Browse Tag by stress-free
Blog, Lifestyle, Travel, Updates

Travel Outfit Essentials + Life Update!

travel outfit essentials

travel outfit essentials

longchamp travel bag

carry on travel bags

longchamp travel bag

travel bags

Pink Carry-on // Leggings // Black Tennis Shoes // LA Cap // Black Zip-up Bag (Expandable!) // Favorite Cardigan // Top

Oh my gosh, y’all, it’s been a minute.

Seriously a hot minute full of these past crazy two 1/2 months of bar prep isolation, but I am finally free (for now) and so hyped to get back into the real world & back in touch with all of you!

For this two-day exam extravaganza, I used my favorite go-to travel essentials = this expandable nylon bag and my pink rolling carry-on. The black longchamp is a bit of an investment, but I cannot recommend it more! I’ve had the same one now for over 5 years – it’s been with me to over 5 countries, and everywhere else in between, yet still looks brand new! If you’re looking for a new travel bag, I definitely recommend checking this one out – as it’s been a lifesaver for when I’ve needed more space to bring back souvenirs, and for when I just don’t repack everything as tightly/well I did before leaving on the trip :).

After finishing up the Bar Exam, I met my sweet friends, Emily & Joy, for dinner & spent the night in Chapel Hill 🙌🏻 (For those of you who are new to the blog, UNC is where I went to undergrad, so any chance I have to stay overnight I happily take). Y’all – these two. There are no words for how much they have blessed my life with their friendship. Through all the good, bad, and beyond ugly, they’ve both been such great sources of steady support, encouragement, and motivation to do better // be better. I am so grateful to even just know them – and 100% of the time am truly intimidated by how crazy smart they are – it’s scary (in a good way).

As it always does, the time with them flew, and now I find myself already back at home with at least five weeks to kill before results come back. It’s a little surreal to say the least. Ideally, I am praying to be done with this part of the “become a state-approved lawyer” process, but it really just depends on some many different elements that are totally out of my hands. Although the statement can sometimes be seen as a cliche, I truly believe that God has a plan (Jeremiah 29:11 !) so, whatever the outcome, His plan is still good. Now, that doesn’t make the possibility of having to retake this exam any less depressing or disappointing, but it does allow me to have peace in knowing that if for some reason I do need to retake it, it’s for a purpose that I know is good and will choose to trust.

ANYWAY, transitioning topics – there’s a TON of new content // changes I’ve been dying to complete, launch, & share with y’all. Not the least of which includes a potential branding overhaul for BBB —> Sharing more on that in the coming weeks (I want y’all to vote on this!). First up though, is (of course) a new DIY project!! Later this week I’ll be sharing an easy TV tray overhaul tutorial <3 Oh – and for those of you who have asked//are interested – I will be sharing a “What/How I Packed for the Bar” post soon as well! If you want tips on staying motivated – check out this post here!

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xoxo, M

 

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Blog, The Home, Updates

Home Office Tour

bright home office organization

linen office chair home office

chic glam home office decor bright white and tufted linen desk chair

chanel diptyque home office goals

bright white home office

linen office chair tufted nailhead

bright white home office decor

bright welcoming chic home office

bright home office wall decor charlotte prints framed

bright chic home office decor

white shelves office

bright glam home office

bright glam home office

sunglass stand

yorkie in office

tufted storage bench

Malia Lynn home office tour on BBB

white pink letter board

white felt letter board

white home office leaning shelves

leaning shelves Louis Vuitton

blonde home office

Details: 

White X Shelves || White Leaning Shelves || Linen Office Chair || Acrylic Sunglasses Stand || Marble & Gold Vanity Tray (DIY available here) || Girls Just Wanna Be CEO Trinket Dish || White Frames || Velvet Pouf || Linen Storage Bench || Slay Girl Pillow || Gold Cheetah Pillows || Felt Letter Board || Pink Letter Board Letters || Leopard Throw || Faux Sheepskin Rugs || Valentino Pumps || Vintage Louis Vuitton || Pink Mini Chanel

 

Happy 2018, y’all! What does everyone have going on this week?! Mine still looks the same as last week and the week before (gosh – I’m so interesting!). As I mentioned in this post – it’s currently bar prep season until March 1st, meaning I am pretty much on lockdown study mode. It’s definitely an interesting experience spending 10-12 hours at a desk every single day, but thankfully it’s temporary! (Also shoutout to whoever created this bike desk that is so helpful in keeping me semi-sane and healthy!)

Earlier this fall, knowing that this intensive time would be coming up quickly, I really wanted to finish my office area as much as possible before I wouldn’t have the time to in January. Organized, bright, and airy spaces not only help my focus, but they definitely boost my mood, so I’m happy that overall that’s how this space feels. At this point, there are  still a few small changes I would like to make, but they will just have to be things to look forward to in March 🙂

I hope you all are having a wonderful start to the new year! Although my response time is definitely slower right now, I still love to read your comments and kind messages 🙂 Thank you all for your patience and continued support of this blog – starting this new year with all of you is one of the sweetest gifts!

xoxo, M

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 sheepskin rugvelvet tufted pouf girls just wanna be CEO trinket dish gold cheetah pillowpink mini chanelleopard throw

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Adulting, Blog, Fitness, Lifestyle

5 Tips to Make (and Keep!) Your New Year’s Resolutions

5 tips new years resolutions

There’s always more than one reason why a new year’s resolution may fail, and it may not even be the result of what you would think or expect. If you’re determined to keep yours this new year, but feeling a little worried as to whether or not you’ll actually be able to, begin using the five easy tips below to transform your motivation & help you meet your new year’s goals! 

