Motivation Mondays

It’s a New Year and with that, a new and refreshed mindset! After taking some time to be more present and to restructure my goals, I am back to the blog life. I can’t emphasize this enough, but taking the time to do things that truly bring you joy is SO important in life.

With that being said, having a creative outlet and expanding my knowledge are things that I have vowed to do more of. For todays motivation, my inspiration comes from my latest book of choice- Atomic Habits by James Clear. Trust me when I say this, but this is a must read!

I have always been the type of person that has consistently had a goal(s) set for myself and constantly strives to have something to work towards. Whether it be on a post it note, my vanity, notes in my phone or in my planner- just the notion of having a goal seemed to be motivating enough for me.

However, an interesting takeaway from this book, has been that setting goals isn’t what is going to drastically improve your life. The results are actually linked to the habits that you create for yourself. The habits created and the process that you execute daily is what helps you to become the person that is capable of attaining that goal.

For example, if you want x amount of money by a certain point, you can’t just set the goal of attaining that money and not having habits to support that goal. The habits that you create for yourself, will be the ones to help you to hit that specific goal. Habits like cooking more instead of eating out, setting a budget, creating a list of necessities vs extra expenses, tracking expenses.. etc. are more likely to get you to your end goal, rather than trying to achieve a goal with no plan.

So be conscious of your habits. Are they helping or hindering your ability to accomplish your goals?

Motivation Mondays

“Focus on the step in front of you, not the whole staircase”

When looking at our dreams and aspirations in life, it can get a little overwhelming to think through every single step that needs to be done, especially when you’re in the mindset that it all has to be done as a whole. Rather than getting caught up in the many things needed to do to get you there, it can be easier to break it up into smaller segments, thus making your dream much more manageable. Look at the things that you can do, little by little to get yourself there. Baby steps people! Not only will this help you to better achieve your dreams, but it will allow you to enjoy the process as well, by taking the time to be more present in each step of the way.

What I Wore Wednesdays

It’s the white trousers for me this SS’21!

So I came across this brand- Because of Alice, and let me tell you… her trousers are life changing. From the quality, to the fit, to the extremely quick shipping… pure genius! I would say I’m more of a trousers kind of girl, as my go to look, so if I could wear these everyday.. I really would. For a dressier occasion I paired these back to a ruched cropped top and mules but on a more casual note, I would rock these with chunky sneakers and a tank top.

Also to note with the look, neutrals.. they’re still happening and will continue to keep happening so be sure to stock up on great basics that you can play around with for different looks!

Motivation Mondays

I recently started reading “The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck” by Mark Manson, and it’s really given me a different approach to my thought process. If you couldn’t guess it, the basis of the book is to care less in order to live a happier life. I am totally all for this. At the end of the day, you are the person that you’re living with, remembering memories of and creating a lifestyle that is solely catered to you. As long as you’re a) doing things to make yourself happy, b) content with the person that you’re looking at in the mirror and c) making choices that will further advance you towards your goals and dreams, then why stress over irrelevant, minor details in your overall story?

Don’t get me wrong here, morals and values do go a long way, so you do need to care a little bit; but it’s really about recognizing the importance of what you’re choosing to care about. By maintaining awareness of this, you’re giving yourself the opportunity to lead a much happier and less mentally cluttered lifestyle.

Motivation Mondays

” You are exactly where you are meant to be”

I love this quote because it is SO true. It is very easy to lose sight of this at times; with the pressure from society, social media, friends, family and even yourself, to be at a certain stage of life or doing more than you are at the moment. The beauty of life, is that everyones path is different and uniquely catered to each and every individual. Everyone has to do exactly what they’re doing in the present moment to further themselves on their journey and to give them the life that was meant for them. So you’re not where you envisioned yourself to be at a certain age? Rather than to think of the negatives surrounding this, why not think of what you do have going for you and what your current situations circumstances mean for you. Really take the time to think of what you are able to do at this standpoint in your life to clearly get you closer to your end goal. That could be gaining more knowledge so that you are successful, saving more money, advancing relationships, networking more, having more “you” time to figure things out..I’m sure if you really put your mind to it, you could turn around the fact that maybe you aren’t where you “envisioned” yourself to be, but that it’s the perfect place for you right now.

Motivation Mondays

For as long as I can remember, I always attributed being busy and always having a plan in motion for every minute of my life, with being productive. I felt like always being busy went hand in hand, with making the most out of life and not missing any opportunities. I definitely am not the type of person to just be able to relax by doing nothing all day and when I do find myself without anything to do, my first instinct is to begin creating ways to stay busy or to make plans.

