Tuesday Thought

“In our frenzied attempts to catch up with life, we run right past it. Once we have run past it, what we are in reality attempting to catch is ourselves.” ― Craig D. Lounsbrough 

ARS xx

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Pretty Pins for Catching Up

Living in such a seasonal spot is still taking some getting used to. I miss the easy days of summer, but the nonstop plans are admittedly very fun too. Finding the balance is where I'm struggling. I feel most balanced when I have a steady routine and the nonstop plans are messing me up! So far I've been able to adapt but I'm starting to feel run down and I'm hoping that after I get through mid-February I'll be able to slow down a bit and get back to the regular scheduled program. This week is all about playing catchup to everything I missed last week and figuring out a way to balance it all. Below are a few pins inspiring me as I work to play catch up. 

Ready for another week,

ARS xx

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Currently...

 

Celebrating the weekend! This was the week that never ended and I'm just so ready to get myself back into a normal routine.  Luckily I have two days to do just that! 

Ordering the Kate Schelter x Lake Pajamas. I'm trying to be mindful of what I'm buying but this may be a treat for myself that I have to get. As you know, Kate Schelter is one of my favorite artists and I can't resist a cozy pj set. I still have regrets for not buying the Sleepy Jones pajama set, so I'm not sleeping (pun intended) on this collab! 

Enjoying a staycation! My mom and I booked ourselves into a hotel while my Dad took over the house with his friends and we have been living it up this week. 

ARS xx

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Thursday Goal Check-In Updates

 

I'm not sure if the weekly check-ins make sense anymore, as I typically didn't have much to add. As an alternative I'm thinking I'll do them every other month for the next few months? I kind of loved sharing small victories but weekly updates was maybe a bit too much. Having some time between updates gives me a chance to have exciting posts! I'm eager to get a few more goals checked off my 101 in 1001 list and make some stellar progress in my weight loss and mortgage fund goals. 

ARS xx

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Mid-Week Bits of Inspiration

I thought I would have more time to prepare posts for this week, but I'm enjoying a mini staycation with my Mom and it snuck up on me! I've been puling inspiration for my 2023 vision board and put aside different images that inspired me, but didn't quite feel right for the year ahead. This year I'm all about my home and relationships, but I couldn't help but set aside some images of chic outfits, puppies, garden inspiration and some personal development. Below are a few of the highlights I pulled that are inspiring me this week! 

ARS xx

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Tuesday Thought

 

"You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do." -Eleanor Roosevelt

Major note to self moment,

ARS xx

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Pretty Pins for Boundaries

I've never been good at setting boundaries, but as I've gotten older I recognize the importance of having them. Recently I've been setting them in maybe not the most graceful way but I've been setting them and it's a major step for me. My goal for the next few months is to focus on setting boundaries in a kinder way. As a natural people pleaser, this feels a bit daunting however I know that I can continue to make major strides over time and practice. It won't be easy, but it may be one of the most worthwhile things I can dedicate my time to in this current moment. Below are a few pins that are inspiring me to work on myself and the boundaries I want to create. 

 

Ready for the week ahead,

ARS xx

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Mid-January Break

 

I know I took a brief blogging break at the end of December, but I'm taking another mid-week break to refresh and to write some quality posts for you! I'll be sharing more with you either Friday or start fresh on Monday. In the meantime, I hope you have a great week! 

ARS xx

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Tuesday Thought

“I finally figured out that not every crisis can be managed. As much as we want to keep ourselves safe, we can't protect ourselves from everything. If we want to embrace life, we also have to embrace chaos.” ― Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Breathing Room 

ARS xx

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Pretty Pins for Mid-January Angst

This year started out on the wrong foot. After about two days of rest and relaxation, everything went downhill. I can't put my finger on what is going on, but the vibe is off and I need to get over this angst and move on to the sunny visions I have for 2023. After a weekend of hanging with family and spending time with close friends I feel a little closer to shifting over to a more positive outlook and after Wednesday I hope to put the negativity behind me. Is anyone else feeling an odd energy in the air? Below are a few pins inspiring me as I work through this mid-January angst. 

Can this week be over already?

ARS xx

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Currently...

Celebrating my Dad's birthday! Birthdays are big in my family and I'm excited to do something special for my Dad. He only asked for cake, but we are going to try to surprise him. 

Setting up my new laptop and phone! I err on the side of techphobic so this is scary for me and will need all the help they can get. 

