Faith

Hey, y’all!

It has been a while. Life got the best of me and I didn’t make the time to write. I am taking a break from studying this summer prior to law school, and focusing on my creative outlets. My favorite way to get back in the groove of creative thinking is finding a song on the radio that I resonate with, and breaking down the lyrics into a meaningful blog post. Usually, it’s Kelsea Ballerini who sparks my deepest thoughts, but Tenille Townes managed to catch my attention this time with a song from her new EP album.

I pasted the lyrics to the first two verses and the chorus below. My comments on the lyrics can be found beneath those. I also highly recommend clicking the song title to hear Tenille Townes sing the lyrics. Her voice is so unique and I am obsessed with it.

Same Road Home by Tenille Townes

Born to runners, lonely lovers
Tumbleweeds on a long highway
Lost believers, broken dreamers
Morning coffee at a Super 8
Asking why, why, why
Is it just blood in this heart?
Is it just sky in the sky?

Ain’t we all just looking for answers
The ones that that nobody knows
Ain’t we all just dying to feel like
We’re not made to be all alone
There’s a million different ways to go
But we’re all on the same road home
Mm, yeah

I don’t know your soul or story
And you haven’t walked a mile in my shoes
But I bet if I was falling, you’d catch me
And damn straight I’d do the same for you
And not think twice, twice, twice
‘Cause there’s love in this heart
And there’s stars in the sky

Wow. The Christian roots are running deep through this song. Most of us can see ourselves in all of the descriptions of the first verse. Sometimes we are the tumbleweeds, not knowing where God is taking us, and sometimes we are those born to runners, chasing a path we might not understand yet. In all of these times, it can be so easy to start asking “why.”

It is human to crave knowledge and want to know the answer to everything. However, we weren’t created, and it’s actually incapable for us, to know every answer. When life gets hard, everything can start to feel empty and meaningless, much like the lyrics at the end of the first chorus. However, when we are reminded of all the good things that we’ve done, and others have done onto us, the world takes on a sense of fullness. This fullness comes from God’s agape love that we receive and can pass on to others.

Is it just blood in this heart?

Is it just sky in the sky?

‘Cause there’s love in this heart

And there’s stars in the sky

All of our lives are going to look incredibly different. God created us each for different paths and purposes. Even though “there’s a million different ways to go, we’re all on the same road home” to Him. And for that, I am eternally grateful.

With Love, Marin

Hey, y’all!

This week has just been SO good! Loving Jesus and living out God’s word in everyday life makes the smallest moments the best moments. I decided I’m going to start my weekly wrap-ups again, but I want them to be more centered on little moments than only fashion (not to say that my moments won’t include some of that too).

There is nothing better than starting off a Monday morning with a great breakfast. Y’all, get yourself one of those mini waffle makers from Target (you will NOT regret it). I also recommend mixing maple syrup & honey and heating it in the microwave to put on your waffles.

I wore my new clothing items from Forever 21. I haven’t bought new clothes in a long time so it was SO fun to put on a new outfit and wear it to work!

I bought myself some flowers at Whole Foods and put them in the vase Jack gave me for Valentine’s Day. These roses were the prettiest ombre of pink and orange!!

Tuesday was so warm out (God Bless) and it’s my chill day of the week so I got all dressed up in a romper! Tuesday night is also connection night for Salt Company and we had so many good talks about God and ate all the yummy snacks.

Tony’s message at Salt Company tonight was so needed! Definitely exposed sin but revealed so many great things about God and Jesus.

Chick-fil-a is my favorite food. Hands down. No debate. I went to Target and got myself some Chick-fil-a after. If y’all don’t “know yourself” I recommend taking some time just for you during the week. When you get to know and love yourself, life is so much fun.

I love adventuring with this boy. We checked out the cutest local chocolate/coffee/bakery shop in downtown Menomonie (Legacy Chocolate’s). (P.s I told him to smile and he did this instead)

This was the breakfast from Legacy!! The yummiest breakfast sandwich and chai latte combo.

Such a great meal celebrating this one’s 21st 🙂 I’m so incredibly lucky.

With Love, Marin

All you “dead-end boys,” “breakdown girls,” “burned-out believers” and those of you who feel like all you do is “spin your wheels,” this one is for you.

I haven’t wrote on my faith for a long time, and there is a reason for that. I, unfortunately, got back into a routine that didn’t include my faith as much as I would’ve liked it to. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been focused on returning to reading my Bible, attending online sermon and praying. I had felt a lot less anxious and enjoyed life a lot more than I had in a long time.

The funny thing about faith, however, is that not all times are that simple. After a rough week, I had been struggling on what to write, but when I hit shuffle on my music this morning, I knew exactly what I needed to share with y’all. Combining my knowledge from last week’s sermon and “The Ride” by Hailey Whitters, I want to speak on those rough days/weeks/months that we all experience.

“Some days, you’re on a full tank

Sometimes, you’re runnin’ on fumes”

There are days where it feels like we’re so strong that nothing could mess with our positive attitude. And then there are the days that the smallest of things lead to a, collapse on your knees, prayer. While many of us prefer to avoid the latter, those days are the ones that test our faith and our strength. On the days you feel like you’re running low because you are “all on your own,” take a second to acknowledge that you are never alone. God is always with you, and is there to pick you up when you slip on your faith journey or life in general.

“Thinkin’ you’re all out of pavement

Like it’s the end of the world”

This lyric definitely hits close to home for those of us with anxiety or perfectionism. When something occurs that wasn’t in your original plan, it may seem like everything is ending. The truth is, you don’t get to stick to a plan, because you are not the one writing your own story like we are so often told. Thankfully, we aren’t writing our own stories, because if we were our lives would not be as beautiful as God had intended. Your story that you try to write for yourself will never be as good as the one God already wrote for you.

“Might be hard to see it through the tears

But you still got a lot of good in your good-years”

In the moments where there are challenges or struggles, it can be hard to see what good will come of it. It may seem like there is nothing good left to come for you when all appears to be going bad. It is easy to give up and slip into old habits and fall away from your faith in these times. It takes strength to lean on God and your other support systems during these times, not weakness.

“But it’s the stars that make the night

It’s the low that makes the high

It’s the love that makes the life

It’s the road that makes the ride”

The truth is, these challenges and hard moments are what make the easy, simple and beautiful moments so much better. We appreciate the light in the darkness so much more than we would appreciate endless light. Those “low” moments are what shape us to appreciate and truly experience those “high” moments fully. Our lives aren’t intended to be a linear sloping line to justification. God intends for us to slip, but never fall from our faith. This path of maturity to justification is what makes us each unique.

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!!

This year, I’ve been obsessed with following all of the Tik Tok trends. While vision boards are not a new concept, I loved the new spin on utilizing Pinterest photos in the vision boards. I typically set goals for myself during the year, but wanted to switch it up for 2021 since many of my goals are intangible. Thankfully, I still had one empty wall in my apartment that I’ve been waiting to decorate. Having these vision boards in my daily sightline was important to me, so I decided to turn this empty wall into my short-term and long-term vision board wall.

