New Year Sparkle

I already talked a bit about how this year impacted me and how I'm stronger for it, but now that we are finally saying goodbye to 2020 I'm realizing how ready I am to move on. As this year officially comes to a close it's easy to complain and say how terrible the last year has been, but there were some 2020 wins that deserve a shoutout! I celebrated three of my best friends having beautiful and healthy babies, toasted the engagement of my former roommate, shared in my parent's excitement of buying a second home, supported a friend who launched her small business, cheered for two of my cousins moving back to NY, and faced my financial reality and started building my 6 month emergency fund.

Like the rest of the world I'm ready to add some sparkle back into my life and am praying the year ahead is better than the last. I'm not one for sequins on New Year's Eve (way too cliche for me) but this year I just may have to break some out - or maybe wear chic pajama's for the couch. And because this is my last post of the year I want to share with you a final toast!

Stir the eggnog, lift the toddy,

Happy New Year, everybody.

-Phyllis Mcginley

See you in 2021!

ARS xx

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How I Created My 2021 Vision Board

A big part of this week is about preparing for the new year and what I want my life to look like a year from now. I'm a pretty visual person and felt like in addition to writing down goals, maybe if I can visualize them I will reach them. I touched on this briefly before, but there are three areas of my life I want to work on this year: home, relationships, and my lifestyle. Because I didn't want to sacrifice any of my magazines I decided to try out creating a digital vision board on Canva. I pulled a bunch of images from Pinterest and uploaded them to Canva. In Canva I both created templates and used pre-made ones for each category and printed them out. It was really simple and user friendly - the most difficult part was actually having visualize what I wanted each aspect of my life to look like and find images to match that vision! What is your vision for 2021? 

ARS xx

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Pretty Pins for 2020 Vision

While it's not the year I envisioned, I think 2020 is the year I needed to have. This year was a blaring wake up call and I'm actively taking steps to change the course of my life. I said never again to many things and am learning to put myself and my goals first. As a people pleaser, this alone was a major challenge and lifestyle change! 2020 has been nothing but a stressful, emotional, and growing year but I've learned to come to peace with it. It would be easy for me to go back and focus on the things I should have done, but I believe in making lemons out of lemonade and I'm embracing the pain I experienced this year. As 2020 closes I'm grateful to have my health, my family, and the ability (and willingness) to make the necessary changes to my life. I'm determined to build on this year's momentum and hopefully set myself up for future success. Below are a few images inspiring me this week as we close out 2020 and celebrate 2021!

Cheers to the last "Pretty Pins" of 2020!

ARS xx

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Christmas Magic

 

“What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future.” ―Agnes M. Pahro

I'm running very behind on posts this month, but wanted to quickly check in before I completely get into full on Christmas mode. The above quote felt so timely this year, I'm wistful and long for the family filled Christmas's of the past, I'm ready for what this Christmas will look like, and I have great hope that brighter days are ahead of us. I'm so, so thankful for all of my readers and for anyone who checks in and reads my silly blog. May you and your family have a healthy, joyous and merry Christmas and holiday season! I'm taking the rest of the week off, but will be back again next week with more things to add some sparkle to your life!

Love,

ARS xx

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Pretty Pins for a Busy Christmas Week

I'm not sure about you, but as we get closer to Christmas it's looking more and more unrecognizable. While still a celebratory time (I'm going to see my Grandmother for the first time in a year!) there is a heaviness that is in the air. This will be the first year I haven't seen my entire family this holiday season and it's pretty depressing. It's the right and safe thing to do, but certainly puts a damper on things. Despite the lack of entertaining to be had, we are still as busy as ever picking up last minute gifts, wrapping them, and doing all sorts of festive errands and doing our best to create some Christmas magic. Are you also feeling the holiday crunch?

ARS xx

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Currently...

Signing up for Breath, Yoga With Adrienne's 30 Day Yoga journey. She hosts this every January and it's been the best way to reset and start the new year.  I'm looking forward to starting fresh in 2021 and this is going to be my personal reset! 

