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Life Lately. + Grit to Great Review.

December 5, 2015

Lately.
life lately series. december 2015.

watching…NBC’s The Wiz Live! — I absolutely loved it. I grew up watching the 70’s movie version with Diana Ross as Dorothy and Michael Jackson as the scarecrow. It’s a classic and one of my favorite movies. The whole cast was fabulous. Watch both the live version and the movie if you get a chance!

planning…for what’s to come. Starting by setting goals for 2016 via Lara Casey’s Make it Happen Powersheets.

eating…all the holiday food. Breakfasts, buffets, and several potlucks are all on the calendar. The yearly holiday gifts of assorted chocolates are already starting to trickle in at the office. Anticipating a few extra pounds, I’ve already bought new workout gear to motivate me once January hits.

reading…the amazing book ‘Grit to Great’ by Linda Kaplan Thaler & Robin Koval. Written by two inspiring ad execs, this book is full of encouragement to help anyone achieve their goals. Reading this book gave me a much-needed kick in the pants and inspired me to start working on some exciting new ventures for the upcoming year. No time like the present.

The book provided wonderful anecdotes from the authors’ lives and experiences in the advertising in world, in addition to inspiring tales of real people who have experienced tough situations. The common thread is grit. Persevering through in order to achieve your dreams and goals. One of my favorite take-aways from the book was this nugget. “Passion isn’t sustained by a fantasy or a dream — it needs a destination and guidance.”

I loved how the stories were interesting and encouraging. Reading about strong women who have achieved what others’ thought they couldn’t definitely kept my attention. Nothing like a bit of motivation to keep you going towards your goals. This book is a great and easy read, I definitely recommend it for going into the new year.

Three ways to help bring out your inner grit:

Pursue your passion and never quit.
Surround yourself with a team that will push you.
Set goals with an actionable plan to hold yourself accountable.

Disclaimer: “I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this book review.”

buying…holiday gifts! I’ve pulled together my list of top gifts to help you shop. Check back next week for the list!

preparing…to launch something BIG. Ready to be on team no sleep for the next few months!

celebrating…the most wonderful time of year. Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love the scents (NEST Holiday candle, anyone?), the sounds, and all of the hustle and bustle. It’s about celebrating Jesus [the reason for the season] and being around friends and family.

Wishing you all an early Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, & Happy New Year!

Can’t believe December is here! This year has flown by!

xoxo,
-c.

Life Lately. — November 2015.

November 5, 2015

Lately.
life lately series. November 2015.

watching…Blood & Oil on ABC. Two words. Chase. Crawford. #thatisall
[Don’t act like you weren’t crushing on him during his Gossip Girl days]

planning…my vacation abroad for the Christmas/New Year holiday. Excited to spend some time visiting family and exploring new countries. Paris and Berlin are tops on the list!

discovering…some amazing music. Had the pleasure of seeing St. Beauty in concert. The band is two talented and gorgeous girls delivering smooth grooves. Definitely check them out on IG and Twitter. Also got to see Allen Stone in concert on his Radius tour. Been a fan for a minute but he was so incredible live.

eating…these amazing fries that probably had crack in them. They were so good! If you’re in Dallas, please stop by Happiest Hour and try the Loaded Cheddar Waffle fries. You will not be disappointed.

shopping…for Christmas presents! Getting my list together ahead of time. I’ll be putting together some great gift guides to help you decide what to get all the important people on your list. Check back later this month for the first of the series! I got you.

reading…nothing at the moment. Need some new reads for my international flight. Send suggestions my way!

buying…this killer dress on ASOS. Halloween might be over but the vampire trend is still alive and well. TWD anyone??

learning…French, again. I really wish I had retained more of what I learned in school all those years. Duolingo to the rescue!

celebrating…birthdays and baby showers — not mine though, co-workers and college friends. Also getting together with friends for a second annual Friendsgiving. Food, drink, and good people make for a memorable time.

So ready to start the holiday season!

xoxo,
-c.

Linking up here: Doused in Pink, Living In Color Style, Mix & Match Fashion

Top Takeaways From My First Job.

October 29, 2015

The great team over at The Ladders reached out to me about my very first job and what I came away with. I thought about it and decided that it would be good to share some of my insights from my very first gig. Holding a job is such a big part of our society and so many lessons can be learned from your first foray into the working world. My mom always encouraged strong work ethic in me, even from a young age, so I was actually eager to get my first job. Well that, and the prospect of getting a little more spending money in my pocket didn’t hurt.

image via.

