Something Charming

{mint julep}

2013-06-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

Now, I'm not really a whiskey girl, but every once in a while my husband will make something that even I can appreciate. Last year he found some mint julep cups at our local flea market, and he's been dying to try his hand at this classic cocktail! We planted our mint a few weeks ago, and it's just now starting to grow, so he decided Saturday was the day. Let me tell you, it's not only a pretty and fun cocktail, but it's absolutely delicious as well!

To make a mint julep, just place about ten mint leaves in the bottom of your cup and pour the simple syrup on top. Gently muddle the leaves with a spoon (don't pulverize them), and pour in your in bourbon. Place some of your crushed ice in the glass and gently stir it all together, and then top with more crushed ice to create an almost snow cone. Enjoy!

{calligraphy for a charming occasion}

2013-06-17T21:00:00.000-07:00

If you like my Facebook page, you're probably so tired of hearing this already, but I just had to share with all of you! One of my dearest vendor friends just happens to be one of my favorite photographers, and I am so fortunate that she's always willing to help me out with special projects when they come up. She agreed to photograph some samples of my calligraphy so that I could update my Etsy shop, and open up a Cloud Parade shop. I got them back Saturday morning, and I am SO excited with how they all turned out!

Thank you so much to Anna Delores Photography for the photos!

If you're looking for some calligraphy for your wedding or a special project, you can see my Etsy shop here! I love working with people on fun, creative projects, such as logos, certificates, poems, quotes, and so many other things, so feel free to email me if you are looking for something in particular, or even if you want to chat about what your options are.

{monday's mantra}

2013-06-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you all had a fabulous weekend. Robert and I went on dates three nights in a row this past weekend, which is pretty much unheard of. I always love spending time with him, so I would say we had a great few days. We saw This is the End (absolutely hilarious) and Man of Steel (didn't like at all), and then used a gift card to get drinks on Saturday. Sunday we went to Orange County to spend the day with our dads, and didn't get back until late last night. In all, I'm most definitely ready to start my week refreshed. Here's to hoping that this week is better than the last.

What's your mantra this week?

{sunday bun day}

2013-06-16T21:00:00.000-07:00

Last week, I stopped by the J. Crew Factory to find myself a new pair of work pants for my wedding. I always love it when I just happened to stumble upon a great sale, and I obviously had to check out their clearance when I saw that it was an additional thirty percent off. I may or may not have found my most amazing purchase of the year yet there, and I just couldn't wait for an excuse to wear my new lobster shorts!

shorts :: J. Crew // sandals :: Target // shirt :: Forever 21 // ring :: Kate Spade // necklace :: Charlotte Russe

I don't know that I can get away with a massive bow with my lobster shorts, so it was a baby bow day. I have a feeling I'll be living in these shorts this summer though!

{featured on wedding chicks}

2013-06-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

It's always inevitable that when I'm having a rough time, something comes along to remind just how wonderful life is. I feel so fortunate that I get to do what I love, every single day, and getting recognition for that is just the icing on the cake!

A sweet little photo shoot I did with some of my favorite vendors (and best vendor friends) is up on Wedding Chicks today! I want to thank everyone who helped me put together this beautiful shoot, and I hope you all get a little inspiration on this gloomy day.

Photos for this vintage garden shoot are by the wonderful Anna Delores Photography, and florals are by Stella Bloom. I'm so excited that I get to do another wedding at McCormick Home Ranch this year as well! You can see the full feature here.

{on pampering yourself}

2013-06-12T21:00:00.000-07:00

If you saw yesterday's mantra, you may have noticed the underlying stress. Needless to say, things are crazy. Crazy busy, crazy exciting, crazy stressful, around these parts. I don't really want to complain, because I don't think it's a bad thing. But that doesn't mean it's not overwhelming or stressful. I'm working harder than I ever have in my life, and I'm most definitely not getting paid what you would think.

I love doing what I do. I've never been happier! There are days, however, where I feel like I'm suffocating. Or that I'm not good enough. That's why this week's mantra is what it is.

There may not be many things I can reduce my stress. I can work as hard as I can, and there will still be more to do. What I can do, however, is pamper myself. It's been hard for me to justify a regular pedicure or buying a new outfit in the past. These days, however, I've realized that it's necessary if I want to keep my sanity. Relaxing while getting my gel manicure, knowing that I won't have to worry about my nails for two weeks, or getting that adorable maxi skirt because it's comfortable to work in, are just enough to balance it all out.