What I failed to recognize in living a life like this, is that I wasn’t giving myself the proper “me” time that I fully needed. We all need time to recharge and it’s definitely a crucial component of life. If this whole pandemic has taught me anything, it is to slow down and embrace the slower moments of life. That it’s okay to prioritize yourself and what you genuinely need. I think it’s important to be in tune with yourself and to allow yourself to have a day, or two, if you feel like you need it, rather than pushing yourself to exhaustion. You’re just not your best self when you’re in that headspace and it will eventually catch up to you in all areas of your life. Rather than to tumble down that continuous rabbit hole, there are so many tools and resources to help with clearing your mental and giving yourself some time to reset. Not every method will work for everyone, so make sure to try out a few to figure out what exactly gets you aligned with your happiest and most calm self.

Some resources that I have been using lately to help me slow down a little in life has been meditation, using my singing bowl, sageing my spaces, journaling, listening to music, working out, reading and blogging. I’ve found that these have helped me so much and although it’s not the easiest to force myself to slow down and do, I always end up feeling so much better and recharged. So for those of you who are feeling exhausted and aren’t giving yourselves the proper you time that you really need. This is your sign to find what works best for you, and to incorporate that into your schedule.

Friday Favorites

Finding the perfect nail salon provides a level of comfort that I can’t exactly explain. I’ve lived in NYC for about 7 years now- 3 different boroughs, 5 apartments…and I hadn’t found my go to…until I came across Spa Ella recently.

Spa Ella has everything that you would ever want in a nail salon and honestly I’ve never looked forward to getting my nails done more than I do now, with having this as my spot!

From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted in unison by the sweetest team of workers. The ambiance (which is a main thing for me) is clean, modern and provides a relaxing atmosphere. As you’re guided to your chair kindly by the technician assigned to you, you’re given a plethora of choices ( another important thing!) They always have updated colors and while it’s not the best for those that are indecisive, a girl does love her options! As the technician quickly tends to your nail needs, the owner, Ella ( who is the kindest woman ever!) is there to answer any and all questions that you could possibly have. She is clearly knowledgeable in the industry and has an answer for any of your concerns. This nail salon is in Brooklyn, so for all of my locals, and even the non locals too, definitely check this out for all of your nail needs!

SPA ELLA

What I Wore Wednesdays

It’s all in the details! I’ve posted about this brand before and will definitely continue to do so in the future, because it is one of my absolute favorites! One reason why I love the brand Gold Hawk is because the designer always incorporates the most gorgeous accents to her pieces. These camisoles are great as separates or as layering pieces and definitely great essentials to keep on hand.
One of my favorites is the Lucy, as seen above. Throughout the collection, there are a plethora of lengths, colors, strap width options and silhouettes to choose from, so you’re not limited by any means. The lace detail that the designer incorporates throughout her collection adds a little romance to any outfit, which I am personally all about in these upcoming seasons! This top can be worn closed with a French tuck, or as I wore it, paired back to a tonal camisole for more of a sophisticated and elegant look.

Camisole Shanghai embroidered top

Motivation Mondays

“Be the energy that you want to attract”

This philosophy goes back to the law of attraction, and I’ve personally seen the effects of this, first hand. It’s not necessarily the easiest to be the energy that you want to attract, especially when what you want to attract seems so out of reach. It definitely takes practice to get yourself into this mentality, but it is possible. It is important to be more conscious of what you’re actually looking for and how you can get yourself mentally aligned with that, from there, your given path should follow.

Take a look at your daily thoughts and habits- are they in line with who you want to become and helpful in getting you on the path that you envision for yourself? If not, what kind of thinking and what changes in your day to day, can you implement to get yourself there? Clearly identify what kind of life you want, visualize the things you desire, who you want to have by your side and the person that you want to be. With the right mindset and proper self discipline, anyone can accomplish whatever they aspire to have in life.

What I Wore Wednesdays

_From Brunch…
To Hiking_

These cargo pants are versatile enough to do both! Neutral tones are EVERYWHERE in the upcoming seasons so this nude tone is a perfect color to add to your wardrobes! Beginning the day with Brunch, I paired the look with a black crop top, leather oversized blazer and pointed toe, kitten heel booties, which are all the rage lately and definitely a must have for current/ upcoming trends. Lately I’ve been loving the look of dressing up your casual attire. Being in the city, hiking is a little rare.. but my boyfriend and I found this adorable park in Brooklyn that was right on the water and it gave me the nature vibes that I’ve been so desperately needing! The nude cargo pants were comfortable enough for physical activities and cute enough to stand out in nature. I paired the hiking look back to a cropped hoodie that I actually cut myself and a pair of my go to converse!

Cargo pants, crop top, leather blazer, booties

Cropped hoodie, converse