Career books are my favorite genre at the moment and this one has been on my list for a while. I will not lie, the fashion illustration on the cover really drew me in.

"How To Be an Overnight Success" was written by the founder of Rodial, a successful beauty company that is used by the likes of Makeup By Mario and other high-end influencers. She started the company on her own and this book tells you how she did it, and the trials and tribulations of starting the beauty business in her home... when she didn't know anything about making beauty products.

It was interesting to hear about how Maria started the company and how she figured everything out on her own. I didn't know anything about Rodial and haven't tried any of the products, but I was still curious how someone with no beauty experience decided to take this leap.

She was an entrepreneur who took a risk and it paid off!

The book was well written, nicely outlined and a very quick read! I read it in a few days and it was very easy to follow. I really like how she summarized the chapter and shared a 'secret' at the end of it -- it wrapped everything up nicely and it was a really nice addition to the book.

One of my favorite parts of the book was when she talked about creating Nip + Fab, a younger branch of Rodial that is targeted to millennials. I had no idea that she was behind Nip + Fab until I started reading the book. I loved reading how Maria scored Kylie Jenner to front the campaign of Nip + Fab (I remember when Kylie first promoted the Dragon Blood serum and I wanted it so badly just because Kylie used it... advertising at its finest!)

I did really enjoy the book but compared to other career books, it felt kind of flat. It wasn't so much of an advice book than a memoir and record of Maria's life and journey. There definitely was advice weaved into the book which was nice but there are better career books out there, in my opinion!

It was still a decent read and I think if you're curious, head to the library or download a sample of it onto your iPad, Nook or Kindle!

Have you read "How to Be an Overnight Success"? What were your thoughts?
xoxo
B

There was no post yesterday because I chose to honor 9/11 in silence. I've done so many posts in the past about that day, where I was and how I remember it. This year, I just wanted to take the day to reflect without a blog post. It's always a sad, somber day traveling on the NYC subway and just being a New Yorker but goddamit, I love my city more than anything.

Now, onto the book review...  

I've suffered from a quarter-life crisis since I turned 21 years old so I knew once I turned 25, it would only get worse. I've talked your ear off about it for years so you know exactly what I'm talking about.

It just so happens that instead of me purchasing it, my sister saw it in my Amazon cart and gave it to me as a birthday gift.

That book is '20 Something, 20 Everything' by Christine Hassler.



You've probably seen the somber blue cover with the woman looking into the water somewhere on the Internet; I know I definitely have! This book usually pops up on a lot of 'Books for 20 Somethings' lists, or anything related to adulting.

Because it's become such a classic in the world of millennials going through a quarter-life crisis, I was expecting a lot. I don't know what I was expecting but I know I wanted to be wowed.

I was definitely not wowed.

Why I Didn't Like It

1. The book felt a little outdated which it should because it's was published in 2005. It has since been updated to include social media, but if it wasn't published within the last year, it still would feel outdated.

2. It was very long and I felt a lot of it was unnecessary. It felt very wordy and drawn out for no reason. Because of that, it took me close to 8 months to finish. I just couldn't get into it because it was so slow.

3. Part of the beauty of this book was that it gave you interactive activities and prompts to do in every chapter. I am just not that type of person to stop reading, grab a pen and paper and jot down notes. I like to read because I want to escape, even if it is a self-help book. I think not taking advantage of those prompts defeats the purpose of the book and I wasn't able to fully enjoy it.

Why I Did Like It

Verdict

The past few weeks I've been really down, mixed in with some utter happiness about fall starting, but nonetheless, I've felt off.

It kind of feels like when I graduated and everything was up in the air. There was a lot of change on the horizon and new beginnings... it kind of feels like that now expect that nothing is really changing.

I feel like things should be changing though.

I guess I have stumbled upon the true quarter-life crisis, two months early. My 25th birthday is on November 30th and it feels like things should be moving at a faster pace. I feel old, I feel like I'm behind. I'm single, in the same job I was when I graduated (which is FINE because I really love my job), and still living at home.

I never compare myself to other people but right now,  I am. I see other people moving out and doing different things and I don't feel like I'm moving as fast as everyone else. I've always been a late bloomer, in so many ways, and I think that I'm just running late, as per usual.

