Lifestyle. – KEEPING UP WITH MJ.

How To Stay Productive At Home.

Hi, my loves! How are you doing? As you know, I’m quarantined and I’m pretty sure you are too so by the title of this post you know what to expect. It is only day 3 and I had to get my life together and really figure out some ways to keep abreast it all. Things are definitely not normal, so in order to keep some normality in the air, I put together this post as a means of help for you guys and myself!

We all know to stay home is a dream come true, wake up when you want and some have the luxury to work from home. However, when you have no other choice but to stay home for your own safety it can get a bit frustrating.

I HAVE PUT TOGETHER A COUPLE WAYS YOU CAN STAY PRODUCTIVE AND BUSY WHILE STAYING AT HOME.

Make a schedule for yourself (and your kids/other families you take care of). Having a schedule can help you stay on track and it helps with holding yourself accountable for what you should be doing or should have done already.
Make a list of things you need to complete. This one can be a bit flexible. Do you have work, like actually work to complete? If so, jot down what exactly needs to get done on that list. If you’re a blogger like me or a vlogger, making a list of what content you want to create fr the week (and weeks ahead) can be helpful and keep your audience still intact and in tune with what you have to offer. If you’re married or take care of someone at home, making a list of things that need to get done around the house can also take a weight off your shoulders and keep you organized.
Make sure to keep your house clean. Everything just flows better when the home is clean, the sunlight shining in and it smells good. This didn’t have to be on the list, but as a bonus, someone may have needed to read that. Cleanliness is important for a clearer mind and a clearer space.
Stay connected, virtually of course. I know, social distancing is full-effect, however, that doesn’t mean the phone does not work anymore. Call that friend you been meaning to call or family members and see how they are doing.
Do something fun that you enjoy doing. Okay, this one has parts. Here are some things you can do. Some may be suitable more during this quarantine time, but all still work out.

Write in your journal (Think about some things you lost sight of, write down new ideas you may have, feelings, thoughts, just express yourself
Listen to music
Read a book that you love
Binge watch a tv show/watch a movie
Play board games
Play a puzzle game
Play a trivia game
Plan a movie night with your significant other/or family
Reorganize your room (any room you like)
Declutter your laptop (photos, videos, etc.)
Declutter your phone
Declutter your closet
Make a video (loosen up a bit)
Take a walk
Watch your favorite youtube videos (subscribe to my channel)
Check out your favorite bloggers’ website or vlogs

6. TAKE A SELFCARE DAY

This includes taking the time to do something that brings you a bit of joy. Especially in a time of ‘panic’ like this, self-care activities can be helpful.

Give yourself a mini-pedi
Do some yoga or meditate
Read your favorite book
Eat your favorite comfort foods
Dress up (yes dress up if you want to)
Make some fun videos and post it
Relax, have a spa day at home (bubble baths)
Arts and craft

All of these and more can be super helpful in getting by at home during this quarantine. What are some other productive ways that may be helpful? List them in the comments.

Outfit details:

Jeans: Levi’s | Mules: Last season Zara mules or you can try Nordstrom | Basic cropped white tee: Uniqlo | Blazer: Husbae’s closet | Phone case bag: Urban Outfitters

Thanks for stopping by guys! XO MJ!

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL IF YOU HAVEN’T! NEW VIDEO COMING THIS WEEK!

YOUTUBE | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

Styling My Hermine Hold Accessories.

Happy Sunday my loves! I hope you are having a beautiful start to this joyous week! I am super excited about this collaboration because it took me out of my comfort zone, whereas I got to play around with some hair/fashion accessories! If you know me you know I love to switch up my hairstyles, so being able to add these gems to my shelf is amazing!

I got the option to choose what items I wanted to style, so of course, I went with something aesthetically pleasing and totally me. Let’s start with the packaging. The two items I received came in a green box, which had a little drawstring to pull out the inner box. Everything was neatly packed and it didn’t have those weird odors some boxes have when they first arrive.

