It’s a weird pet peeve of mine when people complain-brag about being busy butttt the past week has been pretty hectic (in a good way). So thanks for baring with me and the light blogging schedule! Let’s get to a belated roundup of June favorites.
Favorite Products & Services
Activewear Scores from ThredUp
I mentioned that I love ThredUp for consigning clothes I no longer want, but this month I fell in love with it from the shopper’s side. I got the above Lululemon tank, J. Crew sweatpants, Beyond Yoga leggings and Maaji bra top (which I’ve been wearing as a bikini top) for over 50% off!
I actually went to consign another bag with ThredUp recently and noticed that there’s now a waiting list (up to 16 weeks!!) so kinda stinks if you’re a seller–awesome time to buy from them though!
Yukon Sleeveless Dress from Fabletics
Fabletics sent me their Yukon Sleeveless Dress and I’ve been wearing it nonstop. Around the apartment (if you think I’m wearing pants in the privacy of my own home you’re sorely mistaken); as a cover-up to the beach or pool; walking around Boston when I’m too lazy to coordinate an outfit–I love this thing.
Sheet Masks
LOL to that picture of me but it’s impossible to smile in these things!
I am totally late to the game with this sheet mask thing but now I’m obsessed. I got one as a gift from my friend and then Leader’s Cosmetics sent me a whole bundle. I haven’t tried them all yet, but so far the Coconut Gel Mask with Blueberry is my favorite. I used it before bed and the next morning I was honestly blown away at how hydrated my skin looked. I wouldn’t say I have wrinkles just yet, but I definitely have fine lines forming above my eyebrows and around my mouth and they weren’t visible at all the morning after using this sheet mask. Say what??! I’ll keep you guys posted as I try out the others–and definitely let me know if you have any other sheet mask suggestions.
Rent the Runway
Why has it taken me this long to use Rent the Runway?? I finally used the service for the dress I wore to my friend’s wedding and had the best experience. I love that they send you a second size for free in case you’re unsure of fit. I went with this yellow Jay Godfrey number and it was perfect.
If you haven’t tried it yet, you can get $30 off your first rental using my referral link. Rent the Runway also gives everyone 20% off their first purchase (you can’t combine the offers) so just a heads up to do the math before you check out to see which offer gives you the bigger discount.
Dooney & Bourke Backpack
Dooney & Bourke graciously let me pick out a bag of theirs and this backpack was a no-brainer! I use backpacks all the time and this one is the perfect size to fit my lap top. Also pictured are the Trina City Sandals by Sam Edelman.
High-Neck Bikini Top Trend
I am in love with the high-neck bikini top trend. Not just because I like the way they look, but because my chest is the one area of my body that seems to burn at the start of every summer, no matter how much precautionary SPF I apply. This on-trend cut keeps my poor, sun-damaged chest covered so in my opinion, it’s worth the odd tan line. (Funny how priorities shift as you get older, right??) 
I’ve been wearing this Ryan Bikini Top from Tavik Swimwear nonstop thanks to my friends at Shopbop.
Some others I love:
Favorite Workouts
Xtend Suspend Class at Xtend Barre
I finally checked out Xtend Barre on Newbury Street and had a really fun Suspend class. Think barre meets TRX and all the moves are done to the beat of the music. The class flies by and I loved that the instructor ended the class with a few (optional) funky advanced moves we could try on the straps (pictured above).
Arm Balance Work
I get so frustrated with arm balances and inversions (because I, ya know, suck at them) but all it takes is the tiniest little glimpse of progress to renew my excitement and commitment to practicing. In a yoga class this month, we did an arm balance against the outside of one thigh (no clue what the name of the pose is) and–OMGOMGOMG–it just worked. Usually when crow is part of a class flow, I attempt for a couple seconds, get frustrated and then just hang out in downward dog until it’s time to move on. But using the thigh instead of the knees as a point of contact with my arms makes for a much easier balance–I was so excited to find that I can hold this pose!
Since then I’ve been setting aside a few minutes almost every day to practice arm balances. I’ll get crow … eventually. 😉
Hiking in Colorado
The morning of my friend’s wedding, we went for an awesome hike around Winter Park–so gorgeous!
Bodyweight Tabata Series
I loved doing (and posting) the tabata series I shared here a couple weeks ago! If you missed any of the workouts, here you go:
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- Full Body Tabata Superset Workout
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- Full-Body & Cardio Tabata Workout
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- 12-Minute Bodyweight Core Tabata Workout
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- 12-Minute Bodyweight Tabata Workout: Lower Body (Butt & Legs)
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- 12-Minute Bodyweight Tabata Workout: Upper Body (Arms, Chest, Core)
Favorite Reads
Dreamland
This is an eye-opening and heartbreaking look at America’s opiate epidemic. It explores the crisis from just about every angle, painting a thorough picture of how the country has come to this point. The book covers the cultural shift in how pain is viewed, the evolution of the heroin dealer network, the pharmaceutical marketing business, the morphine molecule itself, pill mills, and the stories of those who battle the addiction. This is a page-turner but definitely not in the light, entertaining way–it’ll leave you with a heavy heart.
Orphan Train
I read this historical fiction novel for a book club I’m in and while I wouldn’t say I loved it, it was a sweet story. It’s about a friendship that forms between a teenage girl and an elderly woman, both of whom are orphans. I really enjoyed the elderly woman’s story as it was based on actual historical events, but thought the rest of the story was a little blah.
