Currents – June 2017

Hey everyone!

I hope your July 4th weekend was full of fun times, stiff drinks and lots of hot dogs!  I’m off work through the 4th so I’ve been taking lots of quiet time to catch up on blog reading, watching movies and spending time with my favorite man and four legged child.

As I sit here waiting for my tan to dry, I thought I would share some of my current favorites from this month that I’ve been loving.

Okay so I might be cheating by including the Jaclyn Hill palette but I don’t need to use it for a month to know that I love it!

1 – Jaclyn Hill x Morphe Eyeshadow Palette

I’ve been watching Jaclyn Hill on YouTube for SUCH a long time.  When I think about how she used to film videos in her kitchen it makes me miss the old YouTube, before everyone and their mama started making videos – but I digress.  Unless you’ve been living under a rock, then you already know about this palette.  She’s been working on this for about two years and it definitely shows in the quality.  The range of colors are so beautiful and the possibilities are endless as far as looks go.  I have yet to delve in to the blue or purple colors but I just got a great idea for a look with that cobalt blue for July 4th!  Although they are sold out right now, they will be restocking again and I promise you won’t regret it.  Congratulations Jaclyn!

2 – Benefit Porefessional

I used to use this stuff when I had a full size tube and only finished it because I paid for it.  I don’t know what happened but it just never seemed to work that well for me and I never understood the hype.  When I received this in my Sephora Play Box for June I wasn’t that excited about it but gave it a go since I had it and now I LOVE it.  I have pretty large and in charge pores in my t-zone and this has really helped to make them almost disappear and control the oil.

3 – Pixi Makeup Fixing Mist

I was looking for a setting spray in Target one day and when I saw this one from Pixi I wanted to try it because I hadn’t heard anything about it.  This has a light rose scent which I love but if you don’t like that smell you might not like this.  I like this product but it comes with a negative, unfortunately.  It definitely works because I think it helps make my makeup last longer but the sprayer on this thing is terrible.  If a camel were to spit on me I imagine it would be a lot like this spray.  So, just hold it at arms length and you’ll be fine.

4 – E.L.F Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder in St. Lucia

I’ve had this product for quite some time and have only recently fell in love with it. I think since we’re in the middle of summer, I’m being drawn to the darker color of the bronzer.  At first glance it looks like there’s a lot of glitter in the pan but for some reason it doesn’t translate to the face which is a great thing.  I’ve never used the cult classic, Nars Laguna, so I can’t tell you for sure but I’ve heard that this bronzer is a dupe for that.  It’s definitely on the warmer side so if you’re very fair it might look a little too orange on you but for the price ($4) you don’t have much to lose if it doesn’t work out.

5 – Wella Luxe Oil Reconstructive Elixer

The damage is real you guys.  If you don’t know, I’m working towards the silver/white hair and have been for quite some time.  I was looking for a hair oil to help tame my split ends and hopefully repair whatever I’ve got left and this stuff is it!  Combined with another product that I JUST ran out of, my hair looks softer and smoother than ever and I just can’t get enough of it.  Some of my best hair days have come after using this hair oil.  Plus it smells AMAZING.

What are some of the products that you guys have been loving for the month of June??  Let me know down in the comments below!

I hope you all have a wonderful and SAFE July 4th and I’ll talk to you soon!

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Link Love Friday!

Good morning/afternoon/evening everyone! Happy Friday!

When I was dating I always hated the question, “so what do you do for fun?!”  Could that not be the worst question?  It was for me because I like to spend my down time in front of a computer browsing the internet, reading articles, watching YouTube videos and adding endless amounts of makeup products to my love list on sephora.com.  I’m not saving the world or doing anything crazy cool like rock climbing every Tuesday but that’s how I like to decompress and I’m not ashamed to say it.  Thank God I found a man who will tolerate me on a regular basis so I don’t have to go on anymore Tinder dates…but I digress.

I found some pretty interesting articles throughout the week and figured I would share them with you so that you can have something to read on your lazy weekend, if you so choose to do that.  No judgement here. You do you boo.

Career Advice for Millenials//Marie Claire

Image from Marie Claire

Now that I’m at a point where I could literally do ANYTHING I want, it’s a bit overwhelming.  If you’re in the job market or you’re fascinated by theories about millennials, like I am, this will be an interesting read for you.

5 Photo Editing Apps to Up Your Instagram Feed //The Wonder Forest

Image from The Wonder Forest

In an effort to instagram more often for the sake of the blog I really want to up my game with picture quality.  I think these apps will totally help!