Below I included the collages I created for my vision board (all pictures obtained from Pinterest). If these boards also inspire you, and you’d like to download them at the appropriate size for a 8.5 x 11 inch frame, please subscribe to my blog and I’ll email them to you! Refer to the steps below to make your vision board wall for less than $35!!

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STEP 1: Save Pinterest images that inspire you to a photo folder on your phone. I decided to split up my photos in 3 groups (from left to right) – from my 2021-2025 goals, 2025-2030 goals and 2030+ goals. I am a planner, so having multiple vision boards with multiple aesthetics made the most sense for me.

STEP 2: Open Canva. Utilize the pixels of 2550 X 3300 to create a collage that will come out clear for an 8.5 x 11 inch frame.

STEP 3: Upload your images to Canva and organize your collage!! I decided to put one image in the center of each vision board, without any other images overlapping it, that was most inspiring to me.

STEP 4: Order these frames! ‘

STEP 5: Have your photos printed at Walgreens. Use the 40% off code “YOURGIFT40” to receive 40% off the printing price.

STEP 6: Place your collages in the frames, hang on the wall and get inspired every day when you see them!

With Love, Marin

1.Weighted Blanket

2. Sweat App

Use this link to pay for a year’s subscription for only $120 (includes yoga/relaxation, workouts and meal guides)

3. Icepack

Why is this helpful? : “Sensorial stimulation with cold water can break through dissociative feelings that often accompany anxiety and offer immediate relief from heightened cortisol levels.”

4. Bible

5. Olly Goodbye Stress Vitamins

6. Journal

With Love, Marin

“F*** 2020”

“This year has been the absolute worst”

“I can’t wait for this year to end”

You’ve probably heard (or said) these all at some point this year. It seems like 2020 has been the epitome of every large, life-changing event hitting everyone all at once. With our everyday hustle coming to a halt, it forced everyone to do a little self reflection. Looking back on my 2020 vision blog post, I definitely had no idea how this year would actually pan out…it turned out to be a lot better than I could’ve ever hoped for.

• My 2020 goals were as follows:
  • Acceptance to RewardStyle – COMPLETED
  • Publish 40 blog posts – COMPLETED
  • Post 200 photos to Instagram – 42% of that number
  • Get a brand deal/collaboration – COMPLETED
  • Double Instagram followers – almost!
  • Attend a local blogger event – COMPLETED
  • Make money off of blogging – COMPLETED
  • Work on positive self talk – getting better at this!
  • Create healthy relationships – made some major growth in this area! (my Jack)
  • Have the best second semester everrr – lmao … not even going to address this
  • Make some $$$$ – COMPLETED (loved those unemployment checks)
  • Love with my whole heart – every day (never can truly complete this)
  • Donate some clothes/shoes – COMPLETED
  • Read and listen more – ahhhh I’m still awful at making time for reading and listening

Looking back at these goals, while I accomplished a lot on the list, the parts of 2020 that I reminisce most on are not the stereotypical “accomplishments” on the list above. My 2020 was defined by one word…growth.

Now, this growth didn’t start on January 1st. Honestly, January to March were some of the lowest points in my life. I resorted to worldly things and didn’t love myself enough to truly enjoy life. I was so caught up in to-do lists and validation that I wasn’t enjoying life. While Covid was in no way a blessing, it allowed the time for me to experience growth into a new chapter of my life.

In the period of silence, when most of my time was spent alone with myself, I allowed for grace to come in. When grace entered my life, I found myself feeling loved and loving others like I never had before.

Going into 2021, my goals are much more broad and focused on virtues/terms instead of a to-do list (even though each of these virtues have their “to-do” items to get me there).

Goal #1: Redamancy

In 2021, I want to love those who love me in complete fullness. I struggle sometimes with showing my love in the proper way. In 2021, I want to focus on redamancy so that I can truly experience love and loving to its fullest extent. If 2020 taught me anything, it’s that love is far more important than worldly validation.

In order to accomplish this, I want to focus on therapy, journaling and reading the Bible. Through showing love to myself, I can begin to show an even greater love to others than I have been able to currently. My journaling will become a daily series on my blog – stay tuned.

Goal #2: Philocalist

In 2021, I want to appreciate the beauty in everything. I especially want to appreciate the beauty in moments. Looking back on 2020, the times I felt most alive were the moments in which I appreciated what I was experiencing – not like I have previously where I would be so anxious about the past/future that I could not ground myself in the present.

In order to accomplish this, I am going to create a memory jar. Every time I experience a simply beautiful moment (95% are going to be moments with my love – Jack 🙂 ), I’m going to put a slip of paper with a small explanation of the event. At the end of the year, I will be able to look back at all the moments I have appreciated and experienced in complete fullness.

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When looking at the 2021 vision board I created, these two goals are incredibly apparent in the images. Many of the images are capturing simple moments and lapses of beauty and love. This leads me to my third goal…

Goal #3: Spontaneity

When I was grocery shopping with Jack (he really is my biggest inspiration for any personal development) the other day, I was getting frustrated because I had not made a list ahead of time. In a conversation we had in the car about my frustration, he mentioned that he enjoyed being spontaneous. While list making has been my personality forever, it is a product of my high functioning anxiety.

In 2021, I would like to be more spontaneous. I would like to be more spontaneous with photo taking (not being so obsessed about looking perfect but instead capturing a moment where I feel so alive). I would like to be more spontaneous in every day life tasks (life is way too short to get frustrated while grocery shopping). I hope that this spontaneity will bring around many moments that wouldn’t have occurred otherwise, and lead to more growth than I would’ve experience without those moments.

Here’s to my 20th fresh start…

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!

It’s no secret that our world fixates on the future.

What are your weekend plans? What do you plan to do after high school/college? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

We often spend so much time thinking and planning for our futures that we forget that we are living moments now.

Okay, I’ll admit it. I am the prime example of an obsessive planner. I live through a calendar and a schedule down to the exact minute. I take every action with the mindset that it’ll impact my future career/grad school options. I fill my schedule to the max for a resume. I fixate on my next move to get to my “dream life.” However, thinking like this causes me (and I’m sure many others of you) to lose control of my anxiety. And this causes me to forget to enjoy the present moment I am living in.

Recently, I have been more aware of this social behavior I have been taking a part in. Whenever I catch myself thinking about the next move, I now try to use the new tips I have obtained and focus on the moment I am in. For example, when Jack visited me this weekend I found myself counting down how many hours I had left with him, instead of enjoying the hours I had with him. For this reason, I’ve decided to come up with a few methods to help you live in the present moment and enjoy your life as it is now.