Working on my vision board for 2021! I decided to focus on three areas of my life this year - relationships, home, and lifestyle. The past few years I let them all fall off and it's time for me to focus and get my life back. I'm so determined to do that I even added creating a vision board to my 101 in 1001 list! I just need to figure out the best way to print them and I'm off to the races.

Cancelling my trip to Palm Beach. I'm pretty upset that I'm cancelling this trip - it was what got me through the fall season. It just doesn't feel right be be traveling right now, especially after what is happening right after Thanksgiving. This is a small, small thing to be upset about so I'm thankful that this is the biggest problem I have in my life right now.  

Enjoying a snowy New York City! The city always has such a dreamy feel to it when it snows. It's always a bummer when the snow becomes dirty, gross, and melts away but before that happens it's pure magic. 

Finishing up a lot of "year end" things like organizing my apartment, getting haircuts/pedicures/waxing, working on a budget for next year, making doctor appointments ect. It's not fun or glamorous but these are little things that need to be done to make 2021 just a little bit easier. 

What's your Friday looking like?

ARSxx

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Snow Day!

 

While not a true snow day (I was scheduled to work remotely today) I'm still excited to cozy up in my apartment and relax at home. It makes me extra grateful that my home is a bit more festive than usual! Now I just need to up my loungewear game for 2021. 

Taking today off from the blog,

ARSxx

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Pretty Pins for Maximum Stress Levels

This week I'm hitting my work stress threshold. I've been having wild dreams that I hope I'm not manifesting, working around everyone's schedule, and trying to check everything off my list before my last day working in the office (today) all the while staying upbeat for the clients. I just need to get through today and home before the allegedly massive snowstorm hits and I'm going to treat myself to a cozy and calm night in and dive into John Delony's new Redefining Anxiety book.  It could not have arrived at a better time! I know I'm a few days late and a dollar short, but below are a few pins to cheer me (and you) up and hopefully inspire some celebratory days ahead!

Thank you for listening, as always, 

ARSxx

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Currently...

Enjoying the Irish Arts Center's Virtual Spirit of Ireland Gala. I absolutely adore the IAC and fully recommend you purchase a ticket and enjoy the show! It's something fun to do this weekend with you family and helps support such a special cause. 

Hoping we don't go back into a full lockdown again. I'm nervous because Cuomo decided to shut down restaurants again. It's a major source of anxiety for almost everyone I know. I'm praying we don't go back to that again. 

Scrambling to get last minute gifts for my family that fits into my budget. I definitely got a bit of a head start but wish I could have planned a bit more ahead. I made one of my 2021 Sinking Fund categories "Christmas" so hopefully next year will be a bit more organized. 

Searching for fun and festive, but still delicious, holiday recipes to try this year! Because we won't have our usual crew it might be a fun year to try out a new recipe or two and maybe brighten up the holidays. I may also be motivated to reach my cook 25 new recipes goal on my 101 in 1001 list. Any suggestions or ideas?

Mailing out my Christmas cards. I'm way behind the curve this year, but I'm determined to still get my cards out this year! I'm going to have to whittle down my list, as I don't have the room in my budget to buy new cards, so I'm taking stock of what I have and am going from there. 

Better late than never this Friday, right?

ARSxx

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Outfit Inspiration: 2021 Holiday Dressing

Hopefully by this time next year we'll be able to be out and about, even if on a smaller scale, again. While this post was supposed to be an outfit inspiration post for this year, nothing felt right. I'll post some ideas later, but in the meantime I'm rounding up a few looks for Christmas in 2021! I have a feeling everyone is going to be excited to get dressed up again and go all out in their looks. Below are a few ideas I'm saving for when we can safely celebrate with family and friends again. 

Slowly but surely getting into the holiday groove,

ARSxx

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Tuesday's Christmas Cheer

 

“Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart.” — The Polar Express

Despite my best efforts, I'm just not feeling the holidays yet. I'm trying to snap out of it by decorating my apartment, watching the Hallmark Channel, and dressing for the season. I know I'll snap out of it soon enough, but in the meantime I'm enjoying immersing myself in Christmas traditions and maybe may make one or two new ones. 

The Grinch Isn't Stealing Christmas Yet,

ARS xx

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Pretty Pins for Progress

This weekend was a time for me to catch up with my friends, take stock of where I am in regards to my financial goals, and begin to plan how I can reach them. It was a good weekend. I needed the boost of talking to friends I haven't chatted with in awhile. It was also bit of a wakeup call, because I definitely was in denial about where I am financially and realize I need to make major changes. I'm slowly starting to make a plan and decided to start with listing my sinking funds, which actually was part of my 101 in 1001 list! I'm slowing coming up with a plan that is feasible and something I can maintain and if it needs to be adjusted, that's ok too - as long as I'm progressing! Below are a ew pins reflecting my current mood.

In the home stretch of 2020,

ARS xx

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Currently...

Enjoying a few days off from blogging. I try to post as much as I can, but like I've said on repeat - I don't want to publish just to publish. I decided this week to take a break and enjoy just being!

Jumping for joy! My dad bought the family a Peloton and I can't wait to give it a whirl when it arrives in January. I had it on my 101 in 1001 list - I'm wondering if this qualifies? I'm going to say YES simply because depending on my future apartment, I may not have the room. 

Revamping my holiday season diet. Since I won't be having the typical parties to attend this year I'm thinking it might be a good time to go into extreme healthy eating mode and get half in shape for Palm Beach. 

Decorating for Christmas! I already picked up a few things at Raul's but I'm definitely wanting to expand my decor a bit more for that extra holiday feeling. 

Baking up some holiday treats! I was thinking some baked goods could be fun to share with my neighbors and colleagues (or to save them in my freezer for rainy days!). 

TGIF, 

ARS xx

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December Philanthropy Highlight: Choose Your Charity

It's kind of perfect that my philanthropy highlight post landed on today, the first of the month. I chose to highlight charities on the first of every month because I believe in starting the month on the right foot. Today is Giving Tuesday and while I was a bit caught up in Black Friday deals I did stop myself so I could participate today - a much more important day. Instead of highlighting just one charity like I have done in earlier posts, I wanted to share a few of my favorite charities and encourage you to donate and share your favorites with me! I've shared gift guides in the past, but this year they feel a bit tone deaf and I want to focus more on giving back. Below I'm sharing a roundup from a post earlier in the year and hope that you'll share some of your favorite charities with me!

Food Banks + Helping the Homeless:

The Bowery Mission

Texas Diaper Bank

St. Francis of Assisi Food Pantry

Helping Hands Rescue Mission 

Special Needs:

Sandal Gap Studios

Augusta Training Shop

Animal Shelters:

Big Dog Ranch Rescue

ARF Hamptons

Other Favorites:

Irish Arts Center

St. Jude Children's Hospital

HappyDecember All!

ARSxx

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Wednesday Motivation: Planning

 

"You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win." - Zig Ziglar

I've been branching out of my normal realm and decided to sign up for a few classes and virtual conferences. I'm stuck in a rut and am desperate to snap out of it. If there is anything I have taken away from these highly successful and motivated people it's the importance of creating a plan and sticking to it. I'll be the first to admit that I tend to lost motivation quickly, but if I want to get anywhere close to where I want to be in my life I need to come up with a plan and stick to it. The next few weeks will be about coming up with a plan for a few personal goals and I'm excited for it. 

Shifting my mindset, 

ARS xx

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Pretty Pins for Being Thankful

This week is a time for gratitude, family, and love so this week's inspiration roundup is all about being thankful. I'm so thankful for the life I have and the family I was blessed with, as well as my loyal friends. I always want to thank you, dear readers, for faithfully checking in and reading what I have to say. As I've shared before, this blog has kept me sane during many dark times and I've felt a little less lonely knowing I have you all here with me following my journey. This blog has taken many twists and turns throughout the years, but know I'm always grateful for any visitor and welcome you to share your triumphs and failures with me. Below is a roundup of a few pretty pins I saw around the internet this weekend that inspired me to write this post. 

With Gratitude, 

ARS xx 

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