Monthly Muses: Summer 2019 Inspiration
May 27, 2019
 |
| Photo by Jack Ward |
Wow, it’s already summer. I hate to admit it, but I let May rush right by me. I feel as if every month this year has just flown by without me taking the time to really focus on what I want and how to get it. Oops. But the good news is, summer tends to be my industry's slow season. That means I’ll have more time to be present and come up with a game plan to elevate my life. Aye!! And by elevate, I don’t necessarily mean I need to accomplish something major like getting a promotion, finding a new job, running my own lucrative business, paying off all my student loans or finding "my person" (don't worry, I vomited in my mouth a little bit at the last part of that list too). My definition of success is constantly evolving, and the rare ability to live in the moment and practice gratitude is something I appreciate more and more each day.
That being said, I want to start focusing more on the little things that inspire me and give me a pinch of happiness. Those small happy moments add up to one big happy life when you put them all together. One feeling I’ve always chased is a sense of inspiration. It warms my heart, and I’m sure you can relate. That’s why I wanted to share this list with you today, not just for selfish reasons (yeah, creating this post does make me really happy), but I also want to encourage you to write a list of a few things that have been inspiring you this month/season. Then you can take that list and use it as a road map to add a little more joy into your life.
There’s so much stress, drama, and pain in this world that we need to take some time out to remind ourselves of all the beauty life can offer. I personally think it’s crucial for our spiritual survival. I’d absolutely love it if you shared your list in the comments below. Like I said before, most people, including myself, are inspiration junkies so the more inspiration shared, the better.
A short list of things that have made me smile or feel inspired this month
 |
| Photos by: Ivan Ramirez , , , , , |
- Gardening
- House plants
- Maxi dresses and skirts w/ slits
- Raffia shoes
- Cane bags
- Almafi coast
- Anklets
- Seashells
- Vintage bathing suits particularly this line by Danielle Bernstein aka We Wore What. Every time I look at the Italy swimsuit collection, I fall more and more in love with the entire line. The colors and patterns are perfect, the location of the photo shoot is dreamy and the vintage cuts/styles are completely my taste. I have loved retro bathing suits for a long time. The Danielle one piece in citrus, the Salerno eyelet top, and the black rose Sorrento two-piece set are at the top of my wish list this season.
 |
| Earrings, Dress, Raffia Slides, Cane Bag, Raffia Heels, Anklet |
Thank you for spending a moment of your day to read this post. Your love and support mean the world to me. Wishing you love, peace, and joy. Until next time my friend.
 |
| Photo by Mary Skovpen |
I've recently become obsessed with midi and maxi skirts. I love how elegant and classy they are. And after I saw this video of Brighton Kheller in this Reformation skirt with a high slit, I fell in love!! I've been thinking about this skirt for a few weeks - wanting it but not wanting to drop that much dough on a singular skirt (although Reformation is a sustainable website, and I'm sure I would wear this lovely piece a ton this summer on dates and frolicking around the city), so I've been on the hunt for a dupe. Then, my brilliant friend MaryAshlyn told me that she found a skirt just like it on Shein.
I had completely forgotten to look there. And guess what y'all, I found a pretty great dupe for a fraction of the price. I found a few other amazing pieces during my massive hunt as well and thought I would share. These prices are super affordable if you're on a really tight budget like I am. One day, I would love to evolve away from purchasing fast fashion clothing, but for now, my budget isn't large enough to only shop at sustainable stores. So if you're looking for a few budget-friendly and cute pieces, check out the highlighted items below. I already purchased my favorite pieces below (will share a review when they arrive) and I'll be rewarding myself with some of the other items after I meet various financial, career and health goals this month. What goals are you going to reward yourself for this month?
P.S., be sure to read the reviews and look at the clothing measurements for each item. This is key when ordering from a wholesale site like Shein, and don't forget to check out their plus size section where there are similar styles!
I also wanted to share this amazing green polka dot dress with you guys. It captured my roommate's and my heart! So obviously I bought it. Let me know if you love it as much as we do. I am a sucker for maxi dresses with flirty elements like a wrap neckline and a high slit. This dress was too good to pass up.
 |
| Link Here |
As always, thanks for reading this post and supporting me. I truly do love you.