Tip #1: Grounding

Grounding is defined by Healthline as “a therapeutic technique that involves doing activities that “ground” or electrically reconnect you to the earth.” This can come in many different forms and techniques will not work the same for everyone. I have found what helps ground me best is admiring the outdoors and focusing on the senses I feel. This is where my Instagram photo comes in. On the way home from Wisconsin, I rolled down my windows and enjoyed the breeze of a perfect fall day. I focused on the scenery around me instead of how many miles back to my apartment. When I saw this grassy patch with hay bails and the fall colors just starting to peak through, I had to pull over to capture the moment and soak it in. There is something about easy 70 degree weather, being high on love, dirt gravel under your shoes and looking out on an ever-changing scenery. This is where I find myself most present. I recommend experimenting to help find what helps you reconnect to the present moment.

Tip #2: “Scheduling” Free Time

This is a BIG one for me. I had a terrible habit in high school of overworking myself and spending every moment I was “done” with homework, working ahead on what was due in the future. I’ve found that what works best for me is working incredibly hard during the week and giving myself the weekends to have 100% free time away from work and school. While responsibilities are still important, it is also important to make time that can be just about living and being present.

Tip #3: Dream about the future, but don’t obsess over it.

Finally, don’t over obsess about the future. For example, when you’re a freshman in high school, you wish to be old enough to drive. When you’re old enough to drive, you wish to be old enough to be on your own. When you’re “on your own,” you wish to find your person and start a life. Instead of wishing away those precious years, enjoy the time you’re in. This one is important for my single girlies. One day, you’ll meet someone that’ll make sure you’re never single again. Enjoy your time by yourself because you won’t get that time forever. Same goes for anything else. Remind yourself when you begin obsessing over the future that your future is built on the memories you are making in the present.

How do you make sure you’re in the present moment?

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!

I randomly opened my Bible to a page tonight so that God could share with me what I needed to read…and WOW, I needed to read Psalm 77. Psalm 77 gives insight into Christianity and depression. This passage helps to teach us that God is close even when you are depressed.

In the passage, Asaph was in a depressed and troubled state. This kind of feeling is all too familiar to me and I’m sure to many of you. The passage outlines the steps we should take to handle this state and regain emotional stability through the Lord.

Step 1 is “cry[ing] aloud to God.” The first step in many of life’s problems is to acknowledge that there is a problem. In the psalm, Asaph makes it clear to God and himself that he is in a dark place. He doesn’t use unhealthy coping mechanisms, but instead turns to God with his current situation through the action of prayer. God wants us to pour out our feelings to Him. He is there to listen.

Step 2 is to direct your thoughts away from your current depressed state. Now, depression is a mental illness (one I have struggled with myself), so I understand that this step isn’t necessarily easy to complete. However, you must actively try to focus on past times when you felt fulfilled in your life through God, in order to move past this depressive state. By looking at all of your life blessings in the past, it will help you to regain perspective of your current situation.

Finally, worship. Lean on God and others of faith during this time. There will be times where you simply cannot carry the weight on your own. Ask your fellow members of the church to pray for you and be a companion in those people as well. Concentrate on the benefits of God and your faith towards Him. Through this, it will become clear that God is much greater than your current struggles.

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States. Anxiety disorders affect over 18% of the U.S. population, myself included. I was officially diagnosed with anxiety this March, but have been dealing with symptoms since the fall of 2018. Mental illnesses, specifically anxiety, can be difficult to cope with. While I still struggle to manage my symptoms, these are some tips I have that work for me! I hope I can share at least one tip that will help you manage your anxiety as well.

#1: I manage my anxiety by working out consistently every morning.

Setting a routine is the best way to manage my anxiety. I like to keep a consistent time that I wake up at and start my day the same way so that I am not overwhelmed. I’ve noticed my anxiety spikes when my morning doesn’t start with consistency. Working out also helps to raise endorphin levels and burn off my anxious energy right away in the morning. I complete three strength workout sessions per week, three cardio sessions and one stretching session.

#2: I manage my anxiety by reading my Bible before bed at night.

I have found that choosing a Bible passage relating to what I am currently anxious about helps me to sleep better at night. Reading the words of the Lord calms me in a way that nothing else can. I will read and pray before bedtime to remind myself that God has already worked out what I am worried about. This helps to keep my sleep more consistent throughout the night so I don’t start my morning mentally exhausted.

#3: I manage my anxiety by taking stress relief gummies.

Lastly, if I am having an incredibly tough day or feel more anxious than usual, I reach for my stress relief gummies. The combination of GABA and lemon balm help to stabilize my mentality on a day where I cannot control my anxiety on my own. These are not an everyday solution. If you find yourself needing them everyday you should consult a doctor. These are helpful for times where you need help beyond your healthy coping strategies.

Remember that anxiety can be helped and managed so that you can live happier!! Let me know if these tips help you and if you need someone to talk to, my DM’s are always open.

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!

A few weeks ago, I decided to order one of the mystery tees from Crazy Cool Threads. When I received the shirt, pictured below, I didn’t know what it meant. I am still learning the Bible, and receiving this shirt with the quote “he left the ninety-nine to resue me,” helped me to find something new to learn about in the Bible. After researching what this was about, a parable from the books of Matthew and Luke, I am here sharing it with all of you.

The parable of the lost sheep is a story told by Jesus in the gospels of both Matthew and Luke. This story is told by Jesus when he is criticized by others, specifically the Pharisees, for still standing by those who sin. Jesus tells this story to the Pharisees, as they were filled with prejudice about those who sin.

In the story, Jesus tells of a man who has one hundred sheep. One of the sheep goes missing. The man would go find the lost sheep, as the other 99 are not missing and have found their place in the open countryside. Once the man finds the lost sheep, he will rejoice that he has found it and return it to its place. There will not be a great celebration for the 99 sheep who were not lost, because there is less of a need. However, there will be great rejoicing over a sheep who was lost and then found, a sinner who repents, because they might not have been found. To be found is something to rejoice for.

This parable teaches us as children of God, He will seek us out when we are sinning and lost. God will be so incredibly happy, and rejoice for us, when we finally find Him. God cares about us all the same. He does not prefer those who do not sin. God wants us all to be found and renewed through Him. On Earth, this means that would should care for others regardless of their sins. Our job is to love all.

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!

Growing up, I was always told that “you’ll find love when you stop looking for it.” Now, I would always pray to God for my person and tell Him I wasn’t looking anymore so that He would send me that person. I think every one of us has done this at some point, fully knowing that we are hoping God won’t notice we were 100% still searching. While we all do this at some point, He truly knows all. I find it so silly that we do this knowing that God already has a direct plan for us and we will receive on His terms and when He sees fit for us.

