a></b> each leg</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 30 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/weighted-calf-raises" target="_blank">calf raises</a></b>, 17.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 25 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/modified-side-lunge" target="_blank">side lunges</a></b> + plyometric pushoff, each leg</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/deadlift-w-dumbbells" target="_blank">deadlifts</a></b>, 17.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 40 <b><a href="http://fitnessmagazine.com/videos/m/85788123/the-5-minute-butt-workout.htm" target="_blank">diamond clamshells</a></b> each leg</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 10 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/single-leg-deadlift">single leg deadlifts</a></b> each leg, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxHwpl9d9Xs" target="_blank">static lunges</a></b> each leg, holding 6 lb medicine ball overhead<br />
3x: 30 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGQ8_IMPQOY" target="_blank"><b>squats</b></a> + 20 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtfcAqnVg3E" target="_blank"><b>squat pulses</b></a> </div>
<br />
<i>* When I go "hiking" on the treadmill, I adjust the intensity
and/or incline <u>every minute</u> for the entire duration, making sure to go
through the entire range of available inclines (0-15).</i><br />
<br />
By the way, if you didn't catch the update that I added to last week's workout post, here is the link to the first workout video that I filmed for my company's YouTube channel: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN71xzrz3vE" target="_blank"><b>Intense TRX Interval for Your Core</b></a>. A few people asked me about it, so figured I'd share here! Feel free to like/comment/share it with all your fitness-loving homies. <br />
<br />
I shoooould have gone to the gym today, but Craft Club just sort of took over the morning/afternoon - which I'm certainly not complaining about. I absolutely love this scheduled "crafts and girls" time. Oftentimes it's more chatting than crafting, but - again - no one's complaining about that! #Love!<br />
<br />
Annnnd here's the one grey cloud on the horizon that's been keeping me a little anxious all weekend: I'm getting a wisdom tooth out tomorrow morning. Eek! Because it's on the top (rather than my lower jaw bone), it shouldn't be as big of a to-do as <a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2013/04/peace-out-wisdom-tooth-1.html" target="_blank"><b>the last one</b></a> was, according to the oral surgeon. I'm hoping she's right!<br />
<br />
Wish me luck in my recovery ;) And feel free to send me your favorite smoothie recipes.<br />
<br />
How are your workouts going this week?<br />
Did you do anything fun this weekend?<br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-20384283137574118892015-03-20T06:59:00.000-07:002015-04-01T09:33:42.139-07:00No Nail Polish, But a Bit of Ms. Lauryn HillFridays usually mean nails around here, but I'm taking a break from that this week because I didn't have the energy in me yesterday to come up with an idea, do all the nail/cuticle prep, polish my nails, take pictures, edit the pictures, etc. My Wednesday night went a bit further into the wee hours than I'd anticipated, which is why I was so done-for all day yesterday. What was so terribly exciting about my Wednesday evening, you ask? OH JUST MS. LAURYN HILL. <br />
<br />
Yeppp, on Wednesday night I went with a few friends went to see an acoustic performance by Lauryn Hill at the Wilbur Theater in Boston. The tickets had been burning a hole in my iPhone (that's what we say
these days when we use Passbook, right?) for months!<br />
<br />
I have a pulse, so obviously I was a fan of Fugees, and I was among the millions of people who bought (and became obsessed with) <i>The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill</i> back in 1998. A few years ago, she performed her entire <i>Miseducation</i> album at the <a href="http://www.rockthebells.net/" target="_blank"><b>Rock the Bells</b></a> festival, and witnessing it in person was pretty special. When I heard she was coming to Boston, I immediately rallied some troops (Kara, Steph and Amanze!) and put it on my calendar.<br />
<br />
The show was supposed to start at 8, but at around 8:30 a film began playing onstage - <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/news/concerning-violence-goran-olsson-frantz-fanon-lauryn-hill-trailer/" target="_blank"><b>Concerning Violence</b></a>, a short documentary about anti-imperialism and decolonization that was narrated by Ms. Hill. It was interesting (and also a bit depressing), but not everyone in the audience was psyched about being shown a documentary at a concert. When the film ended, a DJ began spinning onstage - who, by the way, was definitely dressed like she belonged in the background of a 1993 Salt 'n Pepa video. At this point, not everyone in the audience was psyched that there was a DJ playing instead of Ms. Hill. Can you pick up on a theme of growing malcontent?<br />
<br />
It was well after 10pm when Lauryn finally came out and took her place on a loveseat-style couch at the center of the stage. Picking up her guitar and speaking little-to-no-words to any of us, she and her band launched into <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dcg0qq_hBL8" target="_blank"><b>Conform to Love</b></a>. Cue the chair-dancing, because it was a smallish venue and no one was really standing much.<br />
<br />
I only took one <a href="https://instagram.com/p/0ZUBZUEUum/?taken-by=akabaileyblog" target="_blank"><b>photo</b></a> while we were there, and it came out terribly blurry...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3KlrBWNeKjk/VQwlD_wlkaI/AAAAAAAAI6o/-yid6_LnxDY/s1600/LaurynHill.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lauryn HIll at the Wilbur Theater in Boston, March 2015" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3KlrBWNeKjk/VQwlD_wlkaI/AAAAAAAAI6o/-yid6_LnxDY/s1600/LaurynHill.JPG" height="378" title="Lauryn HIll at the Wilbur Theater in Boston, March 2015" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
... but you get the general setup. I've been trying to find the setlist for the show, but so far it's nowhere to be found. Other highlights were when she did Sweetest Thing, Lost Ones, and Fu-Gee-La in its entirety.<br />
<br />
She closed out the show with <a href="https://instagram.com/p/0an5maAay1/?tagged=wilburtheatre" target="_blank"><b>Doo Wop (That Thing)</b></a>, which is when she finally got up out of her chair herself. The rest of the audience followed suit, and it was a great closer. It was almost 12:30 in the morning when she finished, so that was an unexpected element of a Wednesday night show. So very worth being exhausted the next day!<br />
<br />
Now for your entertainment, here is some music from Lauryn to get you on my level:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Sweetest Thing</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QbfEcgJ5UBA" width="400"></iframe><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>So High (Cloud 9 Remix) - John Legend feat. Lauryn Hill</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QffYDx8mlc4" width="400"></iframe><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Turn Your Lights Down Low - Bob Marley feat Lauryn Hill</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VitKvID-uvY" width="400"></iframe><br /></div>
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And here's a random cover of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAAzaoPPRjc" target="_blank"><b>Conform to Love</b></a> by a young woman named Kamilah Sumner - watch the whole thing, she just gets better and better.<br />
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Leave a comment to let me know what your favorite Lauryn Hill song is! And I'm sure that a regularly scheduled nail polish post will be back next Friday ;)<br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-5623594876394300902015-03-15T13:51:00.000-07:002015-03-22T15:32:53.443-07:00My Workouts of the Week + A Rambunctious Pre-St. Patrick's DayThis was another week of doing pretty well at the gym! It's becoming a nearly habitual part of my day-to-day, and that's a habit I'm <i>notttt</i> mad about forming. Just need to make sure that I don't injure myself. God knows I'm prone to doing that, so... knock on wood.<br />
<br />
Here's what I was up to at the gym this week:<br />
<br />
<div class="p1">
<b>3/9 (upper body)</b></div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 13 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNUztYbC0G0" target="_blank">seated rows</a></b>, 37.5 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 13 <a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/close-grip-chest-press" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">close grip chest press</a> on exercise ball, 12.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 13 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/bent-over-row" target="_blank">bent over rows</a></b>, 12.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 13 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/chest-press-w-exercise-ball" target="_blank">chest press</a></b> on exercise ball, 12.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
1x: 8 <b><a href="http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/exercises.asp?exercise=47" target="_blank">overhead press</a></b> on exercise ball, 10 lbs each hand *too heavy!</div>
<div class="p1">
2x: 8 <b><a href="http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/exercises.asp?exercise=47" target="_blank">overhead press</a></b> on exercise ball, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 13 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEb-dwU3VF4" target="_blank">lat pulldowns</a></b>, 37.5 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 10 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/deltoid-fly" target="_blank">deltoid flys</a></b>, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 8 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/deltoid-raise" target="_blank">deltoid raises</a></b>, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: <b><a href="http://youtu.be/dfQ-yKbc8fM?t=3m4s" target="_blank">alternating chest flys</a></b> with a 6 lb medicine ball</div>
<div class="p1">
13 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/overhead-press">overhead press</a></b>, 5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
13 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/overhead-press">overhead press</a></b>, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
8 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/overhead-press">overhead press</a></b>, 10 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
10 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh00_rniF8E" target="_blank">push-ups</a></b></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>3/10 (lower body)</b></div>
<div class="p3">
5 mins elliptical</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 30 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/weighted-calf-raises" target="_blank">calf raises</a></b>, 17.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZkgopVBPMg" target="_blank">leg lifts from side plank</a></b>, each side</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/deadlift-w-dumbbells" target="_blank">deadlifts</a></b>, 17.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 20 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/modified-side-lunge" target="_blank">side lunges</a></b> + plyometric push-off, each side</div>
<div class="p3">
2:15 jumping jacks</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 8 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/single-leg-deadlift">single leg deadlifts</a></b>, 7.5 lbs each hand (I don't know why, but these are SO HARD for me!)</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxHwpl9d9Xs" target="_blank">static lunges</a></b> each leg, holding 6 lb medicine ball overhead</div>
<div class="p3">
1:10 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/plank">plank</a></b></div>
<div class="p3">
10 mins hiking* treadmill</div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<b>3/11 (core)</b></div>
<div class="p3">
5 mins treadmill</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 30 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/GauSAPrCRJA?t=3m18s" target="_blank">Brazilian crunches</a></b></div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/crunches-on-exercise-ball-w-dumbbell" target="_blank">crunches on exercise ball</a></b>, holding 15 lbs</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 10 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/plank-pike-up">plank pike up on exercise ball</a></b></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">3x: 15 </span><b><a href="http://youtu.be/ZQah0C0PPUc?t=1m24s" target="_blank">lying overhead raise + double crunch</a></b>, holding 7.5 lbs</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 30 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/GauSAPrCRJA?t=1m43s" target="_blank">cobras</a></b></div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 30 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/vsit-w-dumbbellstwist" target="_blank">v-sit twists</a></b>, holding 15 lbs</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbUVrpxxT1s" target="_blank">dynamic side planks</a></b> each side</div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<b>3/13 (cardio)</b></div>
<div class="p3">
45 mins hiking*/jogging on treadmill - here's the min-by-min breakdown:</div>
<div class="p3">
0-4 varying hike</div>
<div class="p3">
4-5 jogging 4.4 mph</div>
<div class="p3">
5-9 varying hike</div>
<div class="p3">
9-10 jogging 4.5 mph</div>
<div class="p3">
11-14 varying hike</div>
<div class="p3">
14-15 jogging 4.6 mph</div>
<div class="p3">
15-19 varying hike</div>
<div class="p3">
19-20 jogging 4.7 mph</div>
<div class="p3">
20-24 varying hike</div>
<div class="p3">
24-25 jogging 4.9 mph</div>
<div class="p3">
25-29 varying hike</div>
<div class="p3">
29-40 jogging 5-6mph</div>
<div class="p3">
40-45 varying hike/cooldown</div>
<div class="p3">
30 bodyweight <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPYCiuiB4PA">squats</a></b> + 20 squat pulses</div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<b>3/14 (upper body)</b></div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 10 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/chest-press-w-exercise-ball" target="_blank">chest press</a></b> on exercise ball, 15 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 10 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/bent-over-row" target="_blank">bent over rows</a></b>, 15 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 10 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/deltoid-fly" target="_blank">deltoid flys</a></b>, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 10 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/deltoid-raise" target="_blank">deltoid raises</a></b>, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 10 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/overhead-press">overhead press</a></b>, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 13 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEb-dwU3VF4" target="_blank">lat pulldowns</a></b>, 37.5 lbs</div>
<div class="p3">
3x: 26 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/dfQ-yKbc8fM?t=3m4s" target="_blank">alternating chest flys</a></b> with 6 lb medicine ball</div>
<br />
<i>* When I go "hiking" on the treadmill, I adjust the intensity and/or incline every minute for the entire duration, making sure to go through the entire range of available inclines (0-15).</i><br />
<br />
I'm trying to increase my arm/chest strength ("pushing" exercises like chest presses) before I increase any of the weight on my "pulling" exercises (seated or bent over rows) so that my chest muscles have a chance to catch up to my back muscles. From what I have learned, if your back muscles are much stronger than your chest then you're not building a balanced upper body. I've moved up to 15 lbs for presses now, and once that becomes easy then I'll increase to 17.5 - probably in a few weeks? And won't that be exciting??!?<br />
<br />
Speaking of exciting, here's a sneak peek of the first video I shot with my company's YouTube channel a few weeks ago:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V8QuyJSiRGA/VQXwV240DXI/AAAAAAAAI6M/zTgCjAp3kXY/s1600/BaileyExerciseDemo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Filming a workout video with Stephen Cabral and Diet.com" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V8QuyJSiRGA/VQXwV240DXI/AAAAAAAAI6M/zTgCjAp3kXY/s1600/BaileyExerciseDemo.jpg" height="360" title="Filming a workout video with Stephen Cabral and Diet.com" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
Watch out world, there's a whole video coming. (Update: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN71xzrz3vE" target="_blank"><b>Here it is</b></a>.)<br />
<br />
I made sure to get in a Saturday morning workout this weekend because I knew that there'd be some ridiculousness happening later that day. My friends had planned an afternoon of early St. Patrick's Day festivities!<br />
<br />
Around 2:30 on Saturday, a group of us met up at <b><a href="http://orleansrestaurant.com/">Orleans</a></b> in Somerville's Davis Square for early afternoon drinks and apps. As I promised on Friday, I did indeed enjoy some Bailey's Irish Cream mixed with iced coffee and topped with whipped cream. Obviously, my kind of drink.<br />
<br />
From there, we decided on a whim to go bowling, so we drove/Ubered over to <b><a href="http://lanesgames.com/">Lanes and Games</a></b> in Cambridge, which is fo' sho' a <b><a href="https://instagram.com/p/yQkpf3EUgp/?taken-by=akabaileyblog">recurring favorite place</a></b> to have fun together. Ten of us played 2 games on adjoining lanes, and more drinks and apps were had. I bowled a 101 my first game (not bad, for me) and then put in a dismal performance during the second game. I can't remember my score but it was probably less than 60? #facepalm<br />
<br />
After bowling, some of the group splintered off, but some of us headed back to "after party" (it was only 8:45pm) at the house of my friends in Somerville. Insert drinks, darts, and dancing over the next 4 hours. It was a good night.<br />
<br />
This <strike>morning</strike> afternoon when I got out of bed, I headed straight over to <b><a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2015/01/donut-villa-uh-huh-this-my-sht.html" target="_blank">Donut Villa</a></b> to fill my stomach with greasy breakfast food and the best-effing jelly donut I've ever had. How do they make them taste so good? The owner of the restaurant, John, told me with a wink that he gets them from Dunkin Donuts every morning, but I shook my head at him and told him I could taste the difference. Sidebar, they all love me at the Villa now. Score!<br />
<br />
Anyway, I'm going to relax so hard the rest of the afternoon. You can catch me lounging in the bathtub and then watching a movie - or a few episodes of Game of Thrones. It's that kind of a recovery day, haha!<br />
<br />
I hope you had a great weekend yourself. Any fun shenanigans or challenging workouts going on in your neck of the woods?<br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-89915400340744619602015-03-13T05:30:00.000-07:002015-03-13T11:44:37.900-07:00St. Patrick's Day Nails: Matte Green & Layers of GoldAs a nod to my Irish heritage, I've got some green St. Patrick's Day nails today. But let's be honest - even if I weren't Irish, I'd be celebrating, right? That's how we do things in America. And on May 5th, we'll all be Mexican. #Freedom.<br />