For this collaboration, I’ll be styling the Nefertiti Silk Scarf and Suede Knot Headband in Green.

The scarf itself is very soft and can be styled in so many ways, whether as a neck scarf or a head tie/band. For me, I chose to do the neck scarf for this look. I figured out three ways you can wear your scarf, for a different hairstyle there are more ways! The headband was also a soft, gentle-to-touch suede green headband, with the initials HH on the side of it. It fit my head perfectly.

Full-disclosure, these items were gifted to me by the brand & all thoughts in my review are my own.

All Photos By ME

OUTFIT DETAILS: Both items gifted by Hermine Hold

Scarf: Nefertiti Head Scarf ( I used it as a neck scarf)

Headband: Suede Knot Headband

**Extras// Jacket: Zara, Designed by ME | Dress: ASOS

I’m just really excited these are items I can use in summer and fall. I really love this shade of green and playing around in a different overall look! I hope you guys enjoyed and don’t forget to check out their website. There’s a whole lot of other hair accessories that will take your look from zero to hero! Men, you can gift these pieces to your special someone for the holidays!

Thanks for stopping by! XO MJ.

The Perfect SHELFIE + Staying Organized.

Hey, my loves! I hope you are having a great week so far! If you aren’t I hope this post makes you feel a little better.

Today I wanted to show you guys my bathroom SHELFIE and why it’s important to have good skincare products in there, but before I jump in discussing that topic, I wanted to just give you a little bit of inspiration/motivation to take you throughout the week!

The importance of organization

So, let’s be real about staying organized because most of us say we are, but in reality, we are not. That doesn’t mean we are bad people, it just means we need to get our priorities in order so that we can up our organizational skills. I’m a person who loves order (as previously stated in my last post HERE), so this post means a lot to me. Here are some reasons why staying organized will benefit you:

Encourages you to be focused.
It allows you to set and achieve your goals.
Increasing your productivity throughout your day (& life).
Increased brainpower & expansion of your creative juices.
Freedom from a chaotic lifestyle.

If you don’t believe me, try organizing little bits and pieces of your life and watch how it will all come into play. I can attest to when one part of my life is in a worldwide of crazy, it fully affects the other parts of my life. Everything has to be sorted out. You know that saying, “Every action has a reaction”? Indeed it does. Some helpful tips:

Declutter your life. (relationships, friendships, work)
Declutter your bedroom.
Declutter your closet.
Jot down your ideas in your notes, notepads, notebooks, or journals.
Be efficient and work hard to change your lifestyle.
Read books that can help encourage + motivate you to do better.
Buy storage units for your clothing, shoes, books, etc.
Make sure your home feels like a home…a clean one!

Okay, now to the good stuff, MY SHELFIE.

I have always wanted to share my beauty products on my bathroom shelf, so since I moved into my new apartment with my husband I took the opportunity to do so. Here is my #shelfie, filled with SOME of my beauty/skincare products. I’ll attempt to list the brands here for you. The importance of having a perfect selfie is so that we, as woman can get to our skincare products really easily! We all know how hard it is to trust certain brands already when it comes to our skin, so being able to actually reach into our cabinets and get our products with no hassle is a GO GO! Tell me what you think of my shelfie in the comment section!

Product details:

