Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Elizabeth Marie Style



Good evening beautiful babes! I hope the whole month of October has been filled with pumpkin spice, apple orchards and spooky films. I seriously cannot believe that it is already Halloween. I swear every year I grow older the time goes faster and faster. 

Speaking of time, let's talk about the lack thereof. I work a full time job and also chase my little monster (a 50 pound weimaraner) around the house all day. There is rarely ever a time where I just sit down and practice self care. I have been listening to a lot of podcasts (love the SHE podcast by Jordan Dooley) lately and reading some blog posts and it is very clear that self care is crucial to everyday life. Not only for yourself, but for those around you. I wonder how much more enthused and motivated I would be if I actually took time to do things I love such as reading books, listening to music or simply putting a face mask on! I genuinely think I would be the best version of me. 

That is going to be my goal for the month of November. The goal is to successfully practice self care. I am excited to say I have already made strides in accomplishing this. I have always loved designing clothes and using my creative brain to construct different things. Also, as you can probably tell I love to take photographs and to style different outfits together. When you combine those two what do you get....drum roll please...I started my own Etsy store!!! The store name is called Elizabeth Marie Style and it is going to be my new creative outlet. The name is based off my middle name as well as my sister's middle name. I wanted something that was close to home and she is my biggest inspiration, so naturally she had to be incorporated. The store is mainly vintage and acid wash tees and flannels that I make myself. 

This has been a desire of mine for a long time, but I always found an excuse of why I couldn't do it. I think the main reason was fear. Fear of failure is crippling to me. Imagine putting so much time into something and nothing ever coming of it. That would be extremely disappointing to, however I know I needed to try. If I don't try then I will forever regret it and besides life is too short to let fear dictate my life. I am truly trusting God in this and trying to let Him lead me in whatever direction He wants to take. All I can do is hope that I bring joy to someone's face and that I find peace in the creative freedom of it. 

An example of my work is in the photograph above. The t-shirt is super vintage and acid washed. It looks amazing with a pair of your favorite jeans, a casual hat, and of course some fun boots. 

Obviously I am not claiming to be an expert on this, so I would love any feedback or tips/tricks. Please visit the links below and let me know what you think :)



Have a happy and safe Halloween!

Morgan xx

Monday, October 1, 2018

Newest Addition



Howdy!! Two in a row and I am feeling exponentially positive about this. I think I need to sit down and have a little brainstorm session to get ideas flowing. I feel a little rusty with what to write about, but I am hoping this block goes away very soon. Also, HAPPY OCTOBER. I am currently cozied up with a face mask on enjoying Freeform's 31 Days of Halloween. To be honest, I am so ecstatic they made it longer. 13 days just never seemed like it was enough. Tonight's feature is A Nightmare Before Christmas, which is one of my absolute favorites. Now I just need the air to be a little crisper and I will be in full fall mode. My heart is the happiest from now until Christmas. There is just so much joy!! I will probably be doing some posts on favorite fall activities and I have the desire to attempt at making a pie...TBD on that. It could be absolute disaster.

If you have gotten past the picture without absolutely dying of cuteness then you have more will power than I could ever imagine. That handsome fellow above is my newest addition...Bear. Big Bear is my baby. He has been such a joy and has taught me more in the 4 months that I have had him than I can even contemplate. I never knew how selfish I was with my time until Bear came barging into my life and destroyed every notion of me time. I am on his time now. If he has to go out at two in the morning then he gets his wish. If he wants a donut off my kitchen counter then he gets it (by being sneaky of course). If he wants to chew on my brand new bootie from Boohoo then so be it!! We are still learning each other and how to live as roommates, but he has truly been an angel in my life. I never grasped why people were so obsessed with their dogs until now. He is my sunshine.

I would love to hear any tips or tricks you have to training a puppy in the comments below. I am definitely feeling like a single dog mom right about now and any information would be helpful!! I would also love to read about your furry friends :)

Hopefully I can keep the streak going. Thank you so much for reading.

Goodnight world,

Morgan xx


Sunday, September 30, 2018

Turning Over a New Leaf



Hello friends. Wow it has been a good 8 months since I have last posted. I guess that is one thing I need to work on...consistency!! I know very few people read this small corner of the internet, but I want to thank those of you who do read even though I only post once in a blue moon. However, with the changing of the leaves I hope comes a change in me as well.

Life always seems to become a bit stagnant as the fun of summer ends and the cold, blistering winter approaches. Fall is absolutely one of my favorite times of year. Not only because of the bonfires, crisp air, oversized sweaters and every apple/pumpkin flavored delicatessen you can think of, but because I believe it symbolizes something. It means that the old dies, so that the new can come to life again. I love it because I think we as people can go through a similar process just like those colorful, crunchy leaves.