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Here's how my nails are getting in on the holiday action:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SEdsol95adw/VQH4XG2MF_I/AAAAAAAAI5s/ffQIFXCbYBA/s1600/DSC07779edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Matte green nails with sparkling gold accent nails" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SEdsol95adw/VQH4XG2MF_I/AAAAAAAAI5s/ffQIFXCbYBA/s1600/DSC07779edited.JPG" height="640" title="Matte green nails with sparkling gold accent nails" width="624" /></a></div>
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The green is Balsam Fir by Revlon and the gold is a combo of Big Spender by Nina Ultra Pro and Crystal Gold from Forever21's Love & Beauty line.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wHVu6x6kByk/VQH4XEy2TQI/AAAAAAAAI5o/n0Ik4zoee5w/s1600/DSC07790edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Gold glitter accent nails with matte emerald green nails for St. Patrick's Day" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wHVu6x6kByk/VQH4XEy2TQI/AAAAAAAAI5o/n0Ik4zoee5w/s1600/DSC07790edited.JPG" height="640" title="Gold glitter accent nails with matte emerald green nails for St. Patrick's Day" width="476" /></a></div>
<br />
I used two coats of Big Spender on my ring and thumb nails and topped that with 2 coats of Crystal Gold, which is a fairly sparse yellow-gold glitter in a clear base. It would have been way cooler if it was more jam-packed with glitter, but you can't win them all! Do you have a favorite gold glitter that's pretty opaque? Give me the deets!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PxZ8aOnljn4/VQH4XPqm1kI/AAAAAAAAI5w/bq6srLBis9A/s1600/DSC07780edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="St. Patrick's Day nails: Gold glitter accent nails with matte emerald green nails" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PxZ8aOnljn4/VQH4XPqm1kI/AAAAAAAAI5w/bq6srLBis9A/s1600/DSC07780edited.JPG" height="564" title="St. Patrick's Day nails: Gold glitter accent nails with matte emerald green nails" width="640" /></a></div>
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I used 2 coats of Balsam Fir on all my other nails and finished those nails off with a matte top coat. I topped the gold nails with Seche Vite, to make them really shine and contrast with the green.<br />
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I'll be doing a bit of St. Patty's celebrating tomorrow with my friends at some Irish pubs around town. I can't stand the taste of beer, so no Guinness for me, but there may very well be some Bailey's Irish Cream in my future. <br />
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There's also a slight chance that I'll check out the (in)famous <a href="http://www.southbostonparade.org/" target="_blank"><b>Southie St. Patrick's Day parade</b></a> on Sunday... though that may be biting off more than I can chew, since Southie is known for becoming pretty chaotic on parade day. We'll see!<br />
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What are you going to be up to this weekend?<br />
Are you wearing any green on your nails to celebrate?<br />
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{Linking with <a href="http://www.jennieshaw.ca/2015/03/the-nail-files-st-patricks-day-plaids.html" target="_blank"><b>The Nail Files</b></a> and <a href="http://stylelixir.com/2015/03/spring-style-favorites.html" target="_blank"><b>Fab Favorites</b></a>}<b> </b></div>
aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-20563766880068501852015-03-12T05:30:00.000-07:002015-03-12T05:30:01.833-07:00Back to Da Beach, Boy!Remember when I posted some pictures of a wintery Revere Beach <b><a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2015/02/where-surf-meets-snow-revere-beach-in.html" target="_blank">back in February</a></b>? Well those pictures were taken just before the <b><a href="http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/01/winter_storm_juno_is_now_offic.html" target="_blank">Juno blizzard</a></b>, and we've gotten feet upon feet of snow since then, so it seemed high <strike>tide</strike> time to head back out to the coast to see how the beach was looking these days.<br />
<br />
The last time I was at the beach, the snow had freshly fallen and the entire beach was unsullied. Things weren't quite as pristine this time, since the waves of the many winter storms have battered the sand back over the last month or so...<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CI1SO_fVxsE/VQDYX5H6B6I/AAAAAAAAI5I/KTF5SRdaRqc/s1600/DSC07774edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Revere Beach in the winter" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CI1SO_fVxsE/VQDYX5H6B6I/AAAAAAAAI5I/KTF5SRdaRqc/s1600/DSC07774edited.JPG" height="480" title="Revere Beach in the winter" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jQQQkfs7U20/VQDYXO7g25I/AAAAAAAAI4s/dDetzgO_VQc/s1600/DSC07768edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jQQQkfs7U20/VQDYXO7g25I/AAAAAAAAI4s/dDetzgO_VQc/s1600/DSC07768edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Revere Beach in March" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jQQQkfs7U20/VQDYXO7g25I/AAAAAAAAI4s/dDetzgO_VQc/s1600/DSC07768edited.JPG" height="480" title="Revere Beach in March" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A plane flew pretty low overhead as I walked along the water's edge...</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bZAZqx9ZqX8/VQDYYCw1BYI/AAAAAAAAI5E/88gaI5vqgnE/s1600/DSC07778edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Revere Beach under snow" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bZAZqx9ZqX8/VQDYYCw1BYI/AAAAAAAAI5E/88gaI5vqgnE/s1600/DSC07778edited.JPG" height="480" title="Revere Beach under snow" width="640" /></a></div>
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The line from the tide was marked with a broken wall of sandy ice that stretched along the whole beach...</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n6LOtDwkwjM/VQDYXBpGdzI/AAAAAAAAI4w/b-8_ARxqrYw/s1600/DSC07764edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Icy and snowy Revere Beach" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n6LOtDwkwjM/VQDYXBpGdzI/AAAAAAAAI4w/b-8_ARxqrYw/s1600/DSC07764edited.JPG" height="480" title="Icy and snowy Revere Beach" width="640" /></a></div>
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And oh, look, there's me!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--1T0C07ICS8/VQDYXBJbIwI/AAAAAAAAI40/9ZpioU7xJrE/s1600/DSC07765edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Me on Revere Beach in March 2015" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--1T0C07ICS8/VQDYXBJbIwI/AAAAAAAAI40/9ZpioU7xJrE/s1600/DSC07765edited.jpg" height="640" title="Me on Revere Beach in March 2015" width="480" /></a></div>
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As I walked back to my car, I stopped at the seawall to peer through a snow bank back at the beach:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ouD3DOx29C4/VQDYX4qjI1I/AAAAAAAAI5A/p9i0SFfABxc/s1600/DSC07776edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Peering at Revere Beach through a snowbank" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ouD3DOx29C4/VQDYX4qjI1I/AAAAAAAAI5A/p9i0SFfABxc/s1600/DSC07776edited.JPG" height="480" title="Peering at Revere Beach through a snowbank" width="640" /></a></div>
Eventually I suppose I'll make it to Revere Beach when it's not covered in snow. And that day might be sooner than you'd think, since we've been hit with a "warm" week and the snow is finally starting to melt. And by "warm week" I mean that we're into the 40's now, so break out the flip flops, Massachusetts!!<br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-57192653732255216002015-03-11T05:30:00.000-07:002015-03-12T09:51:28.851-07:00Stuff That's Been Making Me HappyAs the savvy reader may have ascertained, it's not all sunshine and sprinkles over here - although both of those things have definitely been featured on my blog before. (<b><a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2014/07/dreaming-of-beach-days.html" target="_blank">For</a></b> <b><a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2013/04/scoop-frozen-yogurt-in-vancouver.html" target="_blank">sure</a></b>.)<br />
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I haven't felt like myself since <b><a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2014/08/big-changes-on-horizon.html" target="_blank">leaving Vancouver</a></b>, which is kind of a long time for me to be feeling so low. It still feels like there's a big hole in my life, and I've been trying really hard to fill it in with saying "yes" to things, <b><a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-quick-hike-in-blue-hills-reservation.html" target="_blank">making plans</a></b> with friends, <b><a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/search/label/bitches%20be%20shoppin" target="_blank">buying</a></b> new clothes and beauty goodies, getting my health in order (chiropractors, physical therapists, and acupuncturists, oh my!), <b><a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/search/label/craft%20club" target="_blank">being creative</a></b>, <b><a href="http://instagram.com/p/zWn2RgkUtx/?" target="_blank">eating junk food</a></b>, lining up trips (heyo, Panama!), and <b><a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/search/label/workout" target="_blank">exercising</a></b>.<br />
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So how is it working? Well... it's not curing me of my blues, that's for damn sure. But it's all chipping in to keep me momentarily happy/preoccupied and make me forget about being sad for a little while everyday. Here's a random, unorganized look into some of the things that have been making me happy.... <br />
