Mid Week Wisdom

Although this is a later post, I thought I would share this quote. More and more lately, I have been thinking about how kind I am.  Working in a school can test my patience sometimes and this quote is a reminder that I am trying to achieve something good with my students and that I need to show them grace more often.  Patience isn't my strong suit, but I am working on it.  So here's to finishing the semester by being good to those around me by doing a good job!

My Newest Hobby

As y'all know, I am living at home while doing a service job through UNC.  Honestly, living at home can be lonely and often boring.  We have a gym membership that I take advantage of, but the classes are full of older people and are not the same energy as the classes I took on campus.  

I decided the best way for me to get work out classes in, in addition to the gym, was to go to one of the studios in Greenville and what better way to do it than with a friend!  My friend, Hannah, is a student at East Carolina University and lives in Greenville which is about 40 minutes from my house.  A few weeks ago, we decided to go to Pure Barre.  I have been wanting to join and had been afraid to do it alone.  This has allowed me to socialize with a friend and get a full body work out in once a week!

I wish I could do twice a week, but the drive can be a lot when I wake up at 6 every morning and by the time I leave work I hit the 5 o clock "traffic" (Greenville  has a terrible infrastructure imo). 

Pure Barre is a lot of fun. It's nice to go work out and no one really know who you are.  I am feeling more confident in my body already! I can't wait to see the results as I continue this journey.

PS If anyone wants to get some of their cool socks for Christmas, I'd appreciate it ;)

What's on My Christmas List

In the spirit of "vlogmas", I am going to be attempting to do blogmas here at Bailey's Bulletin and will be posting for the next 25 days.  Not sure how this going to go since next week I will be in Boston, but I have plenty of time to prepare.  

This is my first Christmas not in school.  It feels weird not having finals to worry about and at the same time I feel like I am having an identity crisis! I don't feel old enough to be done with school, but I am still too young (and broke) to buy every single person on my list a super nice gift.

Anyways, back to our regular programming, here are some of the things I am asking for this year. I have asked for a lot of clothes, but that can get repetitive as it just become pictures on pictures of sweaters!

David Yurman Crossover Ring - I received the matching bracelet to this for graduation this year and my mom and I talked about getting the ring to match as a Christmas gift.  I wear the bracelet almost everyday and I am sure I will do the same with the ring.

Barrington Gifts 'Kent Keyring Wallet' - I have loved Barrington Gifts for years now and still have yet to purchase anything from them as I have soooooo many nice bags as it is I haven't asked for one.  But lately I have been switching between my purse and work bag and ultimately forgot my wallet the other night.  I guess its time to attach my wallet to my keys.

Maui Jim Ah! Dang Sunglasses- I have been eyeing these since the summer and now its time I ask for them!  I have had my Ray Ban wayfarers since 2013 and they are starting to get a little beat up through daily wear and tear.  These are a classic look with more modern vibes and they aren't too big for my face!

Make Up Eraser - My grandma bought one of these from a vendor at one of my dance recitals in HIGH SCHOOL and I thought it was cool then. Now, I am seeing a lot more bloggers and influencers share this product all of a sudden.  It is really cool because you just wet the towel and wipe off your make up (then use a face wash to clean your face!!!) I think this simple tool will go a lot further than those single use towels. ;)

Starbucks Gift Card - Ever since this spring I have become a HUGE ICED COFFEE SNOB. I am not sure why??? It started because of school and I guess I finally acquired the taste for it.  I still cannot drink hot coffee unfortunately.  I have been spending a lot of money at Starbucks lately so why not stock up on some gift cards!?

A New Season

Y'all.... life comes at you.... FAST.  Just (almost) three months ago, I was just beginning training for my job as a college adviser. School has been in session for a solid month now and I truly am LOVING it. 

I was nervous about working at a school in my hometown, but I seriously could not love the people I work with more!  They are all supportive of the role I am in and love the students as if they were their own.

I will say, when I get home I am TIRED. In college, I never went to bed before 11 (and in my last semester probably before 12). Now I aim to be in bed by 9:30 with hopes of being asleep by 10:30 at the latest.  

