All posts by Beyond Words Team

It’s pretty simple here at Beyond Words. We’re ordinary men and women from around the world, seeking out the extraordinary in travel, health, and style, all while maintaining balance in a fast-paced, ever-demanding society.

Day it Forward – November 2016

We believe that every individual has the ability to make a difference in our world, and we want to give our readers a chance to bring attention to a cause that is important to them.

Every month, we will ask you to submit the charity of your choice (please send submissions to contact@beyondwords.life with “December Day it Forward” in the subject line). Tell us what the charity is about, why it is important to you, and anything else you feel is important to share with us.

Your submissions will be reviewed by bestselling author Sylvia Day and she will select one to personally contribute to for the month. The selected charity will be featured in the next month’s Day it Forward to bring more awareness to its cause and allow for readers of Beyond Words to donate as well.

The submission chosen for the month of November is from Cheaneulle DeRosier:

I would like to nominate the Red Panda Network! They work closely with zoos and people both in the US and overseas to help with the conservation efforts to save the Red Panda, which is not only endangered, buy considered a “blanket species” which means by protecting them, it’s also protecting several other species in the same habitat. It is near and dear to me because I have participated in fund raising for them every year for the last 5 or 6 years. They aren’t a very large organization yet, but they are making great strides, and every dollar counts. I know they would love this donation, and it would help so many red pandas and save them from habitat destruction and poaching. Thank you so much for your consideration.

Cheaneulle DeRosier / “Red Panda Girl”

red panda networkThe Red Panda Network is committed to the conservation of wild red pandas and their habitat through the education and empowerment of local communities.

Sylvia will be donating $1,500 to the Red Panda Network, and you can donate, too, here. If you would like to submit a charity to Day it Forward for the month of December, please send submissions by November 25th, 2016 to contact@beyondwords.life.

Day it Forward – October 2016

We believe that every individual has the ability to make a difference in our world, and we want to give our readers a chance to bring attention to a cause that is important to them.

Every month, we will ask you to submit the charity of your choice (please send submissions to contact@beyondwords.life with “November Day it Forward” in the subject line). Tell us what the charity is about, why it is important to you, and anything else you feel is important to share with us.

Your submissions will be reviewed by bestselling author Sylvia Day and she will select one to personally contribute to for the month. The selected charity will be featured in the next month’s Day it Forward to bring more awareness to its cause and allow for readers of Beyond Words to donate as well.

The submission chosen for the month of October comes from Rosanna Malecki:

“Hello … [the] charity that is near & dear to my heart is  JBJ SoulKitchen. You get a 3 course meal for $10 and then pay it forward for someone who cannot afford to. They provide meals for the less fortunate. For people in need who go have a meal, if they cannot pay for their meal, they pay it forward by volunteering at the kitchen. It is a beautiful place.

Sincerely, Rosanna”

jon-bon-jovi-soul-kitchen-billboard-1548JBJ Soul Kitchen is a non-profit Community Restaurant, run by the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, that serves paying and in-need customers. A Community Restaurant is a place where individuals or families can come to eat a delicious farm-to-table meal in a warm, welcoming setting and meet our neighbors.

 

Sylvia will be donating $1,500 to JBJ Soul Kitchen. You can donate, too, here.
If you would like to submit a charity to Day it Forward for the month of November, please send submissions by October 25th, 2016 to contact@beyondwords.life.

Day it Forward – September 2016

We believe that every individual has the ability to make a difference in our world, and we want to give our readers a chance to bring attention to a cause that is important to them.

Every month, we will ask you to submit the charity of your choice (please send submissions to contact@beyondwords.life with “September Day it Forward” in the subject line). Tell us what the charity is about, why it is important to you, and anything else you feel is important to share with us.

Your submissions will be reviewed by bestselling author Sylvia Day and she will select one to personally contribute to for the month. The selected charity will be featured in the next month’s Day it Forward to bring more awareness to its cause and allow for readers of Beyond Words to donate as well.

The submission chosen for the month of September is the WHW.org:

whw logoWHW is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization with the mission of providing the unemployed and the underemployed the skills and resources they need to get and keep a good job.  Since 1993, WHW has served over 70,000 job seekers referred by over 275 partner agencies at no charge.  Each year more than 8,000 job seekers participate in programs focused on equipping them to be the most marketable candidate for the job they seek. WHW envisions a day when every person in Orange County who wants to work enjoys gainful employment!

Sylvia will be donating $2,000 to WHW. You can donate, too, here (in many ways).
If you would like to submit a charity to Day it Forward for the month of October, please send submissions by September 25th, 2016 to contact@beyondwords.life.