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My sister Markie works for a Nike store, and shares her family discount with us. I've never taken advantage of the perk - a 30% discount - until the weekend before last, when I stopped into the Nike outlet store near my apartment. I picked up a new pair of trainers... the Nike Flex Supreme in black and pink:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AIU9DYJ4gas/VPe31EzbKrI/AAAAAAAAI2A/y-_nZrBcuwU/s1600/DSC07728edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Nike Flex Supreme trainers in black and pink" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AIU9DYJ4gas/VPe31EzbKrI/AAAAAAAAI2A/y-_nZrBcuwU/s1600/DSC07728edited.JPG" height="534" title="Nike Flex Supreme trainers in black and pink" width="640" /></a></div>
They ran large so I actually had to go back that night and exchange them for a half-size smaller. I also got a new pair of workout leggings - Nike Dri-Fit capris in the "tight" fit. These felt a litttttle loose on me, but the XS felt a little too - ahem - <i>familiar </i>(if you nahmsayin), so I stuck with a size small. From this trip to the Nike store, my takeaway was: Nike is clearly into vanity sizing. That makes me feel terribly insecure in ever shopping for that brand online, without trying on first. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9YpgfXyghb8/VPe3tpU3lqI/AAAAAAAAI1g/Z7ijrINZGPk/s1600/workoutclothes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Workout clothes!" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9YpgfXyghb8/VPe3tpU3lqI/AAAAAAAAI1g/Z7ijrINZGPk/s1600/workoutclothes.jpg" height="640" title="Workout clothes!" width="480" /></a></div>
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Also pictured above are a grey American Eagle workout tank and a pink cotton Hollister tank top, both from my local TJ Maxx. I love the hourglass seaming detail on the grey tank - it's super flattering! Having made a couple trips to that same TJ Maxx recently, I also picked up a few other new tops...<br />
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This chunky, oversized black cardigan by Max Studio:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j7-ZBeL6Klc/VPe32d6xZ6I/AAAAAAAAI2g/ygXi7c5Haso/s1600/DSC07734edited.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Max Studio oversized black cardigan" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j7-ZBeL6Klc/VPe32d6xZ6I/AAAAAAAAI2g/ygXi7c5Haso/s1600/DSC07734edited.JPG" height="640" title="Max Studio oversized black cardigan" width="522" /></a></div>
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And this woven oatmeal-colored sweater from the brand Dalia:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ztzKGuJ7fjc/VPe313YyC6I/AAAAAAAAI2M/mWpw6osUWYs/s1600/DSC07732edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Oatmeal Dalia sweater" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ztzKGuJ7fjc/VPe313YyC6I/AAAAAAAAI2M/mWpw6osUWYs/s1600/DSC07732edited.JPG" height="640" title="Oatmeal Dalia sweater" width="618" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xs9ImrEA5s8/VPe316xC88I/AAAAAAAAI2Q/ouZ6ya7nOV4/s1600/DSC07733edited.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Oatmeal Dalia sweater" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xs9ImrEA5s8/VPe316xC88I/AAAAAAAAI2Q/ouZ6ya7nOV4/s1600/DSC07733edited.JPG" height="562" title="Oatmeal Dalia sweater" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm obsessed with both of these sweaters. You can seriously catch me wearing each of them once or twice a week lately. Here's the last shirt I got from TJ's:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bv8lC52ETo0/VPe32micQyI/AAAAAAAAI2k/xytihgBXJhE/s1600/DSC07736edited.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blue button up plaid shirt" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bv8lC52ETo0/VPe32micQyI/AAAAAAAAI2k/xytihgBXJhE/s1600/DSC07736edited.JPG" height="640" title="Blue button up plaid shirt" width="518" /></a> </div>
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As a blue-eyed girl, shirts like this really make my eyes <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWZKw_MgUPI" target="_blank"><b>pop</b></a>. So... shoutout to turning your face</div>
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into an optical illusion.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4mQBPR3O20w/VPe32kgz9pI/AAAAAAAAI2o/ukwqlnWeKRU/s1600/DSC07737edited.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blue button up plaid shirt" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4mQBPR3O20w/VPe32kgz9pI/AAAAAAAAI2o/ukwqlnWeKRU/s1600/DSC07737edited.JPG" height="640" title="Blue button up plaid shirt" width="480" /></a> </div>
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While killing time in Brookline's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coolidge_Corner" target="_blank"><b>Coolidge Corner</b></a> back in February, I stopped into a consignment shop (<a href="http://www.secondtimearound.net/" target="_blank"><b>Second Time Around</b></a>) and spotted this pale pink asymmetrical BCBG Max Azria sweater (shown below in both white and pink)...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kCwiISmJyjQ/VP32r3ApeDI/AAAAAAAAI4Y/qi_fAp-oPPY/s1600/bcbgsweater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Asymmetrical BCBG Max Azria sweater" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kCwiISmJyjQ/VP32r3ApeDI/AAAAAAAAI4Y/qi_fAp-oPPY/s1600/bcbgsweater.jpg" title="Asymmetrical BCBG Max Azria sweater" /></a></div>
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... I'm a sucker for interesting hemlines, and I fell head over heels for this sweater's unique criss-cross front, high-lo hem (with BONUS banded hemline in the back!), fitted sleeves, and soft merino wool fabric. It was $50 at the consignment shop, which is certainly more <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonas_Brothers" target="_blank"><b>JoBros</b></a> than I'd normally toss up at a second-hand store, but it was such a "GOTTA EFFING HAVE IT" moment that I surrendered to the flow. Once I got home and discovered that this is <a href="http://www.bcbg.com/Karsyn-Boxy-Asymmetrical-Pullover/MEI1T538-6D6,default,pd.html?dwvar_MEI1T538-6D6_color=6D6&cgid=&navid=search#q=karsyn&start=3" target="_blank"><b>originally a $200 sweater</b></a>... well obviously I went from scolding myself to patting myself on the back. <br />
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Some weeks back I received a surprise package in the mail - a gift box of Lush goodies from my friend Stephanie. The <b><a href="http://www.lushusa.com/Hello-Gorgeous/05358,en_US,pd.html#start=15" target="_blank">Hello Gorgeous</a></b> gift set includes the <a href="http://instagram.com/p/zlqturEUhZ/" target="_blank"><b>Sakura bath bomb</b></a>, the <a href="http://instagram.com/p/z_CQ14EUhK/" target="_blank"><b>Comforter Bubble Bar</b></a>, Tender Is the Night massage bar, Rub Rub Rub shower scrub, and a 0.2oz pot each of Lemony Flutter cuticle butter and Gorgeous moisturizer. I've already enjoyed the bubble bar and the bath bomb, and am slowly starting to make my way through the other products as well. Thanks Steph!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-08yqtZTGiug/VPe41Ra4raI/AAAAAAAAI3M/Bl2PWTaSNSA/s1600/HelloGorgeous.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hello Gorgeous gift set from Lush" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-08yqtZTGiug/VPe41Ra4raI/AAAAAAAAI3M/Bl2PWTaSNSA/s1600/HelloGorgeous.png" height="356" title="Hello Gorgeous gift set from Lush" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">. <a href="http://www.lushusa.com/Hello-Gorgeous/05358,en_US,pd.html#start=15" target="_blank">source</a> .</td></tr>
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Would you believe that I only owned one face brush that I actually liked? I wanted to get a higher quality brush that would work for bronzer/blush, or just all-over the face for blending. This Eco Tools face brush is super fluffy and gentle on my skin:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iUpIVKx0pBs/VPe33E6f-eI/AAAAAAAAI20/8i9lwv5ajXM/s1600/DSC07739edited.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iUpIVKx0pBs/VPe33E6f-eI/AAAAAAAAI20/8i9lwv5ajXM/s1600/DSC07739edited.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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In other beauty-related acquisitions, here's a bunch of stuff for me to play with:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dEbp3yZAzR8/VPe31Aj9YEI/AAAAAAAAI14/RhUFOTlr7Wk/s1600/DSC07729edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dEbp3yZAzR8/VPe31Aj9YEI/AAAAAAAAI14/RhUFOTlr7Wk/s1600/DSC07729edited.JPG" height="536" width="640" /></a></div>
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1. <b>Benefit Hello Flawless sample trio</b> - a sample from Sephora that was included in a recent purchase (#7), this includes the Stay Flawless primer, Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow brightening sunscreen makeup, and the Hello Flawless power cover-up. I have no idea how to use any of these yet, but... someday an opportunity will present itself to figure it all out.<br />
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2. <b>Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel</b> - also a sample from that same Sephora purchase. Has anyone tried this gel before? Let me know!<br />
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3. <b>Aesop Parsley Seed Cleaning Masque samples. </b>To warm up one chilly evening, Kara and I popped into the <a href="http://www.aesop.com/usa/" target="_blank"><b>Aesop</b></a> store on Newbury St and were immediately given 100% of the attention of the lone store clerk. She gave us each a bunch of samples, and the 3 packets she gave me will be enough for one face mask. This one is a "perfectly formulated clay-based masque containing parsley seed and rosehip seed extracts. Suited to most skin types, this masque removes impurities and refreshes the skin." WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT.<br />