I was guilty of praying that I loved myself and I was ready for a deep relationship, time and time again. In the months prior to quarantine, I had lost my connection and patience with the Lord almost completely. I started believing that I could go find my person without His help and ignore every red flag He was sending me that I needed to be patient and it was not my time quite yet. When March 17th hit and I was moving my entire life out of college and back to my childhood bedroom, I realized that while I had progressed in some ways at college, building an outer layer of confidence and self love, I was anxious and untrusting of Him on the inside.

I was prepared to go through the five months of quarantine, before heading back to college, by myself. I was prepared to be working, blogging, reading the Bible and exercising – things that I believed would help better prepare my confidence and self love for a fulfilling relationship. I quickly learned to love the time I had by myself and who I was as a person.

And I guess whoever told me that when I “stop looking for love, I’ll find it,” was right. Because this time, my relationship was just so unexpected. However, I don’t know if the cause of finding love is that you stop looking for it. I believe that God’s timing is so good and so above what we expected, that it’ll make any season of your life just that much better.

I didn’t expect for a brief encounter to turn into nightly FaceTime calls that turned into 1am drive homes from each other’s houses. I wasn’t looking for love. I was looking for myself. And that’s when I met Jack.

To you, this picture may just be a picture

Just a prarie with some flowers

Just a blue skyline

Just some trees trailing off in the background.

But to me, this photo is a moment

It’s Joe Pyeweed and Monarcha Birds

It’s hiking on trails and ducking under barbed wire

It’s firefly watching and tasting sweet honey off a shared spoon.

To you, this photo is a picture.

To me, it’s what I prayed for years to recieve.

And it’s in moments like this, that I wish I could stop time to hold onto them for just a little longer, before making even more moments I want to freeze in time. Because God chose this to be the time I received what I had prayed for years for, because He knew when the right time was. One of the greatest joys in life is when you receive something you’ve been praying for, and watch God elevate your prayers to a level you never even imagined was possible.

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!

I decided to round up all of the things I’ve enjoyed doing this summer, even with quarantine. Only a few more weeks before school starts, so enjoy the rest of your summer by using this bucketlist below.

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!

Since it’s Sunday, I wanted to share a Bible quote with y’all. Especially recently, I believe that the concept of “loving your neighbor” has been lost. Recently, Berean Baptist Church had a sermon on this verse that exemplifies loving our neighbor and being inclusive.

“But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.”

James 2: 1

While the sermon says it best, simply put, it is important to include all. This inclusivity occurs in every single aspect of our lives, specifically, how we treat others. To be inclusive and not show partiality, we must value all created life.

If you want to live out this quote AND wear it, Elevated Faith sells a Unisex white crewneck with “Love Your Neighbor” written on it. You can get 15% off your purchase by using the code MARIN15.

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!

Today, I wanted to shed some light on body image eating disorders through the words of the Bible. While body image and eating disorders have recently become more prevalent in media coverage, I think it is important to acknowledge that these things have ALWAYS been noticed by God and referenced multiple times in the Bible. The quote that most resonated with me is listed below – Luke 22-23.

“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.  Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.”

Luke 22-23

This bible verse is so incredibly to the point and accurate on how we should view our lives. So many of us (myself included) restrict what we eat in order to get the “perfect” body and wear the smallest size of clothes. Not only is this detrimental for your physical health, but your spiritual and mental health as well. God made each and every one of us to be beautiful. When you use negative body talk and restrict calories to fit societal standards, you are not appreciating one of God’s beautiful artwork, yourself!!

I am 100% guilty of doing this myself, which is why I love this bible verse so much. You and I were not placed on this planet to diet and workout just to maintain a certain body image. Working out and eating healthy should occur because you ENJOY it, not because you feel pressure to appear a certain way to please others. Life is so much more than our clothing size, our weight and how much we eat in a day.

When you feel the urge to restrict foods you enjoy eating and talk negatively about your body, remind yourself that your purpose is SO much greater than your appearance and God loves you for who He created you to be.

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!

In my Instagram post today, I shared a photo that I took at the “Rise and Shine” mural in Minneapolis (mural address in the photo caption). This specific word, “shine,” reminded me of a great biblical quote in the chapter of Matthew. This verse is Jesus explaining to his followers that they are the “light of the world” and must “let their light shine.”

“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.

Matthew 5:16

Before I get into this verse and it’s application and meaning to me personally, I figured I would share how I personally study my Bible.

1. I go on Pinterest and find verses/chapters that interest me the most
2. I plan out on a calendar which days I will read certain chapters
3. I set a designated time to study the verse (usually prior to sleeping for me)
4. Grab highlighters, colored pens and sticky notes for studying
5. Journal following your study session to share what you learned
6. Share what you learned with God through a prayer

Now, I read the entirety of chapter 5 of Matthew, but I wanted to just highlight this one verse in this blog post. However, I recommend reading the entire chapter for context and complete understanding. This is just what I personally took from the verse and doesn’t have to be a direct reflection on your thoughts.

To me, this verse is pointing out that you cannot keep your love of faith and God secret or concealed. This is because when other see your good works, it may inspire them to also praise God and embrace faith like you are. If we are to conceal our “light,” in other words, hide our faith, we are not living to our fullest potential. Your honorable and faithful actions WILL be seen by others, no matter how small these actions are. Those living through their faith will be sincere, faithful and humble in their actions.

I pray that my actions through the light of faith within me can inspire others so that they see the good works I do for You.

Happy bible studying 🙂

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!

When it comes to relationships, it can often be reflected that women “expect too much.” This usually includes actual date nights, picking you up at the door, bringing you surprise gifts, posting you on social media, communicating with you in a timely manner etc. Okay, now reread all of the things I just listed. ALL OF THOSE ARE SO SIMPLE AND YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING TOO MUCH!! When it comes to a healthy, happy relationship, it is crucial that both you and your partners treat each other in this way.

Below I have listed 5 key things you should expect from any healthy relationship and ways you can carry these characteristics out.

Respect

Respect is essential for a relationship to remain healthy and happy. This is especially true when it comes to arguments – even when the argument gets heated you should NEVER start using name calling or disrespect towards your partner. This is one sure way to cause anxiety and second thoughts about your partner. It’ll cause them to wonder if you truly mean those things and were too afraid to say them.

Some ways to show respect are: defining what you want in the relationship early, communicating what is working in the relationship, only using positive words with your partner and explain your feelings without getting upset.

Time

If your partner is not willing to give time to getting to know each other, dating, and communicating with you in the short term, it will definitely not occur in the long run. Time is something you should expect in a relationship. These time boundaries can be different for every couple and based on the duration of the relationship.

Some ways to give time to your partner: Weekly or monthly date nights, checking up on them in text

Generosity

Generosity comes in many different forms: mental, emotional, financial and material support. Supporting one another in a relationship is a sure way to create an intimate bond. This is because when your partner (healthy relationship) is aware that you care about them when they are in need, they will reciprocate for you when you need the support.