Top shelf (left & middle)– Generation Clay Purifying Clay Mask + Purify Illuminate Refine Mask, Ouai leave-in conditioner + face scrub, Soap & Glory Righteous Butter, Farmacy Facial Cleanser, Red Earth Beauty Hydrate Cream, Red Earth Beauty Water Cream, Lancome Fix it Forget it Setting Spray
Second shelf (left & middle)– Drunk Elephant Jelly Cleanser + Polypeptide Cream + Sunscreen + Face Cream, Fresh beauty soy facial cleanser + face mask, Mamonde Petal Spa Oil to Foam, Glossier Body Wash, Mario Badescu Seaweed Cleanser, My personalized facial oil, Glossier skin tint, Flesh beauty illuminizing primer, Glow Recipe watermelon glow pink juice, Red Earth’s deep dive water essence, Red Earth serum, Mamonde hydrating beauty water
Third shelf (left & middle)– Mario Badescu facial spray + seaweed night cream + cucumber tonic mask + healing & soothing mask, Red earth beauty happy pills mask, Glossier’s milky oil makeup remover + milky jelly cleanser + soothing facial mist + futuredew + priming moisturizer in rich + bubblewrap
Top shelf (right)– Lumiere prep + protector spray, Elf face brush, EmerginC vitality mask, Belif the true cream
Second shelf (right)– Beauty Bio the balance cleanser, Flamingo body lotion, Ole Henriksen truth serum, Red earth beauty serum + Coconut clay mask
Third shelf (right)– Red Earth Beauty hydrate nourishing lotion, Supergoop defense refresh setting spray with SPF 50 + Unseen sunscreen SPF 40 + Everyday moisturizer superscreen

What’s crazy y’all is that I still have more products + my MAKEUP PRODUCTS! Pray for my husbae, because he might get overwhelmed and throw away my stuff hahaha. Next time I’ll share with you guys my favorite makeup products! Be sure to use my glossier rep link for 10% off if you choose to purchase any of the glossier stuff mentioned!

Thanks for stopping by guys! xoxo MJ.

Keeping It Real.

Let’s be real…

People never keep it real, especially with themselves, but hopefully, after this post, you won’t be one of those people.

2019 we have a lot of things we want to accomplish, but what’s real is this… YOU WILL NOT ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING WITHOUT A PLAN. Show me someone who accomplished their goal without proper direction and I’ll stand corrected.

Start HERE.

This year I want us to elevate ourself—mind, body, soul. What does it mean to elevate? Elevate means to rise to a more important, impressive level. With elevation, there needs to be recognition and change. I bet y’all didn’t know that! Write down what you can do to ignite that flame inside of you. Get a book specifically for this, this way you can jot down your goals for the new year. Not just any goal, but realistic goals that are attainable. Elevation of oneself also involves willingness to want to do better and get better. A lot of us say things, but our actions show something totally different. Let’s ~~TRY~~ DO IT. More action.

–> Next, PLAN IT OUT.

Every plan executed the right way will work out. I have been caught in 2018 not planning things out properly and then, in the end, having to rush or settle for less (or even miss out). So this year I decided that the best way to WIN, is to plan things out ahead of time. To be honest, when we make plans (lavish plans) right now we may not have all the funds or resources, but that’s okay. That’s where saving comes in. Y’all I’m literally speaking to myself in this post also. When it comes to saving, this year I’m trying to buckle down and prosper for real. So planning + saving goes hand in hand if you want REAL results.

Okay so far, I made it clear the

importance of elevation/action + planning/saving,

the next thing I want to discuss is acknowledgment.

Acknowledge It.

All Photos By Cassy G.

When we acknowledge something, we give it our undivided attention or recognition. That entails us becoming aware, open, and vulnerable—in some cases. You’re probably wondering what exactly I’m referring to right now, aren’t you? Bare with me. Okay, so acknowledgment is something many of us choose to ignore. We do not face the things in our life or the things about us that need changing and that can be the thing that keeps us back immensely.

Recognition ignites a decision.

Question: Do you take accountability for your actions? I’m talking about your actions that are recognized…or do you choose to blatantly ignore it? Think about that.

Some helpful tips:

Deal with things head on.
Acknowledge where you may have done wrong.
Apologize first.
Cry if you need to.
Let go of excuses.
Make realistic resolutions.
KEEP IT REAL WITH YOURSELF.

Remember, “every level of your life will require a different version of yourself.”

Outfit deets:

Turtleneck sweater & Booties- Boohoo, Jacket- Zara, Skirt- Forever 21, Bag- Aldo

Bringing the heat.

