Budget DIY Desk Accessories (Out Of Kitchen Items!)

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An organized desk makes me grin from ear to ear and it's sort of essential for me to be in the zone when I'm working. So having a place for my office supplies is sort of a no-brainer. But I didn't want to spend an arm and a leg (no matter how gorgeous the Kate Spade desk accessories are), so I did a little brainstorming and found an easy solution to organize some of the things on my desk, while still looking cute!

Motivating Reads To Kick Start The New Year

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I decided not to write any specific resolutions this year, but there are definitely things I want to be more mindful of and make time for in 2016. And one of those is reading more books! But I also really want to be more cognizant of things I'm thankful for, living with less, being more organized, allowing myself to exercise creativity more often, and doing my best at work – no matter what kind of day it is.

So with that said, I rounded up a few books that I want to read that I'm hoping will start the new year off right and give me motivation to reach these goals and make it a lifestyle change.

How You Can Stay In The Know Without Watching The News

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I don't know why, but do you ever feel like you just don't have time to watch the news? I don't know why, but I just can't find the time to prioritize that. But being up to date on current events is important, so I've found other ways of being plugged in without having to turn on the TV at 6pm every night. And I've honestly found that I'm more engaged and can understand things happening more easily (like political talk, am I right?) than tuning into the nightly news.

The Best Kept Secret to Winter Layering

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Now that we've finally been hit with a ton of snow, I can officially say "winter is coming" without jinxing anything. Although, no complaints from me for the first snowfall being fashionably late.  And with winter kicking into high gear, I've been making a few changes to my wardrobe to prepare myself for what Minnesnowta has planned.

5 Invaluable Lessons I've Learned As A New Blogger

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I told myself from the beginning – if blogging wasn't bringing me joy, step away from it and take a break until I was in the right state of mind. I didn't want the comparison game to consume me, but surprise, surprise – it did and it still does. Honestly, I think know it's something that EVERY blogger goes through. (Even your favorite bloggers who've made it big!) We all go through this.

I've tried to find different avenues to avoid falling into this trap of feeling like I need to do it all and comparing myself to everyone else. I've racked my brain to come up with what I think are original ideas, only to find that someone else has done it better than I have. I've sat there staring at someone else's work thinking, "Well, I'll never be able to do that. So what's the point?" The green-eyed monster of jealousy came out and well, it made itself a cozy little spot in my heart.

But as I was fighting all of these frustrations, I reminded myself why I started all of this in the first place and I was able to ground myself in the passion that drove me to start blogging. So if you're currently feeling or have felt any of those things I just said, here are 5 REALLY important things that I learned about blogging and how to keep going when you feel like giving up.

Staying In On New Year's Eve (Without FOMO)

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Ah, New Year's Eve. For some, it's a night to get dressed up and go out on the town. If that's you, I'm kind of jealous you have a reason to wear sequins. But for others (including myself), there's nothing really glamorous about it. Frankly, I'd opt for a casual night in over freezing my buns off in stilettos any day. Between you and me, I've just spent NYE in my PJs watching HGTV marathons of House Hunters the past couple years. A clear sign I need to get out more.

The point is, I feel like there's sometimes a lot of pressure and hype around what your plans are for NYE when there really shouldn't be. I'd much rather prefer a low-key night (with maybe a few more decorations and sparkle than any other night, just because!) spent with close friends and family, reminiscing about this past year and looking forward to ringing in the new one ahead.

So, if you're still on the fence, here's a few last minute ideas you can do while staying in this NYE that'll make everyone else rethink their plans for next year.

6 Tips for Creating Work/Life Balance (Trust Me, You Can Do It!)

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With the new year approaching, I'm getting ready to dive into it with a fresh start. An important resolution for me is practicing work/life balance. Over a few years, I'm learning how to let go of things I can't control and embracing rest. I used to toss and turn over work-related issues and worked myself to the bone to try and resolve it after hours. But in the end, I just ended up being burnt out and it showed in my work as well. I learned that taking breaks are not only good, but necessary.

Also, I understand that everyone's job is different and some need extra hours put into it after work and that's okay! These may not all work together for you, but hopefully you'll be able to find the right work/life balance in your life with these suggestions.