Some ways to show generosity: Asking how your partner is, bringing home a surprise gift, understanding how your partner deals with stress

Communication

Okay, communication is the NUMBER ONE NECESSITY in a relationship. Without communication, you have no relationship. Communication needs to begin at the very first date. If your partner seems to constantly be flaky over text message at the beginning of the relationship, imagine how they would be in marriage? Exactly.

Some ways to ensure you are communicating: Did you let them know your availability? Do they know what you want out of this relationship? Do you know what they want? Do you express your feelings with each other?

Affection

Affection is a way to spice up a relationship. When the relationship is new, affection tends to be very easy. However, as you spend more and more time together, it is crucial to keep the spark by being affectionate with one another. Affection typically builds both intimacy and trust in your partner.

Some ways to show affection: Physical affection, posting your partner on social media, complimenting your partner.

BABY YOU ARE GOLD, SOLID GOLD!! Don’t let anyone treat you like anything else. You deserve a healthy relationship like this (and more).

With Love, Marin

When I was listening to every Dan and Shay song in preparation for their concert (before Corona postponed it) I fell in love with the song “My Side of the Fence.” (Y’all I swear it is 1000x better than “Speechless”) Listening to the lyrics, I envisioned the kind of love I wanted. I even told myself that I would wait for that kind of love and not accept anything less. However, at that same time, I was very distant from God and fulfilling Christ’s word, as well as being filled with anxiety and negative self image. I knew that I would not be able to find that kind of love until I began to work on correcting those things.

Attending St. Thomas, and taking theology class last fall semester, I began to get closer to the Lord than I had been in an incredibly long time. That’s when I realized that that there was a reason why I had ended up at this smaller, catholic college and not a large public one. In high school I had made it clear that I didn’t have time to learn religion on top of all my school work, because school was my top priority over Him. While that was not a good excuse, now God was making a point to me that since religion was now part of my school work, I had an opportunity to learn and grow in my faith, while also focusing on my schoolwork.

Following this class, I made a promise to myself in the new year to grow in my faith. For me, this looked like putting my anxiety on Him instead of bearing all the weight myself. When I felt like things were hard to handle, I took out my bible and read a chapter (or two or three), put on some worship music and, most importantly, prayed.

Now, I had been praying for years, but not like I was this year. Before, I had prayed in a way that was more like a mutual deal than actual trust. I prayed that “I would do X if God would do Y.” However, I realized that God wasn’t a genie to grant my wishes and by praying in this way, I wasn’t truly trusting Him. So I learned to pray in a different way. I began to pray for what I had and for what I knew I was one day going to have through trusting His process.

I am not going to act like this change was easy for me. As soon as I returned to college from January-term, I began to accept life without the Lord again. I was okay chasing boys instead of them chasing me. I was okay with not praying. I was okay with living with anxious thoughts. But when I was losing sight of Him, a new door had opened. I was removed from college. I was removed from every distraction taking me away from Him.

And when I gave the time to Him, suddenly it seemed like things became a lot less heavy on my soul . I felt my anxiety lifted and a lot more at peace with the person I am. I began to set goals for myself and manifest them into existence through prayer and ultimate trust in what God had planned for me. I saw growth in my self confidence, my mental health was more at ease, I found myself only accepting of proper male behavior towards me and my side hustle was taking off.

When I began to start getting rid of what God would not approve of, I found something (someone) that fit into my new mentality. It seemed so strange that it took a pandemic for me to manifest the “My Side of the Fence” type of love that I new I wanted to give to someone else, and also have in return. Over quarantine, my current boyfriend (I’ll introduce him to y’all super soon we just need to have a photoshoot together) treated me like no one else ever had.

He face-timed me on the daily, kept his promises on contacting me, didn’t constantly ask “what’s up” but instead found deeper conversation, he made his intentions with me clear, and most importantly, he treated me like a man of God would. And yet, for a while, I still found it hard to leave the person who wasn’t treating me like that, behind.

During that time, I opened up a book I had bought many months before and hadn’t gotten around to reading, “A Love Letter Life.” One quote stuck out to me, almost like I was meant to read it.

“We change our behavior when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing.”

Jeremy Roloff, A Love Letter Life

It had got to the point where staying in the confusing relationship I was in was causing me greater pain than it would be to move on. So I did what the quote told me to and made a change. I’m so incredibly grateful I did because I found that “My Side of the Fence” kind of love because I was no longer accepting less than that…

Back in November I wrote a blog post on what I’d say when I found my person: “I’m a whole. You will never complete me. You will simply be an addition. You’re not going to be afraid to chase me. You won’t be afraid of my confidence, intelligence and self love. You will be deserving of me. And I will be deserving of you. And when I meet you, I’ll know.”

I have some updates to that statement…

Yes, I am a whole on my own, but life is a lot more fun with you in it. I was wrong, you’re not simply “an” addition. You’re THE addition that I never want to lose. You weren’t, and still aren’t, afraid to chase me. Both my and your confidence, intelligence and self love blend so well together. You are deserving of me. And I am deserving of you (y’all for me to say this is crazy I never think I deserve something this incredibly good). And I may not have known at first when I met you that you were my person, but I wholeheartedly do now. And…

You’re the rain on the roof in the summer

You’re the leaves in the fall changing color

You’re the whisper I hear in the thunder

On my side of the fence

You’re the reason my heart’s beating faster

You’re the tears falling down from the laughter

You’re the only one I’m after

I pray you also find this kind of love.

With Love, Marin

Picture a moment where you felt like the main character of your life.

A moment where you truly fell in love with life.

A peaceful feeling that you wanted to bottle up and keep forever.

Now…close your eyes. Picture it. Capture how that memory feels.

Picture another moment. This time, make it something that hasn’t happened quite yet.

Is it a letter saying you got your dream job/dream college?

Is it meeting someone who feels like home?

Is it just being so happy that time slips away without you even realizing it?

Now, when you read the rest of this post, keep that moment in mind.

I’ve never been one to believe in manifesting your life. You can’t just will something to happen and make it happen. It’s not how life works. God has a plan for us that exists in a space we can’t even wrap our heads around. However, when we have the strength to pray for these beautiful moments in our lives to occur, they start to appear to us. When you begin to romanticize every sunrise, breakfast with your family, rain tapping against the windshield, every drop to your knees because you need His direction, that is when you are really living. God will give you these moments when you are truly immersed in His love and ready to listen to HIS plan for you.

We’ve all been guilty of making deals with God. “God if I do this….please do this for me.” That’s just not how God works. He is not a genie to grant your wishes if you follow the rules YOU set. God is a way-maker. He gives you the path and the resources to accept Him into your heart and live a beautiful life. It is your job to follow that path. That path may be the harder one. There might be more things blocking your way to see if you’ll become weak and choose another path. Instead, you have to trust in Him and trust His process. I promise you that your path will be lined with flowers instead of tree branches soon.

