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Fabulous living

Movie Review: Academy Awards Edition

Hey hey! I hope your week is moving along well. 

Two weeks ago, fans all over the country watched the Super Bowl, whether it was for the football, commericals, or the halftime show, I was there for the food and the halftime show. Haha! However, this past weekend was my Super Bowl with the Oscars. Award shows are my guilty pleasure, whether it’s the Emmy’s, Golden Globes, Grammy’s or Oscars, I am here for them all. I think it’s important to recognize all the hard work that goes into entertainment for the year. 

This year, I saw almost all of the films that were nominated for Best Picture. For today’s post, I decided to recap and review my top three movies that were nominated for Best Picture.

Here were all the nominees:

1917

Ford v Ferrari

Joker

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Parasite

The Irishman

Little Women

Jojo Rabbit

Marriage Story

Now, Parasite won for Best Picture and ironically, it was the only one I didn’t see. 

Now here are my top three movies:

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood-I love everything about this movie. From the casting, the set design, storyline, the twist at the end and the history behind it all. I loved the dynamics between Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio. I am a big fan of old Hollywood and I thought it was really interesting to see what Hollywood was like in the 1960’s. 

Little Women-This one was a classic film that just warmed my heart. I loved the musical and the movie. Once again, the costumes and set design made the film so incredible. I loved watching the dynamics between the sisters and I love how the story was told, starting with the present and going to the past. I thought the casting was perfect. I fell in love with Saoirse Ronan, when she was in the movie Brooklyn, a few years ago and I still love her as an actress. This was a classic film that was done beautifully.

Joker-By far this was one of the weirdest, most bizzarre and one of the more-scarier movies I have seen recently. My close friends have been encouraging me to see it for MONTHS and I when I finally saw it, I don’t think they have been more proud of me…haha! I did think it was interesting to see the story told through Joker’s eyes. I also thought it was interesting to see the story told and raise awareness about mental illness too. I thought the costume and makeup was done very well and I think Joaquin Phoenix did a fantastic job in the role and was very deserving of winning best actor. 

Now onto honorable mentions:

Netflix did a great job with producing very good and quality films with great casts. I saw both The Irishman and Marriage Story. I loved the concepts of both films. The casting for The Irishman was phenomenal. I loved seeing the story about the mob and the Teamsters and how it was supported with A-list acting. The film got a lot of criticism with it being over three hours long but I think it was worth the three hours. I did watch it in installments which worked better for my viewing preferences. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also was a big fan of the emotional drama and the raw feeling from Marriage Story, I loved the dynamic between Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver. I am a fan of Adam Driver in Star Wars but to see him in this role showed how talented he is as an actor. Another movie that was painful but beautiful to watch.

Overall, I was very pleased with the 2020 Academy Awards and who won and how the show was done. It was great to see Hollywood come together to celebrate great films.

This was such a fun post to work on since movies and entertainment are two things I’m very passionate about in my free time.

What did you think of the Academy Awards? Did your favorite actor or actress win?

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Fabulous living Fun Ways to Organize

Getting into a New Routine

Hey everyone. I hope your week is off to a great start. One of my goals for the new year was to get into a new routine and even though it has taken me some time, I have finally gotten into a good rhythm. 

My new work schedule is Wednesday to Sunday 9:30 – 6:30, so a pretty normal schedule, but my “weekend” falls on Monday and Tuesday. 

It has been different to have actual days off, in college my weekends would be spent working or doing homework, now out of college, there is no more homework, studying or papers to be written. It’s refreshing to not have to worry about running in different directions at all times, I get to focus on my work, being with family, catching up with friends and most importantly, taking care of myself. 

During my first month of work I wanted to make sure I got used to a new job, now that month has passed, I knew it was time to get a good schedule in order. I wanted to get back to working out and hitting the gym, having a day to run errands and get things done, have time to relax, catch up with friends and find some new hobbies. 

During my work week, I get up early, and will start my day off with the gym during week days, head to work for the day, come home, spend time with family, get dinner and get ready for the next day and relax a bit, nothing too exciting.

During my days off, I’m looking to make one day my productive day which would include running errands, getting things done, laundry, planning outfits for the week, doing any shopping or getting appointments done. The other day would be a day more for relaxing, meeting up with friends, relaxing, or doing something fun. Now, will this work every week? No, some weeks my schedule could get changed or things come up and life happens, and I’m okay with that. I really wanted to start getting into good habits as I start my career and I think getting into a good routine is extremely helpful for me. I keep all my to-do lost and things to get done in my Simplified Planner, you can see my post about getting organized here.

Having a good routine in place helps me feel more relaxed and balanced between my home and work life. 

What are some things that you have in your daily routine that helps your life run smoother?