So if you're feeling a little off these days, go treat yourself to a massage, or buy yourself a new lipstick. And don't beat yourself up over it, either. We all deserve a little self-love every once in a while.

I've been getting regular gel manicures for the past month and a half, and it's been one of the best decisions ever. This is a little bright, but it is summer after all!

{monday's mantra...on tuesday}

2013-06-11T21:00:00.000-07:00

I already told you I'm behind this week, but hopefully that won't be the case for long. I wasn't going to do a Monday's Mantra post either, but it was necessary. If I need to hear anything this week, it's this.

Tomorrow may be Wednesday, but that doesn't mean it's too late to start the week over. I need to be more gentle with myself, and much more forgiving. Life really doesn't need to be so difficult.

{sunday bun day...on monday}

2013-06-10T21:00:00.000-07:00

So, Robert came up with this genius idea of...Sunday Bun Day! Because, obviously, I love buns. I actually had a photographer that I know quite well say today that she's never seen me with my hair down, which I kind of take as a compliment? I guess it's pretty fun to have something signature like that.

Anyway, this first Sunday Bun Day is coming to you late because, well, Saturday's wedding was pretty brutal and I'm still recovering. I spent the majority of the day Sunday on the couch or cleaning the house, and I've tried to stay away from the computer. I need to decompress, you know? But hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things soon! It doesn't do any good to dwell on the past, so I'm ready to jump back into this week, head first. Though it may take me a few days to get through my mess of emails right now...

{five things}

2013-06-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

Hope you all had a great week! I'm looking forward to an amazingly beautiful wedding this weekend at one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. Does anybody recognize the venue? I was seriously amazed when I did the walkthrough a few weeks ago, and I can't wait to see it all come together! That's taking up most of my weekend, though I do get to make family dinner for one of my favorite caterers and some of my best vendor friends on Sunday.

I have some of the most amazing vendor friends. This is a photo of a group of us after we left a wedding industry mixer on Monday night. Obviously we had a great time.

As always, here are five links from my week to yours ::

1 // I am beyond obsessed with this incredible wedding on Once Wed this week. I have a serious vendor crush on Joy Thigpen. She basically gives me something to aspire to.

2 // A fascinating look at negotiation by Steve Jobs.

3 // I'm not sure I could ever do it, but this article by an author who tried to follow Gwenyth Paltrow's diet was pretty hilarious.

4 // Have you seen Shit Bloggers Wear yet? Amazing.

5 // Warning, there's swearing here. But you should definitely watch this. Love it.

That's all. Happy weekend friends!

{everything has changed}

2013-06-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

This deserves a post of its own.

Watch it. I promise you won't be disappointed.

{what i'm reading v.6}

2013-06-05T21:00:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the month everyone! I actually had to keep myself from posting this a few weeks ago, because I've found not just one book that I love, but two new series that I just can't get enough of. I've now read 28 books toward my goal of 52 for the year, which puts me at 11% ahead of schedule!

1 // I've actually had the Selection on my iPad for at least six months now, but I don't even think I tried to get into it. I'm such a sucker for summaries, and for some reason, this one didn't suck me in. Lisa tweeted at me recently (she's my favorite person to chat with on Twitter about books - we have such similar taste!) and asked if I've read it yet. I decided to try it out and I just couldn't. put. it. down. It's been a while since I've found a series that pulls me in this much, Divergent was probably the last. I just...oh goodness. If you liked the Hunger Games, Divergent, and Matched, you have to read the Selection. I would say it's kind of a combination of all three. I'm so sad that I have to wait almost an entire year before the last one comes out!

2 // I read a lot of books, and it is always hit and miss for me. Sometimes I can't even explain why I love a book so much, and sometimes I will put a book down within the first paragraph. The Lux series by Jennifer Armentrout fits into that first category. I won't lie, I wasn't expecting to love this series as much as I did, but I could not put this one down either! I read the two books in the Selection series and the three books in the Lux series within a week of each other, which is crazy! I would compare this one to Twilight, but with better and much more relatable characters. I really liked the writing, which is much more in line with the way that teenagers speak these days. There's one more (at least, I think) coming, and I just can't wait for that either!