I guess the biggest downside is that on the weekends is that I don't have a lot to do.  I try to work out, but I don't hang out with friends. I don't have too many around.  It has been the largest pill to swallow and accept that I am in a different season of life. I do hang out with my family A LOT. This weekend we are going to the UNC-Clemson Football game and the Phil Collins concert (my fave!). So I do have some events to look forward to. 

I am slowly trying to overcome my tiredness when I get home and want to develop a post-work routine as I have my morning routine down pat with the exception that I still do not make my bed every morning. Every night just seems to be a littleeee different so I am still navigating that.

I finished watching all of Big Little Lies last weekend, only two weeks after finishing the book.  I am not one to always hop on hype- trains like everyone else, but it really is as good as people say.  The book is a little different from the show (the show did have me questioning if I liked one character as much as I did in the book).  But the directors and actresses did so well and of course they have to have more to keep the show going!

How is your autumn starting off

Podcasts I'm Enjoying

Happy Monday, friends!

Since getting my AirPods, I'm not able to plug them into the machines at the gym when I workout so I can listen/watch a TV show something that makes the time go by wayyyy faster than constantly skipping songs.  I opted to catch up on podcasts while on the elliptical and boy it felt good!  Typically, I listen to podcasts that motivate me and I felt that even more while multitasking.

Chicks in the Office

My boyfriend actually told me about this Barstool podcast haha... One of the hosts, Ria, dates a guy on another Barstool show called Pardon My Take. I was skeptical to listen to a podcast by Barstool but it is not what I expected at all! The hosts, Ria and Fran, talk about a little bit of everything related to pop culture and current events and also give a bachelorette recap each week.  They always play good music in between each segment as well.  They are super relatable and fun to listen to.

You'll enjoy this if you listen to: The Morning Toast and Girls Gotta Eat

Enough About Me with Shep Rose

This might be a hidden gem located only on Apple Podcasts (I typically use Spotify). The Southern Charm star, Shep Rose, is very well educated to some's surprise and this podcast puts it to use.  Enough About Me is fairly new as it has only been out for about a month. Shep interviews some of his castmates and even political activists which is honestly very interesting.  I didn't think I would enjoy his political interviews, but you also get to learn a lot about Shep in the process beyond the show. As a HUGE Southern Charm fan, I like that I am able to see the intellectual side of Shep rather than his party-boy persona that we only see on TV.

You'll enjoy this if you listen to: The Skinny Confidential

Gals on the Go

This podcast is hosted by Brooke Miccio and Danielle Carolan, two YouTubers that went to UGA in Athens.  I have been watching their videos for a while and began listening to their podcasts since day one.  I really like hearing them talk about their lives and such and it feels very authentic.  Brooke is the same age as me and the chapter that she is in with her life very much resonates with me as a recent grad as well.  I love hearing about their favorite products because honestly if I didn't get up with them I probably would be living under a rock as to what the next big thing is!  

You'll enjoy this if you listen to: TK's Juicy Pod, I Love You So Much with Kenzie Elizabeth, The Real Reel with Natalie Barbu

What podcasts do you listen to?

Early Summer Beauty Favs

Happy first day of Summer!

Today I am sharing some of my beauty favorites that I have been using constantly these past few weeks!

Neutrogena Hydroboost Moisturizer - GUYS, this stuff is amazing it is so light and feels great on my skin.  It is also veryyyy similar to the Clinique 72-hour Moisture Surge, but for a fraction of the price. I don't moisturize like I should so this travel size has lasted me a while and I truly do love it. 

Neutrogena Hydroboost Lip Shine - Yes I am sharing two lip glosses in this post but I love to change things up! I kept seeing people share this on their instagram in May and I had to try it out especially since it is a drugstore brand, I figured "why not?" When I went to Target to purchase there were few colors left and few quantities in those remaining colors! If you want a lip gloss to keep on hand, I highly recommend this Lip Shine!

