I am not usually a New Year resolution person but I feel for 2021 it is needed. Putting together some great tips to jump start 2021 is key.
2020 for most people was a terrible year and I can completely understand why with Covid-19. My husband and I lost our jobs at one point and we were living off of unemployment. However we came through it and we are stronger than ever before.
I want 2021 to be a great year of growth and being grateful. Here are some tips to start 2021 right:
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Vision Board
I’ve never done one but working on mine now. It’s a great way to set goals and visually see them all year so you continue to grow and stay focused. Vision Boards also make you have the sense of urgency to get things done as well, they keep you motivated for sure.
Some of the key things I am placing on my vision board:
Continue Home Reno – We want to focus on the master bathroom, butler pantry and possibly some other room updates. Very Excited!
Learn and grow with my new company! Started a new job in December 2020.
Learn SEO for my blog in order to optimize it on google. This is a process for me, not easy but I am learning.
Finish my John Maxwell Speaker/Leadership Certification
Continue to evolve on my blog and social media. It has been very fun to learn and connect with so many people. Excited to keep it up.
Write a Children’s book. I will elaborate more on this later! Stay tuned!
Have a BABY. We are ready to have a little bundle of joy, we will start trying in 2021. Blessed to be healthy and to be able to try with my husband.
Get Rest aka Go to bed earlier
If you go to bed at a decent hour, the next day will be more productive. Basically go before 11p! If you get your body to go to bed earlier you will start your day earlier and get more done in my opinion. During furlough my sleep pattern was thrown off and I was up late all the time. This resulted in me becoming sluggish in the mornings and it took twice the time for me to get going. For 2021 I cannot allow that and will be making this change.
Wake up with 3 blessings
Wake up daily being grateful for 3 things in your life. Say it out loud, it goes a long way…trust me. I usually wake up, say a prayer and proclaim out loud 3 things I am grateful for that day. Starting your day with something positive is the way to go.
Give your body 15 minutes
Workout! Be active! Do something to get your physical body going from jogging to walking to spinning to yoga to crunches. You name it. Do it! We recently bought a Peloton and we love it. I am making myself get up in the morning and get my workout in whether it is 45 minutes to hardcore 15 minute workout.
Set time aside for “You” and friends/family
In my previous job I never made time for friends especially. I realized that I need to schedule this time just like a I do a doctor’s appointment! Make time for friends…it will help to maybe clear your mind or just catch up with people you love to be around.
Make time for friends…it will help to maybe clear your mind or just catch up with people you love to be around.
Last, family is everything. With my new job being remote I make time to spend with my parents and my grandparents. You just never what time you have left, make the most of it always.
Date Night
If you are involved with someone make sure to schedule date night. Even if you see each other daily set a permanent time to hang out. It will make you look forward to something. Also, I prefer having a date night where I can actually talk to them. I never want to do a movie or a loud sports event.
Hopefully some of these tips will help you start 2021 right! What are you going to do differently in the new year? Share in comments?
I wanted to share this Jessi’s I Love Places I bit different with this entry! I wanted to share 2 different spaces within one blog post this time from the same place.
Some time ago I shared a home with a stunning living room, and a beautiful entry way with the most unbelievable wallpaper. Remember? If not check out that entry here.
Anyways, I wanted to feature and share tips on this amazing kitchen table space as well as how to set the tone for your powder room. Since moving into our home I have grown fond of a having a nice kitchen table set up. I am still thinking of what I want in my own space, but seeing my friend Lynette’s kitchen table set up below just gives me ton of inspiration.
Check out this space as well as this bold powder room below…
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Kitchen Table
What I love most about Lynette’s home is the contrast she has between rooms. If you recall in another blog post from some time ago she has an amazing dining room with a massive glass table that is to die for. Click here. Now onto her kitchen table…the complete opposite!
The family wants a cozy & intimate feel when they sit for a dinner. They were going for a coastal feel at the kitchen table. Their table and chairs came from Serena & Lily. What completes this space is the basket lamp fixture hanging over it (from Urban Loft).
Tips/Lesson learned:
Bring the outside inside your home when you can – If you love coastal living bring the feel into your home sometimes from chairs to a dining room set to bright blue/yellow color story. This is a trend that continues to evolve and it gives you that vacation vibe at home. People continue to buy outside furniture for indoor spaces.
Matching materials still work – By tying the straw-like feel in this space with the hanging lamp and the chairs, it gave the room cohesiveness that is not overwhelming at all. Monochromatic is still in and is not going anywhere in fashion and in home decor.
Rugs complete a room – Especially in a family room or kitchen the rug completes the look at all times. Lynette purchased a simple straw round rug to go with her dining room set.
Shop all the items as well as duplicates on the rug and table on my LiketoKnow.it APP! Click here
The Powder Room
Powder rooms in my opinion define the entire style of the home today. Walking into this stunning powder room of Lynette’s will blow anyone away. The wallpaper is a bright reddish tone with an illustrated tiger and tree printed on it. She was going for an oriental feel and that was accomplished. The simple marble sink with golden handles make the space feel like a jewel box. That was the reference that Lynette felt strongly about when designing this area.
Tips/Lessons learned
Wallpaper can set the tone in a Powder Room – If you want an oriental feel to a bohemian style in your powder room you can definitely do that with the right wallpaper. Use wallpaper to match your theme.
Neutral fixtures are wallpapers best friend – If you decide to have a bold wallpaper or print ensure your sink, handles, door knobs, soap dish etc are neutral colors to compliment the walls. It will not feel busy even if the space is small in size.
No links available but shop the duplicates in my liketoknow.it page! Click here!
Any home decor goals you have going into 2021? Share below!
As some of you know my husband and I bought our first home back in September 2020. The home is a fixer upper and does need some work. Whenever you buy an older home you have to be able to see the potential and have a bit of patience. The first thing that needed to be completely re-done was the kitchen.
This home was built in 1976 and the kitchen had the same cabinetry and sink. WOW. The wood was falling a part and I just could not move into this home and not update the kitchen. I was determined to make this happen. Check out the before & after…
When it comes to re-doing a kitchen it can be extremely expensive and we just did not have the budget for that. Here are the key lessons & decor tips when renovating a kitchen for under $8000.
Work with a family owned company
During demolition of the kitchen
I had the opportunity to work with a family ran business and it was a lot more intimate. The communication was clear and payment was fair from the deposit to the actual work. I dealt with some contractors that wanted me to pay 90% of the money up front and then pay 10% when they start. I didn’t find that good and they could literally just walk away with your money possibly. Also, working with a Home Depot or IKEA is still solid way to go but the price will literally double because of that, so keep that in mind.
Countertops is key
Some people want to cut corners with the quality of the countertops and honestly that should not be the case. We decided to go with white quartz material because it is extremely durable and scratch free usually. White quartz is timeless and for resale purposes it’s the way to go if you ever decided to sale your house.
Cabinets
This is where you can somewhat cut a little bit of corners when it comes to the budget with the cabinets. I went with a grey for the bottom cabinets to compliment the white countertops. The the top cabinets we chose white. I like having a semi-white kitchen, it made the space look much bigger than it appeared when we finished. Last, to stay on budget we went with a simple laminate material for the cabinets vs hardwood.
Backsplash
I prefer a clean kitchen and the best thing I did was use the quartz material to be the backsplash. It actually turned out to be cheaper in cost and to me it looks more elegant. I love the look! Try it!
Go big with the sink
Never go small with your sink. It is always best if possible to purchase a double sink so you can clean and organize your dishes easily. It was one of the best purchases I ever made for the kitchen.
CLEAN COUNTERTOPS are a must
Avoid as much as possible to have a cluttered counter. Try your best to keep your countertops clear. Put everything in a cabinet if possible. It just makes your kitchen more open and it makes you appreciate the look of your kitchen more.
What have you learned when it comes to Reno in a kitchen?
Below shop my kitchen! Most of my kitchen accessories came from Macys or Amazon!