The new year is quickly approaching and we only have a little time left to finish out 2018. What did you accomplish this year? What did you learn about yourself or others? What joyful things or memories did you create? I want to end this year with a bang. Life is way too short not to. I think one way for me to do that it is to start blogging again. I know I have said this numerous times and every single time have fallen off my bandwagon of positivity and regularity. However, I can honestly say that this time is different and I will even go as far as to pinky promise you (such a big deal!). This time I want to do it for me. I don't know who, if anyone will read this, but it doesn't matter. This is going to be my outlet. I want to make this my baby. If I make one person smile or laugh or anything of the sort I will be satisfied and if not then I will keep on trying.

I have to do it for the right reasons. I love writing and taking pictures and I might not be the best at either one of them, but it is a fun way to end the day. I am sorry for the long rant, but I thought I owed the wide web an explanation instead of just barging back into this. I know some days I probably won't get around to posting, but my starting goal is just one per week. If I can accomplish that by January 1st then I will consider this a success. You have to start somewhere right?

I hope this inspires someone to follow their passion or continue in some journey they are on. Please feel free to comment below if you have any tips on how to be consistent with a blog. I would love any help I can get.

P.S. This apple cider donut from ALDI is to die for. Go get one if you know what's good for you.

More to come.

Morgan xx

Friday, January 12, 2018

How To: The Perfect Bar Cart




Good morning! I hope everyone across the country has survived the winter storms and of course the awful devastation in California with the mudslides. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the natural disaster. If anyone knows any websites or programs that provide aid please comment down below. Although I am not in California, I would love to help in any way possible. 

Today, I want to spread happiness and positivity. I firmly believe that we can all get through our trials and tribulations if we have a happy heart and positive mind. I know sometimes it can be difficult when life is getting you down. I can tell you this for certain. Whatever you are struggling with right now, will soon pass. Hold onto your friends and family and have hope that things will get better! Life is too short to be fearful and worried. 

So sorry for going on a small tangent there, I just want this to be an open space of good things and joyful feelings. Now, let's get to the real post. The newest trend I have been seeing all over Pinterest is the BAR CART! Woohoo! I think these are so cute and fun. Even if you don't drink, I believe it is a fabulous piece for any apartment or home. 

What I love most about them is that there is so much room for expression. If you want your cart to be simple and lovely then you can. If you want it to be green and gaudy, go for it. The skies are the limit when it comes to what you can do with these things. 

My sister and I had so much fun when it came to finding and decorating pieces for our cart. The bar cart itself you can get pretty much anywhere. I would suggest Amazon for the largest selection. We spent a lot of time at TJ Maxx searching for the right items that would mesh with the vision we had. It was so cool to see the finished product. 

Like I mentioned before we got most of our things from TJ Maxx. Here are a list of must haves for any bar cart: a flower arrangement, pretty bottle of wine, fun drink ware and an ice bucket. The rest is up to you!! My sister and I decided to add some fun accessories like champagne truffles and a bell just to brighten up our cart. If you don't drink then you could do a coffee cart or something like that. Don't be afraid to make it your own :)

I would love to hear about your bar carts down below! Everyone stay safe out there. Thank you so much for visiting. Have a lovely day!

Morgan xoxo

Sunday, January 7, 2018

Popping Pieces




Happy Sunday everyone! I hope this weekend was relaxing and fun for all of you. I did next to nothing this weekend and that is just how I like it. I love the time to myself where I can do as I please and have time to rewind from a crazy week. 

We are about to get another winter storm here and to be honest I am ready for spring. By the time Christmas is over my brain has already switched to warmer weather and the thought of being by the pool. To be real, I am sure we have a month or two left of this horrid weather, but a girl can dream right? 

The silver lining of the crazy cold is a plethora of fabulous fashion finds. If you have been a visitor of this blog before you know I adore a pair of chic booties. It is my go to winter shoe and that means I have more pairs than I probably should. However, I am not admitting that I have a shopping problem just yet!

I have pairs in all the neutral colors including gray, black, brown and beige. That is all fine and dandy, but one of my goals is to step outside of my comfort zone a little when it comes to personal style. I want to take risks and really play with different pieces to see if I can create something beautiful. 

I saw these boots on Forever 21's website and just knew they would be the perfect addition to my collection. I think a lot of people believe that cheetah print is out, but that is totally false. My Mom is definitely the one that passed the cheetah print obsession down to me. Whenever I see it I think of her. She is so unapologetically herself and I LOVE and envy that about her. 