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4. <b>ESCADA Joyful perfume </b>- again, a sample from Sephora. The very accurate description of this scent: "ESCADA Joyful is inspired by positivity and a joyful spirit. The luminous scent embodies the beauty of a bouquet of flowers. Bright, fresh blooms of jubilant pink peony release a sense of elation. Juicy blackcurrant sorbet adds a cooling top, and the warmth of honeycomb and sandalwood give depth to the floral notes. The fragrance embodies beauty and confidence and invites you to experience each day filled with joy and positivity." Sidebar, you've got to check out the <a href="http://www.sephora.com/joyful-P388210?skuId=1650555&om_mmc=ppc-GG&mkwid=InJwcYJf&pcrid=49113163959&pdv=c&site=us_search&country_switch=us&lang=en&gclid=CJCo-djCnsQCFeFj7Aodv0gADg" target="_blank"><b>gorgeous bottle</b></a> that the full-size version comes in!<br />
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5.<b> Full Lash Bloom mascara from Covergirl</b>. This isn't something that normally happens to me, but I saw a beauty guru wearing this in a YouTube video and immediately wanted to know what mascara she was wearing. What struck me about the mascara was that her lashes looked soft and touchable - not hard or crispy. Imagine my surprise when that actually ended up being the chief claim that <a href="http://www.covergirl.com/beauty-products/eye-makeup/mascara/full-lash-bloom-mascara" target="_blank"><b>Covergirl</b></a> makes about this mascara!<br />
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"With Full Lash Bloom Mascara, get exceptional lash fullness that’s soft - even to the touch. With our new petal-shaped brush and mousse formula with natural beeswax, lashes are never stiff or brittle."<br />
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It's not a thick lash, it's not a super lengthened lash, it's not a dramatic lash... but it's a nice, soft, everyday kind of lash.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q-tf6S-PW0k/VPe31pXG0XI/AAAAAAAAI2I/DCwp8mN_Rvo/s1600/DSC07731edited.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Covergirl Full Lash Bloom Mascara" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q-tf6S-PW0k/VPe31pXG0XI/AAAAAAAAI2I/DCwp8mN_Rvo/s1600/DSC07731edited.JPG" height="538" title="Covergirl Full Lash Bloom Mascara" width="640" /></a></div>
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6. <b>Benefit Roller Lash mascara</b> - I got this as a 100-point VIB present to myself upon checkout for #7. This <b><a href="http://www.sephora.com/roller-lash-P392516?keyword=roller%20lash&skuId=1665082&_requestid=86775" target="_blank">mascara</a> </b>claims to have an exciting "Hook 'n Roll" brush that "catches, lifts and curls." I love trying out new mascaras, and since my go-tos are usually drugstore brands, it's always exciting for me to try the higher-end stuff, too. I won't be opening this up till my current mascaras are done, but it's something to look forward to!<br />
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7. <b>Shiseido Ibuki Multi-Solution Gel</b> - this was the reason I was making that big purchase from Sephora in the first place. My face has been hurtin' for certain, for the last several months. If I could put a bag over my head, I would. I've tried all sorts of things to calm down my breakouts, and this gel is just the latest in the string of attempts. It claims to be "a uniquely textured beauty gel that targets breakouts, roughness, and the look of visible pores for clearer, smoother, and more beautiful skin." So far... I just don't know! It does seem to be making the breakouts go away faster, but it's not preventing them yet... which would be really god-damn ideal. I've been using it for 2-3 weeks now, and am hoping that I can see some really amazing results soon. Otherwise... paper bag, for the win.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Gyamh_LRlg/VPe3wcPMnkI/AAAAAAAAI1s/jdn0dZFbm-k/s1600/DSC07680edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Shiseido Ibuki Multi Solution Gel" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Gyamh_LRlg/VPe3wcPMnkI/AAAAAAAAI1s/jdn0dZFbm-k/s1600/DSC07680edited.JPG" height="604" title="Shiseido Ibuki Multi Solution Gel" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-saIEtaNKQww/VPe3wShh71I/AAAAAAAAI1o/pZ3pAa_h1Ec/s1600/DSC07682edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Shiseido Ibuki Multi Solution Gel" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-saIEtaNKQww/VPe3wShh71I/AAAAAAAAI1o/pZ3pAa_h1Ec/s1600/DSC07682edited.JPG" height="610" title="Shiseido Ibuki Multi Solution Gel" width="640" /></a> 8. <b>Twisted Peppermint Sparkling Snowflake Scrub from Bath & Body Works. </b>This isn't new, but I've been using it sparingly because it was a seasonal shower gel being sold back around Christmastime, and I can't bare the thought of running out. This sugary sweet peppermint scrub smells SO good that all I have to do is catch a faint waft of it to instantly feel happier. Sometimes I just pop open the cap and breathe it in, without even using it. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hxkov0e1Hmo/VPe31KRwJyI/AAAAAAAAI18/Vh27uFfcwqg/s1600/DSC07730edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Twisted Peppermint Sparkling Snowflake Scrub from Bath and Body Works" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hxkov0e1Hmo/VPe31KRwJyI/AAAAAAAAI18/Vh27uFfcwqg/s1600/DSC07730edited.JPG" height="544" title="Twisted Peppermint Sparkling Snowflake Scrub from Bath and Body Works" width="640" /></a></div>
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You know what else I've been loving? <b><a href="http://www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones#/" target="_blank">Game of Thrones</a>. </b>My golden goddess of a swan friend, Kate, gave me the first 3 seasons on a flashdrive back in early January, and I have been powering through them. What a good show! It's so exciting and SEXY all at once. I'm a little over halfway through Season 3, so now I'm fixing to get my hands on the 4th season, too.<br />
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Internet-wise, I've been loving <a href="http://rap.genius.com/" target="_blank"><b>Rap Genius</b></a>. This is a lyrics/song interpretation website where I can get lost for hours at a time - especially if I'm educating myself on an entire album. One time I was going track-by-track through Kanye's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and <a href="https://twitter.com/akaBailey/status/461672236080828416" target="_blank"><b>it took me 20 minutes</b></a> to get through the first chorus of <a href="http://genius.com/Kanye-west-all-of-the-lights-lyrics" target="_blank"><b>All of the Lights</b></a>. I've most definitely always been a person who focuses on the lyrics of songs, and even as a young child I would re-listen to songs intently to decipher the lyrics. As an adult, the interest clearly hasn't left me. Thanks for stoking my verbal fires, Rap Genius!<br />
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Lastly, my friends, guys. My friends have been making me happy and making me smile. Thank you to everyone who hangs out with me or chats with me or leaves me comments every day/week. It's more important to me than you probably even realize!<br />
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Well I hope that I sufficiently Debbed you out at the beginning of this blog and then swooped in swiftly with buckets and buckets of joy to make up for it.<br />
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What have you been into that helps to keep you smiling? Any good shopping websites or places to buy workout gear or any fun new beauty/fashion finds to share with me? <br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-42821487900959234002015-03-08T07:00:00.000-07:002015-03-15T12:19:45.505-07:00My Workouts of the WeekMy week of fitness started last Sunday with the filming session that I did for my company's YouTube channel. The workouts we did were quick but challenging, and we filmed five of them in about 90 minutes, so by the end of it, I was pretty wiped out. The all-over soreness I felt the next day really surprised me, but it was welcome. Muscle soreness is motivational for me - it makes me feel confident that my muscles are changing.<br />
<br />
Since I was so sore on Monday, I took it relatively easy at the gym that day with some hiking on the treadmill. Here's how the week looked in workouts:<br />
<br />
<div class="p1">
<b>3/2 (cardio)</b></div>
<div class="p1">
45 mins hiking* on the treadmill</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>3/4 (upper body)</b></div>
<div class="p1">
5 mins elliptical</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 13 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/chest-press-w-exercise-ball" target="_blank">chest press</a></b> on exercise ball, 12.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 13 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/bent-over-row" target="_blank">bent over rows</a></b>, 12.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 13 <a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/close-grip-chest-press" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">close grip chest press</a> on exercise ball, 12.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 20 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3vKCi8z4RQ" target="_blank">alternating single arm deltoid raise + deltoid fly</a></b>, 5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 13 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNUztYbC0G0" target="_blank">seated rows</a></b>, 37.5 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 26 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/dfQ-yKbc8fM?t=3m4s" target="_blank">alternating chest flys</a></b>, 5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 13 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEb-dwU3VF4" target="_blank">lat pulldowns</a></b>, 37.5 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
10 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh00_rniF8E" target="_blank">push-ups</a> (Note: my push-ups are NOT bad-ass status yet. I can currently only go about halfway down to the ground before pushing back up, but I'm going to work on it!)</b></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>3/5 (lower body)</b></div>
