It’s Been One of Those Weeks

Hello My Beauties

This post is going to be a little more serious than usual. I haven’t been posting, or really updating, anything having to do with my blog because some personal issues have gotten in the way of me doing this. I don’t want to go into any detail because it’s all very fresh, but I do want to apologize for dropping the ball when it comes to this blog. I want to continue to produce good content for all of you, but for now I’m having a hard time doing anything with the confidence I used to have.

A large reason why I’m writing this is because I wanted to reach out to all of you. I want to extend a hand to all of you going through rough times or struggling with some internal battle. It’s hard to cope with, and my best mechanism is to help others and then write about it. So I would like to give you some advice, starting now:

I want to tell you that it will get better. It just has to get better. And if it isn’t better, than it isn’t the end.

I want to tell you that you are so strong, that whatever is thrown your way has nothing on you because you can be bigger than it and overcome it and grow from it.

I want to tell you that you are not alone. Whether you find support in friends, family, or internet support groups, you are never, ever alone. It sure as hell seems like you are, but I promise you, you’re not.

And finally I want to tell you the most cliche thing ever: Life is short. Be confident in yourself, in who you are, and for the people who just cannot accept that, it might be best to not have them in your life at this point. This doesn’t mean they are horrible people. It just means they can’t be there for you like you need them to be, or vise-versa. And for the people who are destructive, I hope that you take the first three points into account and feel that you deserve to do what you need to do.

Daily life is completely unpredictable; we have no clue how we, or others, will feel day-to-day. It is our jobs as individuals to make sure that we can cope with these unpredictable moments, and that we know what to do when situations arise that we don’t know how to deal with. It is also very important to know who your support team consists of because they will be absolutely vital.

It took so much energy to write this post for you, but I needed to do it because I want to reach out to all of you. I want to make sure that if anyone is struggling, you know that you are not alone. Thank you so much for reading, and please take these words to heart.

Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks,

Marin XO

My #OOTD Friday!

Hello My Beauties!

Guess what!? It’s Friday!!!!

Everyone loves Fridays, so I wanted to make it better by making it OOTD Fridays on this blog! I hope that you enjoy my favorite outfit for this week, I’ve been LIVING for comfortable clothes! Also, please excuse my headless lady-friend in the background, she is just doing what she does.

DSC_0001

The Sweater: First off, I’m in LOVE with this sweater. In fact, I’m wearing it right now! Just kidding, but I wish I was. This evergreen Claiborne originally belonged to my dad when he was in college, but then my mom kinda stole it from him when they were dating, and now I’ve taken to this little treasure! I’ve been wearing it with basically anything, because it can be worn with basically anything! I’ve also found big, slouchy sweaters to be great for spring days and summer nights.

The Shirt: I got this shirt from American Eagle and let me tell you, it is the softest piece of clothing I’ve ever felt in my whole life. What attracted me to it was the beautiful plume with the sky-blue stripes in contrast. Then I tried it on and I refused to leave the store without it. Even though AE is a little bit on the higher end for my budget, they really know what they’re doing when it comes to clothing.

DSC_0002

The Pants: These pants were actually from Pitaya,which is a small boutique in my hometown. They were about $50 (the most expensive pair of pants I’ve owned), but they are totally worth it! Not only have they lasted for a couple of years, they are also really stretchy and the denim is really soft and comfortable to be in. I’d say that they feel like the most authentic-looking pair of jeggings without actually being jeggings… if that makes sense.

DSC_0004

The Scarf: I got this scarf from H&M back when I was in New York City for the summer. I didn’t have a lot of simple scarves back then, and I thought it would be very easy to pair with a lot of different outfits. It’s also very lightweight, so it’s very easy to move in and is the perfect scarf for warm days.

DSC_0003

The Shoes: I found these bad boys at Aldo’s in the mall, and I’ve been attached to them ever since. At the time I had been looking for a nice pair of riding boots, but I never seemed to find any that were my style. Then, on a discount no less, these shoes were just sitting there, awaiting my purchase of them. They are lace-up, which I really like, but they still have the elastic sides that you would see on a riding shoe. They are my little slice of shoe heaven!

How to Get the Outfit

Shirt: AE, H&M, Express, PacSun

Pants: PacSun, AE, anywhere with really nice jeans!

Scarf: Forever 21, H&M, AE, JCPenny, Macy’s, Express, etc.