I love these boots because they add a little pop to any old sweater and jean combination. One of my favorite ootd right now is these boots, black skinnies, a turtleneck and an oversized jean jacket. I am embarrassed to admit that I wear variations of this outfit at least once a week. 

I would love to hear about your popping fashion pieces in the comments down below. I see all of these beautiful bloggers that are so open and out there with their style. I am so envious!! Please give me tips and tricks about how to accomplish this. 

Everyone stay safe out there! Thank you for reading and have a lovely night :)

Morgan xoxo

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

2017 Holy Grail Products




Hello beautiful people! No matter what you did today I hope you stayed warm and enjoyed this lovely third day of the year. It has been utterly freezing here, but I am trying to be optimistic about it all. I think this is the first time I have blogged twice in one week in a long time! It feels so good to be back and writing. It is truly a passion of mine. 

Today I wanted to talk about some of my holy grail beauty products from 2017. As the year came to a close I realized that I had so many products I discovered that I absolutely loved. These are products that I could not imagine life without now that I have tried them. The products range from makeup to deodorant to fragrance. As you all know, I normally get my makeup at the drugstore, however I did splurge on a few things this past year at Sephora. Let me tell you, these products are worth the price. 

I didn't want to bore you with an explanation of each because there is a lot and nobody got time for that! I always like when other bloggers just have a list with links, which makes it easier to find the products. Before I start, I just want to let you know that in my opinion all of these products are amazing. Now, I am not a makeup professional or a dermatologist. These are just the products that I love and work well for me. I have a medium skin tone with a combination texture. I normally get oily in the T-Zone and the rest of my face stays relatively dry. (Just FYI for the skin products). This is not a sponsored post at all. I actually use these! Also, price may vary depending on where you buy. 

Let's get into it!!

Makeup 











Other 


Palmers Face Oil -  $10.00





Those were my beauty/body favs of 2017! I am sure I could come up with more, but the list would take years to read. I am really ecstatic to see what products surprise me in 2018. I would honestly LOVE to hear about your holy grail products down below. Seriously, I am always taking suggestions. Thank you so much for reading and be sure to stay warm out there :)

Morgan xoxo 


Monday, January 1, 2018

2 0 1 8




Happy New Year lovelies!! I am truly so excited for 2018. I feel like I say this at the start of every year, but I honestly think 2018 is my time to shine. There is just so much to be thankful for and so much hope for the upcoming year. 

2017 was a good year for me. Like every human being on this planet, the last 365 days brought challenges, smiles, tears, laughs and happiness. It was the start to my adult life after college and I hit many milestones that I had only dreamed about while playing Barbies as a little girl. I got my very first adult job and I moved out of my parents house into my very own apartment, which was so exciting and a proud moment for me. 

As I get older, I notice that the years tend to go by a little faster. It helps me remember that time is limited. This life here on Earth is fleeting, so we need to make sure that we live EVERY MINUTE of every day. This is one of my resolutions for the upcoming year. 

I don't really like the word "resolution" because I believe we should constantly be trying to achieve the best versions of ourselves. However, I do think it is crucial to start out the year with goals in mind. I have a couple and for some reason my goals always seem to be similar between the years. It is probably because I forget about my resolutions after the first month (hey at least I am honest!). This year I want things to be different! I want to actively pursue each goal and write down my progress. 

One of my goals is to have a better relationship with the Lord. I want to seek His word everyday and pray whenever I get the chance. This may seem like a simple task to some of you, but lately it has been one of the most challenging things in my life. I feel like I am in such a routine these days that I forget about what is most important...and that is my relationship with Him. If you have any tips on how you guys do this I would love to hear them. 

My next goal is to be a better friend, sister, and daughter. One thing I noticed about 2017 was that I seemed to be consumed with my own life. All I cared about was my own well being and success, which is definitely not what I want. I want to put time and effort into each relationship I have this year. I don't want to be one of those people who backs out of plans or simply doesn't respond to a phone call or text. In 2018, I would like to show greater appreciation and time to the people I love. 

My final resolution is to be healthier. If you have read this blog for awhile you would know that this is ALWAYS on my list and I never seem to do it. I think this year is the year I will have my best mental and physical health yet. I am currently doing the Atkins Diet. It is only my 5th day and so far it isn't bad. I would love to hear about those of you who have had success on this diet because I am sure I will get discouraged sooner or later. 

I want to use this blog as a personal passion, but also a portal for zero judgement. I want everyone that reads this to feel loved and beautiful. If I can help or affect just one person this year I will truly be happy. 

I am so thrilled to see what this year holds. I hope 2017 treated you well, but I hope 2018 is even better. Thank you for reading and have a happy day 1 out of 365. 

Love,

Morgan xoxo