Eden Jade Grey

Beach Day Essentials

June 14, 2020 Leave a Comment

I don’t know if anyone else noticed, but it’s summer out there.

Man, it is hot!

With that being said, I thought it would be fitting to share my essentials for a day in the sun. This could be a beach day, river day, lake day, backyard day… really any day that I plan to spend sunbathing and relaxing!

1. A good towel for lounging & drying off

Behold, the Sand Cloud towel!

I have seen ads for these adorable towels all over Instagram for years, and finally made the investment. They are advertised as “sand resistant” so they don’t cling to whatever they’re laying on top of.

Turns out, that feature is incredibly convenient and sort of amazing.

Plus, they come in so many different designs and sizes!

The main reason why I love Sand Cloud is because of their mission statement:

Sand Cloud is on a mission to help save Marine Life. As we continue to grow our brand, we are focused on creating the best sustainable products in the world. From packaging to products, everything is designed with sustainability in mind.
Sand Cloud’s mission statement

To seal the deal, 10% of profits are donating to saving Marine Life, which is truly amazing!

If you are interested in purchasing your own Sand Cloud towel, I have a discount code for you!

Just use the code EDEN.J.GREY575 at checkout for $15 off your purchase of $50 or more!

-Just FYI-

I only work with brands that I support and believe in. I will never promote a product that I don’t absolutely love.

2. Fish-safe sunscreen

Sunscreen is key.

At this point, I think we’re all educated enough to know how important sunscreen is for preventing cancer, wrinkles, keeping tattoos bright and fresh… so many things.

I wont waste your time preaching about the miracle that is SPF, but I recently learned that normal sunscreen is incredibly toxic for sea life.

I had no idea the negative impact that sunscreen had on Marine Life, but this sunscreen by Sand Cloud is fish-safe and blends into the skin like a dream!

3. A good book

The book I’m currently reading is called The Miniaturist, and it is fabulous! Based in the 1600s, it’s a great read about a young girl who marries a wealthy man in Amsterdam.

This book is taking me a very long time to read because I have also had my nose in other nonfiction books recently, but I’m looking forward to finishing this one during my next beach day.

Whatever you’re reading (or listening) preference, I think that having a story to follow while you pass the time by is an absolute must! If you want to use your time in a more productive manner, you could also listen to an educational podcast.

4. My trusty water bottle

This may be obvious, but staying hydrated while sunbathing is essential. I find that if I don’t drink enough water on a beach day I end up with a raging headache and a bad attitude.

My boyfriend and I both own one of these Iron Flask water bottles and absolutely love them! They insulate just like a Hyrdoflask or Yeti, but don’t have a ridiculous price tag like other brand-name water bottles.

This water bottle is my life. It is literally the sole reason why I stay hydrated every day. If you have a hard time getting in your daily water goal, I highly recommend getting a reasonably sized water bottle with a straw. It makes it convenient to drink water and easier to remember.

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Why You Should Take a Gap Year

June 7, 2020 Leave a Comment

In honor of my recent graduation from the College of Southern Idaho with my Associates of Science, I thought it pertinent to share my thoughts regarding the infamous gap year, and going to community college.

A little background…

As many of you may know, I didn’t start out at community college. In fact, I went the classic university route and even lived in the dorms straight out of high school.

When I attended Oregon State University (OSU), I was only 17. I was very good at math in high school, and decided that I wanted to put that skill to use by pursuing civil engineering as a profession. I felt certain about this path until I actually got to college.

It didn’t take long before I started to fall behind in all of my classes and lose focus (very out of character for me). This was one-hundred-percent because I had no passion for my major. I wasn’t pursuing the right degree for me, and I knew it. After a couple months of “sticking it out,” miserable as ever, I ended up dropping out.

I then proceeded to take a gap “year”… haha just kidding… it was more like 5 gap years.

During this period of time I did a lot of growing up, and learned how to be an adult (sort of). This time away from school was crucial because it allowed me to realize my true calling, medicine.