<div class="p1">
5 mins elliptical</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 30 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/weighted-calf-raises" target="_blank">calf raises</a></b>, 15 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZkgopVBPMg" target="_blank">leg lifts from side plank</a></b>, each leg</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxHwpl9d9Xs" target="_blank">static lunges</a></b> each leg, holding 6 lb medicine ball overhead</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 40 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/bridge" target="_blank">bridges</a></b></div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/b9xIHh54EPE?t=37s" target="_blank">sumo squats</a></b>, holding 17.5 lbs</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>3/6 (core)</b></div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbUVrpxxT1s" target="_blank">dynamic side planks</a></b> each side</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/ZQah0C0PPUc?t=1m24s" target="_blank">lying overhead raise + double crunch</a></b>, holding 5 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
4x: 5 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QurW5ELc4oA" target="_blank">plank pike up</a></b> on exercise ball</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 20 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/vsit-w-dumbbellstwist" target="_blank">v-sit twists</a></b>, holding 15 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 30 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/GauSAPrCRJA?t=1m43s" target="_blank">cobras</a></b></div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/reverse-crunch-w-leg-lifts" target="_blank">leg raises + reverse crunch</a></b></div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 30 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/GauSAPrCRJA?t=3m18s" target="_blank">Brazilian crunches</a></b></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>3/7 (cardio)</b></div>
35 mins hiking on the treadmill<br />
<br />
<i>* When I go "hiking" on the treadmill, I adjust the intensity and/or incline every minute for the entire duration, making sure to go through the entire range of available inclines (0-15).</i><br />
<br />
About 35 minutes into my "hike" last night, I was surprised by a trainer who came up to me to tell me they were closing. Until then I hadn't realized that everyone else in the entire gym had left! #Focus. So I had to cut my cardio session short, but I plan to go back today to do some arm work.<br />
<br />
Sidebar - I added a new exercise into my core workout this week: the plank pike up. It's an exercise that I'd never attempted before last weekend (when I was filming those workout videos), but it ended up being a really awesome move that I couldn't wait to try on my own. It's challenging and effective, and I'm excited to get better at it!<br />
<br />
Have you learned any new exercises lately? I'd love to hear about it!<br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-60968909267269595482015-03-06T11:02:00.002-08:002015-03-06T11:19:38.375-08:00Mint with Envy NailsIt didn't occur to me until I was neck-deep in this mani that St. Patrick's Day is approaching and that I should have maybe waited a week or two to post an all-green nail polish look. But... calendars be damned, AMIRIGHT?!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-09ZhbXqjnI0/VPn1cb89UFI/AAAAAAAAI3w/OnWiuOzkvNc/s1600/DSC07762edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Green nails with a minty silver accent nail" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-09ZhbXqjnI0/VPn1cb89UFI/AAAAAAAAI3w/OnWiuOzkvNc/s1600/DSC07762edited.JPG" height="588" title="Green nails with a minty silver accent nail" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
With two coats of Envy by Sinful Colors on all nails but my ring fingernails, I set about using a pale, sparkly sage-mint polish for an accent nail. Upon realizing that the mint (Green Tea by LA Colors) was about as sheer as the day is long, I had to make a tweak to save my sanity. Applying 45 coats to reach opacity is simply out of the question for me, personally. Do what you will with your own time!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ToZrR8HhqtY/VPn1bw8rx_I/AAAAAAAAI3k/APe1azDMMwE/s1600/DSC07744edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Nail polish look - green nails with a mint silver accent nail" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ToZrR8HhqtY/VPn1bw8rx_I/AAAAAAAAI3k/APe1azDMMwE/s1600/DSC07744edited.JPG" height="624" title="Nail polish look - green nails with a mint silver accent nail" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
So instead, I used Beware by Pure Ice for a base polish - the best damn silver glitter polish there is. It's opaque enough after one coat, but you can work it up with another coat if you'd like. For this, I used one coat of Beware and then topped it with 2 coats of Green Tea. The effect was a cool minty-silver glitter... as you might have expected.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qacehYH-77w/VPn1b-hhajI/AAAAAAAAI3o/EV9GSc7JhNM/s1600/DSC07741edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sinful Colors Envy, LA Colors Green Tea, nail polish" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qacehYH-77w/VPn1b-hhajI/AAAAAAAAI3o/EV9GSc7JhNM/s1600/DSC07741edited.JPG" height="588" title="Sinful Colors Envy, LA Colors Green Tea, nail polish" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2dSTvkW10DY/VPn1b76ELnI/AAAAAAAAI3s/1qcPCCrXLHE/s1600/DSC07742edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Sinful Colors Envy, LA Colors Green Tea, nail polish, silver glitter accent" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2dSTvkW10DY/VPn1b76ELnI/AAAAAAAAI3s/1qcPCCrXLHE/s1600/DSC07742edited.jpg" height="640" title="Sinful Colors Envy, LA Colors Green Tea, nail polish, silver glitter accent" width="628" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Tonight I have a sushi date at <b><a href="http://www.seibar.com/" target="_blank">Sei Bar</a></b> in Medford with my friend Steph and her friend Cris. The three of us have been doing a monthly sushi date together for the last few months, with each of us taking turns treating the others. Tonight is my turn! Sei Bar has some incredible sushi, so it's really a win-win of food and friends. We're actually planning on taking our order to-go this time, to bring it back to Cris' house for some more comfortable dining and chatting. Steph is even bringing along her adorable French bulldog puppy, Gertrude. (Who, by the way, has her own Instagram account - <a href="http://instagram.com/omg_gertrude" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">@omg_gertrude</a>.)<br />
<br />
Other than that, I have no real obligations or plans this weekend. Loosely on my to-do list is to clean my bathroom and then take a luxurious bubble bath, but maybe I'll also do something spontaneous like take a little day trip somewhere around New England.<br />
<br />
What are you up to this weekend?<br />
Tell me your go-to sushi order!<br />
Whatcha rockin' on your nailseses?<br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-6224483905259605792015-03-01T15:23:00.000-08:002015-03-02T18:18:26.455-08:00Welcome Back: Workouts of the Week!After taking off what amounted to a solid 5 months from my "normal" gym routine, I was finally given clearance in January from my physical therapist to ease back into my workouts. For those of you who haven't been sitting at the cool table, I'd been having arm/neck/shoulder problems since the summer, which made use of my left arm pretty limited. Now that I'm feeling better, I've been going to the gym kind of a lot this past month - and hope to continue the habit so that I can start to feel like a real <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hJ1E7JFw64" target="_blank">bad mamma jamma</a></b> again.<br />
<br />
So since the gym has come back into my life in full force, it seemed negligent not to start up my Workouts of the Week blog again. Note: This is not at all by popular demand. I don't care.<br />
<br />
That said, here are all of my workouts from just this past week, including links to demos of each exercise in case you want to see any of them in action!<br />
<br />
<div class="p1">
<b>2/22 (cardio and core)</b></div>
<div class="p1">
30 mins hiking on the treadmill</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 20 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/videos/play/russian-abs-exercise-upper-body-ab-workout" target="_blank">Russian get ups</a></b>, holding 5 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 40 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/GauSAPrCRJA?t=3m18s" target="_blank">Brazilian crunches</a></b></div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 20 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/vsit-w-dumbbellstwist" target="_blank">weighted v-sit twists</a></b>, holding 15 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 30 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/GauSAPrCRJA?t=1m43s" target="_blank">cobras</a></b></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>2/23 (lower body)</b></div>
<div class="p1">
5 mins elliptical</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 40 <b><a href="http://fitnessmagazine.com/videos/m/85788123/the-5-minute-butt-workout.htm" target="_blank">diamond clamshells</a></b> each leg</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 40 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/weighted-calf-raises" target="_blank">calf raises</a></b>, 15 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 40 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/ApUNzIkY8SU?t=41s" target="_blank">seated leg extensions</a></b> each leg (no weight)</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/deadlift-w-dumbbells" target="_blank">deadlifts</a></b>, 15 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 40 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/bridge" target="_blank">bridges</a></b></div>