Day it Forward – August 2016

We believe that every individual has the ability to make a difference in our world, and we want to give our readers a chance to bring attention to a cause that is important to them.

Every month, we will ask you to submit the charity of your choice (please send submissions to contact@beyondwords.life with “September Day it Forward” in the subject line). Tell us what the charity is about, why it is important to you, and anything else you feel is important to share with us.

Your submissions will be reviewed by bestselling author Sylvia Day and she will select one to personally contribute to for the month. The selected charity will be featured in the next month’s Day it Forward to bring more awareness to its cause and allow for readers of Beyond Words to donate as well.

The submission chosen for the month of August is the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors:

“The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) offers compassionate care to all those grieving the death of a loved one serving in our Armed Forces. Since 1994, TAPS has provided comfort and hope 24 hours a day, seven days a week through a national peer support network and connection to grief resources, all at no cost to surviving families and loved ones. TAPS has assisted over 60,000 surviving family members, casualty officers, and caregivers.”

Sylvia will be donating $2,000 to TAPS. You can donate, too, here.


If you would like to submit a charity to Day it Forward for the month of September, please send submissions by August 25th, 2016 to contact@beyondwords.life.

7 Simple Tips to Help Reach Your Fitness Goals

Trying to reach a fitness goal is difficult, and when we hit a plateau, we often look at tweaking the complicated stuff first. While there isn’t a ‘trick’ or a pill that’s going to speed up your progress, there are basic tweaks you can make to your routine that will greatly affect your chances of success. Sometimes it’s the most basic elements, like staying mentally motivated, maintaining a steady pace, being prepared, and enjoying yourself, that will keep you advancing toward your target, whatever it may be. Here are seven simple ways to help you continue making progress on your quest for better health.

 

1. Pace yourself

Once you’ve decided on your fitness goal, you might plan 6-7 days a week of cardio, classes, lifting weights at the gym, going all in all at once. That’s a great goal to work towards, but abruptly forcing yourself into a routine that’s difficult to maintain will come with a tough adjustment period and make it harder to stick to your commitment. If you don’t give yourself the proper downtime and recovery, you’re also at higher risk for injury and exhaustion, both of which will restrict your physical abilities until you’re recovered.

Start with just a few days a week and begin incorporating more days as the weeks pass. It will be less of a shock to your body and to your schedule. In the end, you might be the one dedicating six days a week and 3 hours a day to your fitness, but there’s no need to rush it – you’ll get there when you’re ready.

tired woman jogging

 

2. Pick a gym that’s on your way

If you’re just now getting a membership at a gym, or are able to switch your current location, find one that’s between work and home, on your way to your kid’s school, or near another location you frequent daily. Find something that’s in your way so it’s staring you in the face when you try to make excuses to yourself for skipping out on your fitness.

And while we’re on the topic of gyms, try to stay away from focusing on spending the least amount possible. Think about an item you’ve invested in, perhaps an expensive purse, or a nice piece of jewelry. You treat that item differently than other less expensive ones, understandably, because it’s worth more to you. You keep it in a dust bag, or in a secret place, and you would be upset, distraught even, if it were lost or ruined. But losing the faux leather purse or costume jewelry found in the same drawers wouldn’t really bother you.

If you spend a negligible amount on your gym membership, then the days you don’t ‘take advantage’ of it (the days you skip) won’t seem like a big deal to you, whereas an investment in your gym (personal trainer, nicer gym) will make those skipped days feel like a blow, not only to your program, but to your wallet.

woman driving

 

3. Plan your meals

‘Meal prep’ isn’t just for bodybuilders. Everyone can benefit from planning out the meals they’re going to eat throughout the week and preparing them all at once. It will keep you on track when you’re hungry and tempted by junk, and you’ll also save time and money when compared to eating out. Pinterest is a great resource for finding healthy meal recipes that can be cooked all at once and split up for every day of the week.

If meal prep feels too intimidating, or you simply don’t have the time, a healthy meal delivery service that suits your nutrition needs is no longer just for the rich and famous, nor does it have to taste like cardboard. Do your research and find one locally that will deliver you a variety of flavorful meals a few times a week. Frozen meals just won’t taste as good and if you get sick of them, it may derail your healthy eating plans, so Yelp ‘meal delivery’ in your area and find something fresh.