Wait, until you can’t wait anymore!

Once I figured out that I wanted to be a doctor, the opposite of what happened while I was at OSU began to occur. I was itching to go back to school. All I could think about was my dream, and how badly I wanted it.

I decided to get the ball rolling again and enroll in classes at a local community college where I lived.

Try community college…

Going to community college was the single-best decision I could have made. Not only did it allow me to ease back into my educational career, but it gave me the opportunity to complete my bacc-core for a fraction of the cost that a university would have charged. I paid next to nothing for my first two years of college, and still got an incredible education.

I think it’s nearly impossible to know exactly what you want to do before you’ve had a chance to live on your own out in the world. That is why I’m a huge advocate of the “gap year”. Had I taken some time off right after high school, I could have saved myself a lot of time in the long run.

Many students go to college hoping that as they work through their bacc-core, they will figure out what they want to do. That’s fine and all, but you have to pay for every credit that you take. If you are going to college to figure out what you want to do, chances are you are going to take classes that you wont end up needing for your major. Why not take those credits at a community college where you wont be charged an arm and a leg?

Go when your heart aches to pursue your dream.

College is an amazing thing and can open up so many doors for you.

If you are a high school student, or are a college student worried that college may not be for you, I have a few pieces of advice.

One, take some time off. If you’re questioning your pursuit of a higher education, sometimes all you need is a little time away to figure out why you’re doing it in the first place. What do you want out of your education? Why are you here?

Take time off now, so you don’t have to take more time off later like I did.

Two, go to community college if you want to “explore” your passions. It’s cheaper, and provides more flexibility so you can figure out what you want to do in an academic setting without going broke.

My final piece of advice, if you’re not sure about going to college is: don’t! Only make the commitment if you know that you can’t get what you want out of life unless you go to school. You wont do well or get the most out of your education unless you want it, and you want it bad. So wait. If college is right for you, you will go back when you’re ready.

Why Changing The Way You Write To-Do Lists Can Increase Productivity

May 31, 2020 Leave a Comment

Who else feels like every time they write a to-do list, they only get a fraction of what they initially wrote done, but also do a ton of other stuff that wasn’t initially on the list?

I am a task-happy to-do-lister, and I’ve been doing it wrong all along.

Lately, I’ve taken to a new type of task-tracking. Instead of writing every little thing I can think of (just to disappoint myself later when I don’t get everything done), I write down only the things I must do, and my “top priorities” for the day.

I then write down the other things that come up throughout the day as I get them done. This method of daily planning has an incredible positive-psychological effect on me.

At the end of the day, instead of having a ton of unchecked boxes, I instead have a list of things I actually did do. A list of accomplishments that I can feel proud of.

This method allows me to focus on all of the great things I did that day, why also ensuring I don’t forget to do what is most important.

I decided to design my own to-do list that caters to this methodology. As always, please feel free to download and share as much as you want! I design these templates to be used with technology or printed out, depending on your preference!

Now, don’t get me wrong, there is still a time and place for the more traditional floor-length list of to-do’s. I still do this from time to time when I have an unavoidably packed day, full of things that simply can’t wait (hello, finals!).

Because I am easily overwhelmed, and often spend a lot of time worrying about what I should get done first, I have taken to breaking down my longer to-do lists in order of priority. I order them like this: “must do”, “if I have time”, “it could wait”; that way I can work from the top to bottom of my list with no confusion as to what needs to be done first.

I hope you guys enjoy my second release of to-do list templates!

As always, feel free to contact me directly or comment below if you have any special requests. I am happy to design templates based on your needs and preferences!

Don’t forget that all of my template designs live here on my blog for your convince.

How to Be Productive on a Daily Basis – FREE Downloadable To-Do Lists

May 25, 2020 Leave a Comment

Hello, and welcome to another post!

Today is the very first release of my FREE downloadable PDF templates.