My Path to Becoming a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner – Month 1//Tasty Yummies

Image from Tasty Yummies

After my last post, I decided I want to write a part II on options after not getting matched.  This was an incredibly interesting article and she follows up with updates about her program every month.

Why Calorie Counting is the Worst//fANNEtastic Food

Image from Joyful Eating

Truer words could not have been said.  Once I stopped counting and stopped worrying and stressing so much about the numbers I was able to chill the f*** out and the weight came off a lot faster.

18 Life-Changing Ways to Eat Avocado Toast//The Healthy Maven

Image from The Healthy Maven

If you haven’t gotten on the avocado toast bandwagon then you must be living under a rock…or have some warped taste buds.  I rest my case.

Happy reading everyone!  I haven’t done my makeup in a few days so I’m just itching to get in front of the mirror with a counter full of products before work.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Love & light,

Morgan

How I DIDN’T become a registered dietitian and how you CAN

I’ll start with a spoiler.  I didn’t match with a dietetic internship and I am no longer on the path to become a registered dietitian.  HOWEVER, my goal is to help anyone that wants to get matched to match.  While it may seem a little weird to take advice from someone who couldn’t make it happen, I can tell you why I didn’t get matched and how you CAN.  It was probably the hardest, taxing, emotionally draining process I’ve ever been through start to finish and while I had a lot of support there was one thing I was lacking and I hope I can fill that gap for you.  No one was brutally honest with me and I wish they would have been because maybe things would have turned out differently.

My “journey,” if you will, to fulfill my dream of becoming a registered dietitian started about six and a half years ago.  I fell in love with nutrition and the concepts of eating healthy came easy to me so I felt like it was something I should pursue as a career. I was never strong in science so I knew it would be a struggle but I still felt it was something I could achieve.  If you’re unaware of how the process works, let me break it down for the newbies so it makes sense because all the components can become very confusing.

1. Get into a college or university that has a nutrition degree that is accredited by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics which will prepare you to apply for dietetic internships
2. Apply for dietetic internships in your last semester of college
3. Wait a long agonizing month while it feels like your entire life is in limbo
4. Match day – this is when you find out if you got into a dietetic internship
5. Complete the dietetic internship by spending a year working for free (but each internship requires tuition)
6. Sit for the registered dietitian exam
7. Pass
8. Done. Dreams fulfilled.

So I began the curriculum and excelled in my nutrition classes but had to re-take almost all of my science classes only to end up making C’s so that I could pass and graduate.  I was told over and over again that your grades are only a portion of what is considered in your entire application.  We’ve all heard it.  Work experience, professional recommendations, volunteer experience, cover letters, GRE scores etc. are all taken into consideration when looking at an application.  Every internship weighs these different categories differently as well, or at least they used to.  Dietetic internships are becoming flooded with applications and the amount of spots available are remaining the same.  The industry is becoming INCREDIBLY competitive which was not news to me.  I knew it would be difficult to stand out so I had a game plan.  I graduated with my degree and instead of immediately going into an internship I decided to get a kick ass job that would fulfill clinical AND food service experience.  I made some amazing connections along the way that I was sure would help me get into a program of my choice.  My hope was that my experience would overshadow my grades and maybe a few years ago it could have.

Now, let me take a break here and say that I don’t feel like a failure and if you didn’t get matched neither should you.  Sure, I cried a lot when I realized that six and a half years of hard work and dedication did not pay off but that’s my point.  It wasn’t because I didn’t try hard enough because I worked my ass off the entire time.  I hate the process and I love it at the same time.  Nutrition is essential for humanity especially in the United States and it should not be taken lightly.  Giving out nutrition advice should ONLY be left to the experts and I believe that becoming an RD (and a couple other avenues but that’s a whole other topic) should reign supreme.  It should be a difficult process because we need people that are passionate and hard working to fulfill what is required of a dietitian.  Are there flaws in the system, of course.  Just because I didn’t get matched does not mean that I wouldn’t make a great dietitian.

So, all that being said, here is why I didn’t get matched.  The competition is way too fierce. Gone are the days where you can excel in one place and be okay in another.  You have to have every box checked:

• Fantastic grades. I mean like A’s and B’s.
• Experience in every setting – food service, clinical, community
• Demonstration of leadership
• Excellent recommendations – professional and academic
• Plenty of volunteer and shadowing hours

You’ll have to work your ass off and be good at everything.  It’s a tall order but if you’re the type of person that can handle it then by all means, please get after it!

I’ve mourned my loss and I’ve moved on because I know better things are in store for me.  Don’t let me discourage you because that’s not what I’m doing.  My goal was to tell you exactly how to get where you want to go without sugar coating anything because no one took the time to stop me a long time ago and tell me differently.

Congratulations to all the women and men who got matched this year and good luck to everyone else that is pursuing an RD!

Favorite beauty gurus on Youtube!

I am OBSESSED with skincare and makeup products.  I have way too many products in my bathroom right now…it’s obnoxious.  My favorite part of the day is getting to sit in front of the mirror with a hot cup of coffee and put my makeup on.

It’s my guilty pleasure, ultra girly moment of the day and I will not be ashamed of it!

It’s that time of the year when all of the beauty gurus upload they’re 2013 beauty favorites for the entire year.  I’ve been using my day off to catch up on them all and figured I would share some of my favorites.

All the knowledge I have about applying makeup can only be credited to Youtube.  I’ve been following beauty gurus for about 3 years and what’s amazing to me is that a lot of people don’t even know this part of the world exists.  These people have developed careers out of making videos of themselves talking about makeup and filming tutorials about how to use it.

So, without further ado here are some of my all time favorite Youtube beauty gurus!

1) Pixiwoo

Nic and Sam are professional makeup artists and sisters.  I’ve been watching them ever since they started and it’s been fun to see them grow as artists.  Sam also has a line of makeup brushes, Real Techniques, that are awesome!

2) grav3yardgirl

Bunny is so hilarious and I always get excited when she uploads a new video.  She seems to be a very down-to-earth person and I love her sense of humor and approach she takes with her videos.

3) Fleur DeForce

First of all, I love her name, Fleur which means flower in French…how cute!  I love watching her monthly favorites because she gives very informed reviews and has a good mix of high end and drugstore products.

4)  essiebutton

Estee is a Canadian that now lives in London.  She’s very down-to-earth and we actually have very similar tastes in makeup so I find that I really like her videos.

5) Nicole Guerriero

Okay so this list is in no particular order but if I did number them Nicole would be my number one favorite Youtube guru.  She’s funny, beautiful, confident and she has cats that appear in the background of most of her videos…which is obviously the best part.

6) Tanya Burr

Tanya is another professional makeup artist and she’s actually the fiancé of Jim Chapman who is the brother of the Pixiwoo sisters!  She seems like the sweetest person ever and I love her makeup tutorials.

I just saw that Nicole just uploaded her 2013 beauty favorites for the year so I’m going to have to go!  I have a feeling a lot of unnecessary shopping is going to happen after my binge watching marathon from today…haha…oops!

For the love of God…just eat your greens!

Hey everyone!  As a future health coach or RD (I have yet to decide) it’s probably not surprising that I’m one of those crazies that actually loves green foods.  Ask me what my favorite food is and I’ll tell you it’s anything green.  It’s also my favorite color…naturally. 

What knocks me on my feet all the time is when people tell me that they don’t eat enough green foods in their day.  Being healthy isn’t stressful or complicated and if you think it is then STOP!  You just have to change the way you think and approach your plate.  I’m not much of a meal planner so if that’s your thing then you’ve got it easy…just plan your greens into each meal.  If you’re an on the fly type of person like I am just build your meal around the green food.  Make your greens the star of the show, not the protein.  When I open my fridge to figure out what I want to make I look at all the green foods first and go from there.  Do I want broccoli or kale?  Spinach or brussel sprouts? 

Also, stop bitching about how gross these things taste.  I hate to break it to you but, it’s not them, it’s you.  I bet you’re sticking them in a microwave and calling it a day and yes that does taste like shit.  If you’ve never roasted veggies before then use this guide and make it happen.  Or just turn on the oven to 350 degrees and keep an eye on them…that’s what I do, it’s not that complicated. 

[Source]

Use some quality olive or coconut oil because it will help you metabolize those fat-soluble vitamins in your delish veggies.  Sprinkle some salt and pepper and you will be surprised how bangin’ they will taste. 

My favorite green? KALE!  Here’s why…

[Source]

To give you some ideas here’s some ways you can incorporate veggies, specifically greens, into each meal.

Breakfast

• Add them to your eggs
• Add spinach or greens powder to your smoothie – trust me you won’t taste it.  It may look a little green but stop being a baby and get over it.
• Make a green juice

    

[From my Instagram]

Lunch/Dinner

• Make a marinated kale salad like this one from Oh She Glows – she has the best recipes!
• Add a bunch of spinach to your sammich
• If you are going to eat pizza, at least load it up with broccoli, spinach, green peppers etc.
• Add some to your mac & cheese
• Load up your homemade fried rice with extra broccoli and edamame

  

[From my Instagram]

Cocktail Hour!

 

[From my Instagram]

…haha just kidding…sort of.

Okay the point is, there’s always room for greens so just eat them.  Your body will love you.

What’s your favorite way to get your greens in every day??

Links to Love

Hey everyone!  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas/Holiday or whatever you were celebrating.  Mine was pretty quiet, filled with lots of delicious food and cookies, time spent with my family and watching rom-coms with my sweet kitty, Isabella.

I’ve had three days off in a row, which isn’t very normal and honestly I’m having a love-hate relationship with all my free time.  I really hate not having some direction but I’m also extremely good at doing nothing so I’m just trying to enjoy it because I know once the semester starts it’ll be back to the daily grind!

So, Bella and I have been spending most of our mornings lounging around watching our favorite morning talk show re-runs, reading magazines, and catching up on our favorite blogs and latest news stories.  I’ve found some pretty interesting articles so I thought I’d share them with you

1) Why You Should Keep Taking Your Supplements

I’m sure you guys have seen the new editorial from Annals of Internal Medicine, Enough is Enough: Stop Wasting Money on Vitamin and Mineral Supplements.  It has seemed to spark a lot of controversy surrounding the supplement industry and I don’t necessarily agree with all the things that were said.  The article from MindBodyGreen is a good response in my opinion.  I think it’s important to remember the bottom line when it comes to supplements – getting your nutrients from food is always best, and supplements are just that; to supplement what one can not get from one’s diet.

2) A Man Found Two Bear Cubs Beside Their Dead Mother.  Words Can’t Describe What Followed.

While I never recommend that anyone take in a wild animal as a pet, this story is pretty remarkable.  Who could deny a couple of little baby cubs?!

3) 23 Reasons Harris Teeter Is a Veritable Grocery Store Paradise

Okay, this one I don’t quite understand.  Maybe because I’ve been living in NC my entire life and have therefore been shopping at the Harry Teeter since I was a little wee one therefore it’s all I know.  I’ve heard this before from people that don’t live here that Harris Teeter is AHHmazing…what’s y’alls opinion on this place??

4) 15 Women Who Made Vine Hilarious in 2013

I love when it gets to the end of the year and everywhere there’s “Best Of’s” all over the place.  I also LOVE Vine, you guys.  When I feel down, it picks me back up.  The people on Vine are of another breed and I’m constantly looking for more people to follow so I can continue to laugh my ass off.  I can’t wait to add these ladies to my feed!

5) Belka Learns to Howl

There’s so much cuteness in this video, I don’t know what to do with myself.

I could keep going but you’ll be reading all day.  Bella and I are going to lounge a little longer then I’m going to finally make some moves.  I’ve got to make an exchange on something I got from my Dad for Christmas so I can finally get out of the house!

How was everyone’s Christmas? What awesome articles have you guys come across on your time off??

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Mocha Java Super Energy Smoothie

I went for a run yesterday around noon and hadn’t had much of a breakfast in the morning so I needed some serious nutrients after my intense workout.  Thus was developed a delishhhh smoothie.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2-2 cups unsweetened original almond milk
• 1 frozen banana
• 1/3 cup frozen spinach
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil (optional)
• 1/2 tablespoon flaxseed oil (optional)
• 1 scoop Garden of Life Marley Coffee Raw protein powder
• 1 scoop chocolate greens powder
• 1/4-1/2 cup brewed coffee

Method

Add all ingredients to a high speed blender and blend away!  Mine turns out pretty liquid-y but if you want a thicker smoothie just subtract some of the almond milk.

Supplement Spotlight: Digestive Enzymes

I had an AWESOME dinner tonight you guys. Gluten free rice pasta with sautéed broccoli and kale in a butternut squash sauce. I should have taken a picture…but you can imagine. That shit was delicious. But I sit here 2 hours later feeling the effects of those very healthy powerhouse yet cruciferous veggies. You see…I was too lazy to take my enzymes. Thus let’s begin our discussion.

If you have a particular (ahem) sensitive digestive system like I have been blessed with then you probably already carry digestive enzymes with you everywhere. If you’re just the average joe then you may not know what I’m talking about. Not to worry!

We produce enzymes in all parts of our digestive process that helps us break down our foods in order to metabolize them and absorb their nutrients. The older we get the less enzymes we are able to produce. Some people have iron stomachs and can eat whatever the hell they want (jealous). If you have any type of food intolerance or it’s as simple as some broccoli giving you the farts then you might consider buying a bottle of these bad boys. My favorites are the ones that also have ginger and peppermint as these herbs are very helpful in easing stomach upset.

Happy digesting my friends!