I realized I had hit my path lined with flowers today. On the way home from an amazing date I couldn’t stop smiling. The man who suddenly felt like home was beside me and I felt at peace. A full rainbow came out of nowhere and everything just felt…right. It was a moment that felt out of novel, a dream, an image buried in the back of my mind that I had believed I would one day reach….and here I was. It wasn’t one day of praying. Not one week. Not one month. Maybe not even one year. It took time and total trust in Him.

Now, remember that moment I told you to keep in your head?? It’s going to happen.

So pray for that moment. Pray for even more moments like that. Pray that you become the main character of your life.

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!

I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve been obsessed with these quarantine new music Fridays. I’ve been especially loving the Songland series. On my weekly new music dive, I found Martina McBride’s “Girls Like Me.”

Now, let me tell you… a lot of us are girls like Martina.

It used to be me

Hidin’ insecurities

With a cigarette and a bottle of whiskey

I was the girl at home

In the dark, all alone

Sayin’, “Why the hell doesn’t he miss me?”

We act so tough like it ain’t nothin’

‘Cause we don’t want them to see

Here’s to the girls like me

Chorus of Girls Like Me

It can be so incredibly hard accepting the fact that someone doesn’t miss you or doesn’t want you in the way you want them. Yet, it can be even harder when you trained yourself to pretend that you don’t care.

So here’s something to keep in mind: It’s okay to care! It’s okay to act tough! It’s okay to do both! But it is NOT okay to think of yourself as less than what you’re worth because of someone else’s feelings toward you. Remember that it is not always your fault that someone doesn’t want to be with you right now. It could quite possibly have nothing to do with you and everything to do with them. The person you are meant to be with will miss you, and quite truthfully, we should be grateful for each person that lets us get away. They are just getting us to our person!

Don’t settle. Wait for the man who never makes you question his intentions with your heart.

With Love, Marin

1. My favorite type of food is Mexican. My sisters used to joke with me that I would literally marry tortilla chips & salsa.
2. I’m an ambivert (so I can be both extroverted & introverted, depending on the situation).
3. I planned on playing college softball, and received a couple offers, but decided against it during my senior year of high school.
4. I’m allergic to shellfish, penicillin and all grasses.
5. I’ve broken two bones in my life. One was from tripping over a rock while chasing a butterfly and the other was from slipping on home plate during a softball game (so basically, I’m clumsy).
6. I’ve never lost a game of air hockey.
7. My favorite color, contrary to what most people think, is not pink. It’s actually navy blue, with white as a close second.
8. I played softball in eleven different states.
9. I have generalized anxiety.
10. I plan to study abroad in Hawaii next January term (so get ready for lots of travel content as long as it’s not cancelled 😭).
11. Almost every vacation I’ve been on has been a Disney vacation because my family is part of Disney Vacation Club.
12. I own 80 pairs of shoes, but most of them I’ve kept since middle school since I haven’t grown much.
13. My dream law school is Vanderbilt! (Because Nashville is my favorite place on planet Earth)
14. I’m bilingual, with my second language being Spanish.
15. I REFUSED to wear dresses, skirts or anything girly until high school (clearly, a lot has changed).
16. I am not able to handle heat well at all. I had a seizure when I was 4 from overheating in footie pajamas and almost passed out playing softball on multiple occasions.
17. I hate mac & cheese.
18. I was a name-reader at graduation and it was probably one of the most stressful things I’ve ever done.
19. When I was younger I wanted to be an author, but decided that was no longer my dream because I needed a competitive aspect to my job (I’m a naturally competitive person-refer back to #6).

Hey, pretty girl!

Quarantine can be rough on mental health. Especially for us college students (high school students have it rough too, but I can only speak for how I’m currently feeling and don’t want to assume), it can be difficult to adjust back to our lives at home.

Unlike many adults, us college students are in a unique position. COVID-19 not only took us out of daily activities, but also out of the place we called home. This also means that, for almost all of us, we are separated from people that we aren’t only used to spending a lot of time with, but also living with (miss you Olivia).

I, and a lot of the people I’m close with, have said very similar things when it comes to this entire situation. “Why now?? I was finally enjoying life. Everything was going well! This is such bad timing!!” I miss breakfast after my english class with my friends, therapy sessions with my roommate, hanging out with the guy I like, planning on-campus events, having fun on the weekends…basically, I miss the entire college experience.

I feel like this set me incredibly back when it comes to mental health. My anxiety definitely sparks whenever coronavirus comes up or I think about what my life was like just three weeks ago. It hurts, but I’ve been finding ways to handle it. Now, I’m not a therapist or a professional (and if you need a therapist I recommend getting one) but this is what I’ve found that’s helped me cope with my anxiety during quarantine.

1. Working out as soon as I wake up
2. Making myself breakfast (fruit/scrambled eggs/bread)
3. Putting on something I’d wear to class (I end up switching in comfy clothes later but doing this helps my motivation levels)
4. Turning on my Summer ’19 Country Playlist
5. Listening to a sermon
6. Ft a friend
7. Watching tik-toks (okay so maybe this is just to procrastinate my online course work)
8. Organizing something in my room
9. Trying to go to sleep before midnight (when I go to bed later then this I feel like it impacts my next day stress)
10. If my anxiety is really high, I take Olly Goodbye Stress Gummies

Now, I don’t recommend doing ALL of these things EVERYDAY. When you are feeling stressed out or anxious, I recommend trying a couple of these things and see how it goes. Remember, if you need to talk, my DM’s are always open.

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!

If you’re looking for stuff to do during quarantine, I got you!

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!

This one is going to be a quick post! Wanted to share a causal but feminine look for Valentine’s Day & a song I’m lovin’ right now that was the inspiration for my IG post today!

Sweater : This sweater is from my favorite store, Red Dress Boutique. This sweater is casual but has a feminine feel to it w/the see through holes and frill! Unfortunately, it is sold out right now. However, if you add your email to the list you will be notified when it restocks!

Jeans : These are the BEST jeans y’all. Especially for my fellow not thick, thick girls. It hugs your curves in all the right places and fits like a glove! I got a size 26 for reference.

Purse : This purse adds a pop of pink for a cute & simple Valentine’s Day look. This would look adorable for a night out with your girls or a date with your man!

Boots : Sorels are my go-to when it comes to boots! Not only do they incorporate heels into a boot design, but they are SO comfy. They are on the spendy side but totally worth the price.

Hairband : This hairband takes me back to when I was a little girl. Sometimes it’s fun just to throw a lil innocence into your adult look!

When wearing this hairband I immediately thought of a Kelsea Ballerini song and knew I needed to use it as my caption: In Between.

The lyrics of this song are so relatable for us first year college students! We are in this in between phase that can be so complicated to navigate it at times. Give the song a listen to for me!

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!

I love the feeling of a new year, it always gives me a clean state to get a jump start on my goals. I’m not a huge new year’s resolution gal, but I do like to make a list of my goals for the upcoming year! (I bet you can guess what one of my goals was for this year-hint:this website). But this year, it’s time for not only a new year but a NEW DECADE.

