Polka Dot Top // Flared Jeans // Nude Patent Pumps // Aviators // Clutch // Watch // Lipstick
Hello, Monday (again)!

Today I thought I’d share some tips to starting your week off right, in addition to a pop of color and some print. This silk polka dot top was a recent birthday gift from my grandmother and boy, does she have good taste! I love that I can wear it now to work and it will transition well into the spring with a print that’s still very on trend. My jeans are from STS Blue and are amazing for anyone vertically challenged, like myself. They are the only flared jeans I buy that don’t need to be hemmed and I’m 5’2″ (take into consideration I only wear them with wedges or heels). I’ve also linked a similar and affordable pair above and below. I threw in a fun pop of pink in honor of the upcoming Valentine’s Day holiday – a great way to incorporate a bright, love-oriented color for work. 

Now onto my tips for a brighter, more organized Monday!
Outfit planning. A great way to start your week off on the right foot is to plan ahead on Sunday. I like to do this by finishing chores around the house, grocery shopping, packing my lunch, and outfit planning. It may be a small step but it saves me time and energy in the morning. No back and forth about this shirt or that shirt, these pants or those shoes. I have a clothing rack in my bedroom where I hang them for the week to come, along with jewelry and accessories. 

Give yourself a little extra time. One of the worst ways to start off your Monday is by running late. I love having 15 extra minutes to get out the door so I’m not forgetting anything important and so I don’t start off my day with an anxious mind. You can even try setting an alarm ahead of time as an alert that you need to get going or write out a morning schedule and try to stick to it. It’s a good way of setting yourself up for success!  

A cup of coffee (+ a healthy breakfast). For you, this might be tea, or a smoothie, or even a glass of iced water, but my daily cup of coffee starts my morning off right. I look forward to it each and every day and I’ll be honest, it even helps motivate me to get out of bed on time. In addition, it’s best not to skip breakfast even if you feel like you’re pressed for time. I like to keep cinnamon apple oatmeal and breakfast bars at work – it’s quick, easy, and tides me over until lunch. 

Making a list. The first thing I do when I get to work in the morning and the last thing I do at night is to make a to-do list. It’s my way of constantly staying organized and on schedule with all of my projects and deadlines. It’s a great tool to jog your memory about what was going on the week before and allows you to highlight things that need to be done right away and mark out things you’ve completed (that’s my favorite part). Your list doesn’t have to be on paper…it can be electronic or even done using some of the cool, new innovative list-making apps. 

Updating your planner. After (or before) I’ve updated my to-do list, I update my planner. I’m a paper planner person and highly doubt I will ever schedule via my phone, but hey do what works for you! I keep my planner with me at all times so I can pencil in personal tasks & appointments, along with all of my meetings for work. I do have an Outlook calendar on my work computer which is convenient with alerts, but I also keep them in my planner just in case. 

Get in a workout. Another great way to start your Monday is by getting in a workout. I’m not so great at sticking to this one, but I find that if I workout on the first day of the week, I’m more likely to go back several times throughout the rest of it. Plus, a good workout gives you endorphins and endorphins make you happy! And who doesn’t want a happy Monday?!

I hope all of you had a restful and wonderful weekend! Justin and I (and Heidi) starting watching Once Upon A Time on Netflix and after just two days are pretty hooked. We aren’t quite sure how there are so many seasons as so many things have already happened, but I guess we will see. We also attended a get together for Justin’s work with friends which was a nice change of scenery. I’ve been working so much that I’m either at the office or at home with my face buried in my computer. Oh, and we also had date night Saturday at one of our fav local restaurants! Is it bad that I’m already counting down the days until next weekend?!
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XO Amanda