I feel like I don't know where I want my life to go. Do I want to stay in social media forever? Do I want to move into full-time writing? Will I ever finish the book I'm writing? Do I want a total change and go into publishing? Will my blog ever make it?



There are so many career-related questions because my career is the only thing I have a real control over. My love life is another story... while I have some sort of control over that, I don't really because it's all about emotions and I'm a rather shy girl so I've never had much luck in that department.

My living situation...I'm perfectly fine at home. It's just me and my mom right now so it's like living with a roommate anyway. I don't feel financially responsible enough to live on my own just quite yet.

I feel like I'm losing control of everything and it's really scary to be at this weird crossroad that I was at just three years ago. Back then, I had an excuse, I had just graduated college.

What is my excuse now?

I'm hoping that I'll feel better soon and that maybe with some reading, writing, and planning I'll get over this hump... that is until November 30th when I'm officially in my mid-twenties.

201I can't believe it's been 3 years to the day that I graudated college. It feels like just yesterday I was still at school, partying and sitting in classrooms, waiting the dreaded day when I would no longer be a student at Iona College.

I would be lying if I said it didn't still hurt and I'd be lying if I said that I didn't have anxiety and sadness running through my veins as I write this because I do. Graduating college is the breakup I will never get over; I will forever be the ex-girlfriend who refused to let go.

When I first graduated I went into a severe depression and I'm pretty sure I took it the worst out of all my friends. It wasn't until last year, 2 years in, that I felt ok with not going back to campus and I owe that to the fact that most of my friends were long gone as well, and I was comfortable with my life.

I had a job I loved, I was still hanging out with my friends, and was keeping myself busy. I no longer longed for the feeling of my old apartment or Friday nights at the bar; I was ok.

Today, I am ok but that doesn't mean I don't miss it.

I've visited my campus two times over the past few months to visit old friends and catch up with my sorority sisters and it was glorious. Whenever I drive passed my campus I'm overcome with tears but a true joy. My happiness hits a new level when I drive down North Avenue and I think that's how it will be forever.

When I walk down the street, it doesn't feel like a day has passed. It is so natural for me to be there and to be with my friends.




College made me who I am today; it gave me my friends and it taught me lots of lessons. I had so much fun and those memories will last me a lifetime. College truly was the greatest 4 years of my life, and I'm not being dramatic when I say I don't know if I will ever get that high back.

3 years later, I'm still at the same job I've been at for the past two years, I still talk to all of my friends and we still are creating new memories together. I'm still living at home which is ok with me; I'm not in a rush to move out to a small apartment with roommates when I can live comfortably at home with my mom and sister (who are basically like roommates because we're 3 adults with separate lives and my mom doesn't hound us like a typical mom)

3 years later, I'm coming into my own. I've had a lot of curveballs thrown at me and I'm learning to deal with them on an adult level. I'm not the same girl I was 3 years ago, but part of her will always live inside me because she holds the key to everything I've learned.

This is my Map Necklace, with the address of my college My aunt who also went to Iona bought this for me for graduation

I love my school, I love my friends, and I loved my life at Iona College. 3 years later, that has not changed and it never will, but I'm learning to let go a little bit because it's unhealthy to live in the past.

3 years is a long time but not really, because everything is still clear as day.

To all the seniors graduating this year, take it all in. Cherish every minute from now until you walk across the stage. Don't be scared because it will ok... eventually.

To all the rising college students, don't take anything for granted. Do everything you can do to create memories. Stay out till 5 AM if you have an 8 AM class because it won't really matter in a few years; have fun, take a shot, and be involved. Your time is limited at that place you call home and eventually, it will evaporate into thin air but with good people by your side, that home will always live in your heart.

xoxo
B

PS: Below is some articles/posts I've written about graduating and post-grad life. I highly recommend reading them if you're scared shitless!