This decade could be filled with SO many life changing events for me as I go into my 20’s and I am excited. While I’m praying for some 1920’s revival fashion, I’m awestruck that the next 10 years could be when I graduate from college, secure my career, meet my future husband or bring life into this world. While that is slightly terrifying, it’s thrilling to think about! Going into this decade I was only in third grade! And y’all, that feels like yesterday…time only moves quicker too.

Since 7 is my favorite number (past softball number), I wrote down 7 goals for each of the following categories.

My 2020 Blog Vision

• Acceptance to RewardStyle
• Publish 40 blog posts
• Post 200 photos to Instagram
• Get a brand deal/collaboration
• Double Instagram followers
• Attend a local blogger event
• Make money off of blogging

My 2020 Vision

• Work on positive self talk
• Create healthy relationships
• Have the best second semester everrr
• Make some $$$$
• Love with my whole heart
• Donate some clothes/shoes
• Read and listen more

My 2020’s Vision

• Graduate with honors
• Get into law school
• Secure my dream job and help others
• Create forever friendships (or relationships)
• Become a mom (God willing)
• Live in every moment
• Be myself

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!

For my recap of 2019, I decided to show it in photos. I would’ve never guessed a year ago how different I would be today because of 2019. From speech team to graduation to college life, 2019 was one for the books. Here we go…

2020 – Bring it On.

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!

I was struggling to think of topic for this Monday. Typically, I jump on a concept that is currently nagging at my mind, but I honestly could not find something… UNTIL I was messaging my college friends while hanging with my high school ones.

In that moment, I realized how incredibly blessed I am to have two great friend groups full of people who love and support me. Six years ago, I definitely would not have thought this would be my reality. Middle school, for me, was a time where I had truly felt like I didn’t fit in. Now here I was, surrounded by people accepting of who I’ve become.

Friends are second family. Having great friends is truly something that is a blessing to be grateful for. However, having great friends who support you no matter what, are ever better.

This got me thinking… what if we were all each other’s friends? What if we all treated each other with the kindness and respect that we give to our friends?

Conclusion : this world would be a lot less cruel, dark and hateful.

Now, you’re going to say to me, “but what about the people who I CANNOT be friends with.” I challenge yourself to understand why they behave the way that makes you unable to be their friend.

Situation #1 : The toxic friend who causes detriment to your mental health.

Situation #2 : The friend who is not being a friend for reasons that you may be unaware of.

Obviously, these are not the only two scenarios when it comes to friends. However, it is important to acknowledge the distinction between these two friend behaviors. In the case of the second, we must understand to be empathetic of those around us.

Keep the following quote in mind when determining between the two situations :

And I’ll leave you with this – let’s be friends. Reach out to me and I’ll be here. It’s our job to be each other’s support, regardless of how well you know each other now. There is always the potential to GET TO KNOW each other.

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!

Typical Monday mornings kinda suck…but finals Monday mornings REALLY suck. Some of us lay in bed until 1pm, others of us skip their shower and hit the library (definitely not me rn), and then there are the those who have enough energy to put on a Christmas party in the floor lounge at 10am. Yeah… those kind of people scare me but it’s not because of their energy, it’s because I feel like I should be able to have the same level of enthusiasm this time of year.

Reality check – you don’t have to be the perfect person who can be super prepared for finals AND enthusiastic. I think it is only fitting to talk about the problems with perfectionism prior to this hectic week ahead of us.

For much of my high school career, I was fixated on every nit-picky detail about myself. From appearance to my GPA, I heavily controlled my life so that I could fit the mold of a person I thought that I was supposed to be. While this didn’t harm my accomplishments, and may have helped me achieve things, it was not always healthy for my mental state.

First things first – YOUR GPA DOES NOT DEFINE YOU AS A PERSON. Yes, GPA does matter for college applications and your first job, but it doesn’t define you as “smart” or “dumb.” GPA is truly just a measure of how well the school system works for your learning type. It’s easier for those of us who find the teaching style used in school, the same one that helps us learn best. GPA, in my opinion, measures how well the school has been fitting your learning style, as opposed to intelligence.

Now, this is not always the case. A lack of work ethic can also cause problems in school, I am not denying that. While a small amount of stress about grades is healthy and often leads to this work ethic, there is a point of unhealthy behavior when it comes to GPA. It may seem counter-intuitive, but sometimes when you hit this unhealthy level you procrastinate and seem “lazier” purely because you’re scared of failure.

In college, I have trained myself to instead judge how much thought I’m putting into the class. If I am putting in the bare minimum and barely scraping by, it is time to put in more work. However, if all I am doing is school work and not having any self-care or social time, I know that this is too much. It is crucial to find a balance.

Now, perfectionism doesn’t only pertain to school. It can also stem to things such as body image. Over the last year I’ve found myself on a variety of different planes when it comes to how I view myself. MFYM are the posts where I get the most vulnerable, so here we go.

Senior year I was fixated on having model size measurements. I thought that in order to be like any of the successful influencers I saw on Instagram, that I would have to hit these measurements. The truth is, those measurements are not healthy for MY BODY TYPE. Because each body is unique, a specific size is unrealistic.

Coming to college I began focusing more on enjoying life than living to keep a certain clothing size. While that mindset caused a gain of five pounds, something that would’ve terrified me a year ago, I feel healthier than I did without that weight. It is important to know that being underweight can be unhealthy too!

Overall, especially during finals season, it is important to check in with yourself by analyzing your thoughts. Thoughts that are centered on “perfecting yourself” should be rearranged to fit what makes you happy instead.

Good luck this week on finals and keep yourself accountable!

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!

For this episode of Motivation for your Monday, I want to focus on the idea of self worth and acceptance of yourself while single.

First things first, you are not defined by your relationship status. You are not defined by how many people hit on you. You are not defined by how many boyfriends you’ve had. My point? you are not defined by ANOTHER PERSON.

Our society teaches us that we need another person to “complete us.” But the truth is, you’re not a half waiting to become whole. You have always been a whole. Another person will never truly make you feel complete; only true acceptance of yourself can make you feel that way.

I understand it isn’t that simple. We won’t just wake up one day and feel complete. And it’s not easy to see the best in ourselves, especially when we are constantly comparing our lives to those around us. Acceptance and forgiving others for their flaws is easy to do, so why is it so hard to do for ourselves?

Well, it could be because we know ourselves better than anyone in the world does. We expect so much for ourselves and hold a level of perfection that is simply unattainable.

“I want to get married by 25.” “I need kids before age 30.” “I cannot be alone for the holiday season.”

It never hurts to have a plan, but in the same respect, our lives aren’t supposed to follow a plan. If everything followed our plan, life would be pretty boring. Imagine it like this – you follow a very strict diet and never spontaneously deviate from it – boring, right? Same idea. Let life be like that chocolate bar you ate for lunch.

