Tuesday, February 25, 2020

It's Just a Bad Day, Not a Bad Life



Last week, I was having a terrible day. This is not to say that I don't often have things that are sad or maybe even just slightly inconvenient in my life happen but there is rarely a day that I am mad all day. I cannot recall the day before this one.

I had so much contempt for everyone in my path and no matter what I did I just couldn't shake it. I was amped, and not in a good way.

With grief, I know that there are highs and lows, but this still was not like me. I was irritable and quick to anger over the smallest things. It was a terrible feeling that I did not understand.

Finally, when I got home and I was in my room, I checked in with myself. And I mean really dug deep. I reflected on where I was in life, what my goals were and the difference between the two. I thought about my day-to-day and what I had been doing differently.

It turned out that I hadn't been doing the things that made me happy or the things that made me feel secure. I hadn't been working out. I hadn't talked to my mom on the phone in almost a week. I hadn't organized any of my clothes or packages and they were piling up. I wasn't drinking enough water or sleeping enough. I wasn't taking time to do the things in my life that helped me feel in order. Some tasks were just small maintenance things that kept my room clean ranging to things I enjoyed like talking to my mom on the phone.

I had neglected small things and it snowballed into a terrible day! A day that probably wasn't even that terrible but my outlook made it that way. The way I felt on the inside affected how I perceived things on the outside.

Once I realized that my outlook was clouded with negativity from things I had failed to work into my schedule - my mood changed. I started setting aside more time for sleep and relaxation, working out and scheduling calls with my mom. Now, these are just a few of the daily things that were missing from my schedule, but they made a big difference.

Whether the things missing from your schedule are surface-level, like a trip to Trader Joe's or painting your nails, or more in-depth like phone calls with family members, working out and sleeping, they all matter! Making sure that you're checking in with yourself is important. Doing it regularly allows you to adjust before having to rearrange and feel anxious or overwhelmed.

The only thing in life you can control is your actions. You cannot change what is thrown at you but you can control how you grow and learn from it.



So what did my one bad day teach me?

You have to practice self-care and know your self worth internally so you can navigate the hard days with more ease. There's always going to be situations and days where you do feel off or sad or like things aren't going your way. But making sure that you are constantly doing maintenance on yourself and making sure you're giving yourself all the tools in your tool kit will help you manage any rainy days.

So cute yourself some slack, drink some tea and give yourself time to reflect on your patterns! You might be surprised at what you're neglecting.

Monday, February 17, 2020

M&L Turns 2!






Two years ago I was a girl with a blank canvas.

And by canvas, I mean a website URL and no idea how to code or edit photos or if anyone would care about what I had to say.

I had dabbled in blogging at an internship with Jay DuCote in college and I remembered loving it. It was actually my dad who told me to start a blog after that internship had ended and I remember telling him no because I didn’t have anything I was good at to share. I didn't think I had a skill set that mattered.

But fast forward. I was out of college, feeling like I was at a dead-end job in a windowless office and I didn’t know where to go next. So, I turned to the blog. I remember being so worried about what everyone else thought and what people would say. Would they believe in me?

 I wasn’t (and still am not) the best speller. I had always loved putting outfits together and trying new things but would it be things people wanted to see?

But I tried. I started with what I had. What did I have you ask? An iPhone, some wonderful friends who took my pictures, my internal need to write, the passion to go after something I dreamed about and the knowledge that I would have to keep learning as I went.

That's not to say it was smooth sailing. There have been some low, lows. People closest to me were unsure about the effects that this industry could have on me. I can recall specifically being told, 'you can't just START a blog, you have to commit to it'. There were times people didn't believe in me. They didn't understand what I did or they thought it was a waste or time or that I wasn't going to go anywhere.

There are times I wanted to quit. There are times where I felt I wasn't good enough. There are times that I felt like no one cared and that I was wasting my time.

But I guess you have to have the lows to know the highs. I have never been surer of myself as a person and what I bring to the table. I've been able to work with brands I used to only dream of. I have made solid friendships and business connections that have guided me to where I am today in my career. All with hard work, long hours, good laughs and people like you.

Having all of the experiences that Mimosas & Lipstick has brought me these last two years are things I could have never imagined two years ago. And I think that there are some important lessons that I learned along the way.

The most important being, if it makes you nervous and unsure, you're probably going in the right direction.


Today, I am still not sure where Mimosas & Lipstick is taking me, but I know that as long as I feel like I'm being challenged and I'm enjoying what I'm doing - we're here to stay.

I'm just along for the ride and I'm so happy you are too.
© Mimosas and Lipstick. Made with love by The Dutch Lady Designs.