Sweater: Urban Outfitters, Forever 21, H&M, PacSun, Brandy Melville

Shoes: Aldo, ASOS, DSW

Thank you so much for reading and stay tuned for more! I post basically everyday of the week!

Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks,

Marin XO

Meet Jodie! | Monthly Interview

Hello My Beauties!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Intro By Jodie: A La Jode is a London-based fashion and lifestyle blog. Born in October 2014, it aims to bridge the gap between aspirational and accessible.

1. So your blog seems to be a mixture of elements all focused around what makes women happy. Can you tell me what drove you to create it?

I’d been reading blogs for a while and after seeing a friend grow hers I thought, “I could do this!”. It was time I finally joined in with the community I’d been observing for a while. It was only once I started my own blog that I realised what an amazing community there is – and I’ve never looked back.

2. While maintaining your blog, you are also a Digital Marketer. How do you balance both your work and your blog?

I’m really lucky that my work and blog complement each other so well. My blog was one of the main reasons I got the job as it was how I heard about the company, the reason I knew the industry existed, and had given me a good foundational knowledge of blogging and SEO. I spend my days reading blogs at work and then come home and put what I learn at work into practice on my blog!
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

3. What has been one exciting thing that you’ve gotten to do because of your blog?

I’ve had so many amazing opportunities from my blog, none of which I ever expected when I started. I was just a girl, sat in her room, wanting to know what this blogging thing was all about and now I have some incredible experiences to look back on. If I had to pick one thing, however, it would be the huge South West Blog Social event I organised last June. It started with an idea to go for drinks with some local bloggers and quickly turned into a one-day conference covered by several magazines and with over £13,000 of sponsorship from leading and upcoming brands!

%22...be yourself and don't try to write-3

4. What is your favorite post and why? (Include link!)

Now that’s a tricky one! I would probably have to say my 2014 highlights post as I had a lot of fun putting it together. One of the best things about blogging is that you have a kind of virtual record of everything but it was only when I began pulling it all out that I realised just how much my little blog and I had been through in one year. Looking back on it all made me feel a little emotional – and super glad I have it all saved to look back on.

5. What is something that keeps you motivated to continue blogging?

Without a doubt, the number one thing that keeps me here is the number of amazing people I’ve met through blogging. From Twitter chats and blog comments, to events and meet-ups, I’ve met some of my closest friends through blogging. It’s so much easier to connect with another blogger as we seem to have that instant bond and it’s a really powerful thing.

6. Finally, what is one piece of advice you have for beginner bloggers who want to be successful at it?

Only blog about what you love, but don’t worry if that changes over time. It takes us all a little while to find our feet and some of us have changed our blog’s main theme multiple times over the years. Also never post something you’re not proud of as your most recent post will be the first one people see when they first land on your site. Finally, don’t compare yourself, never underestimate how many skills blogging will give you and make sure you get out there and meet other bloggers. They could become some of your best friends 🙂

I hope you all enjoyed this post and liked reading about Jodie! She is so sweet and very experienced in her craft! Make sure to stay updated, I post Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday!

Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks,

Marin XO

What I Pack for College Visits!

Hello My Beauties!

DSC_0001

Much like the 2008 Disney movie College Road Trip starring Raven Symoné, I’m going to visit colleges all this week! Granted they are all in the generally in the same area. It’s just that that area is 11 hours away. I’m going to die.

For this week’s video I decided to film how I packed and then I sped it up because it kinda took a while. Anyways it was a lot of fun to film and I’m pretty pleased with the finished product! (And my lipstick is on point).

Look out for my Monthly Interview this Wednesday as well as a longer, and more dedicated, post this Saturday!

Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks,

Marin XO

Sports Bras and AE Shout Outs! | My Exercise Haul

Hello My Beauties!

11075172_890086474386202_2956707224286963852_o

As of late I’ve really started to get into exercise, so naturally I went out and bought special fitness clothing to help in this endeavor! *YAAAAAAAAYYYYY*

I didn’t get a whole lot, but I still felt that it deserved it’s own video, so here it is, My Exercise Haul, enjoy you beautiful people.

https://youtu.be/-rYzCDP4PX0

TJ MAXX HAUL

American Eagle t-shirt

Nondescript grey shirt

New Balance Sports Bra in Grey

Athletic Essentials Sports Bra in Grey

Reebok Purple Workout Pants

I hope you all liked this post and stay tuned for more, I post every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday!

Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks,

Marin XO