1. Start Now

When it comes to resolutions, there is seriously no better time than the present to get started on what you want to change. Don’t wait until January 1st, or 5th, or 16th to get started on what you would like to see different this next year. If your resolution is one that quite literally cannot begin until the start of the new year, begin making preparations for it now. If your goal is improved fitness: Clean out your fridge, make your lists, create an organized corner with your go-to equipment and gear, and see #4 to get an accountability partner lined up – whatever you need to do to ensure that when you do start, you are equipped and ready to do so successfully.

quatrefoil bins fitness resolution

new year's fitness resolutions

2. Frame Your Resolutions with Attainable Goals

It’s great to have a longterm/ideal goal, but without attainable goals incorporated in that process, it’s often just too easy to give up and quit the whole thing. One way to avoid that is by changing how you frame what your ultimate goal actually is. For instance, if your goal is to “lose X weight,” reframe that to be “live a healthier lifestyle.” This automatically allows for a number of smaller goals that are so much easier to attain, like: (1) Exercise for 30 minutes a day; (2) Drink X amount of water; or even (3) Get into a better sleep schedule by going to bed by 10pm every night. Personally, if I have a fitness goal, I love to stick numbered post-it notes on a mirror. For each day I follow through with the plan, I get to remove one post-it. This is a visual reminder of the changes I’m making, which helps so much when the physical changes haven’t started to show yet. Plus, it’s a much healthier mindset since it allows you to be proud of your progress instead of so focused on the end result that you feel overwhelmed and disappointed when the number isn’t yet reaching what you want.

post-it note fitness help motivation

3. Create Rewards for Yourself

This tip pairs with #2 to support your motivation to keep your resolutions. Continuing with the example used in #2: Did you drink X number of water consistently 5 of 7 days this week? Great! Go get your nails done to celebrate, pick up some flowers from your local grocery store (my favorite reward!), or put on that movie you love to watch but haven’t seen in a while. Incorporate these rewards into your calendar so you know exactly when, and exactly what you have to look forward to when you meet certain goals.

new years resolutions rewards

4. Get an Accountability Partner ASAP

Whatever your resolutions for the new year may be, it can never hurt to have someone in your corner cheering you on throughout the process – reminding you why you started, especially when you lose motivation and feel like throwing in the towel. This person can be anyone from your spouse (for me, J is a great source of steady accountability), co-worker, or close friend. Whoever he or she may be, make sure you clearly communicate your personal goals, include how you are planning on reaching them, and what exactly you want that person to do/tell you when you are doing well, and when you aren’t doing so great. Everyone communicates differently, so what may feel supportive to them may not be as helpful for you – so it may be best to go over this at the start rather than after hurt feelings or miscommunications have occurred. 

5 tips to make and keep your new year's resolutions

5. Write out Daily Reminders

Never forget that you are in control of whether or not you meet these goals. If you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed, write out what is in your control, and what is not. For everything that is in your control, write a single sentence of how you know you can and will handle it. For everything that is not, draw a single line through to remind yourself that your focus needs to be on what you can control rather than what you cannot. Then, at the bottom of the page, write 3 things that you are proud of or that bring you joy. It’s okay if these positive reminders repeat from the day before – what matters most is that you choose to believe and apply them.

get it girl

Whether it’s fitness or something else, any resolution is going to take time to become a consistent part of your life, so go after it and enjoy the process. This time next year, you’ll be so glad you did.

Shop the featured items in the post:

xoxo, M

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Blog, DIY Projects, Home Decor

Marble & Gold Drawer DIY

the 15 minute marble and gold white drawer hack diy

marble and gold drawer hack diy

Hey y’all, happy Wednesday :). This project took a total of 15 minutes to complete – seriously! It’s definitely my fastest DIY/hack to date! As most of you know, I love marble and gold home projects, and this one absolutely has a significant impact on any space you choose to use it in – whether a home office, glam room, or even a closet! If you’re ready to get started, the 3 easy steps and supplies are included below – if not, pin the image above to save the project for later!

Supplies for this Project:

Set of Drawers 

Marble Contact Paper x 1

Putty Knife

Scissors

Brass Pulls 

Screwdriver

Step 1: Following the included instructions, completely assemble the set of drawers, skipping only the drawer pull step. (I installed the drawer pulls without thinking – lolz – so don’t waste your time doing the same thing!)

mainstays drawers hack

Step 2: Wipe down and dry the top of the dresser. This removes any dust and allows for your contact paper to adhere more securely! Next, line up your marble contact paper, and cut to size **Be sure to leave enough overlap to fold the marble sticker down underneath the edges. Then, using your putty knife, apply and smooth out the contact paper. Cut a single slit at the edge of the front corners, if needed, for folding the sticker and applying it to the drawer set.

white drawer marble hack

marble contact paper

marble contact paper

marble contact paper

marble drawer hack

marble drawer hack

marble contact paper drawer hack

Step 3: Add your brass pulls, securing them with your screwdriver.

gold drawer pulls marble hack

brass drawer pulls white drawer diy

diy marble and gold drawer hack

DIY marble and gold drawer hack

glam marble and gold drawer diy

glam marble and gold drawer diy hack

Step 4: You’re done! Now, where to place your beautiful DIY?! It’s great in a home office, vanity area, glam room, bedroom, or even in your closet for some extra luxe 🙂

For extra inspo, I’ve included some fun options below:

glam marble and gold vanity

glam marble and gold vanity

glam office set up

glam office set up

glam office set up

glam office set up

glam home office set up

BonusUse the leftover brass pulls to complete the marble and gold vanity tray DIY featured in the two images above 🙂

marble and gold drawer hack

Interested in more Marble & Gold DIY projects? Check out this Ikea Hyllis Hack

If you’re ready to complete your own version of this project? Don’t forget your supplies: 

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