I’ve been in retail my whole life. From working on the sales floor in customer service, to running a whole store during my boutique days, to my current world of corporate retail. My first job was being a customer service specialist for JCPenney. I was a Recovery Team member, which basically meant a group of us on the team would go around the store folding clothes and returning items from the fitting rooms back to the selling floor. Definitely not glamorous but I still learned a lot through the experience.

Top takeaways from my first job:

You will meet a lot of interesting and unique people in the workplace. On my very first day I had lunch with a girl who rarely left the house except for school and a guy who was an atheist – which he was very apt to share on day one. You have to know who you are and be prepared for all types of people and all types of conversations. You’ll spend a lot of time in your work environment so do your part to make sure it’s a welcoming place to be!
Don’t be afraid of hard work, even when no one else around you is doing it. Your work ethic will not go unnoticed, you never know what opportunity awaits. Go the extra mile.
Stay positive no matter the situation. Don’t let others’ negative attitude get you down. We worked in a JCPenney location that was moving so it was an interesting atmosphere when everything was marked down to 65% off with the store getting more empty by the day. It could have been easy to succumb to the negative attitudes – but where does that get you?
Learn all that you can in your current role. The skills and knowledge that you pick up may be key in getting you to that promotion or next level. People love eager learners who are also willing to share their expertise on a subject.
Pack your lunch! It’s much more healthy and will save you so much money. If you start in your early days, you’ll be so glad you picked up this good habit. When you’re tight on time during a busy day, a packed lunch will be your best friend.

Hopefully some of these tips will be helpful to you, either in your first job starting out or in your current role.

Please share some stories from your first job! I’d love to hear!

xo,
c.

Life Lately.

September 9, 2015

Lately.

watching…Gilmore Girls! Going on a Netflix binge of one of my favorite shows. Loved it the first time around and it’s just as good re-watching.

eating…Everything in sight. My appetite has been up and down lately. All I know is I need to hit the gym before this gets outta control. What can I say? A girl likes to eat.

shopping…for a new computer. My MacBook has served me well these past five years but she is on her last leg. I was interested in the new rosegold MacBook but then my mom suggested I get the desktop based iMac. It’s cheaper, the big screen is very cool, and it has more space. It’s not portable which is the only draw back. Decisions, decisions.

recovering…From my family vacation and cruise to the Bahamas. All you can eat, open 24/7 buffets & key lime pie crawls are no joke. Pictures and posts to come, don’t worry!!

reading…The Consultant’s Calling by Geoffrey M. Bellman – preparing and learning all I can since consulting is my sweet spot & passion!

buying…Nothing at the moment. Which is rare for me, let me tell you. The goal is to save money, take care of some things (new brakes, ew.) and then build a rainy day fund.

searching…For some new fall gear at a sale price. Leggings, tights, & sweaters are all on the list. If I score some deals I’ll be sure to share!

craving…some chill time with my friends and god-daughter. Working on this blog requires a lot of time but family is most important!

doing…Camp Gladiator! Sounds way more intense than it is but it’s great to get my butt in gear. Gotta look fine, not just in the summer time! It’s motivating being around a group of people are all shapes & sizes working as hard as they can. If you do your best going non-stop for the full hour you’ll leave feeling so good about yourself.

needing…To catch up on blog stuff! I’ve left you high & dry while on vacation. So back to the grind it is!!

Yay for a short week!
xoxo,
-c.

Linking up with: Mix & Match Fashion, Red Closet Diary, Living In Color Style, Passion4Fashion, The Closet by Christie

#LifeGoals : Work Life Balance

August 26, 2015

If anyone tells you they have found the secret to work life balance, they are probably giving you false hope. Finding balance is an everyday juggling act and the formula to achieve this balance changes constantly.

I relaunched my blog at the same time I started a rigorous new position at my job in corporate retail. It has been challenging, but a great growth journey as well. I’ve been able to discover new passions, make connections with new people (yay DBC!), and it’s helping me determine what I really want to do in my life.

As a newer blogger with a full-time job, late nights are the norm. Work life balance is on my mind quite frequently. These are some of the things I remind myself as encouragement to keep going:

Make time for yourself!