• Letter to My 17 Year Old Self
• Things I Learned Throughout College
• Nostaglic Thoughts
• Post Grade Update #1
• I Just Graduated Now What: Book Review *THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOK YOU'LL EVER READ. BUY IT NOW
• 2014 in Review: Lessons Learned
• What to Do if You Graduate Without a Job
• Job Search: Where to Start
• Post Grad Update: 1 Year

I gave you a tour of my new bedroom when I moved into the new house in July. Since then, I've definitely done some sprucing up and redecorating. I always feel the need to declutter & reorganize because I like having a neat, freed up space. I'm definitely a neat freak when it comes to these types of things. I  never want my room to look like a hoarder's closet, even though it sometimes could be mistaken for that.

When I moved in, I had a storage problem. I didn't have a dresser and my closet is kind of small. I also have a lot of stuff, and I live in a house with my mom & sister who also have a lot of stuff. I knew I was going to need a dresser soon, and needed to rearrange my closet.

Well, I got bit by the organization bug the past few weeks and I'm so pleased.

The first thing I wanted to do when I moved into the house was get one of those shelving cubby units to display my handbags but I had put it off. I didn't think my room was big enough and my mom wasn't too keen on the idea. She still has the mentality that it's her house and we have to abide by the design rules -- it was always like that in our house (when I wanted to hang posters of the Jonas Brothers in my room as a teenager, she made me put them up behind my door so they weren't visible)

A few weeks ago I finally got fed up with the mess that was my closet (I had all my handbags at the bottom of the closet and it just wasn't working anymore) and ordered these off of Amazon. They were inexpensive, had good reviews, and I was so excited. I was able to put them together on my own within 2 hours and then spent some time organizing my handbags so all brands were together, and made sure everything fit.



I wish I had a before of my closet because having my handbags on display has made things in there so much easier. I also LOVE how chic it looks; I feel like a real fashion blogger.

Next on my agenda was to get a dresser. I figured I still had some time to do this as there was no rush, that was until this Friday night. In the middle of the night my closet rod collapsed and I was left with a mess of clothes on the floor of my closet. I wasn't about to get the rod fixed and only have it collapse under the weight of my wardrobe again so I had to do something & something fast.

It's in my right mind to say that when something like this happens, I need an immediate solution. I am extremely impatient and want instant gratification (hello stereotypical millennial mindset. My mom told me to just wait and we'd buy a nice dresser eventually but I couldn't. I went to Target, purchased this dresser and spent the entire day putting it together.

Just some snaps from Snapchat documenting my journey

That's right -- two furniture building projects in two weekends. It's Sunday afternoon as I write this and my body is KILLING ME. I feel like I did 5 SoulCycle classes & then spent 2 hours in the gym afterwards. According to various places on Google, building furniture burns about 250 calories an hour. So yeah, go me!




Anyways, I threw a lot of clothes out, took a bunch of sweatshirts and graphic tees from the closet and put them in the three drawers of the dresser I built. I then cleaned out this silly basket that was filled with leggings and sorority shirts and put those in the dresser too.






I needed a major change in the design of my room, and this was just what the doctor ordered.

My mom & I found the perfect space for the dresser and decided to move some other stuff around. As I sit here, I feel like I have a whole new space.

My room has always been my sanctuary; when I was little, my parents had to bribe me to come out of my room. I could occupy myself in my bedroom for hours and hours playing with dolls and toys, and now it's no different.

I finally feel neat & complete in this little fashion blogger paradise. I want to add the Press for Champagne button from Etsy and it's set!

Happy Monday everyone!

xoxo
B

A little last minute blog post because I've been so exhausted and uninspired this week... also I forgot to schedule a post in my calendar so everything got messed up. I also don't like going two days in a row without scheduling something.

A lot has been happening and it's all pretty exciting, so my mood has been upbeat this week. Good professional vibes are coming to me!

With that, I leave you all with this quote, just in case anyone else needed some extra support....

Illerations have been taken to a new level. I am not apologizing for it.

For the past 20 years, I've had my own room. There was time when I was around 8 that I shared a room with my sister, but the reason is unknown to me, because we transformed her room into a playroom. It lasted a few months before we switched back.

Then I went to college and shared a room for 3 years, until senior year, when I had my own apartment and own room again. I moved back home in 2014, and was forced to share a room with my 18 year old sister.