These templates will live here on my blog. Feel free to download and share them as much as you want! You can also find them any time by simply going to the “Free PDF Templates” page on my blog.

Having aesthetically-pleasing designs to keep track of the things you need to do makes being productive much more exciting. I designed these for you to be an affordable (doesn’t get much better than FREE) way to organize your day-to-day life!

You can use the designs electronically by downloading them to any tablet that has writing capabilities. I use mine by uploading them to the GoodNotes app on my iPad Pro. I use my Apple Pencil to write on the templates just like I would on a hard copy.

If you don’t have a tablet, or just prefer pen and paper, you can also download them to any device and print them out!

The two to-do list templates I am releasing today are both designs that make me feel calm and inspired – I hope they do the same for you!

I love to include different “habit trackers” in my templates. In both of today’s releases you will find places to track your water consumption, write down your daily gratitude, and check off important daily tasks.

I would love to design affordable-custom templates for anyone interested. Please leave a comment below if you would like me to design a template with specific “habit trackers” or reminders, and a specific color pallet/image just for you!

I am looking forward to designing many more of these for you guys! Please let me know in the comments if there are any specific templates (study guides, guided journals, etcetera) you would benefit from and I will work on those next.

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All About My Tattoos

May 17, 2020 4 Comments

Before starting edenjadegrey.com over from scratch, one of my most popular posts was about my tattoos. Since that post was written, I have acquired many more, and so thought it would be fitting to make an updated version.

I got my first tattoo on my 18th Birthday and fell in love with the process. To me, tattoos are the ultimate form of creative expression and personality. I love putting artwork on my body that reminds me of the things, places and people that I love.

Both of my sleeves were done by Wit McKnight, at American Classic Tattoo in Nampa, Idaho. I have three other tattoos that were done at different shops in Oregon and Idaho.

My Sleeves

My left arm took about seven session from start to finish, approximately 42-50 hours. While I didn’t keep track of the cost, I would guess that with time and tip, I spent about $3,500-$4,000.

Here is a bit about their meaning, starting from the bottom of my arm to the top:

The flowers around my wrist are all the women (plus my little brother) in my life’s favorite flowers.

Moving up, the “garden” is my nick-name, and the rose on the back side of my arm represents Portland, Oregon “the city of roses”, where I am from.

In the ditch of my elbow is the St. Johns Bridge in Portland, and I had it surrounded by storm clouds because I love the rain more than anything.

The birds are symbolic of my leaving home and adventuring as a young person, as they are flying away from so many things that remind me of home, towards my balloon.

And finally, my dear balloon, easily my favorite tattoo. She represents my love of travel and adventure.

My right arm is currently sleeved half-way, and took 3 sessions (19-23 hours) to finish. It cost me approximately $1,300 in total, including tip. I got this tattoo because I love the ocean and wanted to be reminded of it every time I look at my arm. I have big plans for the rest of this arm, and cannot wait to finish the story that it will tell.

This was by far the most painful tattoo that I have gotten because we completely filled my elbow and the ditch. Let me tell you, the elbow f****** hurts. I have a high tolerance for tattoo-pain, but getting my elbow done almost made me cry. That being said, I don’t regret it one bit. It turned out to be the most intricate, beautiful and artistic piece that I have on my body.

If you look closely, the jellyfish on my inner arm is covering an old diamond tattoo that I didn’t want anymore.

The Rest of My Tattoos

I have a bee on my right shoulder that matches with my best friend, Ellie. The tattoo was a gift from her for my 22nd Birthday, and is my most meaningful piece, because it makes me feel closer to her.

I also have half of a mandala on my foot that I love, and plan to extend up my calf eventually. My foot was the second-most painful place to have tattooed, so I’m not in a hurry to finish my vision for that piece.

The last tattoo I have to share was the one that started it all (I got it 2 days after my 18th Birthday). I forget about this one often due to the placement, but still love it regardless. It represents Sun Valley, where I currently live and where I grew up visiting as a child to see my grandparents.