For me, doing things outside of blog work and work-work is so essential. I have to take some down time for reality tv, reading a book, or playing Two Dots on my iPhone. Even if it’s just an hour, that time allows me to not worry about anything else while I get a few minutes of enjoyment. I’m a simple girl so it doesn’t take much. Once I’ve had a little me-time, I find it easier to get back to work.

Structure is key.

Set aside blocks of time for each task you need to complete so that you have a gauge if you are ahead or behind schedule on what needs to be done. Estimate how long it will take you to finish a task, like doing the dishes in 30 minutes or uploading/editing images for the week in an hour, and see if you can beat that time.

Motto: “It’s a marathon, not a sprint!“

Create lists!

Lists are so important to helping me achieve balance. I have my task list at work where I check things off like your standard to-do list. Then my blogging and business list is a rolling list of things I would like to work on, bloggers to reach out to, and events to cover. I actually have multiple lists for each area of my life. Brunch lists, shopping, Christmas lists, etc. The Evernote app is my go-to where I keep them all in a handy spot for quick access on my phone or laptop. Using an app to keep your thoughts all in one place is a great way to keep record of all your great ideas!

Enjoy the process.

If you aren’t having fun, stop. While not everyday will be butterflies and roses, you should have an overall good feeling about the work you are doing. If that is not the case, then find a new passion. Don’t complain about where you are at, just work on a strategy to make it to an environment that will make you happy.

Quoted: “Welcome changed plans.“

Reward yourself.

Set goals for yourself and assign rewards to them so you have something to look forward to. I tell myself, “if I do an hour of work on xyz, then I can watch the latest episode of The Real Housewives of Wherever.” Your treat could be a Starbucks run or even a nap. That way, you feel accomplished by getting through your list and also get a reward and a mini-break to celebrate!

My final suggestion is to create the life you want to live. So many people have found a niche to offer a product, service, or design app that people needed and responded to. In our current world, we have the freedom to make our own path. The beauty of it is that your path will look like no one else’s so don’t get caught up in the comparison game.

Check out these other great bloggers & their stories on finding a balance:

Bake Love Give
Jasmine Crockett
Ware is the Vodka?
MOZDEB
Oh So Cynthia
Southern Elle Style
The Charm Scout
Stephanie Drenka
Gelie Beans & Sparkly Things

Take some time to reflect, really think about your work-life balance and how you can work towards your goals. Please share your tips as well, I’d love to know!

And as always, remember to…

#LiveLovely,
xoxo. | cymone.

photo via Ashley Ella Design

Life Lately.

August 7, 2015

New blog series alert.
So all you new readers can get to know me a lil better, I’ll occasionally post about what’s going on in my #lifelately.

Feel free to join in on the hashtag and share what’s going on in your world.

Lately.

watching…Friday Night Lights. Just Netflix’d the whole series in about 3 weeks. Loved it. A lot of it was based on my high school. Not sure why I hadn’t watched sooner. Need a new series to start.

eating…Soup for lunch and oatmeal for dinner. Got a couple of fillings and it still hurts to eat. That numbing situation is no joke.

shopping…for any spring/summer stuff on my watch list. I really should be saving money but I can’t resist a good sale. Sorry mom. Speaking of mom….

celebrating…A milestone birthday for my sweet momma and her graduating with her MBA! She’s the best. #rolemodel

needing…A full-body massage. Sleeping with the wrong pillows makes my old neck injury flare up and throws off my whole alignment. Maybe I should go see a chiropractor?

listening…To some random outdoor concert I can hear all the way from my place. Good sound system I guess.

buying…Books to read while on my cruise to the Bahamas coming up! Get the list here. It’s my first one so I’m really not sure how it’s gonna go. Any good cruise tips?

searching…For a new planner for 2016. There are so many good options out there. I’m having the hardest time committing.

craving…Good sushi. So many good places still on my list to try. I can never get enough. Now accepting applications for a sushi buddy. Is that a thing?

needing…A weekend full of rest & relaxation. Been going non-stop for at least a month. Work has been demanding + putting in some hard work on this blog will have a girl ready for a weekend in pj’s.

Hope the weekend is good to you.
xoxo,
-c.

[P.S. – the Fashion Week giveaway is still going strong. New York is calling you! Read the details & enter to win here.]

Life Lately. + Grit to Great Review.

Life Lately. — November 2015.