3 // If you liked Fifty Shades of Grey, I would definitely recommend the Bared to You series by Sylvia Day. I has a very similar plot to Fifty Shades of Grey, but that didn't bother me much. It's a guilty read; most definitely both erotic and entertaining at the same time. Entwined with You is the last book in the series (I think) and I've been waiting for it for a while!

What are you reading? And what do you recommend I read next?

Amazon.com Widgets

{beach season}

2013-06-04T21:00:00.000-07:00

I'm going to do something I've never done on my blog before.

Why yes, that is a photo of me, in a bikini, lying next to a pool. Why did I post this, you ask? Well, because I'm extremely confident with my body and I know I look good.

Actually, that's a damn lie.

I know I'm thin. I know that I'm very lucky to be thin, but I've always had a very poor self image. I struggled with an eating disorder in high school, and it took me a long time to be able to admit that I was even thin, let alone somewhat pretty. This photo was taken in March, and to be honest, that was the first time in three years that I put a bathing suit on.

I had an epiphany recently though. I'm twenty six years old, and in what is more than likely the best shape of my life (minus my high school and college years). I do want to have babies in the not too distant future, which means that I really need to take advantage of being childless for now. That means going out with friends, enjoying an extra glass of wine with dinner, and maybe even wearing my bathing suit a few times this summer.

Actually, when I had that epiphany, I kind of freaked out and went and bought the smallest bathing suit I could find at Victoria's Secret. I then spent the rest of the afternoon alternating between feeling sexy as hell, and more than a little self conscious.

Anyway, this post may seem to be somewhat random, but I'm looking at it as my next step to accepting who I am. I know that I have nothing to be ashamed of, but that doesn't mean I'm not. I just want to be able to put that teeny tiny bikini on, and rock it all summer long.

And maybe if that one doesn't do the trick, I need to splurge on this one instead. I mean, it does have a bow.

bathing suit :: moda operandi

{in this together}

2013-06-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

I've been bothered lately (though that's nothing new). I struggled trying to put this into words, but here it is.

I've been blogging for about two and a half years now. In that time, I've learned a lot. My blog has changed multiple times, as I personally grew as a human being. Blogging is an immensely personal experience, regardless of what you blog about. It takes a lot of creative courage to put yourself out there like that, and there truly is no right way to do it.

That being said, has anybody else been bothered by the influx of blogging experts these days? Maybe it's just because of what my own personal concept of what blogging is (though I don't necessarily think it should be anything). In my life, blogging isn't something in and of itself; it's more of a venue for self expression, a way to communicate your life, or thoughts or talents to the world. I don't blog just to blog. I blog to share my life, and to hold myself accountable for my own personal and professional goals and values.

Now, I am in no way saying that those who curate content aren't legit. In my mind, anybody (and I truly mean anybody) can and should create their own safe space to share whatever it is that they love or that motivates and inspires them. I've been known to use content that isn't my own, but curate it in a way that is original to me.

I guess what I'm trying to say is...there is no one perfect way to blog. It's too personal for that! That doesn't mean I need to read every blog out there. I still have my own preferences on what I want to dedicate my time to, and I want to find other bloggers and people who I'm compatible with, even if that means the content doesn't match with what I personally blog about.

I think that's why the concept of a blogging expert bothers me so much. Don't get me wrong; I've spent plenty of time and money consulting with other people on how to grow my own blog, but in my experience, I've grown exponentially more when I am vulnerable to my own vision and reality.

There's a difference between soliciting design advice, or how to grow your sponsorship program on your blog. But those are very neutral topics. Someone who is a fashion blogger, in my mind, doesn't necessarily have the (legitimate) expertise to help you figure out your voice on your lifestyle blog...because it's your voice!

Maybe consulting with someone in the same niche as you may be beneficial, but I would just warn you to be wary of all of these experts out there. If you are just starting out, know that trial and error is just part of the process of creating an amazing blog! There is no formula. Putting your URL in the Facebook status of some big blogger so they can critique you (because they offered) says more about them than it does about you. They may be able to tell you that your blog design sucks, but unless they know you as a person and as a blogger, they aren't going to give you the personalized feedback that you may be looking for.