Walked into the new year like…

Cheers to reaching 2019 in one piece. First post of the year! WOW. Y’all know 2018 was a good year for me, I graduated, traveled, fell deeper in love with God (and my boo), leveled up in jobs, almost at my career goal, I exceeded my BLOG GOAL OF 1000+ blog followers/subscribers, and most importantly all my family is blessed also. I mean so much more blessings but you know can’t list them all. 2019, I expect nothing LESS than the BEST and of course I’m bringing the heat all year! My two words for this year is STRENGTH & COURAGE.

Strength allows you to show yourself how far you can actually go. It involves less self-doubt and more of a drive to be your best self. Courage says, “yes I may be a bit nervous or even afraid, but that’s not going to stop me!” Courage gives you the encouragement you need to never stop believing in all that potential you attain inside of you. So be my guess and adopt these two words and make it apart of your day to day this year.

[Stay tuned for some heat at the end of the post!]

Just WIN.

The year just started, but I already have some advice to share. People will try to sabotage you because they cannot stand to see you win, but do yourself a favor and WIN ANYWAY. Don’t allow people to get the upper hand on you this year. I want you to remember that there are always many outcomes that can come out of one thing. In the end, you decide if it will be good or bad. Remember that this year!

B i r t h d a y S h o o t

My style literally is so effortless. I say that in the least cocky way. I usually figure it out the day of or in my head…and it always works. Blessing? Yes. Feeling a bit sassy right now because the devil really tried my this year for my birthday, but thankfully God sustained me and kept me on 100. I wanted to do this post as a style post and photo diary of my bday shoot because I have so many photos, but you guys know I had to give some encouragement first!

Photo Diary #extraall2019

disclaimer: #notaMODEL

[All Photo/Video Cred: @duranandrae]

Deets on the look: fur coat- boohoo, sequin jumpsuit & fur bag- forever 21, shoes- public desire, lip gloss- fenty, hair- ME

Thanks for stopping by! xoxo MJ.

Simplicity is key.

Hello my loves!

Happy Monday! It’s a brand new (work) week! How excited are you to keep grinding, achieving goals and breaking barriers? On a scale of 1-10, I’m at a 10! Each new week, each new day is another opportunity do things differently than the day before.

Today’s style post is a #collaboration with BAGGU, but I wanted to share with you guys some motivation to get through the week first! I’m learning more and more that simple is better. Don’t get me wrong, standing out is awesome, but simple is more comfortable. That goes for both in style and in life.

Here’s 4 tips for keeping it simple:

Don’t expect too much. We as humans have a tendency to want things to go the way we plan it every time, but the truth is that’ll never happen. Things will go wrong. As I’ve grown up hearing: expect the best, the worse or nothing at all. The best motto.
Don’t makes excuses. Owning up to things allows us to grow and it gives us peace of mind. When we make excuses, it equates to lies. You have to think and think of more ways to convince the person or even yourself of whatever it is you’re trying to prove. That alone takes so much energy! Let that go.
Don’t beat yourself up. Give yourself a break. You’re trying your best. We see you. Keep going.
Do you. PERIOD.

What is Baggu?

*Medium Canvas Circle Purse in Plaid – Photo by Alberto Lima*

Baggu, in my opinion, is a brand that embraces simplicity and encourages people that they do not need much to stand out. Majority of their items are lightweight and durable and you can literally take it anywhere you go! I for one honestly love this company because they have such cute bags that are long lasting and I can pair my bag with my outfit and not be ‘matchy matchy’ and go! On days where I don’t feel like being dressed up, baggu bags allows me to be comfortable and still be stylish.

Benefits of baggu bags:

The Reusable Bags are great for work or school. It allows me to carry my laptop in there and it fits lunch for work, books, clothes and any accessory you need! It’s like a tote! Baggu allows me to be simple and cute. With a white shirt, jeans and some shoes…I can be myself with baggu and have all my essentials with me.

Products mentioned: Medium Canvas Circle Purse in Plaid – $55 USD

Reusable Bag in Plaid– $14 USD

Remember that simplicity is key. Be yourself, love yourself.

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own. I was not paid for this post. Baggu sent me these bags to review! #Sponsored

All photos by Alberto Lima.

Thanks for stopping by! xoxo MJ.

Tea time with KROMA!

Hello, my loves!

Today’s post is all about our smartphones! I have teamed up with Kroma to share with you some of their cases that I’m so in love with currently! If you are as clumsy as I am or you just love to switch up your phone cases…this post will do you well!

…So today’s post is a collaboration with Kroma phone cases.

Kroma cases. The TEA you’ve been waiting for…

You ever heard of this brand? If not let me tell you some things.

If you’re a BLOGGER or FASHIONISTA, you know how it is when it comes to showing personality in our style. Kroma cases allow you to make a statement and show off your uniqueness. Another thing that is super important is that these cases aren’t bulky, hard to grip in the palm of your hand and they’re not masculine looking. You know this is a THUMBS UP on my end because I could be a girly girl, haha! I know some of you are like hmmm…sounds good but, ‘babygirl, what are the cons?’. I have literally ONE con for ya. At first, I was a bit confused on how to get them on and off, guess why? Let me tell you why… I didn’t follow the instructions because I thought I knew what to do, *rolls eyes*. Always follow directions people, it can be detrimental to yourself. Other than that, everything I’ve mentioned previously stands strong.

Get into this… I chose…

So if you know me, you know I love flowers, so I had to have a floral case. I chose the blackberry bliss from the floral art collection! I also chose the forget me not blues from the 0073.UV collection, pocahontas from the classic prints collection, and sylphina angel from the ribbons & bows collection.

Fun fact: Kroma cases are BPA free. If you don’t know what that is, you’re not alone. I was lost at first honestly, but BPA is an industrial chemical that can transfer both orally and via the skin. It can lead to heart diseases and infertility. How crazy is that? This made me think about all the times babies played with my phone and tried to put it in their mouth! Nibbling on BPA contaminated phone cases. Glad that this case is BPA free! This is why it is important to do our research.

Processed with VSCO with dog1 preset — *Kroma floral design: Blackberry Bliss*

Next two are my personal favorites! It goes well paired with denim + a cute pair of shades. They’re like an everyday case. #OOTD

Discount time.

If you are interested in getting a Kroma phone case, I have a 15% discount code for ya!Â I highly recommend purchasing this case if you’re an iPhone user! The benefits are impeccable as mentioned, you can’t go wrong! Thank me later!

Code: <MJ>

Date: Valid now- November 30th 🙂

GLOU Wine Bar

In case you were wondering about the location, photos were taken at Glou wine bar in Brooklyn! It’s a new spot I discovered that’s very good for relaxing and enjoying some downtime by yourself or with a friend. It’s very cozy and the managers are really friendly. They have some breakfast dishes as well as dinner dishes. Check them out when you get the chase!

Outfit Details

Top: Turtleneck- Uniqlo

Jacket: Zara

Bag: Zara

Dress: Leather Dress- Forever 21

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own. I was not paid for this post. Kroma sent me products to review! #Sponsored

X for stopping by! xoxox, MJ.

Color Factory NYC + Tips!

Happy Colorful Sunday Loves!

Okay, if you know me you know that I loooove taking photos, so it was only right that I took a trip to NYC’s pop-up “The Color Factory”! TBH, I almost missed this adventure due to last minute setbacks however, I made it!

Before I jump in with the deets and colorful photos, I want to leave you guys with some motivation to keep going throughout the week! Stay tuned. Bare with me. AND read to the end.

TIPS: Take one and go on for the week!

There will be times where you may want to give up, but remember every time you decide to quit that there is someone out there who is wishing you do. I know, that was not what you expected to read, but it’s the truth. Not everyone who smiles in your face and pats you on the back wants to see you succeed. It does not matter how much they publicly compliment you, behind closed doors, they are want to see you fail.
Keep going. Don’t give in. Don’t allow that negative energy to consume you. Instead push on through.
Smile, even when things may be going downhill. You really never know who you can impact by just showing that act of kindness with a smile.
Ignore. Plain and simple. The temptation will always be there to answer and feed into people’s nonsense, but ignoring really will take you up the high road!
Have fun, every single day. Every day is a blessing, treat it as such.