Thinking of heading to the orchid store with my Mom. It's time to get some fresh orchids for the next few months and there is a great little spot that we love about 20 minutes away. 

Living in my winter whites! I love wearing creams and tans in the winter - it's so chic. While counterintuitive, it's a go to winter in Florida look of mine. 

Making mood boards! I'm not sure if I want to go all in on a vision board, but a mood board for 2023 feels like just the thing. 

ARS xx

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How I Saved Up a 6 Month Emergency Fund

I started Dave Ramsey's baby steps a few months before the pandemic. That was honestly such a blessing for so many different reasons. I had already checked off Baby Step 1 and was making major headway with Baby Step 2 - as in I was pretty much there - and then the pandemic happened. In the blink of an eye I was furloughed, moving to my parent's house to escape the bleakness of the city, and was completely overwhelmed and worried for the future. While my finances could have been better, they could have been much worse and luckily I was able to float my way through without having to go into debt. My two biggest takeaways were that I never wanted to be in a position like that ever again and that a $1000 emergency fund wasn't going to cut it. Once I was in a more stable financial spot I quickly finished Baby Step 2 and prioritized Baby Step 3 - my 6 month emergency fund. Below are four things I did to build up my 6 month emergency fund before my target date! 

I religiously used the Everydollar app to create a budget and stuck to it. Any extra money that came in went right to my emergency fund bucket. I still use this app on a daily basis and it keeps me on the straight and narrow. 

I counted every penny - literally! I didn't have time for a side hustle, so instead I did things like roll coins, cut coupons, and really cut back on all discretionary spending. While I ran out of coins to roll, I still use coupons and keep my discretionary spending low-ish. 

I used Rachel Cruze's Emergency fund tracker. I love checking items off a list, and coloring in each line of a jar felt like a mini celebration. Having a visual of my progress really kept me on track and motivated. I've been using her Down Payment fund tracker to keep my focused on my bigger dream of owning a house! 

I celebrated each time I finished an emergency fund month. Treating myself each time I saved up a emergency fun month was great. I felt like I really earned a reward and I cherished each treat I got myself! 

ARS xx

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January Wishlist

My parents moved back into my childhood home, so everything from my old studio apartment was just moved to Florida. Moving is always eye-opening and I realized how much I actually have. That being said I'm currently on a shopping pause, but that won't stop me from window shopping and browsing my favorite websites! My goal is to shift my shopping mindset to quality over quantity. I've been told time and time again to buy the best I can afford and love. This lesson is something I'm really taking to heart this year. Below are a few things that are on my "to think about" list. 

Cara Cara Maidstone Dress

GoodGenes Clean Lip Balm Trio 

Alexandre Birman Heels

G. Label Minidress

Downshiftology Meal Prep Book

ARS xx

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Tuesday Thought

 

“A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built of love and dreams” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

ARS xx

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Pretty Pins for A Fresh Start

What I love about the new year is the clean slate everyone wakes up with on January 1st. It feels more timely than ever because I need to start fresh and change my mindset this week. My anxiety levels are through the roof and I'm definitely in a negative thought loop at the moment. I don't want to get into my triggers at the moment, but I'm taking my manifestation lessons to heart and practicing things like the choose again method to shift my mood into a more positive frame. I still believe this year will be my year and even recognizing a bad pattern is a step in the right direction for me. Below are a few pins changing my outlook and inspiring me to fresh start again this week! 

Ready for the week ahead, 

ARS xx

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Currently...

Enjoying the first week of my Manifestation Challenge and Yoga journey. I wanted to start the year off with intention and I felt this was the best way to begin 2023. I'll share more about each in the next few weeks. 

Enjoying my Clipper Ship Tea Co teas! When I was home I picked up a few comforts to enjoy back in Florida and this was one of my must-haves. 

Getting back to living on a tighter budget. Living with my parents enabled me to loosen up the purse strings while still be able to put money away, but the time has come to buckle down and get back into a stricter budget. I've been down this road before and I'm ready to get back on track! 

Dreaming of having my own house again. Living with my parents has enabled me to save up a hefty down payment and emergency fund, which will enable me to hopefully make a move this year.

Thinking about planning a Paris trip for my 35th birthday. Paris holds a special place in my heart and I would love to go back this summer. My cousin is getting married and the end of my birthday month, so this trip feels very timely.  

TGIF,

ARS xx

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