We are complete opposites, night & day. She is messy, I am neat. She is an outgoing, social butterfly and I am a homebody. It was not good for me, or for us. But this was the hand I was dealt and I had to deal with it.

I missed having my own space, decorating the way I deemed fit, and just having a place to call my own. I craved that personal space, and I really didn't want to be the 23 year old who lived at home and shared a room with my sister. I was starting to get self conscious about it (not that there IS anything wrong with it, but if I'm supposed to be an adult, I need space).

My mom used to tell me that when I was little, I would stay in my room for hours and hours at a time. I wouldn't leave to go to the bathroom or eat; I just sat on my floor, playing with my toys and dolls, watching television and completely content. I just enjoy being alone in my own room.

That's why when I found out we had to move, I demanded that we find a house with three bedrooms -- it was a deal-breaker for everyone involved. Well, low and behold, we found one and it's been 2 weeks since moving in and I can't remember the last time I felt this content.

When I feel anxious or angry or just feel like I need some alone time, I can go into my room and close the door. My room is super bright and girly -- I had a vision for my room and I knew I wanted it to look as if it popped off the Pinterest screen.

White walls, beige furniture, white bedding and gold & blush accents.

Well, I still have some decorating *gallery wall* to do, but it's coming along perfectly and when I lay in bed at night, I feel super content and comfortable because it feels like my space.

Once the gallery wall is done, and I have a dresser (I really just need one to store my winter clothes), my room will be 100% complete.

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll see I posted a few photos but here's a wider look.

This will be part of my soon to be gallery wall!

I really really love alliterations and I always hate just writing "_____ Favorites", so let's call this the Monthly Muse. UGH I love the way that sounds!

Mostly I always write about beauty products because those are the items I always see in monthly roundups and they're the thing I use most during the month. I always try to throw a random non beauty item in there and this month, I have a few. It's definitely a nice change of pace.

This month was wonderful for one reason: my move. I've talked it to death on the blog but I can't help it. It's a huge deal to me. I've shared a room with my sister for 2.5 years, ever since graduating college, and it's been a nightmare. We are polar opposites and it was taking a toll on my sanity, and our relationship. I finally have my own space, that I can decorate as I please and relish in.

I've been so happy pretty much every day since moving because I get to come home to my room. I've always been the type to stay in my room -- my mom used to say that she wouldn't see me for days when I was little because I would just be in my room, content as could be, and entertaining myself. Well, 23 years later and not much has changed.



That brings to me to my favorites:

1. THE MOVE: I love my new house (I still live with my mom and sister) and it's perfect. It's nice and spacious, we all have our own little space, and it just feels like home. There's tons of light and it feels very open and airy. I will post a room tour this week -- the one thing I'm waiting on is my gallery wall and dresser, but I'll address that in the post.

2. iPad Mini: I've definitely mentioned this in my favorites before but I've rediscovered it. That sounds so silly but I go through stages with the things that I enjoy and I decided to remove my iPad from it's case and just hold it as it and I love it so much better. I ordered a sleeve for it, and I just love toting it around with me. I love how tiny it is but how I can actually get stuff done. I'm obsessed!

3. Mercari: I don't think I've ever used an app as much as I've used this. Mercari is a shopping app where you can buy and sell pretty much anything and everything. I've talked about Poshmark in the past but this in my opinion, is better than Poshmark. There are more options for sellers, there's more information needed to sell an item, and the best part? They don't take a commission from your sales. I've purchased a BUNCH of stuff from the app over the past month and I've SOLD even more stuff! Everything I've received is perfect and I haven't had an issue. I know there has been some scandal with this in the past, mostly with fake cosmetics, but if you're a smart buyer, you'll have no issue!

4. Caudalie Beauty Elixir: I was in need of a new refreshing spray and I knew it would be this one. I've been wanting to try it for months so I finally picked it up from Sephora. It has a peppermint scent and feels slightly tingly on the skin. It's perfect for a morning pick me up, or a mid afternoon refresher. I usually use this before my makeup application, as an extra priming step and I just love the way it makes my skin feel.

