It's officially official! I completed my reading challenge for 2019!

I met my goal of 10 books for the year with four months to spare. Remember when I said I chose 10 because I didn't want to feel too much pressure to achieve a goal that was supposed to be fun? Well it WAS  fun! I spent more of my free time reading instead of scrolling through my phone or watching TV.

That amount may seem extremely small to avid readers, but I have truthfully never been big on reading leisurely. I'm very particular about the kind of books I like and I also prefer to write instead, so dedicating myself to this goal was a little risky. I'm SO glad I decided to do it though; quality reading time is one of my new favorite things.  Maybe next year I should kick it up to 12?!

Favorite Summer Swimwear

Summertime, and the livin' is easy!

As we get closer to the 4th of July, you may have some vacations or beach days on the horizon. Whether it's trips to the family lake house or simply your backyard pool, you'll want your swimwear to make you excited about taking a dip and enjoying those summertime vibes!

Just like shopping for jeans, shopping for swimsuits is HARD. And that's because our body types are all so different! I have curvy hips, a long torso and a tiny chest, so swimsuits for me are definitely NOT one size fits all.

What I've Learned About House Hunting

Photo by Hilltop Photo Co.

You may have noticed I've been a little MIA in the blogosphere these days, and that's because I've been spending a good chunk of my weekdays and weekends house hunting.

That's right-  ya girl is looking for her own place!  And although that's an exciting statement, the process itself is far less exciting.

As a first time home buyer, I'm no expert by any stretch. But here's what I've learned about house hunting so far:

The FF Reads | May Books

Remember that one time I thought I would get in a ton of reading on vacation and didn't end up reading at all? Because SAME.

There were no new reads for the month of April because I was SO busy prepping for my trip, and the books I thought I would read for vacation took up residence in my bag the whole time. The  GOOD   news is I'm still ahead of schedule for my reading challenge, and I completed one book in a little over a week at the end of May. I'm BACK baby!

Travel Journal: Disneyland 2019

It's been a whirlwind of a month, friends! But in the very best way!

As you probably have already seen on my Instagram, I kicked off May with a trip back to Disneyland to celebrate my birthday! This year, I stayed for a whole week. Last year's two days just weren't long enough. Five whole days at the parks meant a lot more time to dedicate to activities, as well as a lot more time to relax and take it easy.

Today on the blog, I'm journaling all about the trip- all the things I did and how I still managed to make a busy schedule feel like a vacation!

The 24 Before the 25

Another year has come and gone... I'm officially 25!

To celebrate, I'm pressing pause on the usual blog content to do my annual reflection.

Here's 24 things from the year before I celebrate 25:

Updated Packing List: Disneyland

Only three days till I'm off to Disneyland! I'm ready for California sunshine and lots of fun!

I've got packing on my mind and have already started a list. Last year, I wrote my packing list for Disneyland on the blog as well, but now that I have some experience under my belt, I have a few additions! I've *starred the items that are new to the list this year.

The Monday Motivator | On Traveling Alone

* 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:

My Tips for Styling Statement Earrings

If you were stranded on a desert island, what is the one thing you would want with you?

Lately, it seems like I would want my earring collection with me. But let's be honest, they wouldn't save me from anything. ....but they're just so dang CUTE.

Statement earrings are my accessory of choice these days. I've been intentionally planning my outfits to style with a bold pair of earrings. Whether they're resin hoops, marbleized discs or tortoiseshell pull-throughs, I find a way to wear them.

The Monday Motivator | Confidence Is Just Entitlement

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

I've chatted a lot about Mindy Kaling's book "Why Not Me?" the past month and it's because it was just so stinkin' good. You can read my book review here.

The book is full of quotable sentences that make you laugh out loud, and even say "hell yeah!" But there was one chapter in particular that I've thought about since I read it. The chapter is called, just like the book, "Why Not Me?". Mindy talks about the term "entitlement" and how it's been awarded a bad reputation, but in reality, confidence is just entitlement. Don't get me wrong, there is a BAD kind of entitlement. But Mindy's point is how it's OKAY to feel entitled when you've worked your butt off and know your stuff.

Tips for Spring Transitioning

Yesterday was the spring equinox, so it's TECHNICALLY spring, even if it doesn't quite feel like it yet.

We're still battling 40 degree temps and rain in the Midwest, but you know what they say- can't get the flowers without the showers!

This is a difficult transitional period for my fellow fashionistas. We're tired of our winter clothing; plus it's not exactly cold enough to be wearing chunky sweaters. But it's not warm enough to declare spring in your wardrobe, either. So how can we "think spring" when spring pieces are a tad out of our reach?

The Monday Motivator | On Friendship

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

The Beatles once sang  "I get by with a little help from my friends."  They weren't lying. We need friends. Friendship is important.

Our friends make us laugh. They're present for some of our biggest moments. They see us for who we are and understand us for what we're not.

Old Navy Spring Wish List

I've said it once and I'll say it again; after what's been a very long and SUPER harsh winter, I am SO. READY. FOR. SPRING!

I'm so anxious for its arrival and it doesn't help that all the new spring fashion is hitting the racks. I can't wait to start shopping for new pieces!

The Monday Motivator | Books That Motivated Me

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

Happy Monday!

Since I'm always the voice behind the motivation in my weekly Monday Motivators, I decided that for this week's post, I would write about voices that have motivated me.

Keeping on brand with my reading goal for 2019, I've chosen five books I've read that I personally feel have inspiring content and motivating messages.