Tips & Tricks

In no particular order, here are some tips and tricks I have for you when getting tattoos and taking care of them:

TIP YOUR ARTIST – Seriously, tip them and tip them well. You tip your nail tech and your hair stylist for temporary “art,” why wouldn’t you tip your tattoo artist for the permanent art they are doing for you! I have never left less than a $50 tip on any piece, and usually I try to leave something more like $100-$200, depending on the size and cost. Being a generous tipper also helps to build a good relationship with your artist. They will be much more inclined to cut you deals on large pieces if they already know you’re a good customer who tips well.
DON’T PICK YOUR HEALING ART – Please please please please please don’t pick your healing tattoos. For some, this is a no-brainer. However, you’d be surprised how many people with fresh work I’ve seen picking and scratching their healing tattoos. This WILL mess them up. Don’t do it. If you really must itch them, give lightly slap it instead.
DRINK WATER AND EAT BEFORE & AFTER – Okay, this one may seem a bit random, but it’s important! The sessions on my sleeves averaged 6-7 hours. That’s 6-7 hours of your body being in moderate pain and you sitting there trying not to move. Make sure that you eat a good meal before and after the session, and try to stay hydrated. The excitement and adrenaline can trick you into forgetting these essentials, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten sick after an appointment from forgetting to nourish my body.

My At-Home Workout Routine

May 10, 2020 Leave a Comment

Over the past few years, I have taken many classes that emphasize the importance of regular exercise on longevity and happiness. If I didn’t know that exercise was important to my health before, let me tell you, I do now.

I have always lived a relatively active lifestyle, and I started working out when I was in high school. When I workout every day, my mood and energy are elevated, and I am less prone to headaches and illness.

There are so many different programs out there that provide home and gym-based workouts. Over the years, I have tried a lot of these programs. So far, Team Beach Body’s 21-Day Fix has been my favorite.

Team Beach Body (TBB) is a company that offers the ability to simply join and do the provided workouts, or become a “coach”. Coaching allows you to make commission by selling TBB products. I tried my hand at coaching, and it didn’t end up being for me. Regardless, I thought it would be helpful to share my experiences and thoughts, for anyone that is considering becoming a rep.

After a friend recruited me to be apart of Team Beach Body, I experienced my first role of being a fitness “coach”. After getting more involved, I found that the marketing aspect of the role felt less than authentic for me.

Most companies like this one operate on your ability to recruit other people, which sometimes can work great if you have a large social circle, or have built a hefty audience on a social platform already.

Some parts of the company really did stick out to me, such as the “Accountability group” (essentially a group of people that motivate each other to accomplish their fitness goals) and their emphasis towards encouraging women to adapt healthy lifestyles. However, I realized I wasn’t comfortable monetizing my body for the purpose of selling a product. Considering that health and fitness are so important to me, it felt more authentic to share my fitness journey through my own terms and perspective. Even though I didn’t end up sticking with the coach role, I did find the perfect workouts for my lifestyle and body type.

Guys, I have never been stronger. I have never been in better shape.

I just finished the program 21 Day-Fix Extreme. Yes, it was very challenging, but each classes’ short duration ensured that I didn’t burn out too fast. All of the workouts are designed to be done at home (hello, quarantine), and are 30 minutes long. Every single workout program on the TBB app also come with a tailored nutrition guide that helps you eat clean in order to support the hard work your body is doing.

While my body type doesn’t necessarily show my results in a visually dramatic way, my real results are in how I feel, and my strength. Before starting this program I could do (maybe) 1 full push up. Now I can do 11 in a row. For me, that is a huge amount of progress in a short amount of time, compared to the results other workout programs have given me.

I am now in the process of picking my next workout program, which is tough because there are so many to choose from! It’s comforting to know that if I pick one and don’t like it, there are still a ton of other options that I can choose from. Overall, I highly recommend joining TBB for awesome at-home workouts and nutrition plans, especially since gyms are closed and working out from home is a must.