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

Happy Monday! It's my final week before vacation, and with all the anticipation, I'm sure the workweek will go by slooooow.  But I'm keeping my head up because there is so much to look forward to!

Because of my upcoming trip (I'm going back to Disneyland!),  I've decided to write this week's Monday Motivator on traveling solo. I wrote an entire post last year about the advice I have for traveling alone; find it here! But instead of advice, this post serves as a motivational tool for the reasons why you should travel alone in your lifetime, even if it's only once!

Spring Stylebook | Layering

I am not trying to jinx it, but I think it is safe to say that spring has officially arrived!

The last snow we had in Illinois was (thankfully)  while I was out of town, and the weather has been in the 60s-80s ever since. Fingers crossed it stays that way!

Warm weather means I can finally start putting together some spring outfits. Sandals and short sleeves- hallelujah!

The Monday Motivator | Start By Starting

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

Start by starting. 

As a blogger, this is a phrase I hear A. LOT. From attending conferences and workshops, to hearing motivational speeches from top lady entrepreneurs or interviews on podcasts, start by starting  is advice that is shared often.

What's Inside My Makeup Bag | Bridesmaid Edition

ICYMI, I just stood up in a friend's wedding in Arizona last weekend! It was such a beautiful day; full of love and magic and I was honored to be a part of it.

As a bridesmaid, you can typically plan on having a stylist do your hair and makeup for the big day. Although I am all for someone making my hair look pretty, I am hesitant when it comes to makeup because A. my skin is incredibly sensitive and B. I don't wear a lot of makeup, so I'm afraid I won't look like ME. Because of these fears, I opted to do my makeup myself.

My Future Target Haul

I don't think I've fully disclosed this on the blog yet, but I did the unthinkable.

I gave up Target for Lent.

I KNOW right?!

Although I'm not currently a practicing Catholic, I was raised Catholic and still like to recognize the Lenten season by giving something up for the 40 days and not eating meat on Fridays. It may sound silly, but it allows me to stop and think about what we are remembering, and ultimately, what we will be celebrating on Easter Sunday.

The Monday Motivator | Facing Fear

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

Alright y'all, the FF has a little secret about herself to share.

I'm afraid of everything.

That's right folks- this blogger's got fears. And lots of em'. 

Different things have scared me through all the phases of my life thus far. Fear of change. Fear of regret. Fear of commitment. Fear of the unknown. The list goes on and on. But what I've learned is if I think back to all of those times I've been afraid of something, I overcame the fear and ended up where I am now, which isn't so bad at all.

The FF Reads | March Books

ANOTHER great month for reading has come and gone, friends! I made it through two more books, which officially puts me four books ahead of schedule for my goal of reading 10 total books this year!

I'm genuinely enjoying making more of a conscious effort to read. Whether it's over the weekend, on my lunch breaks or right before bed, I love spending a little time unwinding and surrendering my mind to a book. To my readers who are complete bookworms, this probably sounds like NOTHING. But for me, a gal who is NO GOOD at reading, it feels like a major accomplishment. 

I have to say, I'm really motivated by my Goodreads account! Not only can I keep track of what I've read and what I want to read, but I also get to see the numbers. I'm a visual person, so when it shows me what percentage complete I am with a book or how many books I've finished so far for my 2019 reading challenge, I feel inspired to keep hustling! 

Here are the books I read for March: