I'm kicking off the year strong with my resolution to read more and have already finished TWO books during the month of January! WAHOO!

As I mentioned in my New Year's resolutions post, I am not committing to a set number of books for the year because I don't want to feel discouraged if I fall behind. But so far, I'm feeling dedicated to the goal and am truly enjoying spending more time reading! I even created a Goodreads account because I love watching my progress and feeling encouraged by other readers.

The Monday Motivator | To-do Lists

* The Monday Motivator is a series meant to motivate, encourage, inspire and provide advice on real life stuff.*

How do you start your Mondays?

I'm guessing it kicks off with an early alarm for work, your normal "get ready" routine, and hopefully time for a cup of coffee or whatever else wakes you up for the day. (And if reading the latest Monday Motivator is in there somewhere, I'm so happy to be a part of it!)

I am a VERY routine person. The start of my Mondays looks the same as the start of my Tuesdays through Fridays. Except you know how most people are a little groggier on Monday mornings? That's  me on a Tuesday morning. On Mondays, I feel anxious to get started, so I have a little more energy. (Until 5 o'clock at night hits and it all catches up to me!)

Motivational Workout Wear

The start of a new year usually means new fitness goals for many of us. I'm not sure what it is that makes people hit the gym starting January 1st; maybe it's that clean slate/fresh start mentality. Or maybe it's all those Christmas cookies.

I am NOT a fitness junkie by any stretch. You're lucky if you catch your girl going for a walk or doing some yoga. I start the year with a few goals and eventually fall of the bandwagon because I get too busy, and working out falls to the bottom of my list of priorities. And the gloominess of winter does NOT help keep me motivated. Relatable, right?

My Favorite Winter Gear

If you're caught up on this week's Monday Motivator, you read about how I think buying some new winter gear can help the season feel a little less gloomy. Similar to cute workout clothes encouraging you to hit the gym, cute winter clothes can get you excited for the cold!

For today's post, I'm rounding up my favorite winter items I've picked up this season. Some are very affordable and others are investments. If you live in an area where the winter weather is inevitable year after year, sometimes making an investment in your cold-weather gear is a good idea.

The Monday Motivator | Beating the Winter Blues

* The Monday Motivator is a series meant to motivate, encourage, inspire and provide advice on real life stuff.*

It's January 14th, which means we're getting deeper into the heart of winter and all that comes along with it- colder temps and plenty of snow. Along with that, you may be seeing consistent gloomy days, as well as dark evenings.

As long as you're stocked up on hot cocoa and wear plenty of layers, you may think, "there's nothing I can't handle!" But not all of us are as keen to facing winter head-on.

My Winter Skincare Routine

Hello lovelies! I've come down with ANOTHER cold, and although it's wearing me out, I wasn't going to let it stop me from spending time with you this week!

You may remember my skincare routine post from last April- in fact, it was one of my most popular posts! Since my readers seemed to find it so beneficial, I've decided to put together my WINTER skincare routine.

As I've mentioned in the past, my skin is very dry and very sensitive. This means I have to change up my routine a bit during the winter months because my skin dries out from the cold and needs a lot more attention. I've thrown a few new products into my routine recently and have been loving the results, so I wanted to share my routine AND the products with you. If your skin is looking dry and tired from the harsh cold, you may want to change it up as well!

The Monday Motivator | On Dusting Yourself Off

* The Monday Motivator is a series meant to motivate, encourage, inspire and provide advice on real life stuff.*

"Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick and pull yourself together." -Elizabeth Taylor

This is one of my favorite quotes. Mostly because it's a beautiful reminder that we can overcome anything, but bright lipstick and a margarita can help.

Today's Monday Motivator is about dusting yourself off. I felt inspired to write this one after something that happened to me on New Year's Day, actually. As I stood in the mirror with tear-filled eyes, I whispered "you're fine, you're fine, you're fine." I pulled myself back together, and although I laid low for the rest of the day, I got over it.

Farewell, 2018

It's here, it's here! It's officially 2019!

Although I don't have many complaints for 2018, it just feels like a new year is coming at the perfect time. I'm ready for a clean slate and a fresh start! How about you?

As always, I am doing my annual new year reflection on the blog; checking in on 2018's resolutions and writing new resolutions for 2019! Let's do it.