Sooo.. the color factory was amazing! It’s cool because it allows you to go solo. They have self-timer camera’s and they assign you these cards to scan on those cameras to take the photos! Plus, the photos are emailed instantly to you so you can post and go! How dope! Also, there are like 10+ rooms to explore and all the rooms are picture worthy! If you live in NYC, take a trip fast before it’s over.

Here are some amazing photos of my adventure!

Probably my favorite part was the macaroons!!!

BONUS! They gave a map with a bunch of different spots around NYC colorful experiences (walls, places, challenges etc.). Great for bloggers and photographers!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a prosperous week! xoxox MJ!

Positivity wins every time.

Hello loves, stepping into a new week like…

D47D0D23-28C6-49AD-B27E-97314D2F6061 — Photos by Duran Andrae (@duranandrae on IG)

Let’s start it off with some positivity.

Today’s post literally popped in my mind and I decided to just go with it. Since becoming a blogger I have been learning myself more and also been trying to be vulnerable more in my daily lifestyle. I’ve written a previous post called Reclaiming The Word Vulnerable, where I discuss the pros of vulnerability and how in some ways it is not such a terrible thing. Go take a read after if you have time, but today I just wanted to share some positiveness with you guys because there are so many things to be thankful for. With all the shootings, killings and overall horror going on in the world today, it is prevalent to keep our heads up and our hearts set on God!

First of all, celebrate yourself. Celebrate your ups AND your downs. Yes, I wrote your downs too. Many people go through situations that may not have been the best, grow from it and move on. In my opinion, I think ~~you~~ WE need to look back at that situation and see it as something that made us get better, push harder, fight the fight and walk the walk. Celebrating your downs gives off a liberating feeling of “YOU KNOW WHAT I FAILED, BUT IT HAPPENED FOR A REASON.” Think about it. The job you did not get, the girlfriend/boyfriend who was no good, the friend who was fake, the teacher who doubted you, the class you failed, the child who disrespected you, the boss who did you wrong, the co-worker that schemes on your success, the manager who wants to sabotage your job, the church memeber who lied on you etc., all the things that happened was for your good. Do not dwell on it or let it consume you.

MAKE LEMONADE. Period.

Second thing, RE-EVALUATE yourself. See what you can brush up on and make better. Is your attitude positive or negative? Are you trying as hard as you can to get what you want or are you lazy? What excuses have you made lately to cover up what needs to get done? (That question just hit me in the face y’all, because I have made soooooo many excuses lately to not do stuff!) Are you stagnant? Make MONEY MOVES. PERIOD. We are hindering ourselves from success. Sometimes we need to hear it from someone else for it to resonate in our minds and that’s fine. Opportunities don’t come to those who just sit around and are not working, GET UP! Re-evaluate your life and do whatever necessary to get where you want to be.

Be your best, even in your hardest times. As I’ve written before in my previous post Your Season Is Coming, remember that everything takes time. Don’t get discouraged and do not let negative thoughts consume your mind.

Try to be optimistic every day. Positivity gives you an open mindset. “Being positive does not mean that you ignore life’s less pleasant situations, but it means that you are taking a stand to approach those situations in a more productive way”. That was a deep quote! Something as simple as smiling can release the endorphins in your brain to make you feel a bit happier. You are the captain of your own ship when you choose how you respond to other people’s MESS. I’m preaching to myself right now because I have not mastered this yet. I still answer people based on my feelings at the moment, without taking a deep breath and staying calm. This is hard, but it would be such a rewarding thing to master. So today I encourage you (and myself) to take time to be positive and think before we speak.