5. Laura Mercier Baked Bronzer: I received this item in a 500 point perk from Sephora and I'm so glad I did. Laura Mercier is a brand I've been wanting to experiment with for a while and I'm finally getting a feel for her products. This bronzer is the perfect everyday bronzer; it's warm but not orange toned and it doesn't kick up too much product. It distributes the perfect amount of product onto your brush and gives the most gorgeous sunkissed look.

What were your monthly favorites this month?

I'm changing things up around here this week. I realize that I've kind of outgrown the Links to Love idea, mostly because I feel like it's not just links I'm posting. I'm sharing updates, both life & blog, I'm talking about random things, the posts I shared on the blog today and the links I loved.

Weekly Wrap Up seems much more fitting for me right now.

So welcome! Let's get to it.

I'm all settled into the new house and I'm obsessed. All I want to do is lay in my bed and relax because my room is now my sanctuary. I forgot how much I needed/enjoyed having my own space and it's so great to have it back. It's a joy to come home and wake up because I like my space. It's wonderful.

I'm waiting for a few more photos to arrive from Etsy to create my gallery wall and then my room will be (almost complete). I plan on sharing the progress next week in a post so look out for that!

I was published again on The Haute Mess; if you aren't reading them or following them on social media, you need too! The Haute Mess has been one of my favorite websites since they launched within the past year and I'm obsessed. They write about everything from beauty to work to lifestyle and I just think it's so relatable.

I don't think I have too many other updates so for now, here are the links I loved this week:

• Bite Beauty is releasing new multi-sticks and I'm fascinated
• The late 2000s were my prime time & this was the soundtrack
• Did anyone follow this Marina Joyce theory this week? It was WILD
• Can someone buy me crystals? I need them
• I would love if I could quit social media for a bit; this article was great! 
• Into The Gloss profiles have become some of my favorite on the Internet

SaveSave

What a week! It's been very long, very tiring but well worth it. I finally made the big move (granted I'm still living with my mom, but it was still a big move!)

SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave

I am SO CLOSE to moving day!!! I can almost taste it!! We are a week & a half away from my own room, in a new, nice apartment. It's a good thing too because it's been super duper hot this week and I had to pull my mattress into my mom's room to sleep on the floor. Her room is air conditioned while the rest of my house is not (#fail #firstworldprobs).

It feels so close and so real, but at the same time it feels so far away.

In other news, I was published on The Haute Mess again -- but just a repost of one of my blogs on here. Still worth the read though!



Here's what I was loving this week:

• Beauty products that will keep you cool all summer long
• A Gilmore Girls subscription box? OMG
• Tech essentials every blogger needs!
• Beauty made in the USA!
• This article makes me want to try one of Sephora's free makeup classes
• I miss Taylor Swift as a country singer
• Um, as if I needed this article to tell me I'm neurotic 

I've been wanting to write this post for over a year, ever since I got my job as a social media coordinator.

Social Media is a new job that a lot of older people don't get. I feel like I need to explain myself whenever I say what my job is: "You know, Instagram, Twitter & Facebook-- I manage all of the accounts."

It's also a job I know a lot of younger people want, because in all honesty, we're all qualified to run social media accounts (I mean, we run our own!). I wanted to write this post to give insight to college students (or post grads) who want to learn how to get into social media, or what that even requires.

I was a journalism major in college and I knew I wanted to get into magazine/features journalism, but I also knew that writing jobs were few and far in between. When I started my blog, and started getting into brands and the entire media industry, I saw that social media was very up & coming; I figured I'd be able to do that and it was something that really interested me.

Journalism and social media are very related if you think about it; journalism is giving people the news they need to live, and now we get our news from social media. It involves writing and organization and giving people what they need to know, just in a shorter form.

When I realized I could consider social media as a job, I decided to get serious. I read a lot of career books, I cleaned up my social media, and looked up the qualifications/duties of social media coordinators everywhere.

I never held a social media internship while I was in college but all of my journalism internships required me to share all my articles across my own social media. This DEFINITELY helped me learn how to get my point across in short characters, and how to form my personal brand.

Knowing how to talk about your personal brand is important for knowing how to talk about other people's brands.




When I graduated, I joined social media job groups, applied for any job I could get my hands on (that I was qualified for and what I thought I would like) and a lot of these jobs wanted to know how I ran my own social media accounts.

Showing employers that I could run my blog, and my own social media accounts with a personal brand; also knowing how to talk about social media, helps a lot.

I took a part time job at Likeable Media as an Associate Content Strategist, where I created written content for a variety of brands. There, I learned how to juggle multiple brand voices, and learned what our clients were looking for.

Know how to identify a brand voice. The quicker you catch on, the easier your job will be. A brand voice will become your voice; it's important to know exactly who you are talking too.

I learned a lot at Likeable; how to talk to your audience, how to measure analytics, how to define a brand voice, and how to brainstorm ideas. From there, I went to my current job at a major beauty brand as a Social Media Coordinator.

I got the job by joining Social Media Jobs on Facebook -- the job was posted in this group. I HIGHLY recommend joining this group if you're interested in a job.

You know what I learned from my current job and what I'm still learning?

Social Media isn't always easy. I learned my brand voice pretty quickly, but forming yourself to a company's structure is not a piece of cake. I learned how to take the right picture, what our audience responds too, how to make sure I'm speaking to every single customer and not alienating anyone.

I juggle between Marketing, Sales, QVC, and E-commerce wants & needs, while sticking to a schedule I create 2-3 months in advance. I travel and take photos and stay up for 30 hours every 4 months at QVC. I help with customer service, in addition to running & creating content for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Pinterest, and Youtube. I help on photoshoots, I create moodboards, I work on projects for my boss, and I create report after report.

I keep track of bloggers & influencers, and have to be up to date on everything in the beauty industry, while also keeping tabs on where we are mentioned so I'm one step ahead of the game.

I am not complaining, but it's not as easy as some may think. It's not just posting a quick tweet to Twitter. It's fast paced and changes constantly. It's exciting and fun-- my job is NOT boring, and it's easy for me because I know what I'm doing, because I love what I do.

It's a very interesting world, and it's interesting to see how people respond to social media.

My advice to you? If you want to be in social media, try to get an internship helping a social media coordinator, clean up your own social media accounts, and try to plan things out for your own social media. Planning and executing is a huge part of my job.

Also, read Leave Your Mark-- this is the best social media book ever.You will learn a lot.

If you have any other questions, feel free to email me at briana@royallypink.com & we can chat about all your social media dreams!

A lot of you took well to my last Tuesday Inspiration and it got me thinking to kind of revamp the series. I used to just post a quote and be done with it, because that was an easy way to convince myself I was posting 4-5 times a week.

Well, now I guess I use them more as a ranting/venting platform with a little insight thrown in.

I've been thinking a lot of lately, of just being me, like I spoke about the last time. I kind of realized that I have no patience or time for things or people that do not make me happy. I have zero time to tend to people who add nothing but stress or anxiety to my life.

I realized this as I was looking through all my social media and was annoyed by a lot of what I saw. You know how some people just get under your skin and you step back and ask yourself why you're still following them?

That's what happened... and I went on an unfollowing spree. It felt good, therapeutic almost. I was following people that I felt I needed to follow, because it's a courtesy, because at one point we were friends. Well now I don't know anything about you so bye bye!

Why do we still follow people on social media that add nothing to our lives?

It got me thinking further...

Why do we keep people in our lives that just add stress & anxiety? If you're not gaining anything from the friendship or relationship, why are you bothering to keep it afloat?

I don't think I have too many people like that in my life, but there are a few and maybe it doesn't have to be a permanent break. Maybe it's just a break for a few days to get your mind settled, maybe it's a week because you just need some space.

Either way, we need to take more time for ourselves to make us happy & do what we want, instead of what you feel like you need to do.

If you can't deal with a text message right now, don't reply immediately. Let it sit there. People do it to you.

Now, I don't mean start being an asshole to all your friends, but realize what you need & what makes you happy for once.

I'm the type of person who really thinks about other people's feelings before my own so if someone is annoying me, I won't stay away because I'm afraid of confrontation or I feel bad not answering the person. I'm a people pleaser by heart.

Lately though, I've been trying to put that on hold and realize what makes me happy and what annoys me... and trying to stay away from the annoyances in order to keep my happiness afloat.

Does anyone else feel this way or am I just a bitch?

Let's end things on a positive note:

The week after a holiday (Memorial Day) is always a semi rough one, mostly for me because I was off last Monday & Friday so being at work full time after a long weekend is always meh. This week felt oddly slow and oddly fast at the same time but all in all, it's another weekend arrival.

A lot of fun stuff is happening -- I have some great posts & series planned for the next few weeks, I just became a contributor for The Haute Mess, and work is going great. Let's not forget moving! I am chomping at the bit to get into my new apartment & my own bedroom space.

I say that every week but I really cannot help it. It's so exciting.

This weekend is going to be lowkey because the next few weeks are pedal to the metal; brunch, Mets games, and my first Fathers Day without my dad. I'm sure my somber mood will reflect here in some way over the next few weeks... but let's not dwell on that.



Let's dwell on the good things I loved this week:

Lip oils are amazing and I am truly obsessed.

I love seeing what other ladies keep in their makeup bags

Depression AND anxiety? This article pretty much sums it up.

The fanciest & chicest & most photogenic iced coffees in all the land!

Sex and the City turned 18 years old this week & ugh, I love it

Like I said, I love seeing what's in people's makeup bags

 I desperately need the Instagram Business Profile, both personally & professionally 

What you missed on Royally Pink:
 Book Review Wednesday: The Siren
Tuesday Inspiration
Sephora VIB Rogue Event 

What did you love this week?

This is a different kind of Tuesday Inspiration. I've been thinking a lot about how people live their lives, how I live my life.

I'm a simple girl who loves to shop, drink Champagne, hang out with friends, and stay home to be on the Internet or watch trashy reality tv marathons.

In college I was that girl, but in a different way. I still loved to relax and get my sleep but I could stay out till 3 AM, drink two bottles of wine at a mixer, and still make it to my sorority even the next day. I was a planner, I loved to have my toes in everything, and I loved to party. I never missed a beat while I was in school... but that was two years ago.

In the same breath, I didn't party like other people. I didn't go home with different guys every night, I didn't get blackout drunk every weekend, and I liked to stay local in my college town.

I never liked the same things everyone else did, ever since I was little. I loved to read, I loved staying home and watching tv, I didn't like going out too much. It's just who I am.

Now that I'm 23 years old, I feel more pressure to act a certain way. I feel like I should want to go out all the time to bars and clubs, I should want to never ever stay home and be traveling the world.

Well, I've been thinking a lot about that stuff and the truth is, I'm not like everyone else and I don't want to feel pressure by society (so dramatic) or my friends/peers to be doing that "typical 20 year old stuff". I'm 85 years old at heart and I'm fine.



I don't like dating apps, and as much as I want someone in my life, I know I'm not going to find it on Tinder or Bumble.. that doesn't mean no one can (people have!) but I know I probably won't.

I work a full time job and deal with an almost 2 hour commute daily (2 hours there, 2 back) and you know, if I feel too exhausted on a Friday night to go out, that's ok.

If I'd rather get wasted at brunch on a Saturday afternoon than a bar on a Saturday night, that's ok too.

If I want to stay inside in my air conditioning and blog on a Sunday afternoon instead of sitting outside on a hot beach.. what's so wrong with that?

I would love to travel and visit new places but you know, sometimes I'd rather have an eyeshadow palette. I shouldn't have to feel bad about that.

Yes, I get anxiety and yes sometimes I probably have to force myself to go out because I mean, I do like to be social but on my own terms.

I'm not insecure by any means, but this is a topic that annoys me and that I'm self conscious about. If I want to stay home, I want to stay home and I shouldn't have to feel sorry for it.

Well, I think this week I finally owned all of this and I decided that I'm not going to be self conscious about doing what I want to do, how I want to do it. It's my life and I will live how I please... as long as it doesn't hurt anyone.

#RantOver

Does this make sense to all of you? Does anyone else feel pressured to do things they don't want to do? Tell me in the comments!