I am also looking for some new hobbies to try besides reading, binge watching the latest shows on streaming services, working out, and this little blog.

I hope you all have a fabulous week and weekend. 

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Currently

Currently #1

Hey everyone!

Happy Wednesday. With the new year underway, I decided to start a new series on my blog called “Currently” it will be featured once a month about different things that are currently going on in my life. They will be based around things I’m loving, what I’m doing, and other areas of my life that I feel open to sharing. Let’s begin with the first edition of “Currently”

What I’m up to: I’ve been working a lot recently, being the most recent hire, I have been working different hours and shifts that need the help and I am LOVING it. I am getting so much experience and I am learning something new every day which is very exciting. Also, the people I work with couldn’t be nicer or more helpful. It truly is a dream come true, doing what I love in a place that I love even more. 

What I’m wearing: I have been wearing all the warm clothes that are professional, working in news every day is different so being prepared and practical with what you wear is so important. Here’s a look into one of my more recent looks. I got this dress from Old Navy and I love the cut and style of it, I also wore it on Thanksgiving and it was perfect for the holidays. 

A look into my wardrobe

What I’m reading: My mom got me hooked on the series “The Walk” by Richard Paul Evans, it’s all about a man’s walk across the country, the things he learns and the people he meets along the way. I truly believe that we meet everyone for a reason and they will always have an impact on us and that’s exactly what this book is about. There are five books in the series and I am currently on book two and am loving it. A book review on the whole series will be coming soon. 

My latest read

What I’m Watching: All of my favorite tv shows have come back from hiatus which makes me very happy but I have also been binge-watching The Crown on Netflix and I can’t get enough of it. With all the news that is coming from the Royal Family today, I am even more interested in the history of the Royal family. 

What I’m Loving: Honestly, life is so good right now. I have a job that I LOVE. I get to come home to my family every day in my home which is incredible and I have some pretty amazing people in my life right now, from new friends to old friends. My support system is pretty awesome right now. 

What Inspires Me: I saw this tweet the other day and it spoke volumes. Always be yourself and don’t change for someone. Also, another quote that I recently found that stuck with me was, “Life is what happens to us while we’re planning for something else.” I found that to be so profound and true. We never know what could happen in life so we should enjoy and treasure where we are at now in life. 

A new favorite quote

What I accomplished: I have been getting into a good routine of getting into a new routine and schedule since I started working. For the most part, I have a good balance of work, family time and relaxing. 

Goals for the New Month: Getting back into a better eating and exercise routine. I have been doing better in January but I want to start February on the right foot and jump right into my fitness goals. I also want to keep maintaining friendships with people from college in addition to new friends that I have made at work. Balance is going to be key in the next month.

And that’s a wrap on the first edition of currently, I may add a new question here or there depending on the month but that’s a look into my life right now and what’s currently going on. Have a great week!

Categories
Fabulous living

Book and Planner Review: When Less Becomes More and the 2020 Simplified Planner

Happy Wednesday! I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite ways to unwind after a busy day at work or a great way to start my day is with a good book. I am looking to make more time for reading in my day to day life. I always start my day by reading a devotional and journaling. Now, I want to start incorporating reading a bit every night to wind down. 

Last November, Emily Ley launched her third book, “When Less Becomes More”, If you have been following for a while, you know that I love Emily Ley, her planners, books, and her mission. I have really made an effort to bring simplicity into my life and it has ultimately made me more balanced, calmer, and I lead a more purposeful life with it. 

My new favorite heading into 2020

Now, onto the book review. I remember Emily sharing with her followers the process of writing her new book and I couldn’t wait to dive in. 

The whole book is about how sometimes less is more and we can be happier in life when we aren’t distracted all the time and pulled in different directions. She breaks the book down in 10 areas where we can make the choice to live simpler lives and not be stretched so thin that we aren’t living fulfilling lives. 

I started reading the book right when it came out, which coincided with my upcoming college graduation. I was at a time in my life where I was balancing classes, being very involved with school and campus, working, applying and interviewing for jobs and ultimately being spread too thin. Emily’s words about being overcommitted and not overwhelmed resonated with me. Like me, she loved everything that she was doing but felt burnt out. As I made my way through her book, I came to the realization that we have the power to make changes in our lives to lead happier and purposeful lives and that’s something I’m working on in this new stage of my life. Making time for things that matter to me and cultivating friendships and relationships that bring me only joy and allow me to grow. 

Without fearing of being too dramatic, reading Emily’s new book came at the perfect time for me and it changed my life. I strongly recommend reading this book and Emily’s other books as well. You can see my reviews of A Simplified Life here or what I learned about Grace Not Perfection here.