Favorite Moments
Colorado Wedding Weekend
My friend whose bachelorette we celebrated in Palm Springs got married earlier this month in Fraser, Colorado and it was an absolute blast. My girlfriends and I flew into Denver and enjoyed a couple drinks and lunch at ViewHouse (<–such a fun spot, highly recommend if you’re looking for outdoor seating!) before driving out to the mountains. The welcome party and then wedding the following evening were at a beautiful home with 360 views of the mountains, and the only thing more stunning than the scenery was the bride. Like an etherial mountain version of Queen Elsa (my four-year-old niece would be so proud of that Frozen reference).
Red Sox Game
Joe’s friend had two tickets to the Sox game one gorgeous Saturday that he passed on to us and the seats were awesome–right behind third base. I’m not going to pretend I’m some diehard baseball fan (or even a diesoft fan if that’s a thing), but I always enjoy going to Fenway for a game!
Chestnut Hill Square Blogger Event
Top picture with Rachel & Kerrie
Chestnut Hill Square hosted a bunch of local bloggers one evening. We started the night with a Soul Cycle class followed by shopping at Athleta and a delicious dinner at Seasons 52. So fun!
Trip to MegaFood
I’ll do a post with more details on this trip, but last week I spent two days in New Hampshire with MegaFood and got to tour the facility and learn more about how their whole food supplements are made. It was eye-opening!
Moving Out of Our Studio Apartment
Joe took that mannequin out of a dumpster behind Forever21 and thinks it’s chic decor … welcome to my life haha.
I’ve been really lucky the past two years. Joe and I have shared a large studio in an unbeatable location with access to a pool for a ridiculously affordable monthly rent. But we’ve needed to move on for a while now. We have no closets, the apartment is really dark (I work from home so this is tough), the kitchen hasn’t been updated since WWII and we want to adopt a dog, which isn’t allowed in our building. Most Boston rentals are on a Sept 1st cycle, so we’re waiting until then to move into a more permanent place, but for now we have an awesome temporary arrangement for the summer and I couldn’t be more excited. On to the next chapter! 🙂
Disclosure: My monthly favorites posts are never sponsored, however they typically contain a few affiliate links. I get sent a lot of free products, and the first section of this post might highlight a couple of my favorites. I’m never required to or being paid to feature these freebies and only share the ones I truly love and think my readers will enjoy as well. 🙂
Hey there! I'm Nicole, a group fitness instructor, healthy lifestyle blogger (you probably figured that one out by now) and Certified Personal Trainer living in Boston, MA.
I believe I always call that pose flying pigeon (not sure the Sanskrit name)
Ahh thank you!! 🙂
I really need to try Thred Up! What great scores!
I always love reading monthly recaps from fellow bloggers. I always say I’ll do one but it just doesn’t happen, haha. I’ve never heard of the sheet mask. Yet another thing I must look up! Thanks for sharing :-.)
http://thequirklife.com/
Wow that’s a lot to love up there! I’ve been on the cusp of trying Rent the Runway too! So many of my friends do it, so I’m always hearing good things. Also, in Houston we just got a Soul Cycle so I’ve been itching to try it.
Likely By Sea
LOVE that yukon dress! And total win, I see they have xxs!
So funny–I can do crow pretty easily but cant do flying pigeon yet! For crow, it really helps to spread your fingers out as wide as you can to ground yourself and to look forward instead of down as you lean. Keep trying, it’ll come!
Colorado, what a beautiful spot for a wedding! Sounds like you had a great month.
Beauteque (www.beauteque.com) is a great site for buying masks! Masks are also the gateway drug for getting into korean beauty/asian skincare, so beware! Leaders is an OK brand but there are so many others out there that have better products and shorter ingredient lists. Also, use the code MASKLAUNCH for 10% off your order!
The biggest thing that made a difference to crow for me, was a tip I got in an arm balance workshop that I thought would be the end of me hahaha
Instead of thinking about “lifting your toes off the floor and finding your balance” keep shifting your weight forward until you find the sweet spot where your toes come off the floor and you’re balanced. Changed my (crow) world
Such a cute backpack. Good luck with your move.
Oh man, I’ve never commented here before but got super psyched about your sheet masks. I love My Beauty Diary’s variety of masks, but my absolute favs are the ones that use snail excretion (yup). Check out Benton’s snail mask or Tonymoly’s hydrogel snail mask. You look like a murderer while they’re on but the results are WORTH IT.
This makes me even more excited to be moving back to Colorado next week! Jealous of your ThredUp finds!
I need to read that Dreamland book! As a recovering addict who lost my pharmacy career, I definitely know all about that epidemic and it’s totally relevant to my life. Thanks for sharing these!
Woop, good job w that arm balance!! It’s eka pada koundinyasana 1 (which, full disclosure, I totally needed to look up before I wrote it out haha). I wish we lived closer – I’d totally help you out with crow – I feel like you have the strength to get there, maybe just a weird weight distribution thing because you really have to dig in with your fingertips to prevent yourself from falling forward and then you need to use intercostals to lift up with your core rather than “resting” the knees on the arms, if that makes sense. Anyway! One day! <3
I’m curious about your moving plan (I’m a fellow Bostonian living in Brookline and also dying to adopt a dog!). Also: I tried to get some estimate of what I’d make by selling on thred up and it looked like tops that were $40 at Ann Taylor would only sell for a few bucks – was that your experience? Love it for buying though. Just took a chance on a final sale dress and got a perfectly fitting designer dress for $27 (original price $298)