Laneige Berry Lip Gloss - I actually received this in my Easter basket from my mom this year.  I had been wanting the overnight lip mask from Laneige, but honestly, I have gotten way more use out of this as I can toss it in my bag for on the go as well.  There are about four flavor options, but I love the pink tube.  It honestly tastes/smells like a Jelly Bean LipSmacker. This is a more luxurious lip gloss and makes me feel a little more put together when I wear it

Bad Gal BANG - I had been using the Better Than Sex mascara for a while, but it was starting to clump up and I figured it was time to toss it.  My mom had this unopened from a Nordstrom Sale where mascaras were buy two get the third free and she still had not gotten around to using it.  I have really enjoyed it and it doesn't flake off throughout the day!

bareMinerals Complexion Rescue- Okay so I have saved my absolute favorite for last!  This tinted moisturizer feels soooo good on my skin.  My friend and I were in Ulta a few weeks ago just trying out every product in typical Ulta fashion and we tried this and we were hooked!!!  I am almost out and I plan on repurchasing this again. I wear the shade Birch 1.5 and it matches my complexion perfectly! I would highly recommend this if you are in the market for a new foundation. It is very lightweight and great for these hot summer days! 

What beauty products have you been loving this summer?

Bailey

Post-Grad Plans

Good morning, friends!

It has been almost a whole month since I graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in May.  I am writing to you from my home in Eastern North Carolina.

The week following the longest exam week ever (literally, so long... I had SIX exams) was quite fun.  I got to spend time with friends and relax.  My boyfriend's family, along with mine, had a nice lunch together at the Angus Barn in Raleigh. It was nice having all of our family in one place instead of splitting our time.

So what's next?

Beginning in July, I will begin work as a College Advisor for the Carolina College Advising Corps.  I will be working at a high school in my hometown which is kind of exciting and a relief in some regards. This was the job I wanted out of all of the ones I had applied for and it will be nice to face this new transition while living at home and having familiar faces around (and of course to be able to save money).

Until work begins,  I have just been relaxing at home, going to the gym and spending days at the pool.  My goal is to work on the blog a little more as well now that I have rested up!

What are your plans for the summer?

Bailey

February Catch Up

Can you believe we are over half way through February!? It's crazy how long January seems to last and then February is always so short!

So far, the past few weeks had been great! I was working out regularly and was on top of my school work! The weather was amazing and I was way less anxious than I normally am. 

Then, last week something changed. I really don't know what it was... the weather dropping back down to 40-degree temps and rain, perhaps??? It really killed my vibe and I only worked out once the entire week with the exception of two walks around my neighborhood. But I was not myself.

For Valentine's Day, my boyfriend and I went to a restaurant called Maggiano's in Durham at the mall. I have spent an embarrassing amount of time at that mall over the year and I can't believe I had never been before. It was really great and I loved getting to share a dinner with my Valentine!

I have found some more work out classes that I enjoy besides my regular barbell pump from last semester. This semester I have tried out 3-2-1 which is a HIIT class that has intervals of 3 minutes for cardio (my nemesis), 2 minutes of strength (my fav), and 1 minute of abs! It is fast-paced and the classes last only 45 minutes which is a perfect amount of time in my opinion. 

Alpha Chi had a sisterhood event this weekend at a studio called barre(d). I had never taken a barre class until then. It is sooooo different than any workout I had done before. I initially was not a fan mainly because I was in so much pain, but I felt so good afterward and want to go back now that I know what to anticipate. This semester my goal has been to workout at least twice a week and it hasn't been that bad!

Happy Wednesday!

Bailey

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo

Yes, I am soooo hopping on this organization train! I used to be very organized in early high school and probably up until college when my days began to vary SO MUCH. I've been wanting to get back into a routine of it all and Netflix released this series at the perfect time. 

I started watching Tidying Up with Marie Kondo while I was at home for Christmas break. At this point, I don't really have a lot of stuff at home and the stuff I do have, I don't use a lot. I keep those things at home because I don't wear use them enough, but am not ready to let go for the most part. 