This year, I also decided to buy one of Emily’s signature simplified planners. I purchased this one here. When I started a new job, I wanted to start on the right foot with getting organized. What I love about the Simplified planner is that you can use it however you want, for classes, meetings, to do lists, meal planning. There are so many ways to use it. 

New 2020 Planner

I’m going to break it down for how I use I best for my schedule and life. 

I first use the month calendar for when I work, have appointments, events. I have it colored coordinated for work and personal, the same colors for the calendar on my phone. 

Full month calendar

For the day to day set up, I have what days I work, the times I work, and what things I worked on each day, then I have a to-list for each day. My days off is when I have longer to-do lists but I still like to see what I need to do every day. 

Day to day calendar

I like having all my information in one area that I always have with me and not in several different spots. 

Having a planner saves me time and makes my life run smoother, two things that Emily Ley is a big advocate for. 

That’s just a quick look into how I am starting off the new year and the mentality for the upcoming year.

Categories
Fabulous living

2020 Resolutions

Hey everyone! Happy hump day, or for me it’s my Monday. With my new job, my schedule is Wednesday-Sunday. So, my weekend is Monday and Tuesday. 

Today, I wanted to dive into New Year’s Resolutions. You can see my goals from last year here.The three things I wanted to accomplish was be more positive, don’t sweat the small stuff, and be more social. Looking back, I can say that I accomplished all those things, with 2019 being my last year in school, I really tried to make the most out of it and being present. When times got tough, I made sure my mentality stayed the same and I stayed positive and realized everything happens for a reason. This also pushed me to not get stressed with the little things in life and instead, focus on the grand scheme of things. Lastly, I made sure I made the most of my time in college by being social. I am still going to make this a priority as I work by making sure I make my friendships a priority in this new season of life. 

Now, onto 2020 resolutions. I have four things that I want to focus on this year. 

-Less Screen Time. I know this will be an easy one since I started working full time. When I am at work, I focus solely on work and when I am at home, I want to work on being present and not being distracted on my phone. I want 2020 to be a year when I put an emphasis on quality relationships and not be distracted by technology. 

-Lose Weight. In 2020, I want to put my health first and that means eating better and changing up my workouts. I want to feel my best in this new season of life. I did well in college about being healthy when it comes to my lifestyle and I want to continue that in this year

-Save Money. This goes along with my new season of life. Now, that I have a big girl job, I want to start being smart with my money. I want to make sure I am saving money and not spending it on frivolous things, for example, instead of stopping for a bagel on the way to work, take the time to make something for myself before I head out the door. It’s small actions like that which can make a big difference. 

-Establish a new schedule.Finally, the biggest goal for the new year. Get into a new routine, working life is different than college life and even though it’s been an adjustment, I am loving it. But, there is still work that needs done. I want to get into a new routine, so I am using my time wisely when I am working, at home or having days off. 

I am so excited for what 2020 has in store for me. I feel really good about where I am in life and what I’m doing. I can’t wait to learn and love this year not only about myself but also about others around me. 

What are some of your resolutions for the new year?

Categories
Fabulous living

2019 Recap and 2020 Goals

Hi everyone! 

New year, new blog!

Back and better than ever

2019, was such a good year for me. From enjoying my last full year of college, going abroad in Rome during Spring Break, you can see part 1 and part 2! making countless memories with friends, graduating college, and starting a new job. It was an incredible journey. With all the highs and great moments, there was also a lot of hard work, perseverance, and support to help me achieve all these goals.

One of the biggest things that I took away from this year was the people. In life, people come into our lives at different times and for different reasons, whether it’s for our whole lives, a few years, or even a few months, people enter our lives and make an impact no matter how big or small it is. As people, we can always learn something from others and they can always learn something from us. I met so many people from friends, classmates, professors, and faculty who made an impact on me in small and big ways. I can’t wait to see where this new season of life takes me. 

 Speaking of the new season of life, not only is it a new year, but it’s also a new decade. I have so much hope for this new journey in life and I can’t wait to see where it takes me. I always come up with a motto or a word of the year and this year is no different.

Going into 2020, my phrase of the year is going to be…LEARN and LOVE. With a new job I am planning on taking everything in and learning about this new job, new role in life, and learning about myself navigating adulthood. I also am planning on loving myself, my work, my family, my friends and my life. Too often, do I find myself getting caught up in being too busy that I forget how incredible life is. This year I plan on learning and loving and enjoying where I am in life. 

I hope are ready to take on a new year and all it has to offer. What are your phrases or words for the upcoming year?

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Fabulous living

New Year….New Mentality

Hi everyone!


Life has been busy, hence why the past few blog posts have been shorter than usual. To begin, I graduated two and a half weeks ago, moved home, and started my first job a week later. We had the holidays thrown in there and now we are going to begin a new year and decade…what a time to be alive. I’ve been so lucky with everything going on with my life but it’s been a lot of change in a short amount of time. Life is so good and I am loving life.