LASTLY remember this, as Denzel Washington said “Fail big. To get something you never had you have to do something you never did. Take risks, keep striving never give up…fall down 7 times and get up 8. If you don’t fail you’re not even trying. FAIL BIG, you will lose. embarrass yourself, you will SUCK at something.” Do what you love and what you’re passionate about!

Outfit details: Top- ASOS, Jeans- H&M, Shoes- STEVE MADDEN, Bag- ALI-EXPRESS

Remember that positivity wins every single time.

Thank you for stopping by,

Enjoy your week, xoxo MJ.

Photo Diary: Grad Shoot.

I realized after writing up my What’s Next? blog post that I have over 300+ grad shoot photos that are literally all so dope! So I wanted to put together another post highlighting my favorite photos (even though it was so hard to choose)! These images were all taken by Duran Andrae. I hope you enjoy this photographic diary because it was so much fun!

Thanks for stopping by! xoxo MJ.

maintain a growth mindset.

Happy Tuesday my lovely readers!

I do hope you are haven g a great week like I am. Today’s post encourages us to adopt, maintain and embrace a growth mindset. Some of you are probably like I have a growth mindset, but do you? Are you really join g through situations expecting positive outcomes and not getting them BUT still maintaining a positive attitude? Stick around as I go further…

I first learned about growth mindsets and fixed mindsets last semester through my student teaching experience from the principal of the school. She encouraged us teachers, leaders and role models to always strive to have growth mindsets because of the numerous benefits it not only offered ourselves, but the people (and students) around us. This left a long lasting impression on me.

What is a growth mindset?

In the simplest of terms, a growth mindset is open to change. Growth mindsets believe that challenges only produces growth.

A person with a growth mindset says:

“I can… improve, do it, be better if I tired harder”.

“I will keep pushing even when I want to throw the towel in.”

“I am not like that person, but I can improve myself in a positive way that benefits me.”

“Mistakes are only minor in the bigger picture of success.”

“I will try new things, even if it scares me.”

Positiveness radiates off of a person with a growth mindset, but that does not mean its super easy. It becomes challenging, but they keep going. I have been listening and reading a lot of inspirational things lately that have encouraged me to be a better person. Sometimes I get overwhelmed and I begin to freak out, but there are so much different ways to encourage ourselves rather than be in the dumps about everything that have not been “good” in our lives.

Carol Dweck, wrote a book called “Mindset is the new psychology of success” and I’ve read an exert online briefly that gave me such motivation to always have a growth mindset, rather than a fixed mindset. According to her book, people who have a fixed mindset avoid failure because losing or underperforming weakens his/or her confidence. WHAT? In other words a person with a fixed mindset rather GIVE UP BEFORE TRYING. Is that a mindset that you see yourself having sometimes? Do you often find yourself seeking validation from others? To be honest, we all have been guilty of this at least once in our lives. That is even more of a reason why it is okay to change our mindsets now.

I encourage us all to adopt the growth mindset, only if you want to see yourself move above the place or space you are in currently. God allows us to have certain experiences for our own good. We will not always see it instantly, but later down the line when we look back we then realize that it was because of the positive “growth” mindset we were able to make it through.

My life is not perfect. I’m pretty sure yours isn’t either, but we have so much opportunities now to change that. There are so many outlets that can help us become better than we are now. Often times we make excuses for why we have not done something we were suppose to do long ago, BUT it is never too late to keep striving. This week I made it my duty to change my mindset and get things done. I encourage you to do the same.

Here are some quick tips to maintaining a mindset:

Replace the word failing with learning. (The benefits of doing this is endless!)
Surround yourself with people who want to succeed, people who persevere rather than give up. (Let them go!)
Reflect on who you are and want to become.
Stop seeking approval from nobodies or think they are somebodies!

Processed with VSCO with v5 preset — *“Strive for progress, not perfection.”*

Outfit details: Two piece set- BooHoo, Shoes- Ego Official

If you have suggestions on other ways to stay on the path of a growth mindset, let me know in the comments your thoughts!

