Wednesday Quote

 

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."

-Norman Vincent Peale

Happy Wednesday, 

ARS xx

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Mini Muse: Amanda Woods in The Holiday

It's Christmas week, so I'm trying to stay on theme and thought it would be fun to highlight the chic wardrobe of Amanda Woods, Cameron Diaz's character in The Holiday. Over Thanksgiving my family had a marathon of holiday movies and was reminded why this one is a perennial favorite of the family. It reminds me of my close friend Katrina (we both love this movie and watched it every year in college) and I still think the outfits are the epitome of winter goals. Amanda's cozy knits are glamorous, comfortable and chic all at the same time, which is not an easy feat. Who doesn't want to be decked out in luxurious cashmeres, silks, and just the right amount of sparkle? Below are the looks I'm actively trying to recreate this holiday season. 

What movies inspire your style?

ARS xx

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Pretty Pins for Staying Cool, Calm and Collected

Between the Christmas rush and the anxiety induing headlines of late it's easier than ever to hit the panic button. Instead, I'm taking a deep breath and remembering my 2020 mantra - control the controllables. I'm focusing on my vitamin regimen, getting all of my Christmas gifts ordered and wrapped up with a bow, and remembering that I'm in a much better place mentally this year than I was last year. I am doing what I can do to keep myself calm and organized this Christmas season so I can celebrate as safely as possible. Below are few pins that are keeping me cool, calm and collected as we reach the final stretch of the holiday madness and possibly enter another rough covid patch. 

Who else is half ready for the week ahead?

ARS xx

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Currently...

Signing up for Yoga With Adrienne's 30 Days of Yoga with my cousin Grace! This will be my fourth year participating and it's the best way to start the year. 2022 here we come! 

Catching up on all of my Christmas shopping. Moving was a major endeavor and to be honest I fell behind on my Christmas shopping. Now that I'm  a bit more settled it's time to do a major shopping trip for the family! 

Experiencing Palm Beach as a local. Moving to Palm Beach has been a literal dream and even though I've only visited, living here full time will be quite a shift in mindset! I'm eager to become what one would deem a local and will share my journey with you. 

Revisiting my 101 in 1001 list. When I made my list I didn't anticipating moving out of New York so I'm trying to see what is feasible and realistic for this current season and how I can make most of them happen.

Taking my closet editing very seriously. I've mentioned wanting to do a full closet cleanse before, but now that I've moved states I'm taking it to the next level. I need to update my wardrobe and this is the perfect time to do this undesirable (for me) chore. 

Bon weekend,

ARS xx

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Thursday Night Party Planning: Christmas Craft Night

When I was in 7th grade my Mom planned a (now) infamous crafting party. At the time I was slightly horrified because I was new to the school and she invited a bunch of people I hardly knew. I didn't know if they were even as into crafts as I was and I panicked in a way only a 7th grader would! Turns out I found my fellow crafting buddies and we had a really fun time making ornaments. It was so much fun that my new guy friends were sulky and asked where their invites were (something that is still a thing today). I still am a crafter, but my old city life meant I had very limited space and frankly I didn't want glitter all over my studio and now I am building a new friend network. I do, however, think it would be SO fun to have a few friends over to craft, bake cookies, and catch up on everything and maybe a great new way to make friends down in Florida. Below are a few ideas to kick of planning your own craft night and possibly inspiring a future one for me! 

Invitations really set the tone and get everyone in the holiday spirit right off the bat! 

Normally I'd say a great playlist is key, but because we'll all be catching up and having fun with crafts maybe a holiday movie, like The Holiday, playing in the background ads a fun and different element. 

A good assortment of crafts is essential! Ornament making, wreath making, and anything Martha Stewart is a good idea too. 

Snacks are my second favorite part and maybe the most important part of the party?! 

A PJ dress code would be fun! I have a chic new pair of pjs I would love to have an excuse to wear before NYE comes around. 

Cheers to a festive weekend,

ARS xx

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Tuesday Mantra

 

"Some Christmas tree ornaments do a lot more than glitter and glow, they represent a gift of love given a long time ago." – Tom Baker

'Tis the season for holiday sparkle and delight, 

ARS xx

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Pretty Pins for A Fresh Start

It's been way too long since I last checked in here, but to be honest I was not in the best head space to write and contribute in a positive way. I've been in a pretty dark place the past few months, but I am on the up and up and ready to start sharing bits and pieces of myself again. That being said, there have been many life changes in the past few weeks! I left NY and moved to Palm Beach (pinch me!) and I am thrilled to still be working in the same industry and starting a new job at the same company. Sometimes a fresh start is just what the doctor ordered and landing where I did could not have been more perfect. Below are a few pins inspiring me as I transition to a new season in life. 

Happy Monday! 

ARS xx

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Wednesday's Wisdom

“We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.”— Dolly Parton

Thank God I'm a sailor, 

ARS xx

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Pretty Pins for Goodbyes

The past two weeks have involved a lot of "goodbyes". Some have been bitter sweet, some devastating, and some very casual. As someone who is not great with goodbyes this has been quite a time.  With everything happening so fast, I initially felt a bit numb to all the changes going on. Now that the dust has begun to settle I've started to process the death of a friend, a possible job loss and, in all likelihood, leaving a city I love. I'm realizing that I'm a lot tougher than I thought and that I am ready for what comes next. Below are a few pins inspiring me this week to keep positive.   

Happy Monday, 

ARS xx

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Currently...

Lounging in my new Sleeper pajamas! I was given a gift card, which I used to treat myself to these pjs and I am in love. Sleeper pajamas really are very comfy and great for apres work. I've mentioned that I've been focusing on making my apartment feel a bit more elevated and I'm including pajamas / loungewear as part of my revamp! 

Checking off another one of my 101 in 1001 goals off the list! I finally got to try 10 new-to-me restaurants in the city. I'm realizing a good portion of my goals are not going to be done due to the many mandates in NY, but I'm excited to make any progress and even one goal done is a good feeling. 

Getting back into a workout routine. My friend Brittney and I are doing a 30 day challenge and our daily check-ins have been so fun! I'm thrilled to have a friend with similar goals to talk to as I continue to focus on my health and getting my weight down.

Working on writing more exciting blog posts than just personal updates and inspiration I've been writing lately. As the world has opened up I've found myself enjoying just "being" and getting caught up in old habits that I'm trying to break. Getting back to my roots brought great comfort in a dark time and I want to keep the momentum going in a way that feels authentic and manageable.   

Dreaming of an updated fall wardrobe. My budget is dramatically changing this month, as I need to build up my emergency fund. I had hopes that I would be able to add some new pieces to my closet but that wasn't meant to be. I had a few closet updates before my job situation changed, but building my emergency fund takes precedence and is my main focus until fall. 

Have a wonderful weekend,

ARS xx

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Wednesday Outlook

 

"Don't let yesterday use up too much of today." - Will Rogers

How is it only Wednesday?

ARS xx

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Pretty Pins for Standing Up for Yourself

You never know how tough you are until you're going against the grain. Last week was a doozy, but I made it through and as I adjust to another new normal I have many mixed emotions. On one hand I'm upset because I didn't want to be forced to make a choice, but on the other one - I stood up for myself and I have no regrets. In fact I was blown away by the support and kind words and notes I received. I never really understood the Dr. Seuss quote "don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened" and didn't really connect with it until last week, but it's my new mantra as I move on to my next steps. Below are a few pins that are inspiring me on this rainy Monday afternoon. 

Better late than never, right?

ARS xx

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Pretty Pins for Camaraderie

If I was asked to describe the past few months in the city with just one word I would use the "alone". Most of my closest friends moved out of the city and it's been hard to connect with my friends that are still in the city. I'm lucky to have close family living here now and as winter approaches I know what to expect, so I'm making small changes to my apartment to amp up the cozy at-home host factor. One thing that has made all the difference though i getting out of the city to visit my good friends and also connecting with my friends who are not-so-cloes on a daily basis. I'm so excited to start a 30-day fitness challenge with Britney, I covet my morning and afternoon facetimes with Cait, and my mid-week lunches with Charlotte have totally boosted my spirits. I'm realizing that I got through one year "alone" but this remote camaraderie is making all of the difference and gives me faith that this year will be different. 

Happy Monday from NY,

ARS xx,

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Three Budget Friendly Workouts I Love

Two years ago I was gifted a book that changed the course of my financial mindset for the better. I knew I had to make some big lifestyle changes and the easiest thing to do was to cut out most frivolous costs, including the gym. While I was still able to squeeze in cardio each day during my walks outside, I missed the focus and guidance classes brought to the table (as well as the toned arms). I looked for alternative classes and found about a million free classes on youtube, which is a great resource, but can also be time consuming to sift through. Lucky for me I quickly found three channels I love that offer classes that are both challenging and approachable. I recently splurged and joined The Sculpt Society, I still regularly do workouts on youtube to spice it up. Below are links to the channels and a little bit why I love them. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! 

Yoga With Adrienne

Every year I start out with a month of yoga, guided by Adrienne and her dog Benji. It's a great start way to begin a new year off with intention. Additionally, every month there is a new calendar and youtube playlist if you're into that, which I am. 

Pamela Reif Workouts

These are quick workouts that pack a punch! I love the mix of toning and cardio workouts and the fun music to work out to. I'm also a fan of videos where there isn't much talking - these just have a countdown! 

Grow With Jo

This is another channel that offers a good mix of toning and cardio with great music and minimal talking! I love the positive vibe the instructor has as well as the "walking" workouts. 

Are there any channels I should add to my list?

ARS xx

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