After previously exclaiming how much summer is my jam, the immediate title of this post may raise some eyebrows but hear me out:
I love summer. That much is true, yes. But as a self-proclaimed summer-lover, I dread the feeling you get when August is approaching and the season starts dying down. It's just like the feeling you get once Christmas is over and you have to throw out the tree. So this post is dedicated to all those who are wondering where the heck their summer went. This post is also kind of a follow-up to how I was feeling in my previous post, and how to avoid those feelings described in it.
(Also, side-note, is it true that time flies faster and faster the older you get? Because I can't imagine it moving any faster than it's been moving since I started college.)

1. Go out in the sun. If you only have a minute, just step outside and really allow your body to feel the summer heat. If you have a little longer, go for a walk with a friend or your dog. Sit on the porch. Eat dinner outside if you have the space. Sometimes you don't need an entire beach vacation to feel like it's actually July.
2. Make a list of everything you've accomplished so far. It may just shock you how much you actually managed to fit into the season. Blog about it. Make a scrapbook of memories if that's your thing.
3. Print the pictures you took while on vacation or hanging out with friends and family.
4. Take a little road trip. If you only have a single day left on your calender that isn't completely planned out(heyyyy-oooo!), go somewhere nearby. Visit a nature museum or a lake that has free swimming. Go to a national park in your state.
5. Go out for ice cream one night. Everyone has a little bit of time left in their summer for this one.
6. Take a break from social media. Yeah, you stalking your cousin's vacation pictures from Florida isn't helping you make the most of your summer. If you absolutely can't keep away from the "inspiration," let 3191 Miles Apart be the only blog you check up on. Those ladies know how to do summer: simple, super easy, and carefree.

juicing 101.

Being a young college girl, I've probably heard of every single diet trend on the planet. However, I never really gave a single one a try until my dad approached me and asked if I would do a juice cleanse with him. I thought, "How L.A.! Count me IN."

Just kidding.

Kinda.

Anyway, trusting my father, who is a certified physical trainer and has always been a health nut, I gave it a shot. Nothing but fresh fruit and veggie juice for 4-7 days.

Why in the world I would do that/Benefits of Juicing:

• For starters, the point of this cleanse is to give your bowels a break by not eating solid foods in order to cleanse the body of toxins. This is exactly what it sounds like.
• Juicing is a super easy way to introduce your body to a diet centered around fruits and veggies. Your system is getting a break from artificial sugars, grains, meat, dairy, etc.
• I hate eating vegetables. Especially cooked vegetables. ESPECIALLY LEAFY GREENS. With juice, it's so easy to sneak in vegetables with fruit and create something that actually tastes really good.
• No cooking or heavy meal prep is necessary.
• Anyone can try anything for less than a week.

Soon I'll be sharing a few of our favorite juice recipes, but first I wanted to introduce juicing in general and share my experience with this type of cleanse.

My dad bought this juicer, and we love it. It's super powerful and super easy to clean.

We also used this website as our main resource, and we both watched this film and found it inspiring, even if it seems a bit dramatic at first. I strongly recommend you watch the film even if you aren't down with the juice thing because it addresses food in general and how important a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is!

During and after the cleanse, I had a huge amount of energy. It's amazing to me the difference in how I feel after drinking a juice vs. eating a meal heavy in meat and carbs.

Even though I'm not a huge believer in any kind of temporary diets, I really loved how introducing juice into my diet has made it so easy for me to get in more nutrient-dense food. I now love replacing meals with a juice or two, especially in the early mornings when I find it hard to stomach a heavy meal.

My dad and I have only tried the cleanse once, and since we're going to the beach next week, this week we're juicing most of our meals. He's actually juicing everything and having just one smoothie a day, while I'm simply replacing at least one meal a day with a juice. I love having a smoothie with a side of fruit when I wake up, drinking a juice with more veggies in it for lunch, and then eating a real meal of solid food for dinner.

how to drink more water.

So I've talked a LOT about this blog and where I want it to go, but only recently did I sit down and actually plan out specific things I want to talk about. I honestly think I've kept this blog strictly personal for so long because I feel so intimidated by the thought of giving advice or offering actual tips and tricks.

So then I thought, you know what? I'll start small and simple. I mean, really simple. And therefore today, I'm welcoming a new feature where I offer bits of inspiration and tips about the things I know best. Starting with tips for drinking more water. It don't get more simple than this, y'all.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm water's #1 fan. I'm one of those lucky people who actually love drinking water. I harp on my friends to drink more water. Even if you think you're getting enough, you probably should be drinking more.

1. Get a giant water bottle and keep it with you at all times.
It doesn't have to be a Camelbak or some kind of fitness water bottle. (Although I have a Camelbak I use to take to the gym and love it.)
I've talked before about my love for The Mason Bar Company. I use their 24 oz. Tumbler with the glass straw and LOVE it. I love drinking from glass because the water tastes so clean and cool.  And 24 oz. is a lot of water, people. I also truly believe that sipping away absentmindedly through a straw helps. I fill this baby up several times a day without giving it a second thought.

2. If you don't have a filter already in your fridge, get one to keep inside.
I've only used Brita filters and have been pleased with them. I use the Space Saver one in my dorm room, and it fits in the DOOR of my mini-fridge. No precious shelf space gets taken up! Fellow college students, you have no excuse.

3. Download the WaterIn App.
I just recently downloaded this app, and I'm obsessed. As a design nerd, I love the super sleek and simple design. It's completely customizable so you can edit how many ounces your glasses are. I straight up entered "24 oz." for my "One Bottle" and BOOM: now when I finish off one of my Mason Bar Tumblers, I just click a button and it adds to my total for the day. It's seriously that easy. And you can customize how many ounces you want to drink a day. A good formula to use is: your body weight x 2/3 = total number of ounces. And then, just add an extra 12 oz per every 30 minutes you work out that day.

4. Infuse your water with fruits and herbs.
My school's cafeteria has mint and cucumber infused water which I drink almost daily. The refreshing taste makes me feel like I'm having a treat instead of drinking regular water like I normally do.
I also love to infuse a lime slice or two in my water, but of course you could always just add classic lemon.
A Beautiful Mess did a post on infused water recipes, and there are a ton on Pinterest.