Dorm Essentials

I feel like a hermit crab. How they start with one shell then once they grow bigger, they must move into another shell. My old 'shell' was my room- white, simple, clean. And this dorm is my new 'shell'. It doesn't quite fit me properly, but one day it will fit me as best as possible.
Surprisingly, what has kept me sane and my routine most similar to my life back home are two ordinary drawers from Target. No, not the phone calls to my parents, or Skype sessions with my friends, but these drawers and the contents inside. Bizarre? Yeah, I know, but let me explain..
It holds my food and supplements. My beloved kind bars, chia and flax seeds, coconut oil, tea bags, and more that I can always go to instead of the gross food options in the dining hall. It also holds all my skin and hair care to help me look my best despite the late nights. Lastly, it holds my hobbies. When the stress of school becomes too much I can unwind by knitting and when I have time off, I can make jewelry. When life gets hard, I will always have my trusty drawers.

All Hail Kate

  Kate Moss looking like a golden goddess in Versace's spring 2013 campaign.

Photographer: Mert&Marcus

Source: fashiongonerogue

Kate King

Oats/Quinoa Porridge

My favorite meal of the day is breakfast. A good breakfast will (should) kick start your day and give you tons of energy to tackle your tasks. I always like to make sure that my breakfast has a good amount of carbs and protein so it keeps me full all the way until lunch. Now since the weather in LA has become chillier, I like to wake up, take a warm shower, and then have a warm breakfast accompanied by warm tea (see a trend here?). One of my favorite cozy and body-warming breakfast at the moment is oatmeal.

You may be thinking, "You said oatmeal so why is quinoa pictured?!". For me, they have the same effect. Quinoa is the equivalent to oats, well at least for breakfast. Both oatmeal and quinoa are great sources of protein (quinoa is a complete protein with nine amino acids) and fiber, which will keep you energized and feeling full for a longer period of time.

After I cook the grain of choice in water, I put it into a bowl and prepare for toppings! I approach this task similarly to a five year old at an ice cream parlor. I almost always put almond milk into my quinoa while it's still cooking in the pot to give it a more soup-y texture, but I don't always put it in my oatmeal; it depends on my mood and how the oats have absorbed the water. Adding some kind of nut (pictured: almond butter and almonds) adds some extra protein, which again will keep you full and not to mention, is essential for your muscles if/when you workout! Coconut oil also goes into it while it is still hot, as it is packed full of benefits (I will post about it soon!). Not pictured, but always included, is some type of seasonal fruit. Some options are berries, apples, bananas- get creative! I also add cinnamon and chia seeds; chia seeds are a good source of Omega 3's, protein, and fiber. 

The quinoa is really convenient because you can cook up a big serving one night and put it in the fridge for the rest of the week. To heat it up, pop it in the microwave or back into a pot with a little bit of water or milk until it's warmed. It's also great cold!

Let me know what your favorite toppings are on your oatmeal!

Intro

This is my first health related post! Wooo! So I thought I would tell you some things about myself..

My Diet

I don't consider myself vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, etc etc, but I do try to steer clear of all unnecessary things, such as meat, dairy, gluten, processed foods, refined sugars, and the list goes on. The reason I don't consider myself vegetarian despite rarely eating meat is because when the rare occasion occurs where I am absolutely craving meat, I don't want to restrict myself. Right now, I am young and I don't want to live by any rules (sorry that sounds so cliche, hehe). I try to feed myself with whole, hearty, and satisfying foods that fuel my body inorder to get through the day.

My Schedule

I'm a senior in high school so I start school at 8 am and get home at about 1:30 most days. On a normal school day, I wake up at 6:30, eat breakfast at 7, get home at 1:30 and have lunch, workout before dinner, and then have dinner any where from 5-7. I try not to eat past 7 in order to let my stomach digest my food in time for bed. I also have snacks throughout the day for when I get hungry, but that varies from day to day. On the weekends I wake up no later than 10 take advantages of the weekends by trying new recipes or trying new restaurants.

My Exercise 

I will go to the gym to work out, do workouts at home by watching YouTube videos, or run/walk around the neighborhood, but on some days, life just gets in the way and I rest. At the gym I do the elliptical for cardio or create my own workout. I also like to take the classes that the gym offers, my favorites being pilates, boxing, yoga, and rowing.

So, I hope this gave you insight into my daily routine!

New In: Health

I'm starting my New Years Resolution a few days early and I am going to start up this blog again! Before I posted mainly about beauty and editorials (and I will continue to post about those things), but I also want to delve into health related posts. I am passionate about health, just as I am passionate about beauty and fashion, so I found this fitting. So, I hope you guys enjoy my health posts (if there even is anyone reading this..), as well as everything else I blog about!

Ashley Smith shot for The Sunday Telegraph