How To Be A Morning Person

       If you dread mornings, you may just be in need of planning them out better. I feel like I have really crafted myself into becoming a morning person over time, and I wanted to share some things that have really made a difference.

1) Wake up early enough to not be in a rush - Nothing makes me more anxious than having to hurry with my morning routine. I like to wake up at least an hour and a half before I have to be out the door. This way, I can take my time getting ready and have a stress-free start to my day.

2) Give yourself something to look forward to - For me, coffee really motivates me to get out of bed in the morning haha. When something you enjoy is waiting for you, you will have one more reason to get up and start your day.

3) Eat a healthy breakfast - So many people skip breakfast, but it truly is the most important meal of the day. It fuels your morning and kick starts your metabolism. If I am in a time crunch, I will eat cereal or toaster waffles, but I try to make time to have a nutritious and hearty breakfast.

One of my favorite breakfasts is oatmeal, considering it is so delicious and filling. I like to add banana slices, nut butter, and chia seeds. Chia seeds are probably my favorite superfood, containing omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. I usually make instant oats, unless I have time to cook them on the stovetop.

With toast, the options are endless. Lately, I've been eating it with avocado and tomatoes. Perfect for the spring! Toast is so quick and easy, you cannot go wrong.

4) Pick out your outfit the night before - Not knowing what to wear can be a major setback in the morning. To avoid making your closet look like a tornado went through it, lay out what you are going to wear the day before, so all you have to do is put it on the following morning.

5) Sit down and reflect - Think about what your intentions are for the day. Journaling is a great method, but just thinking to yourself can give the same effects. Mornings determine what direction the rest of the day is going to go in, so having a thoughtful start can make your day much more productive and enjoyable.

Those were a few of the ways I get my life together in the morning. Let me know if you like these types of posts, and want to see more of them. Hope you enjoyed!
Thanks for reading.
- much love, Suzan J

My Favorite Superfood Smoothie Bowl

       The heat has come full on, and for me that means one thing: smoothies. It's kind of funny how I will go 3/4 of the year not even thinking about making one, until it's ninety degrees out and I need a refreshing pick-me-up. To be completely honest, my smoothies consist of whatever I have in my house at that moment, but my usual recipe goes something like this:

Ingredients
- 1/2 cup strawberries
- 1/2 a banana
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tsp maca powder
- 1/3 cup frozen blueberries
- 1/3 cup almond milk (or to your desired consistency)
toppings:
- goji berries
- chia seeds
- banana slices
- strawberries
- frozen blueberries
- granola (I used Trader Joe's Fruit & Seed Granola)

Directions
 Throw it all in a blender and pour it into a glass or bowl. I prefer to eat it as a smoothie bowl, so I almost always add toppings.

I hope you try this smoothie recipe, as it is the perfect breakfast or snack for a hot summer day. Thanks for reading!
- much love, Suzan J

10 Habits For A Better You

       I think the most significant conclusion that I have come to this year has been that I really just want to live my best life. As cliche as it sounds, putting meaningless issues aside, and focusing on yourself can make you feel so much better on a daily basis. I wanted to share some tips on how to be the best possible version of yourself.

1) Express Gratitude - A common misconception on being grateful is that you have to settle, or not want anything more from life. Contrarily, gratitude is about appreciating the things you do already have, and not taking anything for granted. Just a few minutes thinking about what you are thankful for can transform your outlook.

2) Exercise Regularly - As humans, staying active is essential. Just 30 minutes of exercise can make you feel so much better. Hitting the gym isn't necessary, just figure out what you like and do it.

3) Eat mindfully - We have full control over what we put in our bodies, so fueling yourself with nutritionally dense foods can have a large impact on the way you feel. Put good in, get good out.

4) Limit time on social media - I don't know what it is about social media these days, but it really just makes me feel drained. It's an amazing platform, but don't spend your whole life on it, as it is not 100% real. Putting your phone down an hour before you go to sleep can be really beneficial.

5) Make time for things you enjoy doing - Do things you love! If you make time for activities that fill you with joy, chances are, you will become a much happier person.

6) Be open to learning new things - Everyday, there are millions of new things out there to learn about. Being open to attaining information outside of the classroom can broaden your horizons and teach you important life lessons.

7) Have alone time/ take time to center yourself -  Whether it's praying, meditation, or just a few minutes thinking about life, spend some time reflecting upon your day, and tuning in with yourself.