<div class="p1">
30-seconds <b><a href="http://youtu.be/awnHbinfGr8?t=9m39s" target="_blank">marching from bridge position</a></b></div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/squat-w-dumbbells" target="_blank">squats</a></b>, holding 15 lbs</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>2/24 (cardio)</b></div>
<div class="p1">
40 mins hiking on treadmill</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>2/25 (upper body)</b></div>
<div class="p1">
5 mins elliptical</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 12 <a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/close-grip-chest-press" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">close grip chest press</a> on exercise ball, 12.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 12 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNUztYbC0G0" target="_blank">seated rows</a></b>, 37.5 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 12 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/chest-press-w-exercise-ball" target="_blank">chest press</a></b> on exercise ball, 12.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 12 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/bent-over-row" target="_blank">bent over rows</a></b>, 12.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 13 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/deltoid-raise" target="_blank">deltoid raises</a></b>, 5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 12 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/deltoid-fly" target="_blank">deltoid flys</a></b>, 5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 24 <b><a href="http://youtu.be/dfQ-yKbc8fM?t=3m4s" target="_blank">alternating chest flys</a></b>, 7.5 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>2/26 (lower body)</b></div>
<div class="p1">
5 mins elliptical</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 40 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/bridge" target="_blank">bridges</a></b></div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZkgopVBPMg" target="_blank">side plank with leg lift</a></b>, each leg</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 15 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/squat-w-dumbbells" target="_blank">squats</a></b>, holding 15 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 40 <b><a href="http://fitnessmagazine.com/videos/m/85788123/the-5-minute-butt-workout.htm" target="_blank">diamond clamshells</a></b> each leg</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 40 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/weighted-calf-raises" target="_blank">calf raises</a></b>, 15 lbs each hand</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>2/28 (core)</b></div>
<div class="p1">
5 mins elliptical</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 30 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/vsit-w-dumbbellstwist" target="_blank">weighted v-sit twists</a></b>, holding 15 lbs</div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 20 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/reverse-crunch-w-leg-lifts" target="_blank">leg raises + reverse crunch</a></b></div>
<div class="p1">
3x: 20 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/videos/play/russian-abs-exercise-upper-body-ab-workout" target="_blank">Russian get ups</a></b>, holding 5 lbs</div>
3x: 20 <b><a href="http://www.diet.com/exercise/dynamic-side-plank" target="_blank">dynamic side planks</a></b> each side<br />
<br />
When I go "hiking" on the treadmill, I adjust the intensity and/or incline every minute for the entire duration, making sure to go through the entire range of inclines available. It's kind of fun and works up a great sweat.<br />
<br />
On a related note, I had that video shoot this afternoon for my company's YouTube channel. It went better than I expected, so hopefully the videos came out well. We filmed enough for 5 different short workout videos, so that's a good crop of material for the channel. Our videographer, Matt, posted an Instagram pic of the shoot in action, if you want to see it <b><a href="http://instagram.com/p/zsbu_vHRIM/" target="_blank">here</a></b>!<br />
<br />
Alright, I hope that this has inspired you in some way to keep working towards your own fitness goals. Do you have any online resources for workout ideas? Share them with me!<br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-42179038946792417092015-02-27T05:30:00.000-08:002015-02-27T07:34:19.316-08:00Leopard Print and Navy NailsThis was not my original plan for today's nails, but while innocently scrolling through my <a href="https://instagram.com/akabaileyblog" target="_blank"><b>Instagram</b></a> feed yesterday, I spotted <a href="https://instagram.com/p/zkDT5Jm5oW/?modal=true" target="_blank"><b>this outfit post</b></a> from ASOS, which immediately inspired me to abandon all other plans and do a leopard/navy mani instead. See how spontaneous I am? So spontaneous.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nwPscXM-IFM/VO_EF9u5cAI/AAAAAAAAIz8/XOCuz4W0oaA/s1600/DSC07715edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Navy nails with leopard print accent" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nwPscXM-IFM/VO_EF9u5cAI/AAAAAAAAIz8/XOCuz4W0oaA/s1600/DSC07715edited.JPG" height="558" title="Navy nails with leopard print accent" width="640" /></a></div>
According to some (myself included), both leopard and navy are suitable to be considered neutrals. So g'wan then. Pair them with WHATEVERTHEHELL you want, ladies. It's your world.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3PGyNDQBe90/VO_EGOqJyyI/AAAAAAAAIz4/6y7Ax0erPk8/s1600/DSC07718edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Navy nails with leopard print accent, Essie Case Study" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3PGyNDQBe90/VO_EGOqJyyI/AAAAAAAAIz4/6y7Ax0erPk8/s1600/DSC07718edited.jpg" height="632" title="Navy nails with leopard print accent, Essie Case Study" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The blue I used was a generically titled "Navy" polish from Forever 21's Love & Beauty line. It's actually a really nice polish, despite what the $2.80 price tag might have you expecting. It's shiny, self-leveling, and is opaque in 2 coats. It's also shimmer-free, which gives it some class, I think.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-55sOYGnJdLI/VO_EHm-53wI/AAAAAAAAI0I/niAvphylcCk/s1600/DSC07727edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Navy nails with leopard print accent" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-55sOYGnJdLI/VO_EHm-53wI/AAAAAAAAI0I/niAvphylcCk/s1600/DSC07727edited.jpg" height="640" title="Navy nails with leopard print accent" width="520" /></a></div>
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For the leopard accent nails: the base is 2 coats of Essie's Case Study, the spots are a gorgeous silver-infused cocoa polish from Love & Beauty (aptly called Cocoa), and the darker brown accents are a suuuuuuper old Sally Hansen "New Lengths" polish called Mink Stole Creme.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRXdwCnQYAY/VO_EF4wg29I/AAAAAAAAI0Y/wLMAZcf2wWg/s1600/DSC07709edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Navy nails with leopard print accent, Love & Beauty navy nail polish" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRXdwCnQYAY/VO_EF4wg29I/AAAAAAAAI0Y/wLMAZcf2wWg/s1600/DSC07709edited.JPG" height="568" title="Navy nails with leopard print accent, Love & Beauty navy nail polish" width="640" /></a></div>
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After cleaning up the edges with acetone, I topped everything with a coat of Seche Vite and gave my hands a nice dose of Aveeno Skin Relief hand cream. My poor hands have been so dry lately that they've been cracking and even bleeding a little. A sign that a) winter is a bitch, and b) I'm possibly dehydrated? Oops.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cLBIZyBxrh4/VO_EGnTdD8I/AAAAAAAAI0A/YiPVvN6dMVU/s1600/DSC07726edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Navy nails with leopard print accent nails" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cLBIZyBxrh4/VO_EGnTdD8I/AAAAAAAAI0A/YiPVvN6dMVU/s1600/DSC07726edited.jpg" height="520" title="Navy nails with leopard print accent nails" width="640" /></a></div>
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Tonight I'm going to see one of my favorite comedians perform in Somerville! <b><a href="http://twitter.com/tedalexandro" target="_blank">Ted Alexandro</a></b> has been a fav amongst my siblings and I for over a decade now, and this will be the third time I've seen him live. Mayhaps you even remember the write-up I did about the time I saw him in Vancouver in 2013 - if not, <a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-night-of-comedy-in-vancouver.html" target="_blank"><b>here it is</b></a>! I'm not sure yet if anyone else is coming with me to the show, but whateva - big girls can get their laugh on by themselves if they need to.<br />
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In other weekend news, on Sunday afternoon I'm going to be doing something kind of scary: I'll be filming some short workout videos with a local fitness professional for my company's YouTube channel. The girl who was slated to demo the exercises in the shoot had to
back out for scheduling reasons, so I volunteered to step in. It's a pretty well-known channel with kind of a lot of subscribers, so I'm nervous fo' sho, but I'm trying to be better about embracing the "if it doesn't scare you, it's not worth doing" mentality to step out of my comfort zone. Wish me luckkkk! And depending on how the videos turn out... maybe I will share them here on my blog ;)<br />
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On a related note, I've been going to the gym a lot lately and am thinking about starting back up my "Workouts of the Week" series this Sunday. Would that be of any interest to anyone? Let me know... but I might just do it anyway because it is <i>my </i>party, after all.<br />
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What are YOOOOU up to this weekend?<br />
Doing anything outside of your comfort zone?<br />
Whatcha got on dose nails doe?<br />
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{Linking with <a href="http://www.jennieshaw.ca/2015/02/the-nail-files-chrome-n-cashmere.html" target="_blank"><b>The Nail Files</b></a> and <a href="http://stylelixir.com/2015/02/the-best-beauty-products.html" target="_blank"><b>Fab Favorites</b></a>}<b> </b></div>
aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-92086673650219416272015-02-24T13:01:00.001-08:002015-02-24T13:01:18.647-08:00Looking for a New Book?WELL DAMN GIRL, you are in luck. My blogging buddy - the talented and endlessly sweet Joey from <a href="http://www.hodgespodges.com/" target="_blank"><b>Hodges Podges</b></a> - has released her self-published e-book, <b><a href="http://amzn.to/1DiZ2nV" target="_blank"><i>Yeah, Maybe</i></a></b>, and it is on HELLA SALE this week!<br />
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<i>Yeah, Maybe</i>, is normally $7.99 but you can buy it this week for $1.99... and <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=y%27ought%27a" target="_blank"><b>y'ought'a</b></a>. Here's the blurb for the book:<br />
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<i>For quiet, reserved, and focused 15 year old Annie Mackey, school was a sanctuary. But when her bubbly and beautiful neighborhood best friend joins her at Willow Point High for freshmen year, her world is turned upside down.</i><i><br />Everything Annie could count on for stability is shattered, and she's left feeling more alone than ever before.<br /><br />Just when she's about to lose all hope, someone unexpected swoops in and gives her a much needed lesson in perspective.</i><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XPJloz63kN8/VOzmQe3LDyI/AAAAAAAAIzo/A8og_ppYspQ/s1600/yeahmaybesale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yeah, Maybe, Joey Hodges, ebook" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XPJloz63kN8/VOzmQe3LDyI/AAAAAAAAIzo/A8og_ppYspQ/s1600/yeahmaybesale.jpg" height="400" title="Yeah, Maybe, Joey Hodges, ebook" width="398" /></a></div>
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The book is available on Amazon here: <a href="http://amzn.to/1DiZ2nV">http://amzn.to/1DiZ2nV</a> (not an affiliate link)<br />
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If you are a lover of books and are looking for something new to read, why not spend just $2 to support a self-published writer with a heart of gold like Joey? DO IT.<br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428570350002834657.post-17197654121412451902015-02-20T15:43:00.003-08:002015-02-22T09:38:45.289-08:0050 Shades of Blue NailsNope, sorry that was a total lie. It's only 2 shades of blue. Just enough to do some diagonal color-blocking on my accent nails. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hda15fKzExo/VOfE25sLBLI/AAAAAAAAIzQ/EunBX23LIso/s1600/DSC07664edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Two-toned color blocked blue nails" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hda15fKzExo/VOfE25sLBLI/AAAAAAAAIzQ/EunBX23LIso/s1600/DSC07664edited.JPG" height="596" title="Two-toned color blocked blue nails" width="640" /></a></div>
I used 3 coats of Essie's Lapiz of Luxury on all of my nails. Once those were dry, I placed a small strip of an Essence Nail Art sticker (shown <a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2014/02/drugstore-madness-just-madness.html" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>) across my ring and thumb nails on a diagonal, then painted above the sticker with Sally Hansen's Pacific Blue.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oCOiANklXt4/VOfE1_FQzGI/AAAAAAAAIy4/ZHkRq64DMCU/s1600/DSC07669edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Light blue and bright blue nails" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oCOiANklXt4/VOfE1_FQzGI/AAAAAAAAIy4/ZHkRq64DMCU/s1600/DSC07669edited.JPG" height="618" title="Light blue and bright blue nails" width="640" /></a></div>
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Before that dried, I quickly used a pair of tweezers to peel away the sticker and then topped everything with a coat of Seche Vite to smooth out all the lines.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m7F9UY8eCEo/VOfE13sDS1I/AAAAAAAAIy8/7yBjmRwhYAA/s1600/DSC07670edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Essie Lapiz of Luxury, Sally Hansen Pacific Blue nail polish" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m7F9UY8eCEo/VOfE13sDS1I/AAAAAAAAIy8/7yBjmRwhYAA/s1600/DSC07670edited.JPG" height="640" title="Essie Lapiz of Luxury, Sally Hansen Pacific Blue nail polish" width="580" /></a></div>
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I was actually originally planning to do this two-tone mani with a kelly green and a turquoise, but my bottle of Turquoise & Caicos was SUPER gloopy when I removed the cap! Guess I'll need to replace that. Both Lapiz of Luxury and Turquoise & Caicos came from the same Resort Collection from Essie, and I featured them together in one of my more Pinterest-popular manis <a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2014/05/resort-nails-blue-turquoise.html" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QeFthqrAdEI/VOfE2bPBFTI/AAAAAAAAIzE/WREDZqHARnw/s1600/DSC07673edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Color blocked blue nails and cute coffee cup wire ring" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QeFthqrAdEI/VOfE2bPBFTI/AAAAAAAAIzE/WREDZqHARnw/s1600/DSC07673edited.JPG" height="494" title="Color blocked blue nails and cute coffee cup wire ring" width="640" /></a></div>
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Also - I'd love to draw your attention to the adorable rings in the picture above. I spotted the coffee cup ring <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/389209592772555304/" target="_blank"><b>on Pinterest</b></a> and <i>literally</i> clicked right through <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/173565403/coffee-addict-or-tea-lover-in-silver" target="_blank"><b>to the Etsy page</b></a> and bought it. For only $9 plus shipping, it was absolutely worth it. And to my delight, the seller, Lorelei, included a little hand-written note in the parcel, as well as a surprise extra midi ring!<br />
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I didn't yet own any midi rings so this was pretty exciting for me. Bonus point to you, Lorelei! #FistBump. And just FYI, she had no way of knowing that I have a blog or that I was going to shout out her shop, so this isn't at all sponsored. But if you are as charmed by these delicate and affordable rings as I am, you should <i>prolllllllllllly</i> head over to her Etsy shop - <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/MyRingsAndThings" target="_blank"><b>My Rings and Things</b></a> - and support some hand-made craftsmanship. Tell her I sent you, for good measure ;)<br />
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In other news entirely, this has been a week of dental issues and acupuncture... separately, not at once. (Though maybe the acupuncture could relieve the gum pain I'm having.) I've got a wisdom tooth coming in that's not treating its host very kindly right now. It's growing in at an atrocious angle and digging into my cheek, so I had to get a consultation today with an oral surgeon to see what I should do about it. Perhaps you remember the tale of getting my first wisdom tooth removed (if not, you should <a href="http://akabailey.blogspot.com/2013/04/peace-out-wisdom-tooth-1.html" target="_blank"><b>go check it out</b></a> - it's even illustrated). Well I should probably have gotten all four of them extracted back when I was living in Canada with affordable dental insurance... but the first one just hurt SO MUCH that I couldn't really bare the thought of getting the others removed. Especially because none of them were even erupted yet - they were all still chilling deep under my gums. <br />
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Anyway, now it'll probably cost me quite a bit to get them removed, so.... to everyone who told me to just bite the bullet and get that shit taken care of when I was in Canada... you were right, you sonsofbitches. I was wrong. HAPPY NOW?<br />
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As for the acupuncture - that was just a random thing for me to try out, because I figured with all of the emotional and physical turmoil I've been through over the last 6 months or so... it couldn't hurt to try. My friend Kara has been going to an acupuncture place in Cambridge, so I headed there on Wednesday to check it out. The place I went to - Acupuncture Together - has you sit in a comfortable chair in a room of others who are doing the same, and you just kick off your socks/shoes, roll up your pant legs... and relax while they stick you with needles. The needles - shockingly - don't hurt as they go in. I know, you probably don't believe it. They do feel a little itchy/burny if you move the wrong way while they're in you, but it's nothing as bad as what I'd been anticipating. And no, I didn't feel any differently after my first session, but Kara and I are going back there together tomorrow morning for another round!<br />
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Alright I've clearly rambled enough for now... I hope you have a great weekend!<br />
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Anyone else dealing with unruly wisdom teeth or have any tips about relieving teething pain?<br />
Have you ever tried acupuncture? <br />
What are you rocking on your nails today?<br />
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aka Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08231858437719453953noreply@blogger.com16