So stick with it. Read other blogs of all niches for inspiration, not necessarily advice. Engage with your readers, and ask what they want from you. That's what should matter to you. Don't listen to mean online forums. And know that your experience is your own. Don't let someone else create that for you.

{monday's mantra}

2013-06-02T21:00:00.000-07:00

Why hello friends, and happy June! Can you believe that May is already over? I can't say that I'm sad, since I do love summer so much more than spring, but time seems to be going by way too quickly these days. We had a great weekend, and I only had one meeting for a wedding at the end of the month. Other than that, it was both a good food and cocktail weekend, with plenty of blood orange margaritas, happy hour sliders on Friday, and the best biscuits and gravy I've ever made.

This week is fairly busy, but that's no surprise. I do have a big wedding on Saturday, at the most amazingly beautiful venue, and I can't wait to see how it all come together!

I've been feeling anxious lately (no surprise there), though I'm working really hard on just letting things go. I really loved this quote, and it's definitely something I need to consider when life seems to be overwhelming (which is all the time). There are a lot fo things I can't control these days, but instead of resenting and resisting these things, I need to let it go. Anything is possible if I do.

What's your mantra this week?

P.S. Did you see my mini blog makeover? I just can't keep one design for too long!

{five things}

2013-05-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe how quickly this week has gone by. Maybe it's because we only had four days, and I've been busy driving all over Southern California for the past three days, but it's hard for me to believe that it's already the weekend. Not that I mind, of course, I just thought I'd have a little more time to get work done. To be honest, I could use the break though. I'm not the biggest fan of driving through Los Angeles, and having to do it twice in one week (plus all the way down to Orange County and back) is draining. I don't know how all of you that commute to the city every day do it. Seriously.

I did go to Santa Monica on Tuesday though, it was a pretty perfect day.

Anyway, since it is Friday now, I thought I would share some of my favorites from the week:

1 // Are you going to Blog Brunch? Hopefully I'll see you there!

2 // Did you happen to see my guest post on Minted's Julep blog? If you're addressing your own wedding invitations, you have to check it out!

3 // Robert and I were on the Huffington Posts's slideshow of high school sweethearts! That was a fun surprise.

4 // An ice cream crawl? Sounds like my kind of thing.

5 // I used to have a sweet pink beach cruiser that Robert got me for Christmas one year, but I never used it. This fun tutorial on Design Sponge makes me want to get another though!

{the reality of the situation}

2013-05-30T21:00:00.000-07:00

In case you don't want to count, that's 33 hair bows.

I think I have a problem.

{the summer garden}

2013-05-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

I've done quite a few apartment tours by now, so you all know how little space we have here. We don't like our little apartment all that much, but we feel safe here and we don't know where we'll be next year, so it seems silly to move now. Regardless, there are still a few things I would quickly change about our space, mainly the lack of a washing machine inside our apartment, and the fact that we have no outside space that is completely our own. We have a little porch outside our front door, but there isn't room for much there.

We aren't ones to wallow in these first world problems though, and I always like to see the positives of a situation. Our apartment is still home to us, and I will do whatever it takes to make it feel like a home. For us, that means planting our summer garden, however small it may be.

I love using fresh herbs in my cooking, which is why we've planted some of our favorites for the summer. We've planted basil and rosemary for the past three summers, but this year we added sage, thyme, mint, and lavender to the mix. I am already starting to think of all the recipes (and cocktails) we can use them in!

{blood orange margarita}

2013-05-27T21:00:00.000-07:00

Last year, Robert and I implemented a weekly happy hour on Friday nights. He would come home from school and make us a cocktail, while I made some type of delicious (and ridiculously unhealthy) bar food. There would be sliders and moijtos one week, wine and cheese another, and I think I even attempted chicken wings once.

I was more than ready for the weekend when Friday rolled around, and I made the executive decision to start Friday night happy hour back up again. I had picked up some blood oranges at the farmer's market on Wednesday, and I knew that they would taste great in a margarita. Robert mixed them while I made some homemade nachos, and it was a match made in heaven.

Just shake it all together with ice, and it's ready to go! Seriously though, this may have just been the best cocktail that I've ever had.

Have you ever tried a blood orange margarita? If you try this one, you'll have to let me know!

{monday's mantra}

2013-05-26T21:00:00.000-07:00

The weekend is far from over, but I wanted to pop in for this week's mantra. A few things have happened in the past few days that made me realize how much I appreciate the life I'm living. I always thought it would be impossible to be this happy. I've never even been close to this happy in my life, and I have no intentions on giving it all up any time soon. I may sound crazy, but sounding crazy is exactly what's gotten me to this point.

Bonus points if you can tell me what that's from.

I heart you all, I truly do. What's your mantra this week?

{five things}

2013-05-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Who else is ready for a three day weekend? After three weeks in a row of meetings on my weekends, I am more than ready to take a break. I may have a few work things here and there, but I get to stay home and enjoy time with my husband. I even get to have breakfast with my best friend tomorrow, whom I haven't seen in far too long. Life is just too busy these days, and I'm excited for some lazy summer days, starting this weekend. It may be wedding season, but that doesn't mean I don't get to take some time for myself every once in a while.

Have you seen my feature up on Wedding Chicks this week yet? I was both bridesmaid and planner for this one!

As always, here are a few links for your weekend.

1 // Would you ever quit the internet for a year? This guy did, and he has some interesting things to say about his experience.

2 // I'm sure you've gotten a wedding invitation for the summer, so be sure to RSVP. It's more important than you think.

3 // The ladies at Bash, Please continue to amaze me with their creativity and incredible events that they put on. Could you imagine throwing a surprise carnival for your wedding guests?

4 // If you feel like crying today, have you seen the live TV interview of a tornado victim being reunited with her dog? Absolutely precious.

5 // And if you feel like crying some more, you should probably watch this video about Zach Sobiech, who died recently from cancer. I know it's been going around, but it's an incredibly inspiring story.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and that you get to enjoy your time with family and friends. It's about time we all appreciate life a little more, I think.

{summer living: strawberry ice cream}

2013-05-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm well aware that summer doesn't unofficially start until Monday, or officially start for another month, but I'm so ready. I'm daydreaming of days spent at the beach, let me tell you. A big part of my seasonal excitement always comes when I envision what I can do in my home. Though we won't be having babies any time soon (intentionally, at least), every time I make something or we go somewhere, I love to imagine that it'll become a family tradition someday; that my kids will someday go off to college, and come home, home sick for their mom's cooking or going to the farmer's market on the weekends. It's a crazy dream, I know, but I have it nonetheless.

I've always loved being home. We may live in a little apartment, but I've done what I can to make it into our oasis, our home. I want anyone who walks in through the door to feel that way. It's not stuffy here, and babies are welcome any time. We're meant to love here, to live here, and for me, that includes everything from cooking to decorating to cleaning. I want to spend my summer creating a fun space, one where we want to be, where we barbecue and sip margaritas with friends, playing board games late into the night.

I got my first itch to start these summer traditions this past weekend, when all I could think about was making some ice cream. Now, I've never actually made ice cream before, and I don't actually have an ice cream maker. I was going through Pinterest and Foodgawker on Monday, attempting to put together a collage of ice cream recipes so that I could actually justify purchasing an ice cream attachment for my Kitchenaid when I saw this recipe. And I knew it needed to happen. ASAP.

As you can see, my first attempt at strawberry cheesecake ice cream was a success, and I didn't even need to get an ice cream maker. You should try it yourself (you can find the recipe here), and let me know what you think!

Have you ever made ice cream before? What's your favorite recipe?

{featured on wedding chicks}

2013-05-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

I'm really excited for my fifth feature of the year, not only because it was one of my favorite weddings from last year, but because it just happens to be my dearest friend's wedding as well! I got to play both planner and bridesmaid for this one, which was both exciting and nervewracking, to say the least. But it turned out to be such a beautiful night, and I can't believe they've been married almost a year already! Time does go by quickly, that's for sure.

I also got to work with one of my very favorite photographers as well, Lavender and Twine. You can see the whole feature here, and you'll have to let me know what you think!

{happy hour: lure fish house}

2013-05-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

I'm finally starting to feel somewhat normal, so of course the first thing I had to do was go grab myself a drink. I attempted to wine taste on Saturday, but I couldn't smell anything, let alone taste the wine. The one tasting I did purchased seem like a waste then, which really just means I'm due for another trip up to wine country soon.

I've been feeling relatively uninspired on this blog lately, but I think that'll soon pass. It's just the season, and now that summer is quickly making an appearance, I have a plethora of post ideas waiting. I realized today that I want to start posting more about my town. I know I've said it in the past, but this summer, it's happening.

First things first, happy hour. I know I'm not in the minority here when I say that I love going to happy hour. What makes me different, however, is that I love going to happy hour by myself. Give me an afternoon alone, and you're more than likely going to find me sitting at a bar, drinking a glass of wine and eating calamari. Is that weird?

One of my favorite things about working for myself is creating my own schedule, and that means taking afternoons off. I love getting there early, when the restaurant is empty and I don't have to compete for the waiter's attention. Sometimes I bring my iPad to read a book, sometimes I bring a notebook to write, and sometimes I just sit there quietly, enjoying my cab (though if it's hot, I'll stick to a chardonnay).

I was going stir crazy today, after my third day inside, and made the executive decision that a solo trip was in order. I grabbed my camera, and headed downtown, to my favorite happy hour spot in all of Ventura county. If you like fish and just happen to be in the area, you have to try Lure. Their menu is spot on, the drinks are amazing, the decor is beautiful, and they have the best looking staff. Not even joking.

I also may or may not have flirted sweet talked the bartender into printing out their recipe for key lime pie for me. I'll most definitely be making that soon, and reporting back to all of you.

Do you ever go to happy hour or dinner on your own? If you don't, why not? You should try it!

{when living simply becomes complicated}

2013-05-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

I hate to call simple living a trend, but well, it's most definitely a trend. I'm seeing signs of people attempting to live a more simple life all over the internets these days (which I have to think is somewhat...paradoxical?). It's evident in even just the photos we're seeing all over Pinterest: clean lines, neutral colors, overexposed lighting. I can't help but feel that I'm somehow missing out on this amazing life that embraces simplicity and quietness.

I want to live more simply. I truly do. But am I the only one who feels like in order to do so, I need to move somewhere quiet, rent a home with lots of natural light and hardwood floors, and take up knitting? And to me, that just sounds too complicated. I don't want to read books on how live a simpler life, or get advice from anyone else. It should be what feels natural to me.

For some people, that means eating more organically. For others, it means giving up the internet or bits of technology. And one for one family, it may even mean selling their house so they can travel around the country in a trailer for a year.

I want to live more simply. I want to embrace the little things in life. For me, that means letting go of all that living simple clutter that seems to have formed on my Pinterest boards and bookmarks. I may want to see how others do, but I am going to do it my own way. I think that's how it should be, don't you?

I already live in a small apartment. I can't compost or raise chickens in my backyard. I can't grow a full vegetable garden, so for me, it means embracing my home the way it is. It means getting rid of the things I don't use, but not feeling guilty because my linen closet is full of fancy napkins and cake platters. It means planting and caring for my little herb garden that grows on my porch every summer. It means turning off the computer at a decent hour, and leaving my cell phone out of the bedroom.

It means refusing to fill up my life with anything, just because someone else tells me I should.

Have you attempted to live a more simple life? What does it mean to you?

{monday's mantra}

2013-05-19T21:00:00.000-07:00

Hope you all had a great weekend! I'm still stuck in bed with a nasty cold, even after five days. I haven't been this sick in a while, and I'm more than tired of it. Hopefully it goes away within the next few days, because I have work to do! And it's actually starting to feel like summer around here now, so I'd really like to go outside and enjoy the fresh air soon. I'm thinking a beach day might be in order, what do you think?

I gave a lot of thought to this week's mantra. It's no secret that I struggle with the comparison trap in this industry, and I often find myself judging and getting annoyed and frustrated at other vendors and people that I have to work with. Believe me, it's not something that I'm proud of, which is how I came up with today's mantra.

I don't need to rely on anyone else for my own success. If I just look in a straight line, and keep my eye on my true goals and values, I'll get there eventually. Working with people and networking is always a priority, of course, but I don't need to worry about what other people are doing. And I definitely don't need to worry about whether they are farther ahead of me, or doing something to sabotage their own success. What matters is that I am doing what I love, and I will continue to do what I love as long as I can.

What's your mantra this week?