Monday, November 25, 2019

November Q&A

I have had this post on my to-write list for a while, and now, at the end of the month, am finally getting it posted! I included it as both written answers to the questions y’all submitted on Instagram as well as a video so that you can learn more about me in whichever way seems more fun for you. I hope you learn something new about me or gain advice/inspiration needed in the process. 



What do you do to get out of a funk?
Funks are no fun, and I’ve definitely had my fair share of them. For me personally, I am usually pretty good about pinpointing what it may stem from, and a lot of times it’s something particular coupled with feeling burnt out. I’m a lot more likely to feel like I’m in a funk if I haven’t been the best about taking care of myself with enough sleep, workouts, and filling unrushed meals. Allowing myself rest and time to workout definitely helps, but in a backward kind of way, so does keeping myself busy. Once I’ve allowed myself to rest and wallow in my funk for a little bit, making plans that I will look forward to with friends is especially helpful. If you’re interested in some other ideas, I wrote a post all about my favorite ways to get out of a funk here.


Do you budget money? If so, how?
I mentally budget it but know that is not nearly as effective as having a budget written down. I know about how much I have to spend outside of groceries, rent, gas, and bills and do my best not to go over this amount. The tricky part for me is the fact that my work income is consistent; however, the amount I make from blogging each month differs. Because of that, I make my budget as though I’m not going to make any money from blogging in a given month so that what I do make can be saved, invested back into the blog and equipment that may be needed, or set aside for future use. In the coming year, I am going to work on making a more consistent savings plan to prioritize that even more. Having received a promotion, I am going to attempt to operate as if my salary has remained the same, so the increase in salary can be used to build up my savings account. For those of you interested in budgeting or tracking your spending, I really like the Mint app. 

What does your new job entail?
I am so excited about my new job! If you missed the announcement, I shared it here. I move into this role once I get back from Thanksgiving and honestly should probably start packing up my desk upstairs to move it downstairs soon. My new role will allow me to work with all 11 of the different magazines our company produces, which will be a great way to get to know more of my co-workers that I may not have interacted with as frequently. My title is “stylist,” which means that I will be styling food and lifestyle photoshoots. Any props found will be ones that I’ve sourced and called in, and I’ll be able to work with editors to develop stories that fit their visions. This will be a jump from being in a more traditional role where I am at my desk frequently to one that will differ significantly from day to day based on the shoots I’m assigned. I already have three larger lifestyle shoots lined up for December and can’t wait to share more of the behind the scenes with y’all. 

What’s your enneagram? 
I am a 2 wing 1, but I’m only one point away from being a 1 wing 2. I think everyone would peg me as a one, but either way, I share the same numbers in a nearly identical amount. For those of you who don’t know what the enneagram is, you can take the test here:  

How do you stay healthy during the holidays?
Hooray, that the holiday season is almost here! Staying healthy during the holidays can be a bit of a challenge given all the festivities that are full of food and the colder weather making it less enticing to head outside. Last year it wasn’t hard for me to stay focused on working out over the holidays since I was training for a half marathon and knew that I would feel more confident about that race if I stuck to the training schedule I made. Because I prioritized working out, I didn’t really worry much about what I was eating. I did try to keep my breakfast routine of oatmeal consistent when I was at home, which kept me from indulging at coffee shops when I’d leave home to do blog work. Instead of basing your plans around food, opt to catch up with friends, you want to see on a walk or something more active. Workout when you can and don’t stress too much about the delicious meals being prepared. There’s a reason the holidays only come once a year and for a short amount of time ;)

Do you ever face burnout? If so, how do you combat it?
Definitely. My friends would tell you that I keep myself pretty busy, and they are certainly not wrong about that. I’m not the best about fully relaxing and would prefer to multitask while watching movies with friends than just sit still. By doing many different things all at once, burnout is inevitable. When I do feel this way, I have to remind myself that it is important to take a step back and give myself some time off. Luckily, in the same way, my friends will give me a hard time for me staying busy. They are good at reminding me that it is ok to relax. When I’m feeling especially burned out, an early bedtime or a glass of wine on the couch with friends is the step back I often need.

After graduating and moving away, how do you celebrate Christmas with Furman friends?
Keeping in touch with friends that no longer live one room over, down the hall, or on the same campus or city as you takes being intentional. I am lucky to have friends that value being intentional as much as I do. I am also fortunate that some of my friends still live nearby, making them a drive away to visit. One tradition that I love that Sophia (one of my best friends and college roommates) and I prioritized when I moved was scheduling a time to see each other each season. We both LOVE the holidays and alternate who visits who each season so that we can celebrate with one another. This year our schedule was slightly off, and we will have to celebrate Christmas late in January, but hopefully, in 2020, we will be back on track to catch our favorite Halloween and Christmas movies while we are together. As for some of my other friends (aside from Nell since we live in the same city), we don’t necessarily celebrate the holidays together but instead, try to stay caught up with one another’s lives throughout the year. 

When will you post your own Christmas/birthday list (I always LOVE it)?
I love that y’all like seeing this! I will be posting it next Saturday, so stay tuned. 

What are some budget-friendly gift options for family? 
There are budget-friendly gift options scattered within each of my guides, but I think you will especially like the Under $30 gift guide set to go live this week that has gifts that would be great for your family members. 

What have you learned from your job so far, and do you have any advice for one’s first job?
This question could be its own post. I don’t really even know how to narrow down all that I’ve learned in the jobs I’ve held since graduating. I have been lucky to figure out a career I disliked and develop a work ethic and grit to last the entirety of my contract to then discovering the job I have now in an industry that allows me to be creative and do what I love. As for advice, know that no matter what, your first job is likely going to have a large learning curve. Be ready to act like a sponge and learn as much as you can, but also don’t forget to take time for yourself to recharge and enjoy your friends. 

What are some winter work outfit ideas? 
I’m lucky that my work attire can be pretty casual. Because of that, I usually stick to a sweater, jeans, and some sort of boots in the winter. If you’re ever looking for work outfit ideas, I share them in my Step Into My Week posts each Monday. 

What’s your current skincare routine? 
I think I need to re-evaluate my current skincare routine since my face has had a few more breakouts than normal. I recently ran out of my Beauty Counter exfoliating face wash, which could be part of the problem. I use Cetaphil lotion in the morning and at night but would like to try this more moisturizing lotion at night. 

Who is your favorite Gilmore Girls character? 
I feel like all the Gilmore Girls characters have some flaws; otherwise, the show wouldn’t be nearly as exciting. If I had to choose, I think I’d probably say, Luke or Richard Gilmore. Lorelai’s sense of humor is relatively similar to mine, so I like her a lot too, but she can also be pretty immature.  

What are your favorite recipes to make after a long day?
I don’t do a lot of cooking on weeknights since I try to prepare my meals for the week on Sunday. By doing this, I can microwave what I want to eat. If I haven’t cooked on the weekend, an easy meal I like is Trader Joe’s Turkey Chili that comes in a can. I know it sounds nasty, but it’s delicious. If you’re opposed to canned meals, cooking some chicken on a pan with vegetables is easy and filling too.

Stay tuned for a new Step Into My Week post this afternoon! 

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