Pin this on Pinterest with this photo!Thanks for stopping by! xoxo MJ.

3 online stores that deserve more love.

Hello beautiful people,

It’s a new week so I hope you are ready to start your new adventures, new possibilities, and new opportunities! I know I am.

Today’s post is about three online stores that I shop some of my pieces from. I’m always being asked where I shop, so I decided to write up a quick post sharing it with you guys. So before I say which three stores I am referring to that deserve more love, I’ll just say that I had my doubts at first too, I thought it was risky, but I love me a good bargain, so I took the risk *Kanye shrugs* haha. Let’s just say, I’m still shopping at these stores so it can’t be all bad right?

The three stores are:

FOREVER 21
BOOHOO
SHEIN

Forever 21
I cannot lie to you guys, I love these online shops. I don’t care what other people think. When I shop, I find things I like and then I just put things together. The looks I create are always amazing and completely just who I AM. I have heard things like forever 21’s clothes look cheap and the fabric is off…YES, this is true. They need to work on that, but I shop forever 21 online (only) and the pieces I buy are of good quality. I actually have a forever 21 credit card, so my online shopping has exceeded 5x more! If you check out some of my previous posts, you’ll see some of the pieces I’ve bought. I’ll let you be the judge.

Make lemonade post!

Life is unpredictable post!

Dress & crewneck from forever 21 + Boots from boohoo (mix n match em’)

Boohoo
Boohoo and I started off real shaky. I remember I made an oath to not buy from them, but I had a change of heart when I saw their outfit sets! So the thing about Boohoo.com is that majority of the time they have a 50% off sale going on (you’re welcome), like every single day! I love me a good sale every single day of the week, so they got me there. The thing about shopping sales is that you have to shop smart. For me, I’ve mastered the “buy smart/reasonably and still look like a million bucks!” It is all about YOUR STYLE, it does not matter where you shop.

Girl Gang Tee from boohoo (streetstyle)

Shein
Saved the best for last? Haha. Okay, so I was always skeptical about Shein, but as per usual I decided to try them out anyway. Luckily I loved the items I received. A lot of people I know (including bloggers) thought that Shein was a scam site. I’m here to say they are not! They are legit people. They have great pieces as well. Let me go ahead and show you guys my Shein wishlist right now because I have been on the site for a while trying to decide what I want.

Jeans jacket lovin’ post!

Celebrate the small successes post!

Both tees from SheIN

My SHEIN Current Wishlist:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I’ve listed each item below in case you’d like to shop these looks! (click each)

Do you shop any of these online stores? Which are your favorites pieces from the wishlist? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for stopping by! xoxo, MJ.

I HAVE PUT TOGETHER A COUPLE WAYS YOU CAN STAY PRODUCTIVE AND BUSY WHILE STAYING AT HOME.

6. TAKE A SELFCARE DAY

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL IF YOU HAVEN’T! NEW VIDEO COMING THIS WEEK!

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Okay, now to the good stuff, MY SHELFIE.

Share this:

Like this:

Let’s be real…

Start HERE.

–> Next, PLAN IT OUT.

importance of elevation/action + planning/saving,

Acknowledge It.

Recognition ignites a decision.

Question: Do you take accountability for your actions? I’m talking about your actions that are recognized…or do you choose to blatantly ignore it? Think about that.

Outfit deets:

Share this:

Like this:

Just WIN.

Photo Diary #extraall2019

disclaimer: #notaMODEL

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Kroma cases. The TEA you’ve been waiting for…

Get into this… I chose…

Discount time.

GLOU Wine Bar

Outfit Details

Share this:

Like this:

TIPS: Take one and go on for the week!

Share this:

Like this:

Remember that positivity wins every single time.

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

What is a growth mindset?

Here are some quick tips to maintaining a mindset:

Outfit details: Two piece set- BooHoo, Shoes- Ego Official

Share this:

Like this:

The three stores are:

My SHEIN Current Wishlist:

Share this:

Like this: