Lace & Pearls

A Seattle Style blog. Helping women who struggle with their personal style or those who just need a fashion fix!

Mastering a Healthy Lifestyle + A Year in Review

It's a new year and a new decade! Can you believe it?! How are we already done with January?Keep reading, to hear my plans for achieving a healthy lifestyleWhat I’m Wearing – Blouse: J.Crew | Vest: Maurices c/o (similar) | Jeans: J.Crew Factory | Shoes: Sam Edelman | Ring: J.Crew (old) | Necklace: Lace & Pearls Jewelry (old) | Lipstick (dupe): Tom Ford

It’s a new year and a new decade! Can you believe it?! How are we already done with January? It feels like a whirlwind.

Back in September, I got super sick during a vacation to Boise, Idaho and I haven’t been 100% since. During Christmas, I also came down with a cold and then once January got here I got the flu. During that time, I fell completely off social media. I was posting pretty good there for a while but after a busy quarter 4 with my business and getting the flu, it kinda went downhill. Needless to say, I am ready to kick this cold in the butt and get back to a healthy lifestyle.

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Related posts:

  1. New Year’s Reflection: Stressed, Overweight and Tired!
  2. New Year’s Wishes and Resolutions
  3. How to Stay Motivated + 2 Year Blogiversary
  4. How Bloggers Make Money

Top 10 Posts of 2018

Blog post roundups are a great way to discover things that you might have missed. So without further ado here are the top 10 fashion posts of 2018!I always enjoy a top 10 roundup of the previous year’s blog posts. It’s a great way to discover things that you might have missed or re-visit your favorites. I also find it therapeutic to re-read posts and get a better understanding of why it might have been popular and how I can create similar content. So without further ado here are the top 10 posts of 2018!

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Related posts:

  1. How to Make a Winter Handbag Work for Spring
  2. How to Wear the Bell Sleeve Trend
  3. The Best Places to Shop For a Day Dress
  4. Unintentional Capsule Wardrobe + Spring Wardrobe Challenge 10×10

New Year’s Wishes and Resolutions

People rarely take time to reflect on their accomplishments. Most choose to focus on their shortcomings and forget about their successes. I am also guilty of this and decided I'd like to start this post off by sharing my accomplishments. I encourage you to do the same, no matter how big or small a win—every bit counts in terms of getting you closer to your goal!Ann Taylor graciously provided some of the clothing featured in this post, but all opinions are my own.

Happy 2019! I can hardly believe it. I still remember writing this post and being completely candid on the topics of stress, weight, and feeling tired. For the past two years, my focus, or dare I say “New Year’s resolution,” has been to prioritize my health and fitness. You can read more about it here.

Read More »

Related posts:

  1. New Year’s Reflection: Stressed, Overweight and Tired!
  2. My #1 Hack for People That Are Always Cold
  3. 3 Must-Have Accessories You Need This Winter
  4. Mastering a Healthy Lifestyle + A Year in Review

New Year’s Reflection: Stressed, Overweight and Tired!

This has been the fastest and most challenging year yet! Instead of going the traditional route of choosing a resolution, last year I chose to focus on the word healthy. Getting healthy is still on the forefront for 2018, so again I'll be focusing on that. After all, your health is your first wealth!This has been the fastest and most challenging year yet! Instead of going the traditional route of choosing a resolution, last year I chose to focus on the word healthy. Getting healthy is still on the forefront for 2018, so again I'll be focusing on that. After all, your health is your first wealth!This has been the fastest and most challenging year yet! Instead of going the traditional route of choosing a resolution, last year I chose to focus on the word healthy. Getting healthy is still on the forefront for 2018, so again I'll be focusing on that. After all, your health is your first wealth!This has been the fastest and most challenging year yet! Instead of going the traditional route of choosing a resolution, last year I chose to focus on the word healthy. Getting healthy is still on the forefront for 2018, so again I'll be focusing on that. After all, your health is your first wealth!This has been the fastest and most challenging year yet! Instead of going the traditional route of choosing a resolution, last year I chose to focus on the word healthy. Getting healthy is still on the forefront for 2018, so again I'll be focusing on that. After all, your health is your first wealth!This has been the fastest and most challenging year yet! Instead of going the traditional route of choosing a resolution, last year I chose to focus on the word healthy. Getting healthy is still on the forefront for 2018, so again I’ll be focusing on that. After all, your health is your first wealth!

New Year’s Reflection: Stressed, Overweight and Tired!

Towards the latter half of 2017, I gained over 20 pounds and am currently dealing with a slew of GI problems. I’ve missed more work then I can count and walking into the doctor’s office is becoming routine. We are still in the process of figuring things out and I hope to know more soon.

Along the way, I somehow managed to put on all that weight and have struggled with some other health issues (pre-diabetes and acid reflux). I have spent most of my life watching my weight and eating healthy, so it’s ironic that I’ve managed to get so off track. Plus, none of my clothes fit and I don’t feel that great about how I look and feel.

To help with stress, I have made some changes, like adjusting my work schedule to have every other Friday off. I also joined Orange Theory after being introduced to it by a coworker. I am obsessed! I really feel like it helps my mental state and overall health, so I’m in the process of building up to go 3-4 days a week vs the 2 days I’m going now.

This time next year, I hope to have my health back on track and be down in pounds. It will be great to have more energy and no stomach pain.

On the bright side, I have also accomplished a lot this year! I launched Lace & Pearls Jewelry, created a monthly newsletter, and successfully began partnering with brands. I even befriended some blogger babes and made some new connections that I hope to continue in the new year.

I wish all the best to you in 2018 and thanks again to those of you who continue to read this blog and comment! I apologize that I haven’t been the greatest at responding to comments, but I do read all of them and am grateful for your kindness and support.

Shop the post:

Dress: J.Jill c/o | Vest: Club Monaco (similar) | Necklace: Callura via Zulily c/o | Earrings: Charming Charlie (similar) c/o | Boots: Paul Green (old) | Clutch: DSW | Lashes: First Glance Lashes c/o| Lipstick: Neutrogena MoistureSmooth color stick (Rich Raisin) c/o

*c/o: courtesy of or gifted.

📷’s by  Luba Kochubey Portraits

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  1. 5 Reasons For Saying No
  2. What I’ve Learned from One Year of Blogging
  3. What I’ve Accomplished in One Year of Blogging
  4. Pantone Color of the Year: Valiant Poppy + Why You Need It

A Year In Review + A Unique Spin on New Year’s Resolutions

In just a few days 2016 will be over and a new year will begin. There is no better time than now to reflect on and discuss 2016. Keep reading for my year in review.

It’s been quite a year (personal and professional). My husband and I bought our first home, adopted two kittens, and we both got promoted. In just a few days 2016 will be over and a new year will begin. There is no better time than now to reflect on and discuss 2016. Keep reading for my year in review.

I am not going to focus on what I didn’t do this year but rather what I did do. I encourage you to do the same. Revisit your previous year’s goals and check if they are still relevant. If you didn’t do everything on your list, don’t beat yourself up. There is nothing you can do about it now. Re-evaluate and determine if you will continue to chase the same goals.

Forget New Year’s Resolutions – Do This Instead

This year, I am choosing a word that represents what I want to do rather than a resolution. My individual list will roll up into that one word, allowing me to reach that goal. My word is Healthy. So much in my life right now revolves around getting healthy. If I have my health, I feel that everything else will fall into place. I recommend that you choose a word that will keep you on track throughout the year, revisiting it whenever you feel challenged. For example, when I get the craving to overindulge in snacks during a Netflix marathon, I’ll think of my goal and opt for a healthier alternative like fruit or tea.

Note that my personal goals are the same as the previous two years, but they still rank highest on my list.

A Year in Review

Personal

  1. Up my workout intensity. I currently take daily walks during my lunch break, but I need to focus on breaking a sweat to see results.
  2. Get 7.5-8 hours of sleep per night. My husband and I have been getting up early between 5:30-6 am. This is helping with my night owl tendencies.
  3. Lose 15 pounds. I still need to drop some weight for health purposes. Upping my workout, getting a decent night’s rest, and portion control is the plan.
  4. Pay off debt. Our YNAB (You Need A Budget) is set and ready to break ground. For some actionable budget tips, check out 6 Debt Reduction Tips.

Blog

  1. Receive compensation for posts in addition to the product. One of my goals this past year was to begin working with brands. From January on, I accomplished this. In case you missed any of them, you can see them all here.
  2. Begin pitching to brands. Brands have reached out to collaborate, but I also want to be pitching to them.
  3. Increase blog traffic. Three words, Search Engine Optimization (SEO). When I started this blog, I had no clue about optimizing post to their full potential. Mid-year, I began optimizing and now my number one traffic referrer is Google. I want to go back through all posts and elevate them so people can better find them.
  4. Build an email list. This will help me connect with readers on a more personal level and understand what they struggle with when it comes to personal style.

Top 10 Posts From 2016

In just a few days 2016 will be over and a new year will begin. There is no better time than now to reflect on and discuss 2016. Keep reading for my year in review.

  1. How to Collaborate with Other Bloggers
  2. Drugstore Volume Mascaras: The Good and the Bad
  3. 6 Essential Ways to Start Dressing Confidently
  4. Thrift Store Fashion – A Beginner’s Guide
  5. Tips For Styling a Peplum Top
  6. How to Stay Motivated + 2 year Blogiversary
  7. 8 Tips for Defining Your Personal Style
  8. How to Avoid Blogger Burnout
  9. The Ultimate Pattern Mixing Guide
  10. 5 Tips for Achieving Effortless Style

What does your year in review look like? What will your focus word be? Share in the comments.

Thank you for supporting Lace & Pearls. Happy New Year! See you in 2017.

First image by Luba Kochubey Portraits

Related posts:

  1. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
  2. New Year’s Reflection: Stressed, Overweight and Tired!
  3. New Year’s Wishes and Resolutions
  4. 6 Ways to Practice Positive Self Talk this February

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