Sunday Reads: Health, Wealth and Love
May 12, 2019
 |
| Photo by Henry & Co.
Hi Guys,
I hope you had a wonderful week! Here are a few interesting articles I found on the web this week. I hope you grab a cup of tea and enjoy diving into the links below this evening. And if you’re a GOT fan like me, let’s pray we don’t lose any of our favorite characters this episode… but let’s be honest, Game of Thrones has never cared about sparing our emotions lol.
|
- Save Our Planet - this was a really informative article about the fabrics our clothes are made out of, how they impact the earth, and what fabrics to shop for instead
- Dating in the City - I loved this article. Being single can be really rough in this day of social media. Most of my friends in NYC are in a relationship, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I get jealous of them from time to time. And dating apps have personally led to a decent amount of disappointments. That” why I found these articles so helpful this week. I’m definitely adopting the mindset of “fuck yes, or no” from now on when it comes to dating.
- Mental Health Talk - This article is for all of my fellow women of color. Mental Health care is typically frowned upon in our communities. I know I was told to just “pray more” while growing up when I asked my parents if I could go to therapy… not the most helpful advice when tackling mental illnesses. Healthy mind = healthy life #blackgirlmagic
- Stay safe online: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/10/opinion/privacy-feminism.html
- Pay off those student loans fast!!! These are GREAT articles. I have student loans, and I am determined to be debt free before I turn 30!!!
- Turn that frown upside down: How to turn around a bad day and what to do when things aren't going your way!
- My favorite open, honest and relatable people on Instagram
- Hayet Rida - I've been following her for years and her entertaining, honest and uplifting content - especially her IG Stories have helped me get through a lot! I have an entire powerpoint of screenshots of the advice and quotes she shares.
- A Cup of Charisma - I was watching her IG Stories at my desk at work and started crying. Her stories happened to hit a raw nerve with me that day, but I love that Jillian always shares her highs and lows. Plus, she's a huge advocate for mental wellness, just like Hayet.
- Love this podcast episode about anxiety in the age of social media!!! Make some tea and listen to this! It’s the best 20 minutes you will have all day long
- Friendship is Magic: Maintaining friendships as you get older
- Currently Craving: seashells! I want these earrings; maybe I'll buy them next week.
- Growing Pains- Apparently our 20s are supposed to be hard.
- I loved how raw and honest these posts below were. They touche on so many points that I really relate to. So far my 20s have been freaking hard (losing my dad, graduating college without a job, my brother being diagnosed with an insane disease and constantly being rushed to the hospital, moving to NYC and dealing with mice, bedbugs and evil landlords, money and career struggles, dating all the wrong men, learning to let go of relationships that no longer serve me, adjusting to being single again, battling and getting treated for depression- therapy is the freaking best, having a quarter-life crisis…this list could go on and on lol) but these experiences are making me tough as fuck. I hope these articles I’ve linked resonate as much with you as they did with me. We are all struggling with something and learning how to grow from it.
- Wanderlust: Uh, I have a huge travel bug right now and want to check out these colorful places.
- Live well: Ayurveda health tips.
Weekly Highs and Lows
This week was transformative; that’s the most positive word I could think of. Despite being terrified of a lot of different things (some in my control and some out of my control). This week was not amazing, and I’m ok admitting that. I’m learning to accept that life is ½ negative and ½ positive. I will have hard weeks; we all will. And that’s kind of a blessing because these shitty ass times make us so much stronger. I have a lot of changes to make in my life - and I’m excited about that. I want to take actions that move me closer to my goals, and going back to therapy this week was the first step in doing so. I am so grateful that I am able to afford therapy (right now I’m using Better Help, which is quite budget friendly). I’m grateful to have the guidance of a much wiser person who can help me reflect on the errors of my past. Now, I’m able to apply those lessons and create a happier future for myself. No matter what the future entails, we are all capable of figuring it out. Wishing you a lovely Sunday and Mother’s Day - make sure to do something extra special for your mom and for yourself this evening. Even if it’s just ordering your favorite food and watching something hilarious - after all, laughter is the best medicine and my favorite coping mechanism for growing during hard times.
Thank you so much for reading this. Your love and support mean the world to me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Social Icons