Back to the point….. I told myself that if I started a blog, I’d always be honest. And honestly, I wish I would follow my own advice. The truth is, no matter how pretty someone’s Instagram page is, they have insecurities too. My insecurity stems from difficulty accepting myself while single.

I’m about to get really vulnerable y’all so hold onto your hats. I am insecure about the relationships I’ve had with men. Or rather, the lack of them. It can be self defeating to feel like you’re never the girl a guy wants to date. I constantly have felt that because I am not afraid to be myself, I scare every boy away from me. And that, my friends, is my insecurity. I can tell myself over and over again that “men do not determine my happiness,” but I struggle to believe it. I feel like I’m constantly waiting for someone to sweep me off my feet and be my Hallmark movie ending instead of being okay on my own.

And I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. I’m not the only one who is constantly searching for the person who’s supposed to jump into my life and change everything – waiting for my “other half.” But I’ve made a mindset change tonight. I’m not going to wait around and you shouldn’t either.

Say it with me : I’m okay on my own. I’m strong. I’m confident. I’m smart. I’m beautiful. I KNOW my self worth and I won’t let another person’s opinion take that from me. Anyone who passes on me is NOT worth my time (subtweet).

I challenge you to find your self worth. Find the place where you thrive best and give it everything you have. Your future partner will admire your passion, not be intimidated by your self acceptance.

Remember : The only person who deserves you, is the person who thinks they don’t. Never settle for less.

Now, to the girl who is lost when it comes to love : blare Born to Fly by Sara Evans a couple times. I promise it’ll hit you on a whole different level.

And to whoever my person is : I’m a whole. You will never complete me. You will simply be an addition. You’re not going to be afraid to chase me. You won’t be afraid of my confidence, intelligence and self love. You will be deserving of me. And I will be deserving of you. And when I meet you, I’ll know.

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!

Happy Monday! Jk … Monday mornings are rough … which is why I’m writing this on a Friday night! (Because we all need a little Friday night energy on a Monday morning).

Monday motivation will be a once a month series of blog posts, given they have a positive response. These posts will include motivational quotes, a checklist for the day and explanations on how I get myself motivated.

You just have to walk into the room and be fearless. Never let people think for a minute that you couldn’t totally take them down.

Stevie Nicks

5 Things to Keep in Mind

• Get out of bed
• Workout
• Complete 30-40% of your to-do list for the week
• Eat only healthy foods
• Go to sleep at a reasonable hour

Not going to lie, it’s been very difficult to find motivation lately. In high school, it’s easier to focus on tasks because you don’t live with your best friends! In college, it seems like there are a million things better to do than complete your to-do list. The key is giving yourself breaks and not overworking yourself. Start small – working for an hour at a time and then taking a break.

I used to take things on a week-to-week basis. I.e. : “If I can keep my grades all at A’s by the end of this week, then I’ll be fine.” I’ve learned in college that this behavior is not really living. Living is when you enjoy the moment you’re in and take advantage of all the opportunities you are given.

Go be a boss queen this Monday.

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!

I’ve always loved Kelsea Ballerini’s music. She has a relatable personality, beautiful voice and songs filled with emotion. However, when I heard her recent song, Homecoming Queen, I was left without words.

Not only is this a gorgeous song, but the lyrics spoke to me in such a deep way. Kelsea reveals a very important and vulnerable message. This message is one that is so important for all of us, and one that I couldn’t hold back from writing about.

We all know the girl who appears so outwardly perfect and put together. We never seem to ask her how she’s doing or if she’s okay… we “people assume (she’s) always alright.” The most perfectly appearing people can be the most broken and fragile people in our lives, trained “how to act tough.”

Our jealousness of those who seemingly have a perfect life, allows us to assume that they have no problems. We never feel sorry for them, we feel sorry for ourselves. However, we know our problems and battles. We don’t know everyone else’s.

Now, if you’re on the opposite end, it can be tough to let people see your broken side. All of us hide behind something. I hide behind my clothing – feeling put together to keep my perfect appearance. Yet, you can’t hide forever. You need to advocate for yourself and speak up when you’re not okay.

So, let’s do as Kelsea Ballerini says and “let them all in on the lie…”

The CEO cries. Miss America cries. The valedictorian cries. The Instagram Influencer cries. I cry. You cry.

“Even the homecoming queen cries.”

Be Kind. Be Supportive. Be You.

With Love, Marin

Hey, pretty girl!

In honor of summer-time being close to halfway over, it was an obligation to give y’all a summer bucket list and my top tips for having the best summer ever. My goal is to fulfill Dan & Shay–(Summer of) 19 You & Me–vibes. As well as get in on some, Austin Burke-One Summer-type of fun.

Since college starts this fall, this is the last major summer before the real world (ugh, I know). While preparing for college, working, and writing the blog are my main concerns this summer, my bucket list is (and yours should be) jam-packed with everything from drive-in movies to coffee shop brunch dates. I compiled this list, while also throwing in some local recommendations of places you should head this summer!

First up on my list is something I’ve been meaning to do for the last couple of years–the drive-in. For the local gals, I heard that Vali-Hi in Lake Elmo is the spot to go. They are open every night, so perfect for busy schedules! It’s fairly cheap at under $10 per person and you can bring your own snacks, blankets, pillows, and string lights to create the perfect insta post with your bf(fs). 

Now for the complete opposite time of day activities, brunch and coffee dates. Two places I have personally brunched at are Ze’s Diner in Eagan and Cheesecake Factory at the Southdale Mall in Edina. Both are great brunch options, Ze’s with a 1950’s vibe and Cheesecake Factory with TONS of options. Two places I plan on trying are The Mason Jar in Eagan and Bellecour in Wayzata. For coffee, I love Starbucks just as much as the next girl, but summer is for exploring! The Twin Cities are a madhouse for cute coffee shops–Cafe Astoria, Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea, and Quixotic Coffee–to name a few.

My favorite bucket list idea was to have a day where my friends and I are tourists in our own city! Look up the touristy locations in the closest city to you and experience your home area as a tourist! For the twin cities gals, this includes Minnehaha Park, Como Zoo conservatory, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Saint Anthony Falls, the Basilica of St. Mary, and Rice Park.

I have a few random things I also plan to do this summer that would make for great time fillers: swimming with the besties, paddleboarding at Lake Minnetonka (and stopping at Nautical Bowls wink wink), shopping at the Eagan Outlet, having a super extra sleepover, and picnicking at some local parks. 

@PhotosbyJannaJo

Some general tips to make the most of your summer: 

1. Turn your notifications off (living in the moment is a lot more fun)
2. Wake up early but stay up late
3. Flirt with that special someone 
4. Work to make some money while you have time 
5. Soak up every second of the sun (fall will be here before you know it)

With Love, Marin