I decided after 8 successful years moving up the retail ladder with Macy’s, I resigned on my own terms. I was benched/being groomed to be a store manager which would have brought me into 6 figures, but I made the decision to walk away.
Why? You will probably think it’s because retail is dead. It is not dead, it has changed due to how to how the customer shops. Brick & Mortar retail (department stores/standing retail stores) is not what it used to be, I will say only specific specialty is working. For example, Home Depot business has been amazing in 2020 due to the US staying home because of Covid-19. Since you are sitting at home, you have the urge to update your home. Since you cannot travel, many people took their vacation money and renovated parts of their home.
Another retailer that is working is Target. Target is a convenience type of department store since it offers everything for affordable prices. Everything is in one location from pharmacy, beauty, groceries, bedding, electronics and more. It’s hard shopping there, because you always come out with something you were not planning to buy.
Furlough
In April 2020, the majority of Macy’s employees were furlough for 3 months. I was one of them. I was shocked and felt a bit betrayed, but I accepted it and decided to make the best of it. Here’s what I focused on:
My Parents – My parents are retired so everyday I would visit with them and spend time. Working retail I never had a lot of time and due to furlough I took advantage while I wasn’t at work.
My Dog – Yes my dog. Eli is his name. I not only love my dog but he also put into perspective what it would be like to have a baby. Eli is a responsibility that needs to be taken seriously, I realize that he thrives when I am around more and the same concept would be when I have a child. I want to be around.
Dad – My dad is a ex-Miami Dolphin player and played in the National Football League for 10 years. He was very successful, however he is suffering with dementia and Multiple Sclorsis (MS) now in his later years. MS affects the nervous system so his walking has worsen and it is harder for him to get around. It puts a lot of stress on my mom and I want to be around more to support.
Other life career goals – I have been interested in understanding social media and wanted to maybe start a blog. My parents helped me make it a LLC, pay for the site and much more. I am extremely grateful for the support and excited to see what will unfold for me in 2021. Also, I signed up for the John Maxwell Leadership course to become a possible professional speaker. Very humbled and pleased to pursue to lifelong dream.
With having these 4 focuses at the center of my priorities during furlough my entire view on life changed when I returned to work July 7.
After Furlough
When I returned to work, the job was different and the stores had less people working than before. I understood the job cuts and everything to stay above water financially, however it was still tough to see so many not with Macy’s anymore. The expectation was taken to another level when it came to in-store initiatives that brought some stress and transitioning back to work became a bit of a challenge for me.
Next, the workload increased, more busy work, excessive virtual meetings and tighter deadlines with less hands to execute. With all of that happening I started to slip on the 4 focuses from the furlough completely. I missed it and I knew I had to make a change.
The Final Decision
What made me realize that I was ready to leave was when one of my vendor partners called my phone 8 times to set up a call to discuss a Fragrance display that was not positioned in the location they wanted. They kept calling and complaining about it even though their business was the best in the entire department.
As I drove home that night, I thought to myself that they are complaining about a fixture placement and we have people in our country dying of Covid, hunger and just depression from not having work or income coming in. I realized that I need to move on and work some place where I can make a difference in society and have time to focus on things I enjoyed.
The End
Last, I was hired away by a close friend’s company named Service Now. They are a up & coming tech company and they are just expanding their departments in recruitment, intership intake, community outreach, diversity and inclusion to name a few. I am excited to work remotely so I can be the better version of myself and have a little more time to be available for my family, husband and possible future career opportunities.
What I learned through all of this…you have to be happy and put every aspect of your job in a fair assessment if this is the right career for you. I was built for retail for 12 years total and now I am excited to move on and try something new.
Did you learn something about yourself during furlough or this past summer during Covid 19? Please share below…
Have no idea what to get Him (Dad, boyfriend, husband, brother or guy bff) for the holidays? Have no fear! Click the picture below to take to you my Liketoknow,it page!
Liketoknow.it is a app that is free for anyone to shop around great products from influencers like myself! Get all my looks, style and deals from there.