With all that being said, the new year will bring some changes to the blog. First, be on the lookout for a new design for my blog. I wanted something fresh and new for a new season of life. Second,  I will still be blogging but not as frequently and I will be changing up posts. From now on, look for new posts every Wednesday. The topics will vary from fashion, organization, routines, transitioning from college to adult life, and anything in between. I may go back to two posts a week but for now, once a week is better for me. 


With all of that being said, I am so excited for 2020. I know there will be many good things to come with a new year, new decade, and a new season of life. 


Next week, I will have my 2019 recap and then looking towards 2020, with my goals and mantra for the new year. 


Thank you all for your patience and support. Happy New Year!

Categories
Fashion

Look of the Day #134

LOTD

Hey guys! Happy day after Christmas, I swear the days between Christmas and New Year are a blur of family, friends, activity, and love. 

I have another outfit for you today, I had mentioned a few weeks back about how to properly prepare for an interview and some do’s and don’ts. Today, I have another great outfit for you to rock in an interview or meeting. The new year is a time for fresh starts and new beginnings. I always love the sense of accomplishment that comes with wrapping up an old year and starting a new one.

Now, let’s get to this outfit. 

Heading out for an inteview

I wanted something that was neutral and simple and that’s exactly what I got when it came to picking out this outfit.

I first started with this skirt, I got it from Marshall’s. I love how it is a pencil skirt and can be worn with a suit or just by itself. Versatility is key for a young woman starting out in her first professional job. 

I decided to add a dark blouse as my top. I got it from Francesca’s Boutique, as a summer blouse but I have found many more uses and ways to wear it through the years. Although, it is sleeveless, I added a blazer to match it. Although, different opposite colors, the black and the light gray skirt complement one another very well. 

As, I mentioned above, I wore my gray blazer as a finishing touch. I got this blazer from Marshall’s as well, a few years back. Although, the blazer and the skirt are not a matching set, the interior of the blazer which is seen when cuffed is almost a perfect match to the skirt and the black top ties the whole outfit together. 

Lastly, I added my favorite Kelly and Katie pumps to the outfit and my Michael Kors purse to bring out the black top more. I am loving this outfit and was very pleased with how it turned out for an interview or a business meeting or appointment. What are your professional goals for the new year?

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Fabulous living

Getting in the Christmas Spirit

Hey guys! Can you believe that it is Christmas Eve?! December flew by, between wrapping up school, graduation and moving back home, it has been whirlwind. I have been doing my best to cram in all the holiday cheer. Although, it has been busy I have been making time for all the special holiday traditions.

Before I left school, I went to a Christmas lights display with one of my friends and we had the most magical time. From the atmosphere, to the lights, and all the Christmas music, it was a great way to start the holidays.

 I have watched my favorite Christmas movies including Love Actually, Christmas Vacation, and other children’s classic movies. Watching a Christmas movie at the end of the day is a perfect way to enjoy the season.

I have been doing lots of baking, from traditional cookies, to festive ones, and ones that are special recipes. Baking is one of my favorite ways to prepare for Christmas. 

This past weekend, we got our tree and decorated it. It was so special to spend quality family time together. 

I am looking forward to spending the next few days with my family. These past few days have also reminded me that Jesus is the reason for the season, although the red and green and gifts are great, remember the true meaning of Christmas lies with Jesus. 

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas! 

Categories
Fashion

Look of the Day #133

LOTD

Hey everyone! I have a special look of the day for you today! Today, I’m sharing my graduation look of the day! I wish I had better photos from the day, but I was too busy being present in the moment and enjoying the day. But, I did manage to snap a few quick shots of my outfit before my big day. I couldn’t let the day get by without documenting the look that I wore on graduation day.

I found this dress back in October at Marshall’s. I was hunting for something sophisticated but also something that I could wear more than once. I can wear this dress for Christmas, to work, or to a dinner party. I had looked at the mall and several stores and Marshall’s was my last stop, and I found the perfect dress there. 

I love the material of it and the color of green. I am always on the hunt for green accents and I was so excited I finally found one. My school’s color is green and gold so I couldn’t believe it when I found a dress that was green and gold. The dress is simple and sophisticated and I love the gold accents. I decided to add a green emerald ring and gold earrings. I lasted added a slight heel with a Mary Jane style. These are my favorite heels from Kelly and Katie at DSW. The gold buckle was my favorite part, it brought out the gold in my dress and cap and gown too! 

I loved my dress and I can’t wait to wear this outfit more through the winter months. Sorry for the short but sweet post, but I wanted to share this look with you all. The countdown to Christmas is on!

Enjoy the final push for the holidays.