8) Put yourself first - Don't be afraid to say no! Trust me, I am the type of person that will sacrifice their well being just to make sure everything goes well, but that is something I am trying to change. There is nothing wrong with holding yourself at the top of your priorities and is, if anything, a form of self respect.

9) Treat others well - There is always a story behind a person and if they aren't treating you well, chances are they are dealing with deeper issues. Putting out more negative energy is only going to make a situation worse, so stepping away is sometimes your best bet.

10) Don't beat yourself up - Tell yourself "good job" once in a while! Give yourself a pat on the back for your accomplishments, since other people aren't always going to do that for you.

I hope this was helpful in some way.
Thanks for reading!
- much love, Suzan J

A Rainy Day in NYC

    Today, my mom and I spent the day in NYC. The gloomy weather was, in my opinion, perfect for wandering the streets of the city. I feel so lucky to live close by, since it is probably my favorite place to explore. There's something about the energy in New York, where there is always something going on, and something new to see. We visited the 9th Avenue International Food Festival, but ended up walking all the way to Upper West Side. I swear, you don't even feel the distance. That is - until the next day. Besides strolling through several random streets, I wanted to pick up some cookies from Levain Bakery. I had seen the ooey-gooey wonders all over Instagram, and decided to take advantage of the opportunity and go there. I was not dissapointed. Heaven in my mouth. That was basically my laid back Saturday summed up, and I will be shortly returning to the city when there is some actual spring weather.

Thanks for reading!
- much love, Suzan J

Who am I? - the question we can't seem to answer

     In today's society, we are on an endless endeavor to find "who we truly are". Some have it figured out from the start, and some stay waiting for their epiphany, when everything is supposed to start making sense. What if we already know who we are? What if the best version of ourselves is already in us, and always has been? This is something that I have grown to be a firm believer of. Everyday, we are faced with judgement and criticism that can be a major setback for achieving what we want. Many setbacks are illusions we create for ourselves, thinking that we can't possibly be able to achieve what we truly want. We are so harsh on ourselves and automatically say no to so many ideas, then wonder why we aren't living up to our full potential. Of course different experiences shape us, but is it true that you aren't yourself until you decide upon that one day? We know who we are, even if outside factors challenge that, we do know deep down. We are everything that's in us at this second, no matter what boundaries there are in our way. There is a world of opportunities that is ready for us whenever we understand that we are enough at the current moment.

Thanks for reading!
- much love, Suzan J

Finding Dance

        Growing up, I tried many different sports, including swimming, basketball, and gymnastics, but I never felt in my element with those activities. I tried out ballet and tap when I was five, but I quit after a year, thinking it just wasn't for me. After all, being only five years old, I had quite a lot of self discovery to do. And so I kept switching sports, but I just couldn't find my niche. In fifth grade, I became obsessed with Dance Moms, and began dancing around in my house until my parents decided to sign me up for dance class the following year. I joined a studio and immediately fell in love. Not gonna lie, it was a bit hard to catch on at first, since I was so inexperienced, but I stuck with it and I am glad that I did.

Now, I'm on my fourth year back, and currently taking lyrical, jazz, ballet, and pointe. I just got on pointe this year, and it means a lot to me because that was a huge goal of mine ever since I returned. There's something about the precision and technique of ballet that I find so fascinating. Dance is most likely going to stay only a hobby, and there are many things that I want to improve on (such as my arch) , but I'm glad that I finally found a physical activity I love. If you want to try something new, go for it, even if you don't think you could possibly be good at it, because you may be finding a new passion.



Thanks for reading!
- much love, Suzan J

Focus on now

            Everyday you have plenty of things that are out of your control and one thing that you are in full control of: yourself. One of my favorite quotes is "Attitude is everything", because it truly is. Every single day, we are bombarded with the polished versions of people's lives on social media, making us think that we are not good enough. Throughout the past year or so, I was stuck in a slump of comparing myself to just about anyone I saw. I would scroll through my feed and see a bunch of people my age doing huge things with their lives, making me feel like I was doing something wrong. One day, I came to the realization that comparison really is the thief of joy, and everyone is going to have a different journey. The only life I have is mine, and I am going to savor and appreciate every second. I feel like we often make life much more complicated than it is, and put out this message that you have to "hustle" every moment of your life and any time you spend not hustling is a waste. Working hard is definitely the way to go, but embracing the time in between projects and chapters is equally as important. Enjoy the confusion and take in every single moment. You aren't always going to have a detailed plan of your future and that is more than okay. Have high standards but low expectations. Focus on the present moment.
- much love, Suzan J