I brought quite a few things home from my room at the sorority house. I anticipated I would be getting a good amount of clothes from Santa, so I didn't bring too many home. I brought a lot of small things as well. 

After watching two episodes of the show, I got to tidying. I went through all of my t-shirts, leggings, pants, pajamas, and closet. I realized that many things I was holding onto were not necessarily sparking joy. Tidying up my room at home was nowhere near as fun as it was when I returned back to school, especially since the items at home were not being used regularly anyway. 

Amongst the many things I brought back to school with me, I also found Marie Kondo's book at my house. I knew my mom had read it a while back and many people raved about it as well prior to the show. Hopefully, I can find downtime to read it, but it is so hard with school (and not having a space completely of my own) to sit to read for fun and be able to reorganize every single thing.

When I got back to school, between unpacking, finding joy and folding, I spent about two hours reorganizing my room. Unfortunately, I was unable to get rid of too many things because I can't let go of my sorority t-shirts just yet. The most calming part for me was the folding. I really felt connected (it sounds weird I know) and it made me feel like I had a grip on this goal of organization I had been longing for this past couple of years. Granted, space in my home is very limited as I share it with three other girls, but I was able to fold my pants and t-shirts (disclaimer: I still had too many t-shirts).

I am trying to keep my bed made every day. It always feels so much better in my room when I do this. I know it doesn't look super neat, but it's a super small space!

My space for jeans is super limited! Th KonMari folding did not work out as well with the space I have, but they are all folded nonetheless.

Again, my space is limited, but I made a stack of my shorts and folded my leggings and sweatpants in the KonMari style! It was oh-so calming!

Folding my t-shirts was my favorite part! I definitely have some attachment issues to them though. I can revisit this afer I graduate but for now, I mostly live in t-shirts so I wasn't super picky.

I can honestly say I had such a great week last week! Although starting a new semester is always a bit overwhelming for me, I really felt like I took the week by the horns! I even woke up at 7:30 and ran errands SATURDAY MORNING. It's crazy what a little bit of organization can do you for your mind. 

Have you tried tidying up your life? What has it done for you?

Bailey

Goals for the New Semester

In light of the new year, I thought I would share some goals I have for myself. I am not one to necessarily have resolutions nor am I one to stick to them, but going into my FINAL semester, I feel like I should document what I want to accomplish in the coming months.

Make Healthier Choices: Yeah, yeah something about being healthy had to be put up here. I really got into going to fitness classes on campus and I hope I can continue to get over my fears and go more often. Going to fitness classes alone really scares me, I did it once last semester and it was fine! Having my friends tag along is always more fun! I also want to drink more water. Over break, I know I didn't drink nearly enough water like I should have and I always drink more at school. I want to be more intentional and consume more if possible.

Procrastinate Less: I'll be honest, this past semester was the best I have ever done while at Carolina. My teachers for 3/5 of my classes gave us daily reading questions that actually kept me more focused on assignments. I still managed to procrastinate papers. I'm seriously the worst about this. Like I will start them DAY OF and freak myself out and tears were almost always shed. Here's to being better about that whether it be just writing a page or two BEFORE the actual due date!

Establish a Routine: I really want to get better about waking up 30 minutes before class starts and scrolling through my phone in bed and all that jazz. My alarm is always set for an hour before I need to leave for class, but I spend to much time in bed. Hopefully this semester I will get up and scroll through my socials while I drink my coffee (also something I am trying to get into bc I am tired... A LOT) I think a routine will improve my mood and focus throughout the day. And this also includes adding a gym routine!

Have More Patience:  Whew! Now if this isn't something noteworthy. I am not a patient person, in fact I'm more on the temperamental side of things. I let small things bother me like nobody's business. This semester I want to try to be calmer which is a hard thing to say as someone who HAS NO IDEA OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING NEXT YEAR. But I want to incorporate this throughout my day to day life with my roommates, friends, and boyfriend.

What goals do you have for the new semester?!

Bailey