Image courtesy of Fork and Knife Kitchen
Image courtesy of Fork and Knife Kitchen

 

4. Think outside the treadmill

With so many different ways to get into better shape, there’s no reason to force yourself to do something day in and day out that isn’t any fun. If you like music and dancing, check out fitness dance classes. If you’re looking for a little more zen in your workout, swimming or yoga, while low impact, are excellent forms of exercise. If you want to prove to yourself that you’re a badass (we already know you are), sign up for a mud run with a friend and train for it like it’s your job.

You might think most of the people you see in amazing shape hit the weights every morning at 5:30 am with a cardio session a few hours later (and some of them probably do), but that doesn’t mean you have to follow their routine to get into the best shape of your life. Your fitness and your body is yours – no one else’s – and how you get it where you want it to be is entirely up to you. Anything that gets you consistently moving your body and makes you feel accomplished and happy will help you reach your physical goals.

woman flipping tire

 

5. Track your progress

Whether it’s keeping a journal, taking progress photos, or maintaining a log from a FitBit, keeping note of how you are achieving small milestones is key to making it to the end result. Finding motivation daily is necessary to stay interested and focused on your path and when you don’t have something concrete to look at or reference, it’s hard to stay motivated on your own.

On days when it feels like you aren’t making any progress, say, you strayed far from your nutrition plan over the weekend or a cold kept you off your feet for a few days, you’re inevitably going to feel down on yourself. Being able to look back to each small moment of success in your journey will remind you that there are always ups and downs and that each time you’ve fallen, you’ve gotten back up.

© Vadymvdrobot | Dreamstime.com - Woman Using Activity Tracker Photo
© Vadymvdrobot | Dreamstime.comWoman Using Activity Tracker Photo

 

6. Find a workout buddy

Find someone who enjoys the same workouts you do, maybe a friend or even someone new you meet at the gym, who might be following a similar workout regimen. Set a meet up time or try brand new classes or activities together and help each other reach your goals.  It’s a lot more fun, provides another way to be accountable to your commitment, and you’ll expand your social circle at the same time.

women mud run

 

7. Get comfortable being uncomfortable

You’ve heard it before: if you want something you’ve never had you’ll have to do something you’ve never done. That means that along this journey, you’re going to do things and feel things, emotionally and physically, that exhaust, pain, and frustrate you. There are going to be days that you tell yourself the reason you’re uncomfortable and frustrated is that you’re not cut out for this, but that’s just another excuse to quit, i.e. stay exactly where you are, which is where you don’t want to be. If it were, you wouldn’t have set these goals in the first place. So whenever that sneaky little voice comes into your head, remind yourself that you’re uncomfortable because you’re changing, and that means you’re making progress.

workout woman tired

 

It isn’t easy to stay dedicated to fitness and nutrition goals at first, but keeping a few simple things in mind can help you create a plan that’s easy to incorporate into your lifestyle and help you remain on course. And if you happen to stray, don’t fret; the ability to pick up where you left off or even start over when necessary is just as important as hard work and commitment and will make you appreciate your journey even more once it’s complete.

The Happiest Playlist

One of the reasons music exists is to enhance any and all situations; some is best for thinking, others are for distraction, and then there’s music for celebrating (to name a few). The celebrating kind is easy to pick out – it’s punchy, exhilarating, and just plain happy! Now we all know that it’s the little things in life that matter and whether it’s an entire night of extravagance or simply getting three and half minutes of bliss through your headphones, any moment of joy can certainly become an occasion.

As if you needed any more reasons to jump for joy on a Friday — goodbye, work – hello, world! — we’ve put together a list of the happiest tracks to get you on your way to a fabulous weekend.

  1. “Can’t Stop This Feeling” by Justin Timberlake
  2. “Cake by the Ocean” by DNCE
  3. “The Lazy Song” by Bruno Mars
  4. “Geronimo” by Sheppard
  5. “My House” by FloRida
  6. “All in My Head (Flex)” by Fifth Harmony ft. Fetty Wap
  7. “Cheap Thrills” by Sia ft. Sean Paul
  8. “The Best Day of My Life” by American Authors
  9. “Valerie” by Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse
  10. “New Soul” by Yael Naim

 

For more fabulous playlists, subscribe to Beyond Words’ YouTube channel!

Day it Forward – July 2016

We believe that every individual has the ability to make a difference in our world, and we want to give our readers a chance to bring attention to a cause that is important to them.

Every month, we will ask you to submit the charity of your choice (send submissions to contact@beyondwords.life with “July Day it Forward” in the subject line). Tell us what the charity is about, why it is important to you, and anything else you feel is important to share.

Your submissions will be reviewed by bestselling author Sylvia Day and she will select one to personally contribute to for the month. The selected charity will be featured in the next month’s Day it Forward to bring more awareness to its cause and allow for readers of Beyond Words to donate as well.

The submission chosen for the month of July is Equality Florida.

Equality Florida

Equality Florida consists of two organizations – Equality Florida Institute, Inc., our 501(c)(3) educational charity and Equality Florida Action, Inc., our 501(c)(4) advocacy organization. Together, these organizations form the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Through education, grassroots organizing, coalition building, and lobbying, we are changing Florida so that no one suffers harassment or discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Sylvia will be donating $1,200 to Equality Florida. You can donate, too, here.

If you would like to submit a charity to Day it Forward for the month of July, please send submissions by July 25th, 2016 to contact@beyondwords.life.

The Nail Styles You’re Seeing Everywhere

If you get your nails done regularly, you’re used to being asked what shape you’d like them to be. Traditionally, this has been a simple question of round versus square; but you’ve got so many more options than that now. Most require your nails to be on the long side, but if you can make it work, you’ll open the door to a vast array of nail options, from solid colors to intricate nail designs in all shapes and lengths. Who doesn’t want pretty hands? Here are four of the most popular nail styles right now.

 

Almond

These are rounded and a bit narrow with a very slight point, just like an almond. Perfect if you want to elongate your fingers, the almond shape is a balanced mix of sophistication and seduction.

Oval

Similar to the almond shape but (usually) shorter and slightly wider, the oval shape nail has been extremely popular in 2016. We think it’s because you get a long looking nail (and slender looking fingers) without as much obstruction.

Coffin

This shape is aptly named, just like the almond, as they pretty well resemble actual coffins. They are required to be quite long to make the correct shape, but the end result is feminine and in style, so don’t let the grim designation scare you off.

Stiletto

The stiletto is like the yin to almond’s yang; a little edgier, a little darker. The stiletto is similar to the almond shape but comes to a sharp point. Remember seeing them on Lady Gaga back in 2012 and thinking they were just a bit scary? There’s nothing to be afraid of and plenty of celebrities have proven that on the red carpet by pairing fiercely-shaped nails with chic designer outfits.

10 Must Have Items to Pack for a Beach Vacation

One of the best parts about a summery vacation in the sand is that you can get away with packing very little. With a small bit of planning, your light-as-a-feather carry-on can be fully equipped with all the main essentials for your getaway in the sun. Here are 10 items that will keep you careless on the beach with a drink in your hand and absolutely nothing on your mind.

 

A giant tote

Beyond just being ridiculously convenient on your flight (a bag that didn’t cost you an arm and a leg causes no anxiety when having to be placed on the floor of an airplane) a giant tote will keep you from going back and forth to your hotel room forgetting items. Sure, you’ll probably throw things in there that you won’t use all day, but with so much space, you won’t have to stress over prioritizing what to take and what to leave on your daily trips to brunch, the pool, the sand, wherever.

woman tote beach

Swanky: Printed cotton tote (Melissa Obadash)

tote bag

Steal: Oversize Millie Geo Print Tote (Sole Society)

tote bag

A big floppy hat

Yes, fedoras are cute, but if you’re getting closer to the equator or spending more time in the dark spot-inducing sun, you’ll want something with a little more cover. Packable options are great but if you can’t find one you like that will easily fold into your luggage, just keep it with you on the plane (stuffed into your gigantic tote) and you won’t have to worry about it losing its shape.

women floppy hat beach

Swanky: Bella Woven Sun Hat (Eric Javits)

floppy1

Steal: Geometric Hat (Phase 3)

flopp2

A pair of flip flops

Why not just say sandals? Because its obvious you need sandals on a beach vacation, and because we specifically mean flip flops – the kind you can easily get your feet into and out of without any hand involvement at all.  The best are ones with zero metal hardware because you’re inevitably going to forget to push them under your lounge chair and they’ll end up sitting in the sun for a while. If that happens, the shiny parts will burn your feet faster than the ground you’re avoiding standing on.

feet in the pool

Swanky: Rockstud Flip Flops (Valentino)

flip flop valentino

Steal: Georgica Jelly Flip Flops (Jack Rogers)

flip flop jack rogers

A stick of sunblock

Sunblock isn’t the easiest thing to pack and if, God forbid, it does explode in your luggage, it’s pretty hard to salvage anything that’s been covered in sunblock, at least in time to wear on your trip. A good alternative is sunblock in stick form and the extra stickiness will actually prove helpful when you’re in and out of the water.

woman face shade hat

Swanky: Sun Protection Stick SPF 50+ (AmorePacific)

sunblock stick

Steal: Sugar Sport Sunscreen SPF 30 (Fresh)

sunblock stick

An inexpensive pair of sunglasses

The two worst things that can happen to an expensive pair of sunglasses are 1) you sit on them or otherwise break them, and 2) you lose them. Both possibilities are pretty plausible when you’re on vacation. Save yourself the money and the stress, leave the Ray Ban wayfarers at home, and get yourself a pair of inexpensive plastic ones that you won’t mind losing or damaging. Plastic is great, just like with your flip flops, because you won’t be wearing searing hot metal on your face.

sunglasses on women

Quay Invader Shades (NastyGal)

nasty gal sunglasses

Wayfarers (Circus by Sam Edelman)

sam edelman sunglasses

A sporty swimsuit

If you’re a beach baby, you’ve already got lots of swimsuits and you may have even already bought a new one just for this trip. But put another on the list, one that’s just a tiny bit more functional. You might find yourself doing flips off a cliff into the ocean, zip-lining over a river (yeah, that IS a thing in Cancun!), or trying out watersports with the cutie you just met at the pool. The last thing you want in any of those situations is to be pulling at your bikini to prevent anything from slipping out. A sporty bikini will not only keep everything in place, but you may also find it’s pretty darn comfortable while giving you a stand-out athletic look on the beach.

cliff diving

Swanky: Genevieve bikini (Lisa Marie Fernandez)

bikini red

Steal: Victory bikini (Body Glove)

swim

A romper that can go from the beach to dinner

The last thing you want to do when you’re on vacation is micromanage every minute of your and your friends’ time. To smoothly be spontaneous, limit the need to stop back at the hotel room for wardrobe changes by wearing something versatile. Since you’ve got that giant (and adorable) tote, you could throw some wedges in, too, in case you want to dress it up just a bit more.

dinner on the beach

Swanky: One Shoulder Romper (Nicholas)

romper white

Steal: Tie Waist Ruffle Romper (ASTR)

astr romper orange

Minimalist makeup

The best items in your makeup bag for a beach vacation are BB cream or tinted moisturizer with UV protection, blush, highlighter, and bronzer. You can honestly get away with just the first two, if you’re really looking for low-maintenance. These double and triple up in a number of products, like the Multiple from NARS (creator of the cult-classic Orgasm blush) which acts as blush, highlighter, and more. Ditch mascara and eyeliner – if you sweat it onto your face you’ll completely lose the effortless fresh-faced glow you can only really have on vacation.

fresh face girl

Color Control Cushion Compact SPF 50+ (AmorePacific)

bb cushion compact amore pacific

The Multiple (NARS)

nars stick

Bronzed Cheek Perfection Gel (PER-FEKT)
per-fekt bronzing gel

Dry shampoo

Washing, blowdrying, and flat-ironing/curling your hair every single day is a serious time-suck – especially when you’re on vacation. Stretch out the fabulous blow-out you’ll get right before you leave by clipping it half-up on day two, in a loose side braid on day three, and in a messy high bun on day four (perhaps with the help of a cute headband). Days two through four are made possible (and easier on the eyes) by a little dry shampoo. We can’t help you beyond that; on day five, you should probably wash your hair.

Dry shampoo with oat milk – travel size (KLORANE)

dry shampoo

 

While it’s tempting to wait until the last minute and just throw a swimsuit and maxi dress in your suitcase, taking a little time to pack the essentials will let you enjoy every precious moment on vacation – fully prepared to relax and let loose.

Day it Forward – June 2016

We believe that every individual has the ability to make a difference in our world, and we want to give our readers a chance to bring attention to a cause that is important to them.

Every month, we will ask you to submit the charity of your choice (send to contact@beyondwords.life with “Day it Forward” in the subject line). If you want, tell us what the charity is about, why it is important to you, and anything else you feel is important to share.

Your submissions will be reviewed by bestselling author Sylvia Day and she will select one to personally contribute to for the month. The selected charity will be featured in the next month’s Day it Forward to bring more awareness to its cause and allow for readers of Beyond Words to donate as well.

The submission chosen for the month of June is Action for Autism136463105155681036128

Action for Autism (AFA) is dedicated to helping children and the families of children affected by autism to assist them in the attainment of available resources and thereby improve their lives. 1 in every 88 children born today will be diagnosed with some form of autism.  AFA seeks to provide awareness and education about autism and to help families get the resources to best suit their needs.

Sylvia will be donating $1,000 to Action for Autism. You can donate, too, here.

If you would like to submit a charity to Day it Forward for the month of July, please send submissions by June 24th, 2016 to contact@beyondwords.life.